Newsletters

Last Day of Term

Our last day of term is Friday 23^rd July, and we will be finishing early at 12:25pm.

First Festival of Literature at The John of Gaunt School

The Word, our first literature festival, is set to inspire students with a rich programme of activities between 12th to 14th July. Headline acts feature champion slam poet, Ash Dickinson, and Carnegie shortlisted author, Chris Vick. A taste of the fringe activities includes a Book & Bake Takeaway, a staff Dress As A Book Character Day and a school-wide creative writing competition centred on our school’s majestic icon – the falcon.

Mrs Eagle, Event Organiser and English Teacher, says: “With Covid in mind, we’ve aimed for an ambitious array of activities for students to celebrate both the spoken and written word in school.” Mrs Bruton, Learning Resources Manager, adds: “With World Book Day being in lock-down, this is a fantastic opportunity for us to now celebrate properly the joy that reading can bring!”

We would like to thank our festival sponsors: Garstons Vets, We Love Pets Trowbridge and Tymbark Supermarket. This support will help fund prizes for students and create a festival feel in school. Click here to see the full news item and festival programme on our website.

Year 9 DTP/MenACWY and  HPV Vaccinations

The Virgin Care School Aged Immunisation Team of Nurses will be visiting John of Gaunt on Friday 16^th July 2021 to vaccinate any Year 9 pupils who have missed their DTP/MenACWY and HPV Vaccinations.  

To enable your child to receive these important vaccines it is ESSENTIAL that you complete the online consents following the links below.  PLEASE NOTE – if you have already completed these consents you DO NOT need to complete again.

If you do NOT want you child to receive the vaccine then please also complete a form stating that you do not want them to receive the vaccine, this means we will not chase further.

This form must be completed by Thursday 8^th July 2021 or your child will not be able to have the vaccinations.

https://schoolimms.virgincare.co.uk/hpv/2020/wilts

https://schoolimms.virgincare.co.uk/dtp/2020/wilts

If the link is not working for you, please try to copy and paste it into your internet address bar. If it continues not to work OR you are having any other problems then please contact our designated team on 0300 247 0082 and they will be able to help.

Thank you

School Aged Immunisation Team

News from the Music Department

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Cameron Nash in Year 7 who passed his Grade 1 Cornet exam with Merit!

Instrumental Tuition

Interested in having instrumental or vocal lessons next academic year? Music lessons are an excellent way for students to develop their skills and understanding of music, as well as giving them the potential for a lifelong passion and opportunity for social development. Lessons are open to all students at all levels including complete beginners. We currently have lessons for the following instruments: drum kit, percussion, trumpet, cornet, euphonium, piano, flute, clarinet, saxophone, violin, viola, bass guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar and ukulele. We are also looking for a new singing teacher to join the team in September.

Lessons are generally taught in blocks of 10 lessons and are available for 15 or 30 minute slots.  The costs vary according to the teacher involved but are in the region of £27-£33 per hour.  The cost for a block of 15-minute lessons works out at between £67.50 and £82.50. We are also able to fund some lessons through Wiltshire Music Connect. For students who are Pupil Premium or have a Special Educational Need then we can fund 70% of a 15-minute lesson through Wiltshire Music Connect leaving the remaining 30% to be paid by the parent/carer. For children that are Looked After we can fund 100% of a 15-minute lesson through Wiltshire Music Connect.

Lessons take place in a music practice room within school and may be before or during school depending on the teacher involved. Lessons are on a rotating timetable so that students don’t continually keep missing the same lesson.

If your child is interested in learning an instrument or having singing lessons please drop me an email and I will get back to you with further information: nmaguire@jogschool.org     

Festival Fix

With many festivals continuing to announce they are having to cancel this summer the music department thought we would share a bit of a festival fix! Back in May a host of artists performed at Worthy Farm for a unique cinematic event that was streamed across the globe. The programme took viewers on a magical journey through performances filmed on location at Worthy Farm’s most famous landmarks, as well as some of its lesser-known, secret corners. Artists featured included Coldplay, Damon Albarn, Haim, Idles, Jorja Smith, Kano, Wolf Alice, Michael Kiwanuka and Roisin Murphy. Check out BBC iPlayer for the Live at Worthy Farm Highlights!

Year 12 Geography field trips 

Year 12 have been busy preparing for their coursework by practising data collection. On Friday they visited Chesil Beach to study how the beach changes from Burton Bradstock to The Isle of Portland, followed by an afternoon collecting data in Weymouth.

Then on Wednesday spent the day looking at Bristol’s harbour side redevelopment. 

Appeal for nearly new, young adult books

As part of The Word – our upcoming literature festival – we are kindly asking for donations of nearly new books that are suitable for years 7 to 11. These books will be the centerpiece of the ‘Book and Bake Takeaway’ that we will be running during the festival – where any student can freely take home a book and a piece of cake.

