Blog week ending 12th November
As Year 11 students complete their mock examinations, they are gaining much more than practice ahead of the summer exam season – mocks provide valuable information that helps students identify strengths, target areas for improvement and build confidence. Mocks are not designed to measure the limits of a student’s knowledge, but to identify where further teaching, support and revision can have the greatest impact.
Alongside experiencing exam conditions and paper styles mocks are about helping them discover what comes next, playing an important role in shaping the support we provide. Papers are carefully moderated within departments to ensure consistency in marking and provide a clear picture of both individual and cohort performance. The resulting data helps us tailor intervention and support programmes, informing everything from revision sessions and subject support clubs to targeted classroom teaching – ensuring every student receives the guidance they need to succeed.
While academic support remains a key focus, Year 11 students are also encouraged and celebrated beyond the classroom. Initiatives such as Sloane’s Rangers recognise the effort, resilience and commitment shown by students, reinforcing the message that success is built not only on outcomes, but on the hard work and determination demonstrated along the way. This sits alongside a wider programme of support, including revision skills workshops, lunchtime and after-school subject clinics and the upcoming PGL Study Tour, which combines academic learning with activities designed to build confidence, resilience and wellbeing.
What makes us particularly proud is that, despite the demands of Year 11, students continue to play a leading role in school life. From supporting younger students in peer mentoring form time sessions and celebrating the diversity of our community to organising a successful Show Racism the Red Card campaign, our Student Leaders continue to embody our REACH values every day.
At WGSG, success is never just about the exams themselves. It is about ensuring every student feels prepared, supported and confident in their ability to achieve their best.
Pictured below – the library is currently open exclusively for the use of our Year 11 students at break and lunch. Our librarian (and English teacher) Ms Booth has prepared a range of past exam papers and resources for students’ use.
Careers Update. On Tuesday 20th October, North West Kent College joined us to deliver an informative assembly for our Year 11 students, focusing on their post-16 options and next steps. At this important stage in their decision-making journey, students were provided with valuable information about the range of pathways available to them, helping them to make informed choices about their future education and career aspirations.
Year 13 students delivered an assembly to Year 9 students who are beginning to consider their GCSE option choices. The students shared their own experiences of selecting subjects, explaining the choices they made and the reasons behind them. Their insights provided Year 9 students with valuable first-hand perspectives, helping them to reflect on their interests, strengths, and future aspirations as they start to make important decisions about their next steps.
Careers Newsletter. The latest Careers news and resources can be viewed by clicking here. This week’s highlights include a spotlight on Engineering opportunities.
Our Year 9 MEP (Mandarin Excellence Programme) students recently put their language skills to the test through a creative writing project all about their daily routines. From early-morning alarms and school lessons to hobbies, family time and even the occasional lazy weekend lie-in, students produced imaginative and engaging pieces entirely in Mandarin. It was fantastic to see them using new vocabulary with confidence, adding personality and humour to their writing, and showcasing just how much progress they have made this year so far.
Our Year 7 musicians have been learning how to read music and translate notes from the page to the keyboard. As their skills develop, they are becoming increasingly confident performers, applying new knowledge through practical music-making (as well as an impromptu rendition of Jingle Bells in the first photo!). These foundations will support students as they move on to creating their own compositions, giving them the opportunity to develop their creativity alongside their practical musicianship.
Library Update. Students in Year 7 have recently begun a unit in their library lessons focusing on non-fiction texts and study skills, in celebration of Non-fiction November. This unit is designed to support learning across all curriculum areas at WGSG. During the featured lesson, students explored how non-fiction resources are organised and categorised within a library and learned how to locate texts relevant to specific subjects. Using their reading records and topic cards, students identified a non-fiction book linked to their topic and completed an exercise based on their selected text.
As part of the activity, students answered a range of questions about the book, including identifying the editor, examining specific layout and organisational features, recognising subject-specific terminology, and locating three key facts from the text. This exercise helped to develop students’ research, information retrieval, and critical reading skills.
Students will next move on to lessons covering plagiarism, paraphrasing, and the correct citation of sources when using non-fiction texts. Through these activities, they will develop an understanding of academic integrity and learn essential research skills that will support their learning across the curriculum.
