This week has seen a positive start to school, and students have settled well back into the school routine. We have met with Year 9s to understand what their future ambitions are, and we have held assemblies around careers and aspiration. Year 9 were visited by a representative from 'Gripple', a technical manufacturing company to look at careers within this industry. Over the coming months, we will have visits across the school from The Bank of England, Oxford University and other companies to look at future choices.

We come to the end of the first half of the Spring term and the end of the first half of the academic year. While it has been short it has certainly contained a lot. The snow days of January feel a long way away. Our young people have participated in so much this term, and I have very much enjoyed learning of their success. At the start of next term, I will share information about our ongoing work around attendance and how we are encouraging students to create a 'streak' of attendance.  We are starting next term with a focus on aspiration and ambition in our assemblies to support students in their work and this is especially important for Year 9 who begin to make their option choices. Year 11 will begin their final half term before exams start and we will continue to encourage them to work hard and strive for the very best. We hope you and all of our young people have a well-earned break and we look forward to welcoming them back on Tuesday 25 February.