BLOG WEEK ENDING 28TH JUNE
Our Careers Life Programme delivered a morning of inspiring and instructive talks and interactive sessions to support students as they consider their next steps and potential future careers. We are incredibly grateful to all the amazing alumni, parents and local businesses that shared their time and expertise to provide aspirational examples of a whole host of potential study and career options. Student engagement on the day was exceptional, but the pro-active questions and conversations that have taken place as a consequence of your visit bears testament to the inspirational role models you represent. Students discovered new career options in new and developing industries as well as honest and helpful guidance to further education and apprenticeships. My sincere thanks to all the below contributors and friends of Wilmington Grammar School for Boys.
Eddie Allsopp – Advance Player Development HW School Skills
Jack Ambrose – Jack Ambrose Visuals
Deborah Braxton – Mace
Danny Chapman – Law 36 Family
Nicholas Coales – BAE Systems
Michael Edison-Odiase – KPMG
Emma Eisinger – Planning Team Dartford Council
Keely Furniss – Met Police
Samuel Gayle – Energy Engineering Degree University of East Anglia
Darren Ghazaleh – Applus UK Ltd
Devinder Gill – Entain
Alex Godwin-Turner – Lockton
Andrea Grechlarosa – University College London (UCL)
Matt Green – Broadsword
Alex Hill – Whitecode Consulting
Ian Hoare – BAE Systems
Jack Horsham – Mace
Chloe Jolley – Kent & Medway NHS
Louis Joseph – Ebbsfleet Development Corporation
Joseph Kidd – ThermoFisher Scientific
Trevor Loomes – Ricoh
Michelle Loomes – Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
Brian Macaulay – Digital Catapult
Luke Milton – Met Police
Sophie Nolan – Gardiner & Theobald
Ravneet Oberai – Kent & Medway NHS
Poojan Patel – ThermoFisher Scientific
Sachi Perera – Gardiner & Theobald
Lara Pool – Ebbsfleet Development Corporation
Monica Rowley – Met Police
Peter Russell – ITV
Ben Selby – UK Power Networks
Kai Spellman – Bellway Homes
Bethan Steehuis – Freelance Media Production Assistant
Dan Stribbling – Advance Player Development HW School Skills
Bryony Toms – IBM
Sophie Tyler – Darent Valley Hospital
Ben Warner – Populous
Georgia Wilson – Together Group
BLOG
BLOG WEEK ENDING 28TH JUNE
Posted on: 27/06/2024
Our Careers Life Programme delivered a morning of inspiring and instructive talks and interactive sessions to support students as they consider their next steps and potential future careers. We are incredibly grateful to all the amazing alumni, parents and local businesses that shared their time and expertise to provide aspirational examples of a whole host of potential study and career options. Student engagement on the day was exceptional, but the pro-active questions and conversations that have taken place as a consequence of your visit bears testament to the inspirational role models you represent. Students discovered new career options in new and developing industries as well as honest and helpful guidance to further education and apprenticeships. My sincere thanks to all the below contributors and friends of Wilmington Grammar School for Boys.
Eddie Allsopp – Advance Player Development HW School Skills
Jack Ambrose – Jack Ambrose Visuals
Deborah Braxton – Mace
Danny Chapman – Law 36 Family
Nicholas Coales – BAE Systems
Michael Edison-Odiase – KPMG
Emma Eisinger – Planning Team Dartford Council
Keely Furniss – Met Police
Samuel Gayle – Energy Engineering Degree University of East Anglia
Darren Ghazaleh – Applus UK Ltd
Devinder Gill – Entain
Alex Godwin-Turner – Lockton
Andrea Grechlarosa – University College London (UCL)
Matt Green – Broadsword
Alex Hill – Whitecode Consulting
Ian Hoare – BAE Systems
Jack Horsham – Mace
Chloe Jolley – Kent & Medway NHS
Louis Joseph – Ebbsfleet Development Corporation
Joseph Kidd – ThermoFisher Scientific
Trevor Loomes – Ricoh
Michelle Loomes – Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
Brian Macaulay – Digital Catapult
Luke Milton – Met Police
Sophie Nolan – Gardiner & Theobald
Ravneet Oberai – Kent & Medway NHS
Poojan Patel – ThermoFisher Scientific
Sachi Perera – Gardiner & Theobald
Lara Pool – Ebbsfleet Development Corporation
Monica Rowley – Met Police
Peter Russell – ITV
Ben Selby – UK Power Networks
Kai Spellman – Bellway Homes
Bethan Steehuis – Freelance Media Production Assistant
Dan Stribbling – Advance Player Development HW School Skills
Bryony Toms – IBM
Sophie Tyler – Darent Valley Hospital
Ben Warner – Populous
Georgia Wilson – Together Group
This week our Sports Department, supported by staff across the school hosted our annual sporting extravaganza, that is Sports week. Each year group had a dedicated day of House competitions in a range of sports to suit all abilities, and preferences. The list of activities include: Football A, Football B, Tag Rugby, Orienteering, End Zone (which is a cross between handball and American football!), Ultimate Frisbee and Cricket. Each day culminated in a House Final in front of a cheering year group! The week is topped off with an athletics event on Friday afternoon, where the top athletes in each House compete in front of a whole-school crowd of supporters!
