The team secured their place in the final after defeating Backwell in the opening round. They then faced Chew Valley, who had progressed after beating Churchill. In an impressive and decisive match, Gordano claimed the title with a final score of 250 points to Chew Valley’s 130.

A standout contribution came from Will Herringshaw, whose expertise in both Harry Potter and politics proved invaluable during key rounds.

The entire team also demonstrated exceptional teamwork and quick thinking, particularly in the popular music round, where they successfully identified songs played backwards, much to the audience’s delight.

Pip Ramsay, Co-Director of Sixth Form praised the team’s achievement, saying:
“This is a fantastic accomplishment and a real testament to the students’ knowledge, dedication, and teamwork. We are incredibly proud of how they represented Gordano Sixth Form throughout the competition.”

This achievement highlights not only the team’s academic knowledge but also their enthusiasm, collaboration, and competitive spirit. Congratulations to all involved for representing Gordano Sixth Form with such distinction!

Prior to the visit, students attended a seminar where they heard powerful testimony from a Holocaust survivor. This first-hand account brought history to life in a deeply moving way, encouraging students to reflect on the importance of remembrance and the consequences of prejudice and discrimination. Following the visit, students also took part in a follow-up seminar, where they were able to share their experiences and consider how they can carry these lessons forward.

The trip was both educational and emotional, challenging students to think critically about the past and their role in shaping the future. Throughout the experience, our students truly embodied our school values. They did their best by engaging thoughtfully with every stage of the programme, asked meaningful questions, and represented our school with maturity and respect. They were encouraged to dream big by considering how they can make a positive difference in the world, inspired by the resilience and courage shown in the testimonies they heard. Most importantly, they were reminded of the importance of giving back — by sharing what they have learned with others and standing up against injustice in their own communities.

As one student reflected, “Visiting Auschwitz was an incredibly powerful experience that has changed the way I see the world. It reminded me how important it is to challenge discrimination and ensure that the stories of those who suffered are never forgotten.”

Mr Stops, Teacher of History, said: “This visit is always a profoundly important experience for our students. It allows them to engage with history in a way that goes far beyond the classroom, encouraging deep reflection, empathy, and a strong sense of responsibility to challenge prejudice and uphold the values of respect and humanity.”

This was an unforgettable experience that will stay with them for a lifetime, helping to ensure that the lessons of the past are never forgotten.

This year’s Easter Concert was a vibrant and uplifting showcase of the school’s musical community, and a particularly special evening as it marked the first major concert under our new Head of Music, Ms Rachel Hinchliffe. From solo recitals to full ensemble performances, the night was filled with energy, emotion, and outstanding musicianship. 

The funds were raised through a series of student-led initiatives, including the ever-popular RAG (Raising and Giving) Week, organised largely by Sixth Form Charity Rep Hali, and a Sixth Form Bake Off, both of which brought the school community together in support of two important causes. These events are a key part of Sixth Form life, encouraging students to give back and engage positively with their local community.

Representatives Sarah (Be More Ben) and Felicity (Caring in Bristol) attended the cheque presentation, where they met students and staff involved in organising the events. The charities, which support families coping with loss and individuals experiencing homelessness respectively, were chosen by students as part of their commitment to making a meaningful difference locally.

Throughout the year, Sixth Form students demonstrated exceptional initiative, creativity, and teamwork. From organising large-scale events during RAG Week which alone raised over £1,350, to hosting the Bake Off, students showed real dedication to their fundraising efforts.

Sixth Form Charity Rep Hali, who organised RAG Week said: “It’s been incredibly rewarding to see how our efforts have made a real difference. Events like RAG Week and the Bake Off brought everyone together, and we’re really proud of what we’ve achieved.”

Ms Blundell, Headteacher, said: “I am incredibly proud of our Sixth Form students for their dedication and generosity throughout the year. Their commitment to supporting others and making a positive impact in the community truly reflects the values we strive to uphold at Gordano School. This achievement is a testament to their hard work, compassion, and sense of responsibility.”

The cheque presentation marks the culmination of months of effort and highlights Gordano Sixth Form’s ongoing commitment to its core value of giving back. The impact of their fundraising will be felt by both charities and the communities they support.

Our Year 13 Business and Economics students recently returned from an exciting and action‑packed visit to New York City, a trip that combined culture, sightseeing, food, fun and a whole lot of walking! Throughout the week, students embraced every opportunity, showing maturity, curiosity and a brilliant sense of adventure.

Gordano School warmly invites you to the 2026 Easter Concert, taking place on the 24th and 25th March from 6:30pm.

