Newsletters

Dear parents and guardians,

It's been a long and busy term full of events, mock examinations, trips, residentials, fixtures and the list goes on. I want to thank all the staff for the time they give to our students, providing them with high-quality experiences and support. You only have to follow our social media posts to see how much is happening in and outside of school, all the way up to our final day, even though we have had significant challenges with illness (something that has hit the whole country at this time), the staff have continued to deliver.

Over the last couple of weeks, we have enjoyed the fun of the Year7 Christmas disco and the Year 8s enjoying the 'A Christmas Carol' performance. I have loved seeing the balloon sculptures that all year groups made during Fun Friday tutor time, and I am so impressed with how our students organised the food bank donations.  This week it has been joyous welcoming back our past students for the A level celebration evening on Monday and the Christmas concert on Tuesday was wonderful, with so many of our students performing various classical and contemporary pieces.  It was a special evening that I always look forward to and this year was once again, a magical evening.

Our students are responding positively to all the good will and the feeling of Kindness, Belonging and Positivity that are our values, along with demonstrating their 'Excellence Everyday'.  The attitude and application our students are showing in their lessons and throughout the Year 11 and Post 16 mock examinations is commendable.  I have literally signed hundreds of Bronze house point certificates, which is just fantastic and these have been celebrated in assemblies this week.  Well done to all of those who have attained 100 positive points!  

It has been wonderful to see the students sit down to a Christmas meal on Wednesday and then see the array of Christmas jumpers today on our final day. It sets us up nicely for the festivities over the next couple of weeks.  To all our students, I hope that you have a restful break and come back refreshed and ready for a new term in the new year.  

Please remember to ensure your child has a complete uniform for the first day back on Tuesday, 6^th January and their pencil case has all the equipment they require to study effectively.  If you have any challenges with these, please do contact the school and we will support you where we can.  We have a range of pre-loved uniforms and stores of stationary if needed.

And so, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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Mr Rhodes

Parent Contact Information 

It is essential that our School Systems are up to date with regards to contact information for parents.  This is to support Safeguarding and Medical Needs.   In order to ensure that we are able to contact a family member in the event of an emergency/absence etc,  it is essential we have at least two adults on the system whom we can contact.   For many pupils this is the case. However if you are not sure, please email Sarah Hill, Pastoral Support Manager, and she can check for you and update as necessary.   Sarah Hill - sjhill@jogschool.org

GCSE Certificate Evening Invitation

We are pleased to invite last year’s Year 11 students (Summer 2025 cohort only) to attend our GCSE Certificate Evening to collect their official GCSE certificates.

Date: Wednesday 7th January 2026

Time: 4:00–6:00pm

Location: Wingfield Hall

Students may drop in at any point during this time to collect their certificates.

Parents/carers are welcome to attend with their child.

Refreshments will be provided.

Important Information

• This event is not for the current Year 11 students, it is for 2025 cohort.

• Certificates must be collected in person by the student named on them - we are unable to give certificates to friends or family members.

• If you are unable to attend on the evening, certificates can be collected from school reception at a later date.

Please confirm attendance by emailing office@jogschool.org

We look forward to welcoming our former Year 11 students back to celebrate their achievements..

Year 7 Christmas Disco 

Last week we held our annual Christmas Disco for Y7 in which we look to celebrate the year & spread Christmas cheer! There was lots of dancing, singing & knee sliding to Mariah Carey & Wham. A huge thank you to all of our staff & 6th formers who came to support & the tuck shop with a special shout out to Miss Lewis, Miss Martin & Mr Little. 

We really hope you had the best night & we wish you the best Christmas

Christmas Carol Concert – Tuesday 16^th December 2025

Holy Trinity Church was filled with festive cheer as over 140 students from Years 7 to 13 took part in this year’s spectacular Christmas Carol Concert, performing to an audience of around 380 people. The evening showcased the incredible musical talent across the school and created a truly magical start to the Christmas season.

The programme featured a huge variety of musical numbers performed by a wide range of ensembles. From traditional Christmas carols to more modern favourites, there was something for everyone. Highlights included a powerful orchestral performance of Fairytale of New York and an energetic, crowd-pleasing rendition of Jingle Bells by the Samba Band.

