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  • return to the Falkland Islands

    Published 07/11/22

    Forty years ago, Major John Balmer, Contingent Commander of Gordon’s School’s Combined Cadet Force (CCF) travelled to the Falkland Islands, one of 26,000 Armed Forces personnel deployed there to fight in the war against Argentina to liberate the islands from Argentinian occupation.

    This week, he is returning to the islands off the south-east coast of South America, with other veterans of the war, to lay a wreath in remembrance of his fallen colleagues.

    Major Balmer, who was a section commander in the Third Battalion of the Parachute Regiment and in his early twenties during the 74 day war, remembers taking six weeks on board the cruise liner The Canberra to travel to the remote islands. He is returning to the islands by plane from RAF Brize Norton, a journey that will take just over 16 hours!

    The opportunity to return to the islands and commemorate those he fought alongside, was offered to Major Balmer by the Ministry of Defence who held a ballot. He and his wife will stay with a family from the islands.

    “I remember the Falklands as being a bleak, barren place with a constant roaring wind and frequent rain and snow showers. I was involved in the battle for Mount Longdon which was one of the final battles leading to the liberation of the Islands.  It will be interesting to see it now” said Major Balmer.

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  • Playing for Poppy Appeal

    Published 04/11/22

    Back in the heart of the city at Cannon Street Station, the Pipes and Drums, who yesterday entertained commuters as part of the Royal British Legion's London Poppy Day. The students were helping to raise money for the RBL, a national network supporting the Armed Forces community. This morning they were playing for travellers at Gatwick Airport to further fundraise for the RBL.

    The Band will take centre-stage at Gordon's for the Remembrance Day Parade on Sunday 13th November at 10.45am.

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  • hockey hat-trick

    Published 03/11/22

    It’s a hat-trick for First XI Hockey team who have retained their title of Champions of the King’s College School XI Tournament for the third year running. The team battled hard against tough opposition and stayed strong in defence, winning the final against Wimbledon High in the last two minutes of the game. Congratulations all!

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  • Full House for 'Outstanding Teaching'

    Published 31/10/22

    Gordon’s has been awarded all of the possible eight PTI Subject Leadership Marks. The Marks recognise outstanding teaching in Art, English, Geography, History, Mathematics, Modern Languages, Music and Science. The news comes just months after Gordon's was awarded Boarding School of the Year in the Tes Schools Awards.

    In order to achieve the PTI Mark, these eight departments have shown that they have increased the challenge within their subject curriculum, developed their staff’s specialist subject knowledge and subject-based links outside school as well as enthusing students through their subject-based activities beyond the curriculum.

    Congratulations to all the staff in these departments for their commitment and inspirational teaching.

     

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  • Cadet Honour for Leonor

    Published 27/10/22

    Awarded an RAF Scholarship, at the beginning of the year, 17 year old Leonor Nunes is now ending the year with an honour, having learned that she has been selected as one of His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets.

    Leonor, a Sergeant in the Combined Cadet Force (CCF) at Gordon’s, will support Surrey’s Lord-Lieutenant Michael More-Molyneux on official engagements. She is one of three Cadets to have been appointed, due to her outstanding service to the school’s CCF.

    The Sixth Form student, who is also captain of the school’s shooting team and plays the pipes in the Pipes and Drums Band, was presented with a certificate and Lord-Lieutenant’s Badge by Lord-Lieutenant More-Molyneux at His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey Awards 2022 in Guildford Cathedral.

    In the citation for the appointment, Leonor was described as demonstrating a determination to succeed and help others. As well as being awarded the ACPS (Air Cadets Pilot Scholarship), she has completed the Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, is working towards her Gold, and has finished the RAFAC instructor course.

    She enrolled in the RAF section of the school’s tri-service CCF (Combined Cadet Force) two years ago as a compulsory co-curricular activity in Year 10 and continued on through to Sixth Form. This year, she was also awarded the Sword of Honour and Gardiner Memorial Award by Gordon’s as the best senior cadet in the CCF.