Join us for an evening filled with outstanding musical performances, showcasing the incredible talent of our students — from rock bands and soloists to the drumline and Jazz Band.

We hope you enjoy this special celebration of music and creativity.

Book your tickets here: https://bit.ly/4rtEK6f or use the QR code below

With its iconic music by Madness, the show featured high-energy dance numbers, stand-out performances and a strong ensemble cast, supported by a dedicated backstage and technical crew. The production was the result of months of rehearsals, collaboration and commitment, and we are extremely proud of everyone involved — both on stage and behind the scenes. 

The impact of the production went far beyond the stage. Students spoke passionately about the experience, highlighting the confidence, friendships and skills they gained along the way: 

“I have made friends for life through Our House” 

“I’ve loved working with students in different year groups. We’ve all bonded so well” 

“The atmosphere on show nights was amazing. I want to do it all over again!” 

The production brought together students, staff, families and members of the local community, creating an unforgettable experience for all involved. 

The show has received glowing reviews from those who saw it: 

“So much talent in one show, they deserved that standing ovation!” 

“Wow, Our House was incredible. My daughter can’t wait to join Gordano in September!” 

“The chorus numbers were epic and everyone looked like they were having a ball” 

“A big thank you to all involved for your dedication and hard work” 

Louise Blundell, Headteacher said: “As Emily (Year 13 student who played Joe Casey) stated after the final curtain, 'Our House became a home, bringing together a cast who became family and a community who came together to support them'. It’s a perfect example of our school values in action — collaboration, inclusion and resilience shining through every performance, we are so very proud of everyone involved.” 

Demonstrating determination, teamwork and resilience at every stage, the team made up of Megan S, Martha K, Isla H, Sophia T, Naila C, Charlotte L, Flick G, and Seren B secured their place at the county finals by winning both the North Somerset preliminaries and the North Somerset finals. Their success saw them progress to the Avon Schools Championships, held at City Academy in Bristol. 

The finals brought together the top two schools from Bath, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset, creating a highly competitive afternoon of indoor athletics. The girls competed across a demanding programme of events, including relays, middle-distance races, sprints, jumps and throws. 

With consistently strong performances across all disciplines, the Gordano team emerged as overall winners, securing a well-deserved first-place finish and the Avon Schools title. 

Emma Harradine, Head of Physical Education at Gordano School, praised the team’s achievement: 

“This was a brilliant display of commitment, teamwork and confidence from every athlete involved. The girls supported each other throughout the competition and gave their best in every event, which is exactly what we encourage at Gordano. Achievements like this show what can happen when young people are empowered to dream big and believe in their ability.” 

Ms Harradine’s comments come as she continues to gain national recognition for her work in developing female athletes and coaches. She is currently involved in the two-year national ‘She Coaches’ programme, which aims to create a new generation of female talent and performance coaches, and has recently featured in media interviews for her contribution to coaching and sport education. 

This fantastic achievement reflects Gordano School’s core values of Dream Big, Do Your Best and Give Back, as well as the school’s long-standing reputation for sporting excellence and strong team spirit. 

Huge congratulations go to the eight girls who represented the school so proudly. Their commitment, hard work and support for one another truly paid off and they are a credit to themselves and the wider Gordano community. 

This year, 230 students are undertaking the Bronze Award, 118 are working towards Silver, and an impressive 52 students are pursuing the prestigious Gold Award. The growth across all three levels highlights the strong culture of ambition and personal development at Gordano School, as students challenge themselves both inside and outside the classroom.

Head of Outdoor Education Polly Oakman said: ‘This outstanding achievement highlights the enthusiasm and spirit of our school community and is something our team is incredibly proud to share and celebrate.'

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a nationally recognised programme that encourages young people to develop essential life skills through volunteering, physical activity, skills development and adventurous expeditions. Participation supports confidence, teamwork and independence, while also encouraging students to give back to their local and wider communities.

Gordano School has a long-standing and successful history with the DofE Award, with students collectively contributing thousands of hours of volunteering and consistently achieving high completion rates. In recent years, Gordano students have also been recognised at regional and national celebrations, including Gold Award presentations at Buckingham Palace. It has also been recognised as the school with the highest number of starters in the South West for two years running.

This record number of enrolments is a testament to the dedication of both students and staff, whose support ensures participants are well-prepared for the challenges and rewards of the programme. The school is proud to see so many young people embracing opportunities for growth, service and adventure. It really embodies the school values to Dream Big, Do Your Best and Give Back.

Gordano School looks forward to supporting students throughout the year as they progress on their DofE journeys and continue to represent the school with commitment, determination and community spirit.

