13 May 2026
BGS Celebrates Sir David Attenborough at 100
Sir David Attenborough turned 100 last week, and our school community joined millions around the world in celebrating the remarkable life and work of one of Britain’s greatest natural historians.
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This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, which is dedicated to raising awareness, reducing stigma and encouraging everyone to take action for their mental health. Take Action is the theme for this year – recognising that good mental health is not a constant, and that when we all take steps to support mental health at home, in school, and at work, we help to remove barriers that hold people back. Whether that's checking in with a friend, sharing a meal together, or simply wearing green, every action counts. Here is the Mental Health Foundation’s list of the top 10 actions to support mental health.

In school, we have various activities taking place this week for staff and students:

All week:

  • Pins are on sale with monies donated going to the Mental Health Foundation and Mind in Bexley.
  • A daily activity/reminder will be posted on the school’s wellbeing Google Classroom. Students can join using the code 954v42ab or by clicking this link.

Tuesday 12th:

  • 8SBM met with Mind in Bexley to give an interview about their fundraising for First Give (photo below.)

Wednesday 13th:

  • A staff wellbeing lunch.

Thursday 14th:

  • Games at lunchtime run by the student council.

Friday 15th:

  • Wear a green accessory to show your support for the importance of mental health. This isn’t a non-uniform day but an accessory, e.g. socks, ties, ribbons, waistcoat.

  • Bake sale at breaktime run by Year 12 Psychology prefects for This Mix charity.
  • A staff wellbeing walk.

Thank you for your support and wishing you a good week.

Mrs Meyer and the Wellbeing Team

Mental Health Awareness Week

This week marks Mental Health Awareness Week. 

The theme this year is Action. 

'Action is not separate from awareness, it’s a natural extension of it. When people find out more about mental health, when they recognise early signs of problems in themselves and others, when they know what support looks like and what they can do to maintain their mental health, they are already taking action. When greater numbers of us take action, communities of motivated people are laying the foundations for a society that prioritises good mental health. This is action at its most powerful.  

This year’s theme is an invitation for all of us to take that next step. 

Your action can be something you do for yourself, for someone else, or for all of us.' 

To help you in taking action and the next step, please find below the Mental Health Foundation's 'Top 10 Action Tips' 

Mrs Westergaard, Wellbeing Team

Please click on the link here to access all our Wellbeing Weekly updates.

13 May 2026
Gold School Games Mark for 2026 - 2027
We are delighted that Bexley Grammar has retained its Gold School Games Mark for 2026–27.
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13 May 2026
PE News 13/5/26
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Parkwood Leisure free memberships ~ Promising Athlete Programme

Parkwood Leisure (who run Crook Log and Sidcup leisure centres locally) offer free memberships as part of their 'Promising Athlete Programme'. We have had students benefit from this in the past, and Bexley Council have advised us that there are still memberships available. To qualify, you should meet one of the criteria below:
  • Member of a national squad and ranked in the top 50 for your sport and age group.
  • Member of a Regional Squad competing at regional level in the current year.
  • Top 8 finish at Regional or equivalent competition in the last competitive season.

These must be sporting activities and governing bodies recognised by the Sports Councils of Sports England & Sports Wales and include Disability Sports.

If you meet the criteria, follow the link below to find out more and apply:

https://www.leisurecentre.com/promising-athletes-programme
 

13 May 2026
Rico Coombs Year 10 Poetry Workshop
English Department ~ Year 10, Poetry Workshop
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Parent/Carer Trustee Election

Please note the ballot papers for the parent/carer election have been distributed to students.

DEADLINE

Ballot papers must be returned in a sealed envelope to the Main School Office by MIDDAY, on FRIDAY 15th May 2026.  Any received after that time will not be counted.

Thank you

As Children’s Commissioner, I am writing to ask you to ensure all of your children complete my new survey, The Big Future.

Under the Children Act 2004, it is my role to promote the views and interests of children in England, and I have done this so far by conducting the two largest ever children’s surveys: The Big Ask and The Big Ambition.

Now, for the first time, hundreds of thousands of children will be eligible to vote in the next general election, the biggest change to the franchise in half a century. Yet just one in five children say politicians listen to them. That’s why I’m launching my final survey, The Big Future.

