Newsletters

NEWSLETTER 5 - 8th October 2021

Dear Parents and Carers,

What a pleasure it was this week to see the enjoyment that the rest of our Year 7 had at their PGL trip. The instructors were so impressed with our students and praised their enthusiasm and kindness with each other. I have also been grateful this week to meet with various Heads of Subject, Directors of Learning and Governors where we have been looking at Development Plans to ensure we continue moving from strength to strength.

In addition to the trips, one of the highlights this week was seeing our budding actors, musicians and performers achieve various awards in their Oscars evening. I am a great believer in power of the arts, and it is wonderful to see how these students have gained so much confidence. Today students were offered their Flu vaccines. As you will know from the communication earlier this week we have not yet been given another date for the student Covid vaccines, however once we know, we will of course let you know.

Next week, we are really looking forward to welcoming around 25 employers to school for our careers fair. Last year we found that on-line parents evenings were a popular choice amongst our parent community and therefore this year we will be continuing them on-line. We are now looking forward to Year 7 and Post 16 parents' evening on Thursday evening.

As always, have a restful weekend.

Paul Skipp

Headteacher  


08 Oct 2021
Book of the Week
Toffee by Sarah Crossan
Read more

Week 1
All Day
11
October
Yr12/13 Team building in Bath
All Day
12
October
Year 8 Second Group PGL Residential
All Day
From 13 Oct until 15 Oct
13
October
Careers & Next Steps Fair
All Day
13
October
Yr7 & P-16 Tutor Evening
3:30pm – 6:30pm
14
October
Week 2
All Day
18
October
Yr11 Geography field trip to Bath
All Day
18
October

This is a gentle reminder to all parents/carers, asking that you make sure that all payments for all trips/activities are up to date. If you have any queries regarding payments and have not already contacted the finance office, please email them on finance@jogschool.org as soon as possible. Thanks.


The Expressive Arts Faculty OSCARS

On Tuesday 5th October The Expressive Arts Faculty hosted its annual OSCARS evening. The presentation evening recognised the outstanding achievement, commitment and effort of students from all years in Art, Drama, Music and Photography. Forty-five students were nominated for various awards. Everyone attending the evening was dressed in their finery. 

As well as the awards there were a range of performances to entertain the audience.

Jessica Blackburn performed What a Wonderful World on the piano, Emily Daw sang Prom Queen by Caity Turner and the Year 9 Drama group performed a sneak peek of their forthcoming show Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

The evening culminated in the presentation of the highest achieving award, ‘The Faculty Fellowship Award’, which went to Erin Thorne who not only studied subjects within the faculty but gave many hours outside of lessons to school shows, concerts and events since she was in year 7. We are now on the look-out for students to nominate for next year…could it be you!?

Well done again to all our winners!

The Expressive Arts Faculty

 


During STEM Club this week, the Year 7s have been building volcanoes! Next week they are going to finish constructing their volcanoes... and will watch them erupt! 

All Year 7s are welcome to come along to STEM Club (Tuesdays 3pm-4pm).



The year 8 rugby team headed into their second fixture of the season against St Augustine’s and St Laurence with keen enthusiasm. A small sided round-robin of games was completed and the boys represented the school with good discipline and a positive attitude.

In their first game against St Laurence School, the boys had lots of possession early on but struggled to break the line to score. When the scoring finally got going a back and forth game resulted in a narrow loss by one try.

In game two, against St Augustine’s, the boys were determined to improve on the previous result. Whilst dominance shifted between the two teams, the boys from JOG fought back from going behind to claim a hard fought victory by one try.

The final game of the afternoon against St Laurence’s other team proved to be a tough contest. Strong defence and direct running from the St Laurence players led to a second defeat. Despite the defeat, the boys worked hard and showed some moments of great teamwork, determination and flair to show what they are capable of, scoring a few well worked tries.

Well done to all the boys involved. Great performances all round. I look forward to seeing them improve further in our next games in 2 weeks when we host Kingdown and get a chance for revenge against St Laurence.

Mr Walker


Year 11 Maths GCSE Preparation

We are pleased to announce that we have signed all of the Year 11s up for Edexcel's Maths Mock Programme for this November's mocks.

The students will be sitting 3 papers (one non-calculator and two calculator), which is a complete set, as had always been planned, but now these are brand-new papers, to be released and marked by the exam board as the actual exams next summer are to be.  Results and accompanying detailed analysis will be received by each student, giving them a very clear picture of where they currently are, where they should focus their next steps, as well as informing teaching.

The papers will be marked by exam markers, in line with other schools taking part, and graded using the appropriate boundaries for the entire cohort.

Whilst papers are always marked according to the official mark schemes within school and moderated, and then graded, the grade boundaries are ones which were used on a different cohort.  The past exam papers may also have been seen by some students, whereas joining this programme means that a brand new, locked set of papers are available.

The Department for Education has recently announced that this summer, students will have access to the maths formulae sheet.  We will there be ensuring that this is also the case in the mocks.  Students have a copy of the formulae list in their Knowledge Organisers and their maths book, one is also shown below.  We strongly advise that they are familiar with the formulae given.

Whilst we currently believe and hope that exams will be sat next summer, were additional evidence for grades be needed, being part of this programme gives reliable and unequivocable data, so could further benefit the students.


Active Trowbridge

Active Trowbridge who arrange and organise community events have recently updated their website. You can now find lots of information at https://activetrowbridge.co.uk/





Supporting Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance at JoG

The Careers and Next Steps Fair is coming……

Next month, on Wednesday 13th October our Careers and Next Steps Fair is back and in person!

This will be an opportunity for students in years 9-13 to come and talk to a range of employers, local colleges and universities to get them thinking about life beyond school.

Some of those already confirmed include; the NHS, RSPCA, Amey, Selwood Housing, Armed Forces, Goughs Solicitors, Dorothy House, Dragon Capital, Butterfly Care, Swansea University, Portsmouth University, Plymouth University, Winchester University, Wiltshire College, Bath College.

We would always welcome more:

If you are an employer or work for a company that would like the opportunity to have an exhibition stand please contact the school careers adviser alynch@jogschool.org to find out more and book your space.         

                         


Supporting Careers, Education, Information, Advice and Guidance at JoG

POST-16 OPEN EVENTS THIS TERM

 

JoG 6th Form Open Evening

Thursday 11th November 18:30-20:30

 

Trowbridge Campus 14th October 17:00-19:00 and 27th November 10:00-12:00

Chippenham Campus 6th October 17:00-19:00 and 6th November 10:00-12:00

Lackham Campus 7th October 17:00-19:00 and 13th November 10:00-12:00

Salisbury Campus 13th October 17:00-19:00 and 20th November 10:00-12:00  

Bath City Centre Campus and Somer Valley Campus

Wednesday 13th October and Wednesday 1st December 16:00-19:00

If you are in year 11 and would like to request careers meeting to discuss you post-16 options please contact the school careers adviser Ms A Lynch alynch@jogschool.org


Qualified and experienced careers advisers from the CareerPilot Team will be running two, free, live online sessions for parents, carers and young people on post 16 options this term. 

Wednesday Oct 13th and Wednesday Nov 24th 6-7pm on Teams

Find out more and register for a place by clicking here: https://parentschoicesaftey11.eventbrite.co.uk