The visiting pupils represented their school teams and took part in an exciting afternoon of physical activity, designed to develop fundamental movement skills and promote a positive relationship with physical activity. We hope that all children and supporting adults thoroughly enjoyed the festival.

Staff were greatly impressed by the children’s passion, determination, teamwork and honesty — key School Games values — as they took on the challenge of seven Multi Skills activity stations. Each activity encouraged pupils to move in different ways and apply a range of skills to fun, engaging games.

Challenges included sending Kurling stones onto a target in the popular ‘Fill the House’ activity, using speed, balance and coordination in the Agility Relay, and stacking Giant Speedstacking Cups into a pyramid. Alongside developing physical skills, children also practised their numeracy, scoring points for their team and counting in multiples of 2 and 5 to calculate their totals at the end of each activity.

All participants were presented with a certificate to recognise their fantastic effort and participation.

The festival supported the Physical Literacy consensus statement, which explains that “Physical Literacy is our relationship with movement and physical activity throughout life.” Having a positive and meaningful relationship with movement and physical activity makes individuals more likely to be and stay active, benefiting health, wellbeing and quality of life (Sport England).

To find out more about Physical Literacy and explore the Physical Literacy Toolkit, please visit:
https://www.youthsporttrust.org/about/our-people/school-sport-activity-sector-partnership/physical-literacy-toolkit

Gordano School would like to thank all participating schools and staff for their support and for helping to make the event such a positive and enjoyable experience for all involved.

By using the fundraising platform easyfundraising, your everyday online purchases can generate free donations for Gordano School. With over 8,000 participating retailers, including well-known brands, supermarkets, and online stores, it’s an easy way to help raise valuable funds while shopping as you normally would.

Whether you’re buying gifts, clothing, groceries, travel, or household essentials, each online shop is an opportunity to support our school.

How It Works

1. Sign up to easyfundraising using the Gordano School link

2. Start your online shopping through the platform (via the app and browser)

3. Retailers donate a percentage of your purchase to Gordano School—at no extra cost to you

SIGN UP HERE

Every contribution helps and makes a real difference to our school community.

Don’t Forget the Browser Extension

To make sure you never miss a donation, we recommend installing the easyfundraising Browser Extension on your smartphone, PC, or tablet.

The extension automatically alerts you whenever a retailer is offering a donation, so every eligible shop can count towards our fundraising—without any extra effort.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

You can also watch this quick guide on how to install it:
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Thank you for continuing to support Gordano School. Your everyday online shopping helps us raise vital funds and is truly appreciated.

The grant will enable the school to invest in professional-standard recording equipment and software, revitalising an existing but outdated recording studio and giving students access to industry-relevant music technology. The funding will support the purchase of a multi-channel audio interface and professional music production software capable of handling high-quality audio recording and production.

This investment will directly benefit students across the school, particularly those studying GCSE and A-level Music, as well as students involved in Drama sound design and extra-curricular music activities. The upgraded studio will allow students to gain hands-on experience of recording techniques, music production, and studio practice, helping prepare them for further study and careers in the creative industries.

The funding also supports Gordano School’s longer-term ambition to expand its post-16 music offer, with plans to reintroduce more practical, industry-focused pathways centred on music technology and modern music careers.

“This grant allows us to finally make use of the excellent studio infrastructure we already have in place,” said Rachel Hinchliffe, Head of Music at Gordano School. “Our students will be able to experience real-world recording and production processes, bringing their coursework and creative projects to life while developing skills that are highly relevant to today’s music industry.”

Headteacher Louise Blundell added:
“Music is an incredibly important part of our curriculum and wider school life. This funding represents a fantastic opportunity to broaden our provision, enrich learning, and inspire students who are passionate about music, technology, and creative careers.”

The Universal Music UK Sound Foundation supports schools and organisations across the UK by providing funding for music education resources, helping young people access high-quality musical opportunities regardless of background.

With over 1,000 students each year expected to benefit from the improved facilities, the grant marks a significant step forward for music education at Gordano School and reinforces its commitment to providing a broad, modern, and inclusive creative curriculum.

This funding will help us transform an outdoors space into a dynamic learning zone where students will engage in hands-on construction, teamwork and physical activity — boosting their confidence, wellbeing and readiness for future careers.

What this means for students

• The grant will enable us to purchase tools, materials and equipment needed for outdoor trade-skills workshops.
• Students who thrive in practical, active learning environments will gain new skills, stronger routines and improved focus.
• The space will be repurposed into something meaningful – supporting physical activity, peer collaboration and mental welfare.

