Gallery

Our gallery shows a selection of photographs from across our Academy.

CEO Update – 15.9.23

CEO Update – 15.9.23

CEO Update - 15.9.23 As the second week of the year comes to a close, I wanted to give you all an update on where I’ve visited and what I’ve been up to so far. It has been a pleasure to meet some more of our dedicated staff, parents and partners of our wonderful Multi...

A message from our new CEO, Clare John

A message from our new CEO, Clare John

A message from our new CEO, Clare John   Hello and Happy Friday to you all, I hope the term has started well for you and your loved ones. I'm sure there have been plenty of nerves this week, but lots of excitment too, I hope. If you haven’t met me yet, or seen...

Summer Newsletters (July 2023)

Summer Newsletters (July 2023)   We have reached the end of another academic year! Please find all the latest newsletters from across the New Bridge Group and the New Bridge Multi Academy Trust here:   New Bridge Group New Bridge Group Summer Newsletter 2023...

A message from our CEO, Graham Quinn

  A message from our CEO, Graham Quinn   You may have heard the news by now in the local press, but I wanted to share this with you all first hand... I received a letter a month ago. I've not been able to reveal the content until this weekend just gone. I am...

May Half Term Newsletter – Summer 2023

    May Half Term Newsletter  Summer 2023 New Bridge Group May Half Term Newsletter - Summer 2023 Please take a look at the New Bridge Group and Multi Academy Trust Half Term Newsletter, for a brief update on what's been going on this past half term!  ...

Graham

Last week my blog centred upon the challenges that Oldham council are facing following the release of the SEND local area review inspection.

This week I am switching my attention to central government, in particular the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond. You may have seen our Twitter feed criticising some of the recent comments made by the minister..

Remarks like these drive me to distraction and are so incredibly frustrating!

I recently wrote an article for an SSAT publication which you can read here. Entitled ‘Work is Good’, it clearly outlines the benefits of work for our young people, both paid and voluntary. What I didn’t get chance to expand on, however, were the benefits they bring to the employer.

Our trust works with a huge range of employers, some national but mostly local. The feedback we hear from, for example, First Choice Homes is that their employees are hugely empowered by being alongside our youngsters. We know from studies we have carried out at the Royal Oldham Hospital and Manchester University that productivity in the departments where our young people work is consistently raised. Far from our youngsters being a burden and adding to the ‘national debt’, our young people increase productivity, improve well-being and build understanding and compassion. I have written to the Chancellor to invite him to Oldham and Manchester to observe our Bridging the Gap project, our internship programmes and our employment offer overall. I’ll happily take him to the places where our young people work – he can see first-hand the contribution they make.

Anyhow, away from the central challenges and on to our local successes! It was brilliant to attend the New Bridge Showcase this week. I was delighted to see some young people from Hollinwood Academy also participating. The children from both schools were clearly enjoying performing to the audiences and loved singing, dancing and generally having a great time.

It’s also been my pleasure to attend the governor board meetings for Spring Brook Academy. I have been delighted to hear of the improvements we are making. The staff teams at both Heron Street and Dean Street are totally committed to our youngsters.

I’m so looking forward to the Hollinwood Nativity on Tuesday and the Spring Brook Lower Christmas Production the following Monday. There won’t be a dry eye in the house!

So, the upshot of this week appears to be don’t let the national ‘stuff’ get in the way of our amazing local offer. Let’s celebrate what our children and young people can achieve. Let’s ensure that our aspirations and ambitions are not just shared within our Oldham community – we need to remember to extend the invitation to any inhabitants of 11 Downing Street!!

Have a great weekend,

Graham

You can find all Graham’s previous blog entries here

Location

New Bridge Multi Academy Trust
Roman Road
Hollinwood
Oldham
OL8 3PH

School Hours

M-F: 8am – 4pm
Weekends: Closed

Phone & Email

0161 870 9386

info@newbridgegroup.org