Headmaster's Blog
- Published on 03/02/23 by Natalie Hunt
I know you
I have enjoyed welcoming some of you into school for parents’ evenings in the last fortnight. I am naturally pleased when parents comment as they leave that the teachers know their child very well and have given frank, specific and encouraging advice. This is especially important for Years 11...Read More - Published on 27/01/23 by Natalie Hunt
Care and responsibility
It was great to be back together as a school in St Nicholas’ Hall for assembly on Monday, after Trial exams had meant a return to a blended version at the start of term. In assembly, we enjoy celebrating pupils’ many achievements, successes and contributions. It is also one of the ways i...Read More - Published on 20/01/23 by Natalie Hunt
Staying above the line
In one of the units of our Sixth Form Ivy House Award, we introduce students to the concept of ‘staying above the line’. They are asked to reflect on situations where they have reacted in a defensive, impulsive or aggressive manner during a discussion at home or in school, without listen...Read More - Published on 13/01/23 by Natalie Hunt
Inspiring a life-long love of learning
Our pupils in Years 11 and 13 are currently sitting Trial (mock) exams as preparation for national tests in the summer. They are approaching their Trials very sensibly, for they know that the outcome of their exams will be a prime determinant of their next step in education. Teachers will do their b...Read More - Published on 06/01/23 by Natalie Hunt
Happy New Year!
You will recall that two years ago we had needed to inform parents and pupils the night before term began that we were again having to revert to online learning as a result of a second national lockdown. Thankfully, we are in a far better position today! That said, we know that some find this tim...Read More - Published on 09/12/22 by Natalie Hunt
Time to share
It has been a wonderful term! I am truly grateful for the contribution of all our pupils to our LGS community and for the energy with which so many have embraced all that their education offers them. I have been observing a number of lessons recently, and I am struck not only by our pupils...Read More - Published on 02/12/22 by Natalie Hunt
Growing together
As the nights draw in and the days become murkier, our ‘Change Team’ has recently published an online newsletter offering guidance to pupils on nutrition, sleep and motivation. The Team is a group of pupils meeting under the direction of Mrs Ewington, Director of Well-being and Co-curric...Read More - Published on 25/11/22 by Natalie Hunt
Education for Life
“It prepares us for the things in life which we don’t cover elsewhere at school.” So said a Year 13 student when I asked why we call PSHE ‘Life Education’ at LGS. We review and celebrate the work of different departments on a rolling basis, supporting their self-eval...Read More - Published on 18/11/22 by Natalie Hunt
Deliberate Practice
‘Bounce’ is the title of a book I read a few years ago. And if you’re guessing, yes, it’s written by a sportsman – in fact, an international table-tennis champion, Matthew Syed, who is also a very sensible Times columnist. The subtitle of the book is ‘The myth of...Read More - Published on 11/11/22 by Natalie Hunt
The heart of the matter
I have been away for two days this week inspecting another school. The current inspection framework focusses on the outcomes for pupils in both achievements and personal development - and the most rewarding aspect of any inspection is undoubtedly the meetings and discussions with the pupils. T...Read More - Published on 04/11/22 by Natalie Hunt
Education, education, education
You could very easily be forgiven for not being able to name the five Secretaries of State for Education who have been in post over the last four months! I couldn't do so, without resorting to Wikipedia! Education has sadly featured very little in the polemic of politicians of both main parties...Read More - Published on 14/10/22 by Natalie Hunt
In praise of houses
Many of us were on Wednesday treated to super performances in the biennial House Drama competition. While it was possible during Covid-restrictions to reinvent much of what we normally did, House Drama sadly did not fall into this category in October 2020, when we found ourselves between two lockdow...Read More