Over the last two days, our Year 11 pupils have taken part in focused Lead Lessons designed to prepare them for their upcoming mock exams.  Each group attended a dedicated session in the library where they explored key exam skills by looking at feedback from the exam board at the common mistakes made by previous Year 11’s.

The sessions focused on identifying common exam mistakes, with pupils seeing real examples and learning how to avoid them in their own work.  One of the most common pieces of feedback is work not being well presented and hard for examiners to read, so lots of time was spent in presenting answers clearly and effectively to ensure they can gain maximum marks in every question.

Pupils found the sessions both engaging and useful, gaining greater confidence in how to approach their revision and exam technique.  These lessons are part of our mock exam preparation for Year 11 as they start their mocks next week. They are continuing with their revision through the rest of the lessons this week in preparations for their first maths mock on Monday.

This half term, Year 8 have kicked off their curriculum by looking at the human body.  For one lesson, we were looking at how joints allow for movement and made models using paper and string to show how when biceps contract, the arm bends but when triceps contract, the arm straightens.  There were many examples in this lesson of “Respectful to All” and “Valuable Contribution” with pupils helping each other out to get the model to work as it was quite fiddly.

Last week in English we completed our first 'Key Piece' assessment for 'A Christmas Carol'.  Drawing on our Key Stage 3 use of the deconstructed essay, we began to use the analytical skills mapped across Years 7-9.  Linking key skill from Year 9 assessments helped to introduce Year 10 to our common approaches to GCSE English.  Pupils were pleased to see how their KS3 curriculum skills could be applied to their GCSE studies quickly and effectively.  Pupils were able to identify where the skills are being further developed in their work and challenge themselves to more sophisticated interpretations.

Year 11 are preparing for their forthcoming mock examinations this week with a series of lead lessons and walking talking mocks for their core subjects. 

Pupils have the opportunity to have specific exam content or common approaches to specific exam papers delivered to them by members of staff from TGBS and the school improvement team. 

Feedback from year on year shows that pupils enjoy these bespoke sessions and appreciate the exam style approach to preparing them for what can be quite a daunting exam experience.   Pupils prefer to have these sessions in this way so that they do not feel overwhelmed in their actual exams and get used to the exam conditions confidently.

This week they have had Maths masterclasses and walking talking mocks for English Language.

This half term, our Year 8 boys have been studying Animal Farm by George Orwell, a powerful and thought-provoking allegory that explores themes of power, corruption, and equality.  As part of their learning, the pupils have focused on the “Seven Commandments” created by the animals in the story — rules designed to guide their new society after the rebellion.  These commandments form the foundation for the rest of the novel, mirroring how the Ten Commandments in the Bible serve as moral guidelines for human behaviour.

To deepen their understanding, the boys have created a series of imaginative and visually striking posters that interpret and illustrate the Seven Commandments.  Each poster reflects not only their grasp of Orwell’s ideas, but also their ability to connect literature to wider moral and religious concepts.  Through colour, imagery, and thoughtful design, the pupils have brought to life the tension between idealism and corruption that lies at the heart of Animal Farm.

This project has encouraged the pupils to think critically about how rules and principles can be manipulated, and how power can alter the meaning of justice and equality.  It has also given them the chance to express their creativity and analytical skills in new and engaging ways.  We are incredibly proud of the hard work, imagination, and insight they have shown.  Their posters are a testament to their deepening understanding of literature, history, and the enduring relevance of Orwell’s message today.

Pupils in Year 10 have recently completed their first Key Piece for their GCSE English Literature. They have read the first stave of A Christmas Carol and they were asked to consider how Scrooge is presented as an isolated figure.  In order to write their response, pupils followed a Common Approach which they will refine as they make their way through the course.  The work here was produced by students in 10X1.  In particular, well done to Y Khan, C Murphy, A Williams, M Clark, D Daio and I Sayyad for their attempts – some of which you can see here.  

A group of fifteen Year 10 engineering pupils recently visited A Edmonds & Co in Birmingham City Centre, they had the opportunity to tour the company’s wood and metalworking factories and workshops.  During the visit, the pupils gained valuable insights into the practical applications of their studies and were introduced to a variety of potential career paths within the engineering and manufacturing industries.  The experience also highlighted the range of apprenticeship opportunities available, helping pupils to better understand how they can build their skills and start their professional journeys in these trades. 

Science Club has got off to a really strong start this year with pupils from Year 7-11 all getting involved and carrying out science investigations together.  So far we have learned how to speed up reactions using catalysts (elephants toothpaste), increasing temperature and surface area.  We have also investigated the iodine clock showing that we can use equipment accurately to get repeatable results.

This week we used limes and potatoes to make batteries – because who needs lemons anyway?  Pupils managed to join their individual cells all together in a circuit to generate a potential difference of 9V!

Next week Dr Patchett has set them the challenge. Can they make a plant grow upside down? Keep your eyes peeled to see how we get on…

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We were proud to open our doors this week for our annual School Open Evening — a fantastic opportunity for families, future pupils, and members of the community to explore all that our school has to offer.  This year, our Performing Arts, Music, and Art departments truly shone, thanks to the incredible effort and dedication of our talented pupils.

Our pupils worked tirelessly in the lead-up to the event, preparing everything from dramatic performances and musical pieces to stunning visual artwork — all of which helped bring the evening to life.

In the Performing Arts department, pupils performed short improvisation melodrama pieces that captured both emotion and imagination.  Whether it was a powerful monologue or a collaborative ensemble scene, their passion and confidence were clear for all to see.

The Music department was alive with sound as pupils showcased their talents on a variety of instruments.  The musical talent on display was truly impressive.  Visitors had the opportunity to sample some of the instruments on display.

Over in Art, the walls were transformed into a gallery of colour and creativity.  Visitors were invited to explore an array of pupil work, including paintings, mixed media pieces, and 3D models — each one a testament to the imagination and effort that pupils had put into their projects.  The standard of work was exceptional and received glowing feedback throughout the evening.

None of this would have been possible without the commitment and enthusiasm of our pupils, who not only showcased their talents but also helped welcome visitors, guide tours, and share their experiences of school life.  Their hard work and pride in their subjects made the evening truly special.

The Open Evening was more than just a display — it was a celebration of creativity, community, and the incredible things our pupils can achieve.  We couldn’t be prouder of everyone involved.