As you know, I have accepted an exciting new role as Deputy CEO of our Trust, Endeavour Mat, meaning I will continue to support and develop the amazing work happening at WGSG, but will step down as its Headteacher. My successor, Mr Fuller, whom many of you will know well, has been part of our SLT for the past four years, most recently as Head of School. Mr Fuller, who will take over in September, is an exceptional leader who knows our school well and will continue to lead with great ambition and care for every one of our students. WGSG, is as you are only too aware, a very special school indeed and will always hold a place in my heart – I look forward to championing our school in my new role!
Sports Day Report. All the excitement and natural talent of a major tournament .. but with added House Points, dancing and an ice cream van! But beyond the excitement, Sports Week offers a wide range of benefits that contribute to students’ overall health and development. From wearing house colours to (very loudly!) cheering on teammates, Sports Day presents an opportunity for growth, connection, and celebration. Taking part – whether winning, losing, or simply finishing a race – helps students develop self-confidence and resilience, overcoming nerves, trying something new, or simply crossing the finish line can all be powerful confidence boosters.
The sound system and PA kit provided a buoyant and upbeat soundtrack to the day, getting everyone moving .. It also provided Mr Lennon with an impressive platform to ‘compère’ the day, ably supported by Ms Booth, our librarian.
The rain couldn’t dampen our spirits .. and certainly didn’t slow down the track events or quieten the cheering supporters!! Congratulations to all competitors and a huge thank you to our PE department for planning such an amazing event .. as well as leading the dancing!
Congratulations to all competitors! Your amazing sportsmanship was inspiring to watch as well as making for a hugely entertaining event. Special congratulations to our School Record Breakers.
High jump – Manroop J for beating our Year 9 school record of 1.35m with a jump of 1.55m
Shot Putt – Deborah K beat the school record with an impressive 7.92m (the previous record was at 7.30m)
200m – Year 9 Manroop J, 27.93s
300m – Year 7 Robyn W, 58.37s (previous record 59.56s)
300m – Year 9 Manroop J, 43.85s (previous record 48.95s)
Additionally, we held a day of field events including shot putt and high jump with a fantastic display of athleticism .. and the Fosbury Flop on full display!
A very (very) close one! Well done to all Hepworth competitors … 1st Place!
What a performance! Miss Cullingham’s Drama Club staged their latest blockbuster .. the musical Guys & Dolls. This is an exceptional group of talented actors, producers and stagehands. Every number was flawless, with stellar ‘West End’ performances. Staging productions is a huge undertaking for all .. thank you so very much – your dedication and musicality was outstanding, we all absolutely loved the show! Miss Cullingham and the Drama Club are going to take a well-earned rest .. but no doubt will be back with a bang and a brand-new show next academic year.
We celebrated our students’ Epistemic Insight work with a special assembly to recognise the exceptionally thoughtful academic research and work that students have been undertaking. EI refers to how knowledge works, that different subjects and disciplines are linked and that exploring ‘big questions’ across our subject knowledge maximises our understanding, making connections between learning and prompting critical thinking. Special congratulations to all certificate winners!
Year 10 (two cohorts of) Geographers travelled to Tankerton and Reculver. On both days, the main aims of the trip were to investigate the influence of longshore drift on the effectiveness of groynes on the beach at Tankerton. Students tried out a range of data collection techniques such as beach profiles. They worked brilliantly in teams to collect as much and reliable data as possible. We spent the afternoon at Reculver enjoying observing the geomorphic processes and differences in sea defence attitude along that part of the coastline. We loved seeing the students embrace their knowledge from the classroom out into the real world and experience it for themselves.
Teacher of Politics and History, Miss House and students were thrilled to welcome Lord Shaun Bailey who spent time speaking with students including A Level Politics and Law students as well as student leaders. Lord Bailey is a highly articulate and compelling speaker who led inspiring and practical sessions guiding students on the many opportunities for them within UK politics. Lord Bailey is an inspirational role model who has overcome considerable obstacles, learning by experience to make positive decisions that have advanced his political career, but crucially, through charitable endeavours and active work with youth groups and schools, Lord Bailey has supported others within his community to be ambitious and improve their life chances.
As part of our Endeavour MAT Transition Programme Year 6 pupils from Wilmington Primary School (part of EMAT group of schools) together with pupils from other neighbouring schools visited WGSG and WGSB for History and Geography ‘taster lessons’. The programme’s aim is to provide opportunities for pupils to familiarise themselves with larger school settings and year groups whilst introducing them to specialised classrooms and new subjects. In doing so, the programme allays any trepidation of the ‘unknown’ and prepares pupils for the next stage of their education. This week, Head of History Mr Lennon and Head of Geography Mr Riches (at WGSB) led special lessons to provide pupils with an insight into learning and structure of lesson as well as behaviour expectations. Lessons at both sites were warm and interactive with pupils keen to contribute! Pupils all left energised and excited to start their new schools.
