From remembrance and reflection to creativity and celebration, Tuesday saw a brilliant Visual Arts Exhibition. Miss Clark reports:

Celebrating Creativity at our Visual Arts Exhibition

Our Visual Arts Exhibition on Tuesday evening was a wonderful celebration of the creativity, imagination and artistic talent of our students. Showcasing work across Art and Photography, it brought together projects from every year group, including outstanding pieces from our previous Year 11 and Year 13 cohorts.

Students in Year 7 presented an impressive 3D cardboard city made from recycled materials, alongside monoprints of endangered animals and detailed ink studies of coral reefs. Year 8 exhibited large-scale paintings from ‘Cartoons Take Over the Cripps’, while Year 9 displayed lino prints inspired by narrative art and storytelling. Our new Year 10 cohort shared beautiful studies of natural forms, with Year 11 work highlighting the development of students’ artistic skills and individual creative approaches.

The exhibition extended beyond the gallery. One of our fabulous Photography students led an interactive ‘Painting with Light’ workshop, while our Set Design Club transformed used plastic bottles collected across NSB into sculptures for our Light Trail – a brilliant example of creativity, collaboration and sustainability in action.

A particular highlight was seeing our Year 13 students create artwork live. Working in front of an audience, they rose brilliantly to the challenge, demonstrating impressive technical ability and ambition through portraiture and landscape studies.

Thank you to everyone in the NSB community who joined us and supported the exhibition. Most importantly, we are incredibly proud of our talented Art and Photography students, whose hard work, dedication and enthusiasm made the evening such a success. It was a fantastic celebration of the creativity that thrives across our school.

 

There were two excellent National Cup victories for our U12A and U13A football teams and our U16 rugby team this week, although the sporting spotlight was firmly on our Sixth Form Basketball and various Cross-Country teams:

The basketball boys produced a superb 81–51 victory over Warwickshire College in the National College Basketball League, extending their perfect start to four wins from four. Our U18 Girls, meanwhile, made NSB history with their first ever National Cup win. Building on two excellent performances against Moulton and NSG, they stepped up another gear against Oundle School yesterday in a comprehensive 64–29 victory. The girls can take great pride from such an encouraging start at national level.

Mr Taplin reports on some sensational Cross Country success:

On Thursday we took four teams to the Regional Final of the ESAA Cross Country Cup at Stowe School, with the top three in each age group qualifying for the National Final at Ratcliffe College on 5 December.

Iona Ellwood (7th) and Ivanna Obi (32nd), the only members of the Senior Girls team to run, were brilliant on a really hilly course and should be very proud of their performances.

 

 

The Junior Boys team of Rex Nicklin (2nd), Jenson Bridge (52nd), Kai Sepede (69th), Isaac Millman-Grant (13th), Oliver Edmunds (10th) and Jowen Saxon-Hughes (55th) recorded a combined score of 77 to finish 3rd and qualify for the final.

 

 

Despite a number of injuries and withdrawals, the Intermediate Boys team of Ollie Groves (32nd), Myles Marks (15th), Alex Kampta (8th) and Jan Hemmington (9th) scored 64 points to become East Central Regional Champions and progress to the Final.

The Senior Boys team of Josh Pinney (7th), Fin Williams (13th), Freddie Harris (6th), Freddie Love (58th), Harrison Waterson (37th) and George Sharp (54th) finished with 63 points and a share of 2nd place.

A phenomenally successful outing for NSB: for only the second time in our history, three teams have reached the National Final.

To get one team to this level is our target each season; to have three there is incredible and testament to the commitment and skill of every runner. They were all brilliant!

 

One of the most fiercely contested events in the House calendar, the Sixth Form Mixed House Netball tournament, took place on Thursday. In an incredibly well-supported, high-octane competition, Manley edged a thrilling contest to take the title. Mr Hammond reports:

On a brisk Thursday lunchtime, nearly 50 Sixth Form students from Years 12 and 13 took to the court to represent their houses in a fiercely competitive netball tournament.

With a fantastic mix of sporting talent on display – from those more accustomed to the basketball court or rugby field to some very accomplished netballers – the tournament provided a superb sporting spectacle. Just as impressive were the outstanding team spirit, sportsmanship and enthusiasm shown throughout, reminding us exactly why it is so special to be part of the House system at NSB.

A huge thank you to all the participants and supporters, and especially to Miss Bason, Mrs Harvey-Hodges and Mrs Barlow for giving up their lunchtime to umpire. Congratulations to Manley House, our worthy champions!

 

Northampton Saints take on Leicester Tigers tonight at Franklins Gardens in The Premiership Cup derby and there will be four former NSB students taking the field to cheer on! Former Head Boy, Josh Manz is on the bench for the Tigers and Ollie Scola, Sonny Tonga'uiha and Hugh Shields all start for Northampton!

 

Finally, a reminder that the Friends of NSB Music Fish and Chip Quiz Night takes place today at 6pm. Tickets are also on sale from the Box Office for three highlights of our Christmas calendar: The KS3 production of A Christmas Carol on Thursday and Friday, 3rd and 4th December, the Christmas Concert on Wednesday, 9th December, and the Staff Panto on Thursday, 10th December.

Richard Bernard MBE

Headteacher