Blog week ending 22nd July
It feels very strange to be writing my final end of year letter as Headteacher at WGSG. It has been the greatest privilege of my life to lead such an amazing school and community. I would like to thank our school community, students, parents and carers for making this such a special school and for working alongside me to develop every aspect of it. The school really has been on that journey in pursuit of excellence, and I know that this will continue under my successor. Whilst my new role is incredibly exciting, it also comes with great sadness at not working with all our amazing students every day and that is something I will miss hugely. My new role means that I will still be very much involved with the school and will be working with Mr Fuller as he becomes Headteacher. I can assure parents and carers that we will ensure a smooth transition, and I know that the school is in very safe hands.
Enrichment Week has been an extraordinarily wonderful finale to our academic year! As the end of term is upon us, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on what a truly valuable and inspiring time it has been for our students. Last week has been a vibrant showcase of learning beyond the classroom – where curiosity, confidence, and collaboration have flourished.
Looking through the schedule, you’ll see a rich tapestry of experiences that range from educational visits to museums, historic sites, and science centres, to in-school challenges and cultural activities. Whether it was our Year 7 students discovering the heritage of Folkestone and Mountfitchet Castle, or Year 8 exploring wildlife at Port Lympne and team building at Bewl Water, each experience was designed to open minds and spark imagination.
Year 9 took their learning to another level with trips to St Andrews Lake, the Science Museum, and even the London Dungeon, balancing challenge and fun with a real sense of independence. Their participation in university visits and the “App Challenge” encouraged them to think about their futures with fresh eyes.
Year 10 immersed themselves in careers-based learning with Medical Mavericks and the Wise Up Apprentice Challenge, while also engaging with cultural diversity during MFL Cultural Week and a dynamic trip to China for our Mandarin students. These moments are crucial in preparing our students for the next stages of their academic and personal development.
But beyond the destinations and activities themselves, Enrichment Week represents something even more meaningful: it is about developing the whole child. Students work in new teams, face unfamiliar challenges, and step outside their comfort zones—all of which helps build resilience, empathy, and adaptability. These are the qualities that cannot be easily taught in a traditional classroom but are essential for success in life.
I am incredibly proud of how our students have embraced each opportunity with enthusiasm and maturity. I would also like to extend thanks to our dedicated staff who have carefully planned, led, and supported this week—often going above and beyond to ensure that every student gained something memorable and meaningful.
Every one of these trips, events and activities made for a spectacular week of immersive learning, playing and crucially, making life-long memories! Staff and students I’ve spoken with have loved every minute and have cherished the countless opportunities to stretch themselves academically, develop personally and explore new interests.
Year 10 Watersports trip to Barcelona! What an amazing trip! Immersing ourselves in Spanish culture, whilst sailing, kayaking, swimming, windsurfing, snorkelling, paddleboarding … and hurtling down a water flume! Trip awards go to:
Should have been a mermaid Phoebe S
Most adventurous Ruve S
Most resilient Mariah N-L
Always looking up Liv H
Most supportive Izzy L
The girls have been amazing and very resilient in trying new activities, supporting one another even when they are tired. We are so proud of them.
Year 10 Medical Mavericks Careers workshops. Students considering a career in the medical profession enjoyed a very interactive taster day highlighting potential careers paths and opportunities within the NHS. Medical staff showcased careers that would see students working with patients, in laboratories, engineering, technology, IT and Healthcare Science! Using medical equipment and technology students undertook several activities and medical procedures including ultrasound scans, phlebotomy, keyhole surgery and recording an ECG.
Bewl Water. Year 7 & 8 took part in a range of teambuilding challenges that build communication skills, teamwork and leadership. The raft building exercise and subsequent race was especially fun!
Our students have returned from their epic trip to China having had a fabulous time, practising their Mandarin and making lots of new friends!
Year 10 Further Maths students visited the University of Greenwich Medway campus for a day full of engaging and inspiring mathematical activities. Malena and Gabriella provided the below report and photos.
“To start the day, we joined a Maths Treasure Hunt around the campus. Using clues and mathematical thinking, we navigated the grounds to find answers and complete the challenge. It was a great way to apply what we’d learned and explore the university at the same time.
Moving into the auditorium with two fascinating talks. The first, Magical Maths, explored surprising mathematical tricks and patterns, showing how maths can be both fun and puzzling. The second talk, A World Without Maths, highlighted just how much we depend on mathematics in our daily lives — from technology and medicine to communication and travel.
Later, we took part in a range of hands-on Maths Explorer workshops, working in groups to solve challenges that tested our reasoning and teamwork skills. These sessions gave us a chance to experience problem-solving in a new and creative way.