Your students should complete the survey here: http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/thebigfuture.

I want to make sure that I hear from as many children as possible, aged 0-18, from all backgrounds, in all schools and colleges, and in every part of the country. To do that, I need your help.

I am asking children about the changes they want to see in their communities, their biggest concerns, and their hopes for the future. More than anything, I want to know what they think a good childhood should look like today.

I am asking you to share the survey with all the children, parents and carers in your school or college community. Schools and colleges that achieve high participation rates will receive formal recognition for their contribution to amplifying children’s voices and encouraging civic engagement, and a summary of their pupils’ responses.

I would be grateful if you could ensure that every child in your school or college has taken part before the deadline of Friday 23 October.

I will be publishing my findings next year, and they will be used to advocate at the highest level for solutions that children want to see, to the problems that they tell me are most important to them.

Thank you for your support.

Yours sincerely,

Dame Rachel de Souza
Children’s Commissioner

Please click on the link here to access all our Safeguarding Updates

Mr S Auckland
Deputy Head and Designated Safeguarding Lead

Free School Meals & Pupil Premium 

Please click on the link here for further information 

Year 11 Revision Booklet

The Year 11 Revision Booklet was issued to students this week.

The booklet contains a selection of helpful information including a proposed revision timetable, coursework deadlines and revision aids to help in the summer examinations.  

The booklet is also on the school website here.

GCSE Contingency Sessions Summer 2026

Please note, the awarding bodies have designated the morning and afternoon sessions of Wednesday 24th June 2026 as ‘contingency sessions’.

These contingency sessions are designed to be used in the event of national or significant local disruption to examinations. This means that all exam candidates must be available to sit exams from the date of their first exam until Wednesday 24th June 2026. This decision is not a school decision and does apply to all candidates in all schools.

 

Book donations for the Summer Fayre

I am going to be running a stall selling second-hand books at the fayre, and would gratefully appreciate any donations of books to sell, in particular children's books and young adult books. If you have any donations, please can they be dropped at Reception by Monday 1st June.

Many thanks,

Mrs Carey, School Librarian

Summer Fayre - click here for Mrs Mallin's letter
9:25am – 2:45pm
06
June

Lost Property

The photos below show recent additions to lost property. These have been found around the school in various locations. If your child has recently lost any of these items, please ask them to collect it from the Reception.

Please may we remind parents/carers to write your child's name on all of their belongings so that we can return any lost items to them. If belongings are handed in to us, and they are named, we will contact the student directly, so please ask your child to check their school email account to see if we have messaged them. You can also click on the link here to report any lost property or email us directly via reception@bexleygs.co.uk.

Thank you 

Reception Team

Confirmation of GCSE courses for students from September 2026 has been emailed to parents/carers.

Please note, for HOTMAIL accounts: The email service that we use to notify parents/carers automatically defaults incoming mail to your spam/ junk inbox, so please check there for the confirmation email.

Thank you

May

DEADLINE for Parent/Carer Ballot Papers to be returned
until 12:00pm
15
May
Mental Health Awareness 'Wear a Green Accessory Day' ~ See Mrs Meyer's notice in this newsletter
8:30am – 3:10pm
15
May
Inset Day ~ school closed to students
All Day
19
May

KS3 Showcase - click here to book your tickets
4:30pm – 6:00pm
20
May
Last full day before half term
8:30am – 3:10pm
22
May
Half Term ~ School closed to students
All Day
from 25 May until 29 May
25
May

June

Year 9 Exams - click here for Mr Oyedeji's letter & exams timetable
All Day
from 01 Jun until 04 Jun
01
June
First school day following half term
8:30am – 3:10pm
01
June
Summer Fayre & Sports Day (normal school day - click here for Mrs Mallin's letter)
9:25am – 2:45pm
06
June
Day off in lieu of Sports Day (Saturday 6th June 2026)
All Day
08
June
Normal school day
8:30am – 3:10pm
09
June
GCSE Contingency DAY (click here for details)
8:30am
24
June

July 

Last school day before Summer Holiday
8:30am – 3:10pm
17
July
Inset Day ~ School closed to students
All Day
20
July
Inset Day ~ School closed to students
All Day
21
July
Inset Day ~ School closed to students
All Day
22
July