Fantastic performances were abound in the Dance/Drama Curriculum Showcase on Tuesday which acted as a fine precursor to the Expressive Arts Awards Evening last night. The Awards Evening is a rather unique event which manages to combine a heady mix of informality, convention and the very best of creative talent that NSB has to offer, into a royal night of entertainment. Many thanks to Mrs Greenaway, her staff and to all of the students for putting on such a superb event. We still have two major expressive arts events left tonight with the final Jazz @ The Cripps night of the year held in the Cripps Hall Theatre and the Y10 GCSE Dance group performing at the Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre in the national Dance finals, which I am hugely looking forward to, although unfortunately I can't get to both!

One of the school's most loyal and active supporters is NSB Governor, Morcea Walker. I have often marvelled at the sheer volume of work and school events that Morcea manages to get through and to and she is a wonderful advocate of NSB at all times. Morcea has already been awarded for her exceptional work in the community with an MBE and on July 12th, through The London Gazette, we received notification that she has been appointed as one of the Deputy Lieutenants of Northamptonshire, which is a tremendous honour and richly deserved.

On Wednesday afternoon our local neighbours may well have perked their ears up at the roars deriving from the lower fields as the whole school cheered on runners in the final relay events of yet another outstanding Sports Day. Special mention deserves to go to Brightwell House who after years of picking up the 'Wooden Spoon' stormed back into contention this year before Manly House just pipped them to the title by 4 points. Tremendous organisation by Mr Wilcock and committed support from all staff and the Y12 students, helped make the competition a day to remember for all of our lower school students. The sporting success was crowned with a phenomenal performance by our NSB golf team of Matt Green, Dan Blackmore and Henry Edwards who took on one of the mighty Woodhall Spa courses as well as the nation's leading 36 schools in golf to challenge for the national title. Matt won the lowest gross with a flurry of birdies securing a -2 score from the back competition tees, which is sensational and he was ably supported by Dan and Henry, with an overall team score of 74 Stapleford points, earning joint first place although the actual title was lost on countback. All three boys should be back next year to see if they can go one better! Please Click Here

Finally I would like to alert all parents and students to the latest Northamptonshire 'Safety' Matters newsletters which covers a lot of important information regarding holiday safety, including danger associated with water, railways, fire, cycling and on-line safety matters. Please Click Here

Richard Bernard
Headmaster