Newsletters

Dear all

The first two weeks back have been packed with events such as Year 13 mocks, the senior maths challenge, workshops for our Year 10 art, photography and textiles students and having an external review of our resource base that went tremendously.  We have been told all of our practices and methods are exemplary, and we are a beacon school for other establishments to see what we do to support our students with additional needs.  I want to thank all our SEND staff for all their work and dedication in this field and our mainstream staff who are fully responsive in their application of adaptive teaching methods.

As the weather is turning and becoming colder and wetter, please do ensure your child(ren) bring their coats to school with them so that they are warm and dry.  As the day goes on, we want to ensure all students are comfortable and can focus on their learning.

I wish our student leaders well as they travel to Stratford-on-Avon next week for their 3-day leadership development residential.  The senior leadership team met with some of the representatives to hear what they will be focusing on and to provide some themes for them to discuss on how we can develop our school further. I look forward to hearing how they got on and their proposals on their return.

Please enjoy the rest of the newsletter and keep up to date with all our announcements and celebrations through our website and social media pages:

Facebook:  The John of Gaunt School  

Instagram: jogschool24

Have a lovely weekend,

Our book of the week

Where the Heart Should Be 

by Sarah Crossan

Ireland, 1846 Nell is working as a scullery maid in the kitchen of the Big House. Once, she loved school and books and dreaming. But there's not much choice of work when the land grows food that rots in the earth. Now she is scrubbing, peeling, washing, sweeping for Sir Philip Wicken, the man who owns her home, her family's land, their crops, everything.

His dogs are always well fed, even as famine sets in. Upstairs in the Big House, where Nell is forbidden to enter, is Johnny Browning, newly arrived from England: the young nephew who will one day inherit it all. And as hunger and disease run rampant all around them, a spark of life and hope catches light when Nell and Johnny find each other.

From multi-award-winning author Sarah Crossan comes a stirring, heart-wrenching novel that explores the value we place on humanity and asks: can you survive on love alone?

I am a massive fan of Sarah Crossan, she writes verse novels like nobody else and this is another triumph. Happy Reading!

Mrs Bruton

A huge thank you to all the pupils who submitted an entry for the Ovid in the West Country competition. Mr Rhodes and Miss Bruton thoroughly enjoyed meeting with you to discuss your pieces. Judging from the Facebook photos Mr Rhodes posted, a super time was had by all! It really was a gorgeous opportunity to celebrate you, your creativity and joy. Thank you again for making it such a positive event.

That said, I am thrilled to announce that the winners of the internal JoG Ovid competition are

William Collins 7B

Ava Treblicock 7G

Maja Szcerbinska

Ava and Maja each submitted a beautiful drawing of Medusa accompanied by text, and William submitted a superb cake model of Arachne and Athene in her owl form.

Well done to the three of you. We are looking forward to seeing you and your family at the final in Bristol on Wednesday 4^th December at the Wills Memorial Building at Bristol University.

Well done too to Letty Wise for winning the student vote with her very cuddly and endearing Odysseus (escaping the Cyclops under the belly of a sheep) crochet!

I absolutely loved all your entries!

Stay tuned all four of you for the prizes from the English department - they will be making their way to you shortly!

I wanted to congratulate Year 11 on their mature approach to Post Sixteen choices in recent weeks. There was an excellent turnout for both the Year 12 information evening and the 11 into 12 day, which took place this week. Staff delivering the sessions were really impressed with the high-level of engagement. As the weeks roll by towards mock exams in term 2, it is critical that year 11 students now focus on completing those post sixteen applications and can then focus on revision. 

Revision guides are still available to purchase online via parent pay and school support revision guide is free to collect in school. 

Keep going year 11 we are all really proud of you. 

Kind regards

Mrs Scott and the Year 11 team  

Take part in our Shakespeare competition! You are asked to put together a monologue or a duologue from your favourite Shakespearean play. 

First Round: Tuesday 3^rd December - 3-4pm in the Drama Studio

There will be cake and biscuits for all participants as well as 5 achievement points for entering!

If you are unsure, please see Ms Murtagh in L2 for any guidance.

It's BACK!! Ten Tors 2025 White Horse Hike

The opening training walk for the 2025 Ten Tors Event took place on the 9^th November. 30 students from Years 9 to 12 strapped on their rucksacks and warm layers for a 17-mile hike from School to the White Horse and back. The pleasing mix of bronze medallist Year 10s, and volunteer (and gold medallist) Sixth Former Elliot Ward, meant that the new students were expertly cajoled and shepherded around their route which went encompassed Upper Studley, Westbury, Hawkeridge and North Bradley.

The rain held off but deep mud and occasional flooding were issues for some of the less experienced students, but enjoyable for the rest of us who could stride right through. The White Horse allowed good views and the new sculptures by the car park were a pleasing diversion to the usual scenery. Despite trains, Plains and automobiles we all managed to get back safely and before dark, and everyone even got to witness Mr Gray doing his "litter dropping" press-ups (my foil had barely touched the ground before they were issued!!).

Dog-walkers and passers-by were all very complimentary about the conduct of our students and a huge well done is reserved for everyone who participated, particularly those who continued despite finding it a real challenge. As usual, massive thanks to volunteers Iain Richards, Imogen Wood and Mrs Brooks alongside the invaluable assistance from the Year 10s and Elliot Ward. See everyone again this Saturday!