July 2021 - Page 2 of 3 - Penwortham Girls' High School

Step into the NHS Competition

Posted on July 16, 2021September 8, 2021 by admin

This year, all students in year 7 and year 8 took part in the Step into the NHS competition. Students were asked to research a variety of careers within the NHS, pick a job which appeals to them and then create a job description and a job advert to promote their chosen career.

We are delighted to say that one of our students, Grace D (7G) was chosen as the regional winner for the whole of the north west area. Well done, Grace! Grace will receive her certificate and £25 amazon voucher in this year’s awards assembly.

Grace created a fun and detailed board game showcasing the role of an occupational therapist. Her entry was particularly good at focussing on job satisfaction. Grace was also invited to present her entry to a panel of judges via a video call on 17th June.

What the judges said:

“What a lovely way to demonstrate the day of an occupational therapist. It was really nice to see that Grace focused on the job satisfaction as this is really important when choosing a career. Grace showed innovation and resourcefulness using what she had to create a fantastic and powerful tool.”
Stacey Drake, Careers Leader

What Grace said:

“I enjoyed taking part in the NHS competition because it was interesting to learn about the different NHS roles. I learned that occupational therapists help patients do day-to-day things, such as shopping. I was inspired to make my entry for occupational therapists because I think they should be more appreciated for the work they do because people don’t thank them enough for the massive difference they make in people’s lives. The NHS means a lot to me because I feel like we wouldn’t be a nation without it because they have changed thousands of people’s lives.”

A few other students were also shortlisted and will be receiving a highly commended certificate from the NHS.

Vidhya P (7H)
Hannah D (7H)
Tilly C (7G)
Nusaibah B (7H)
Saskia H (7G)
Maisy E (7P)

Well done, everyone!

Miss Forrest

Science Department

Product Design

Posted on July 16, 2021September 13, 2021 by admin

During our D&T lesson we created decorative plant holders by upcycling old wooden pallets. As Penwortham Girls’ is trying to brighten up the school, these crates will hold flowers and plants, creating a positive environment for the students to learn and relax. Clive, from the charity ‘Dig In Preston’ came to show us how to hammer, saw, drill and sand down the wooden pallets that we used. It was an amazing experience and we all thank Mrs Gornall and Clive for allowing us to be creative. At the end of the session, we all made three large wooden planters, all handmade, adding to the Penwortham Girls’ community. These will be painted or varnished before the soil and plants are added.

By Megan S in 9J

V & A Innovate National Competition

Posted on July 16, 2021September 13, 2021 by admin

During the last lockdown, all the Year 8 students were entered into a competition called ‘Innovate’ by the V&A museum. There was a theme of ‘Home’ and the students were tasked with how the making of our homes can be improved in the future, for instance, how to be more inclusive or environmentally friendly. This was a national competition and out of all the schools that entered, two of our students, Amelia Watson and Sophie Johnson, were chosen to take part in the final. (Only ten finalists were picked, so this was already a massive achievement.) The girls had to take part in an online Zoom ‘pitching day’ in order to present their final designs to the judges, one of which was the BBC presenter and Paralympian Ade Adepitan. The girls were commended for their innovative designs and although they did not win the final, they still came away with finalists’ trophies (which are made from recycled marine plastic).

Mrs Gornall was also awarded the V&A Innovative ‘Teacher of the Year’ which was a huge surprise to her! Well done again to the girls for their designs but also to the rest of the year 8 students. The judges were very impressed by how many original designs were entered by Penwortham Girls’ students.

C.A.T. Faculty

Year 8 Faraday Challenge

Posted on July 16, 2021September 13, 2021 by admin

Congratulations to Team 3 from 8S who were the winning team from the Faraday Challenge at PGHS! They now go up against schools from across the country in the national Faraday challenge competition. Well done, girls!

Mrs Freer

STEM / Technology

Governors News Summer Term 2021

Posted on July 16, 2021September 9, 2021 by admin

I was, perhaps, a little previous in hoping for the June start to return to normality when I wrote my update last term! The four-week delay takes us now to the end of term so we will have endured a full year of disruption of one sort or another – such has been the nature of this pandemic. My hope and the hope of the governors is that as much normality returns as soon as is possible so that we can all concentrate fully on our raison d’être which is of course that of the best possible educational and personal development outcomes for our students.

But we cannot stand still – and we have not! Governors may have not visited school in person as much as they would have liked but they have still had contact with staff and students where possible. Cumulatively this year, governors have completed 72 training and development sessions and 31 school visits, interviews or zoom meetings with staff. This has been on top of our normal termly meetings and all despite the Covid situation, which has meant alternative arrangements have been in place in one form or another all year. On their behalf, I have attended meetings with members of the senior leadership team, sometimes virtually, sometimes socially distanced in school, as well as with local authority staff and other Lancashire governors in a variety of settings.