The Carol Service began beautifully in candlelight, setting a reflective and atmospheric tone for the evening. Two Year 7 students, Isobel Emus and Cameron Purches, confidently opened the concert by singing the first verse of Once in Royal David’s City a cappella, before the choir joined in from verse two, creating a memorable and moving moment.

The generosity of the audience was clear, with the collection raising an impressive £326.78 for this year’s chosen charity, Dorothy House. The evening ended with smiles all around, a positive and joyful atmosphere, and an audience leaving full of Christmas spirit.

Well done to all the students and staff involved for making this such a successful and unforgettable event.

Here are some photos from the rehearsals during the school day.

Ten Tors 2026 Update: Splashing around in the Deverills!

Twenty-eight hardy students set out on December 6th to conquer a 20-mile hike through the Deverill Hills, near Warminster.

The weather immediately tested their resolve: 30 mph gusts and relentless drizzle accompanied intermittent downpours. The route was treacherous; fields and paths had turned into a marshy obstacle course, with water often reaching shin-height. The hikers wearing waterproof boots and gaiters were undoubtedly thankful, as their gear proved essential against the soaking terrain.

Even on the gloomy day, glimpses of the landscape were visible, offering rewarding views over Monkton and Kingsbridge Deverill as the students traversed the chalky plateaus. Crucially, the absence of stiles or gates allowed the group to maintain a swift and steady pace of 3.5 km/h. They racked up 20 miles in total, finally finishing the long trek under the cover of darkness, their path illuminated solely by the glow of their head torches.

Year 7 Step Back in Time for Living History Day

A few weeks ago, our Year 7 pupils took part in the annual John of Gaunt School Living History Day, an immersive experience that brought the events of 1066 vividly to life.

Throughout the day, students explored the key moments leading up to the Battle of Hastings, learning about the clashes that came before it and examining a range of historical artefacts. The highlight for many was forming an authentic Saxon shield wall—before facing a dramatic charge from the “Norman cavalry”!

The event was run in partnership with Oxenwood Outdoor Education Centre, who supplied a professional re-enactor and an impressive selection of replica weaponry to ensure a memorable, hands-on experience.

This enrichment activity supported Year 7’s current studies on the Norman Conquest, helping pupils understand how the events of 1066 shaped the history of the British Isles. Activities like this truly bring History to life, allowing students not just to learn about the past, but to step into it.

It’s the next best thing to having a time machine!

Looking forward to next year,
Ms Davison

Ski Trip Practice - November 2025

We took 35 of the 39 students attending the trip over 2 sessions in November.

Pupils got out on the slopes for some experience, safety and learning the basics. Lots of snow plows and some advancing to a little jump or two (not over or off anything but when they reached the bottom of the slope for confidence in their skis). 

Pupils did incredibly well with lots of falls, slips and slides but everyone getting back up every time with smiles on their faces and wanting to go again! They supported one another, encouraged their peers and some had the opportunity to advance up the slope. 

An amazing experience all round, lots of confidence gained and everyone certainly left excited for what is to come in April when we are out on the slopes for real. 

Sixth Form PJs for Children in Need 2025

Spreading Festive Kindness

A huge thank you to our amazing students for their generosity and teamwork this Christmas. 38 full food bags, along with lots of spare items, have been delivered to the Trowbridge Storehouse to support local families in need.

In addition, our fantastic Student Leaders packed an incredible 1,200 festive bags, which were then carefully sorted by our dedicated Sixth Form team.

We are so proud of everyone involved in making such a positive difference this festive season.

Careers News December 2025

Year 12

We launched the Year 12 Work Experience Programme in Term 2, continuing our commitment to preparing students for life beyond school.

Year 11

We have been completing the Year 11 guidance interviews and supporting students with their college applications.  Tutors are collecting destinations from students in term 3 so that we can ensure that all students have a destination / pathway after KS4.

Year 10

This term, the Careers Team has been actively promoting work experience opportunities for Year 10 students. Through dedicated tutorial sessions, students have learned how to find placements and use Unifrog to support their search. Parents have received detailed information, and students have been given access to records of previous placements. We're pleased to report that many students have already secured exciting placements!

