Our Year 11 pupils are focusing on our 4 week countdown plan to the final GCSE exams in English. Our English team are busy revising with pupils and marking timed responses ahead of the crucial exams in a few school weeks' time. Pupils are, as you can see, working hard on refining those last-minute techniques and making every minute matter. We are incredibly proud of how our Year 11 boys are approaching their revision with rigour and determination. 

This week Year 8 pupils have experienced ‘Reteach’ lessons in English, where they have had the opportunity to improve their assessment. After receiving their assessment back, they read through teacher comments and identified parts of the writing they could improve. After writing a thesis statement together as a class with the teacher they were then able to highlight parts of the success criteria they had achieved. They then applied this method in their own independent practice and considerably improved their original thesis statement. Pupils commented that they now feel confident to produce a much higher quality thesis statement and with more practice they know they will eventually be able to do this more independently. The English department are extremely proud of the way in which pupils have approached this new concept, the effort and pride they have taken in their work is wonderful to see.

The Year 9 boys took part in their first netball competition today, facing six other teams from across the Matrix Academy, and delivered an outstanding performance. Despite it being their first experience of competitive netball, they rose to the challenge brilliantly, showing confidence, teamwork, and determination against much more experienced sides. Their ability to adapt so quickly and perform so strongly throughout the tournament was impressive, and reaching the final was a remarkable achievement. Although they were narrowly defeated by Etone, finishing as runners-up against such experienced opposition is something they should be incredibly proud of.

This half term, Year 8 have begun learning about energy and the transfers that take place within particles via conduction, convection and radiation. Miss Mansell made “Gem’s cosy cottage” a while ago and it’s been passed around the department and got a bit battered. 8S5 decided they wanted to improve on it. So, using only rescued or recycled materials, they produced a cardboard house, which can be used in a rather captivating experiment to show how heat loss by conduction, convection and radiation can be reduced by using things such as curtains, carpet and double glazing. The box that Luke, Tom and Rei Mei made was so impressive, Mrs Shaw from the University of Birmingham gladly received it. It can be used as a teaching tool for pupils and future teachers! To say thanks, she sent back a packet of lovely biscuits and some University of Birmingham badges that the pupils can wear with pride. An excellent example of Telling School and Valuable Contribution.

Well done!

To recognise the commitment and positive engagement of pupils involved in the peer mentoring programme this Spring term, we were delighted to reward mentors and mentees with a bowling trip. It was fantastic to see pupils enjoying the experience together, strengthening relationships and celebrating their shared achievements.

Throughout the visit, pupils demonstrated the values that underpin our school community, showing kindness, encouragement and respect for one another. The interactions between mentors and mentees reflected the caring culture we continue to build, where pupils feel supported and connected.

This trip was a well-deserved opportunity to recognise the effort, resilience and leadership shown by all involved. We are incredibly proud of how our pupils have embraced the peer mentoring programme and contributed to a positive, inclusive and supportive school environment. Well done to all of our mentors and mentees!

In order to fulfil our promise to create enriching opportunities for our pupils, the English Faculty have invited the production team from Katch 22, to perform 'Macbeth'. Y10 watched the performance as they are currently studying the play in preparation for the summer exams. This opportunity allows pupils to see Shakespeare in action and covers 20% of their English Literature GCSE. 

The actors were able to draw out key themes, characters and context for pupils with the Q&A session afterwards. The boys asked some insightful questions and gained some useful interpretations for their revision.

We would like to congratulate our Year 8 pupils for the mature and proactive way they have taken responsibility for their own learning by engaging in catch-up sessions, during Monday morning form-time. Those who have engaged in catch-up sessions are showing real commitment to improving their understanding and closing gaps in knowledge. The use of carefully tailored video content ensures that each pupil can revisit key concepts at their own pace, helping to build confidence and strengthen their skills. Just as importantly, their participation highlights a clear understanding of the value of strong school attendance and the positive impact it has on academic success. This dedication and independence are excellent habits that will continue to help develop our pupils to become resilient, confident and successful individuals.

Our Year 11 pupils were treated to a live performance of their GCSE English Literature text  ‘An Inspector Calls’ last week. Ahead of their final GCSE exams, pupils watched the actors explore key themes, character and quotes live and in role. Following the performance, the actors hosted a Q&A session and explained some of their directorial choices. The boys enjoyed the performance and will be well equipped to use the performance in their mock feedback lessons and their final examinations in May. They asked some really insightful questions which confirmed that their learning had been enhanced by experiencing live theatre. Katch 22 will be returning to TGBS next year to perform Macbeth for our Year 10 and 11 pupils. 

We would like to congratulate all pupils who have engaged with the peer mentoring programme throughout the Spring term. Our peer mentors have demonstrated impressive maturity, responsibility and leadership, acting as positive role models within our school community. At the same time, our Year 7 mentees have shown resilience, developed their confidence and communication skills, and made meaningful improvements in their attendance. Their collective efforts highlight the positive impact of working together and reflect our commitment to developing confident, successful individuals within a caring and supportive school environment.