The Christmas Concert took place once again in the beautiful setting of Chelmsford Cathedral. The concert at the Cathedral is one of the highlights of our year and included performances from our four choir clubs, soloists from across the GCSE music cohort, and of course the combined voices of our Year 7 students in their first secondary school performance.  We had two themed sections focusing on ‘Christmas Love’ and then ‘The Winters Night’ as well as music and carols to bring out the festive mood for the big day. We would like to say a big thank you to all the students that took part and a special thank you to the soloists and the readers who were amazing as always. This calendar year the drama and music departments have been incredibly busy with many highlights. These included the school production of High School Musical, the success of Choir 16 at the Stratford and East London Music Festival Competition, the continuation of the ‘Evening of’ concert series, a growing number of entries into our own music competition, trips to The Blue Man Group and Kerry Ellis: Queen of the West End, and fantastic GCSE results. Our weekly highlights are the personal music achievements of the students that we get the pleasure of sharing in the classroom, at clubs, the graded exam results, and when students ask us if they can give impromptu performances of pieces they have been studying in their personal time. There is a fantastic energy in the department and the carol concert is a chance for parents to see and hear some of the hard work our students are putting into their music-making. "Thank you for your continued support of the music department. We look forward to seeing you next year at 'Shrek the Musical' (February) and at the many concerts scheduled from March to July. Until then, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful start to 2025." Mr Bentley, Head of Music In addition to the photos below, you can listen to some excerpts from the performance on Instagram too. VIEW ON INSTAGRAM HERE.

Twenty-four Year 11 Spanish students have just returned from an amazing 4 day trip to Cádiz, in the south of Spain.  The trip was organised as an immersive experience, where students had structured Spanish speaking classes in the morning, and then enjoyed cultural activities and trips for the rest of the day. They learnt how to prepare and cook an authentic paella, which was delicious and had flamenco lessons, which everyone enjoyed as well. They went out for authentic tapas and visited the city of Cádiz, where they explored the historic city and visited a cámara oscura; a hidden camera room that allowed them to see real time, what was going on in the streets below. On the last day, they went into the city of Seville and visited the Plaza de España, before heading to the Palacio Real Alcázar and its beautiful Moorish palace and gardens. "The students spoke lots of Spanish, and most importantly, it was great to see their confidence grow in the spoken language."  Mrs K Barkway, Head of Spanish.

If you have a child in Year 10 who is interested in science and engineering, you may be interested in a new Saturday Engineering Club being organised by the Chelmsford Science and Engineering Society and Anglia Ruskin University. The CSES and ARU Saturday Engineering Club provides an opportunity for Year 10 students to experience a range of different Science and Engineering topics using the state-of-the-art Super Lab and workshop facilities at the ARU Chelmsford Campus. Each session will explore the science and engineering behind real life activities and problems that can affect our daily lives. In addition to laboratory and workshop sessions there will also be visits to science and technology related organisations.  The Saturday Club, starting on the 25th January 2025, will run for 15 weeks from 10.00 am – 12.30 pm on Saturday mornings during term time at Anglia Ruskin’s Chelmsford Campus and is is free to attend. Limited to 30 spaces. You can find more information and access the online application form at: https://saturday-club.org/club/cses-at-anglia-ruskin-university    

Following an incredibly successful Sixth Form Open Evening, the application form is now open for Year 11 students to submit their subject options. Please note applications must be received by the closing date on Friday 13th December 2024. All current GBHS Year 11 students will have received a welcome email, with log in details, which will enable them to view the list of courses available and to complete their applications. If you are new to Great Baddow High School, please use the link below to enable you to register and complete your application.  APPLICATION FORM FOR EXTERNAL STUDENTS If you were unable to attend our Open Evening and would like further information, you will find more information in our Sixth Form Brochure and Course Guide here, as well as information about the application process and the different pathways available. For any additional enquiries please email: sixthformapplications.co.uk we will be pleased to answer any of your questions.  We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the Sixth Form students who supported us on the night. The evening would not have been the success it was without the unwavering commitment from our current Sixth Form cohort who acted as tour guides, subject helpers and spoke to students and their parents about life in Great Baddow High School Sixth Form and were fantastic ambassadors for our school.   

Year 12 and 13 physicists attended a great presentation from a former Baddow student, Archie.  Archie now works in an NHS radiotherapy physics department as a Trainee Clinical Scientist in the second year of the Scientist Training Program (STP). Students gained a valuable insight into different career pathways and the opportunities for scientists within the NHS. They learnt how a linear accelerator (LINAC) works and how it is used to deliver radiotherapy treatments to cancer patients. Many components were available to handle including a thyratron, multi-leaf collimator leaves and motors, tungsten targets, beam flatteners, beam bending assembly, radiation exposure monitoring badge and an ionisation detector. Our thanks are extended to Archie for delivering such a detailed and fascinating talk and for bringing along so many interesting pieces of equipment.

Ich bin ein Berliner  This week 17 Year 10 students set off to explore Berlin in Germany. It was an action packed 4 days where they visited the sights in Berlin, practiced their German and sampled German foods.  "Our youth hostel was located in Berlin Mitte and a short walk away from Berlin Alexanderplatz and the East Side Gallery which we saw on the first day. We got our bearings from the Park Inn hotel viewing platform and got an impression of the size of Berlin with the impressive TV tower as a reference. On the second day we started our sightseeing tour. We walked past the Berliner Rathaus, the Fernsehturm, the Bebelplatz, the Museums Insel, soaked up the Berlin history in the Berliner Dom and the DDR Museum and stopped for lunch at Checkpoint Charlie. In the Checkpoint Charlie museum we saw first hand the lengths people went to to escape from East Germany. We also paused and took a few minutes to remember the Jewish people who lost their lives during the Nazi time at the Jewish memorial.  After a very brief break and dinner in the youth hostel, we left again to visit the German parliament - the Reichstag - and climb to the top of the glass dome and soak in the views over Berlin at night. The Brandenburger Tor, the symbol of German unification, was brilliantly illuminated and a perfect opportunity for us to take photos.  Thursday morning, we left early to meet our guide Chrissie to discover the bomb shelters created during the Second World War. It was an interesting and informative tour.  We then spent some time seeing parts of the Berlin Wall which brought us closer to some of the sad stories about how over 136 people lost their life trying to cross the border between 1961 and 1989. The afternoon was spent at the KuDamm, Berlin's answer to Oxford street with the KaDeWe , the German Harrods, to do some last minute souvenir shopping.  Despite another exhausting day, we had enough energy left to see the Potsdamer Platz with it's interesting light and art displays and enjoy a group drink in a German Kneipe.  Thursday morning was a bank holiday to celebrate the unification of Germany and we felt it was fitting to climb to the top of the Victory Column before returning to the UK. An amazing trip with brilliant students! Danke und Tschüß." Frau Davy und Frau Fox.

