Happy New Year!!!! Well, after a fantastically hot Summer it’s a welcome back to the Autumn term. I can’t believe how fast the Summer has passed us.

We’ve been really busy all Summer. Just because the building is not open to pupils, doesn’t mean everything shuts down. Actually, things really began to get going then and I want to say a big ‘thank you’ to our HR team who have worked relentlessly throughout the Summer and especially to our site team, led by Mr Sefton, who have ensured our building is ready for the year ahead. And what a year it’s going to be…

In the Summer we welcomed 2 new babies to the Spring Brook family. Miss Tokelove’s son, Milo appeared in July and then he was closely followed by Mrs Roberts’s son, Ralphie. Congratulations from us all!

In the Summer Miss Rodgers and I were busy with timetabling and recruitment. Spring Brook is growing all the time and this Summer has been no exception. So, welcome to Key Stage 4 Mr Murray who will be looking after our Nurture Group. Mr Murray has joined us from Kingsland and it’s been brilliant to welcome him to our team. Miss Rodgers has welcomed new staff too, please take a look at her blog for an introduction to the other new members of our Spring Brook team.

The Summer has also seen changes in school. Mrs Burrows has moved up to Key Stage 4 with her class and we’ve also created a new class for Key Stage 5. Corey, Jamie, Chloe and Jack will all have access to our pre-internship programme. Jason has already moved on to Medtia and we wish him all the best.

There is not long to go now until the opening of the Springboard Project. The contractors, Conlan’s, begin work in November (they actually start on my birthday) and promise me that they will be finished by April. It’s so exciting! My meetings will recommence with them next week and I’m also meeting with parents to talk through this transitional stage. Our new school is going to be here before we know it!

On Friday I was lucky enough to take Year 10 to Pots and Pans. I’m saying lucky but it was actually a very wet day! However, that did not put off our intrepid explorers and up we went to the summit. Year 10 were amazing and asked me lots of questions about the moorland fires that had happened in the Summer (we saw a lot of the devastation the fire created over Greenfield). They also learnt about the history of the monument – that it is a tribute to the men who died in the World Wars. Leon and Kyle could not believe how the monument was constructed (all that stone carried to the top of a very steep hill). Jameel was fascinated by the structure of the rocks and the erosion of sand and water. Callon, Ryan and Mark just loved how high we were and the sites we could see – all the way to Manchester and beyond! All in all, it was a brilliant day out – educational, physical, challenging and the group worked together as a team. Mr Daly and myself really enjoyed being with the group and for me, it was brilliant to be back doing something physical..

Mr Hopkins has also been out for the first Duke of Edinburgh’s work of the year..

This week for our D of E Silver students, we walked the Sett Valley trail from Hayfield to New Mills and back. It was a nice flat walk along a disused railway line to ease us back into the year. As a treat in New Mills we got to see the ruins of Torr Mill, an old mill part of which has been made into a Hydro-electric ‘screw’ to generate some power for the town..

We also got to see the ‘Millenium Walkway’ over the River Goyt which is great to walk along..

Unfortunately the weather reminded the pupils about the need for proper waterproof clothing but it still didn’t dampen our spirits!!!

So that’s about it for the start of term. A big ‘thank you’ to parents and carers who have ensured that all our pupils are wearing uniform and have settled back to routine of school..

Have a great week and welcome back everyone!

Mrs Tootill
Head of Springboard Project

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