March 2026 - Penwortham Girls' High School

Life Skills News

Posted on March 26, 2026March 26, 2026 by Michelle Murray

This term has been an inspiring and action-packed one for all Year groups, as students across the school have been exploring exciting and meaningful Life Skills topics designed to help them thrive in and beyond the classroom. Year 7 have been diving into the world of safety with energy and enthusiasm, learning how to stay safe around railway lines and busy roads while also discovering the confidence-boosting essentials of First Aid—skills that could one day help them save a life. Year 8 have been broadening their understanding of the world by investigating Protected Characteristics such as age, race and sexual orientation, engaging in thoughtful discussions on prejudice and discrimination and learning how celebrating diversity strengthens our whole community. Meanwhile, Year 9 have been channelingtheir inner changemakers through looking atCitizenship, exploring the Youth Justice System and discovering exciting ways they can become Active Citizens who create real, positive change in their community. At KS4, students have been tackling big ethical questions in Core RS, examining how religious beliefs shape views on medical topics such as blood transfusions and genetic engineering, sparking deep conversations about the intersection of science, values and personal choice. Altogether, it’s been a vibrant term full of learning that prepares our students not just for school, but for life.

Miss Lindsay, Curriculum Leader for Life Skills

Brass and Wind Progression Event

Posted on March 26, 2026March 26, 2026 by Michelle Murray

We were delighted to host Lancashire Music Service’s brass and wind progression event for pupils from Walton Le Dale Primary, Longton St. Oswalds, Cop Lane C of E, Ashbridge School, and Lostock Hall Primary.

Everyone had an incredible afternoon listening to and performing with our very talented PGHS orchestra.

Mrs Cattanach, Associate Assistant Headteacher

Music and Verse Evening

Posted on March 26, 2026March 26, 2026 by Michelle Murray

On Tuesday 24th February, our school hosted a wonderful Music and Verse Evening, showcasing the talent and dedication of students across multiple year groups.

The event featured GCSE performers preparing for their upcoming ensemble recordings, as well as Year 10 students who confidently took to the stage to perform solo pieces for the very first time. We were also delighted to see our Year 8 LAMDA students presenting their work as they prepare for their Speaking Verse and Prose examinations.

The evening was a fantastic opportunity for students to gain valuable performance experience in a supportive environment. Every performer demonstrated impressive commitment and skill, making it an enjoyable event for all who attended.

All students performed brilliantly, and the evening provided excellent preparation for their upcoming exams and assessments. We look forward to seeing their continued progress and success.

Mrs Cattanach

Associate Assistant Headteacher and Curriculum Leader for Music

Trip to Germany – A Winter Adventure

Posted on March 26, 2026March 26, 2026 by Michelle Murray

Last Christmas, I spent five days in Germany on a truly magical winter trip. It snowed the entire time we were there, which made everything feel like a real winter wonderland! The flight was around three hours, and arriving in the snow made it an unforgettable start to the holiday. On our first day, we took it easy after travelling and enjoyed a lovely light show in the evening.

The next day, we travelled into Munich, which was sehr schön (very beautiful). Just outside the train station, the buildings were incredibly impressive—the scale was huge and definitely one of the highlights of the trip. We also tried traditional German honey, which was delicious. Later, we ate at a restaurant with a stunning window view, and I really enjoyed exploring the city.

On the third day, we went souvenir shopping before riding a Ferris wheel, where we could see the Olympia Tower from above. We also visited a car museum that had been recommended to us, which was fascinating and great fun to explore.

We were lucky enough to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Germany. There was a spectacular firework display with our neighbours right outside the apartments where we were staying.

The final two days were more relaxed. We visited a Titanic museum, which was very interesting, and enjoyed a meal at a nearby Asian restaurant. On our last day, we explored a beautiful local church with stunning architecture, followed by a visit to a cosy café before heading to the airport.

Overall, it was an amazing trip, and I would love to visit Germany again in the future.

By Martha M

Year 9 Maths – Exploring the Fibonacci Sequence

Posted on March 26, 2026March 26, 2026 by Michelle Murray

Year 9 students have recently begun a new unit on sequences, where they are exploring different types of number patterns and how mathematics can be used to create beautiful designs.

One of the highlights of the unit has been investigating the Fibonacci sequence. Students learned that in this sequence, each number is found by adding the two previous numbers together (1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21…). They then used these numbers to construct squares with side lengths that match the sequence.

By carefully drawing the squares next to each other on squared paper, students created a growing pattern. Inside each square they then drew a quarter-circle arc, which gradually formed the famous Fibonacci spiral.

This activity allowed pupils to:

Explore number patterns in a visual way
Practise accurate mathematical drawing and measuring
See how mathematics appears in nature, art and design

Students really enjoyed seeing how a simple sequence of numbers can be used to create such an impressive geometric pattern. The finished spirals looked fantastic and demonstrated both excellent precision and creativity.

