At the start of January we went on a truly unforgettable ski trip with 40 of our students and 6 members of staff, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. From the moment we arrived, the energy was high, and the students represented the school brilliantly.

The highlight of the week was undoubtedly the incredible progress made by every single student. Whether they were putting on skis for the first time or were seasoned pros, everyone pushed their boundaries. We are thrilled to report a 100% success rate on the chairlift - a massive milestone for our beginners that opens up the whole mountain!

Our advanced group showed exceptional skill and bravery. They not only conquered the challenging black runs with confidence but also spent time practicing some jumps and tricks.

It was a week filled with resilience, laughter, and new skills. A huge well done to all students for making this trip such an amazing experience.

At Brakenhale School, we have been celebrating excellent attendance this December through our 15 Days of Positivity initiative, designed to reward students and highlight the vital link between attendance and success.

The 15 Days of Positivity Initiative

The initiative ran throughout the first three weeks of December, beginning on Monday 1 December, and focused on encouraging punctuality, readiness to learn, and positive daily habits.

Each day, students received motivating messages reminding them of the importance of attendance, such as:

• Arriving before 8:40am to ensure a positive start to the day
• Making the most of every lesson and every moment in school

The initiative reinforced the message that every day in school counts.

Student Recognition and Prizes

Students who maintained excellent attendance were rewarded throughout the programme with daily prizes and celebrations.

Highlights included:

• Daily rewards from the Headteacher’s Prize Box
• A JD Sports voucher, won by one lucky student in Year 10
• A range of fun prizes that brought smiles to students each day

This was a true whole-school effort, with staff members across the school taking part in recognising and celebrating students’ achievements.

School Celebrations

The festive celebrations began on a joyful note in the Attendance Office, where we also celebrated Mrs Coker’s 50th birthday, helping to kick-start a month of positivity, recognition and community spirit across the school.

An annual tradition, our fantastic catering team served up a delicious Christmas dinner on Wednesday 10th December, with students and staff tucking in to traditional turkey, pigs in blankets (roasted vegetable parcels were also offered), roasties, yorkshire pudding and seasonal vegetables. Mince pies or chocolate cake finished off the feast in a festive way.

On the same day, we were delighted to be supporting Daisy's Dream our chosen charity who supports children who have been affected by bereavement by taking part in Christmas Jumper Day.

Donations can still be made direct to Daisy’s Dream via this link.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone for your incredible support in helping Friends of Brakenhale raise funds this term. Thanks to your generosity and enthusiasm, our Christmas Fair was a fantastic success, raising over £1,000!

We are currently fundraising for two exciting projects: new gym equipment and a refurbishment of the long-jump area. These improvements will make a real difference to students’ experiences, and we’re grateful for every contribution that helps bring them closer to reality.

Looking ahead, we have lots of fun events planned for next term, including a school disco and a laser tag evening—so keep an eye out for more details!

To stay up to date with all our events and ways to support us, please visit:

http://friends-of- brakenhale.sumupstore.com/

Thank you once again for your continued support. We couldn’t do this without you! Merry Christmas!

Brakenhale CCF have proudly played their part in supporting the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal, demonstrating dedication, teamwork, and community spirit. Over the course of three days, the cadets volunteered their time to support the appeal, engaging with the public and helping to raise vital funds for veterans and their families.

Their efforts paid off in an impressive way. Across the three days, they raised a remarkable £3,604.17, a fantastic achievement that reflects both their hard work and the generosity of the local community.

The impact of their contribution is even more significant when seen as part of the wider campaign. So far, the overall Poppy Appeal has raised an incredible £101,656.21, helping the Royal British Legion continue its essential work supporting the Armed Forces community.

A Creative and Inspiring Term for Performing Arts

The Performing Arts department at The Brakenhale School has had a fantastic and creative term, filled with energy and enthusiasm!

Our students are working hard in preparation for the Christmas Showcase on Wednesday 10th December at 7pm, where dance, music, and drama performances will take centre stage to get everyone into the Christmas spirit.

Our Year 11 GCSE Dance students have also been working incredibly hard, having completed their set phrase exams just before half term. They are now focusing on achieving successful outcomes in their duet and trio performances, demonstrating real dedication and passion for their craft.

We’re especially proud of our Contemporary Dance Club and Street Dance Club, who have shown amazing creativity and commitment this term. Excitingly, the Contemporary Dance Club has been selected to perform at the Lift Off Dance Festival at South Hill Park in March — a wonderful opportunity to showcase their talent on a wider stage.

We are so proud of all our Performing Arts students and can’t wait to celebrate their achievements with families and the wider school community!

The start of a new academic year is always an exciting one!

For our new Year 12 cohort, this marks a fresh beginning as members of our Post-16 community. For some of you, it means continuing subjects you enjoyed at Key Stage 4, while for others it involves taking on brand new courses and experiencing them for the first time. Sixth Form also brings a new way of working, with greater independence and responsibility for extending your learning beyond the classroom. It has been fantastic to see how quickly you have adapted to these expectations, how hard you are working in the Private Study Area, and how many of you are already beginning to think about your Post-18 options.

Year 13, you have made a phenomenal start to this important year. Your commitment to your studies has been commendable and is being noticed by all of your teachers. The challenge now is to sustain this momentum. This year will fly by, and before long you will be moving on to exciting new destinations. As I said in assembly, resilience and a growth mindset are essential. Remember: failure is not the end, but a step on the path to success. What matters is not how many times you fall, but how many times you get back up. This year will be intense, but we believe in you, and we know you will rise to the challenge.

Attendance across the Sixth Form has been exceptional. Year 12 and 13 currently have the highest attendance in the school, which is an achievement you should be proud of. A special mention goes to Year 12, who achieved 100% attendance in their first full week back, we hope you enjoyed your ice creams as a well deserved reward for such a fantastic start! Remember, the more time you spend in lessons with your subject experts, the more progress you will make and the more successful you will be in the future. We are proud to be at the top of the attendance leaderboard at Brakenhale and are determined to keep it that way throughout the year.

We were also delighted to welcome back former student Raul Dan, who spoke in assembly about applying to Oxford University and navigating the UCAS process from his own experience. His advice will be invaluable as you consider your own next steps. A reminder: some courses require additional entrance exams beyond A Levels. These are often essential for applications in areas such as Law, Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Science, and places for these exams can fill up quickly. If you are unsure whether this applies to you, please speak to a member of the Sixth Form or exams team as soon as possible.

It has been an incredible start to the academic year. Let’s keep this momentum going, Post-16!