Year 9 Dragons' Den

Last term, Year 9 were offered the chance to take part in the first Dragons' Den competition that the school has ever held. This was an exciting opportunity with a prize £250.00 to spend if they won on their idea. To win, they had to research and present a solution to a problem to Mr Gilmore, Mr Walsh and Mr Abbate, a school governor and me.

The key aim was to suggest ideas that would improve the school environment for both students and staff in the long term.

From Year 9, 4 groups came forward with a hugely diverse range of ideas. Each of the groups had to put together a fully funded plan of how they would spend £250.00. Their presentations had to set out who would benefit from the improvement, why this was necessary and how it would be put together.

We had presentations including an app to help students manage their homework and be better motivated, tabletop football tables for use by all Year groups, developing a school podcast that would support debate about global issues and topics, and our winning group that focused on how to improve an area of the school with plants/trees/shrubs etc. The groups were marked in line with the school ethos, how inclusive it was as well as the quality of the presentations.

Mr Abbate commented in his feedback

“I wish I had been as good and aware as they are at their age.

What struck me in particular is how each of them came up with an idea that helps other students in one way or another. This is superb.”

Look out for further information this year about the improvements in the courtyard area of the school that the winning group will be helping to plan, design and deliver. Huge congratulations to Kartikeya Srivastava, Raphael Swaroop and Sian Niazall in 9ERE. An impressive effort and presentation.

Mrs Belton-Owen
Director of Studies, Year 9

Year 9 Annual Christmas Door Competition

The last week of the term was a hive of competitive creativity between the Year 9 tutor groups as once again they went head-to-head in the annual Christmas Door Decorating Competition. It was very entertaining to watch these being made and, as always, I have been delighted with the effort that has gone into them. The 9CED team even put together a presentation to explain the door and what it would look like. Having won last year, this certainly has helped them to create a fabulous final door including the Grinch.

However, this is not the winner for 2023! All the other doors are also amazing, so judging a winner was especially difficult!

9STA were clever in inserting STA into ChriSTAmas.

9FTM added a tinsel photo! Can you guess who it was? I also loved the colours on this door. A close runner-up for this door. But this is not the door that has won this year.

In the end, the competition came down to two doors created by 9ERE and 9MPM.

9ERE should get a special mention as this door was a true tutor group collaboration, with each student being responsible for making a bauble for the tree. The only reason that this is second was because it just needed to cover up more of the door itself. However, I do absolutely love this door and the idea and effort behind it. Well done, a worthy second place.

The winner of the 2023 Christmas Door Decoration Competition was 9MPM.

This door has made me laugh because of the photos of students inserted as faces of reindeer and baubles on the tree. The added bonus was that Mr Male was added to the star on the top of the tree.

Congratulations 9MPM. This was an outstanding door!

Mrs Belton-Owen
Director of Studies, Year 9

PE News

Ski trip Austria 2025

50 pupils were selected using a number randomiser app for the ski trip in 2025. Students were also randomly selected to be on the wait list. All parents/carers of those pupils who were successful in securing a place will have received an email indicating this. Apologies to those who were not successful this time.

Mrs Howard and Mr Lines
Trip leaders

FREE Think Space Lecture

This free online lecture takes place on the
26th January from 6pm - 7pm.
For more information and to book tickets,
click on the link here.

MFL News

PA Events

PA Meeting (Sixth Form Centre)

7:30pm – 9:00pm

January

A Message from the Examinations Office

GCSE Mock Examination Timetable

Monday 8th January to Tuesday 16th January

GCSE Examination Timetable Summer 2024

The GCSE timetable for examinations to be taken in 2024 is now available on the school website or by clicking on the link here.

GCSE Contingency Days Summer 2024

Please note, contingency days are timetabled for the afternoons of 6th and 13th June, as well as Wednesday 26th June 2024. These contingency days are designed to be used in the event of national or significant local disruption to examinations.

This means that all exam candidates must be available to sit exams from the date of their first exam until Wednesday 26 June 2024.

This decision is not a school decision and does apply to all candidates in all schools.

Mrs Bono, Examinations Office

Year 11 Preparing for Revision

A notice for Year 11 Parents/Carers & Students. The Year 11 Revision Booklet has been issued to students this week.

The booklet can be viewed on the school website under the header Teaching and Learning/ Year 11 or by clicking on the link here.

Thank you

News items you may have missed

Please click on the link here to access all our Safeguarding Updates

Greenwich

If your child attends a school in another borough, you will need to apply to the relevant council or school directly. APPLY TO BEXLEY.

Tower Hamlets

Children whose parents live in the borough but who attend schools outside the borough. Parents should apply to the authority where the school is located. APPLY TO BEXLEY.

Medway

Does not specify the location of the school and just has a link to applications.

https://www.medway.gov.uk/info/200164/school_information/354/free_school_meals. You may need to go via Bexley after this process.

Bromley

If your child attends a non-Bromley school, you must apply to the local authority where the school is situated. APPLY TO BEXLEY.

Dartford

If your child attends a non-Dartford school, you must apply to the local authority where the school is situated. APPLY TO BEXLEY.

When these applications are completed, a notification should be sent to the school for us to update records accordingly, but it may be worth the parents sending in the email confirmation to us too.

Bexley Application Link

https://www.bexley.gov.uk/services/schools-and-education/free-school-meals/how-apply-free-school-meals/free-school-meals-form

Don't delay, apply today!

Lost Property

We kindly remind parents/carers to please write your child's name wherever possible on their items so that the Reception Team can return property to the correct student.

Please click on the link here to report lost property or email us directly via
reception@bexleygs.co.uk.

Reception Team