Blog week ending 9th February

Spotlight on WG6.  We are all very proud of what our students and staff have achieved with our WG6 sixth form, creating an environment that is enjoyable and stimulating while providing opportunities to gain the qualifications, skills and attitudes which will enable students to shape their futures positively and will equip them to be valued and valuable members of a global community.

Our experienced specialist teaching staff offer a wide range of courses delivered across our two sites which feature a range of WG6 dedicated study areas and resources.  Our curriculum booklet can be read here.  WG6 has excellent systems that support the students’ pastoral needs as well as ensuring that every student is challenged academically.  Every student has access to exceptional careers support and guidance to enable them to create individual aspirational career paths.

Congratulations to all Year 13 students who have already received offers for Universities and Degree apprenticeships. These include offers from Russell group universities including Cambridge, Kings, Warwick and Manchester, but always a wide variety of other institutions that are specialists in their fields.  Once students have replies from all five universities they need to pick their 1^st firm choice and 2^nd insurance choice. Then students can apply for accommodation, student finance, attend applicants open days and also apply for the bursaries and scholarships available from their chosen universities. If Year 13 students need help with their decision making, they can email Mrs T Walker at the boys’ site and Mrs Martin at the girls’ site for a meeting UCAS next steps.

This week we hosted North Kent’s Apprenticeship Event featuring 45 exhibitors offering a breadth of apprenticeship jobs and opportunities as well as universities and local employers including; the Royal Air Force, KPMG, NatWest, Amazon, J.P. Morgan, NHS and Whitecode Engineering.

For Year 13 students who are applying for apprenticeships we offer a six week free online apprenticeship application course and support if required when they reach interview or assessment centre stages.

Our A Level courses ensure the curriculum is delivered in conjunction with a programme of external trips, work placements and seminars to aid learning whilst making those links between classroom topics and their industry or real-life application.  Recent trips include;

Year 12 A Level Physical Education students are studying biomechanics (the science of movement and techniques) and specifically, the Bernoulli Principle, which explains why racing cars … and racing bikes(!) stick to the ground going round corners when they really shouldn’t!  Students travelled to the Olympic Park Velodrome to put their learning to the test, and as you can see from the below, provided an excellent demonstration of the principles .. including an adrenalin boosting lap at the highest level of the Velodrome!  The trip also illustrated the positive legacy of the Olympics for education and sport as a whole. Mrs Shooman-Taylor commented ‘it was a wonderful experience and the students all put in phenomenal effort; it was brilliant to experience the same facilities where British legends have won gold medals. The coaches were really complimentary about the ability and effort of the entire group, and I was really proud!’

Year 12 WG6 Geographers spent a very cold day up in London using their knowledge from their Changing Spaces, Making Places unit. We started in London Bridge/Borough/Bankside area. 'The aim of the day was to try out field work techniques whilst utilising our understanding gained from the classroom.  We completed noise surveys, cleanliness surveys, land use and footfall - whilst weighing up the different sampling strategies we could use, assessing the strengths and limitations of each. We annotated images, as well as took our own. We talked to members of the public to gain an understanding of the success of investment in this area of London. In the afternoon we got the tube to Canary Wharf to complete further field work techniques, compare the two locations and to challenge our perception of place. We finished off at the London Docklands Museum to consolidate knowledge of the past connections to London; investigate how the past has impacted the present and what the future plans are for this financial hub. The day was great preparation for the residential trip to Sussex in May 2024 when students will be completing independent detailed field work over three days for their non-examined investigation, worth 20% of their A Level.'  Mrs Barclay, Head of Geography WGSG.

Year 12 Art Trip - to the Photographers Gallery for the Articulate London Regional Final Public Speaking Competition. Special congratulations to Martina who delivered a magnificent presentations on Picasso's "Guernica" ably supported by other WG6 Year 12 Art students.  As a consequence of their presentations, Martina and Gabriela have both secured paid intern positions with the National Gallery.

Year 12 Scholars trip to London School of Economics.  Students received a tour of LSE’s campus and an introductory presentation delivered by a member of the Student Recruitment team. 

Across our school, trips and activities are routinely used to link studies and topics to their relevant job roles in industry, one such example is a recent trip to Harry Potter Studies for A Level Media Studies students.  Mrs Kybird is keen to highlight the significance of their studies to a wide range of opportunities .. including newly created jobs and non-traditional ones!  Harry Potter Studies provides a media and design education programme linked to the national curriculum including costume characterisation, mise-en-scène (making a convincing ‘world’ on screen!) and camera choices … as well as being a lot of fun!

The WG6 Electives Programme provides students with a vast array of enrichment sessions designed with professional, academic and personal development in mind.  Each offers opportunities to gain new skills and recognised qualifications or develop new interests.  All prompt students to broaden their horizons whilst supporting any career or personal ambitions. To read more, including those featured below, click here.

