Our Student Leadership Team led a deeply thoughtful assembly for the Sixth Form on Remembrance Day, asking their peers to consider not only the past, but also the present, amid ongoing conflicts around the world, and the future, where they can use their voices to speak out against injustice.

Here at NSB, we have a unique history: 194 of our former students and staff fought and died in world conflicts. It is a shared history that binds us together. Their 194 names can be found on our memorial in the 1911 Hall, which students have visited throughout the week, learning about their forebears and their stories.

As we stood together in silence, our Head Boy and Head Girl reminded us that we stand together for those 194 and for our shared values of integrity, community and respect; that we should carry those values, with us out into the world as we remember the 194 and so many others around the world who never came home.

Continuing the Remembrance theme, the English Department ran a hotly contested Remembrance Poetry Competition, attracting some brilliant entries. Mrs Morrell reflects on the students' work:

We Remember: Year 8 Poetry Competition
To mark Remembrance Day, Year 8 students were invited to take part in our ‘We Remember’ poetry competition, inspired by their study of Private Peaceful and First World War poetry.

Students were encouraged to reflect on the importance of remembrance, honouring those who sacrificed their lives and considering why we must continue to remember the people, events and stories of the past.

We were incredibly moved by the beautiful and thoughtful submissions we received. The poems demonstrated not only impressive creativity and sensitivity, but also a profound respect for the significance of Remembrance Day. It was wonderful to see students engaging so maturely and compassionately with such an important subject.

Special congratulations go to the authors of our two highest-ranked poems:
Norbert (8J), Manley House
Rhys (8K), Washington House
Their outstanding poems stood out for their powerful language, emotional depth and thoughtful exploration of remembrance.

A heartfelt thank you to every student who participated. Your words were a fitting and respectful tribute to those we remember, and you should all be immensely proud of your contributions.

Thank you, too, to everyone who bought an NSB Poppy Pin Badge. Together, you have helped raise more than £1300 for the Royal British Legion — a tremendous contribution to such an important cause.

NSB Trust students have also stepped into the national media spotlight this week. The first episode of Homegrown, the documentary charting our First XV's spectacular season last year, was streamed through The Good, The Bad & The Rugby on Monday and has already attracted close to 50,000 views. The second episode drops Monday 16th November 18:00.

 

Tadiwa Ziwenga Year 8, won the hearts of the nation with his moving appearance on the Children in Need Countryfile Ramble a few weeks ago, and tonight evening he will again take centre stage on BBC One in the main Children in Need programme. We wish Tadiwa every success and will be incredibly proud to see an NSB student representing the school on such a major national platform.

 

It's been an exceptional week for school sport with excellent wins in the National Cup for the U12A, U13A, U14A football teams, the U17A Basketball team and the First XV. On top of that success, NSB students were also breaking records in the Old Gym with Jack Llewellyn breaking the all time Year 7 NSB 1 minute indoor rowing record with an incredible 275m, and Michael Graham breaking the 15-16 year old British record for 500m, with an astonishingly quick time of 1:19.3 mins. Many of our U15 Water Polo players also excelled competing for Northampton Water Polo Club in Liverpool last weekend, finishing in the top ten in the country after excellent wins against Cheltenham, Beckenham and Tyldesley.

Huge congratulations to Harley Yates, Arthur Cooke, Alessia Della-Vedova, Natalia Markowska and Joshua Myring, who recently had the incredible opportunity to perform at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the Music for Youth Proms. Performing with the NMPAT group Guys 'n' Dolls, they took to the stage at one of the country's most iconic concert venues. To be invited to perform at such a prestigious event is a wonderful achievement and a tremendous testament to their hard work, talent and dedication.

 

Jakub Wojcik - Year 10 - is one of our most resilient and highly successful students. Jakub has both Type 1 diabetes and Cystic Fibrosis and he will be participating in the 5k Silverstone Run Fest later in November to fundraising for both the CF Trust and Diabetes UK charities. Further details can be found here: Jakub Fundraising Run

Finally, our sister school in The NSB Trust — Northampton School — enjoyed a Royal visit this week when HRH The Duke of Gloucester officially opened the school.

 

From the quiet reflection of Remembrance to national television, elite school sport, charity fundraising and the stage of the Royal Albert Hall, this has been another week that captures the extraordinary breadth of NSB life — and, above all, the amazing character, talent and commitment of our students.

 

Richard Bernard MBE

Headteacher