A Message from Principal, Mr Martin

I hope you all had a good break over the Christmas period and a happy new year. We’ve made a great start to the new term, and there have already been several notable highlights. 

The first was a Model United Nations event, for which we had the privilege of hosting nine schools from across Bedfordshire. Our students led and participated in a thought-provoking debate on the climate crisis and environmental sustainability. Each school sent four students to represent a different country, including China, Denmark, Brazil, and the USA. They spent the day making speeches, formulating alliances, and agreeing on a resolution. 

Last week, we were also pleased to welcome PCC John Tizard, who joined us for a tour of the academy and was impressed by the initiatives and educational opportunities available to our students. By complete coincidence, we also welcomed the Chief Constable, Trevor Rodenhurst, on the same day to talk about how we can work together for the benefit of our students, including assemblies and talks on careers in the police and forensic science. 

In the arts, auditions for our upcoming summer production of ‘9 to 5’ have concluded, and I am confident this will be another memorable show. Additionally, our students are hard at work preparing for their exam drama performances scheduled for March. I look forward to seeing their talent and creativity come to life on stage.

Following Mrs. Kirkman’s successful appointment as Vice Principal, we are now looking for a talented senior leader to fill the vacant Assistant Principal position. Details can be found here.

In sports, we have already witnessed some outstanding accomplishments. Our U16 boys’ rugby team triumphed in the latest round of the national cup, defeating Rugby School, the birthplace of the sport, in a remarkable last-minute victory. They made it through to the quarter-finals, where they will play NSB. Additionally, our U15 girls’ netball team secured a place in the Sisters in Sports Bowl Semi-Final following an impressive 44-23 win in their last match.

I would like to extend my congratulations to our Sixth Form leadership team for their exceptional fundraising efforts over the past two weeks. Their successful bake sales raised significant funds in support of Aaron, reflecting the strong spirit of community service and compassion that defines our academy. 

Thank you all for your continued dedication and commitment as we embark on what promises to be another exceptional year.