It has been wonderful seeing our new Year 7s in the library over the last few weeks. They have been introduced to how the library works and the importance of reading. In these introductory library lessons, they have discussed how reading for pleasure can become a powerful tool in supporting their academic success, emotional well-being and personal growth. They have also discussed strategies for selecting the ‘right’ books.  This is important because poor choices can lead to boredom and to reading becoming a chore rather than a pleasure.  A book should be appealing and offer the right level of challenge – and be age appropriate, of course.  In groups, students took part in an activity where they had to evaluate a selection of books and choose which one had the best cover, the best blurb and the best opening sentence, and then nominate their favourite book overall.  This taught them that the more closely they look at a book, the more likely it is they will choose one that they will enjoy reading. Why Reading for Pleasure is Important and How Parents Can Help With the distractions of technology, social media and the demands of schoolwork, many teenagers may drift away from the habit of reading for enjoyment. Therefore, parental encouragement is vital in helping them maintain or rediscover the joy of reading. Here’s why it matters and how parents can support them: 1. Reading enhances academic achievement: Reading for pleasure has a direct impact on academic success, particularly in secondary school. It helps to expand vocabulary, improve comprehension skills and deepen critical thinking - all of which are crucial for subjects such as English, history and even science. 2. Reading reduces stress and improves mental health: The teenage years can be stressful, with increased pressures from school, exams and social life. Reading provides a much-needed escape, helping teenagers to relax, unwind and take a break from the demands of daily life. 3. Reading encourages empathy and understanding: reading diverse stories allows teenagers to step into the shoes of different characters, which fosters empathy and a greater understanding of other cultures, perspectives and experiences. This is particularly important as they navigate complex social dynamics during their adolescent years. 4. Reading develops lifelong skills: Reading helps develop analytical thinking, concentration and communication skills. These skills are not only beneficial for school but are essential for success in higher education, future careers and everyday life. Top Tips Allow them to choose: teenagers are more likely to read if they have the freedom to select books that interest them. Whether it’s fantasy, science fiction, biographies, or graphic novels, let them explore genres they genuinely enjoy. Discuss what they’re reading: listen to them read and show interest in their reading choices by asking about the plot, characters or themes. Engaging in conversations about books can make reading a shared experience and demonstrate that you value their opinions. Introduce a variety of reading materials: encourage them to visit the library (our books are FREE to borrow) and ask the librarians to help them find a book.  Encourage them to explore different types of texts, such as magazines, newspapers, online articles or short stories. This variety can help maintain their interest and introduce them to different styles of writing. Limit screen time: while technology is a big part of teenage life, try to set aside specific times when screens are turned off and reading is encouraged. This could be before bedtime or during quiet weekends. Be a reading role model: let your teenager see you reading regularly. When they observe that you find reading enjoyable and important, they’re more likely to follow suit. By encouraging your child to read for pleasure, you’re helping them develop skills that go beyond the classroom. You’re nurturing a habit that promotes empathy, relaxation, and intellectual growth - qualities that will support them well into adulthood.

The year 8 boys football team once again embarked on our annual tour to Jersey in the Channel Islands from Thursday 26th - Saturday 28th September. The boys played two fixtures against Victoria College on the Thursday drawing 2-2, and De La Salle on the Friday drawing 3-3. It was an amazing experience for the boys to travel to another part of the UK. "On Thursday 26th September 2024 the Year 8 football team set off on a once in a life time opportunity to Jersey. Our day started off by heading to Great Baddow High School for four thirty in the morning. Although we looked as if our had little sleep, I assure you we were ready to attack this trip throughout with the excitement building. We were all incredibly tired but seeing all our teammates made us feel wide awake. When we got to school, we were warmly greeted by Mr Russell and Mr Brittle. Within minutes of entering the school gates, and after saying our last goodbyes to our parents, we off on our three-day adventure to Jersey. We arrived at Gatwick North terminal just as the heavens opened. After a few hours of security and shopping we were ready to board the plane. The journey was short and within a blink of an eye, we were thousands of feet into the air and miles away from home, however just a few minutes away from our destination. We stepped foot on jersey soil with all the powerful, refreshing wind in our faces. Our first stop was a large windy beach surrounded by crystal clear water called Ouen’s Bay. Although the beach was amazing, it was just a bit too windy so we headed to a less windy spot at St Brelade’s Bay, although as equally beautiful. Here we played football for hours before having a well-deserved lunch. After a delicious and filling pre game meal we headed to a sports centre which had an immaculately preserved football pitch. We played a physical yet fun game of football burning off our annoying, restless energy. This set us up for our first tour football match with Mr Russell’s old school, Victoria College.  The game kicked off with ultimate intensity. Luckily, we were switched on from the start as a strong, quick and flexible winger was on OJ’s side but as ever he completely dominated the player and with an amazing challenge making him levitate for a quick moment. Disaster struck when their powerful striker calmly collected the ball and slotted it into the back of the net making it 1:0 to our opponents. Although we were frustrated, we expertly collected our emotions and went again putting us on a deadly counter attack.  Within seconds the other team recovered and were holding us back but Harry T shot an absolute bullet, making the score 1:1. After some brilliant tik-tak from the back between us all we were on another counter attack where it was Teddy A verses their keeper.  Although it was a brilliant shot it was an even better save from their goalkeeper keeping them in the game. Seconds before half-time an unfortunate goal was scored by Victoria College making the score 2:1 to them. After an inspiring and powerful team talk led by Mr Russell, we went back out into the second half confident as ever. As the time was ticking down for a 2:1 victory to them Arthur M architected an amazing goal almost from the half way line, chipping the keeper to level the score 2:2. At that point we were screaming with joy as Arthur had saved us. We were all delighted we came away with that result. Because of Harry T's amazing goal and work rate he was rightly named man of the match. After an adrenaline packed day, we were absolutely starving, but excited as we knew we were going to McDonalds for dinner. With our first day over, we were incredibly tired and happy and couldn’t wait to see what Friday had in store for us. On day 2, we met at for breakfast where we hoovered up a full English with some toast and other sides. We were all well fuelled for our day. We had some time to kill on the Friday morning, so we wondered through the high street and bought some souvenirs. After shopping we met up and headed to get lunch from an Italian food stall. This consisted of pasta and pizza and was the perfect food prep for our next match Vs De La Salle at FB Fields in the afternoon. It was delicious. A few hours later we were on our way to our second game.  The second game against De La Salle started with us cornering them in so they had nowhere to escape. Within a few minutes we were already in with a dangerous chance. The ball looked like it was going in but just missed the goal causing bickering amongst their team. After a few minutes I scored from outside the box making the score 1:0 Great Baddow. A few moments after their kick off we put amazing press on our opponents.  The ball landed directly in OJ’s (8A1) path allowing him to do a fantastic through ball to Teddy who was just denied an almost certain goal by the sheer pace of their defenders. After that amazing chance the other team took possession of the ball but luckily super OJ (8E1) swooped in dispossessing the other team of the ball and perfectly timed a pin point ball to Teddy who was wide open on the wing. This made it a definite 2:0 to Great Baddow. Towards the second half of the game the other team capitalised with two more goals directly after each other. With only a few minutes left of the game Oliver (8A1) scored a lovely goal produced by a perfect corner from Harry. We were all tired at this point but this goal made us feel more alive. With a few more attacks from us the other team capitalised on an amazing cross to their strong striker before calmly slotting it in the back of the net. We were all devastated we didn’t get the win but still happy with the outcome and how we played. Man of the match was without a doubt OJ (8E1). After the game we headed to the waterpark, which had a lazy river that we were trying to walk up against which was very hard with tired legs. After a jam-packed two days the trip was nearly over with a trip to Bella Italia as our last event. The meal was gorgeous.  After our meal, up came the thing we were most excited for, 'The Awards'. OJ (8E1) took 'Home Player of the Tournament' and Freddy took home 'Best Tourist', for his incredibly funny humour and for making everyone laugh at least one hundred times a day. Sadly, Saturday had come around quickly. After a large breakfast, we were ready to set off back to Great Baddow High School but before we could leave we needed to do a room check. Surprisingly all the rooms were spotless (I think we did a good job). The journey home was quick and smooth and within what felt like seconds, we were back in England.  During the bus journey back to school we were tuned into watch Cole Palmer as he scored four goals in the space of 40 minutes (that was very impressive). This tour was amazing, and I’m sure we all missed our parents a lot but would definitely do this trip again if we could. It was such an amazing trip." Student Report: Josh H (8E3)

