Newsletters

Dear families,

If you follow our social media posts on Facebook and Instagram, you will be well aware of all the amazing experiences our students have experienced over the last term. Our new Year 7s and 12s have learnt what it is like to be at JoG in the next phase of their educational life and they must be so happy!

Not only are our students gaining high-quality lessons every day, supported by a superb pastoral team, they have had access to a wealth of opportunities across the whole school. You will also be able to reflect on these experiences through this newsletter. However, I know so many of you will have had the opportunity to discuss the start your child has had when you attended the 'Meet the tutor' day.  This was such an uplifting event, seeing so many supportive parents and carers have positive conversations with their child's tutor. Feedback has been excellent, and I am so pleased with the responses we have received. We want all our students to be well-rounded and academically successful and having the partnership of families is crucial.

These conversations were echoed at our open evening and open mornings; the reflections of visiting families have been humbling as people made the effort to inform staff about how welcoming the school is, how our values are tangible, the quality of lessons and our ethos are clear to see.  I completely agree, JoG is the place to be!

I want to thank all my staff for all their efforts during this first term.  Their dedication to the students is second to none. 

Reminder that as we embark on Term 2, the uniform changes and we no longer allow tailored shorts. Please ensure students are arriving to school in November with trousers or a school skirt. 

Enjoy the newsletter and I hope you and your children have a good break.

Mr Rhodes

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Mr Rhodes

Important dates for the term ahead

Year 11 – Making a real positive start to the year

We are incredibly proud of our Year 11 students and the positive choices they have made this term. They have demonstrated real commitment, determination and a willingness to make the most of the opportunities available to them.

English and Maths P6 have had a fantastic turnout throughout the entire term, with students turning up eager, ready to learn and to challenge themselves. They have taken part in Walking Talking Mocks led by an examiner and had multiple opportunities to work through exam-style questions. This has all aided them to develop their understanding of exam expectations and gain a clearer insight into how to approach their upcoming examinations.

Experiences like these play an important role in helping students build confidence, strengthen their skills and feel better prepared for their final GCSE exams. It has been wonderful to see so many students embracing the opportunity and taking responsibility for their learning.

A reminder to all Year 11 students: P6 revision sessions take place every week, with Maths on Mondays and English on Tuesdays. We strongly encourage all students to attend and make the most of the additional support and guidance available.

With continued hard work, positive attitudes and a commitment to making the most of every opportunity, we look forward to seeing our Year 11 students continue to thrive throughout the year. Well done, Year 11!

Year 11 Exam Success Evening

We were delighted to welcome so many parents and students to our Year 11 Exam Success Evening. The event was a fantastic opportunity to share advice, guidance and practical strategies to help students prepare confidently for their upcoming examinations.

During the evening, parents and students heard valuable advice from our core subject leads, who shared effective revision strategies and practical tips to support success across their subjects. The session provided helpful guidance on how students can make the most of their revision time, build confidence and approach their exams with a positive mindset.

A particular highlight was an excellent presentation from two of our Year 12 students, who shared their own experiences of preparing for and sitting their GCSE examinations. Their honest insights and practical advice offered an invaluable perspective, reassuring Year 11 students that success is achievable with effective preparation, resilience and a positive approach.

The evening also highlighted the importance of mental health and wellbeing during the exam period. We explored ways to manage stress, maintain a healthy balance between revision and relaxation, and ensure that students look after themselves while working towards their goals. Supporting our students’ wellbeing remains just as important as celebrating their academic achievements.

Thank you to all the parents and carers who attended and to the staff and students who contributed to such a positive and informative evening. We hope everyone left feeling better equipped, more confident and motivated for the months ahead.

Together, we can help our Year 11 students approach their examinations with confidence, resilience and the tools they need to succeed!

Year 7 – PGL Trips 

We are so pleased with how our Year 7 PGL trips have gone this year. These trips are always such a wonderful experience to witness, and this year has been no exception. It has been fantastic to see our students embracing new challenges, stepping outside their comfort zones and making memories that will last a lifetime.

Throughout their time away, students have taken part in a wide range of fun activities, pushing themselves to try new things, support one another and celebrate each other’s achievements. A highlight for everyone was the silent disco, which proved to be a huge success! Mr Rhodes even joined the silent disco during PGL 2 and reported that it was great fun!

However, what has been just as special as the activities themselves is the way our Year 7 students have conducted themselves throughout the trips. They have been responsible, encouraging and supportive, building wonderful friendships along the way. For some students, this was their first independent trip away from home, and it has been lovely to see how they have looked after one another, offered reassurance and helped everyone feel included.

These trips are about so much more than adventure. They are an opportunity for students to develop independence, resilience and confidence while strengthening the friendships that will support them throughout their secondary school journey.

We are incredibly proud of the way Year 7 have approached these experiences and the maturity, kindness and enthusiasm they have shown throughout.

