Newsletters

Dear parents/guardians

It has been a jam-packed term and this last fortnight exemplifies this, as you will see in the newsletter and noted on our social media posts, there has been so much being delivered and offered to our students on top of excellent lessons being delivered day in, day out.

We have had a fantastic Resource Base review that occurred yesterday, led by the Local Authority, where their findings have been overwhelmingly positive and the model we have set up for our students is judged to be very effective and supportive.  More details to follow.

Can I remind all families, as we move into term 2 and the autumn and winter months, that students should not be wearing shorts.  We will re-introduce shorts in term 5 as we move into the summer term.

I do hope all our students have a restful break and we all look forward to their return in November.

Happy Halloween!

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Mr Rhodes

Uniform Reminder

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we are now at the end of Term 1, we would like to remind families that summer uniform will come to an end. 

When students return to school in November, shorts will no longer be permitted. We kindly ask that all students return in the appropriate uniform. 

We appreciate your support in ensuring all students arrive dressed appropriately for the season and in line with our school expectations.

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support.

What is Unifrog?                                                   

Unifrog believe that destinations - where students end up after school - is even more important than their academic performance. They partner with schools to support students to progress into the best opportunity for them.

Unifrog do this by providing a one-stop-shop where students can explore their interests, then find and successfully apply for their best next-step after school.

English Competitions & Information

The Roman Baths are running an event based on the Greek Myth of Arachne; they've created a Halloween event following a spider trail! This may be of interest to our year 7 students who are currently studying Greek Myths in English. 

The Rondo Theatre in Bath is putting on a performance of Jekyll and Hyde. They are performing the story through a feminist lens, so this is a more challenging approach to the story. It would be great for our KS4 and KS5 students to go and see.

Year 8 STEM RAF Robotics

Our Year 8 students had an amazing time at the STEM RAF Robotics session! They got hands-on experience building and programming robots, teamed up to tackle exciting challenges, and explored how technology and engineering shape our world. A perfect blend of fun, creativity, and problem-solving! We’re so proud of their enthusiasm and teamwork.

Year 7 Science Club 

Please see the below poster for Year 7 Science Club starting on the 4th November. 

Year 7 Homework Expectations

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: OLIVER CLARK SHINES AS TALENT SHOW HOST ✨

A huge well done to Year 10 student Oliver Clark, who not only organised but also brilliantly hosted a fantastic Talent Show last Saturday at Southwick Village Hall!

Oliver even wowed the audience by performing his own magic tricks between performances, keeping the energy high and the crowd entertained throughout the evening.

Thanks to Oliver’s hard work and the support of everyone involved, the event raised an incredible £412 for Alzheimer’s Support, and We Hear You Cancer Support.

Special thanks to:
The judges – Deputy Mayor, Alex from Alzheimer’s Support, and Robbie from We Hear You
Winner – Former JoG student Ellie Howes
Runner-up – JoG’s very own band Snapshot
Photography – Edward Morris (Year 10)
Ticket sales – Hannah Lydiard & Phoebe Reys (both Year 10)

We are so proud of Oliver and all the students who gave up their time to make this event such a success. What a brilliant example of the Kindness, Positivity and Belonging values we hold. 

Year 11 Exam Success Evening

Year 11 Exam Success Evening was a great success, with an excellent turnout from students and parents alike. The event provided valuable insight and guidance to help students prepare for the important months ahead.

The evening featured impressive presentations from our Sixth Form students, who shared their own experiences and offered practical advice on effective study strategies, time management, and maintaining a healthy balance during exam season. Staff also delivered informative presentations outlining key expectations, support available, and the resources students can access to achieve their best results.

All attendees received an information booklet packed with useful tips, revision guidance, and key dates. For anyone who was unable to attend, both the PowerPoint presentation and the booklet have been emailed out to parents and students. In addition, printed copies of the booklet will be available to collect during tutor afternoon on Monday 20th October.