Year 9

As Year 9 students prepare to choose their GCSE pathways, the Careers Team and Wiltshire College will be present at the Options Evening in January to answer questions and offer guidance. Students will also take part in tutorial sessions focused on making informed choices from a careers perspective.

Year 8

In response to new careers legislation, the team has begun introducing work experience into Key Stage 3. Our pilot initiative, ‘Take Your Child to Work Day’, aims to give younger students a first glimpse into the world of work.

Armed Forces

This term also saw the launch of our first Army Work Experience programme, with nine students spending time at Okehampton. This unique opportunity allowed them to experience life in the armed services and consider whether a military career might be right for them.

Whole School Careers Programme

The open evening for 6^th form was on 13^th November, which was well attended.  Feedback was that the evening was very informative for parents to be able to support their children.  The closing date for application is 17^th December.

25^th November was the Year 11-12 subject taster day for Year 11, to help students choose their A level subjects.  For those not going to 6^th form, they had workshops from Wiltshire and Bath College, apprenticeships, RAF and employability skills from Nestlé. 

Coming up in careers…..

Looking ahead, our annual Careers Fair will take place on February 5th, 2026. This year, we’re welcoming 25 organisations from a wide range of employment sectors—an excellent opportunity for students to explore future career paths and speak directly with employers.  Parents and students will get information in advance about the companies attending.

Career Planning

All year groups have structured tasks in their knowledge organisers and on Unifrog to guide them through their career journey as well as helping them to get to know Unifrog.  Unifrog provides a one-stop-shop where students can explore their interests, then find and successfully apply for their best next-step after school.  There are over 1000 career profiles, with information from a range of sources, including local and national LMI, including qualifications and skills needed, interviews with industry professionals and labour market information.  Unifrog allows students to explore progression opportunities and what a working week really looks like.

Parents can sign up to receive weekly summary emails.  This summary will show you any shortlists your child may have made on the Unifrog platform.  It will also detail any interactions logged against your child, such as careers fairs taking place or careers interviews coming up.

Careers for Parents / Guardians

Unifrog

Excitingly, Unifrog has now changed the way in which we engage parents and carers and have introduced new parent and carer accounts. This will still enable them to view the platform as if they are a student, but also gives them some access to their child's activity on Unifrog. Information will be sent to parents in January.

Parents can get help about careers from careermag: https://careermap.co.uk/career-advice/careermag

We offer 1:1 guidance if you are wanting to change careers.  Contact careers@jogschool.org for more information

If you would like to come to the careers fair, please contact careers@jogschool.org

Year 8 - Autumn Term review

The first two terms of Year 8, have seen lots of our students engaging with multitude of Community events. These have included the collecting and preparing of well over twenty Christmas shoes boxes filled to the brim with small gifts and essentials. These annual appeal boxes were filled by Mrs Addecott and her very dedicated team who attended and completed the task brilliantly. 

Additionally, a number of our students have attended a leadership course with Mrs Rossiter. Each tutor group, has elected their representatives for the Year council and this now up and running, discussing important matters that affect the whole school. 

Musically, our year 8 students have had a very successful two terms, with many now regularly participating in bands, attending Orchestra and choir practice across the week. We have even had a winner at the annual Devizes Eisteddfod, which is no mean feat to achieve. 

The sporting season for school football and Netball tournaments begins in the new year and many students have expressed a pre-season interest by attending training, so we look forward to success in 2026. 

Finally, I would like to congratulate all the students who have achieved their Bronze Achievement Certificates in these first two terms. This is an excellent milestone and a real show of dedication to learning and the JOG community. 

It only remains to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy, safe and prosperous New Year. 

See you all in 2026

Mrs Scott and Mrs Addecott 

Christmas Dinner at School

On Wednesday, our canteen was filled with festive cheer as students enjoyed a delicious Christmas turkey dinner with all the trimmings!

It was a lovely sit-down meal, and it was fantastic to see so many students enjoying the festive atmosphere together.

A huge thank you to the catering team for all their hard work in preparing such a wonderful meal. It was truly appreciated by everyone!