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    Year 12 Finance Talk From Former BGS Student, Steven Varty

    Published 08/07/24

    On Thursday of last week, Steven Varty, a past student at BGS, spoke to a large group of Year 12s about the opportunities of a career in finance and banking. He discussed his successes and challenges as an Executive Director at Santander and spoke about the benefits of this industry.

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    Since joining the bank, his role has progressed to becoming the Sector Head of Trade & Working Capital. This informative talk opened the eyes of many students, demonstrating how rewarding a career in banking can be. Personally, as someone who was already hoping to follow a similar career path, I found Steven’s talk extremely helpful and reassuring, as he was completely honest about his experiences and how his career has developed since leaving Bexley Grammar School. This was very exciting to hear as I am someone who will be making decisions to hopefully pursue my own career in banking in just under a year. Not only was Steven’s talk beneficial for those already interested in banking, but many of my friends and other students in the year are now considering this future. Despite this talk having a focus on finance, Steven shared his knowledge of the recruitment process, including interview and application advice, making everyone at the talk feel much more educated and confident to make an informed decision when it comes to applying in the future. 

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    Megan Butler, Year 12

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    Sardinia 2024 ~ Part 2

    Published 08/07/24

    Our recent school trip to the stunning island of Sardinia was an incredible adventure, packed with unforgettable experiences that left a lasting impression on all of us.

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    \"\"We stayed with an Italian family in Ms Contini’s home town of Isili, which was perhaps the most memorable part of our trip. Their warm hospitality and delicious home-made meals made us feel right at home.

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    We began in Cagliari, Sardinia's vibrant capital, where we soaked up the lively atmosphere of the city and learnt about its history. Before we met our families, we went to one of the three breathtaking beaches we were due to visit, called Poetto, and although the water was cold, the memorable experience with friends made all other worries disappear.

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    On the second day, we stayed in Isili and visited the museum of textiles and copper, which offered us a fascinating glimpse into Isili’s rich traditions and craft skills, deepening our appreciation for the island's cultural heritage. We didn't just stick to the land; a canoeing excursion gave us a chance to see the San Sebastián Church from a different perspective and learn about the many legends that took place there. Paddling through the waters was both thrilling and tranquil.

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    \"\"A particularly heart-warming visit was to Centro Cetacei marine animal rescue centre in Nora. Seeing the dedication of the volunteers and the recovery of the animals touched us deeply. Eating a home-made lunch by Nora beach enlightened us, and we enjoyed the hot weather and clear waters.

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    History came alive as we explored the ancient Nora archaeological site, a window into the city’s past.

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    The adventure continued as we ventured deep into the Zuddas Cave, where we marvelled at the formations of stalactites and stalagmites and the deep history behind the cave.

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    The last beach, Porto Pino, was by far the best in my opinion: the waters were clear, the sand pristine and the weather hot. That day was also the day of Sant’ Antonio, who is a Saint celebrated in Isili. Therefore, we spent the night dancing with the families and with each other.

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    \"SearchOn the last day, the natural beauty of Sardinia was on full display during our visit to Giara National Park, where we were surrounded by lush landscapes, stunning vistas and the largest population of wild horses in Europe.

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    As we bid farewell to Sardinia, our hearts were heavy as we were leaving; however, we were thankful for the incredible experiences and the warm hospitality we encountered. Sardinia has left a mark on our hearts, and we carry the spirit of the island with us as we return home, forever enriched by the memories we've made.

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    Krishal Patel, Year 10

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    \"\"Staying with my host family in Sardinia was an amazing experience. They were very welcoming and friendly. One cultural difference I noticed was how they enjoy long, leisurely meals together, which made me feel very much at home.

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    One of my favourite visits was to the city of Cagliari. The historical buildings and beautiful views of the sea were breathtaking. It was fascinating to learn about the city's rich history.

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    I loved all the Italian meals we had, but my favourite was the home-made lasagne my host family made. The flavours were incredible, and it was so fresh and delicious!

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    Our time in the hall with all the families was fantastic. It was fun to see everyone together, sharing stories and enjoying each other's company. It made the trip even more special.

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    Overall, my trip to Sardinia was unforgettable, filled with wonderful people, delicious food, and beautiful places.

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    Anagha Pai, Year 10

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    After having been to Sardinia, I can easily say that it has a special place in my heart. The locals were caring and kind and the food was tantalising as well. We will never have pasta like that in England. The weather was pleasant, and our host families were courteous.

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    During our holiday, we explored many parts of the wonderful island of Sardinia and learnt all about its history and culture, ranging from the Nuraghi, the city walls in Cagliari and archaeological ruins and buildings. Furthermore, we went to three unique, golden beaches. Although the waters were transparent, they were very salty and didn’t taste very nice.

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    One of the highlights of my holiday was meeting my host family. Although it was daunting at first, she welcomed me with open arms, improved my Italian and taught me all about her culture. I didn’t know that it was normal to eat rabbits in Italy. She was like a second mother to me and I will never forget her. Another highlight of my trip was being able to venture around the island by ourselves. I feel that buying food at shops has not only improved my Italian vocabulary, but has made me more confident in what I say in Italian.\"\"

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    Overall, this trip has been an amazing experience and I would recommend anybody who is thinking about travelling to Sardinia to go.

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    Braiden Dolan, Year 10

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    Click on the link here to view the Sardinia Photo Gallery.

