Blog week ending 7th October

For me, one of the most powerful aspects of our Open Events – aside from being able to welcome so many local families into our school and share our ambitions and vision for our children – is the opportunity to view our school community through the eyes of those visitors.  To share and get feedback, to speak first hand with our existing and prospective families to understand what it is they expect and need their local school to provide .. in addition to a first-class education!  We pride ourselves on not only academic achievements but on our ability to go further, to provide more opportunities for our students to grow, ‘think big’, and aim high. 

Our remaining tours and open events;

School Tours & Head Teacher welcome - BOOKING ESSENTIAL, Tuesday 11th October, Thursday 13th October & Friday 14th October

School Open Evening & Head Teacher welcome - NO BOOKING NECESSARY, Monday 10th October from 5pm.  Head Teacher talks at 5.45pm, 6.25pm & 7.05pm

A huge ‘thank you’ to all our brilliant student ambassadors who make such a positive contribution to the events.

Our range of Clubs and Support Session can be viewed by clicking here.  Additionally, our Successful Lives Programme provides a schedule of lessons to further support our students and equip them for their own successful lives (more below).

Mrs George, our new Head of Engineering and Technology, joins us from King Henry School where she set up their new Engineering curriculum. Mrs George brings to us an unprecedented level of subject knowledge and industry experience ensuring our students benefit from both exceptional teaching and understanding the application of that learning in a workplace environment.  In the below lesson, Mrs George’s Year 10 Level 2 Engineering students are perfecting their skills specific to reading orthographic drawings and plastic forming processes. Students are making an egg cup from acrylic. This requires students to create a hole on the pillar drill, line bend using the hot wire strip heater and polish the edges using the buffing wheel. 

Our SL6 Year 12 Engineering students are working on a team challenge. Their project brief is to design and make a 3D printed prototype before presenting their work to the ‘client’ .. in this case, students have been challenged to create promotional items for display use on the school’s Open Evening. Good luck everyone!

 Students have been using SolidWorks, an industry standard CAD program, to create a range of 3D printed pieces including those pictured below – The school perched upon a hill supported by the RIDES values that underpin everything we strive for at Stone Lodge School.  The piece depicting the cogs (which work!) both represent the engineering department and the collaborative mindset of Stone Lodge staff and students .. and lastly a Stone Lodge trophy to celebrate success.

Please join me in welcoming Miss West who joins our Engineering & Technology department as Food Technology Lead. Miss West has wealth of experience both teaching and leading the Design & Technology curriculum at Hayes School in Bromley.  In Food, Preparation and Nutrition lessons students learn to cook and understand the principles of diet and nutrition, health and safety in a kitchen, the function and reactions of ingredients and wise food shopping.    “I am excited to be joining Stone Lodge and to be able to shape a curriculum that not only delivers practical life skills but in doing so provides our students with valuable tools that can enhance their health, independence and inform future career choices”

In the below pictures our Year 7 students have been mastering their knife skills as they expertly prepare a range of ingredients in order to make vegetable soup. 

Introducing Mr Valero, Teacher of Spanish, a Spanish native who was originally an English teacher in Spain!  More recently, Mr Valero has been teaching Spanish in central London which ignited a love of England and persuaded him to pursue his teaching career here.  “I love the way languages are taught here at Stone Lodge, so much interaction and dynamism in the classroom!”

In the below Year 7 lesson students are practicing their vocabulary on the subject of colours and artistic terms … the photos really do not do justice to level of concentrated enthusiasm in the room!  Next, students will be introduced to the famous Spanish artist Picasso and will discuss and critique his paintings in Spanish.

 

Introducing Miss Bess Teacher of Philosophy and Ethics who joins Stone Lodge following her training in schools across Medway.  In addition to a degree in education Miss Bess is also a SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) specialist teacher and is committed to providing compelling and future-focused learning for all our students regardless of their circumstances and needs.

In this Year 9 lesson students were completing work on the concept of happiness and how it is viewed in different religions.

In Miss Bess’ Year 8 Successful Lives lesson students have been working on a Personal Finance topic, specifically, debt – how to avoid it and how best to deal with it!  In groups, students are taking the role of financial adviser, their client is heavily in debt, and they are charged with reviewing their client’s financial health and presenting their advice and recommendations.  Our Successful Lives Programme is a bespoke series of lessons and workshops covering the PSHE curriculum (personal, social, health, wellbeing and economic)  Our content is tailored to each year group to ensure that our students’ academic learning is fully supported throughout their time at Stone Lodge School providing help and support for future career pathways and to stay healthy and prepared for life.

Part Time Vacancies Available
We are looking for cleaners to join our friendly and supportive team across our schools: Wilmington Grammar School for Boys, Wilmington Grammar School for Girls & Stone Lodge.  We also have a part time vacancy for a Business Admin Assistant at Wilmington Grammar School for Girls.
For more information and to apply please visit www.endeavour-mat.co.uk and take a look at our vacancies.

 

Best wishes,

Gavin Barnett

Head Teacher