The Jack Petchey Achievement Award Scheme is a flagship programme which recognises outstanding young people aged 11-25 across London and Essex. As part of the scheme, Great Baddow High School have an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of young people from our school in a variety of ways. Each year we recognise nine students throughout the year who have gone above and beyond expectations in the school to help break barriers and overcome specific challenges they may face through their school journey. If selected, students will have the opportunity to choose a project or department in the school they would like to invest some money in to help move them forward. Below are the names of the winners from last year, who were nominated by staff within the school to receive this prestigious award. We look forward to receiving this years nominations and sharing their success with you.  Kaden H Summa W Megan C Cait C Asli G Lily P Zachary R Hannah DZ Jasmine DZ

Great Baddow High School students achieved another excellent set of GCSE grades this year. Grade boundaries continue to move back to pre-pandemic levels and outcomes at Great Baddow High School reflected the hard work of students and staff. We are extremely proud of all our students, but a particular mention must be given to the following students for their outstanding achievements:  Chiara L - Ten grade 9’s (a truly outstanding achievement). Mae H – Six grade 9’s and three grade 8’s. Harry F - Six grade 9's, two grade 8’s and one grade 7. Seb W - Four grade 9’s, two grade 8’s and three grade 7’s. We would like to congratulate all our students on their examination results, and we wish them every success for the future as they embark on their chosen pathways. We are extremely proud of our students and the smiles and joy on their faces this morning makes all the hard work so worthwhile. View more photos in the School Gallery here.  

Year 13 students from Great Baddow High School were delighted with their results this morning and we would like to congratulate all of our students on their fantastic achievements. In line with the National average, we have again seen an increase in the number A*- A grades awarded this year. Their qualifications will open up pathways for further success and we are delighted for the students that have gained their destinations of choice as they embark on new adventures. Many of our students will now be studying degree courses at some of the most prestigious universities in the country, with a number of students selecting apprenticeships or prominent roles in employment. We are also proud of an increasing number of students who have gained highly sought after degree apprenticeships with esteemed employers. A Level and vocational results were extremely pleasing, but notable mention must be given to Matthew J (2 A* and 2 A grades), Lois B (1A* and 3 A grades), Marnie H (1A* and 3 A grades) and Beth C who achieved (D*D*D*) in her Level 3 BTEC Sports Extended Diploma. Matthew has secured his place at Southampton University to study Mechanical Engineering, Lois has secured a place to study Politics and International Relations at Bath University, Marnie will be studying a Diploma in Art at Colchester Institute and Beth will be going on to a teaching degree at Anglia University. "We are extremely proud of our wonderful students and their achievements, and we wish them every success for the future." Mr P Farmer, Headteacher   More photos from A Level results day at GBHS can be found in our School Gallery here.

Students completed another successful personal development day this week with students off timetable all day as they completed a series of themed sessions to further support their own development and build on valuable lessons learnt throughout the year. Year 7 students spent the day celebrating cultures from all over the world as they designed and created their own costumes. The music department introduced them to Samba music which rang out across the school. Students learnt some other languages from our very own students to further highlight the wonderful mix of cultures and background our students have. They got to stretch their legs and dance with an hour of Capoeira. The while day rounded off with a parade through the sports hall to show off their creations. Year 8 deepened their understanding and awareness of different disabilities. Students spent the day planning and filming their own documentary as well has a session on deaf awareness. They got the opportunity to learn to sing in BSL with a class run by our very own Resource Base for Deaf Students. Our PE department ran a Paralympic games tournament throughout the day so student could experience some wonderful and different sports. Year 9 learnt valuable lessons on the important to consent and practising safe sex. They looked at the realities of pornography and the damaging image it can present. Then, to get them up and moving, a local karate school came in to run an introduction workshop on basic self-defence. Year 10 completed their mock interview day. We welcomed 20+ visitors into the school for the day from local business to give every student a realistic experience of a real interview. They started the day with a talk from the Department of Work and Pensions before practising their interview techniques with their form and tutor. After their interview they reflected on their feedback, looked ahead to their futures and the dreams and goals they have for themselves. The day ended with our visitor’s recognising the students who really impressed them as we handed out careers excelled awards. It was a truly wonderful day, and all the students did themselves proud. Mr J Faulkner Head of Computer Science,PSHE & Careers

