It has been fantastic to see so many of the boys developing greater confidence in their writing. With the support of sentence starters, they are beginning to write well-structured analytical paragraphs, selecting evidence from the novel and explaining their ideas in greater detail. As their confidence grows, many are becoming more independent in developing their analysis and explaining the writer’s intentions.

We are very proud of the effort and enthusiasm the boys have shown so far and look forward to seeing their writing continue to develop.

06/10/2026

Year 7: Robiel - for his determination to be self-motivate to achieve and get as many positives as possible!   

Year 8: George - for his determination to do well in all of his subjects – self motivated to achieve.  

Year 9: Connor - for his persistence to uphold turves values and get positives within lessons  

Year 10:  Ubayd for an amazing start to the academic year many positive comments from staff and 25 positives this week!  

Year 11: Kameron - for a positive start to the academic year from excellence in his studies and help as a prefect within school activities.   

22/09/2026

Winners this week include:

Year 7: Asa – for an amazing start being resilient and having several positive comments from his class teachers

Year 8: Zayn – excellent start back and Turves values

Year 9: Caleb – mature start to Year 9

Year 10: Layton – for his excellent start to the academic year, 30+ positives with zero negatives

Year 11: Godlee – superb start to Year 11 and contribution to school sports

During the local geography fieldwork, Year 7 represented the school brilliantly. Their behaviour, manners and attitude while working in the local community were excellent, and they should be proud of the way they represented TGBS. Pupils then had the opportunity to experience a range of extra-curricular taster sessions, where they enthusiastically got involved, tried new activities and discovered some of the wider opportunities available to them at secondary school.

It was a really positive day that allowed pupils to build confidence, strengthen relationships and develop their sense of belonging. Most importantly, Year 7 demonstrated what it means to put the TURVES values into action, both in school and within their local community.

The workshop was delivered by a former Turves Green Boys’ School pupil, who returned to the school to share his experience, knowledge and practical skills with our current pupils. It was fantastic to welcome a former pupil back into school and see him inspiring the next generation of performers.

The session focused on some of the key performance skills needed to bring the characters and relationships in Blood Brothers to life. Pupils explored characterisation, relationships, dramatic tension and the use of emotion, developing their understanding of how actors can communicate meaning to an audience.

Through a range of practical exercises and activities, pupils experimented with how different characters might move, speak and respond to one another. They explored how physicality, facial expressions, vocal delivery and emotional choices can change the way an audience understands a character.

A particular focus was placed on the relationships between the characters and how these can be used to create dramatic tension. Pupils considered how tension develops throughout the play and how performers can use pauses, space, eye contact, movement and changes in voice to keep an audience engaged.

The workshop also encouraged pupils to take greater risks with their performances and explore the emotions behind their characters. Rather than simply learning lines, pupils were challenged to think about why their character behaves in a particular way and what they want to achieve within each scene.

The practical nature of the workshop gave pupils the opportunity to apply the ideas they have been learning in their BTEC Performing Arts lessons and develop their confidence as performers.

It was particularly valuable for our pupils to learn from someone who was once in their position as a Turves Green Boys’ School pupil. His journey provided an excellent example of how the skills developed through Performing Arts can continue beyond school.

A huge thank you to our former pupil for returning to Turves Green Boys’ School and delivering such an engaging and inspiring workshop. We look forward to seeing how our Year 10 pupils apply these skills as they continue their work on Blood Brothers.

The Post-16 Pathways Day gave pupils the chance to find out more about the different options available to them after their GCSEs, including A-levels, vocational courses, apprenticeships, college and sixth-form.

Throughout the day, pupils heard from local colleges and sixth forms and got a real insight into what different providers have to offer. There was also a chance to look more closely at apprenticeships, including how they work, what they can expect and where they can lead in the future.

One of the highlights was when pupils were able to look at the different jobs in our local area and make career decisions, which got pupils thinking about the advantages and disadvantages of different routes. It was great to see our pupils challenging ideas, asking questions and, in some cases, changing their minds as they considered different avenues for their progression.

