What a fantastic and full week it has been for Crew Brunel! As we reach the end of this half term, it’s been a brilliant opportunity to reflect on our progress, celebrate achievements and recognise the effort that everyone has put in over the past few weeks.

We started the week by welcoming Crew Sinfield to join us. It was great to collaborate and begin the week together, strengthening relationships across crews. As always, we focused on our Crew fundamentals — checking in with one another, setting intentions for the week ahead and making sure everyone felt prepared and supported. These sessions are such an important part of our routine. They allow us to reflect, reset and ensure we are holding ourselves accountable to our goals. Starting the week with clear focus and positive energy really sets the tone for everything that follows.

Tuesday was a practical day as we tackled lost property! This task not only helped organise the school but also counted towards Duke of Edinburgh volunteering skills. Students worked together to sort and catalogue the few items, developing responsibility and community service — showing how even everyday tasks can build valuable skills.

On Wednesday, we continued exploring our current Wise Wednesday topic. These sessions always encourage thoughtful conversation and deeper thinking. Students demonstrated maturity in their discussions, listening respectfully to different viewpoints and building on each other’s ideas. Wise Wednesday is an important space for developing character, reflection and critical thinking — and this week was no exception. It’s great to see how much confidence has grown across the crew when contributing to discussions.

Thursday was all about recognition. We reviewed praises and conducts, taking time to acknowledge the effort and positive contributions made across the half term. A huge congratulations to Rowena, who achieved an incredible 33 praises this half term! This is a fantastic accomplishment and reflects consistent hard work, positive attitude and commitment to Crew values. It was brilliant to celebrate not just the numbers, but the behaviours and effort behind them. The praise leaderboard is a reminder that small, positive actions every day really do add up.

We ended the half term with a Community Meeting, celebrating the amazing work students have produced. A special mention goes to our Year 11 students who have worked incredibly hard during their mock exams. The resilience, preparation and focus they have shown has been impressive.

We are also extremely proud of the students who passed their Passage Presentations this week. A massive well done to: Liam, Brooke, Fin, Rowena and Roan. Their presentations were a true reflection of their hard work and preparation. Thanks to their success, we continue to maintain our 100% pass rate, which is something we are incredibly proud of as a Crew. We now only have a few presentations left after February half term, and we are really looking forward to seeing those final students step up and shine.

On Wednesday and Thursday morning before Crew time, we also held a Valentine’s themed bake sale to raise money for our chosen charity, Coral Reef Alliance. Thanks to the generosity of students and staff, we raised a whopping £90! This is a fantastic achievement and will go towards supporting important work to protect coral reefs around the world. A huge thank you to everyone who baked, donated and bought something — your support really made a difference!

As we close this half term, I want to say how proud I am of the effort, growth and resilience shown by everyone in Crew Brunel. It has been a busy term, but the progress made, both academically and personally, has been clear to see. I hope everyone has a well-deserved, restful break. Take the time to recharge, reset and return refreshed and ready for the new half term ahead.

See you all soon, Crew Brunel — keep striving, keep supporting one another, and keep being brilliant! 

Miss Mitchell