Congratulations to Isla Bethune, crowned Under 18 Women K1 Champion at the weekend in the British Open National Marathon Racing Individual and Team Championship. Isla not only raced in an age group above hers but was fastest by over a minute! She has enjoyed phenomenal success this year and a place beckons at the World Championships.
Our School Chaplain, the Reverend Sarah Norbron retired at the end of term after 32 years at Gordon's. Rev Sarah as she is fondly known, turned her hand to food technology; textiles; design technology; PSHE; charity; cover teaching; counselling; lay preaching and finally chaplaincy since her arrival here in 1989. During her stint in design technology her trademark became the duck bookends that all the students made and that now adorn hundreds of homes! We thank her for all she has done for the school and wish her all the best.
One of the first students to come to Gordon's on the Harlequins/Gordon's DiSE (Diploma in Sporting Excellence) Programme, Tosin Teriba and Caleb Ashworth have been named in the England U18s training squad. A fantastic achievement and testiment to the hard work and discipline shown by all our DiSE rugby players. Many congratulations Tosin & Caleb! For further information on the DiSE programme providing a pathway to professional rugby at Gordon's, please click here.
Many congratulations to the Equestrian Team, competing at the Royal Windsor Horse Show on Saturday. Not only an amazing clear by Molly in jump off but the team was fourth overall and the only school CCF team to be placed! Of course the Icing on the cake was that the team paraded in front of Her Majesty The Queen. A day to remember!
The turn of our Year 12s , who lost out on their Prom last year due to COVID restrictions and celebrated in style last night. Stunning colours, sparkles and dashing suits brought onto the Parade Square by all manner of transport! The year group then enjoyed a formal dinner with their House Parents and Heads of Houses. Please click here for further photographs and here for a video of to their arrivals on the Parade Square.
The glitz and the glamour of the school Prom finally returned to the Parade Square and Front Field for the Year 11 Leavers' Prom and formal dinner. Arriving in every conceivable type of vehicle from medi buggies to an ice cream van, the event was a glorious celebration. For a video of their arrivals, please click here. Additional photos from the evening are available here.
In two years, they have lost just one match out of 24 and have raided the country and county’s trophy cabinets, becoming the most successful team in the history of sport at Gordon’s. This year’s winners of the Team of the Year at the Sports Awards were the Gordon’s Golfers. Golfer Sarah Mardani, who helped the team to victory at the ISGA Championships and is heading off to America next year on a golf scholarship, won Sportswoman of the Year and Rugby First XV Captain Chris Johnson became Sportsman of the Year. In paying tribute to the sportsmen and women at Gordon's, Director of Sport Jamie Harrison said: "To the Year 11s and 12s here, the challenge is to leave the sport in a better place at the end of Year 13. To our leavers, you will be forever green. Remember your roots and I hope you look back on your sporting years at Gordon's with pride and satisfaction knowing you did all you could for the school." Congratulations all those who were presented with Honours Caps and Colours and all the teams who have made this year such a phenomenal one for sport at Gordon’s.
Crowned County Champions at Guildford Golf Club, Gordon's female golfers dominated the leaderboard with first, second and third positions winning the Girls' Team event and qualifying for next year's National Schools Finals. It was the second time in three years that the girls have won this event. Alex Phelps won the individual gross competition with -2; Alex Jakins was runner-up, carding a 76 (+4) and Sophie Mardani scored 78 (+6) for third place. Both boys finished in the top 30. Congratulations all on yet another phenomenal golfing result!
Thousands of students have studied in the two classrooms that made up India, most recently for computing studies. But the ‘temporary’ 40 year old building nestled between The Nile and Medway was today demolished to make way for a brand new two-story building comprising four classrooms for computing and business studies. The new India will be built in the style of The Nile and provide similar light, airy and classrooms from September.
The science behind the magic of boarding friendships at Gordon’s is revealed in the summer issue of the BSA Magazine. Motivational maps for students are not only used to improve learning and teaching, but for dormitory allocation and House activities. The boarding strategy is part of the school’s journey towards becoming a ‘Thinking School’. To book a visit to see this in action, please click here.
All six of our RAF Cadets were awarded their wings and aviation certificates at the weekend, after completing an aviation course at RAF Upavon in Wiltshire, where they also took control of a glider aircraft. During the course, they studied the theory of flight and aircraft controls, gliding safety and operations, rules of the airfield, use of parachutes and simulator training in how to get out of a glider in flight and deploy a parachute. The group experienced a winch launch, one of the most exciting take-offs in aviation, which accelerates to 55mph in four seconds and climbs to 1,200ft in one minute before the cable is released and they free glide over the Wiltshire countryside. After completing the flight, all asked to go back for another!
We are experiencing ongoing problems with our telephones and cannot currently receive external calls. If parents need to reach a member of staff at Gordon's, please either email or contact your child's Head of House on their mobile telephone. We hope the problem will soon be resolved and apologise for any inconvenience caused.