The long-anticipated day arrived, and the weather could not have been more perfect for a day at Stubbers Adventure Centre. Year 9 students gathered with excitement at the adventurous day ahead and they were all in great spirits. After arriving a little late to Stubbers, students set their belongings in the safe haven of their group numbered hub hut and immersed themselves in the ‘big kids’ adventure playground apparatus: the fun filled tone was set for a sensational day ahead. With a range of activities planned throughout the day the students showed enthusiasm, engagement and energy in every activity whether it was on land, on the water or in the air; safely harnessed and protected of course! Despite initial apprehensions, it was a delight to see the camaraderie and teamwork of the students as they encouraged, supported and celebrated their groups achievements. The heights that some achieved on the vertical walls was impressive, the precision and accuracy of the rifle shooting and axe throwing was to be wary of…and by far the most enjoyable activities were the ones on the water. Canoeing, paddle boarding, kayaking and raft building activities were a welcome cooling break from the beautiful June sunshine. Regardless of their skills, every student had a great time splashing, swimming and paddling in the water; even some staff members could not resist the chance to cool off, splashing the students and getting absolutely drenched. "Suffice to say the day was an enormous success, and, even though the return bus journey was delayed on the A12, every student voiced their feelings and opinions of how much they had enjoyed their day – many asking if it can happen again next year?"   Mrs C Tucker, Head of Year 9

On Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th June, Year 8 students visited Walton-on-the-Naze. The weather was certainly on our side during the two days and it did not rain! Unfortunately, this year the tide on both mornings was not on our side, however this gave us an opportunity to walk around the headland to the sand spit and identify coastal features and sea defences we have recently studied in the classroom.  The deposition to form the spilt was evident and the salt mash was clearly identified. We also looked at the embryo sand dunes and the different types of vegetation growing. Across the two days 223 students took part in fieldwork on the beaches at two different sites along this coastline. They were able to try out different geographical experiments including measuring the angle of the beach, field sketches and wave counts. Students had a great opportunity to see first-hand the erosion, sea defences and most importantly the impact these are having on the local area. "This was a fabulous introduction to the type of fieldwork that they could be doing in GCSE geography. This is the six year I have run the trip and again I would like to congratulate all the children on their excellent behaviour and thank all the staff who accompanied the trip." Mrs Sweeting Geography Teacher

Year 8 attended Bhaktivedanta Manor over two days during our Lower School Trip Week in June. This is a sacred temple that is run by the Hindu community and they host schools from all of the counties each and every day. They have had thousands of visits over the years and continue to host schools and other festivals throughout the year. "The trip was a huge success and we have had some lovely feedback from staff, students and parents and we will certainly be looking to run this annually. " Mr J Bailey The students attended a day of activities that started with a visit to the Shrine and listening to mantras and music being played, to give them a sense of what Hindu worship is like. They go on to explain what the instruments used are and how they are played. Splitting the students up into two groups, half stayed inside the manor house and the others went outside. Inside the house, they took part in a lecture/seminar which was covering the main aspects and beliefs of the Hindu culture. The students were expectational during this activity as they have completed a module at school on Hinduism and so the questions and level of knowledge was a delight to see from both the staff and the temple staff. They regarded us as one of the more knowledgeable and respectful groups they have seen.  This session also involved a look at sacred objects used within the religion and a chance to use them and see how they work, such as a Puja tray and garland to wear around their necks. This also involved a dress-up section where the students could try on traditional Hindu attire and dress like their Gods/Goddesses. Everyone getting involved and really enjoying themselves during this activity.  Meanwhile, the outside group had four smaller activities to explore. This involved: A tour of the Geroge Harrison gardens - a peaceful and tranquil walk around the gardens dedicated to George Harrison. If the students looked closely, they would see lyrics to famous songs and work out how they applied to real life. A tour of the greenhouses and how they look after certain plants used within their worship A cart ride pulled by Oxen/Bulls from the sacred cow sanctuary. Cows are considered sacred in Hinduism and these animals are treated like royalty. The short cart ride acts as exercise for these enormous creatures, who nearly weigh in at a Tonne.  Lastly, the ride drops us off at the cow farm where we can see the other cows within the sanctuary. This was an opportunity to learn about why they are sacred and how they are looked after. Also, to pet and feed these majestic creatures. These animals have an exceptional life and are looked after to the highest of standards.  After all of the activities had been completed by both groups, we all reconvened for lunch, which appears to be have been the hit of the trip and the high expectations were met by all. Lunch was provided for all who attended (roughly 124 each day) and this consisted of a traditional vegetarian curry with rice, crackers and a home-made bread. The staff provided everyone with plentiful portions and continually rotated around the hall so all staff and students had the opportunity for 2/3 portions of everything. Following the curry, they then provided everyone with portions of chips to ensure that all had something to eat and that they all had the opportunity to try traditional food first.  The last activity following the lunch was a gift shop and some extended time to try on the clothes for those who missed the chance earlier in the day.  We were also delighted to receive some great feedback from the Manor,  and would like to thank all the students that attended on their excellent behaviour. "We were saying how happy we were to see everyone eat so well. Overall the students asked lots of questions and showed a lot of open mindedness about faith and beliefs which is lovely for us as well." ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor - Hare Krishna Temple  

Year 9 have returned this week from a fantastic trip to Valencia. Accompanied by 5 members of staff, the students enjoyed a variety of cultural enrichment opportunities and can be highly commended on their Spanish speaking skills. On Wednesday, they visited the famous City of Arts and Science and had a guided walking tour of the city and its beautiful cathedral. On Thursday, two teams competed to create the best paella at a paella workshop and the staff had to blind taste to judge the winning team (the green team!). After a boat ride down the river and a visit to the town of Albufera, the home of paella rice, they then headed off to a flamenco show. Some of the students and staff even got put through their steps after the spectacle. On Friday, they had the opportunity for a bit of souvenir buying and shopping and then they headed off to the Mestalla football stadium, for a tour of the stadium, the press room and changing rooms. "Our students were regularly complimented on their superb behaviour; it was an absolute pleasure to accompany them." Mrs Barkway Head of Spanish and Trip Leader VIEW PHOTOS FROM THE TRIP IN THE SCHOOL PHOTO GALLERY HERE

Our annual Sports Day week commenced on Monday 3rd June with Year 8 tournaments. These consisted of girls’ basketball, boys’ tag-rugby, mixed rounders and mixed badminton.  Year 8 displayed excellent teamwork and talent across all four events and 8H2 took the lead. On Tuesday we held the Year 7 tournaments with everyone taking part and contributing towards their first experience of GBHS sports day with 7H1 taking the lead after the tournaments. In the afternoon, for the first time, Year 10 had the opportunity to compete in the sports tournaments as well. Almost all Year 10 students signed up to the sports tournaments and A2 took the lead. On Wednesday 5th, it was the turn of Year 9 for the sports tournaments with almost all students taking part with 9H2 taking the lead. On Friday 7th June, our annual Sports Day took place, this consisted of field events throughout period 1, 2 and 3. Students competed in long jump, high jump, triple jump, shot and javelin to represent their tutor group. There were some excellent individual performances. The girls 1500 m and 800 m took place in the morning, and it was great to see so many students taking part in these events and testing themselves and their endurance. In the afternoon it was the turn of the boys with the 800 m, 300 m, 200 m, 100 m and relay team event. All students were out on the fields supporting their tutor group, Mr Huartson was on the microphone and tutors were cheering on their tutees. The atmosphere was excellent and it was great to see so many students volunteering to compete. The end results were announced, H2 came first,  E2 closely followed and  A2 were third place. The day was a huge success and students enjoyed the day. Well done to all! View the photos from Sports Day in our School Photo Gallery here.  

