Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope you are all well.

A video version of this update can be found here:

It has been an incredibly busy term at Ladybridge! The information below highlights some significant aspects of our work this term. You can also see a summary of key events this term in the link below. Please be aware that the term finishes at 1.35pm on Friday the 20th of December and we reopen after the festive break at 8.30am on Monday 6th January 2025. Our first week back will be Week B.

Family System

We are pleased with how the new mixed age ‘Family’ system has started this term. It has been wonderful to see so many examples of peer support, teamwork and community work across the school in our mixed age forms. The positive impact of this new approach will grow further in the years to come.

Year 7-10 Trivium Projects

Learners will be experiencing a number of real world learning projects this year, as part of our ‘Trivium’ approach to learning. The purpose of these projects is to develop a broader range of skills and qualities than traditional teaching methods. These projects will help to increase learners’ independent learning skills, preparing them well for the complex challenges they will face in later life.

The projects taking place across this academic year are:

Year 7
‘This Is Us Part 2’. Year 7 parents will be aware that learners have been collecting stories from family members which they are using to publish a book about the people in our wider community.

Bolton – Past, Present and Future. In Humanities, learners will be exploring the town of Bolton, exploring its rich history and collaborating with local organisations to shape the future of the town.

Year 8

Can Bolton become a Blue Zone Where People Lead Long and Happy Lives? In Science and PE, learners will be working with agencies including Bolton Public Health and Bolton Arena to explore health & fitness, make positive changes to their lives and inspire others in the community.

How Can We Play The Computer? In ICT and Music learners will be using the language of coding to create their own experimental music.

Year 9

And You, Who Are You? In Spanish learners have been exploring expressing their identity and have exciting links planned with Spanish partners.

How can We Celebrate Cultural Diversity Through Food? Learners will be exploring the world of food, creating a dish and developing their photography and design skills to create a cookery book.

What is Worth Fighting For? In English and Drama, learners will be working in partnership with the People’s History Museum to explore identity and the power of protest. They will go on to develop their public speaking skills.

Year 10

Can We Use Maps to Create an Accurate Map Without Technology? Working in partnership with Martin Mere, learners will be exploring how to map outdoor environments and presenting their work.

Year 11 Intervention and D6

Year 11 learners have been benefiting from a new approach to intervention this year with ‘study groups’ of learners meeting in the Hub after school with the support of subject specialist teachers. Attendance at D6 on a Saturday morning is high for many learners in Year 10 and 11. Over recent years learners who attend D6 regularly have typically achieved more than a grade higher across all their subjects than learners nationally with the same starting points.

The second set of Year 11 mocks will begin on Monday 13th January and finish on Tuesday 4th February. The Year 11 mock timetable is available here.

No more supply teachers

As you are probably aware, we no longer use supply teachers to cover for short term absence, instead learners study in silence in the ‘study hall’ when their teachers are absent due to illness or when they are attending training. This has helped us to improve standards of behaviour and ensure learners continue to learn and work hard when teachers are absent.

Remodelling work and the new building

The school building has been remodelled in a number of areas over the last 12 months as part of the school’s expansion. A new building will also be constructed at the front of the school in May 2025, providing space for a large new library / Trivium learning space, Art classrooms, Humanities classrooms and a Year 11 / careers base.

Arbor

The use of a new cloud-based information management system has helped the school to improve its use of different forms of data. If you have not done so already, I would encourage you to download the Arbor App, which enables you to see live data on attendance, reports and letters, plus behaviour and WISDOM points. The Arbor App can be downloaded from Google PlayStore or the Apple App Store.

Punctuality Push

Despite the many positive features of our school there are many areas we wish to further improve. One of these areas is the punctuality of a minority of our learners. Parents and carers receive weekly updates from us regarding their child’s punctuality. If your child’s punctuality is not green or blue, please help us by tackling this issue at home to support the action we take in school.

Autumn Term Highlights

Please click on the ‘Read More’ link against each event for more information!

Personal Development and Ladybridge Families

Enjoying an Inter-Form WISDOM Dodgeball tournament this term and producing excellent ideas for community projects.

Year 11 Sports Studies – Anderton Centre

Year 11 learners demonstrated their skills in outdoor adventurous activities for their Cambridge National Sports Studies qualification.

World Afro Day

Year 7 learners met BBC Newsround presenter DeGraft Mensah to discuss World Afro Day and how they celebrate their diversity!

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

A wonderful experience for a group of our learners, attending the Royal Opera House in London for the Royal Ballet’s performance of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

World Mental Health Day

Our Be Kind To My Mind Champions attended Bolton Town Hall for World Mental Health Day, collaborating with other schools and Champions on providing further wellbeing support to others.

Holocaust Art Day / Who Am I? Schools Linking Project

Year 9 learners have engaged with Holocaust Educator Caroline Slifkin to create beautiful pieces of artwork for Holocaust Memorial Day and as part of a ‘Who Am I?’ project in collaboration with other local schools.

Holocaust Art Day – Read more
Who Am I? – Read more

Panathlon Tournaments

A celebration of Panathlon events with Year 9 and 10 learners.

Ladybridge Remembers

We were very privileged to have been asked by the Mayor of Bolton to represent secondary schools in the borough and lay a wreath at the cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday, to honour and remember the courage and sacrifices of those who served and gave so much for our freedom. We also paid our respects on Remembrance Day as Mrs Newcombe and Mr Starbuck played the Last Post.

Protecting Our Planet (POP24)

Year 8 learners joined an inspiring live-streaming event by STEM Learning UK to understand more from leading world experts and researchers about protecting our planet from here on Earth and from space!

Family, Finance & Food Community Events

This term we welcomed parents and carers and the local community into school to chat with local organisations offering information and support on a range of topics. We have further events planned in the new year – everyone is welcome!

Year 11 Leavers’ Presentation

Leavers collected their GCSE Certificates and we celebrated our Class of 2024 with special awards.

Year 7 English Project – ‘This Is Us’ (Part 2)

Continuing with the success of our very first book, ‘This Is Us’, Year 7 learners are creating their own stories with inspiration from people in our local community.

Rewards Trips

Learners who have consistently demonstrated our WISDOM qualities have enjoyed a variety of WISDOM rewards trips to the cinema and at the Anderton Centre, along with vouchers in recognition of their efforts.

Anderton Centre Rewards Trip – Read more