Blog week ending 1st October
As always, our Blog provides a snapshot of the many opportunities, achievements and learning experiences that make WGSG such a vibrant place to learn. The items that follow offer just a few examples of the high-quality work taking place across the school and the enthusiasm with which our students embrace new challenges.
This fortnight also included one of our regular Trust quality assurance visits. Visitors spent time speaking with students, observing lessons and visiting classrooms across the school. It was particularly pleasing to hear students describe WGSG as a place where they feel safe, happy and respected, with our strong sense of community highlighted as one of the aspects they value most.
The visit recognised the consistency of practice evident across classrooms, with clear routines, high expectations and a purposeful atmosphere supporting learning throughout the school. Most importantly, visitors saw first-hand how this consistency enables teachers to deliver exceptional learning experiences and helps students to thrive both academically and personally.
Good luck to our Year 10 Bronze Duke of Edinburgh students who will be taking part in their assessed expedition this weekend – let’s hope the weather holds!
At WGSG students are encouraged to think critically and reflectively across disciplines and subjects. Our Epistemic Learning topic supports that ambition, prompting students to bridge gaps between learning, creating a complete and scholarly insight to tackle life’s ‘big questions’. In the featured lesson, students considered their scientific knowledge in conjunction with philosophy, ethics and beliefs learning – to address the question ‘why human life began’. Mr Atkins’ class (and indeed every class) is a collaborative one with students discussing and debating points raised and sharing their contributions with each other in ‘turn and talk’ and with the wider class.
Year 8 students have been exploring index form in Maths with Mrs Maycock. Using the visualiser, Mrs Maycock modelled calculations and methods, while students demonstrated their own working on individual whiteboards to share ideas and check their understanding. It was great to see such confident participation and collaboration throughout the lesson.
Year 10 GCSE Biologists enjoyed a practical investigation into the effect of antimicrobial substances on bacterial growth. Students applied a bacterial culture to prepared agar plates before introducing a range of antiseptics, alongside a control, using aseptic techniques. Demonstrating excellent practical skills, students worked with care and accuracy, ensuring a high-quality scientific investigation. After incubation, the students will analyse the bacterial plates to determine the antiseptic which is best at inhibiting bacterial growth.
Year 12 A Level Art students have started work on the first section of their portfolio, exploring skeletal anatomy through dynamic observational drawing. Using a range of gradients and tones to demonstrate form and proportion, students developed their understanding of structure and movement under the guidance of Mrs Cregan.
Our latest Careers Newsletter includes a range of exciting opportunities, and inspiration for students as they consider future pathways. This week’s edition features World Space Week and associated opportunities as well as the UK Parliament work experience programme and a ‘Uni spotlight’ on LSE! To read, please click here
Forthcoming Dates:
Year 10 Bronze DofE Expedition – 3 & 4 October
Senior Maths Challenge – 7 October
Year 11 Parents/Carers’ Evening – 8 October (in person)
Year 11 Geography Trip – 12 October
Student Council Meetings – 19-22 October
Year 11 Mock Exam Assembly – 19 October
Year 6 Open Evening – 22 October
Year 6 Open Day (by appointment only) – 23 October
Year 13 Reports sent home – 23 October
Last Day of Term 1 – Friday 23 October
First Day of Term 2 – Thursday 5 November
Best wishes,
Dave Fuller
Headteacher