This month, I attended school for a few staff meetings but also to see the UNITEE competition outcomes with the Head teacher and the local MP. I am very grateful to the girls who assisted; my tour of the tee shirts was far more informative thanks to them, as they described the process and the rationale. Thank you to every form and the staff too for their efforts.

So now we prepare for another school year. We have expanded our governing board to include three new governors with exciting skills to bring. We have reorganised our focus areas and reviewed our structures so that we are as efficient and effective as possible. We will hold our away day, a Saturday morning early in September, when we can get together and ensure we are ready to go!

On behalf of the governing board, I wish all of you – staff, families and students – a restful summer break in readiness for the new school year and I am sending you all our thanks for your contributions over the past year.

Mrs Lorimer Russell-Hayes
Chair of Governors

Computing News July 2021

Posted on July 16, 2021September 7, 2021 by admin

Key Stage 3 Computing

The final half term has seen KS3 Computing being a little creative when learning some basics in Information Technology. In Year 7, the girls have been learning all about spreadsheets and are in the process of creating a spreadsheet for a specific scenario that needs to include a range of formulas and charts. The girls are doing this independently and are using the skills taught in the previous lessons to do this.

Year 8 are in the process of designing their own music festival and have planned a website to promote it. The girls will be incorporating a variety of features into their websites, including scrolling text, videos and slideshows. We will be investigating the programming language, HTML, that sits behind the websites and will be challenging the girls to write some HTML codes to help produce their websites.

Year 9 have spent part of this half term looking into technology. This unit has involved the history of computing and technology and the future of technology. We have looked at exciting futuristic products/household devices that will be available on the market in the next few years. The assessment that the girls will have to complete will be to design and develop a new piece of technology/product that will make people’s lives easier. The girls will be extremely creative with their ideas around this design assessment. Here’s hoping we might have a future Anita Roddick (Founder of The Body Shop) here at PGHS!

Future Computing 2021-2022

In Computing, we are in the process of introducing an online safety qualification to selected Year 9 students called ‘Smart Award in E-Safety’. The qualification is designed to cover the main concepts and skills needed to use devices and applications securely, safely and effectively. The Smart Digital Award in E-Safety gives students the skills they need to use devices correctly, understand how to find and analyse information critically, communicate safely and appropriately with others and explore their potential through creation and collaboration. We are hoping to deliver this to all Year 9 during the next academic year.

Snapchat Lens workshop

We have also learnt about the positives of online social media apps and we have recently been given the special opportunity to work alongside Snap Inc. ‘s creative team and a creator for Disney in an introduction to augmented reality and created our own lens (filter). The workshop focused on using a snapchat lens to promote empathy and the understanding of others. These girls will also be sharing their expertise with the wider school council so that they can work collaboratively and use social media to promote the school’s core values such as social responsibility and compassion.

GCSE Computer Science

Year 10 have completed all the theory for paper 1, Principles of Computer Science. This theory consists of systems architecture and software, looking at data representation including binary, hexadecimal and sound, learning about networks and how different networks are structured and how they work. This includes the internet, looking at security of networks and a variety of security issues and learning about ethical and environmental issues surrounding Computer Science including legislation. You have all worked extremely hard this year and I look forward to next year when we will focus on paper 2 and the practical elements of the course.

Mrs Bennett
Curriculum Leader for the Computing, Arts and Technology Faculty

Remembering Zaynab

Posted on July 16, 2021August 25, 2021 by admin

It has been a turbulent and highly unusual school year that many of us want to simply put behind us, but we are determined that one tragic event in particular is not forgotten; the passing of Zaynab Bhula in Year 10.

A key aspect of this is a piece of writing that Zaynab produced in English and which her teacher, Mrs Woodhouse used in our “Memories of Zaynab” newsletter back in April. This has since been adapted into a poem and has been used repeatedly in school, most recently as part of our work on the Unitee programme; you can read it below.

A bench will be dedicated in Zaynab’s memory and her friends will select a line from the poem as an inscription to inspire positivity in the future.

We have plans to plant a cherry blossom tree in the future in a space to commemorate Zaynab.

All families in the school community will also be contacted via ParentMail to ask for donations towards the sinking of a well in
a developing country in Zaynab’s memory.

As has been said many times before, Zaynab may have been a quiet girl but there was real depth and compassion within her character and we hope the plans we have to commemorate her will reflect that.

Zaynab’s Poem

As teenagers, we have a lot on our minds;
school work, homework, teachers and friends.
Sitting doing nothing gives us the break that we need
Peace and harmony, not worry and chores.
Lots of time working;
No – we need time doing nothing.
Teenagers and young adults: the seeds of our planet.
The roots, the stem, the leaves.
Let us unleash our skills, independence truth.
Why do you insist on questioning and challenging our future?
Our future: rightfully ours.
Let us grow, flower, flourish.
As young people grow and learn, we develop a sense of what is right and wrong.
Our moral compass evolves.
Accept what you know is right, refuse what is wrong.
As a plant grows, it adapts to its surroundings;
we do too.
We learn as we grow; develop morals and a sense of right.
Remember that a child learns what they live from the adults around them.