School Show - High School Musical Jr

Thank you to all who attended and supported our whole school production of ‘High School Musical Jr’. The show was a tremendous success, with the students still buzzing long after the final bows. To the students involved: you worked incredibly hard both on and off-stage. Your performance was vibrant and energetic, captivating the audience and showcasing the outstanding talent we have within our school community. To the parents who came to support: seeing a packed audience cheering on our students was incredibly rewarding, your support gave our performers the confidence to shine on stage. I am very grateful to you for encouraging and championing the arts at John of Gaunt, and we hope you enjoyed the show. To my team: I could not run a whole school production every year without the support of my colleagues. Mrs Maguire, Mr Wilson, Mrs Rossiter and Mr Le Brocq – the show would not be as it is without your hard-work! The Sunday rehearsals alone! To all: WELL DONE! BRILLIANT! FANTASTIC! LET’S DO IT AGAIN!

We’re already looking ahead to our next sweet school production…*drum roll, please*… ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Jr’. This will be officially launched in January, so keep your eyes peeled for more information. We can’t wait to begin another exciting theatrical journey and look forward to welcoming even more students to get involved.

Great first term from Year 9! 

Year 9 have had an amazing start this academic year. They have settled well into their new tutor groups with their new tutors.  

We have seen lots of students participating in after school clubs and volunteering with our Link to Hope Christmas shoe box appeal, all events which contribute to the school community and beyond. 

Year 9 have embraced the opportunities offered through the take your child to work day or have enjoyed a range of employers coming into school delivering talks on career opportunities and career planning. 

Mrs Addecott and I have been very privileged to witness some amazing marketing ideas that have been produced by students as part of the employer programme. We have been particularly impressed by products that can be controlled via an app out of the home. A clothing item designed with disability access in mind and a flexible extension plug to fit into awkward places. 

We clearly have lots of budding entrepreneurs. We look forward to seeing them on Dragon Den in the future. 

Have a wonderful half term until the start of term 2 school return Monday 2^nd November. 

Mrs S Scott and Mrs J Addecott

A Visit from Bestselling Author Fleur Hitchcock

On Tuesday 29th September, we were delighted to welcome bestselling author Fleur Hitchcock to The John of Gaunt Library.

Thirty students took part in a creative writing workshop led by Fleur, exploring ideas, characters and storytelling. Some brave students even shared their stories and we certainly had some creepy tales in the mix.

All participating students received a free copy of Murder at Wintertide, one of Fleur Hitchcock’s popular crime mysteries, and had the opportunity to meet Fleur and have their books signed on the day.

A huge thank you to Bath Children’s Literature Festival for generously donating the books. And our biggest thank you goes to Fleur Hitchcock for delivering such an engaging and inspiring workshop and encouraging our young writers to get creative.

What a fantastic opportunity for our students to meet a professional author, share their writing and discover the magic of storytelling.

KS4 English and Maths Tutor Sessions

As we reach the end of our first term, we are delighted with the success of our new KS4 English and Maths Tutor Sessions.

These short, focused revision sessions have been a fantastic opportunity for students to consolidate their learning, revisit key concepts and build confidence in the subjects that are crucial for GCSE success. It has been particularly pleasing to see so many students engaging positively and making the most of the additional support on offer.

The atmosphere in sessions has been excellent, with students demonstrating great focus, commitment and maturity. Feedback from students has been really positive, with many commenting on how useful they find the short bursts of targeted revision and practice.

We are confident that this consistent approach to reinforcing learning will have a significant impact on student progress and outcomes. We look forward to continuing the sessions throughout the year and supporting our students as they work towards achieving their very best in English and Maths.

Well done to all students who have embraced this opportunity so positively. Keep up the excellent work!

Activities Day - Tuesday 13th Oct 

What a day of excitement, both in and out of school!

Our Sixth Form students enjoyed a sunny day in Bath, Year 11 made the most of the great weather on their trip to Paultons Park, Year 10 headed off to the cinema and Year 9s joined the world of work with a Take Your Child to Work Day!

There was plenty happening in school too, with wellbeing days, yoga lessons, some fantastic cooking and a fun run to raise money for Wiltshire Mind.

It wasn't all fun and games, we're sure Mrs Edmunds and Mr Abell spent some time trying to teach Peppa Pig some Maths.

A huge thank you to all our staff who put so much time, energy and effort into making today such an enjoyable experience for everyone, whether students were in or out of school.

Our first Activities Day is complete and what a great start.

Year 7 Wellbeing Activity Day 

Year 7 have been collecting lots of ways to support their mental and physical wellbeing. They completed a carousel of activities which included forest school, arts and crafts, music, yoga and workshops on mental health first aid, sleep and nutrition. It was so lovely to feel the calm atmosphere around the school and students taking ownership of their wellbeing. 

They were incredibly lucky to be supported by Wiltshire Mind, who spoke to our students during the afternoon and a donation page has been set up - link below. The day ended with a fun run to celebrate being outside and moving their bodies! 

