The icon of the 70s, weebles (that wobble but they don’t fall down) being brought back to life in papier mache form by Year 7 students as part of a school-wide initiative, Bounce Don't Break, promoting resilience.
Staff, students and their families, many of whom are serving in the Armed Forces, joined together today for the Gordon’s Parade and Service of Remembrance for the sacrifices of so many including the 156 former students killed in action during the First World War; 31 in the Second World War and those in more recent conflicts. Wreaths were laid on behalf of students and staff, governors and trustees and the Gordonians.
The Remembrance Parade and Service will take place on the Parade Square at Gordon's on Sunday 10th November at 10.45am. All welcome.
It’s the ultimate challenge, The Fan Dance, part of the fitness and navigation phase and one of the selection tests for the SAS in the notorious Brecon Beacons. And Gordon’s student Tommy Aston, just a couple of months shy of his 18th birthday, is already in training for it!
The gruelling expedition will see him and his father Jez trekking some 15 miles twice up and over Pen y Fan, while carrying 35lb back packs, the day after his 18th birthday in January to raise money for Team True Spirit, a charity that supports wounded, injured and sick soldiers and military veterans through sport.
Tommy, who joined Gordon’s last year for the Sixth Form, has been playing for the ACE Development Squad. While injury has prevented him from playing rugby, it hasn’t stopped him continuing training for the challenge, which involves runs of between five and ten miles in Swinley Forest and Lightwater Country Park. He admits that the challenge will be tough, although he says: “It’s nice to get out and do it, a good thing for us to do together and I will enjoy it knowing it will help others, I’m doing this for the challenge and to raise money for the charity Team True Spirit”.
To sponsor the challenge, please click here.
The iconic statue that has looked out over the Front Field for over 60 years is having its Autumn maintenance work carried out to make it Winter-ready. This involves steam cleaning and treating the stone work as well as waxing the bronze to guard against water damage. The statue sunk in both the Thames and Nile Rivers prior to its arrival here and needs twice yearly visits from Bronze Sculpture Surgeon Jayne Meadows and her team to preserve it.
Fruitful debate over four days at the Royal Russell International MUN Conference in South London. Gordon’s, fielding 14 delegates and the Head Chair of the Special Commission on Climate Change, competed in large committees, coming away with five awards for Outstanding Delegates. Congratulations all!
Leadership tasks, minefield clearance, observance and a chance to get a thorough soaking in the raft building and racing, with the Royal Engineers at Minley. A fantastic Army Field Day for the Year 10 CCF cadets. Thank you to the Corps of the Royal Engineers.
Delighted to welcome Liz Noble, a trustee of the Bisley and West End Food Bank to school this morning, when she was helped by charity prefects with the generous donations of food and sanitary products from staff and parents. Last week, items for Woking Foodbank were delivered by the school chaplain, the Reverend Graham Wright.
Not every day you get to plug the holes on a ship after a missile attack! Royal Navy Cadets put their leadership and ingenuity to the test at the Royal Navy training base at Whale Island in Portsmouth on a field day today, where along with firefighting training, the Year 10 students were taught how to keep the ship from sinking after being hit by a bomb, torpedo or missile in the Damage Repair Unit.
Everest climber, explorer, film maker and children’s fiction author Matt Dickinson gave students workshops and talks about his adventures and writing. Mr Dickinson, who has survived an avalance, killer storm in the 'death zone' and a beaver attack, spoke to students about going out of their comfort zone and his experience on expeditions to Everest and Antarctica and Nepal.
Gordon’s tops UK comprehensive schools for its 2024 GCSE results! The Which School Advisor’s list of the best non-selective state schools in the UK, placed the school third equal with 51 per cent of this year’s GCSEs graded 9-7. Earlier this month, Gordon’s learned that it was the only school in England to hold all nine PTI Marks simultaneously for outstanding Subject Leadership.
For would-be vet Chloe, the afternoon offered the chance to find out about career pathways for her dream career – and hold a snake! For other Year 12 and 13 students there were boundless opportunities to discover their next steps, from businesses and training and apprenticeship providers under one roof today for the Surrey Festival of Skills. The event was one of many being attended by students as part of Gordon’s Careers Week. For information on all the careers events running this week, please click here.
