Pathway to the Future

 Careers' Fair at Winston

On Wednesday 15^th November we held our annual careers fair with around 1200 students across the whole school attending, as well as parents and carers after the end of the school day. 

We were delighted to welcome a record number of exhibitors from a broad range of sectors including healthcare, education, uniformed services, construction, engineering, conservation, wellbeing, education, sport, arts, culture, science and finance to name a few. 

We had a wonderful turnout from parents, alumni and local businesses, including representatives from Scott Brownrigg, Bank of America, British Airways, BUPA dental care, Civil Service, Fuse Games, Gardline, Invotra, ITP Telecoms, Mayer Brown, MIT Skills, MSC Cruises, Natural England, NHS, Omni Academy, Overview Ltd, Photonics Technologies, Royal Holloway University, Sony, Surrey Chambers of Commerce, The Army, The Pirbright Institute, WSP, RAF.   

We were joined by local colleges and 6^th forms, including Woking College, Farnborough 6^th form, Farnborough College of Technology, Activate Learning Colleges, Fullbrook 6^th form, Hoe Valley 6^th Form and Brooklands College, who were able to explain different education routes and courses, such as A-levels, T-Levels, vocational courses and apprenticeships. 

It was great to see students engaging with our visitors and having meaningful conversations with employers and further and higher education, learning about career pathways, such as apprenticeships, and what working life is like.  They practiced the Winston competencies and skills that are key to their future career, such as being open-minded, questioning and listening.   

Employers said that they thought that the overall engagement with the students was good, that they had some great questions and that the Year 9 student helpers were very polite and helpful. 

It was a very successful day and inspired many students.  We are planning to organise this event again next year and if you would like to support our careers programme, wherever you are in your career journey, we would welcome you to our community.  Please contact our careers department on l.smyth@wcsc.org.uk. 

A huge thank you to Mrs Smyth for the outstanding organisation of this 

informative event.

School of Rock

 School of Rock Up-date

Since our initial cast meeting in September, students have been working flat out on producing and rehearsing the main school production of 'School of Rock'. 

I have been blown away this year by the commitment, energy and enthusiasm of the cast. Whether students are working within the ensemble, taking on a leading role or working behind the scenes in the leadership team, everyone has shown an amazing level professionalism and drive to make this show a success. 

The ensemble have been working hard to learn the bigger numbers in the performance. On Monday, they have been learning each of the dances with our student choreographers. Making use of the new technology in the Performance Space to live stream the dance moves to the largest Ensemble we have ever had. On Tuesday, the whole cast have been coming together to learn the songs with Mr. Drake and the music department. This year - some cast members have been issued with Golden Tickets for excellent effort throughout a long rehearsal process. These students are welcome to perform in every single showing at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre. We have also issued a Platinum ticket, which has given one member of the ensemble a chance to take on a leading role. There is one Platinum and seven golden tickets remaining.

Named cast have been coming together to undertake the exceptionally tricky task of merging live instrumental performances and musical theatre. I can safely say that the talent they have displayed will not disappoint in February. Principle cast have also been attending workshops with some West End professionals in order to improve their own practice. With one visitor playing a current leading role in a popular west end production and another assisting with choreography from a top UK arts school. 

The Student Leadership Team have been assisting me relentlessly with the logistics and planning of the Performance. Evangeline, Eden, Florence and Alice have taken on the roles of Producers, managing some directorial elements of each rehearsal and taking on the immensely challenging task of Script Supervision. Liv and Luci have been working as the vocal supervisors, assisting younger members of the cast with their vocal health and signing technique. Bea, Bella, Grace, Ava and Amelia have been working alongside an exceptionally hardworking student choreography team to mark the show's challenging musical numbers with Emma and Caitlyn leading some advanced rehearsals. Sienna and Eve have been working as our stage managers, taking registers at each rehearsal and writing up the cues for the show months in advance. Mia and Grace have been covering backstage logistics as the theatre management team while Ella and Lily have been hard at work planning the week as our Event Managers. Finally, Will and Haleema have been leading the new Technical Team. With our technical director Will having programmed the entire lighting sequence for the show before the autumn term even began. To say that these students are not alone in their efforts would be an understatement. As each faction within the leadership team have also been managing a team of those on trial for their roles next year. I am incredibly grateful for their efforts. 

I consider myself lucky to be working alongside a cast of such amazing young people. I cannot wait to share their efforts with you in February when the show opens. Tickets will be available in the coming weeks via a link on the school website. 

Todd Harrington-Tucker

Head of Drama

Winston Will Never Forget

 Paying Our Respects

On Thursday 9th November, the whole Winston community gathered together on the patio to pay our respects to those who made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives in war.

I started by reading a quote from Jimmy Carter, 39th President of the USA, 

'War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other’s children.'

Raegan and Charlie, our Head Students, then recited:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

From For the Fallen BY LAURENCE BINYON

The Last Post was played by Mr Drake, Taran, Chima and Samuel

Raegan, Charlie and Harry placed a wreath of poppies on our memorial garden.

Thank you Winston, for making this ceremony 

meaningful and respectful.

Thank you to the Art Department for the work displayed at the main entrance to the school.

Protecting our Environment

 Eco Award

Due to the hard work of the students who make up our Eco-Committee, we are very pleased to tell you that our school has been successful in meeting the requirements for the Eco-Schools Green Flag Award.

Our large Eco-Committee showed that young people at Winston are aware of environmental issues and committed to being active and creating positive change. This knowledge and attitude has provided our school with excellent foundations for the many successes that we achieved this year. Our Eco-Committe were recognised as being a clearly passionate and impressive young people and the Eco-Schools Award were delighted that our students were given the opportunity to make a difference through the Eco-Schools programme. Our Eco-Committee constantly considered what actions they could take to improve their local community and benefit our planet. Our Action Plan showed that our Eco-Committee carefully considered how they could involve their entire school in their planned Eco-Schools’ activities to achieve maximum impacts and raise awareness amongst their school community.

Our plans focused on the areas on biodiversity, global citizenship and litter. Through intertwining the curriculum at our school with the projects we worked on in our action plan, we provided young people at your school the opportunity to learn about important environmental issues and then the chance to work on these issues – a great dual approach. We used environmental issues to enrich learning and increase engagement with learning at your school and we worked with a variety of different organisations including the World Environment Day campaign, relying on their expertise and passion to enrich and inform our Eco-Schools journey.

We wouldn't have been able to achieve our Eco-Award if were not for all the staff members involved with our activities, such as the community litter picks and eco-garden. Their hard work and dedication inspired young people and empowered them with the belief that they can positively impact our planet – this is something incredibly special. 

However, our greatest successes are the experience of our pupils. The ingenuity and resilience that the members of the Eco-Club showed has been a great success, well done to them! This is what the best forms of climate action are about – impactful but achievable things that create a positive experience and prompt more action. Our Eco-Code is very punchy, clear and easy to digest for those that see it. A direct call to action. 

The Eco-Schools Award loved reading about our journey and were incredibly impressed by all that we achieved. They had no hesitation in awarding our school an Eco-Schools Green Flag!

Thank you to all of the students, staff and parents who have all helped in this significant achievement! Stay tuned to see what new activities and projects we have planned for this next academic year!