Brooke Weston’s restaurant manager, Christine Gray, is retiring after 25 years in the role, having worked with thousands of our students over the years.

Christine started working at Brooke Weston as a general assistant in the restaurant and has seen a lot of changes in the school. ‘When I first began working here 25 years ago there were only 350 students, since then the restaurant has been extended, the library has been built and we have had a brand new extention for performing arts.

‘Brooke Weston has been really good to me during my time here. I left school when I was 15 and since working here I have completed my Level 3 NVQ management course and learnt how to use a computer, which terrified me at first! My role here is slightly different to other catering managers within the trust I do all the finance myself, which includes bacs runs, ensuring suppliers get paid, and reconciling the students lunch money. I used to do it all in books but now it’s done on the computer. I have a fabulous team of 18 who have all worked with me a long time, some of them 15-20 years and I will miss them all so much.

Brooke Weston’s careers adviser, Andy Primmett, is retiring after 20 years in the role, having worked with thousands of our students to help them form their career ideas.

'There have been major developments in the world of work during this time: a dramatic rise in self-employment, zero hours contracts, outsourcing, fixed-term contracts, off-shoring and a huge increase in university applications. Young people can also now consider the new Higher Apprenticeships which have been developed by leading employers, and these offer well-paid professional careers without incurring large debt.

Former student Sub Lieutenant Emma Turner returned to Brooke Weston to give a presentation about life in the Navy and advise students interested in a career in the Armed Forces.

Emma, who left Brooke Weston in 2015, talked about her experiences so far within the Royal Navy and the opportunities that are available within the the military. She said ‘I only decided to apply for the Navy at the last minute as I realised university wasn’t for me. The opportunities I could gain from joining the Navy were just too good to miss. I already have a degree in Management and Leadership after only one year and have also qualified as a ski instructor which the Navy paid me to do during my two-week annual Adventure Training. To join the Navy you need to be a logical thinker, a team player and a natural leader, someone that can take charge when things are going wrong. People in sports teams are often really good examples as they have been used to working as a team so think logically and tactically. I was always into sport when I was at Brooke Weston, which I think, stood me in good stead.

Year 10 student 15 year old Tommy Sims has been selected to represent Northampton Saints in a national rugby tournament taking place over the bank holiday weekend.

Award winning children’s author Katie Dale visited the academy this week to help students develop their writing skills and discuss how to become an author.