A reminder that term two sees mock exams for all of year 11 from 1st -12th December, with a revision workshop in school on 11th November. We also have a parent drop-in in Tescos community room on 17^th November from 12-3pm.

The school would like to thank everyone who attended and contributed to making the evening such an informative and inspiring event.

Year 7 PGL! 

Our Year 7 students had an incredible time away on their PGL trip, full of laughter, challenges, and new experiences that they’ll treasure for years to come.

After settling into their rooms, the students wasted no time diving into activities like the zip wire, axe throwing, and the giant swing. These challenges pushed them to face their fears and work together as a team.

They embraced abseiling, learned how to build fires, and many took the courageous leap into the lake. Their resilience, enthusiasm, and teamwork have been inspiring to see.

Evenings have been just as memorable. The students enjoyed singing and toasting marshmallows around the campfire - a perfect way to wind down. And to add a bit of extra fun, they took part in a silent (not very silent!) disco, dancing the night away.

We are so proud of how well our students have represented the school and supported one another throughout this unforgettable trip. 

Thank you to all the staff who made this amazing experience possible.

Year 11 Football Fixture

Year 11 boys kick off the year with a comfortable 3-1 win over Frome College. Some nicely constructed goals finished off by Hobie, Tom and Reuban in a controlled first half performance put the boys in command at half time, and a solid defensive display kept the clean sheet until the final touch of the game 💔 MotM Aston for his versatility, discipline and communication on his return to the team.

What is livestreaming?

Livestreaming is broadcasting to an audience in ‘real time’. The audience can leave comments, give likes to the person who is streaming and, in some cases, ‘gift’ the streamer. Some platforms let several people livestream at the same time.

Children and teenagers are likely to have spent more time on livestreaming and video apps in the last few years. While many children will be using these apps to talk to friends or family, some children may be talking to people they don’t know, or sharing personal information without realising. We’ve got advice to help you understand the risks and keep them safe

Average age child watches live streams

One in four (24%) children create and post their own vlogs – including 27% of children aged between six and 10 – although most child vloggers are aged 11 to 13 (35%). The average age for a child to start watching and creating their own vlogs is nine. Nearly eight out of 10 (79%) teenagers between 14 and 16 regularly watch videos by professional vloggers.

The average child spends two hours a week watching vlogs – yet 7% of kids watch for seven hours or more. Seven out of 10 parents say it’s difficult to know whether certain vlogs or vloggers are suitable for their kids.

Why do young people livestream?

Young people and children like to livestream and use video apps for lots of reasons. These include:

• learning or show others how to do something; livestreams of people playing video games are particularly popular
• staying in contact with family and friends
• taking part in viral trends, such as challenges
• being creative or as a means of self-expression
• relaxing – many video apps have ‘satisfying content’, such food being prepared or ASMR
• entertainment – there is lots of funny content, or linked to hobbies or trends
• or even to making money or becoming an influencer.

Risks of hosting a livestream

Feeling Pressured- Because livestreaming and video chat happens in real time, young people may feel under pressure to behave in a certain way so that people will keep watching their channel.

Feeling less inhibited- Being behind a screen and a feeling of anonymity may result in children feeling less inhibited or shy. They might end up sharing personal and private information, or acting in a way that they wouldn’t act in the real world in front of people.

Talking to strangers online- Many websites and social media apps, including video and livestreaming apps, allow unknown people to talk to children and vice versa.

Bullying Comments- Many apps allow for comments. Your child may feel upset or embarrassed if they’ve received inappropriate comments from others.

Videos recorded or shared without consent- Conversations and livestreams can be recorded and shared across other social networks, without knowledge or consent. Your child may lose control over their video and where it's been shared. Some service providers can be contacted and the content taken down, but others will only remove if the content is illegal or violates their terms and conditions. It is important that your child is aware of this so that they can moderate what they are sharing or doing.

