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

CEO Blog – Destinations Champions

CEO Blog – Destinations Champions

  CEO Blog - Destinations Champions I can't quite believe that we've made it to December already, but here we are, and the countdown to Christmas is well and truly underway! This week, I would like to point you all in the direction of our newest New Bridge...

CEO Blog – 24.11.23

CEO Blog – 24.11.23

CEO Blog - 24.11.23 Happy Friday, everyone. I'm keeping it brief this week, but I wanted to give you an update on what's been going on behind the scenes at New Bridge... I met with the Directors at New Bridge Horizons, talking about the exciting partnerships we build...

CEO Blog – 17.11.23

CEO Blog – 17.11.23

CEO Blog - 17.11.23 This week has been another busy week for all of us at New Bridge, and I'm proud of our staff teams for pulling together and continuing to offer our students and young people the very best, even when it's already dark by the time most of them are...

CEO Blog – 10.11.23

CEO Blog – 10.11.23

CEO Blog - 10.11.23 This week, it has been good to see each of our sites commemorating Remembrance Day in their own way. The creativity and thought that our staff have put into these 'Remembrance' themed activities is brilliant, and testament to their ingenuity. It...

CEO Blog (3.11.23) – Welcome Back

CEO Blog (3.11.23) – Welcome Back

CEO Blog (3.11.23) - Welcome Back To everyone who has just had half term, I want to say, 'welcome back', and that I hope you had the opportunity to spend some quality time with friends and family over the break. This first term is usually the toughest, and the October...

Graham

Well, what a week! What started with good news quickly descended into the chaos that was ‘the beast from the East’.

First the good news! Finally, after months of legal wrangles, the go ahead was given for Hawthorns School in Audenshaw to join the Trust. I know the team have been very frustrated with the endless challenges that have been laid at our door. My thanks go to Jamie at Browne Jacobson, our legal advisors, for always offering sound and sensible advice. Anyhow, now we’ve had the go ahead from the Regional Schools Commissioner it’s now about moving forward. I’m really looking forward to sharing their news over the coming months – we’ve now got 3 primary schools (or primary departments within all age schools). I truly believe that it’s only by co-operation and joint working that we can all continue to improve.

We also heard this week that one of our Pastoral Team at Hollinwood Academy, Leisa Williams, has been nominated by our families in the annual POINT Awards. Leisa has been put forward in the ‘Passion for Parents’ category. I know Leisa will talk about a ‘team effort’ but she truly does a remarkable job. More news to follow!

Now, on to ‘the beast’. I hope this blog gives you all an insight into the decision making processes that go into closing our schools/organisations. On Wednesday we had a degree of forewarning as the weather was worsening by the hour. I left Spring Brook at about 5pm and didn’t get home until way after 7pm – the M66 was closed following a pile up. All evening a number of our Oldham ‘weather watchers’ kept me in the loop as to the weather conditions throughout the borough. It was becoming increasingly clear that the snow, blizzard conditions and black ice were causing major travel disruption. At around 10.15pm I again checked both ‘Accuweather’ and the ‘BBC weather’ to check the forecast for overnight. I also emailed all heads and leaders of post 19 organisations to get their views. The threat of (up to) minus 10 temperatures with an added wind chill factor, allowed me to take the decision to close all our schools and organisations.

Can I tell you all that it is a decision I never take lightly. In the last 20 years or so in Oldham, I think I can count on the fingers of one hand the actual times I have closed schools. I remember a similar situation in 1996 when I was a deputy at Hill Top (now that’s going back a few years!), when we had the frightening experience of trying to walk children all through Moorside to the bottom of the hill. Fortunately all the children arrived home safely but I learnt from that experience that safety has to be our main priority. We need to ensure all our children and young people do not come to any harm.

On Thursday, following further calls I was informed that the main roads in certain areas were just about passable but the side roads were lethal. Saddleworth and Shaw were still feeling the brunt of the storm. Closing on Friday (today) seemed the only logical decision I could make.

I totally understand the inconvenience this causes families and the disruption for our children and young people. I would like to thank you all for your understanding and many messages of support on Facebook and Twitter. Let’s hope for a less traumatic week next week. I just hope it’s another 22 years until we face the same challenges!!

Oh, by the way, I’ve decided to change sites (again!!). In my own ‘mini tour’ of the Trust (I’m thinking of getting some tour tee shirts printed by Digit4ll) I’ve agreed with Gavin that I’m going to base myself back at New Bridge School for the rest of this academic year. I’m really looking forward to reacquainting myself with the children and staff team.

Have a safe weekend and see you next week,

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