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    Book Club trip to Townley Grammar

    Published 08/07/24

    Today, a few schools from Bexley came together at Townley Grammar School to discuss the Yoto Carnegie book club books. Each school performed a presentation about one of the books. The book that BGS chose was Crossing the Line by Tia Fisher, an amazing and engaging book written in verse about a boy named Erik who makes a lot of bad decisions and ends up being tangled up in organised crime. Our presentation consisted of our Year 10s reading out poems from key points in the book, while the talented Year 8s and 7s did a short performance to complement the poems. The other schools also gave incredible presentations about the other Carnegie books. Afterwards, all the schools voted for our favourite book. The winner was Crossing the Line! Personally, I thought it was an amazing trip. It was so nice to meet people from different schools and talk about books we enjoyed. It was a very pleasant afternoon and I enjoyed it very much!

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    Sofie Rygielska, Year 10

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    Carnegie Book Group
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    \"\"It was our last book group this week, and the students took part in a quiz on all the books we have read this term, which was closely won by Sofie in Year 10. We all voted for our favourite book, which was Crossing the Line by Tia Fisher. The National Winner was announced the same day, and was The Boy Lost in the Maze by Joseph Coelho, the current Children's Laureate. Both books are written in verse, Crossing the Line tells the story about a boy being groomed to get drugs across county lines and The Boy Lost in the Maze entwines the story of Theseus and the Minotaur with a modern story of the journey a boy must go on to find his father. 

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    The students approached all 8 books with enthusiasm and creativity, making podcasts, writing poetry and drawing emoji reviews. It was a pleasure running the group with them, and I was very proud of their performance at Townley Grammar. 

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    Mrs Carey, Librarian

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    Bexley Grammar Success Arkwright Engineering Scholarships

    Published 08/07/24

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    \"\"I am immensely proud to announce that we have been doubly successful for a second year running. Both Matilda Jackson and Yu Qi Ong in Year 11 have passed through all three stages of the Arkwright Scholarship application process.

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    \"\"This prestigious engineering mentorship programme is extremely competitive, and we look forward to hearing about the opportunities and experiences this provides throughout the Sixth Form.

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    Congratulations ladies!

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    Ms Lusted, STEM Coordinator

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    10X Challenge Success!

    Published 03/07/24
    Turning £230 into £4505.30!
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    Last term saw Year 10 Business Studies students participate in the 10X Challenge by Young Enterprise. Students arranged themselves into groups and were loaned £10 from the school. They had five weeks to start up and run their businesses and the results have been phenomenal! Students were able to put theory into practice and source the best (or cheapest) suppliers, conduct market research, develop their sales skills, improve their customer service and fine tune their finance skills. The businesses included services such as patio cleaning and car washing, while products included jewellery and bubbles to name a few. It certainly created a buzz in the year group. After students repaid their £10 loans (£230 in total, with 23 groups), the total profits made were £4506.30! Students will be spending this on a variety of things, including summer activities and donations to charity. Well done to all who participated. You should be very proud of yourselves!

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    Mrs Harris, Head of Business & Economics\"\"

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    “A big thanks to everyone who took part in our Elite Events tournaments and a huge well done to our Year 7 and Year 10 football winners who played superbly to secure their wins!”

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    Diego, Year 10

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    “Fantastic experience and really inspiring to get out into the world of work and earn money.”

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    Kieron & Phillip, Year 10

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    Sixth Form Induction Days ~ June 2024

    Published 03/07/24

    Bexley Grammar School recently hosted 2 Induction Days on Tuesday 25th and Wednesday 26th June. Over 400 students, including 200 of our own, from schools across the South East attended a highly successful event. Thanks to Miss Roberts and Mrs Aspill for the coordination and planning of the days, the current Year 12s for their friendliness and support on the day and with all the staff involved in supporting sign in, planning and delivering sessions for these prospective students.

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    Mr Martin - Head of Sixth Form

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    Induction day at BGS was so enlightening, even being an existing student, it was so exciting to try out the Sixth Form areas (SFC and K1) and meet all the new students. We were dressed in our new Sixth Form clothes, and it was great to see everyone looking so much older and ready for September. I really enjoyed being a tour guide for the new students and showing them all the best parts of BGS.

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    We started the day with an escape room activity, where we were randomly put into groups and had to crack many puzzles, padlocks and clues to get the secret code to open the final safe. Unfortunately, my group came 20th… last place, but it was a great icebreaker and a lovely surprise for induction day.

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    We also had subject tasters for the higher subjects we will be taking next year, which was so interesting considering that is what a day in our lives will be like from September. Another highlight was the taster TOK session, which was run by our amazing Senior Prefect Team and involved many debates and discussions.

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    I really hope to see all of Year 11 back at BGS next year and I can’t wait to find out what’s to come next year…

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    Matilda Jackson, Year 11

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    On Tuesday and Wednesday I had the pleasure of helping out with the Year 12 Induction Days. I started each day helping guide the incoming Year 12 students to their assigned rooms in the morning.  It was nostalgic seeing them all in the same position I was in just a year earlier, and seeing how quickly Year 12 had gone! The Escape Room activity in the morning was a joy to watch, and I was around the room helping out any teams that needed it. As both days went on, along with some of the other Senior Prefects, we ran the TOK taster sessions and each session brought up different ideas and questions from the students that made me further appreciate the spirit of debate that Theory of Knowledge brings out of students, including myself.

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    Speaking to the incoming Year 12s about the IB and BGS life in general and helping answer any of their queries was an incredibly fulfilling role and one that I enjoyed immensely. We ended each day off with a subject fayre which gave me the great opportunity to speak to some of the students about two of my higher level subjects in order to give them a better perspective into what it would be like studying them. The Induction Days were two incredibly productive days on which I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to help assist!

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    Princela Mensah, Year 12

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