A huge thank you to those who have donated, our tutor team, staff who ran sessions and to Miss Martin for organising the day. It was a pleasure to be apart of. 

https://www.justgiving.com/page/year-7-funrun 

Ovid in the West Country – Year 7, Get Creative!

The English Department is delighted to have launched the Ovid in the West Country Competition this week for our Year 7 cohort!

Organised by the University of Bristol’s Bristol Classics Hub, the competition aims to inspire an interest in the ancient world and celebrate the enduring magic of classical mythology. It is a fantastic opportunity for pupils at John of Gaunt, alongside students from schools across the region, to unleash their creativity and bring the myths they have been exploring this term to life.

The challenge is simple: pupils can choose their favourite classical myth, or even just one memorable moment from it, and retell it in any creative medium they wish. Whether their talents lie in prose or poetry, baking, model-making, embroidery, costume design, filmmaking, stop-motion animation, Lego, drawing, pottery, painting, woodwork or even basket weaving, the possibilities are endless! We would love to see our Year 7s strut their creative stuff. The more imaginative, the better!

For those who choose to bake their creations, photographs taken from three different angles will be perfectly acceptable as a submission – no need to transport a mythological masterpiece made of cake into school!

The submission deadline is Monday 2 November.

Following the deadline, Mrs Bruton will organise an exhibition of all entries in the school library, giving everyone the opportunity to admire and celebrate the pupils' creativity. Mrs Bruton and Mr Rhodes will select the top three entries to represent John of Gaunt in the final round of the competition in Bristol. The Bristol Classics Hub will then announce both an overall school winner and a regional winner. Prizes will be awarded by the English Department and the University of Bristol's Classics Hub.

And we would love the whole school to get involved!

Pupils from every year group are warmly encouraged to visit the library during the first week after half-term to enjoy the exhibition and vote for their favourite creation. Ballot slips and a ballot box will be available beside the display, and a special Student Choice Award will be presented to the entry receiving the most votes.

The English Department has thoroughly enjoyed exploring classical myths with our Year 7 pupils this term. Their enthusiasm, curiosity and imaginative responses to these extraordinary tales have been a real joy, and we cannot wait to see how they transform their favourite stories into something uniquely their own.

Good luck, Year 7! Have fun, be bold, let your imaginations run wild and enjoy getting creative over half-term!

We look forward to celebrating your wonderful creations in the library!

The English Department

Canteen Menu for next term (please note the weeks this relates to at the top)

Young Carers Club 

The JoG Young Carers Club celebrated Halloween on the last Thursday of Term 1. They had fun carving pumpkins and decorating Halloween themed cookies all along to a spooky soundtrack.

Names were drawn from the witches hat where 3 lucky winners were able to take home a pumpkin!

We are very proud of our Young Carers Club which is held every Thursday lunchtime from 13:40 to 14:00 in room G81.

All Young Carers are invited and are welcome to bring a friend along too.

History Trip - Bath Theatre Royal 

On Thursday 15 November, 28 GCSE and A Level History students travelled to the Theatre Royal in Bath to watch Robert Bolt’s award-winning play, A Man for All Seasons, starring Martin Shaw.

The play vividly brought to life one of the most fascinating and turbulent periods in English history, exploring the reign of Henry VIII and the dramatic events surrounding his decision to divorce Catherine of Aragon.

Martin Shaw starred as Sir Thomas More – scholar, ambassador and Lord Chancellor, as well as a close friend of the King. A man of deep religious conviction and integrity, More faced an impossible choice when Henry VIII demanded his support for the royal divorce and his marriage to Anne Boleyn. Unwilling to compromise his conscience, More’s defiance ultimately cost him his life.

The performance provided a fantastic opportunity for students to deepen their understanding of the period, bringing the people, politics and religious tensions of Tudor England vividly to life. It was also a valuable revision opportunity, allowing students to see the historical events they have studied in the classroom unfold on stage.

As ever, our students were a credit to themselves and the school throughout the trip. A wonderful example of how learning beyond the classroom can enrich students’ historical knowledge and bring the past to life!

Bringing History to Life: Year 9 Battle of the Somme Experience

On 14th and 15th November 2026, pupils at John of Gaunt School had the opportunity to take part in a special Battle of the Somme Living History Experience, stepping back in time to explore one of the most significant and devastating battles of the First World War.

The experience allowed students to develop their understanding of the events of 1916, exploring the conditions faced by British soldiers on the Western Front and the challenges of trench warfare. Through interactive activities, historical artefacts and immersive demonstrations, pupils gained a deeper appreciation of the experiences of those who fought during the battle.

The event provided a valuable enrichment opportunity, allowing students to explore the realities of the First World War beyond the classroom. By engaging directly with the history of the Somme, they were able to develop their understanding of the challenges faced by soldiers, the nature of warfare and the impact of the conflict on those involved.

Experiences like this help bring History alive, encouraging students to think critically about the past and to reflect on the human experiences behind the events they study.

Because sometimes, the best way to understand History is to experience it!