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The Westgate School Weekly Newsletter

Edition Ten ~ Monday 16th December 2024

A Message From The Headteacher

What's included?

  • Booking Parent Meeting Slots - Year 13
  • Sixth Form Open Evening
  • Christmas Lunches
  • Last Day of Term Arrangements
  • Christmas Jumper Day
  • New INSET Day
  • Brand New House System For January 2025

Parent Meetings

Year 13 Parent Meetings – Thursday 19th December 2024

Please make sure that you have booked your appointment slot with your child’s teachers on EduLink. The afternoon runs from 2.00pm until 5.30pm and all meetings will take place in the school library.

6th Form Open Evening

Taking place on Thursday 19th December 2024

If your are considering applying to The Westgate School’s 6th Form, please attend our Open Evening on Thursday 19th December from 6:00pm until 7:00pm. There will be a range of subject stalls in the MPH for you to meet staff who deliver our Key Stage 5 curriculum. There is no need to book an appointment, please just turn up and use the opportunity to meet our staff and get to know the curriculum offer.

Christmas Lunches

Taking place on Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th December

Christmas lunches will be served to pupils over two days:

  • Wednesday 18th December ~ Year 8, Year 10 and 6th Form in the table tennis centre
  • Thursday 19th December ~ Year 7, Year 9 and Year 11 in the MPH
Table Version

On the day your child’s year group is served Christmas lunch, this will be the only food available during lunchtime. The cost will remain at £2.55 and will include a main meal and dessert. Should your child not want a Christmas lunch, then they can either bring a packed lunch or purchase food during break time.

Last Day of Term Arrangements

Taking place on Friday 20th December 2024

On Friday 20th December we will be finishing the school day at 12.50pm. There will be an optional ‘grab and go’ lunch served from the Table Tennis Centre until 1pm. All students must be off site by 1.10pm.

Schedule For The Day:

  • Lesson 1 ~ 8.30am-9.30am
  • Lesson 2 ~ 9.30am-10.30am
  • Break Time ~ 10.30am-10.50am
  • Lesson 3 ~ 10.50am-11.50am
  • Lesson 4 ~ 11.50am-12.50pm
  • Dismissal and optional ‘grab and go lunch ~ 12.50pm-1.00pm
  • All pupils off site ~ 1.10pm
Table Version

Christmas Jumper Day

Taking place on Friday 20th December 2024

We will be celebrating our Christmas Jumper day on our last day, Friday 20th December. All pupils should be in full school uniform as normal with the exception of opting to wear a Christmas jumper. A £1 donation to charity, or what you can afford, to support our local food bank can be handed in as pupils come into school.

New INSET day

Taking place on Monday 6th January 2025

Our students will return after the Christmas holidays on Tuesday 7th January 2025. This is to allow our staff to develop quality first teaching with a sharp focus on meeting the individual needs of all pupils, which will take place on Monday 6th January 2025.

When students arrive on Tuesday 7th January 2025 they will do so in a staggered return so as they can receive their YONDR pouches so as we can implement our mobile phone free school.

Arrival time schedule:

  • Year 11 and 6th Form ~ 8.30am
  • Year 8 ~ 9.00am
  • Year 9 ~ 9.30am
  • Year 10 ~ 10.00am
  • Year 7 ~ 10.30am
Table Version

Brand new House System for January 2025

The Westgate School is really excited to announce our brand new House system. In doing so we will be offering a wide variety of opportunities for all pupils to compete for their house in different competitions as well as take on student leadership responsibilities. Over the coming weeks all students will be able to apply for the following leadership roles.

  • House captains and vice captains
  • Year group House representatives
  • Subject representatives
  • Anti-bullying ambassadors
  • Reading ambassadors
  • SEND ambassadors
  • Enrichment ambassadors
  • Community ambassadors
  • Citizen ambassadors

In total there will be over 100 student leadership responsibilities for pupils to apply for. In doing so pupils will not only acquire and develop key qualities and skills, they will also support the whole school community which will strengthen the school’s ethos by giving our pupils more ownership of their school.

The application process will be taking place over the next few weeks and we anticipate lots of interest. Good luck to all who apply!

Department Spotlight

This Week: Religious Studies and The Library

RS at Westgate

At The Westgate School, the Religious Studies (RS) department have adopted a spiralling curriculum for the core RS curriculum to align with the Citizenship curriculum. This approach strengthens the delivery of content by examining themes that resonate with modern society, ensuring students understand the role of religion, beliefs, and ethics in the world they live in today.

Instead of studying religions in isolation, we have adopted a thematic approach to Religious Studies. By revisiting six key themes across every year group—Positive Relations, Staying Safe, Health and Wellbeing, Careers and Aspirations, Living in the Wider World, and Celebrating Equality and Diversity—students gain a deeper understanding of how faith and ethics intersect with societal issues. This method not only makes RS more relevant but encourages critical thinking, empathy, and engagement with the world around them.

Reflections on Last Term: Positive Relations

Last term, students explored the theme of Positive Relations, linking religious teachings and societal values to everyday life:

Year 7

Year 7 explored Beliefs and Faiths, focusing on the six world religions, religious diversity in the UK, and local religious communities in Slough. This helped them develop respect and understanding of different cultures within their own community.

Year 8

Year 8 examined Forgiveness and Kindness, studying religious and non-religious teachings and their influence on charity work. Examples such as Street Pastors and SWAT (Sikh Welfare and Awareness Team) showcased real-life applications of compassion in action.

Year 9

Year 9 focused on Rites of Passage, understanding how religious ceremonies like baptisms, bar/bat mitzvahs, and Amrit ceremonies reflect community values and identity.