Pupils also took part in a lively debate linked with these different pathways and considered pros and cons of the different options allowing them to practice public speaking and challenge their peers. 

Overall, it was a fun, informative and thought-provoking day. Our Year 11's came away with lots of new information, plenty to think about and, hopefully, a clearer idea of the options available to them when they finish their GCSEs.

A big thank you to all of the staff, colleges, sixth forms and TGBS pupils who helped make the day such a success — and well done to Year 11 for getting involved, asking questions and thinking seriously about their futures.

Across the day, pupils explored everything from payslips and take-home pay to budgeting, credit cards, credit ratings, fraud and scams. They were encouraged to think about the lives they would like to have in the future – and, importantly, what those lives might actually cost!

In our My Life: Realities and Build Your Life activities, pupils put their decision-making to the test. Given a monthly take-home income of £2,230, they researched real costs for housing, transport, food, bills and other spending. When the numbers didn’t quite add up, they had to make some difficult choices about what they were willing to change – with a few unexpected expenses thrown in along the way!

It was brilliant to see our Year 10 pupils engaging so positively, asking questions and beginning to understand how the financial decisions they make can have a real impact on their future.

A huge thank you to HSBC, WizeUp and Metro Bank for giving their time and expertise to support the day, alongside our staff who delivered school-led sessions.

We hope Year 10 finished the day with greater confidence, a better understanding of the cost of independent living and, most importantly, the knowledge to make informed financial choices in the future.

Stratford Walking Tour

Pupils learned about Shakespeare and Stratford visiting the RSC, Gower Monument, Shakespeare’s New Place, Birth Place and final resting place in Trinity Church. Thankfully, it was a sunny day and pupils got to take in all of the sites of Stratford along the way.

MAD Museum

The Mechanical, Art and Design Museum did not disappoint! Pupils were able to explore all of the different mechanical wonders, marble runs, clap machine and mini cinema. The incredible inventions on display fascinated the boys and inspired some of them to buy their own kits and interesting gifts.

Shakespeare’s Schoolroom

The pupils went back in time to discover how school would have looked for them during the Bard’s time. After and informative talk and video, the boys went into a mock schoolroom and had a lesson for an Elizabethan teacher before trying their hands, literally, with a quill and ink.

Butterfly Farm

The Butterfly from was an absolute wonder for our pupils. They had a demonstration from staff who allowed them to hold stick insets and other mini beast before exploring the butterfly farm. The boys loved wondering round the tropical dome and allowing butterflies to land on them. The mini beast section was also fascinating – especially the cayman!

The pupils were incredibly positive about their activities over the course of the day. The deliberate mixture of art, culture, technology and mini beasts gave the boys a rich range experiences enacting our ‘confident, successful, resilient individuals’ intent for all pupils.

Exploring post-16 pathways

The day started in the Hall with a joint session alongside Year 11. Sixth forms, colleges and apprenticeship providers gave presentations and ran a provider marketplace, where pupils could talk to them directly. Pupils learned about A levels, college courses, apprenticeships and T Levels, and saw how the subjects they study now link to future careers. Question-and-answer sessions let them raise their own questions with each provider.

Working with Johnson & Johnson

After the break, half the year group joined a workshop run by employers from Johnson & Johnson. Pupils took part in a team-building challenge, communication activities, problem-solving tasks and a mock recruitment exercise. The employers then gave feedback on what they had seen. The two groups swapped after lunch, so every pupil took part.

Virtual work experience with U-Explore

The other group worked with their form tutors in the computer rooms on U-Explore. They completed a skills audit, a career interests questionnaire and an aspirations survey, and then tried a virtual work experience placement. Pupils can complete as many placements as they like, so we encourage them to keep trying different careers at home. They sign in with their school Microsoft account at www.u-explore.com.

Reflection and pupil voice

The day ended with a reflection session. Pupils set their Life and Career Goals on U-Explore and filled in a survey on MS Teams. Their feedback will shape future enrichment days.

Thank you

Thank you to the visiting providers, Johnson & Johnson and Katy Henson and to our form tutors for making the day possible.