1 Issue No 25/2015-2016 Thetford Grammar School The small, friendly school that gets results for individuals. 22 nd April 2016 Dear Pupils and Parents, This morning’s whole school assembly marked Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s 90 th birthday celebration. She has served on our nation’s throne with immense dignity and grace for the past 64 years. In that time, Her Majesty has devoted herself to her country and her people. Over the 64 years of her reign, the Queen has earned great respect, affection and admiration of people from all over the world. Thetford Grammar School wishes Her Majesty many happy returns. We bade a very fond adieu to our French Exchange visitors, who departed for their home town on Wednesday morning. Our visitors seemed to enjoy their visit to Thetford Grammar School, for many of them their first time in the UK, and our whole-school hospitality. I am hopeful that many of the children from both schools will try to remain in contact and look forward to the return visit in May. The Year 11 pupils will have the opportunity to sample the TGS Sixth Form on Thursday 28 th April from Periods 5 to 8. This is a specially designed day so that our prospective A Level students have the opportunity to participate in lessons and listen to advice and thoughts from many of our older students. This is all designed to help inform and guide youngsters for the final stage of their secondary education. My thanks to all the A Level teachers and Mrs Pearson, prospective Head of Sixth Form and Miss Sherring, Head of Key Stage 4, for planning and preparing a range of informative events and activities. I am greatly looking forward to the Pre-Prep and Preparatory School performances of The Keymaster next week on Tuesday 26 th April at 2.30pm and Wednesday 27 th April at 6.30pm from our very talented pupils. Based on the previous theatrical performances, this will prove to be a wonderful event for younger and older spectators. Tickets are available from the School Office. I do hope that you can find the time to support the school, the Prep School staff and many excited young performers. I do hope you have a happy and restful weekend. Mr Mark S. Bedford Headmaster
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1 Issue No 25/2015-2016
Thetford Grammar School
The small, friendly school that gets results for individuals.
22nd April 2016
Dear Pupils and Parents,
This morning’s whole school assembly
marked Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s
90th birthday celebration. She has
served on our nation’s throne with
immense dignity and grace for the past
64 years. In that time, Her Majesty has
devoted herself to her country and her
people. Over the 64 years of her reign,
the Queen has earned great respect,
affection and admiration of people
from all over the world. Thetford
Grammar School wishes Her Majesty
many happy returns.
We bade a very fond adieu to our French Exchange visitors, who departed for their home
town on Wednesday morning. Our visitors seemed to enjoy their visit to Thetford Grammar
School, for many of them their first time in the UK, and our whole-school hospitality. I am
hopeful that many of the children from both schools will try to remain in contact and look
forward to the return visit in May.
The Year 11 pupils will have the opportunity to sample the TGS Sixth Form on Thursday 28th
April from Periods 5 to 8. This is a specially designed day so that our prospective A Level
students have the opportunity to participate in lessons and listen to advice and thoughts
from many of our older students. This is all designed to help inform and guide youngsters
for the final stage of their secondary education. My thanks to all the A Level teachers and
Mrs Pearson, prospective Head of Sixth Form and Miss Sherring, Head of Key Stage 4, for
planning and preparing a range of informative events and activities.
I am greatly looking forward to the Pre-Prep and Preparatory School performances of The
Keymaster next week on Tuesday 26th April at 2.30pm and Wednesday 27th April at 6.30pm
from our very talented pupils. Based on the previous theatrical performances, this will prove
to be a wonderful event for younger and older spectators. Tickets are available from the
School Office. I do hope that you can find the time to support the school, the Prep School
staff and many excited young performers.
I do hope you have a happy and restful weekend.
Mr Mark S. Bedford
Headmaster
2 Issue No 25/2015-2016
CHAIR OF GOVERNORS LETTER HOME
A letter to all Parents, Staff and Governors has been emailed out this morning outlining the
plans for the restructuring of TGS in light of the drop in numbers on roll. A copy of the letter
has been attached with this newsletter.
REGIONAL JUNIOR MATHS CHALLENGE
On Wednesday 20th April, 4 students from Years 8 and 9, Liam Dargen,
Will Pollard, Elizabeth Wright and Shas Sanjeevvijay travelled to the
Nicholas Hamond Academy to take part in the Regional Junior Maths
Challenge.
18 schools from the area took part in 4 hours of individual and team challenges culminating
in a relay race (yes they ran!) where questions had to be answered correctly in order for the
next question of 30, to be issued. As teams were the length of a gymnasium away from their
inquisitors, the potential for collision was high.
Our team did well coming 10th; the joint winners were Norwich School and Ixworth Free
School.