Two years ago, we set-up an initiative where students are rewarded for attending extra-curricular activities for Music, Drama and Art under the Creative Arts umbrella. Many of our students have earnt Bronze, Silver and Gold Arts status during their time at Baddow by collecting stamps every time they attend a club. Each stamp represents roughly one-hour of activity in the Arts beyond the classroom and the cards continue for the student each academic year. We do not give stamps for involvement in the school productions due to the vast amount of rehearsals these entail. Bronze Arts Award = 25 stamps/hours Silver Arts Award = 50 stamps/hours Gold Arts Award = 100 stamps/hours This week, Grace K and Harrison H (Year 9) achieved the final award in this initiative and are the first students to be awarded Arts Ambassador status in recognition of the 150 stamps/hours they have put into the Creative Arts.   Harrison and Grace are an excellent example of students going the extra-mile to embrace the arts and the opportunities we offer here at Great Baddow High School. Both students have also been heavily involved in music concerts, drama performances, workshops, trips and the school productions. We congratulate them both on their fantastic achievement! Mr N Bentley, Head of Music.    

Our Head of Physics, and some of our Sixth Form students, managed to capture images of the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) across Chelmsford and Chelmer Park on Friday 10th May.  "The giant sunspot region AR3663 could clearly be seen by projecting an image of the sun onto some card. At more than 15 times the diameter of the Earth, this region was responsible for the huge coronal mass ejection (CME) which resulted the aurora borealis (Northern Lights) being visible in Chelmsford. During solar flares charged particles are ejected from the sun’s corona and travel towards Earth at speeds between 0.2% and 0.6% of the speed of light. Although these particles are very fast they are not as fast as light so it can be a day or two after a flare is observed that the charged particles arrive at Earth. The Earth’s magnetic field affects the movement of the charged particles. The charge particles travel rapidly along helical paths around magnetic field lines eventually entering the Earth’s atmosphere near the poles If charged particles collide with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere they ionising them. This produces the coloured lights that we call the aurora. The colours of the aurora depend on the element that has been ionised. Oxygen produces green and nitrogen produces red, blue and purple. The stream of charged particles disturbed the Earth’s magnetic field and can severely affect radio communications, satellite electronics and electrical transmission systems. The phone camera was set to a 2 second exposure with an ISO1000 and Exposure Value (EV) of -3.0." Dr T Ghoneim, Head of Physics The site AuroraWatch UK status (lancs.ac.uk) has a good app that can be used to set up alerts for when auroras are likely to be visible over the whole of the UK. SpaceWeatherLive.com | Real-time data and plots auroral activity | SpaceWeatherLive.com is a good site for seeing the sun’s activity.

On Thursday 9th May, Year 5s from Baddow Hall, Barnes Farm, Beehive, Larkrise, Mildmay and St Andrews schools came to GBHS for our annual spelling competition: Spellcasters. Some of our student librarians helped by marking, scoring, serving refreshments and helping them feel welcome. There were 7 rounds, including team, individual, quick fire and book and sport related, in preparation for the sporting events coming this summer. All students tried their best and enjoyed themselves, no matter what place they came in. Every team demonstrated great teamwork and perseverance from beginning to end with amazing confidence in spelling in front of everyone. Student Report: Izzy Year 9 A huge well done to our winners, Baddow Hall!  All the teams did an amazing job and had clearly practiced very hard.  It was wonderful to see all the schools take part with such pride and determination and it was a very close event.  The results were: 1st Place – Baddow Hall 2nd Place – St. Andrews 3rd Place – Barnes Farm 4th Place – Beehive Lane 5th Place – Mildmay 6th Place – Larkrise   Here is an example of one of the questions from our ‘Surprise Round’ for you to try at home.  Teams were given a word wheel and asked to work out the 9 letter word and see how many other words they could make, containing the middle letter, in 30 seconds!

Once again we are delighted to be celebrating the success of our two gymnastics teams who competed in the Floor and Vault Schools National Finals. This is an extremely prestigious competition and GBHS qualified to compete in categories that are of an extremely high standard and that we haven’t got through to before. The U19 Girls team competed on Sunday morning and were outstanding. All gymnasts performed with grace and elegance and scored well. With top scores on the Vault of 15.30 from Amelie S and some great scores on floor. All gymnasts contributed to the team finishing 5th in the country which is an outstanding achievement and the highest we have placed in this category in GBHS history. A massive well done to the U19 Girls Team, Layla D, Francessca D, Amelie S, Naiha K and Sophia W. The U14 Girls team competed later on Sunday afternoon, again an extremely prestigious and difficult competition with some well known schools all competing and scoring highly. The U14 Girls started their competition with brilliant vaults from all the gymnasts, with the top score being 15.45 from Emily B who captained the team with class and encouragement for all of her teammates. They then went onto the floor routines where, with great expressions throughout their routines, they performed skills effortlessly, gaining strong and high scores, with the top score being 15.05 from Freya P. The team made GBHS history by placing 3rd in Great Britian in the U14 Girls category, a category we haven’t made it through to before now. It was so lovely to see all of the girls cheering each other on throughout their routines and was a display of a real team performance. They were also complemented by the judges at the end on how excellent their skills were performed. A huge well done to the U14 Girls Team, Emily B, Florence B, Aaliyah P, Freya P and Poppy P. "Overall, an outstanding weekend and incredible results for our gymnastics squads this year. I am extremely proud of all of the work they have put in throughout the last couple of years to build to reach the top categories and places in these National Schools Gymnastics Competition and myself and Miss Freeman are delighted to have supported both U14 and U19 Girls team to these successful positions." Miss S Smith