Risks of watching a livestream

Seeing inappropriate or upsetting content- Many sites and apps have no or very poor age verification processes, meaning there is a risk your child may see upsetting or inappropriate content, such as sexual, abusive, violent content. This can result in a range of emotions such as worry, anxiety, and confusion.

Inappropriate or upsetting comments- Comments on livestreams aren't moderated and can include content that would be upsetting to both the person livestreaming and anyone else reading the comments.

How to help keep your child safe                       

Talk to your child - Talk to them about what they're doing online and how to stay safe. Let them know they can come to you, or another adult they trust, if they feel worried or upset by anything they've seen online. They can also get support from Childline on 0808 1111.

Explore apps and sites together - Explore what your child likes to do online together. This can help you to understand why they're using certain. Explore the features that are available, which would include privacy settings, location settings, and how to block and report.

Agree what's appropriate together - Agree your own rules as a family when using apps, sites or games.  You can use our family agreement template to help get you started.

Check your settings - Check the technology your family uses and use privacy and location settings to keep your child safe. You can call your mobile and broadband provider to find out how to do this or visit our parental controls page to find out more.

To learn more about all the different social media platforms and livestreaming apps please visit the following link

https://www.internetmatters.org/advice/apps-and-platforms/social-media/?page=1&age_min=0&age_max=16

Sixth Form PGL

Our sixth form students were away at Osmington Bay last week, making the most of the stunning sea views and exciting activities. From climbing Jacob’s Ladder to testing their aim with axe throwing, the students have been fully immersed in the adventure. The energy really picked up with some friendly competition as they raced each other in dragon boats!

One of the highlights was the giant Year 12 vs Year 13 dodgeball game where the Year 12s came out victorious in an intense and thrilling match. 

It’s been wonderful to see how much the students have been supporting one another and building strong connections between the year groups throughout the trip.

Upcoming Parent Workshops

If you would like to attend any of the sessions listed below, please contact sjhill@jogschool.org. 

Workshop 1 – strategies and support to manage your child’s emotional regulation

Session 1:  Wed 12/11/25

Session 2: Weds 26/11/25

Workshop 2 – Practical strategies and support to manage your child’s emotional regulation

Session 1:  Wed 4/3/26

Session 2: Weds 18/3/26 

Careers News

This term the team has been promoting work experience in Year 10.  The team delivered tutorials about finding a placement and how to use Unifrog.  Information has been sent to parents and previous placements information has been sent to the students.  Quite a few students have already arranged a placement!

February 5^th 2026 will be the annual careers fair in school.  There are 25 companies taking part from a range of employment sectors. 

The careers team has begun to meet the challenges of the new careers legislation, primarily the introduction of work experience into KS3.  This year’s pilot is ‘Take Your Child To Work Day.’

This term saw the first Army Work Experience for 9 students at Okehampton.  This has been an excellent opportunity for students to experience life in the armed services and to help them decide if that life is for them.

Year 9 will be choosing their pathways.  Careers and Wiltshire College will be at the Year 9 Options Evening in November to ask any questions.  Year 9 will be having tutorial sessions about choosing their options from a careers perspective.

Trowbridge Town Hall is holding a Creative Industries Careers Fair in November and Year 10 and sixth form students will have an opportunity to visit.

We will be launching the work experience with Year 12 in term 2.

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.

Unifrog now has a family code that anyone in our community can use if they need any advice and guidance on careers and the world of work. The code is TJOGfamily. Anyone in our community can now access Unifrog (http://unifrog.org) and enter our family code to seek advice and guidance on careers. Please feel free to use this code yourself, or indeed pass these details onto anyone else you know who may be needing advice and guidance on the above. The code expires on the 3^rd of December this year.

Lots going on at JoG! 

While our Year 7 and Sixth Form students have been off making memories on their PGL residentials, there’s been plenty happening back at school too!

Our Living History workshops brought the past to life in exciting and interactive ways.

And our students showed great determination and spirit during Cross Country practice. Well done to everyone who took part!

A big thank you to all staff and students for making this such a fantastic week of learning, adventure, and teamwork.