Newsletters

GHS Connect #30 Monday 19th May

Mia's notes

We’re literally on count down until half term and I hope everyone has some nice plans for the half term to look forward to. Although the weeks in school are intense, it’s always helpful to have the school holidays as a period to rest and recharge, so please do switch off and have a proper break. 

Thank you to Ruth for reminding everyone of some of the ‘staff extras’ we have begun offering, including the ‘gym flex’ membership, which provides access to a whole range of gyms and other wellbeing providers at very competitive rates. Do take a look on the VLE for more information if you’re interested.

I want to say a big well done to our amazing exam team who have yet again passed an exams inspection with flying colours. The specific feedback was that the inspector was very impressed with how well organised we are with all the paperwork for a big sized school. Of course, I am not surprised as we are incredibly fortunate to have such a hard working and wonderful exams team, who do their utmost to keep what is a very complex show on the road, and put in the very best provision to ensure all students have the very best chance of success. Thank you so much to Hardeep and all the team!

Have a good week everyone.

Mia

The week ahead

Monday
Normal Day

Tuesday
Department Time - 3.15pm - 4.30pm
Equality Working Party

Wednesday
Briefing in the library - 8.15am

Thursday
Normal Day

Friday
Normal Day

Notes
Year 7 Interim 3
Year 12 Interim 4 (Indicatives)
Year 13 Interim 3 (Indicatives)

Learning and Teaching - Pride in our Classrooms

This week’s 60 second strategy to try: Question Tennis.
Asking questions promotes critical thinking and supports a deeper understanding of content.

Strategy:

1. Split students into pairs and provide a stimulus.
2. Students take turns generating questions (like a tennis rally).
3. Generate as many questions as possible within an allotted time frame.

Top tips:

1. Provide question stems to support students.
2. Offer tier 3 vocabulary to help probe and quality-assure questions.
3. Consider how students can use the questions they create. Some ideas:

• Categorise them into subject-specific themes;
• Explore what knowledge would be needed to answer each one
• Find links and connections between the questions
• Compare similarities and differences between their questions and those of another pair

Learn more about the strategy here.

SEN Strategies - Reminders

Please see some strategies below to support our students:

Autistic Learners

ADHD Learners

Students with SEMH

Learner with Challenging Behaviour

Please refer to the GHS SEND reference cards, which can be found here, and which also contain further strategies and contact details for our School Support Worker.

Fay

Inclusion Updates

Safeguarding Updates

Suicidal Thoughts

It is not uncommon for young people to experience emotional distress or turbulence as they navigate adolescence. However, any talk of hopelessness, self-harm, or suicide should never be dismissed or minimised. Suicidal thoughts are a clear indication that a young person is struggling and needs support.

Recognising the signs can be difficult. Changes in behaviour, withdrawal from others, or increased risk-taking may signal deeper concerns. It’s vital to create a safe, non-judgemental space where pupils feel able to talk. These conversations can be uncomfortable, but they can also be life-saving.

Papyrus, a national charity dedicated to preventing suicide in young people, offers practical advice on how to take these concerns seriously and respond appropriately. Staff are encouraged to read and share the following resource:

The Importance of Taking Suicidal Thoughts in Young People Seriously

SEN Updates

Following our messages in briefing this week, please look out for, and complete the staff survey, to inform the SEN department of what has gone well and areas that staff would like more training on.

Alternative Provisions

Please see below students attending alternative provisions. In red are students that have attended alternative provisions in the past.

Inclusion Heroes

I wanted to say a huge thank you to Lisa Almeda, Exams and the TAs for all their excellent work with exams access arrangements.  

Gurvinder

Bright Spots

This week's Bright Spot is Alex Ray who has been nominated by Amandeep Phull:

Alex has been absolutely fantastic with all the photography and videos that he puts together, some, I might add, last minute.

His attention to detail and 'can do' attitude is amazing. He's always at the ready and the work he produces is phenomenal.

Andrea has nominated the exams team, saying:

We had an exams inspector on Friday morning and passed. The inspector was very impressed with the organisation in a school our size. Well done Hardeep, Barbara and the exams team! You are doing an amazing job.

If there are any concerns about Equality and Diversity (staff)  at GHS please contact A Johal (DHT)