PGHS Independent Online Learning in Mathematics
Life Skills News July 2021
All of the students started the academic year in Life Skills with a reflection on their experiences and thoughts about lockdown. KS3 students then looked at some of the content that they would have covered in the spring and summer term last year before moving on to this year’s program.
Year 7
One of the lessons recently looked at the right to education. This is some of the work that Miss Hollier did with 7P.
The students completed an optional extra task to create a biography on Malala after learning about the right to education.
Katie T, Chloe E and Faye G were awarded a heads commendation for their in-depth work.
This academic year, KS4 students spent time in some of their form sessions looking at this year’s content. Year 10 also recently took part in a sexual health and sexual content online drop-down day, which included a session from Tania Cockcroft who is the Community Sexual Health Education Lead for Lancashire Sexual Health Service. Tania discussed the importance of the ‘3 C’s’ with students – Communication, Consent and Contraception. Other sessions included sexual content online, fertility and infertility, routes in to parenthood and student voice with a pride month quiz.
The day was very successful and feedback from students was extremely positive. Here are a few of their comments:
“It has been very informative and helpful.”
“I found it interesting and I learnt lots of new things. I was unaware about STI information and their symptoms and the types of contraceptives.”
“I think it’s good to learn about it, since not everyone knows about these things and they might struggle if they are in one of the situations if they didn’t know what to do.”
There was also some extremely good feedback on the question about anything that the students would like to see in Life Skills lessons in the next academic year. The responses have been considered as part of the program of study for next year as student voice is important.
Finally, thank you to the parents/carers who completed the parental forms questionnaire on the RSE and Health Education Policy and also general questions about Life Skills. Again, the overall response was extremely positive. Your feedback is important to us and I look forward to working with you in the next academic year.
Mrs R Cahill
Life Skills Co-ordinator
SEND Rewards Picnic 2021
As part of this year’s Festival of Performance and the Arts, the SEND department took a number of students whom we support from all year groups for an afternoon of picnicking and pebble painting in Hurst Grange Park.
Not only was this a fantastic opportunity to get creative out of the classroom, the students were also able to develop their social interactions with both staff and peers in a relaxed environment.
The trip was organised to reward the resilience of our students during what has been and incredibly challenging year; some of them have had the upheaval of studying for GCSEs through multiple lockdowns, some of them have had to cope with the transition to High School in unprecedented circumstances. We are proud of each and every one of them and it was an absolute joy to see them connecting with the outdoors and embracing the fun of the afternoon.
Some wonderful pieces of art were created and we hope to display them in the Garden of Reflection which is scheduled to be developed over the next year.
The afternoon was a roaring success and many girls asked when we could do it again; as a result, we hope to make this an annual event.
Thank you to all staff and students involved for a glorious afternoon!
Mrs K McGibbon (SENCO)
Chatsworth House
On Friday 9th July, Year 10 and the English department went back in time to imagine what it must have been like to live during the Regency era. Following in Darcy and Elizabeth’s footsteps in ‘Pride and Prejudice’, we visited Chatsworth House to explore the House and its extensive gardens.
Many Year 10 are studying ‘Pride and Prejudice’ for GCSE English Literature and Chatsworth House was the inspiration for Pemberley in the novel. It was also a filming location for the version starring Keira Knightley.
Students were able to visit many of the locations mentioned in the novel, allowing them a great insight into the context and setting of the novel. 
Chatsworth is also home to many priceless works of art – a Da Vinci masterpiece, ancient sculptures from Rome, Greece and Egypt, plus priceless tapestries. It was a fascinating day out, as students were able to make links across the curriculum to many other subjects and also learn more about the role that the aristocracy have played in Britain’s history.
One highlight of the day for many of us was the opportunity to explore the estate. Students enjoyed the grotto, the maze and the woodlands – lots of great places for picnics!
At the end of the novel, Elizabeth is asked by her sister when she fell in love with Mr Darcy. In a tongue in cheek reply, she says “It has been coming on so gradually, that I hardly know when it began. But I believe I must date it from my first seeing his beautiful grounds at Pemberley.” Who can blame her?
Mrs Woodhouse
Curriculum Leader for English
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
The English Department was delighted to welcome Quantum Theatre into school to perform ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ for Year 8 on Thursday 17th June – just short of Midsummer! Usually, we host many performances throughout the year, or take groups to the theatre, so it felt like a welcome return back to normality after a year of “bubbles”. Fortunately, the weather decided to be kind to us and we were able to watch the performance outside, transforming the netball courts into an open-air theatre for the morning.
The theatre group were also delighted to be able to perform – we had initially booked the group back in 2019 and have had to postpone it numerous times. It felt like a milestone to get them into school! The performance was a lively introduction to Shakespeare on stage for Year 8 and they were a fantastic audience; attentive and appreciative.
The performance was highly engaging; the talented performers incorporated comedy, music and great costumes into their entertaining show.
Year 8 are currently working on drama skills in their English lessons, so this will have given them an insight into the importance of physical and vocal skills when developing a performance.
Mrs Woodhouse
Curriculum Leader for English
Online Introduction to UK Parliament
The whole of Year 10 had the opportunity to engage in a live online workshop delivered by staff from UK Parliament. During the session, students learned about the work and role of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Students learned about the difference between UK Parliament and Government, the work of MPs and members of the House of Lords, how laws are made and how to get their voices heard.
As part of the session, students were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to engage in a live Q&A session with Katherine Fletcher, the MP for South Ribble. Across 6 different classrooms, students submitted questions about education, her views on current affairs and life after Covid.
The session proved to be really engaging and left all students with a good understanding of the basics of UK Parliament – perhaps inspiring some future politicians too!
Mrs Snowdon
English Department
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Everyone in our school community has struggled at various points this year and throughout the year we’ve endeavoured to find ways of promoting the emotional health and wellbeing of our students.
Wellbeing Bingo is a really fun way for our students and their families to keep mentally healthy and we’ve provided a huge list of enjoyable activities to tick off!
Of course, your daughter may need more help and so there are several sources of help listed too.
Step into the NHS Competition
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
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
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