Thank you to all staff, students and WG6 referees for helping to make this such a joyous week of sporting pursuit, House camaraderie and a lot of fun.
Sports Week Support. Thank you to our PTA who provided ice lollies, soft drinks, snacks … and oranges at half time! The students and staff took full advantage, ice poles being a best-seller! If you would like to join our PTA, no matter how much or how little time you have free we are always grateful!
Our Yoto Carnegie shadowing book club travelled to central London to be part of the winners’ ceremony and celebrations. The awards were announced in front of an audience of over 600 students at the live-streamed ceremony at the Cambridge Theatre, home of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s award-winning Matilda The Musical. The character of Matilda’s beloved librarian Mrs Phelps welcomed the audience to the theatre ahead of the winners being announced.
The Carnegie Medal for Writing was awarded to Joseph Coelho for his novel in verse, The Boy in the Lost Maze. The National shadowers’ book club award was won by Aaron Becker for his novel, The Tree and the River. Our students had an amazing time, as well as getting their books signed by the authors! Thanks to our Librarian Ms Fisk for organising such a thrilling trip!
WG6 Careers Update. Year 12 Futures Week. Students have enjoyed a range of future pathway support activities and workshops including;
- Choosing a course and university – a Q&A from Essex University including an insight into student life.
- Alumni event – Wilmington alumni sharing their tips and personal experiences from their studies and workplaces.
- Apply to university and student Finance – delivered by Canterbury Christchurch University
- Interview skills – includes LinkedIn, Unifrog, and apprenticeships
- UCAS and personal statement completion – delivered by The Life Skills company
WG6 work experience. David M provided the following report.
“Brandon and I were privileged enough to undergo work experience with the Crown Prosecution Service. We were able to visit the Thames Magistrate Court and the Croydon Crown Court where we heard many real-life criminal cases as well as what life is like as a barrister, solicitor, judge and every role available in court. The rest of the placement was spent in the CPS office in Petty France London where we met both Chief Crown Prosecutor of South London (Lionel Idan) and North London (Jaswant Kaur Narwal) and was able to get a picture. His Honour Judge Michael Evans in the Croydon Crown Court allowed me to wear his wig and sit on his chair! We were lucky enough to meet loads of high-profile individuals and heard very interesting and crazy cases from different people. Additionally, we received certificates at the end – it was an amazing and eye-opening experience!”
WG6 Induction Day. We welcomed students ahead of their joining us in September to give them a sense of the WG6 experience! Students took part in taster lessons for their A Level choices as well as working together in a cross-curricular challenge .. “Can we change the world?” Each group researched and debated the question from the perspective of their subject area before sharing their conclusions with the wider group. We look forward to seeing you all again in September.
Summer Arts Festival. Thank you to all our amazingly talented musicians, actors and artists who contributed to what was a terrific celebration of the arts here at WGSB. We champion the arts and culture through our curriculum and beyond – our clubs and societies provide a rich and varied programme of activities allowing students to explore creative activities. From wildlife photography, to taking part in a major school production, or by being part of our art club or young journalists’ group there are lots of opportunities for self-expression and developing an individual creative outlet! The below photos are from rehearsals .. photos from yesterday’s event will be shared in a future blog.
This week we said goodbye to Spanish student Martin who spent three weeks with us to experience school life and practice his language skills here at WGSB. Head of our MFL, Mrs Chambers, received the below letter of thanks from Martin’s father which I would like to share, and add my thanks to all staff and students – I am incredibly proud of our community, and its warm and giving ethos.
“From the moment he arrived, he was warmly welcomed and made to feel at home. The care and attention provided by you and your staff were exceptional, and it made a significant difference in his overall experience. He thoroughly enjoyed the classes and the opportunity to make new friends. He mentioned that he particularly loved the science lab experience, creating a Euro anthem in music class, the geography lessons, the cooking classes, and the Sports Day, amongst others.
