Senior School Weekly Bulletin

Principal’s message

Although Monday’s news was disappointing in that we are now having to postpone or amend many of our planned end of term events, we recognise the importance of ‘finishing well’, and after a hugely safe and successful year, with very few COVID cases in school, we want to keep it that way.

The importance of finishing well was highlighted to me last week when I had the privilege of being part of a panel for a new pre-university scholarship programme that has been inspired and very kindly sponsored by one of our bursary donors. Listening to some our year 13 bursary students outline their ambitions for the future was truly humbling. In addition to their academic promise, their desire to give something back and make a difference in the world was a common thread and testament to the values-driven young people that we have at GSAL. When a student whose family came from Pakistan described eloquently how a Jewish doctor, who fought against the odds to excel in exactly the line of medicine that she wanted to pursue, was the inspiration for her dreams, I was completely choked. And we also heard from a student who had arrived in the UK from Poland aged 10, with no English; an outstanding student who spends his spare time volunteering and has been inspired by his teachers to pursue a career in AI. Ultimately, he wants to create a foundation dedicated to ensuring this new technology can benefit society…

Next week we welcome Professor Peter D’Sena to school for his first visit since being appointed our visiting EDI fellow. It will be a marker on our continuing journey on EDI, not the finishing line, but I hope that Peter catches a sense of the impact our students want to make and the respect they have for equality, diversity and inclusion; it is truly inspiring.

Sue Woodroofe
Principal

Please note that to access the downloads in this bulletin you will need to be logged into the school intranet GSAL World. Should you have any difficulty logging in please visit the GSAL World home page and follow the instructions under Password Reset Request.

Whole school notices

‘Reflecting together on the work of Yinka Shonibare’

Mon 21 June 4.30-5.15pm

School governor and Professor Abigail Harrison-Moore will be leading this talk on the work of Yinka Shonibare CBE(RA). Our students are currently designing a mural on an equality and diversity theme, based on his work; and Yinka himself is designing a sculpture in memory of David Oluwale to be unveiled as part of Leeds 2023.

It will be via Zoom, with a venue in school for pupils who intend to remain in school that day. All welcome. Please contact jlh@gsal.org.uk for further details about how to log in remotely.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Mon 21 June 6pm & Wed 23 June 5pm

Courtyard Shakespeare are back and celebrating 15 years of outdoor Shakespeare performances! Join us for a magical performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream performed by students in Y7-9 led by a team of Y9 directors. Please reserve your free tickets by clicking on the relevant date above.

Non-uniform day

Fri 25 June

Our Y12 students are raising money for the charity Place2Be which support children’s mental health. The theme is How garish can you be! and one item of clothing should be orange, yellow or blue (the colours of the charity). We suggest a £1 minimum donation, and additional contributions can be made through sQuid.

Sparkleshark

Wed 30 June 5pm

The Y9 Drama Club performance of Sparkleshark by Philip Ridley will be taking place in the theatre courtyard on Wed 30 June at 5pm. Please click on the date above to reserve your free tickets for this feel-good story of a group of teens from all walks of life who congregate on the top of an inner-city tower block to bond over a shared love of storytelling.

Uniform

From September, our pupils will be returning to full school uniform. There are a number of pop-up shops operating in the summer holidays and parents need to book an appointment for the ones operated by Monkhouse, but please note that it’s not necessary to book for 2Kit.

• Monkhouse (10am-6pm) and PFA 2Kit (10am-1pm):
  • Mon 19 & Tue 20 July
  • Tue 3 & Wed 4 Aug
  • Wed 18 Aug

Please visit our uniform page for more information.

Year 10 notices

Sixth Form experience day

Please see the attached message from Mr J Veitch, Head of Y10.

Year 11 notices

GSAL Futures Conference

Mon 5 July

Please remind and encourage your son or daughter to attend this virtual careers conference on Monday 5 July 9am-3pm. They will be able to join each session virtually from home. This is a fantastic and unique opportunity to find out more about a wide range of sectors and career paths and to meet our alumni. Students can attend an opening keynote in period 1 by Alistair Cox, CEO of Hays International, a closing keynote in period 5 with Nicola Elliott, founder of NEOM, and also choose which session they want to attend in periods 2, 3 and 4.  We will email the students next week to choose their sessions. Further information about the conference, the sessions and the speakers can be found here. Links to join the sessions will be emailed to them a few days before the conference.

Year 12 notices

UCAS Discovery Week

Mon 22 – Fri 26 June

This June, we’re bringing your child a whole lot of inspiration, information, and live events, with everything you need to get their future plans on track this summer – all packed into just one week, and online!

• Over 100 unis, colleges and employers
• Live application clinics and personal statement workshops
• Course taster sessions and virtual tours
• Uni life stories and student Q&As
• Apprentices talk apprenticeships
• Careers of the future
• Student finance made easy
• Cribs live featuring student accommodation…and lots more!

So, whether they are looking for some inspiration, need help choosing the right path, course, university, apprenticeship, accommodation, or are even ready to take the next step this summer and make a start on their application, please ask your child to show you the details.

Parents’ evening

Thu 2 July

Please see the attached letter from Mr P Rushworth, Director of Sixth Form for further details. Please use the online booking system to make appointments with teachers.

GSAL Futures Conference

Mon 5 July

Y12 will be attending the GSAL Futures Conference on Monday 5 July. This is a fantastic and unique opportunity to find out more about a wide range of sectors and career paths and to meet our alumni. Students will start the day with a conference breakfast in the Sixth Form Cafe. They will attend an opening keynote in period 1 by Alistair Cox, CEO of Hays International, a closing keynote in period 5 with Nicola Elliott, founder of NEOM, and also choose which session they want to attend in periods 2, 3 and 4. We will email the students next week to choose their sessions. The sessions are virtual and will be broadcast to Year 12 students in specific locations around school so they can attend their chosen session as a group. Further information about the conference, the sessions and the speakers can be found here.

Year 13 notices

GSAL Futures Conference

Mon 5 July

Please remind and encourage your son or daughter to attend this virtual careers conference on Monday 5 July 9am-3pm. They will be able to join each session virtually from home. This is a fantastic and unique opportunity to find out more about a wide range of sectors and career paths and to meet our alumni. Students can attend an opening keynote in period 1 by Alistair Cox, CEO of Hays International, a closing keynote in period 5 with Nicola Elliott, founder of NEOM, and also choose which session they want to attend in periods 2, 3 and 4. We will email the students next week to choose their sessions. Further information about the conference, the sessions and the speakers can be found here. Links to join the sessions will be emailed to them a few days before the conference.