Newsletters

GHS Connect #34 Monday 23rd June

Mia's notes

Big thanks this week to Will and the Careers team for taking Year 10 to the Ealing Careers Fair at Trailfinders, as well as Amandeep, Noor and Kapilan for accompanying students on the Aim Higher residential at St Mary’s University last week. We’ve also had trips to Gunnersbury Park Museum and Pure Gym, so thanks to Paul, Harpal, Georgina and Frances and Najma for those.  

Well done to the Post 16 team who have enrolled an impressive 66 fast track Year 11s into our Post 16 centre. There is a lot of thought, strategy and work that goes behind ensuring we recruit and retain our top Year 11s into our 6th form, and it’s all down to great team work led by Richard, Hebe and Christabel. Well done to the whole team - a brilliant effort. 

As you will know, we are no longer holding the Prom, due to low numbers, but we will say farewell to our Year 11s in their assembly next week. Such is the cycle of school life, that we will also say hello to our new cohort of next year’s Year 7 parents in our welcome evening next week too.

Enjoy or survive the hot weather, depending on your preference and have a lovely week!

 Mia

The week ahead

Monday
Normal Day

Tuesday
Department Time -  3.15pm - 4.30pm

Wednesday
Briefing in the library - 8.15am

Thursday
Normal Day

Friday
Normal Day

Notes
Year 10 Mocks (Core)
Year 12 Mocks Week 2 (Study Leave) 
Year 8 Interim 3
Year 9 Greenford Read (Wed)

Learning and Teaching - Discussion Guidelines

This week’s focus: Creating discussion guidelines

Discussion guidelines are a tool for creating a safe environment for talk, while also supporting high-quality discussions— whether as a class or small groups. The most effective guidelines aren’t a set of behaviour rules, but instead highlight the oracy skills students need to engage meaningfully.

Top Tips:

1. Be explicit about their purpose – Share with students why these guidelines matter to gain buy-in and encourage thoughtful participation.
2. Co-create with students – Involve students in developing the guidelines so they feel ownership and a sense of responsibility in upholding them.
3. Keep it focused – Aim to agree on 4–5 key elements that define a good discussion.
4. Review regularly – Evaluate and refine the guidelines periodically. The best guidelines evolve over time in response to the class’ needs.

Next week, we’ll explore how to embed these guidelines into the classroom.

Find an example here.

Learning and Teaching - AI Update

Recently, there has been more information about AI from the DfE:

“We are living through a time of rapid technological change, with artificial intelligence or AI transforming the way we work, communicate and learn, from automating repetitive tasks to supporting our planning of lessons. AI has the potential to support education in many ways, reducing workload and supporting teachers in powerful new ways. But as we embrace this technology, humans are more important than ever, grounded in critical thinking, professional judgment, and ethical responsibility. We know many educators feel uncertain about AI. Some are excited about its possibilities, while others are concerned about the risks or simply don't know where to start.” Using AI in education support materials (10 June 2025). 

The DfE has produced a series of materials designed for everyone, whether you're brand new to AI or already experimenting with its capabilities, in an attempt to demystify AI. If you are interested, here is module 1:

Module 1 Video 1: Understanding AI in education

More importantly, to showcase how AI can support you and your workload, in our final Action Research CPD on Wednesday 9th July, Harpal, Henry and Scott will showcase some innovative ways AI has helped reduce their workload. Please look to the VLE for more information closer to the time.

Andrea and the L&T Team

Inclusion Updates

Safeguarding Updates

In order to continue building on our professional development and to ensure staff are all up to date on Keeping Children Safe in Education guidelines, we will be asking all staff to complete the 30-35 minute Prevent Training online.

We will be asking staff to complete this training week beginning the 30th June, either in department time or in gain time.

Once you click on the link and go through the training, answering questions and reading the explanations, you will be given a certificate to evidence completion of the training.

We will be asking all staff to download the certificate and email this to Monika Sierkowska and complete the Google Form to evidence this has been completed.

Please see the link: Awareness Course

Uploading work

Please can I remind staff that when you are requested to upload work for students in line with suspension guidance, it is imperative this is completed. This is a legal obligation and the school can be challenged if this is not completed.

Some ideas around this may be directing students to:

•  
• Seneca tasks
• Revision guides clearly highlighting activities and notes expected.
• The National Academy - Students can sign up with an email.
• Please ensure you are, where necessary, providing feedback and checking student work during this time.

Please can I ask if students are in the Pathway,  work is also being provided either directly to the student or sent to jdeinsheikh@greenford.ealing.sch.uk

Thank you for your continued support and I hope you have had a lovely weekend enjoying the sunshine.

Gurvinder 

Bright Spots

The first of this week's Bright Spots is Steve Wilson who has been nominated by Hardeep and Barbara in exams. Hardeep says:

We would like to thank Steve for all his help with exams especially in I block. I don’t know what we would have done without him. He’s so helpful and amazing!

Monika Siek has nominated all the TAs and in particular Lisa Almeda, saying:

Now that exam season is finally over,  I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to all of you for your amazing support, hard work, and patience throughout – with both the exams and our lovely students.

I also would like to give a special massive shout out to Lisa Almeda who honestly went above and beyond every single day. First one in, last one out, always there, always smiling – just got on with it and handled everything like a pro!
Lisa, you’ve been an absolute star, and we’re so lucky to have you. THANK YOU!! 

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