Blog week ending 15th May
Year 11 and 13 students have begun their summer examination season. I would like to remind all students that you have prepared for this, you are more than capable and ready, just remember to stay focused, look after your wellbeing and manage your time wisely. If you would like any further support or advice, just ask us.
Our Year 11 students were treated to an ‘end of era’ celebrations breakfast complete with special commemorative films made by their Form Tutors ahead of their written exams. Mr Darwin, Head of Year added;
“Over the past five years, our students have navigated the challenges of school life with determination, resilience, and good humour. They’ve worked hard, supported each other, and grown into individuals we are all incredibly proud of.
Their readiness for the challenge ahead is evident, not just in their academic preparation, but in the way they carry themselves. Many members of staff have remarked on how polite, respectful, and considerate this year group is. That kindness—shown to one another, to staff, and to the wider school community—will serve them well far beyond the exam hall. There is a culture of care and mutual respect within the year group that has been a joy to witness. The friendships formed, the support offered, the shared laughter—these are the things that define a truly successful school experience. I know many of these connections will last a lifetime.
As Head of Year 11, I want to take this opportunity to express what a privilege to work with every student in the year group, and to have been part of their journey. I hope they leave with the same sense of pride in themselves that we feel for them. Of course, none of this would have been possible without the exceptional pastoral team who have supported them every step of the way. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to Ms Cast, who guided the students so well in Year 10, laying strong foundations for their final year. This year, Ms Mager has provided calm, steady, and deeply compassionate support as Student Manager—a constant presence and a source of strength for so many.
And finally, our wonderful team of form tutors Ms Sivel-Dimond, Ms Lasoye, Ms Williamson, Ms O’Dwyer and Mr Lynch who have provided day-to-day guidance, encouragement, and stability. They have gone above and beyond to ensure students felt seen, supported and valued.”
Year 9 Duke of Edinburgh Practice Expedition. Mr Sage, staff and 127 Bronze Award students spent a warm and dry weekend camping at Hopehill Farm and hiking around the beautiful countryside in Meopham. Students put their learnt expertise into practice with some (mostly!) great map reading and orienteering on show together with camping skills. Overall, it was a great experience and opportunity to truly challenge ourselves whilst learning new life skills. Our assessed expedition will take place in July. Thanks again to all staff who assisted with the expedition, your support is very much appreciated!
Miss Egemensoy’s Year 8 English students have been exploring the life and works of author George Orwell which led to a very enthusiastic discussion of some of the social themes of his last published book, the dystopian novel 1984. Miss Egemensoy challenged her class to consider the theme of mass surveillance and a central character from the book, Big Brother. Students made astute and thoughtful comments, drawing parallels with the novel which was written in 1949 and today’s society.
National Novel Writing Month Short Story Competition book. Library Update from Miss Netherwood. “As a school librarian, it fills me with immense joy and pride to witness my students harnessing their creativity and authorial skills. I am thrilled to showcase the astounding talent of our students in this collection.
This year, students fully immersed themselves in the genre of Dystopia for our 2024 National Novel Writing Month’s Short Story Competition. Each piece featured within this collection offers a thought-provoking glimpse into the future – both chilling and compelling – reflecting the power of storytelling to explore complex themes and dissect pressing societal questions.
I want to extend my deepest appreciation to all the students who participated in the competition. Your passion and effort are evident in every submission, and I am grateful for your contributions and dedication to the art of narrative composition.
As you read, I hope you are also inspired by the unique voices and perspectives of our young authors and reflect on how these imagined futures can mould the way we consider our own world today.
Enjoy your journey through the fragments of tomorrow.”
Year 8 Students are currently assessing their Macbeth drama pieces. Students have been exploring Shakespeare’s use of language and dramatisation and have, in groups, chosen one of their favourite characters’ scenes to perform. Miss Holledge encourages peer support and feed-back as part of the assessment process and commented “the students are extremely supportive of each group providing positive and actionable suggestions”
Drama department date for your diary! Students will be staging a performance of Animal Farm on 19th June – further information on purchasing tickets will be advertised soon! We hope to see as many of you there as are able.
