Blog week ending 4th June
As we begin the final term of the academic year, there is a great sense of anticipation across WGSB. This is always a special time of year one that brings together the culmination of hard work, the celebration of talent, and a wealth of opportunities for our students to thrive.
Our Year 11 and Year 13 students continue to approach each examination with positivity, focus and excellent preparation. They have shown real resilience and commitment throughout the year, and they should feel confident in their abilities as they meet each challenge. We are immensely proud of their attitude and the way they represent the best of WGSB.
The term ahead is full of opportunities for enrichment, excellence and celebration. Our students’ creativity will be on full display at the GCSE Art Exhibition and STEAM Week, and we eagerly anticipate this year’s summer production of Lord of the Flies, which promises to be a highlight of the cultural calendar.
Sports Week will, as ever, bring energy and enthusiasm to the school, with opportunities for every student to shine whether in individual events or team competitions. It is always a fantastic showcase of both talent and school spirit.
We are delighted to continue celebrating our 75th anniversary year. A range of special events, including our much anticipated It’s A Knockout events, will bring students together in friendly competition and celebration of this significant milestone in the school’s history.
Alongside these key moments, the term is filled with a wide range of visits, fixtures, workshops and events, reflecting the breadth of opportunity available at WGSB.
I very much hope to see as many of you as possible at our Summer Fair and other events across the coming weeks. These occasions are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our students’ achievements and to enjoy being part of the WGSB community.
It promises to be a busy, vibrant and memorable end to the academic year. Thank you, as always, for your continued support.
Year 8 students visited MathsWorld on the Southbank for a full day of mathematical exploration, hands‑on discovery, and team challenges. One of the most popular exhibits was the giant bubble, where students learned that a bubble naturally forms the smallest possible surface area. When they created a “tunnel bubble,” instead of forming a cylinder, the bubble curved inward to create a catenoid a beautiful real‑world example of maths in action.
Throughout the visit, students engaged with a wide range of interactive exhibits that encouraged critical thinking, problem‑solving, and collaboration. The experience brought classroom learning to life and highlighted how mathematical ideas are applied in the wider world.
Please join me in congratulating the four student competitors who represented WGSB at the regional MFL Spelling and Translation Bee at Mayfield Grammar School for Girls. Despite stiff competition and tough rounds, they motivated each other and gave everything they had, securing first place and runner up! A brilliant demonstration of their extensive language skills and camaraderie.
Matthew N of 8A – won first place in the Spanish Spelling Bee
Nathan I of 7T – won first place in the French Spelling Bee
Anton N of 9A – won first place in the Spanish Translation Bee
Matthew B of 8M – was runner up in the French Translation Bee
Year 7 Scientists travelled to Wildwood in Kent for an enjoyable day of observing conservation in action via a guided tour by one of their Trust Rangers followed by a very special investigation! Students set to work to solve ‘CSI: Wildwood – Who Killed Mr Bunny?’, a forensic science workshop. Students used their investigative skills to solve a woodland murder mystery, based on real-life predator-prey relationships. Working in small teams, students examined physical evidence, made their own conclusions and reported back on their findings to identify the culprit! (caveat – no bunnies were harmed in the making of this investigation!)
Careers & Enrichment Provision. Mr Salt, Deputy Head of WG6 together with specialist speakers are delivering a series of university lecture taster sessions. Students from across year groups, are nominated by subject teachers to attend a special subject lecture. These lectures are intended to inspire students to consider their subject strengths and interests and provide an insight into what studying them at university might be like. Pictured below, the first in the series delivered by Mr Salt, An introduction to Charlemagne and the Carolingian Empire. These fascinating sessions support students to make links between their current studies and how they can lead to future education and career pathways.
75th Anniversary Programme of Celebration. Across the school, we have been marking our 75th Anniversary with a range of dedicated form‑time activities. Students and staff have worked together to develop a series of special events to celebrate this significant milestone in WGSB’s history. As we continue through our year of celebrations, we will be highlighting key elements from our 75th Programme of Celebration.
This Week’s 75th Highlight – WGSB Poetry Collection.
In English lessons, students will be submitting their contributions to the WGSB 75th Anniversary Poetry Anthology. The poems, using any form, style or genre, should capture the spirit of life at WGSB in 2026.
75th Anniversary Event – It’s A Knockout!
Years 7 & 8 – 22nd June
Years 9 & 10 – 23rd June
Most of you might not remember(!) the hugely popular and iconic TV gameshow of the same name that ran for over 20 years from the late 60s to 80s. Our It’s A Knockout Challenge will see students taking part in a series of giant inflatable obstacles, foam-filled challenges and fast-paced courses mirroring the fun and capturing the essence of the original show. We are all very much looking forward to taking part! A letter with full details and cost has gone out, and can be read by clicking here
A date for your diary! School Production. Mr Woodbridge and our drama students would love to see as many of you as are able to attend! Having had a sneak peek during rehearsals … we are in for a treat!
PTA Update. Summer Fair – Sunday 5th July, 11am – 2pm
We’d love for you to join us for an afternoon of fun, games, and great food from our barbecue. Raffle tickets are now available on iPay, with prizes including vouchers, food hampers, gift sets, and many more exciting prizes.