A big thank-you to our supporters

We extend our sincere thanks to the Tesco Stronger Starts programme (managed in partnership with Groundwork UK) for this generous support. We’re grateful to our community, families and supporters who voted using their blue tokens and whose enthusiasm helped raise awareness of our project.

What’s next

Over the coming months we will:

• Finalise the outdoor learning space design and schedule the first student-led sessions.
• Allocate the grant funding directly to materials and staff oversight for the “Teach Teens a Trade” programme.
• Share stories and photos of the project in action – students in action, building skills and transforming space.

By receiving this £500 award, Gordano School joins a diverse group of initiatives across the UK helping children and young people thrive.

This respected qualification allows leaders to take groups safely into UK hill and moorland terrain. It represents a significant commitment of time, resilience and skill development, and the school is immensely proud of the team’s achievement. 

A Rigorous and Rewarding Journey 

The qualification process was completed through training and assessment with Pete Goldsmith Mountaineering, with whom Gordano has enjoyed a long-standing partnership. 

To gain their Hill and Moorland Leader status, each candidate successfully completed: 

• A 3-day training course 
• A 3-day assessment 
• A 2-day outdoor first aid qualification 

In addition, they were required to log 40 “Quality Hill Days”, demonstrating their consolidation of skills and leadership experience across at least three different UK hill and moorland regions. Twenty were completed prior to training, and twenty more before assessment. 

Much of this training involved weekends and school holidays spent out in the hills—often in challenging weather—practising navigation exclusively with map and compass, leaving GPS devices behind. Night navigation and poor-visibility scenarios were essential components, ensuring that groups can be led safely in demanding conditions. These trips also enabled the team to plan, test, and refine routes for the school’s Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award expeditions. 

The final assessment, held on Dartmoor in late November, challenged candidates with wet and windy weather across the three days. They were rigorously tested on navigation, group management, emergency procedures, weather interpretation, route planning and environmental responsibility. 

Leadership Across the Team 

While this qualification marks a fantastic achievement for the three new leaders, it also reflects the wider dedication of the Outdoor Education team. Our Head of Outdoor Education, Polly Oakman, is currently working towards the prestigious Mountain Leader award, having completed her intensive 6-day training and a number of Quality Mountain Days. Gordano School also now has 5 qualified DofE Assessors, with further members of staff due to complete their training this year. 

A School Committed to Outdoor Adventure 

Gordano School is proud to fund these courses with Mountain Training as part of its commitment to delivering high-quality Outdoor Education. Ensuring that staff hold nationally recognised qualifications means that students can explore wild spaces with highly trained, confident and knowledgeable leaders. 

All three newly qualified Hill and Moorland Leaders have already begun applying their skills on recent DofE expeditions—and look forward to doing even more in 2026. 

As our Deputy Lead for Outdoor Education, Rachel Allen, reflected: 

"Having learned so much and enjoyed every opportunity to get out into the countryside, I feel more determined than ever to get our students into the Great Outdoors as much as we can." 

Headteacher Ms Blundell praised the team’s achievements, saying: 

“This is an outstanding accomplishment and a powerful example of the commitment, expertise and enthusiasm within our staff team. Outdoor Education plays a vital role in developing confidence, resilience and independence in our young people, and these new qualifications will directly enhance the experiences we offer. The team has truly embodied our school ethos — Dream Big, Do Your Best, Give Back — and our students will feel the benefits for years to come.” 

Gordano School has the highest number of Duke of Edinburgh starters in the South West, holding the title for two years running. It was also recognised for giving back nearly 5000 hours of volunteering and has celebrated Gold Award success with a visit to Buckingham Palace. 

By using the fundraising platform easyfundraising, every purchase you make with more than 8,000 participating retailers can generate a free donation to Gordano School. Whether you're buying gifts, decorations, festive food, or everyday essentials, each online shop is an opportunity to help us raise valuable funds.

All you need to do is sign up using the Gordano School link and start your shopping through the platform. It doesn’t cost you anything, but it makes a real difference to our school.

SIGN UP HERE

Don’t Forget the Browser Extension

To make sure you never miss a donation opportunity, we encourage you to install the easyfundraising Browser Extension on your smartphone, PC, or tablet.

The extension automatically alerts you when a retailer is offering a donation, ensuring every shop counts toward our fundraising efforts.

FIND OUT MORE HERE

You can watch this quick guide on how to install it here: https://youtu.be/-hpOoHPfeVo

Thank you for continuing to support Gordano School—your everyday shopping truly makes a difference!