Twenty-one students from Years 7, 8 & 9 have worked extremely hard since the project commenced in October. This group of more able students visited Jesus College in Cambridge in February, had face to face tutorials from a world class PHD tutor over the winter and wrote a dissertation (approx. 1500 words each) to answer; ‘The Anthropocene vs Deep Time: An investigation of climate change” Comparing different eras and a multitude of data, geological & atmospheric factors, they independently and effectively researched the impact of humans on the natural world and what measures can be taken to slow climate change. They have developed their resilience, up-skilled their critical thinking, verbal communication and essay writing, they have additionally developed their time management, their ability to work with new people, their understanding of plagiarism and copyright, how to create a bibliography and acknowledge the sources used in their research. Our students each produced a short university level piece of work and have been awarded grades accordingly. The Brilliant Club charity graded the work and our results were very pleasing. 5 graded 3rd, 7 graded 2:2, 7 graded 2:1 and 2 First Class grades. GBHS students produced high quality work and when compared to The Brilliant Club national average (1800 students) the progress they demonstrated over the three month course was outstanding. Such standards of excellence are hard won and we are truly proud of every one of them. QUOTES FROM THE BRILLIANT CLUB “This is a lovely cohort of students, really nice young people who have worked very hard.” Happiness ( PHD Tutor) “It was particularly pleasing to see your pupils make significant progress in all three academic competencies (written communication, subject knowledge and critical thinking). In addition ……….impressive growth in their university knowledge and understanding.”  Adam Kerr(Scholar’s Programme administrator) QUOTES FROM STUDENTS “I really enjoyed The Scholar’s Programme and it’s made me want to work harder and aim for a more ambitious choice in higher education. Now it feels like a realistic goal and I’m hopeful I can challenge myself to do better.” “The programme has helped me to understand how to be an independent learner and our tutor has given great assistance and feedback to my work.”

On Wednesday 10th April, 25 excited Year 10 students and 3 staff (Mrs Dawson, Mrs Sweeting and Mrs Burdon) left GBHS at 3.30 a.m. bound for Catania, Sicily for the geography field trip. On arrival in Sicily the group were met by their driver and began their first day at the Alcantara Gorge with a quick lunch, after which they explored the river and volcanic basalt columns. Students learnt about Sicilian (lunar) lemons which fruit 5 times a year. After a day of travelling, the lure of the beach and river was too enticing and so many of the students enjoyed a quick paddle and skimming stones before heading back to the coach and hotel to unpack and enjoy their first typical Italian dinner. Day 2 saw another early start to catch the Hydrofoil to the island of Vulcano. A quick wander round the town of Milazzo, a boat trip over and they were soon listening to Manuelo the guide and trekking to the top of the 800m volcano. Looking across the 500m wide crater gave the students a breath-taking view of all the volcanic islands in the distance (over 200) and the sulphur gases at the summit. The students bought themselves a well-earned gelato when they descended to the base and some had a walk on the black sand beach and investigated the sulphurous thermal baths. Friday was Mount Etna day. Everyone was excited about the prospect of seeing the mountain that dominated the view from the hotel. A coach to the Lava Fields first, followed by honey and olive tasting, then a further drive north to the base camp for the cable cars. After the cable cars, they boarded jeeps to the next level to meet an Alpine Guide who walked the group the final 100m. With snow all around, standing 3000m high, the students were eager to learn that the last lava eruption in December had left areas where the rocks were almost too hot to handle! They were all in awe of this magnificent volcano. They then returned to the hotel for some much-needed down time and a football game on the beach. The last day dawned bright and sunny for some beach time and a delicious granita (sorbet) at Giardini Naxos. and then a drive to Taormina where the students all enjoyed making pizzas for lunch. The guide took the students through the history of the town and showed them the spectacular view from the Greek Amphitheatre overlooking the bay. Some free time for shopping was then on offer for those wanting to buy gifts after the final part of the itinerary.  The town even put on a parade for everyone to enjoy before the journey back to Catania airport. “Sicily provided the group with a fabulous opportunity to test their geography knowledge, learn what else the island had to offer and try new food. The students were superbly behaved and a credit to the school (we had lots of favourable comments from hotel guests). They were fun to be with and a pleasure to support. We have all brought back memories that will last a lifetime.   Arrivederci Sicily – until next time.” Mrs Burdon

As we receive details of our new 2024 Year 7 student admissions, we are delighted to see that the upward trend in the number of students choosing GBHS as their first choice has continued this year with our school becoming the most popular school in Chelmsford. A ‘Good’ Ofsted report is always important, and we received excellent feedback following their visit in 2022 and it endorsed the hard work, dedication and commitment that our school community has made to make Great Baddow an incredibly special place. ‘Pupils are proud to attend Great Baddow High School. They feel happy and safe as tolerance and respect are the norm.’ ‘A culture of safeguarding is rooted in the school ethos.’ ‘Leaders have an ambitious vision for providing pupils with a high-quality education.’  However, becoming the ‘parents school of choice in Chelmsford’ is an amazing validation that the work we do at our school offers a curriculum that stretches and challenges our students, delivers outstanding teaching and learning and that we have created a vibrant and welcoming community that parents are eager to join. We have amazing students, wonderful staff and an important and valued partnership with parents and stakeholders that allows us to create a happy, safe and successful environment for everyone. We take pride in being the preferred secondary school for many parents, and we look forward to supporting our students’ academic adventures as they embark on this exciting next step! Great Baddow High School was the fourth hardest in Essex to get into and the most popular in Chelmsford with 362 putting it down as a first choice with 227  of those being offered a place. “I am really pleased to see that, once again, we have been able to offer so many pupils their parents’ preferred secondary school place this year. “Starting secondary school is a hugely important milestone in a child’s life and I hope those embarking on this exciting next step enjoy their last few months at primary and junior school before starting their next academic adventure.” Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability. Secondary School offers 2024 | Essex County Council  

On Saturday 16th March, to conclude our week of music competitions at Great Baddow High School, we hosted our 3rd consecutive Inter-Primary Music Competition. All Primary school pupils from the local area were invited to participate with 16 of them joining us on the day for a friendly competition. There were many outstanding performances and all pupils were a credit to their schools. A fantastic mix of instruments made it incredibly difficult for the judges (Mr Nolan and Mr Herbert) however the results were as follows: Awards for Musical Connection: Most Energetic Performance - Callum C (Drums) Most Accurate Performance - Edie D (Recorder) Most Emotional Performance - Lotte M (Voice) Category Winners: Beginner (Preliminary Grade) Category Winner -  Anika S (Voice) Intermediate (Grade 1) Category Winner - Linden C-B (Cello) Advanced (Grade 2-3) Category Winner - Hailey K (Piano) Congratulations to all that took part and we look forward to welcoming you back next year either as a Baddow Student or for another year of the competition.    