Mr Bowles, Year 10
Raising Achievement
Co-ordinator

Whalley and Sawley Abbey Visit

Posted on July 8, 2021September 15, 2021 by admin

Over 120 Year 7 students visited the historic sites of Sawley and Whalley Abbey on Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd June. As this was the first out of school visit of the school year, there was much excitement and enthusiasm from the students to extend and enrich their classroom learning of Henry VIII’s decision to close the monasteries at two superb local historic sites. Initially, students were given the task of exploring the ruins of Sawley Abbey to discover the purpose of each room. As much of the stone and building materials has disappeared since the dissolution of monasteries, this was a challenging task. The students then took part in a ‘Dissolution’ role play, acted out by enthusiastic volunteers who were provided with a monk’s habit and tonsure to authenticate the look.

After lunch in the beautiful grounds of Whalley Abbey, students conducted a further investigation into the differences between the two historic sites. As more remains of the buildings at Whalley Abbey were explored, the students were given a fantastic opportunity to visualise the daily lives of medieval monks and how the dissolution would have affected the local community. Students were also given free time to explore the site and fully appreciate the size of the monastic community established at Whalley. On Tuesday 22nd June, students were also invited by the priest of Whalley Abbey to listen to prayers, held in the ruins of the abbey. The students listened intently throughout and fully appreciated the priest’s explanation of different features of the monastery.

It was fantastic to see so many Year 7 students participate enthusiastically in the visit. They demonstrated a genuine curiosity for the sites and represented the school superbly, showing respect and courtesy to members of the public when visiting both abbeys.

Mr Herbert
Curriculum Leader for History

UNITEE’s Fashion Show

Posted on July 8, 2021September 9, 2021 by admin

This half-term, our students have been creating t-shirt designs for a national ‘UNITEE’ competition. The competition asks students to design a t-shirt inspired by the theme of unity. Each form had selected their chosen design and these designs were then brought to life by Mrs Freer in our Technology department. On Friday, the time came to see these final designs in a celebratory virtual fashion show.

The fashion show involved staff from across the school modelling the designs created by the different forms. There were some excellent model poses and it was great to see so many of our teachers getting involved and showing off their modelling skills!

At the start of the assembly, we also wanted to take some time to remember Zaynab from Year 10 who tragically passed away this year. Zaynab had written about the importance of unity and the power of young people to grow and make the world a better place. Her friends read her thoughtful words at the start of the assembly and it was a moving reminder about the importance of uniting together.

We were very excited to welcome two guests to join us in our show. We were able to hear from Mike Haines OBE, the creator of the UNITEES national competition. Mike Haines spoke to us about how important the message of unity was to him personally and spoke movingly about how he was inspired to create the competition to combat hatred and extremism in the world and instead spread a message of tolerance and understanding. After watching our virtual show, Mike contacted us to let us know how impressed he was with our designs. He said, “I have watched that video four or five times now. It is brilliant. A really massive well done and congratulations to your school, teachers, staff and the amazing girls. You all did such a wonderful job and all the designs are of the highest order. I am seriously impressed.” We hope to be able to invite Mike to speak at the school again in the future, hopefully in person!

We were also lucky to be able to welcome our local MP, Katherine Fletcher into our school to see our designs and answer questions from our new student leadership team during the assembly. Katherine took part in our International Women’s Day celebrations earlier this year and it was brilliant to be able to welcome her into school in person. Katherine was also impressed with the designs created by our students, especially the design created by 10H!

We were so impressed by the creativity and compassion shown by our students throughout the competition. The winners for the national competition are to be announced later this month, but we have also held a school competition to find out our winning designs from each year group. We can’t wait to celebrate the winning designs!

Here is a link to a slideshow featuring the fantastic T-shirt designs https://tinyurl.com/9xzhtr84

Here is a link to a slideshow showing our form winners! https://youtu.be/u01-Yw0wqhM

Miss Starkie,

Equality Lead

Sports Day

Posted on July 8, 2021September 15, 2021 by admin

On Thursday 1st of July, we held Sports Day 2021. This year saw a slightly different version of Sports Day with our girls participating in Athletics, Netball and the Rounders Interform competition. Looking around the field and netball courts, I saw a buzz of participation and team spirit. This was fantastic to see after the year we have had in school due to COVID. Outstanding performances in all three sports were also observed, which showed the high level of competition throughout the day. The winners of Sports Day will be announced in our end of year assembly, where we will be celebrating the successes and fantastic performances throughout the day. I am certainly very proud of all our students and staff at PGHS for their enthusiasm, passion and determination. Definitely a highlight of 2021 for PGHS and I already can’t wait for Sports Day 2022!

Mrs Naylor
Curriculum Leader for Performance, Sport and Health