Great British fakeaway!  Learn invaluable life-skills - how to cook healthy quick meals on a budget, perfect for Uni, as well as the theory behind food safety, completing a Level 2 Food Hygiene certificate.  Meat and veggie patties were expertly made, salads seasoned, and delicious sweet and savoury muffins created!

Others Enrichment Programmes include; Personal Finance, Rugby, Mandarin and German.

This week our Y7 cohort visited the Harry Potter Studios Tour in Leavesden, as part of their Term 3 topic Myths & Legends in English. They had a magical time exploring the sets, props, costumes and creatures, including the fantastical and mythical beasts. They finished the day with lunch in the Backlot Cafe and a pint of legendary Butterbeer!

Mr Corrigan’s Year 8 Food and Nutrition students made delicious shortbread.  Students used the rubbing technique to make the dough using a high fat to flour proportion which produces a crumbly or ‘short’ texture in the finished biscuit… hence, Shortbread!

Mr Powell, Head of Year 9 commented on a high level of engagement and positive discussions that took place during Year 9 Parents’ Evening this week.  We appreciate your continued support as students make their GCSE option choices.  The Options Form is now open, the deadline for completion is 8^th March.  To complete the form please click here.

The Kent Teacher of the Year Awards 2024 are now open for nominations.  Social Enterprise Kent, who manage the awards are inviting us to get involved… who do you think deserves a Kent Teacher of the Year Award?

“Everyone working in our education system plays a vital role in shaping the future of our children. From the dedicated teachers who ignite passion, to the behind-the-scenes heroes making everything tick along smoothly, we appreciate the hard work and dedication of each and every person shaping the future of our children.

That's why we're excited to invite you to nominate a member of your school community for a prestigious Kent Teacher of the Year Award!

Whether it's a teacher going the extra mile for students, a member of support staff with a perpetual smile, or a volunteer leaving a lasting impact, SEK wants to hear their incredible stories! Hurry, the deadline for nominations is fast approaching, so seize the moment and make your nominations now! Let's give credit where it's due and celebrate those who make our educational journey truly exceptional!”  To make a nomination CLICK HERE

Oscar Eisinger in 7B attended an event with the Sea Cadets to commemorate the 1845 expedition by Sir John Franklin and unveiling of the plaque.  It was attended by the Mayor, Leader of Dartford Borough Council and Sir Michael Palin as well as an ancestor of Sir John Franklin himself.  The event was reported in the press, please click below for more.

Michael Palin 'emotional' as he joins commemorations of deadly Arctic expedition | ITV News Meridian

We are delighted to announce the date of our next school Community Afternoon Tea.  For details, and to reserve a space .. please see the below poster!  

Lost Property.  As you will see from the picture below and attached list, we have acquired a significant number of coats this term - all unnamed. Please do ensure that all items of uniform are clearly named and encourage your child to come along to the lost property office at the designated times listed should they misplace anything.

Please note that items will be removed termly and donated to the PTA if they are in a saleable condition.

PTA Update: We have just had yet another successful doughnut and samosa sale this week and we secured over £440 in profit. Proceeds will support our WGSB ‘F1 in Schools’ team who received second place prize in the London South Regional Finals, when, in March, they race in the National Finals against the regions across the UK. We are incredibly thankful to all those who made pre-orders and for all the students who came to purchase the doughnuts and samosas on the day as well as the teachers who were also incredibly supportive and generous.

Uniform Shop. On the 22^nd February we will be holding a ‘pre-loved’ uniform shop after school between 4-6pm; if you would like to visit to stock up on any school uniforms including football kits. We are low on stock for the Year 7 and 8 PE kit, so please do email ahead (pta@wgsb.co.uk) if you are coming specifically for this as we may not have any in stock but can check this for you.  We will however be selling all other items and have a huge number of coats and jackets on sale for very reasonable prices, so please do come long to purchase some items.  If as well you have any donations for uniform or PE kits, please do drop them into the main office for attention of the PTA. A list of items and prices will be sent out before the event.

SAVE THE DATE – Pizza making workshop. On Wednesday 27^th March we will be holding a pizza making workshop with more information due shortly.

Forthcoming Dates;

Year 13 Grades home – Friday 9th February

Last Day of Term 3 – Friday 9th February

New York Cultural Trip – Saturday 10th February – Tuesday 15th February

First Day of Term 4 – Monday 19th February

Years 7 & 8 Grades home – Monday 19th February

Year 10 Progress Exams – 19th February – 1st March

Computing Live trip to Disneyland – 25th February

Year 12 Houses of Parliament WG6 Trip – 27th February

Year 7 Tower of London Trip – 5th March

 

Best wishes,

Stuart Harrington

Head Teacher