Pathways Blog - 17.7.26
As we reach the end of another academic year, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for the incredible support you have shown New Bridge Pathways throughout the year.
This year's successes are a testament to the dedication of our staff, the hard work and resilience of our pupils, and the ongoing support we receive from parents and carers. Together, we have created an environment where young people can thrive both academically, socially and emotionally.
At Pathways, we strive to provide a curriculum that promotes happiness, personal growth and achievement, whilst offering opportunities that allow pupils to be creative and experience activities beyond their everyday lives.
This year, our site has participated in a range of exciting whole-school events, including Harry Potter Day, the "Whodunnit?" Super Learning Day, the "Survival and Resilience" Super Learning Day, and our End of Key Stage 4 Celebrations. These events have been hugely successful, generating fantastic levels of enthusiasm and engagement from our pupils.
Our town centre location has enabled us to make the most of numerous off-site educational experiences, enriching pupils' social and emotional development while helping them apply their classroom learning in real-world settings. These opportunities have played an important role in supporting both academic progress and personal development.
The wider curriculum continues to be a significant strength of Pathways - the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, local and international residential visits, and our dedicated pastoral support systems have supported pupils in developing confidence, resilience and character, helping them move closer to becoming the remarkable adults we know they can be.
I am incredibly proud of everything we have achieved together this year and would like to thank all families and external agencies who have supported us along the way. I am also immensely proud of our staff teams – including our teaching staff, pastoral team, administration team, premises staff, catering team and ICT department – who place our pupils at the centre of everything they do. Their commitment and dedication ensure that we continue to fulfil our vision of ‘Creating Meaningful Futures’.
The End of the Year sees 2 members of our staff team move on to ventures new – Mr Wilson and Mr Hollinworth. Mr Wilson joined Pathways in its first year and has made a difference to many of our learners, guiding and advising them to make more informed and critical choices. He also played a part in developing our Community Living curriculum, which has had a meaningful impact on all our pupils.
Mr Hollinworth joined New Bridge in 2005 and has been a staple part of many learners' journeys throughout the years. His skill in quickly forming meaningful relationships with pupils, parents, and external agencies has been highly valued.
I wish them both well in their future careers and thank them for their commitment and dedication to the site and, ultimately, our pupils.
My final words are to our pupils:
Year 11 – Good luck with whatever comes next. We are incredibly proud of you and know that you will go on to achieve great things.
Year 10 – Continue to build on everything you have learned this year. We look forward to welcoming you back in September.
Year 9 – We are excited to welcome you to Pathways and cannot wait to begin your journey with us.
Enjoy your summer, stay safe
Mr Southerington
CL2
What a Ride! Reflecting on a Year Full of Fun, Growth, and Unforgettable Memories
That’s a wrap on an absolutely incredible year! Looking back at the past twelve months, it is amazing to see how much we have accomplished, how much we have grown, and—most importantly—how much pure fun we had along the way. From thrilling outdoor adventures to creative milestones, this year was packed with unforgettable moments that brought us closer together.
We learned new skills, stepped out of our comfort zones, and supported one another through every single challenge.
Every laugh shared during a chaotic group activity and every quiet moment of shared success contributed to a year that felt truly special.
Thank you to everyone who brought their energy, passion, and smiles to make this year what it was!
The class team want to wish you a fabulous summer and we cannot wait to start all over again in September.
Mrs Palmer
CL 2
CL4
Our last week together has been a busy and enjoyable one!
On Monday, CL4 put their baking skills to the test by making delicious chocolate chip cookies, which they then sold at the Summer Market on Tuesday. The cookies were a huge success and sold out within minutes, proving just how talented our young bakers are!
We also celebrated World Emoji Day by designing our own unique emojis to reflect our individual personalities and interests. It was a wonderful opportunity for everyone to express their creativity and celebrate what makes each of us unique.
The week has also given us the chance to spend some relaxed and memorable time together as a form before the summer holidays begin. On Wednesday, we said a fond farewell to our Year 11 students – Kye, Kayleb, Harrison, Junaid, Alex and Reegan – and wished them every success as they embark on their exciting new adventures at college. We are incredibly proud of them and look forward to hearing about all they achieve in the future.
Have a lovely Summer everyone
Mrs I, Miss Attkinson and Mr Miah
CL 4
The End of an Era: CL5
As the year comes to an end, we look back on the fantastic memories CL5 has made together. From exploring the historic crypt at Oldham Parish Church to cycling, kite flying and enjoying team-building activities in Alexandra Park, we shared many unforgettable experiences.
Our trips to the library, The Lowry and Manchester Cathedral helped us explore culture, creativity and history, while strengthening our friendships along the way.
A special goodbye to our leaving students—thank you for your kindness, leadership and humour. We wish all our CL5 students every success in their next adventure.
Goodbye and good luck from Mrs Taylor and Miss Harrison
CL5
Digi 1&2 Blog
We are so immensely proud of how well our students have done across the year as well as in the last couple of weeks leading up to the summer holidays.
Super Learning Day
This week we held our last Super Learning Day of the school year, and it focused on Belief and Belonging. The students created “Guess the community?” posters filled with facts on different religions for others to guess using only facts. We have also made Origami Lotus Flowers linked to Buddhism as part of our recognition of different symbols linking to different faiths.
Summer Markets & NBP Picnic
Tuesday and Thursday were the summer markets and pathways picnic. The Hama bead key rings that the students created were a blast with fellow students, the sponge throw and 3D printed fidgets and popcorn cones also received a good reception. The picnic gave the students are bit of relaxation after all the hard work they had done.
End of Year Party
Today marked the last day of the school year. We had our end of year party with music, games and treats and made some squishes which the students found quite exciting.
We would like to wish a big, good luck to our lovely Year 11s who are leaving this week. It has been wonderful to see your growth whilst being at Pathways and we could not be prouder of you. Even with change, you have embraced it well and continued to work hard in all aspects of school. It has been a pleasure being on this journey with you. Be confident, aim high and good luck!
Wishing you all the best,
Miss Wood, Miss Peters, Mrs Anwer & Miss Shewring
Digi 1 & 2
Super Learning Day
KS4 Lumenus
Dance and Faith Around the World
During our Super Learning Day, Lumenus students explored how dance is used in different cultures around the world to express faith and beliefs. They learned that many traditional dances have been passed down through generations and are often performed during religious celebrations, festivals, and special ceremonies.
Inspired by their learning, the children worked creatively to create their own dances based on different cultures. They carefully thought about how movement, music, and expression can tell stories, celebrate important events, and bring communities together.
The Lumenus students discovered that, although dances look different across the world, they often share a common purpose. Many cultures use dance to express faith, tell sacred stories, celebrate religious events, and strengthen community bonds. Dance can be a powerful form of worship, reflection, and spiritual expression.
It was wonderful to see the children's creativity, enthusiasm, and respect for different cultures as they shared their unique performances. We are incredibly proud of the effort they put into their learning and the confidence they showed in presenting their dances to others.
Activ8 1
During our Super Learning Day, students explored sacrifice and commitment in Christianity and Islam, creating posters comparing key beliefs, practices and values. They then took part in a community litter pick, showing teamwork and responsibility while linking their actions to Christian stewardship and the Islamic concept of Khalifah (caring for the Earth).
Well done,
Mr Hollinworth
Activ8 1
