It has been a warm week, but the weather is turning. I would like to thank all the students and their families who have dressed appropriately within our uniform policy. It has worked tremendously well.
The exam period has now started. There were a few exams this week and a few more in the coming shortened bank holiday week, then it is full steam ahead! Students in Yr11, 12 and 13 have been applying themselves fantastically well in a measured and purposeful manner. Please will you ensure they are drinking and eating well and sticking to good sleeping patterns.
There is a real focus on the Yr11 and 13s, but what is so special about our school is that the whole school life and experiences are always present for all our students. Also occurring this week, the Junior maths challenge with primary pupils involved (thanks Mrs Perks), the living history days for our KS3 students, a VE day celebration video being produced (thanks Mrs Davison on both counts) and our Yr11 boys have played in the area schools' football finals (thanks Mr Walker) and there is the DofE practice weekend coming up (thanks Mr Bilson and Mrs Gillies).
Congratulations to Mr Doughty, our site manager, for successfully completing the London marathon last weekend. A great effort in the heat.
Finally, it is bank holiday this weekend. Enjoy the additional day! When we return, our new build will be open for business. I want to thank the teaching and pastoral staff for their flexibility and patience, the construction team, who have been excellent with everything running according to schedule, but most of all, I want to thank Mr Roberts, Mr Reeves, Mr Doughty and Mr Hamms for all their efforts on this project. Behind the scenes they have done so much and I really appreciate it.
I am sure the students and staff are going to love working in this facility. More details to follow regarding a grand opening!
The Year 11 tutor team, myself, Mrs Addecott and Mrs Taylor, would like to take this opportunity to wish all of year 11 every success with their formal written exams.
We have been incredibly impressed by the diligence, commitment and support that students have shown to one another in the exams that have already been completed. These include Engineering, Food, Languages, Photography and the current Textiles and Art exams this week.
As we move into this final stage, it is imperative that students arrive in school on time, attend tutor and are in every day for exam revision lessons. The final day of formal attendance for year 11 is yet to be confirmed.
Practical matters to consider for the following weeks include ensuring you have the correct equipment for your exam paper that day. You must wear the correct school uniform for each exam, and please ensure now that the warmer weather has arrived that you have access to drinking water for the exam period. Any issues with attendance must be reported as early as possible to the attendance team and Year 11.
Finally, prom organisation is well under way and full details regarding purchasing tickets and the event itself will follow via parent mail in due course.
It has been an immense privilege to be this cohort's head of year and work with an amazing pastoral and tutor team to deliver Year 11 2025 to this point in their school career.
A reminder that results day is on Thursday 21st August, when students can come to school between 9.30am-12pm to collect their results.
Believe in yourselves year 11. You can do this.
Mrs Scott and the Year 11 team
Culture Vultures
On Thursday 24th, the Culture Vultures watched “Cruel Intentions” at the Theatre Royal.
Step-siblings Sebastian and Kathryn engage in a cruel bet: Kathryn goads Sebastian into attempting to seduce Annette Hargrove, the headmaster's virtuous daughter. Weaving a web of secrets and temptation, their crusade wreaks havoc on the students at their exclusive Manhattan high school. It's not long before the duo become entangled in their own web of deception and unexpected romance, with explosive results...
The set was clever, the cast excellent and the songs were “bangin’”
To top it all - we got a free upgrade on our tickets and had front-of-house seats!
The next trip will run after all the GCSE and A-Level exams are over. We’ll send details out nearer the time.
Ms Davison and Mr Francis
YR9 Clock Project
Year 9s finished their Clock project in Design and Technology this week with some fantastic results. They made the base using the woodwork lathe and the stand by cutting, drilling, filing and threading steel bar. The clock faces were designed on paper, then on CAD before being cut out using the laser cutter in either acrylic plastic or plywood. They assembled the clocks and fitted the mechanisms and hands, with some having painstakingly cemented details on to the front. Well done Year 9s!
Mr Heard
Ten Tors 2025: Training Completed
The Ten Tors 2025 Event is just a week away, and our group has recently completed their final training and preparation hikes.
At the start of the Easter break, 16 students took on the legendary "One-Day Imber" hike—a challenging 30-mile trek around the western section of Salisbury Plain. Carrying 20kg packs, the students pushed themselves around the route, accompanied at times by the sights and sounds of tanks and machine-gun fire as the Army conducted exercises on the Plain. Despite sore muscles and aching feet, every student completed the hike, proving they have what it takes to succeed in next week's event.
Last weekend, we took our three groups to North Dartmoor for their "Mock Event"—a practice run of a Ten Tors route under the same time constraints they will face next week. It was a demanding but valuable weekend. Saturday's fog and rain, followed by Sunday’s blistering sunshine, tested their equipment, preparation, and determination. Only the more experienced 45-mile group managed to complete their route within the time limit. However, all three groups returned having learnt a great deal and with a clear understanding of what it will take to succeed next weekend.
As always, the students were a credit to themselves and the school. It’s a pleasure to spend time with them, and passers-by frequently comment on what a polite and friendly group they are. A huge thank you to our volunteers this weekend—Iain Richards, Bill Smith, Imogen Wood, and Mrs. Brooks.
London Marathon 2025
Last weekend our site manager, Matt, completed the London Marathon. Please join us in congratulating him. What an incredible achievement, especially in the heat.
Great job Matt!
Horrible History JOG Style
On Thursday 1 May and Friday 2 May , Year 8 pupils participated in the annual John of Gaunt School “Civil War-Living History Day”.
The students learned the story of the events leading up to the Civil War 1642-49, fought between the Royalists and the Parliamentarians. They handled artefacts including swords, helmets, and muskets and then started on some battle training.
As new recruits to the Royalist army as pike men, the students practised their pike drill, including how to repel a cavalry attack. They finished up learning how to fire a canon! The event was organised in conjunction with Oxenwood Outdoor Education centre who provided the professional re-enactor and all the weaponry.
The day provided an enrichment opportunity for Year 8 students who had been studying the events of the 1630s-1640s and how these shaped our island’s history. An event like this really brings History alive as the students don’t just learn about events but experience them.
It’s the next best thing to having a time machine!
Looking forward to next year,
Ms Davison
Animal Update!
Mr Little has now taken charge of two guinea pigs... Mr. T and Biscuits. The students enjoyed handling, feeding and cleaning out the new arrivals. The pigs will be housed outdoors in fair weather once the building work is complete.
