Sixth Form Induction Days ~ June 2024
Bexley Grammar School recently hosted 2 Induction Days on Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th June. Over 400 students, including 200 of our own, from schools across the South East attended a highly successful event. Thanks to Miss Roberts and Mrs Aspill for the coordination and planning of the days, the current Year 12s for their friendliness and support on the day and with all the staff involved in supporting sign in, planning and delivering sessions for these prospective students.
Mr Martin - Head of Sixth Form
Induction day at BGS was so enlightening, even being an existing student, it was so exciting to try out the Sixth Form areas (SFC and K1) and meet all the new students. We were dressed in our new Sixth Form clothes, and it was great to see everyone looking so much older and ready for September. I really enjoyed being a tour guide for the new students and showing them all the best parts of BGS.
We started the day with an escape room activity, where we were randomly put into groups and had to crack many puzzles, padlocks and clues to get the secret code to open the final safe. Unfortunately, my group came 20th… last place, but it was a great icebreaker and a lovely surprise for induction day.
We also had subject tasters for the higher subjects we will be taking next year, which was so interesting considering that is what a day in our lives will be like from September. Another highlight was the taster TOK session, which was run by our amazing Senior Prefect Team and involved many debates and discussions.
I really hope to see all of Year 11 back at BGS next year and I can’t wait to find out what’s to come next year…
Matilda Jackson, Year 11
On Tuesday and Wednesday I had the pleasure of helping out with the Year 12 Induction Days. I started each day helping guide the incoming Year 12 students to their assigned rooms in the morning. It was nostalgic seeing them all in the same position I was in just a year earlier, and seeing how quickly Year 12 had gone! The Escape Room activity in the morning was a joy to watch, and I was around the room helping out any teams that needed it. As both days went on, along with some of the other Senior Prefects, we ran the TOK taster sessions and each session brought up different ideas and questions from the students that made me further appreciate the spirit of debate that Theory of Knowledge brings out of students, including myself.
Speaking to the incoming Year 12s about the IB and BGS life in general and helping answer any of their queries was an incredibly fulfilling role and one that I enjoyed immensely. We ended each day off with a subject fayre which gave me the great opportunity to speak to some of the students about two of my higher level subjects in order to give them a better perspective into what it would be like studying them. The Induction Days were two incredibly productive days on which I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to help assist!
Princela Mensah, Year 12
Euro 2024 ~ What you need to know
Cricket T20 World Cup
Tour de France 
Wimbledon
Paris Paralympics
The following day, we took a long bus ride to the heart of Sardinia, to learn all about the carnival traditions of Mamoiada, focussing specifically on the Mamuthones masks. We learnt about the important functions of these masks parading the streets in winter, on the day of Saint Anthony, to cast away evil spirits that would threaten the harvest, and also to ward off death and sorrow and look forward to spring. We visited the workshop of a mask maker, who explained in detail how masks are made and the importance of Mamuthones for the identity of the people of Mamoiada today.
For the ‘Wear a Green Item Day’, students were encouraged to bring in a green item to raise awareness for the two chosen charities, ‘Young Minds’ and ‘Place2Be’.
The Year 10 cricket squad put in a spirited performance against a very strong Gravesend Grammar School side last week. We batted first but struggled to build any partnerships of note. As a result, we were all out for 66 runs. Although we did well to take a few early wickets, ultimately Gravesend won the match and therefore went through to the next round of the competition.
In May, the MFL Department ran their very first MFL trip to Oxford University with a selection of our Year 10 and Year 12 linguists. The focus of the trip was to give our most enthusiastic linguists a glimpse of the opportunities that studying languages at university could open, especially when combined with another subject in joint degrees. On the day, students had the chance to attend some very informative sessions led by Nicola Brown, School Liaison Officer at the Faculty of Medieval and Modern Languages, and Sarah Large, Outreach Program Coordinator at Mansfield College. After a taster lecture in literature, our group met two BGS alumni, Lucas and Harry, for a private tour of Hertford College.
Well done to the Year 7 cricket team after a hard fought battle against Chislehurst & Sidcup Grammar School. Unfortunately, BGS came out second best this time despite scoring a very credible 284. The team spirit was fantastic, and the team were an absolute pleasure to work with in their first away fixture of the season. Yet more BGS pupils making their debut!
A close opening game for our Year 10 cricket team. We scored 107 off 20 overs. Wilmington reached the total with an over to go. A lovely evening and an enjoyable game that had lots of twists and turns.
Year 10 Business Studies students are currently engaged in the 10X Challenge. Each team of around 5 students are pledged £10 for four weeks to get their business idea off the ground. The challenge allows students to put theory into practice, develop their entrepreneurial skills and give them some experience of what it is like to run a business. Students have set up businesses selling goods ranging from bouncy balls to home-made bracelets and services from car washing to garden maintenance (see pictures). We wish them the very best of luck and look forward to hearing all about their experiences after half-term!