Library News. As we approach the end of term, what better activity to fill those long, hot hazy days of summer than immersing yourself in a good story? Fancy a challenge to keep you occupied over the holiday? Bored of reading the same stuff? Do you want to write the next Susanne Collins? Well, there are two new Library challenges to participate in!
The Summer Reading Challenge consists of reading 9 books over the summer, and the Summer Writing Challenge has a range of 9 prompts or writing ideas for you to try. To enter, collect a form from the library and speak to Mrs Booth about taking part.
Bored of your books? Remember you can donate any age-appropriate books to the library. Declutter your room and do something good! (And it is the perfect excuse to go book shopping afterwards!)
Do you love the Library? Well come and support this space by becoming a student librarian next term! Mrs Booth is looking for library assistants in both KS3, KS4 and KS5. Interested? Make sure you come and speak to Mrs Booth.
Reminder from Mrs Booth: There are a substantial amount of overdue and missing books. Please make sure you are returning your books on time, and are checking at home for any misplaced or forgotten books! There are currently over 200 waiting to be put back on the shelves!
Unifrog – The Complete Careers Programme. In keeping with our commitment to provide students with outstanding careers guidance and tailored support when choosing their next steps after school/college, all students in Years 7 through to 13 now have access to this website. This platform and is designed to support learners in making the most informed decisions about their futures and has a range of tools that are suitable for all year groups. Each student has their own account where they can explore all the career and next step options available to them and find information on everything from managing their workload to writing a winning CV. Students have access to a wide variety of video and written content, and interactive quizzes and tests.
We would encourage you to use the platform with your child so you can support them through the process of deciding their next step. Parents and carers can also have their own Unifrog account. You’ll be able to research careers, attend webinars delivered by employers and universities to learn more about their opportunities, and compare pathways so you can support your child in making an informed decision about their next steps. You can also sign up to the parent/carer newsletter when you first sign in to get expert advice and guidance on supporting your child with their next steps.
For more information, go to Unifrog – The universal destinations platform. and use the following sign-up codes:
WGSG Y7-11 parents WLMSparents
WG6 Y12-13 parents GRBBparents
Please join me in congratulating student (and actor!) Safia H who has been nominated for Best Supporting Actress in the prestigious National Film Awards. Safia was cast in a lead role in Crongton, a coming of age comedy drama TV series based on books by the award-winning author Alex Wheatle. The series recently premiered on BBC Three and is also available on BBC iPlayer. Safia plays the role of Saira, a Syrian refugee.
This is an extraordinary achievement for her first major TV role, and we are immensely proud of her.
What’s particularly exciting about these awards is that they are purely based on viewers’ votes. Safia is actually the only child in her category, and she’s competing against some highly experienced and well-known actresses. To watch Safia in Crongton on iPlayer, click here Crongton – BBC iPlayer
Congratulations to Rebecca T (Y10), Manroop (Y9) and Keriema (Y11) who have been back in action collecting further medals and accolades for their athletic prowess! They represented WGSG at the Kent Schools Championships in Medway which saw Keriema and Rebecca smashing their PBs! All earning places in the finals. Rebecca and Manroop both secured medals – two Golds for Rebecca and a Silver and Bronze for Manroop. This performance placed them ‘top 2’ for Kent they were selected to represent Kent Schools in the Southeast Inter Counties which saw them both gaining new PBs and adding to their trophy cabinet. What an achievement! Well done to you all.
PFA Update. A huge thank you to all helpers who have contributed in any shape or form during this school year. In particular, this term, where it has been extremely busy for the PFA. We are always looking for people to help and if you are interested, please scan the following QR code to be added to the helpers WhatsApp group.
Forthcoming Dates;
Year 12 Parents’ Evening – 3 July (@WGSG) tonight!
Year 6 Transition Day 4 July
Years 7, 8 & 9 Written Reports home – w/c 14 July
Year 12 Work Experience – 14-22 July
Enrichment Week – 14-18 July
Last Day of Term 6 – 22 Jul at 12 noon
First Day of Term 1 – Wednesday 3 September (new Year 7 & 12 students Tuesday 2 September)
Best wishes,
Michelle Lawson
Headteacher
Blog week ending 3rd July – Wilmington Grammar School for Girls