Year 10 & 11

Years 10 and 11 explored Charities, evaluating religious and non-religious teachings on charitable work and looking at international, national, and local charities’ impact on society.

Sixth Form

Sixth Form debated the Ethics of Relationships, addressing modern-day issues surrounding relationships through ethical lenses.

RS at Westgate

This Term: Staying Safe within Religions

This term, the focus has been on the theme of Staying Safe, encouraging students to critically engage with contemporary issues such as misrepresentation, extremism, and ethical debates:

Year 7

Year 7 are tackling the Misrepresentation of Religion in the Media, exploring how religion is portrayed in news, entertainment, and in the context of war. This helps students identify bias and stereotypes, encouraging informed perspectives.

Year 8

Year 8 are learning the importance of Questioning Interpretations of Scripture, investigating extremism, cults, and grooming. Students are building critical thinking skills to understand how interpretations can be manipulated and how to stay informed.

Year 9

Year 9 have focused on Peace and Conflict, examining religious teachings about peace, the Just War Theory, and Holy Wars. This enables students to reflect on ethical perspectives regarding war and reconciliation.

Year 10 & 11

Years 10 and 11 are studying Victims and Religious Responses, analysing how religions respond to victims of war and societal issues, including teachings on compassion and real-world actions taken by religious communities to support those in need.

Sixth Form

Sixth Form students are engaging in debates on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, questioning AI's role in work, art, and its ability to follow ethical codes—topics increasingly relevant in the modern technological landscape.

RS GCSE and A-Level

For our GCSE students, Years 9 and 10 have successfully completed their first unit on Christian Beliefs as part of the AQA Religious Studies course. They are now starting their second unit on Islamic Beliefs, deepening their understanding of the diversity within religious traditions. Year 11 students are finishing their unit on Relationships and Family and will begin studying Crime and Punishment after Christmas—linking religious teachings to current debates on justice and morality.

At A-Level, students have completed their first full mock exams, covering all three units studied so far. In lessons, they have been exploring Atheism and the development of the Bible and the concept of the Kerygma—providing rich philosophical and theological discussions that challenge their analytical thinking.

Beyond the Classroom: Extra-Curricular Opportunities

We are delighted to see the growing popularity of Mr McCracken’s Extra-Curricular Club, which focuses on Ancient Mythology and Storytelling. Held in F13 on Week 1 Fridays at lunchtime, the club offers a creative and enriching space for students to explore the fascinating myths that have shaped cultures and religions throughout history.

Looking Ahead: Developing the Curriculum

The RS department is excited about the future as we continue to develop our curriculum to reflect the diverse, dynamic world in which our students live. Plans are underway to invite guest speakers from different religious and cultural backgrounds to share their experiences and perspectives, further enriching our students' learning. These opportunities will deepen their understanding of faith, ethics, and society, preparing them to be empathetic and critical thinkers in the world today.

Religious Studies at The Westgate School is not just about studying beliefs—it’s about understanding how faith, ethics, and values shape individuals, communities, and society as a whole. We look forward to another inspiring term!

The Westgate Library

There’s more to the Westgate school library than you may know! Our library, run by Ms Mulligan and Mrs Mansbridge, is a space for teaching and learning, a venue for clubs and events, a place for reading, a social space, home to Book Squad and student volunteers, and a safe space for all.

Learn more about what goes on in our school Library:

In our school library, we lead half-termly sessions with Years 7 – 9 focusing on library and research skills, reciprocal reading, and reading for pleasure. These sessions give students regular access to the library and our many resources, keeping staff and students aware of our wide range of reading materials (both well-loved and new and notable), and gives our students the skills they need to search for trusted information and to successfully access any library outside of school.

Many students access the library in their downtime as well as before or after school. It is a base for several groups including Student Librarians, DofE volunteers, and Book Squad.

Our Student Librarians span all year groups, with many students taking on this responsibility in Year 7 and staying on throughout their time at Westgate. Our corps of 30 Student Librarians are a great help in keeping the library tidy, assisting peers, helping with displays, and more! They also get the opportunity to attend some unforgettable trips like their visit to the Bodleian Libraries in Oxford.

We regularly support DofE students who take on a variety of tasks in the library as they work towards completing their volunteering for the award and we also run Book Squad – a group of 25 students and members of staff who play a crucial role in helping us reassess our library stock and ensure we’re prioritising the most tempting reads!

We encourage staff and students alike to stop by the library regularly and take advantage of all we have to offer!

Library Events

Throughout the school year, we host and organise a variety of events and visits. In the Autumn, we mark Harry Potter Book Day with Potter-themed games, trivia, and treats.

In March, we promoted World Book Day in a variety of ways – from book tokens to author visits and competitions to take part in. We also regularly arrange reading competitions and author visits for several year groups. We look forward to welcoming author and adventurer Matt Dickinson in February as well as UK Comic Laureate Bobby Joseph in April. In the past, we have enjoyed visits from well-loved authors such as Ali Sparkes, Chris Bradford, Mark Walden, and more!

Library Extra-Curricular Clubs

Each week, students attend the three clubs we run in the library during lunch times. Uno Club and Chess Club are incredibly popular on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Our Chess Club members are given opportunities to take part in interschool competitions throughout the school year so they can improve their skills and take part in friendly competition.

We also run Book(ish) on Fridays, where we run a range of book or word-related games and activities to allow students to engage reading in a different way.

Thank You For Reading! - Tune In Next Week

Credits:

Written By - Mr J Gargan, Mr Sheriff-Vickers and Ms Mulligan Designed By - Miss L Carpenter

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