Some good news to share. Yesterday George B (8T) and Harrison C (10K) took part in the Kent Schools’ Golf Championship. The event was held at Princes Golf Course in Sandwich. This is a links course, and the conditions were very tough with 20-30 mph winds throughout the round. I am pleased to announce that we finished in 3rd place from the 15 school teams entered. Individually Harrison actually came 6th with an impressive round of 79 (+7). He has now qualified for the English Open. Both students are incredibly modest about their golfing abilities, but I would like you to join me in congratulating them on an amazing achievement.
Congratulations to Frank P in 9J who has recently obtained a black belt in Karate. Frank is a keen sportsman and is part of the school football, rugby, and cricket teams. We are incredibly proud of Frank’s achievement and dedication to his sporting endeavours. Frank has selected GCSE PE as one of his option choices next year and we are excited to see how he progresses on the course.
Head of PE Mr Lynch had this to say about Frank, “As a department we would like to congratulate Frank on this wonderful achievement, especially at such a young age. I have personally worked with Frank in many different sporting teams and the key attribute that Frank often demonstrates is dedication. This achievement is no different. The hours of practice and preparation and now he is reaping the results of all that hard work. Hearing how his rapid progress was halted during the pandemic highlights how determined a character he is. We have seen this many times when he has represented the school sports teams. We would like to wish Frank every success as he continues his Karate journey.”
Year 13 leavers breakfast and presentation. Our incredible Year 13 students’ last day was marked in the most uplifting manner; with the presentation of special awards together with a series of empowering and inspiring addresses from each of our Student Leadership Team (first photo). Heads of WG6, Mr Atkins and Mr Watson gave rousing speeches extolling students’ exemplary dedication to both academic studies and the whole school community.
This year group have shown exceptional resilience and adaptability, navigating their studies though COVID whilst remaining positively engaged and optimistic for the future. We are exceptionally proud of all you have achieved, growing not only academically but also as individuals. We would love to hear about your next accomplishments and adventures, please do stay in touch.
Thank you to our Year 7s who provided ‘guard of honour’ duties!
Congratulations to Brunel who are currently in first place on the House Leaderboard. Well done to all students earning extra House Points by taking part in lunchtime competitions and entering House Challenges! There is still plenty of time to win points and challenge Brunel’s lead.
PTA Update. We are looking forward to the summer term ahead and have a few events planned which we would appreciate support from the school community.
Preloved School Uniform. We always welcome donations of preloved school uniforms. If you have any items to donate, please drop them off at reception, marked for the PTA’s attention. If you’d like to request a preloved uniform, please email us at pta@wgsb.co.uk.
Doughnut & Samosa Sale – Friday, 23rd May. We’re holding another delicious doughnut and samosa sale! Pre-orders can be made via Parent Pay for collection after school, and students will also have the chance to buy them during their morning break.
Raffle Tickets. Tickets are on sale on Parent Pay now for £1 each. We have some fantastic prizes to include Bluewater Vouchers, afternoon tea at Rowhill Grange, restaurant vouchers and many more
Matched Funding Appeal. Some employers offer matched funding for charity initiatives, which can significantly boost our fundraising efforts. If you or someone you know can help with matched funding, please get in touch with the PTA, we would greatly appreciate your support!
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to an exciting Summer Term!
Summer Fair – Saturday 14th June. We are holding our Summer Fair and will be looking to hold the ever-popular assault course for students to take part in as well as some fun and games on the day along with selling refreshments and our usual barbecue. Mr Powell who will be leading the assault course will be talking to the students over the coming weeks and more details to book will be sent out shortly
Forthcoming Dates;
Year 12 WG6 Geography Field Trip – 19-22 May
Year 7 Cricket v Cleeve Park (home) – 21 May
SEN Review Afternoon – 21 May 1-4.30pm (parents/carers will receive invites with further information)
Last Day of Term 5 – 23 May
First Day of Term 6 – 2 June
Years 7, 8 & 9 Assessments – 3 – 6 June
Year 12 Grades & Written Reports sent home – 3 June
Year 9 Cricket v Beths (home) – 4 June
Year 12 UCAS Trip – 5 June
Year 10 PE NEA Dartford Athletics Track – 10 June
Summer Fair – Saturday 14 June 11am-2pm
Drama Production – Animal Farm – 19 June (ticket details available soon)
Best wishes,
Stuart Harrington
Headteacher