What: Nearly new books suitable for years 7 to 11 (please, no older adult or younger children’s books)

How: Where families can donate a book or two, students to bring them to school before Thursday 8^th July.

Where: Students to take them to the library where there will be a donation box.

Many thanks for your support!

Deeplight by Frances Hardinge

The gods of The Myriad were as real as the coastlines and currents, and as merciless as the winds and whirlpools. Now the gods are dead, but their remains are stirring beneath the waves . . .

On the streets of the Island of Lady's Crave live 14-year-old street urchins Hark and his best friend Jelt. They are scavengers: diving for relics of the gods, desperate for anything they can sell. But there is something dangerous in the deep waters of the undersea, calling to someone brave enough to retrieve it.

When 15-year-old Hark finds the still-beating heart of a terrifying deity, he risks everything to keep it out of the hands of smugglers, military scientists, and a secret fanatical cult so that he can use it to save the life of his best friend, Jelt.

When the waves try to claim Jelt, Hark will do anything to save him. Even if it means compromising not just who Jelt is, but what he is . . .

Happy Reading!

Mrs Bruton

AUTHOR VISIT IN JULY!

As part of our upcoming literacy festival, we are thrilled to announce that Y7 and Y9 will have a visit from the author of Girl. Boy. Sea.

Chris Vick writes books for young people about the sea, danger and the wonder of magic and stories.

He spent years working in whale and dolphin conservation and a lot of time surfing before enrolling on the Bath Spa MA in Writing for Young People. He has written four books, published in several countries.

Chris has appeared at festivals including Hay, Bath Children's Literature festival and Mare di Libri (Sea of Books) in Italy and has written blogs/features for the Guardian and Bustle.com. on YA issues.

If you would like to have your book signed by the author when he visits, Waterstones in Trowbridge have stocked up on extra copies of Girl. Boy. Sea.

Happy Reading!

Mrs Bruton

Supporting careers education, information, advice and guidance at JoG

Find Your Way

A free, online e-mentoring programme which gives you the chance to receive personalised 1:1 support as you make important decisions about your plans for when you leave school or college.

It is aimed at academically-able Year 11 and 12 students who are considering applying to study at university.

It will run for 6 weeks from 21 July to 7 September - Application deadline is 17 July 2021.

Additional support is offered to all parents and carers of students on the programme.

Apply here  Find Your Way

Bath Physics ‘21 – Saturday 10^th July

A new conference for GCSE and A-Level students. Fully online with a variety of exciting talks and workshops. 

You will also have the opportunity to discover the vital role of computing in astrophysics with our coding workshop.

There will be key topics on what you should know about studying physics at university, as well as potential career paths a degree in physics could take you on.

Register here  Bath Physics 2021 

Ask Bath

A free, online study/catch up support for students in years 10-13 – Available all year round. 

Using an instant messaging system, you’ll be matched with a current University of Bath student based on the subject you would like help with.

They’ll be able to help with academic queries, questions about revision, homework and/or questions about what it is like to live and study at university. To get signed up and start accessing this fantastic support network, click here.

Supporting careers education, information, advice and guidance at JoG

CAREER of the WEEK!

Armed Forces Day was last Sunday 26^th June - What Inspires someone to serve?

Cpl Rachel Alice Wyatt - Royal Military Police JNCO

‘To make the most of my life, to be a part every opportunity, to see the world and experience experiences like no other!’

SSgt John Lewis - Staff Support Assistant

‘To add some discipline into my life and utilise my mathematical and mental ability as a Management Accountant in the Army.’

Lt Rebecca Jayne Hanks - Learning and Development Officer

‘To have a career that involved developing others in an environment that also encouraged personal growth.’

Further Information:

Army Foundation College – Harrogate Discover a college experience like no other for 16- and 17-year-olds starting their career in the British Army. More

Apprenticeships Explore the 40+ apprenticeship schemes in the British Army,
from animal care to vehicle maintenance. More

Army Officer Scholarship Scheme Receive sponsorship through sixth form and university, before joining the Army in a leadership role. More

If any student would like to meet with an Army Recruiting Officer in school (currently via teams) please contact Alynch@jogschool.org  to arrange.

Supporting careers education, information, advice and guidance at JoG

Apprenticeship Vacancies                                

Postal Apprentice Royal Mail

The Royal Mail are recruiting for the Trowbridge Delivery Office

Health Education England Bristol

Education Programme Coordinator Apprentice HEE

There are currently 18 Apprenticeships within a 5-mile radius of Trowbridge including:

• Apprentice Pharmacy Assistant – Cohens Trowbridge
• Apprentice Sales Adviser – New Look Trowbridge
• Apprentice Nursery Nurse – Longscroft Children’s Nursery
• Apprentice Dental Nurse – The Health Centre Dental Practice BoA
• Apprentice Chef – The Old Ham Holt

For more details and to search all vacancies visit:

Find an Apprenticeship