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TERM 1 October 2016—Issue No 1 WELCOME BACK! I hope that all our students, their families that used to have an AS exam at the end All too frequently we, at GGS, see youngsters and all the staff had a restful Summer. of Year 12) continue, we can expect in- who struggle to overcome illness or misfor- The outcomes for students taking public creased confusion! We are sure we are tune. One such young man is Jack Howard in exams were very good, so the tension on top of the Year 8 who is fighting against a particularly unpleasant form of childhood cancer, Refrac- felt amongst families in Years 11 and 13 situation but tory Anaplastic Wilms Tumour. He is cur- was worth it in the end. if anyone rently in the United States receiving some would like to innovative treatment but since the US has no know more there is a link on our website to the Ofqual information booklet. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ qualifications-reform-resources-for-teachers As usual things were not quiet at school over the Summer break. The Hall has Our A level results were very pleasing been transformed from an almost sepia with very nearly 30% of the grades being environment to nearly full daylight by A* or A. The “pass rate” was excellent new lighting and a similar impact has with only three entries from 385 not been achieved in the Sports Hall as well. being a “pass”. More than 21% of stu- Classrooms in the older part of the build- dents gained AAB or ing have had new curtains and the whole better in facilitating sub- school has had updated projectors with jects and 22 individuals some new desktops to run them. National Health Service, this is very expen- got three A grades or Many of you will have heard some of the sive. The family are trying to raise money to better. This meant that discussion around the government pro- fund the treatment and his friends at school almost everybody who posal to expand the provision offered by and in the community are doing their best to wanted one was able to selective education. Whilst it is not as help. Groups of students are riding bikes, get a suitable place in simple as allowing new grammar schools playing football and raising money in a variety of different ways. As a school anything raised Higher Education or get onto a pro- to be created (there are a number of on our non-uniform day on Thursday 20th gramme with good “on the job” training. conditions that will apply to current October is going to help fund the treatment At GCSE 99% of boys reached the gov- schools wanting to expand), the require- Jack is getting. Our PTA are also going to ernment standard of five GCSEs A*-C, ment to work with existing schools that donate all the proceeds from the School Dis- including English and Maths and the per- would benefit from support; or—for co on Friday 21st October. Our Finance Office centage of top grades was over 45%. brand new schools opening—being able are happy to take any contributions from 75% of students attained the EBacc to prove there is local demand and be in anyone and we will guarantee they get direct- measure. The Progress 8 measure, an area of social deprivation, for exam- ly to the family. which judges the progress made by boys ple, anyone does have the opportunity GSW from their individual starting points, was to contribute to the consultation. You up from last year as was the average will find a link to the consultation docu- point score for each student. ment at http://gsha.org.uk/images/ Disappointingly this year also saw some newsletters/ examples of very poor practice on the GSHA_Newsletter_AUTUMN_2016_1.pdf part of some exam boards and some of and if you want to look at it, there is a their markers. Largely these were con- document from the Grammar Schools cerns that were identified nationally ra- Heads Association which offers some ther than just impacting on our students. “model” an- As new grading systems arrive at GCSE swers! next year and the transition to more two year A level courses (as opposed to those Page 2 STAFF NEWS HEAD STUDENT REPORT Martin Fielder-White, our Finance I would like to welcome all new ing the money we raise will be Officer, retired on 30th September and returning students of the enough to get him back the way 2016 after nearly 15 years’ service. school to start another year he was. For his treatment he re- We wish him a long and happy retire- stronger than the last. quires £250,000 and around half ment. The Open Mornings and Evening of that has been raised allowing He will be replaced by Mrs Louise are happening this week with a Jack to fly out and place the de- Brandon, who joined us on 3rd Octo- lot of interest shown in the posit. The non-uniform day and ber. We also welcome Sta Alba various fund raising events have Mena, who has joined the Spanish school. The prefect team have done a fantastic job taking care been a great success so far and Department and Mr Calum Cook, who we hoping to keep the going. joins our DT department for a year as of the visitors, whilst the new With the likes West Ham FC be- a Design Assistant. students show off the school. ing involved and making half CONGRATULATIONS to Mr Deamer In terms of the extracurricular time announcements for him it is and his partner on the side of things, there has already a very achievable feat. I would birth of their son dur- has been a national cross coun- like to wish Jack the best of luck ing the Summer holi- try event and there have been and remind him that we are day. Duke of Edinburgh activities thinking of him. We hope to see CONGRATULATIONS to among many other clubs him back at school soon. Mr Lennox, who is starting. getting married during Also the USA trip is to take place the October break. The fund raising for Jack Howard in the October half term. I want has been a great success and we to wish those on the trip a safe RICK BURROWS are looking to get other busi- journey. nesses involved to spread the This year has had a very strong We are sad to report the death of Rick word. Young Jack has had to go start from all areas, let’s make it Burrows, a former Geography and PE to America as he is battling kid- the one of the best! teacher at Gravesend Grammar ney cancer for the second time School (1990—1997) on Thursday, in under two years. Despite his 13th October. Since his retirement, condition he managed to keep Ashraf Ali he would occasionally help us out high spirits in general. Having Head Student with some teaching but his real pas- spoken to him during PSHE he sion was cricket—and he was often seemed like an ordinary 12 year found maintaining the pitch of Hartley old crazy for sports. We are hop- Cricket Club. Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time. SHINGLES May we remind you that is essential Some medical conditions make chil Children with shingles are allowed to to notify the school if your son/ dren/adults vulnerable to infections attend school as long as the rash is daughter is diagnosed with chicken- that would rarely be serious in most covered. However, they should stay pox, shingles, measles, slapped cheek children/adults, including those be- at home if the rash is weeping and or influenza, as it is the School’s duty ing treated for leukaemia or other cannot be covered. The virus is to inform the parents/carers of vul- cancers, on high doses of steroids spread by very close contact and nerable children and vulnerable and with conditions that seriously touch. members of staff who may have reduce immunity. These individuals been in contact with them promptly. are particularly vulnerable to chick- enpox or measles. GGS Newsletter Opportunity and Challenge in a Caring Environment October 2016 Page 3 Careers News The Careers department is off to a flying dents are aspiring to work in medicine Careers Infor- start as always with the major focus be- and other healthcare professions and mation – The ing on preparing and sending the UCAS found the meeting very useful. A number careers library, applications for all the students applying of them have since applied for the hos- careers re- to Oxford, Cambridge, Medicine, Dentis- pice work experience programme. sources on Real try and Veterinary Science. As always, Smart Cloud, and visiting speakers. Careers education is an area that is al- there were many hours spent with the ways adapting and developing as it bridg- Careers Advice & Guidance – Small applicants to ensure that they were pre- es the changing landscapes of education group guidance for all and individual sented at their best and we look forward and the labour market. Through im- interviews for many, provided by a quali- to hearing of their successes in the provements our careers programme in fied careers guidance practitioner. months to come. the light of these changes, we endeavor These are just a few highlights of the Students have al- to meet the needs of our students as programme. We are continuing to invest ready benefitted individuals. We aim to support them in in providing access to independent im- this term from vis- their transitions during their time with partial career guidance and in training iting speakers.