    “I was very surprised to have been selected”, said Leonor, who is delighted at her selection and very much looking forward to beginning her year as one of the Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets. She revealed: “My duties will be to help the Lord-Lieutenant at events, along with other cadets; see if everything is OK, start conversations with people and make the Lord-Lieutenant’s job as easy as possible”.

    Major John Balmer, Contingent Commander of CCF at Gordon’s said of her, “Whether carrying out her normal CCF duties, piping with the Music sections or Captaining the shooting team she has displayed impeccable standards with a willingness to help and mentor others. Leonor is a shining example to all members of the CCF.”

    Picture courtesy of Stewart Turkington Photography

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  • Any Questions?

    Published 25/10/22

    BBC Radio 4s topical current affairs programme Any Questions? comes to Gordon’s School on Friday 25th November. The programme has been running since 1948 and now attracts 1.59 million listeners. What hasn’t changed in its history is that the panel never sees the questions posed in advance, by members of the audience, and hear them for the first time at the same moment as the live audience and those listening at home. Who will be on the panel is a closely-guarded secret but is usually made up of prominent politicians as well as leading figures from the worlds of Arts, Science, Business, Law and other areas of public life. Given the current political situation, the event promises some particularly lively debates! Tickets for Any Questions? are available free, on a first come, first served basis from the Gordon’s School Box Office here

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  • Rowing Success

    Published 19/10/22

    First time they have raced in a double together and their first ever head race, yet Izzy and Ella overcame the odds to win the women’s Junior 14 double at the Weybridge Silver Sculls.  Second places for James in his Junior 17 single scull and racing with James in the Junior 17 double sculls against tough opposition. The Weybridge Silver Sculls is the oldest sculling head on the non-tidal reaches of the Thames and previous scullers who have won the trophy there include Sir Steve Redgrave, Dan Topolski and Guy Pooley. Congratulations to all our Gordon’s rowers on a great competition!

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  • In the Pink!

    Published 19/10/22

    A whole school mufti day has turned the usual sea of green on the Parade Square to a mass of pink. Students and staff donating money to Breast Cancer Now in exchange for wearing mufti today. 

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  • Hats Off to Year 7s

    Published 16/10/22

    Hats off to our Year 7s, who marched today onto the Parade Square as part of the Harvest Festival Parade. The Year group, have only been marching since they arrived in September and yet managed to perform today with aplomb, to the applause of their peers, parents and staff. Afterwards there was the tradition of throwing their hats into the air by the statue of General Gordon on the Front Field. Congratulations Year 7!

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  • New Fitness Suite Arrives

    Published 14/10/22

    The brand new fitness suite has arrived! Overlooking the 3G pitch and complementing the nearby Sports Hub, the fitness suite offers 150 square metres of space for students to work out, with the most environmentally friendly heat pump sources providing air conditioning and heating. Four new power racks with over 1200kg of weight, four new concept 2 bikes and a 10m turfed track to assist with running mechanics and power development, adds to the already extensive equipment on offer. The fitness suite will be available for use after the half term holiday.

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  • mash aids china win

    Published 13/10/22

    For their mash-up of of Beyonce, White Stripes, Eurythmics and Spice Girls, China House won the prized Inter-House Music competition last night. The competition, which has seen a frenzy of musical activity in each House over the past few weeks, is divided into solos and groups with an overall winning House. Windsor House topped the Houses for solo performances. To view China's winning song, please click here.

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  • The Queen's Green Canopy

    Published 12/10/22

    Proud to be included in The Queen's Green Canopy (QGC) map (click here to see) for the Jubilee tree planted outside the Chapel after the Patron’s Parade in June by two of the school’s then youngest students, Sophie Wallace and Annabelle Hayakawa – both born on August 31st 2010. The Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’ is a beautiful addition to the school grounds, particularly in the Autumn with its orange/red leaves, and is a living legacy to The Queen, who was the School’s Patron. The girls also buried a time capsule nearby containing a science project on what scientific advances had been made during Her Majesty’s reign.

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