Through this academic year the school has been focussing on striving for Oracy – the ability for fluent, clear and articulate speech. The Year 9 students have started their exciting journey into debates and speaking using more formal English in their lessons. The English department is thrilled to see how engaged and enthusiastic the students are as they develop their debating skills.

We are currently focusing on teaching the students how to present ideas and thoughts effectively to a group, while ensuring they use formal English in their responses. Recently, Miss Tom's Year 9 students have been creating rules for their debates, which will help guide them in structuring their arguments clearly and respectfully. These rules will allow them to engage in discussions with confidence and maturity, promoting respectful and evidence-based conversations.

The students have also been learning how to present their ideas in a professional and formal manner. By using polite language and working in groups to share ideas they have been able to make sure their arguments are clear and well-supported. The focus has been on developing their communication skills for both academic and real-world scenarios.

The Year 9s are really embracing this new challenge, and we can’t wait to see how they apply these skills in their upcoming debates. Below are some photos of the students collaborating to create their debate rules and practising their formal responses – showing great teamwork and determination along the way!

Every year on March 14th, mathematicians and enthusiasts around the world celebrate Pi Day, honouring the infinite number π. Pi, the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter, plays a crucial role in mathematics, engineering, and space exploration.

This year, our school embraced the spirit of Pi Day with an exciting mathematical puzzle challenge.

Students took part in a hidden question hunt, searching for multiple-choice maths questions placed around the building. Each question tested their knowledge of pi, circles, and logical reasoning. Correct answers provided a letter, and once all were found, they had to be rearranged to spell the surname of a teacher—the final key to solving the puzzle.

Pi is more than just a number—it’s a symbol of the infinite possibilities of mathematics. By participating in challenges like this, students learn that maths isn’t just about equations—it’s a thrilling puzzle waiting to be solved. A massive congratulations to all participants, especially C. Kunzwa 9A1 and Y. Khan 9T1 who were the first to hunt down Mr Downham and deliver the code. Stay curious and remember—maths is everywhere!

Our Year 7 pupils are currently exploring the topic of creation in Religious Education. This week's homework challenge was to design a poster on stewardship, and Khalidou has gone above and beyond! His poster provides a detailed explanation of stewardship, accompanied by a fantastic illustration that beautifully represents the concept. Well done, Khalidou, for your hard work and creativity – a great example of taking pride in your work!

Our pupils who are part of the Princess Diana Award had a heart warming and enriching experience at Limes Care Home as part of their community action badge. During their visit, the boys engaged with the residents in meaningful conversations, learning about their daily lives, personal histories, and the fascinating stories of their younger years. One of the most exciting discoveries was that the oldest resident at the care home is 97 years old! The boys were also delighted to hear about the two adorable rabbits that the residents cherish and enjoy spending time with, adding an extra layer of joy to the visit.

In addition to chatting with the residents, the boys participated in various games, which the residents thoroughly enjoyed. It was wonderful to see the boys interact so naturally and enthusiastically with the older generation. They learned that one resident had even worked for the Queen, a fun and unique fact that made the experience even more memorable. Watching the boys’ bond with the residents and contribute to the atmosphere of care and companionship was truly a heart-warming sight, showcasing the power of intergenerational connections and the positive impact of community service.

We are incredibly proud to have such thoughtful and respectful pupils here at Turves Green Boys' School. Their kindness, dedication, and positive attitudes reflect not only the values of our school but also make them a true credit to our community. Their actions inspire those around them, and we are grateful for the wonderful example they set every day.

We have been very much enjoying the skills evident in creative writing amongst Year 9s over the past week.

For their mid-term ‘Key Piece’ in English, students been a descriptive piece about a desolate character on a seashore. The results have been remarkable, not to mention evocative, thoughtful and moving. Like this from L. Cullen (9T1) who used his piece to depict isolation loneliness and sacrifice, describing his figure as a guardian: ‘His immense presence, standing at attention, though painfully isolated from any comrades. He could not falter; his duty was to the ocean’.

