Blog week ending 18th June
Careers Update – Future Pathways Event Years 7–12. Young people today are navigating an increasingly complex world of work. New technologies, shifting global demands and emerging industries mean that planning a fulfilling and profitable career can feel more challenging than ever. That’s exactly why our Careers Programme continues to evolve, ensuring every student receives the guidance, insight and inspiration they need to thrive.
Our alumni are the beating heart of our Future Pathways Event. They are young, relatable and authentic and they bring the real world of work to life in a way no textbook or website ever could. This year’s event showcased just how powerful that connection can be. Our alumni didn’t just talk about careers; they showed what’s possible, returning to school with enthusiasm, honesty and generosity, sharing the twists, turns and triumphs of their journeys since leaving our Wilmington Grammar schools. Many of them told us that attending these events as students helped shape their own ambitions and now, they’re passing on the support they once received.
Their message was clear – success isn’t linear, and there is no single route to a fulfilling future. From engineering apprenticeships to medical degrees, from global corporations to public service, their stories showed our students the breadth of opportunity available, including emerging roles and industries that didn’t even exist a few years ago. This year’s contributors represented an impressive mix of local, national and international sectors, including the University College London, PWC, Kent County Council, Sideman Entertainment TV & Media, AIG, Metropolitan Police, Goldberg Engineering, Winston Taylor International Law Firm, Pfizer Pharmaceutical, Deloitte, Coca-Cola, Laing O’Rourke and the Cabinet Office.
What makes our alumni’s involvement so impactful is not just their expertise, but their relatability. Students see themselves in these alumni, their backgrounds, their challenges, their ambitions – this connection builds confidence, raises aspirations and helps students imagine futures they may never have considered.
Our sincere thanks go to every alumnus and guest who contributed. Your time, energy and authenticity make a profound difference. Our staff have had countless conversations with students who left sessions buzzing with ideas, new ambitions and concrete next steps.
Year 12 recently attended the UCAS Discovery Exhibition at the University of East London. They spoke with a variety of universities and other businesses/providers to continue their exploration of post-18 options. It was a great day!
GCSE Art Exhibition Showcasing Outstanding Creativity. Mrs Wisdom and Ms Gubbins were delighted to showcase our Year 11 students’ GCSE final pieces at the recent Art Exhibition. The event provided a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the creativity, dedication and individuality of our young artists.
Below is just a small snapshot of the incredible work on display, offering a glimpse into the impressive breadth of media, thoughtful composition and sheer talent demonstrated by our students.
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 – Young Scientists – The Student Science Magazine.
To celebrate our school’s 75th anniversary, the Science Department is creating a special magazine showcasing the incredible progress in science and technology over the past 75 years!
Your Challenge:
All students in Years 7–9 are invited to take part!
Research what you think is the most important scientific invention, technological development, or discovery from the last 75 years
Create a one-page magazine article about your chosen topic
Submit your work on Teams (Life Programme) by 30th June
What Happens Next?
Staff will select the top 25 entries from each year group to be featured in a special anniversary magazine celebrating the impact of science across the decades!
Need Help? If you have any questions, speak to your science teacher, we’re here to help!
Get curious, get creative, and be part of our 75th anniversary celebration of science!
75th Anniversary Event – It’s A Knockout!
Years 7 & 8 – 22nd June and 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
We are thrilled to share the news that Matthew J of 8B has been selected to attend the World Scout Jamboree 2027, which is a huge youth education event held every four years – this year, in Poland. Matthew secured a place following a tough selection process and is very much looking forward to being part of such a prestigious event and attending with scouts from over 160 countries! The theme for the event is ‘bravely’ and Matthew is now challenged with raising the necessary funds in order to attend – consequently, Matthew is planning a large number of fund-raising activities including running a special stall at our Summer Fair on the 5th July – please do stop by and say hello, and if able, make a donation! Matthew added “I’m really pleased to be able to participate in this amazing once in a lifetime opportunity. Everyone’s support means so much to me.”
For more information please click here
Benjamin K of Year 11 is a member of the Royal Air Force Cadets and has recently completed a Junior Rank Gliding Scholarship – Benjamin has kindly written an account of this thrilling achievement
“The scholarship was awarded to me through a highly selective process by which the Commanding Officer of my Squadron nominated me to go further into a selection process out of the Wings (areas) of London, Kent and Sussex that would award the scholarship to a group of five cadets. The course itself still isn’t finished and I am expected to go solo in a glider this Saturday coming. It started with an aptitude day at RAF Kenley to test my ability to learn and see if I was fit to glide, mostly due to size and weight reasons.
The bulk of the course was then a week-long stay at RAF Little Rissington in the Cotswolds during the GCSE half term. This posed a challenge to my ability to time-manage as during the long and hot days I was gliding and helping with aircraft on the ground when not flying and revising for my GCSEs in the evenings whilst maintaining proper sleep discipline as to not make myself to tired mentally and physically. During that week I was taught the basic concepts of flight and effects of the control column, how to take off and land the aircraft and how to manoeuvre the aircraft while in the air using coordinated control of the ailerons and rudder.
Overall, it was an unforgettable experience and something that I really learned from, particularly time management skills and how to fly a glider of course!” Benjamin K
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.
Make your voice heard! There is so much happening for young people at the moment – and this is a chance for their voice to be heard. It is an annual census that captures the voice of the young, and is a powerful reminder of their perspectives. Youth Voice Census – Youth Employment UK
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.
We have been asked to share the below information posters.
Forthcoming Dates;
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