What is Non-Fiction November? Non-Fiction November is an annual celebration that was created by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups and supported by the National Literacy Trust. Its aim is to highlight the joy and value of factual reading for young readers and beyond. This year’s theme is Reading is an Adventure. Across topics such as science, animals, people, places, nature and adventures at home, young people are encouraged to read about their interests, and to apply what they discover in a practical way.
Suggested activities: Ages 11 to 14: Read about a topic, take the learning beyond the page through an investigation or activity, and document your adventure in a collaborative publication.
Ages 14 to 16: Explore high-quality non-fiction, undertake a related real-world experience or investigation, and produce an authentic piece of non-fiction writing inspired by your discoveries.
WG6 Year 13 Forensics students stepped beyond the classroom and into the heart of the UK’s justice system with a visit to the Old Bailey. From the public gallery, students observed live court proceedings, gaining a valuable understanding of courtroom processes, legal roles and the realities of criminal cases. The experience will prove invaluable as they prepare for their forthcoming mock trial assessment.
WG6 Open Event. Year 11 students and their families are invited to join us for our WG6 Open Event on 2 December from 5pm to 8pm (here at WGSG).
The evening offers an opportunity to explore our broad range of courses, meet subject teachers and key staff, and discover the many opportunities available through our joint sixth form, from our electives programme to the wider experiences that help students prepare for university, careers and adult life.
While our academic results speak for themselves, there is no substitute for hearing directly from the students who experience WG6 every day. Subject ambassadors will be on hand throughout the evening to share their experiences, discuss course content and workload, and provide a genuine insight into the supportive and welcoming community that makes WG6 such a rewarding place to study.
WG6 Year 13 students joined members of the local community for the Remembrance Sunday service at St Michael’s & All Angels Church, before taking part in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Wilmington War Memorial. Representing the school with dignity and respect, students joined the community in remembering the courage, service and sacrifice of those affected by conflict.
On Wednesday we observed Remembrance Day by joining a moving assembly which was broadcast by the Royal Legion and included us all joining in observing the minute silence.
News from the PFA. Year 7 and 8 had a fantastic time at the school disco last week. They managed to dance solidly for a couple of hours with the most excitement being when Mariah Carey was defrosted and played at full volume! Thank you to the parents and carers who supported by selling food and drink on the night as part of the team and to all the Year 7/8 who attended the event making it a success. We hope they had a great time!
Christmas is nearly upon us and we are very excited for this year’s school fair. We know that students and parents/carers are working hard on pulling together hamper goodies and we can’t wait to see what lovely gifts we can make up for the opportunity for you to win at the fair and for the wider community to enjoy. Our hampers are always very well received and tickets sell very quickly! The fair is on Sunday 29th November opening at 11 in the school hall and we would be delighted to see as many of you and friends and family there as possible. We have a number of stalls ranging from chutneys to crochet to Christmas gifts and pet products. Food and drink will also be available. There are still a couple of spaces available if anyone wishes to enquire about hosting a stall.
As always, we are open to people joining the team. There is an opportunity to help collect chocolate and bottles for our tombolas on the morning of Friday 27th November or to help make up the hampers during the day if you have a couple of hours to spare. Please contact us on wgsgpfa@gmail.com if you wish to help or have any ideas for fundraising activities.
Forthcoming Dates:
Our Term Dates for next academic year (2027-2028) are now on our website here Term Dates – Wilmington Grammar School for Girls
Year 11 Mocks – continue till 20 November
Year 7 Pantomime – 16 November
Year 8 Parents’ & Carers’ evening – 17 November (in person)
Year 11 MFL speaking exams – 23-27 November
Art GCSE Mock Exams – 25 & 26 November
Year 13 Parents’ & Carers’ evening – 26th November (at WGSB)
PTA Collection for non-uniform day -27 November
PTA Christmas Fair – 29 November
WG6 Open Evening – 2 December 5-8pm (WGSG)
Year 11 Food Preparation & Nutrition NEA – 3 & 4 December
Student Council meetings – 7-11 December
Year 7 Christmas Concert – 9 December (day)
Christmas Concert – 10 December (evening) parents/carers welcome
Year 13 Mock Exam Assembly – 11 December (at WGSB)
A Level celebration & certificates evening (for last year’s cohort) – 16 December (evening)
Christmas lunch – 17 December
Last Day of Term 2 – Friday 18 December 12pm
First Day of Term 3 – Monday 4 January
Best wishes,
Dave Fuller
Headteacher