Mr Steve Braden
Maths Teacher
Y12 GEOGRAPHY TRIP
Y12 Geographers visited Blakeney village on the North
Norfolk Coast to study the positive and negative
impacts of tourism on the local community.
They then took the ferry to Blakeney Point to assess the
National Trust’s management policies with regard to
ensuring that tourism remains sustainable with the
needs of visitors and wildlife both being met.
Mr John Law
A Level Geography Teacher
3 Issue No 25/2015-2016
DENMARK WORK EXPERIENCE GP3
The final Y12 work experience group of Alfie, Clemency,
Kirishoban and Megan has now returned from the North Jutland
seaside resort of Løkken. "An unforgettable experience" by all
accounts, and a wonderful opportunity to get to know a part of
Europe off the beaten track.
Once again our students proved to be popular with the locals and
their hard work was rewarded with a wide range of social activities.
Mr Stephen Spencer
Head of Sixth Form
BRONZE PRACTICE DUKE OF EDINBURGH EXPEDITION
Last weekend the Y10s had their first
experience of a Duke of Edinburgh
expedition. The groups set off early on
Saturday morning in the rain but the
weather did improve as the day went on
and all groups navigated the first day
successfully and made it to the camp site
at Two Mile Bottom in good time.
The groups cooked their first meals using
the trangia cooking stoves; some were more successful than others!
The skies cleared and a cold night lay ahead. The staff got a camp
fire going and everyone huddled around to keep warm before
heading to their tents and straight into their sleeping bags. A bright but frosty morning
followed and the conditions were perfect for the rest of the day. The pupils were soon
experiencing the D of E aches and pains that come with walking long distances with a full
back pack but they did well and kept to their task.
The group are now planning for
their qualifying expedition on
the weekend of 14th -15th May in
South Suffolk.
Mr Michael Hill
Expedition Supervisor
4 Issue No 25/2015-2016
FRENCH EXCHANGE : THE INBOUND VISIT
Our visitors from the Collège Monod in Compiègne arrived on Thursday 14th April, to be
met by host families and their customary warm welcome.
Despite some typically British weather, Friday morning was spent
exploring Thetford. The Ancient House museum proved very
popular, not only because it was warm and dry, but because students
could try on traditional 19th century clothes. The rest of the morning
was more studious as the French pupils gathered in Old School to sit
the TGS entrance exam.
In the afternoon, both French and British
pupils were assembled in the rifle range, where Mr Spencer
introduced them to the art of marksmanship. Some fierce
competition followed, and a more experienced British team
prevailed in the end.
The weekend was spent with host families who entertained their visitors with a range of
activities and visits including trips to Southwold, London and Norwich.
On Monday, the group enjoyed a minibus ride to Cambridge
for some punting on the river
Cam. It was a cold grey day,
but the atmosphere was soon
warmed up by the punt
chauffeurs, who entertained the
group with some impressive
acrobatics over the bridges! In the afternoon pupils enjoyed
free time in the city centre and a visit to the beautiful King’s
College Chapel.
On their last day, which ironically was the sunniest, the
French visitors enjoyed … lessons with their hosts!
The party left on Wednesday in glorious morning sunshine.
However, this was an “au revoir” and not an “adieu” as TGS
pupils will be heading for Compiègne on the 17th of May.
Bonne route!
Mr Raphael Maringue
French Exchange Co-ordinator
5 Issue No 25/2015-2016
PREP SCHOOL MUSICAL
Tickets have been sent home with pupils this week for our annual Musical
taking place on Tuesday 26th April at 2.30pm and Wednesday 27th April at
6.30pm. If you would still like to attend please speak to Mrs Cracknell in the
School Office.
Mrs Issy Cracknell
Preparatory School Secretary
YEAR 2/3 DESIGN TECHNOLOGY LESSON
In Design Technology Y2/3 have been
making houses. After looking at different
aspects of houses and making miniature
models the pupils planned and designed
their own house.
They were all very impressive.
Mrs Renate Dimminger
Year 2/3 DT Teacher
Y11 TGS SIXTH FORM EXPERIENCE DAY
We are pleased to announce that we are introducing a TGS Sixth Form Experience for all
current Y11 pupils, to be held on Thursday 28th April 2016. The aim of the day is to give
your child a chance to find out more about what it is like to be a Sixth Former at TGS. They
will be able to attend sample lessons of the subjects that they have opted for or are interested
in taking as part of their programme in our Sixth Form from September. Y11 pupils have
been given a letter to bring home and the information has also been emailed home.