Preloved School Uniform. We are always grateful for donations of preloved school uniform. If you have any items you would like to donate, please drop them off at Reception clearly marked for the PTA.
Transport Update – new private coach provider. From September 2026, Abbey Travel will be taking over the Home to School transport services for both Wilmington Grammar Schools and Dartford Grammar Schools, previously operated by DJ Coaches. DJ Coaches have kindly worked with Abbey Travel to ensure a smooth transition and have shared existing pick-up points and route information so that there will be no changes impacting the current service provision for students.
Termly tickets to travel will are now available to purchase via the Abbey Travel website: www.abbeytravel.com. Parents/Carers can contact Abbey Travel directly by email: info@abbeytravel.com or via telephone: 0208 312 9514.
The Kent Family Hub together with Kent County Council have shared the below information;
Supporting Young People to stay well this summer. As we head into the summer months, it’s a great time to think about how we can support the emotional wellbeing of the young people we live with. Changes in routine, more free time, and the pressures of social media or isolation can all have an impact on how young people feel over the holidays.
To help with this, the i-Thrive team at Kent County Council have created a “Keeping Well This Summer” Sway – a simple, engaging resource designed especially for young people. It’s full of practical tips, ideas and signposts to help them look after their wellbeing during the summer break.
What’s included?
The Sway covers:
- Easy ways to look after mental health and wellbeing
- Ideas for staying active and connected
- Tips for managing low mood, anxiety, or boredom
- Links to trusted support services if extra help is needed
How you can help. We’d really appreciate your support in sharing this resource with the young people you live with. You could use it as part of a conversation about how they are feeling.
A simple share could make a real difference in helping a young person feel supported and know where to turn. Access the Sway – Keeping well this summer 2026
Additionally, we have been asked to share the below important advice and information;
Staying Safe Around Water. Recently, as temperatures increase, there have been a number of incidents up and down the country where young people have got into difficulty around water. Tragically, some of these young people have lost their lives. This term, we will be educating your child on the importance of staying safe around water and what to do if they or someone else gets into difficulty. To reinforce this important message, we ask you to speak with your child about the dangers of water and to look at the websites linked below together to get more information:
Staying safe around water – GOV.UK
Float to Live. Would you know what to do if you got into difficulty in the water? Float by following these five simple steps – it could save your life.
This advice is useful to everyone, however you use the water. It has helped save the lives of more than 50 people in all sorts of situations. From children in rip currents to runners falling into canals, from people swept out by waves, to fisherman falling overboard.
The best way to float is to tilt your head back with your ears submerged. Try to relax and breathe normally. You can gently move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat if you need to. Spread your arms and legs out to improve stability – and it’s OK if your legs sink, we all float differently. Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety. Practise floating in a supervised location like a swimming pool.
5 steps to know how to float
- Tilt your head back and submerge your ears
- Relax and control your breathing
- Move your hands and legs to help stay afloat
- Your legs may sink and that’s OK as everyone floats differently
- Find your float by practicing at a supervised location
Watch the video and get more information from the RNLI: Float To Live – What To Do In An Emergency – RNLI
Forthcoming Dates:
Year 7 Wildwood Trip – 7A, 7B, 7M – 4 June
Year 10 Cricket v Bexley Grammar – 4 June
Mathsworld Trip 8B & 8K – 5 June
Year 12 Grade reports home – 5 June
Year 10 Cricket v Hurstmere – 10 June
Year 12 Parent/Carer Briefing (virtual) – 10 June
GCSE Art Exhibition – 11 June 5-7pm
Year 12 Futures Week – 15 – 19 June
Year 10 Geography Trip – 15 June
Year 9 Cricket v CSGS – 15 June
Year 10 Cricket v CSGS – 15 June
Gravesham Big Sing – 17 June
Year 8 Portsmouth Dockyard Trip – 18 June
Year 7 Cricket v CSGS – 18 June
Year 8 Cricket v CSGS – 18 June
Year 11 Thorpe Park Trip – 19 June
SchoolShop Uniform sizing event – 19 June in school hall from @ 2pm
SchoolShop Uniform sizing event – Saturday 20 June in school hall finishing @ 1.30pm
WG6 Induction Day – 22 June
Years 7-10 Sports week – 22-26 June
75TH Anniversary Celebrations Y7 & 8, It’s A Knockout – 22 June
75TH Anniversary Celebrations Y9 & 10, It’s A Knockout – 23 June
Summer Production, Lord of the Flies – 24 June
Summer Production, Lord of the Flies – 25 June
Year 9 HSBC Workshop (A, B, J) – 29 June
Year 9 HSBC Workshop (K, M, T) – 30 June
Year 10 Geography Field Trip – 30 June
Year 6 Transition Evening – 1 July
Year 12 Parent/Carers’ Evening – 2 July 4.30-7.30pm @ WGSG
Year 6 Transition Day – 3 July
Summer Fair – Sunday 5 July 11am-2pm
STEAM Week – 13–17 July
Year 10 & 12 Work Experience – 13-17 July
Year 9 DofE – 14-15 July
Last Day of Term 6 – 21 July @ 12noon
First Day of 2026/27 Academic Year – Thursday 3 September (except new Years 7 & 12 whose first day is Wednesday 2 September)
Best wishes,
Stuart Harrington
Headteacher
