First practise for our karting team taking part in this year’s British Schools Karting Championship. With a regional qualifier just around the corner in March, the group headed to Farnborough to hone their skills in the hot seat. Best of luck to the team for the coming season!
After their incredible win at last year’s VII Millfield and Desert Springs European Schools Team Championships in Spain, Gordon’s golfers were keen to prove that it wasn’t just a one off. Only one member of last year’s trip could make the annual tournament at the Spanish golf resort, as South of England Golf were having a training camp in Spain at the same time. However, Gordon’s still managed to clinch a third place in the competition.
Well-known already for the delicious meals they serve up to students and staff, the Gordon’s catering team is now taking on the best chefs in the UK at International Salon Culinaire. Believed to be the only school entry at what is considered to be the UK’s largest and most prestigious chef competition, Head Chef Paul Hopkins’ team will cook in front of a live audience next week at London’s Excel. Mr Hopkins says the dishes the industry greats will judge are ones they are already producing for Gordon’s every day. He commented: “We are already satisfying our toughest critics, the students. Now it's time to see what the experts say”!
With their miniature pepper spray to protect young people, our Year 10 GCSE Business students were deemed 'idea most likely to succeed' by visiting dragons. The team of six entrepreneurs came up with the idea and created a business plan to present to the dragons (members of the local business community and real entrepreneurs) who in turn asked questions and grilled them in the style of TV's Dragon's Den. Other business ideas included party bags and collapsible eco-friendly make up brushes. Congratulations to all on their team work; displays and presentations.
It’s beginning to look a lot like…the Sports Hub! In spite of a month’s rain in one day, the sports hub is taking shape and is still on track for being open for business in the new academic year. The sports hub, which will also include an all-weather pitch will add - badminton; indoor football; basketball; futsal; indoor cricket - and a host of other sports to be played at Gordon's whatever the weather. Fundraising for the internal fixtures and equipment is gathering pace with a sponsored skydive; London Marathon run; gastronomic evening and the GSPA Quiz Night on 13th March (for further details, please click here). The hub will benefit both the school and local community. For further details on how to donate to it, please click here. Below is the finished article together with a video fly-through.
A camel ride to reach their tents in the Zagora Desert where our geographers enjoyed some Moroccan music and a tagine under the stars. Their trip has also included Tamegroute in the Draas River Valley and Ourzazate exploring the adaption of vegetation to its environment.
In this, their first time competing in Europe's most exciting sevens tournament, Gordon's U14s; U16s and U18s travelled to Lisbon for the Lisbon Junior 7s. Putting in excellent performances against tough opposition, the 31 boys finished off sixth overall in their categories with the U16s bringing home silverware as eventual Plate Winners. Head of Rugby Chris Davies commented: "“I see tours of this kind, as the ideal opportunity to assist with our preparation for the sevens season. To play different opposition in a foreign country presents these boys with many challenges which of course is great for their learning and improvement of their 7s game."
Busy half term holiday for our rugby teams playing in the Lisbon 7s Festival while our GCSE and A Level Geography Students have headed to Morocco to explore the human and physical geography there.
While our Young Enterprise team has been selling red roses and Kensington House delivering chocolate gifts for charity; kitchen staff have been adding a few hearts to the dining hall for lunch today and have baked 900 heart-shaped biscuits. Meanwhile, there are a few floral surprises for staff! To coincide with Valentine's Day, today the school is showing its love for Australia. The mufti day collection is being donated to charities connected with the wildlife and firefighting in Australia.
From politician to prisoner to prison chaplain, the Reverend Jonathan Aitken provided amusing and captivating stories about his life's journey as part of last night’s Insight Talk. Speaking of an affinity with General Gordon due to his values and faith, the Reverend Aitken also revealed further links in that his maternal grandfather was a former Governor General of Sudan and that he had been asked to hand out prizes at Gordon’s! He is pictured with our school chaplain, the Rev Sarah Norbron. Please visit the Box Office for details of other Insight Talks and events at Gordon's - www.gordons.school/boxoffice or click here.
Very much a family affair today at the Passing Out Parade at the Army Foundation College Harrogate, where our Gordon's Pipes Drums were honoured to be invited to play in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. While one of the pipers is the daughter of the Commanding Officer there, Lt Col Richard Hall, another piper was delighted to play for her brother, formerly of Balmoral House who graduated there today.
In recognition of Gordon's Healthy Schools project to increase awareness of emotional health and wellbeing, the school has been awarded a Gold Award by the Surrey Healthy Schools. For more information on the support of mental and physical health and wellbeing for students, staff and the wider community, please click here.
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