Gallery

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

Can I welcome everybody back after half term?

I hope everyone had the opportunity to have some sort of rest.

We’ve had quite a number of announcements over the last few days, so I’ll try and summarise where our schools and organisations are up to.

First of all, on Monday, the Prime Minister offered the country a roadmap that navigates our way forward over the next few weeks and months.  The initial key date I want to focus on is the 8th March when we have been told we can welcome more children back into school.  Why do I say “more” rather than “all”?  As you will no doubt be aware, at times, the headlines do not always quite line up with the reality of the situation!  Over the next few days, you will receive correspondence from your child’s school or college informing you of their plans.  As a principle we are trying to get as many children and young people back into full time, face to face teaching as soon after March 8th as is practicable.  My plea to you all is to try and work with our school leaders as they work through some of the details – particularly around Lateral Flow Testing and revised school organisation.  It is a very demanding task for everyone concerned.  I know they will appreciate your support.

Next, I’ll move onto before and after school clubs.  I think it’s important to realise that when we eventually get all the children back into school we will have to think carefully about before and after school clubs.  Again, the government has put out statements suggesting that all schools should deliver extra-curricular clubs etc.  The reality is that all of our children and young people will continue to work in “bubbles” (during the day).  We know that if any member of the “bubble” has a positive test it inevitably leads to all the people in that “bubble” having to self-isolate for 10 days.  We know how disruptive this is.  If we were to adopt different “bubbles” for before and after school clubs it could significantly multiply the risk of transmission.  Placing children in different before and after school “bubbles” could lead to more of our school based/learning “bubbles” popping.  Our school leaders are discussing these issues as I write, and they will communicate with you directly.  Again, I know you will support our heads with these tricky challenges.

If I’m a little “wary” about before and after school clubs, I am more confident about the Summer playschemes – both at half term and throughout the summer.  Assuming little change in the R and transmission rate, I think we will have enough time between now and June to have a clearer view.  As soon as we have a steer, we will let families know.

So, overall, it feels it’s a little bit of calm before the storm.  It’s going to be a really busy few weeks.  We all need to continue to act as responsibly as possible to ensure as many children and young people, as possible, can maintain their school places.  Most importantly we need to maintain our safe working practices for another few months.  I’m really hopeful that the science, and particularly the vaccination programme, will see us through this pandemic.

As always can I thank you for your continued support – and as always I’m more than happy to be contacted on my email address at gquinn@newbridgegroup.org.

Best wishes,

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

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Weekends: Closed

Phone & Email

0161 870 9386

info@newbridgegroup.org