Dear Parents and Carers,
I don’t know about you, but this term has really flown by. It seems like only yesterday that it was the first day of school, and already we are at our first school holiday. The end of term always provides a time to look back and reflect. As I look back, I am full of pride for the provision we offer our students. Particular highlights for me this term have been: the sheer number of students involved in our Open Evening for Year 5 and 6; the school production; supporting the sports teams after school; and seeing the Year 7s return after their trip to PGL – although trying to direct traffic when the buses were late is not something I want to have to do again!
However, it is not only those big events that I am proud of. I have given countless tours of the school with prospective parents and eager Year 6 pupils. No matter when we go out, lessons are calm, students are well-behaved, and they are learning. It is time to say well done to students at John of Gaunt for getting the small things right – excellence every day!
A half-term break is also a chance to look to the future. You will have received a letter today announcing that the Regional Schools' Director has given the approval for The John of Gaunt School to join Equa Multi Academy Trust. We are absolutely delighted with this decision, and it really is exciting news. The distinctive ethos and character of our school will remain and what we are able to deliver will be enhanced through working together as a group of schools. As always, we will keep parents updated on our progress.
Listening to staff and students during Term 1, many raised questions about the purpose of Morning Welcome. It allows for greater consistency from tutors in the checking of uniform and homework; it is an opportunity for key messages and celebrations to be shared which helps build culture, character and a sense of community; and for me personally it allows for a very calm and orderly start to the day. However, we have a lot of students in the Sports Hall, and with being oversubscribed and full in Year 7, it can feel overwhelming for some; despite the best efforts to project voices it can be hard for to hear messages; and in wet weather the Sports Hall, which is PE’s teaching area has to be cleaned of water and mud. Therefore, from the start of Term 2 we are cancelling Morning Welcome.
The start of the school day remains the same, and students should be on school site by 8.30am and should go straight to tutor time, where tutors will conduct the checks and deliver notices with members of the Senior Team, Year Leaders, Assistant Year Leaders and Pastoral Managers in support. This will allow us to undertake an evaluation during Term 2 to agree how to proceed in the new year.
Also looking forward to next term we have the Sixth Form Open Evening on Thursday 10th November from 6pm, and I look forward to meeting Year 11s and their parents at this event, to celebrate what a fantastic offer we have to continue their educational journey with us.
This is always one of the longest terms in the school year and, after disruption to education over the last few years, perhaps the routine of school life has been more exhausting than previously. I hope, therefore, that everyone takes the opportunity over the next week and a half to properly relax and recharge the batteries.
Please remember, students start back to school on Tuesday 1st November, due to our INSET day on the Monday.
Mr Woodville
Headteacher
Congratulations go to Jensen Walsh-Hill on recently completing his 100th Park Run. 
When shaking fresh cream, the fat molecules in the cream get shaken out of position and as the molecules are attracted to each other they clump together.
Year 10 Theatre Royal Trip – An Inspector Calls