In the real world, the spiral appears because many natural systems grow proportionally, each new part grows relative to the previous size. This type of growth often produces a logarithmic spiral like the Fibonacci spiral.

Shells and Marine Life:

Some shells grow in spirals that expand but keep the same shape as the organism grows.

Nautilus shells
Snail shells
Ammonite fossils

Mrs Bennett

Mathematics Department

United Kingdom Mathematics Trust

Posted on March 26, 2026March 26, 2026 by Michelle Murray

Intermediate Mathematical Challenge 2026

At the end of January 2026, some Year 9 and 10 students took part in the annual challenge of the UKMT Intermediate Mathematics Challenge 2026.

This national event takes the form of a multiple-choice quiz based on using mathematical skills learnt in lessons to problem solve.

Over 4000 schools across the UK take part in this event and the standard of participation is high. Only the best achieving students can receive an award and to do so is recognition of the effort and ability of our students.

Once again, I am pleased to announce that our students have achieved one of our best ever set of results with 49 medals awarded. This represents a tremendous achievement for our students going up against some of the best other schools in the country.

This year’s prize winners are as follows:

Gold awards were achieved by the following:

(Year 9) Lesley Y (also best in school and best in Year 9).

Silver awards were achieved by the following:

(Year 10) Emily T (also best in Year 10), Isabella N, Arina A, Ruby M, Cherlotte Y, Georgia B and Sophie W.

(Year 9) Amelia F, Alisia J, Leisha P, Menaal A, Violet C

Bronze awards were achieved by the following:

(Year 10) Anya M, Ava T, Mariam A, Klara B, Jenya Z, Martha S, Phoebe B, Freya G, Jessica B, Sophia W, Julia M, Aaminah B, Isla S, Eva P, Philippa M and Lilah C.

(Year 9) Grace D, Beatrice S, Alicia E, Keita S, Emily H, Ellouise W, Veronica K, Amelia N, Eesha J, Maisie V, Tess W, Alice H, Darcey U, Ella B, Sahlah V, Rosie J, Lucy B, Helena G, Eda M and Lily O.

Congratulations to everybody involved. We are very much looking forward to the other Mathematical challenges this year.

Some advanced dates for your diaries.

UKMT Junior Challenge (Years 7 and 8) – Wednesday 29^th April 2026.

Mr Cheal

The Mathematics Department

Maths Transition Afternoon with Year 5

Posted on March 25, 2026March 25, 2026 by Michelle Murray

The Philosophy Cup

Posted on March 25, 2026March 25, 2026 by Michelle Murray

On 21st May, ten of our Year 9 students will be visiting Runshaw College to take part in the exciting Philosophy Cup; an inter-school competition that challenges students to think deeply, debate confidently and explore some of life’s biggest questions. Preparations are already well under way after students had a Teams meeting with university student and previous Philosophy Cup winner, Alex.

During the event, students will work in teams to analyse and discuss a range of fascinating philosophical cases. These include topics such as:

Is There Life After Death?
Can Machines Have Minds?
The Universe: Design or Chance?
Eating Animals and Eating Humans
Virtual Reality and Reality Itself
Is It Reasonable to Believe in Miracles?

The competition brings together students from a number of schools, giving our participants the opportunity to share ideas, develop their reasoning skills and engage in thoughtful debate with others who enjoy big questions just as much as they do.

The Philosophy Cup encourages students to listen carefully, consider different viewpoints, and build clear arguments—skills that are valuable not only in philosophy but across all areas of learning.

We are incredibly proud of the students representing our school and wish them the very best of luck as they prepare for this challenge.

Mrs Tattersall

Curriculum Leader for RE

Where’s Earthy?

Posted on March 25, 2026March 25, 2026 by Michelle Murray

Geography Department News

Posted on March 25, 2026March 25, 2026 by Michelle Murray

Lower School Geography

The Spring term is rapidly coming to an end and there has as ever been some wonderful work created by our Geographers.

Year 7 have produced wonderful Diary of a Migrant projects, based on numerous lessons and tasks and the final diaries are fantastic, with many student “roughing them up” to make them look like they have been on the long and arduous journey with the migrants. Some pictures included – great job Year 7 – well written and empathetic.

Year 8 have completed Mountain Safety Leaflets based on their current unit of study. These graded pieces have been well thought out and expertly put together in some cases. They include excellent advise for staying safe in our upland areas.

Year 9 are embarking on a unit on tectonics, but as they finished the last unit on Marine Environments, they had the chance to play the role of an Environment Agency employee carrying out a Cost-Benefit Analysis on a coastal defence plan in the south east. It highlighted the fact that not all coastal erosion can and should be stopped – sometimes the cost of defence is just too high.

GCSE Geography

Our GCSE Geographers have now had their March Mocks – the results are not in yet; a lot of marking to do! Get cracking with preparations for the summer Year 11. Look out for pictures from our upcoming Year 10 and 11 fieldtrips in future newsletters.

Mr Bowles

Curriculum Leader for Geography