British Science week has been celebrated at GBHS in many ways this week. The science department have been continually linking the theme of ‘Time’ into lessons and topics across all year groups. In addition, there have been after-school activities taking place which have engaged and intrigued our students. The STEM club have been completing their propeller cars and were hoping to hold a drag race with them this week, but it has been postponed to allow further build time. Many of the groups are still problem solving the issues surrounding opposing forces preventing the car from reaching the desired speed. On Thursday 14th March, a large group of KS3 students opted into the activities run by the science department. One challenge was for students to design the slowest ‘marble run’ course down a table with only limited materials. Students successfully managed to record a time of 30.15s. The second group were investigating how concentration effects rate of reaction. The iodine clock worked really well and students mostly managed to achieve the reactions to take place at the correct times to make the clock face work. The final group were undertaking rat dissections. The aim here was to understand how mammals achieve effective digestion by having very long intestines. This allows a longer time for nutrients to be absorbed into the bloodstream. I think lots of students were amazed to see approx. 2m of intestines removed from a rat that is only 20cm long. All students thoroughly enjoyed the activities over the week. A big thank you to the science department and in particular Dr Pratt, Mr Becker & Mrs Richardson for hosting activities.

The music department hosted it's annual music competition week with the most entries from students ever. 34 students took part in the heats over the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday competing in the three categories: Beginner (Grade 1-2), Intermediate (Grade 3-5) and Advanced (Grade 6-8). The standard of entries was fantastic and it was very difficult to decide who progressed from the Heats to the Final. Congratulations to our students who did progress to the Final: Beginner Category: Max L - Y8 (Piano), Liz H - Y10 (Flute), Martin Z - Y7 (Classical Guitar), Rose N - Y9 (Voice and Guitar), Grace K - Y9 (Clarinet) Intermediate Category: Reuben R - Y10 (Piano), Iris O - Y10 (Voice), Shaun R - Y9 (Violin), Chloe A - Y10 (Voice), Hazel K - Y8 (Flute), Adelaide B - Y9 (Voice) Advanced Category: Isabella R - Y10 (Voice), Jack B - Y11 (Piano), Julien H - Y10 (Saxophone), Ben M - Y10 (Voice), Hazel K - Y8 (Piano) The final was judged by Mr Barton, Mrs Fox, Mr Kellett, Mrs Pickwick and Mr Sheldon. They were delighted to award the following results: Awards for Musical Connection: Most Accurate Performance: Hazel K (Y8) Most Energetic Performance: Max L (Y8) Most Emotional Performance: Isabella R (Y10) Category Winners: Ensembles Category Winners: Noah P (Y9) and Isaac B (Y9) performing their rendition of Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' Beginner Category Winner: Grace K (Y9) performing the 'Theme from Wallace and Gromit' on Clarinet Intermediate Category Winner: Shaun R (Y9) performing 'Via Dolorosa' on Violin Advanced Category Winner: Jack B (Y11) performing 'New Kid' on Piano  Congratulations to everyone involved and we look forward to seeing you all compete again next academic year!

On Friday 8th March, four teams travelled to Stoke on Trent to compete in the Milano Gymnastics Schools National Finals. We had four teams competing, U13 Mixed, U16 Mixed, U19 Mixed and U19 Girls. In this high level competition teams must perform an individual floor piece, 2 vaults and a group trio routine. All teams performed brilliantly and put everything they could into their pieces at this prestigious competition. On Friday, the U13 and U16 Mixed teams competed, and all scored well. The U16 mixed team were part of coming 3rd in the country as an East Region. The U13 mixed team placed 2nd Region in the country in their category and were also part of the East Region team and came 3rd in the country as a whole region. On the Saturday, the U19 Mixed and U19 girls teams were ready to compete, and all students showed outstanding performances with some extremely high scores from Layla on vault of 15.45. The U19 Girls team placed 3rd Region in the country in their category and were also part of the East Region team and came 2nd in the country as a whole region. The U19 Mixed also performed excellently and were also part of the East Region team and came 2nd in the country as an East Region. Overall, a hugely successful weekend and a massive congratulations to all 4 teams who competed at the National Finals with all teams bringing home a medal either as a team or region.

On Sunday Great Baddow High School competed in the Regional Round of the Floor and Vault Gymnastics Competition. This is an extremely prestigious competition and one in which we have never won before with only the team that places 1st going on to represent East Region in the National Finals.  We had 3 teams entered, U14 Girls, U19 Girls and U19 Boys. This involved 15 students and all had to perform a floor routine and two vaults. All students performed exceptionally well and to an excellent standard. The boys had a brilliant competition and finished 2nd in their age group. Both the U14 Girls team and the U19 Girls team performed exceptionally making little mistakes only which meant for a real team performance. The students sat together supporting each other as they waited anxiously for their results and were beyond ecstatic to find out the results. The scores were super close in both girls sections however both teams finished with a fantastic team score resulting in them coming 1st in the Region. This means our school will go through to the National Finals in both of the girls sections for the first time in Great Baddow gymnastics history.   "This was an overwhelming and proud moment for all members of the team and myself as the teacher. I am super proud of all the students who participated and excited for the National Finals. Miss S Smith, Physical Education Teacher

We were pleased to offer one of our largest and most successful Careers Fairs last week with 300 students attending and exploring over 40 exhibitors. Students were able to explore a wide range of employers as well and different higher education pathways. Ex-students now completing apprenticeships with TELEDYNE E2V impressed as they returned to give a talk and pass on their experiences. Year 9 students used their careers booklets to explore the five careers’ zones and open their eyes to a wider range of possible careers. Both parents and exhibitors praised the school stating: "It was the best careers fair we have attended." We would like to thank all our exhibitors for their time and expertise in guiding our students on the options that are available to them, and our parents and students for their enthusiasm and support for our annual careers event. The Careers Fair is part of an on-going Careers Education and Guidance programme, where students are supported to make informed choices and decisions about their futures. This includes impartial careers guidance from our Independent Careers Adviser from Directions IAG ltd, who was in attendance on the night. As our Year 9 students approach the time for picking their GCSE options for the following years, our Options Evening is the next event in the calendar, giving students and parents a chance to meet and discuss with all the subject areas what the course involves and the skills developed and required to succeed in it. The Year 9 Options Evening takes place on Monday 18th March 2024.

On Tuesday 28th February, our Year 13 students took part in their final live performance to an audience in Primmer Assembly Hall. The evening was dedicated to their musical theatre performances for their penultimate unit of the course. The evening was full of lights laughter and exceptional harmonies, featuring extracts from hits such as Guys and Dolls, Hairspray, Les Miserables and Rent. Many students also chose to perform solo performances of their favourite musical theatre songs. The evening was fantastic with an audience full of parents, friends and students (past and present). We would like to thank the students for all their hard work and dedication to the department, with many being involved in the department's productions since Year 7. With one solo unit to go, we all wish them luck as they fly off to pastures new in a few months' time.