I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to the teachers. My son felt that they genuinely love what they do, and this passion was clearly conveyed in their teaching. Their enthusiasm and dedication have left a lasting impression on him, making his learning experience both enjoyable and inspiring.
Additionally, I am deeply grateful to all his classmates, especially the buddies, for welcoming him and making him feel like one of their own. They showed many small gestures of kindness, such as saving him a spot at lunch, including him in games, or teaching him how to play cricket and frisbee. Their kindness and camaraderie have made his stay truly memorable.”
Science Department Ecology and Wildlife Club. Miss Barry and Miss Horsley jointly run a club on Tuesday afternoon that cares for and studies the flora and fauna on our Wilmington site. This week was a gardening day and as you can see, the warm wet weather has resulted in areas getting rather overgrown! Students cleared the area round the pond and topped up the water level. Students have observed newts (pictured below) and other water dwelling organisms such as caddisfly larvae proving wildlife will thrive in whatever pockets of habitat we are able to provide in our gardens or schools!
Staff and Year 11 students travelled to Thorpe Park to celebrate the end of their formal exams! It was a brilliant day, an opportunity to relax and have fun with friends and colleagues. This trip follows last term’s rewards breakfast assembly where Kweku AA kicked off the assembly with a piano recital, followed by Jordan A displaying some gymnastics and some words of wisdom from our Head Students Alex T and Sandra A. Mrs Cast, Mr Dent, Mrs Chambers, Mr Lynch, Miss Gray, Mrs Lasoye, Mr Baker, Mr Harrington and I had the opportunity to share our reflections and best wishes with students while they enjoyed a selection of hot pastries. On behalf of the Year 11 pastoral team, we would like to thank you for your support and working with us these past five years. We look forward to seeing those of you who are joining WG6 after the summer!
Congratulations to our Year 7 cricket team who are through to the semi-final of the Kent Plate (this is for the whole of Kent) having won the quarter-final against Judd school Friday the 21st by three runs. They will face Tunbridge Wells Grammar school on Monday the 1st July. Good luck everyone.
George B (c)
Conor E (wk)
Shreyas S
Ronnie B
Henry B
Faradi R
Arjun N
Bilal S
Shivansh S
Harley M
Cameron N
We staged a special cricket fixture against Old Dartechs & Wilmingtonians Cricket Club. Six of their players were former students, two of them attended the school before the change of name. Our Wilmingtonians side was made up of current sixth formers, former students, Josh H, a Year 8 student and Mr Lynch and Mr Corrigan. It was particularly wonderful to see Josh playing in his first ever adult game of cricket.
Mr Lynch provided a match report “Old Dartechs batted first and put on a very high score of 160-3. All students bowled 2/3 overs and special mention to Daneil Pilling who got only went for 1 run in his 2 overs. He was also very unlucky to not get a decision for a wicket, this would have meant his figures would have been 1-1!
Sadly, we were 28 runs short of the target but the students had a great day and was great to see so many former students and parents watching the game. A few students from 2018 Kent Cup winning side came down to watch the match so was great to see them all too.”
PTA Update. Our Summer Fair is coming up on Saturday 13th July – please see the flyer below for full details.
The Army Assault Course is back by popular demand. The entry fee is £5 and can be paid via ParentPay. There are prizes for the winning team (who completes the course the quickest) and the individual who raises the most sponsorship. Sponsorship forms can be collected from Mr Powell once the entrance fee has been paid.
We are also holding a raffle, and tickets are now on sale on ParentPay, prizes include:
Bluewater vouchers
Restaurant vouchers
Gift sets
We would also like to welcome you to the PTA’s new online portal where you can view upcoming events run by the PTA, please click here. You will need to register for an account, it will only ask for basic information – your name, phone number and email address. You will see that you can view the price list for the Sports Week refreshments, volunteer to help us at the Summer Fair on 13th July and most excitingly, you can bid on our online auction where we have some fantastic lots on offer such as 2 x VIP Tickets to see Peter Kay at the O2 or a round of Golf x 4 at Dartford Golf Club. There are currently 12 lots to bid on. The site is now live so HAPPY BIDDING everyone!!
Thank you as always for your continued support.
Forthcoming Dates;
Year 6 transition evening – 3 July
Year 12 Parents’ Evening (at WGSB) – 4 Jul
Year 6 Transition Day – 5 July
STEAM Week – 8 to 11 July
PTA Summer Fair – Saturday 13 July
Summer Community Afternoon Tea (see above poster) – 15 July
Year 7-9 Written Reports home – 15 July
Year 12 work experience – 15 – 19 July
End of Term 6 – 19 July at 12 noon
Best wishes,
Stuart Harrington
Head Teacher
