CEO's Blog - 24th March 2023 Our Organisation... The weeks are flying by and we're nearly at the end of the Spring term, so here's a snapshot of life at every one of our schools and settings. We're growing all the time, but our offer remains the best in special...
Gallery
Our gallery shows a selection of photographs from across our Academy.
CEO’s Blog – 17th March 2023 – ‘Thank You!’
CEO's Blog - 17th March 2023 'Thank You!' Well, if you've been following the updates on social media this week, you might just have noticed that almost 100 of our young people have been lucky enough to travel to Disneyland Paris. A trip that started on Monday...
CEO’s Blog (10th March 2023)
CEO's Blog (10th March 2023) It was International Women's Day this week, and it was great to see our schools and settings marking the occasion with their activities and learning opportunities. Of course, we shouldn't only celebrate our women and girls for just...
We are looking for our next CEO…
We are looking for our next CEO... It's probably been the worst kept secret for a while, but I'm writing my blog this week to let everyone know that we are actively looking for the next CEO of the New Bridge Multi Academy Group and MAT. After many years working as...
CEO’s Blog – Student Voice (24th February 2023)
CEO's Blog - Student Voice (24th February 2023) A few weeks ago, before the half term break, I said I would be reporting on how we listen to the Student Voice across our MAT and wider Group. Well, this week, I'm able to do just that, as some of our schools and...
Perhaps it’s me but through this “Covid period” it appears the days seem to drag and yet the weeks fly by!
When I reflected as to why I felt that way I realised that my working days, and probably many of yours, have changed massively.
As I previously have mentioned I’m now based at New Bridge Learning Centre, in Fitton Hill. In line with our risk assessments, and so as not to compromise bubbles, many of the central teams, like me, are restricted to working in isolated offices and using Teams, Zoom or Skype to meet with people.
Usually, my days are incredibly busy and include travelling from school to school, site to site and all around the North West and up and down the country. I didn’t realise how much I would miss this aspect of my job. I love meeting the staff, seeing the children, chatting with the young people, laughing with colleagues! It made me realise what a tremendous job our staff teams have done in keeping the routines as near as normal for our children and young people.
So that led me to think about how many of our children and young people are feeling? Over the last couple of weeks, I have mentioned our Invitational and Governing Body meetings. The Trustees and Governors have been delighted with the support our teams have offered the young people. The staff teams have superbly managed to balance a continuation of our curriculum offers with a significant emphasis on well-being. Many schools have changed their organisational structure. Importantly many, many staff have given feedback as to how some of our revised systems have improved the overall offer for our children and young people.
I’ve certainly thought about the last 6 months and am determined to use it as a learning platform. We’re determined to do this. In the meantime, we need to continue to be vigilant and stay safe.
A couple of national bits to report back on. On Wednesday I, along with a number of others in the SEND National Reference Group, put a plea into government to explore how our frontline staff could be placed in a higher wave for vaccinations. I feel strongly that our staff that work in classrooms should be treated in the same way as many colleagues that work in hospitals or social care settings. I have written before that many of the children and young people in our schools (and Horizons settings) struggle with social distancing protocols. It’s these types of situations that I outlined in my conversations with Government. To avoid any more disruption, vaccinations will go a long way in keeping our colleagues as safe as is possible.
In the same meeting, and along with many other school and MAT leaders, we responded to the Secretary of State’s proposals for next year’s exams. I feel the proposals don’t go any way near far enough to respond to the disruption many of our young people have faced over the last number of months. Many, in our schools, have only accessed face to face teaching for a handful of weeks. Other children, in some areas within the country, have been unaffected. I think written exams have value, but one would have thought a properly researched written mathematical formula, that adequately reflects lost learning, could be produced and administered. I get the feeling that as other areas in the country experience the reality that we and much of the North West have faced since September, Government thinking will change!!
Finally, can I continue to thank everyone for their messages of support and encouragement. It means a lot to our teams when families respond positively. The advantage of the weeks flying by, is we’re another week closer to getting back to normality.
Take care, stay safe everyone.
Graham
You can find all Graham’s previous updates and blog entries here
Location
New Bridge Multi Academy Trust
Roman Road
Hollinwood
Oldham
OL8 3PH
School Hours
Weekends: Closed
Phone & Email
0161 870 9386
info@newbridgegroup.org