Battle of the Bands!

 

Battle of the Bands 2025

On Tuesday 25^th March, the music department hosted the second ever Battle of the Bands. This year we saw 9 bands compete:

1.      Twisted (Matilde, Phoebe, Evie, Kitty and Lana)

2.      Banned (Robyn, Lana, Lorna, Ruby and Violet)

3.      StarStruck (Heath, Ethan, Polly and Eden)

4.      Synesthesia (Lucas, Spike, Max and Kurt)

5.      Rising Devils (Freddie, Toby, Albie, Jesse, Jack, Sophie and Will)

6.      Ecstasy (Elouise, Zachary, Lexi, Thomas, Lucas)

7.      Concussion Throw (Dimitri, Reece, Lucas, Spike)

8.      Ebanova (Esthe, Alice, Bona)

9.      Death Complex (Milo, Spike, Jacob, Lucas)

 

Each band performed with great confidence and resilience and there were a wide range of genres performed, from R&B to Metal.

As is traditional with Battle of the Bands, the audience voted for the winners. Whilst the votes were being counted, Staff Session Band performed, which was made up of teachers from the music department, learning support, languages and site team!

This year’s winners were:

1^st Place: Rising Devils

2^nd Place: Twisted

3^rd Place: Death Complex

 

Congratulations to the Rising Devils- the only Year 7 band to compete this year, and with an original song written by Freddie!

The winners will be performing at St John’s Fete on Saturday 21^st June, so be sure to be there to watch them perform again!

 

-Mrs C Antony

Assistant Director of Music

Welcome Year 6

 Our New Students

Our first Induction Evening took place on Tuesday 1st April and it was pleasure to meet you and to welcome you to Winston.  Almost all of our new families attended and they were able to start to gather the information they need for their child to be successful at Winston.

Having met Mrs Jones, Year 7 Leader, setting her expectations and heard from Mr French about Yondr pouches and mobile phones, everyone went to experience a Winston activity.

Time in classrooms with our staff and some of our students was valuable, especially when asking those individual questions.

Key messages included:

Attendance matters, no excuses!

Be ready for a challenge.

Participate, try new things, join new clubs and make new friends.

We are looking forward to our Induction Days later in the summer term.

Mrs Johnson-Walker

Headteacher

Beyond the Traditional

 Be Smart, Be Safe

March 28th marked our 13th year of running our bespoke Be Smart, Be Safe days. This time around, year 9 students had the opportunity to delve deep into their PSHE curriculum, doing a carousel throughout the day in a series of workshops run by professionals and charity organisations.

This year we were excited to welcome the following providers to cover a range of PSHE topics; Rabbits delivering a workshop on contraception and STIs, GAV delivering a step by step on your rights when being stop and searched by police, Stand Against Violence delivering a powerful and emotive message on drugs misuse and long term impacts and Show Racism the Red Card giving a platform for our students to discuss and ask questions about racism in the modern day.

The day proved ever popular, with students commenting the following.

“It was very interesting and extremely helpful! I enjoyed talking to professionals on the topic and getting a deeper understanding of problems around the world today. I also really enjoyed the token system as it made my input and engagement feel noticed and valued.”

“It was a very interesting and exciting information to learn about, and I am grateful that we were able to have that experience and hope that we are able to do more in the future.”

"I liked the day all the people were so nice and were very good with answering questions. I would love for them to come again.”

Mrs Harnett

Winston Extra Lead

Whitechapel History Trip

On the 26th and 28th of March 2025, Winston's GCSE History students visited Whitechapel, London, to bring their studies of Crime and Punishment in Whitechapel, c.1870-c.1900 to life. Guided by Andy, Andy, and Moray, students explored the area's history, gaining insights into the infamous Ripper killings and the social conditions of Victorian London during the Victorian period.

Students immersed themselves in the area's diverse cultural and architectural heritage, shaped by multiple migrations. They explored historic buildings – churches, synagogues, factories, and workhouses – and differentiated between Ashkenazi and Sephardic Jewish traditions. Using primary sources, they gained a powerful understanding of the crime and poverty of the period.

Outside the learning, students enjoyed lunch in Spitalfields Market, blending history with the vibrant atmosphere of modern London. The trip was an invaluable experience, deepening students' understanding of the past while providing a memorable day out.

Mr Lovell-Smith

Teacher of History 

Year 9 Travel Ambassadors

 Campaign Junction Travel Competition

On Friday our Year 9 Travel Ambassadors represented the school at the Campaign Junction travel competition in Reigate.  

They eloquently presented their  active travel plans to encourage the school community to consider more active and eco-friendly ways to get to school.  They were successful in their bid and will now start putting their ideas for an Active Travel Week into action.  

Congratulations to the team - Look out later in the year for opportunities to get involved.

Mrs Sigrist

Assistant Head