There are also many fine examples of students using techniques and structures that will help them develop into confident authors by the time they begin their GCSE years. At this stage students are busy experimenting with new words, techniques and images to see if they can create a telling impact with their description. Like J. Hollick (9T1) who uses the image of a struggling sun to show us how his character might also be struggling, ‘Despite the clouds blanketing the Earth in a grim grey, the sun’s heat still somehow manages to fight through the clouds, keeping me warm...’ A. Williams (9T1) skilfully uses the metaphor of a bird appearing to signal a change of mood and also uses a triplet of adverbs to help the reader feel what his character is feeling, ‘Zooming and gliding effortlessly across the sky, a dove contrasted with its desolate surroundings. Delicately, beautifully, elegantly, the dove reminded me of what I could have been. L. Thompson-Clarke (9T1) uses a simple repeated phrase to convey a feeling of growing sadness: ‘I sink deeper. Eyes glazed over, I stare off into the grey sky trying to find solace and hope from the weak light that penetrates the clouds only to be reflected and rejected by the sea. I sink deeper.’

These are just four, but there are many such examples of thoughtful and imaginative young authors in the making.

WELL DONE!

The Art department wanted you to see some of the amazing portraits that pupils in year 9 have produced this week. They are hoping you can tell who it is meant to be; Barack Obama! 

G Thompson

A Williams

Z Clifton

D Pere- Enaregha

C Kunzwa

F McKinnon

L Turner

C Boadi

M. Yahya Khan

L Thompson Clarke

On the 5^th of March , 27 pupils from our school’s Warhammer Alliance embarked on an exciting trip to Warhammer World in Nottingham. The day was packed with activities, offering students the chance to explore the fascinating exhibits, showcasing the rich lore and stunning models of the Warhammer universe.

The visit included opportunities to build and paint the ‘model of the month’ from the past four months, allowing everyone to get creative and hands-on with the hobby. Students also had the chance to play big games of Warhammer 40K on the specialist boards at Warhammer world including a massive 3-way battle.

In addition to the hobby sessions, pupils were able to visit the Warhammer shop, where they could purchase their own models to take home and continue their painting and modelling journey. Many students left with new kits and a spark of inspiration for future Warhammer Club sessions.

A special highlight of the day was receiving a generous gift of battle mats and dice cups from Warhammer World. These anniversary gifts will be a fantastic addition to our club, enhancing our future games and activities.

The Warhammer Club welcomes all students, from complete beginners to experienced hobbyists. If you’re interested in strategy, creativity, and a bit of friendly competition, come along and join us!

Over the past term, the boys have been studying Romeo and Juliet, and as part of their learning, they created impressive posters that reflect their deep understanding of the play. The posters demonstrate their ability to analyse key themes, characters, and moments from the story, showcasing the knowledge they've gained throughout the term. In addition to creating these visual representations, the boys worked hard to present their ideas to their classmates. They took the time to explain their creative choices and how these choices relate to the themes of the play.

Pupils also collaborated with one another, offering support and encouragement as they refined their work and expanded their understanding of the material. This collaborative effort allowed them to enhance both their individual and collective knowledge, creating a positive learning experience for everyone involved. The project highlighted not only their academic growth but also their teamwork and communication skills.

Year 10 & 11 pupils enjoyed a visit from Onatti Theatre, a French theatre company who perform interactive and engaging shows. The pupils thoroughly enjoyed the story of attempted insurance fraud by a pair of French thieves and many of our pupils took on starring roles in the production as characters Madame Burger (Callum H, Year 11),  Hugo (Jacob H, Year 11) and – central to the plot – the doorbell (various Year 10 pupils)! Pupils (and Mr Woodall) rose to the challenge of understanding the entirely French production. Très bien, les gars!

Our trip to Leicester was out of this world! Arriving in style, we were greeted with a fantastic show of our solar system in the Sir Patrick Moore planetarium which immersed us in a journey through our solar system (though I have to admit it left me feeling a little dizzy whizzing through the planets). Once we regained our centre of gravity we split into 2 teams to tackle both the tower - where the pupils marvelled at how technology has changed over the years – and the ground team who looked through the different principles that underpin our very universe. After meeting back at the home planet and having a spot of lunch we then switch sides so every pupil had a chance to explore the entire centre and engage in all the amazing displays. A quick trip back (and a few choruses of Sweet Caroline later) and we were home. The pupils behaved admirably and really enjoyed the day.