On the 24th February, 37 Media and Business students took a trip to Paris to attend the Media Live and Business Live conferences. On the first day, students toured around Paris, climbed up Sacre Coeur and enjoyed the Sunday morning walking around the beautiful and very Parisienne Montmartre, followed by a tour of the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and on to the Arc de Triomphe, taking in sights such as Pont Neuf and the Louvre along the way Students went on a behind the scenes tour of the famous Le Grande Rex cinema and were able to make their own action film as well as see behind the workings of a 3,000 seat cinema where premieres take place. On the second day, students attended the Media live and Business live conferences at the Gaumont cinema in Disneyland Paris.  During the conference students heard from impressive Media industry professionals who presented media topics and career advice, using their own first hand experience and a little background on their careers. Students were also able to meet the inspirational speakers and ask questions.   Speakers included: Remel London - facilitator Remel London is an award-winning British TV, Radio presenter and host. Since graduating with a BA Degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Leeds, Remel’s high energy, fun and thoughtful style has resulted in her becoming the lead presenter on SKY One’s Unmuted, the host of the Saturday Afternoon show on CAPITAL XTRA and a highly sought after voice-over artist working with the BBC, CBBC, BET, UKTV and BT Sports to name a few.  Remel London is very passionate about her local community and young creatives. She is the founder of The Mainstream, which is a creative platform offering networking opportunities, live events, workshops, seminars, Q&A’s and a podcast to support individuals that would like to launch and develop their career into the mainstream media and entertainment world.  Stevie White is a Digital Creator and co-host of one of the UK's most listened to podcasts on Spotify, Happy Hour with JaackMaate. He is also a content creator for Guild Esport and frequently streams on Twitch with an audience of over 15,000 followers. In 2014, Stevie launched his personal Youtube channel after the success of his collaboration with JaackMaate on their song 'Hip to be a Hipster' which reached number 1 in the iTunes comedy chart.  Gemma Hunt has been working in TV since 2003 when she graduated with her 1st Class Media Performance Degree.  Having met an agent through a careers day at the University, Gemma’s showreel was sent to CBBC who met her for an interview, invited her for a screen test and then offered her a contract with CBBC, as one of their live on-air presenters working on CBBC1, 2 and then on the CBBC Channel - and all before she had graduated. Gemma has presented a huge variety of shows and has thousands of live hours of TV experience presenting magazine shows, on-air links and hosting coverage from huge live events. Gemma has presented 8 series of the hit BAFTA winning CBeebies pirate gameshow series SWASHBUCKLE and also performs in the Cbeebies Christmas shows and Shakespeare adaptations each year for the channel. In 2020 Gemma was delighted to join the regular presenting team of BBC1’s Songs of Praise. Bobby Seagull is a television personality (University Challenge and the Monkman and Seagull Genius Guides), author (The Life-Changing Magic of Numbers) and vocal advocate of the importance of maths and numeracy. He teaches maths at his local school in east London. 

Last week, 100 Year 10 students left school at 7.30 a.m. to make their way to Suffolk to visit the Great War Huts at Brook Farm Camp. When they arrived, everyone changed their shoes into wellies, so they were ready to go in the muddy and waterlogged trench! Luckily, the sun shone, and it wasn’t too cold for February. The groups rotated around 5 different activities. Walk around a mock WW1 trench: Students and staff tentatively made their way around the trench, looking at the dugouts, fire steps, duckboards, tight corners, and facilities. The guide told us about the soldiers’ day-to-day life. A talk about medical provision with artefacts: One of the guides spoke about how medical care developed over the course of the way, bringing it to life with the use of props and real artefacts! A talk about the progression of the war: In the small hall, a guide showed us how the army equipment developed over the course of the war in response to the different conditions the soldiers faced. A WW1 soldier modelled the uniform and changes in equipment with the occasional jump scare! Rifle handling: The WW1 soldier taught us how to hold, load and shoot a WW1 (without bullets, of course). They are surprisingly heavy! Military parade: Students and staff were taught a few commands and eventually how to march in formation. The coaches then took us to Bury St Edmunds Cemetery. As a group, students looked at the distinctive commonwealth war graves and laid a wreath on behalf of the school. The guides recited a poem, and paid tribute with a one-minute silence. They returned to school at 5.20 p.m. after a brilliant day for students and staff alike. The students behaved impeccably and were a credit to the school.

Thursday 7th March is World Book Day and at GBHS this year, we will be celebrating by; holding our annual ‘DECORATE YOUR TUTOR ROOM DOOR' competition, challenging groups to decorate their door to represent a book aimed at teenagers or focus on an aspect of reading which is important to them.  running a ‘SHELFIE’ competition throughout the week, with students guessing whose bookshelf it is.  having different book related activities each day in the library, ranging from book bingo to a book knowledge quiz. hosting a special ‘Conversation with …’ event with staff sharing their reading journey with students. But why is reading so important?  ‘Read your Way’ is the theme this year with the aim of encouraging teenagers to enjoy their reading by choosing what and how they read and finding opportunities to have fun with reading. Some key elements to encourage reading for pleasure: Having trusted help to a help select a book – there are plenty of book recommendations on our library system (accessed via the portal) and in the library.  Try our Book of the Moment, always a good read! Having a choice in what to read and using the library – the library has a large and varied book stock which is constantly being updated, so always worth investigating.  No need to buy books, just borrow from the library. Having books at home and at school – use the £1 World Book Day vouchers to purchase one of the special World Book Day books or for a £1 discount on a regular priced book.  Vouchers have been given to tutors for them to distribute to their students. The vouchers are valid until 31st March. Finding time to read – students have regular library lessons and should read at home. Being read to regularly and reading to others  - an integral part of library lessons. Making reading FUN! – Try some of the activities organised by the library. Remember reading includes fiction books, information books, brochures, newspapers, magazines, website reports and even timetables! If have a moment this week, try reading along with your child and talking about books and how and when you read. 

We are delighted to announce that our first Year 10 student has graduated the Thinking Reading Programme. This is a whole-school literacy strategy with an intensive, one-to-one intervention at its heart. It is a rigorous, research-based systematic programme designed for students who have a significant gap (more than two years) between their reading age and chronological age. Students remain on the programme until the deficit has been closed. Students are selected based on diagnostic tests and then work with a tutor on a 1:1 basis three times a week. The lessons are personalised so that individual needs and specific areas of learning are addressed, resulting in visible rapid progress. Lessons focus on techniques and skills to decode words and build upon recognition and fluency of reading sounds. Students are also exposed to vocabulary and comprehension. Highly detailed assessment tracks their progress. The methodical and systematic approach to lessons allows positive reading habits to be instilled in the student and within each lesson there are stages for progression and opportunities for attainment. We are proud of our Year 10 student, whose decoding ability has increased in such a short amount of time and has reported now reading at a faster pace with a greater feeling of confidence. We look forward to announcing more successful graduates soon.