Overall, the trip was a valuable and enjoyable experience that helped us see how maths connects to the wider world and possible future careers. A big thank you to the University of Greenwich for hosting such an inspiring day!”
Year 7 travelled to Folkestone, enjoying the best of this bustling seaside town and the weather. A great day was had as we introduced students to fieldwork data and research skills with an interactive treasure hunt activity! Naturally, chips and icecream were on the agenda as well as a wander along the beach.
Year 10 immersed themselves in local culture during their trip to Valencia! Students and staff took full advantage of every opportunity, with a packed schedule that included; making the famous Paella Valenciana, a sightseeing treasure hunt, a visit to the City of Arts and Science, Oceanografic Valencia and walking tours to at Valencia Cathedral and the local market. As you can see from the photos – we had an amazing time!
Year 9 St Andrew’s Lake. We had a fabulous day on the water with countless options for thrill-seeking, team activities and generally trying our hand at new and exciting activities as well as taking on the floating aqua park assault course! Paddleboarding was a popular choice with students quicky mastering the technique (and spending less time in the water!) Sailing and Kayaks were also a high point – we all agreed, we’d definitely return here!
Mountfitchet Castle and Norman Village of 1066. Year 7 tavelled back in time to enjoy a day exploring the ancient historic site with it’s medieval weapon instilations, houses and freely roaming deer, geese and goats. The site really is a living history lesson with a hands-on experience … and plenty of opportunity to interact with it’s many four legged and two legged residents!
Year 8 Community Week students took part in a range of meaningful outreach activities that add value (and joy!) to our local area! We are incredibly proud of our students’ enthusiasm to give back and make a difference. Our pupils in our primary school, Wilmington Primary really enjoyed the company and support of our students! Students also visited a local care home to host quizzes and sing-alongs as well as inviting senior citizens who live locally to join us for a specially prepared afternoon tea. The sponsored walk and food bank donations raised valuable contributions to local causes.
Year 9 students travelled to the South Downs National Park. This geographically rich site, many features of which, will feature in their studies next year. The aim of the trip was to share a stunning UK location with our GCSE Geography cohort to inspire them in their GCSE choice. The site has some great examples of meanders and ox bow lakes which students were quick to recognise. A great day in the countryside!
Year 9 Historians travelled into London for a fascinating Jack the Ripper tour followed by a visit to the Museum of London Docklands, hearing stories and seeing artifacts from some of Londons most notorious residents and streets!
Year 12 History students visited Hampton Court Palace. The palace was used by many key Tudor figures like Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Cardinal Wolsey. The visit allowed students to see the Tudor world up close, including the gardens, galleries and Great Hall. Students also took part in an education session talking about the ‘Mid-Tudor Crisis’ which will complement their studies in Year 13.
Congratulations to our sharp-shooting Year 7 Netball team who took part in a netball tournament – and won! They played their final against St Georges, which was a close game, but they sealed the win with an amazing final goal. Well done to all involved!
Our Year 10 PE GCSE students went to the Cyclopark in Gravesend to first practice the skills, then be assessed in Cycling as part of their GCSE practical assessment. They performed fantastically on the first day, by taking on all the feedback from the professional coaches, ready to perform on their assessment day. The weather was on our side on assessment day, with the sun shining yet with a lovely cool breeze to help keep the students comfortable. The skills we saw on display were phenomenal and they transferred them easily to the race. Well done to all of you, we are extremely proud of you.
Congratulations to Mr Fuller and his wife on the birth of the newest member of their family … the very gorgeous Darcy!
Year 11 Lucy C, together with friends, took part in the Pretty Muddy Race for Life; to raise money for cancer research. Lucy’s mum has been in hospital for eight weeks recovering from lifesaving surgery. During this time Lucy and her brother Frankie (in WG6) completed their GCSE and A Level exams showing the most amazing strength and resilience along the way. Lucy took part in the Pretty Muddy race to raise awareness and vital money for cancer research … and for her mum! Lucy added “It was a really special event, there were so many people, so the atmosphere was amazing, the run was even more important because my mum still hasn’t come home from the hospital so I just made sure I tried my best for her”. If you would like to take part in a Race for Life, or donate, please click here for more info
Join us for a Pretty Muddy® event | Race for Life
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.
Wishing all our families a wonderful summer break, and we will see you back in school for the new academic year on Tuesday 2nd September for new Year 7 and Year 12 students and all other year groups on Wednesday 3rd September.
Best wishes,
Michelle Lawson
Headteacher
