Penistone Grammar School

Welcome to this fortnight’s newsletter.

Firstly, a polite reminder to all parents and carers to please park considerately on the roads surrounding school. We ask that you avoid parking in the turning bay or the bus bay at any time, to help keep our students safe and traffic flowing smoothly.

A further reminder that we are a cashless school. We’ve noticed a growing number of students requesting money for the bus home at the end of the day. Please ensure your child has the necessary funds in advance, as we are unable to provide cash from school and this often puts staff in a difficult position.

As always, the newsletter is full of important updates, including details of Year 10 practice exams, Science revision resources for Year 11, how to sign up to the next Compass Be workshop, careers updates, and more. Plus, we’re inviting stallholders to sign up for the next PGS Live event - details below.

As we move through a busy and exciting term, we’ve got plenty of important updates and opportunities to share with you. In this edition, you’ll find details about our recent Vaping Awareness Day, an update on bus service disruptions, and key information for our outgoing Year 11 students. We’re also bringing you the latest on curriculumdevelopments, careers news, and upcoming Compass Be workshops. Plus, don't miss out on what's happening in our Social Enterprise Club!

Be sure to check the calendar for important dates and events coming up.

As we approach the end of the spring term, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has contributed to another incredible term at Penistone Grammar School. Our students continue to amaze us with their talent, determination, and community spirit.

Sometimes our students' modesty means we miss out on their extracurricular successes, but we know parents and carers would love to share these stories! If you have positive news about our students, please send the details (and a photo if possible) to enquiries@penistone-gs.uk. 

We look forward to seeing what they will accomplish in the upcoming half term! #beproud

As we approach the final stretch of the spring term, there’s a lot happening at PGS! Next week, our talented students will be taking to the stage for Legally Blonde (Tuesday 1 – Thursday 3 April), and we can't wait to see them perform after months of hard work.

We also have key updates on attendance and important information for Year 11 and 13 students; plus details about an upcoming Revision and Wellbeing Webinar designed to help students stay focused, manage stress, and make the most of exam season.

Lastly, congratulations to our Year 11 internal applicants for Post-16, who have received their offer letters this week – well done!

Read on for all the latest news and updates from PGS.

I hope this message finds you well. As we move into a busy few weeks, I wanted to share some important updates and reminders. Please take note of key dates in our school calendar, including upcoming assessments, events, and deadlines.

We are once again aware of some concerns regarding parking around the school site. We understand that parking around the school can be challenging. However, we kindly ask that you avoid blocking driveways on nearby streets, as residents need access in and out. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this matter.

Our recent Knife Crime Awareness Day was a success, and I would like to extend our sincere thanks to South Yorkshire Police for their invaluable support and engaging presentations.

I hope this newsletter finds you well as we settle further into the spring term. There’s plenty to share this week, including exciting opportunities and important reminders for students across all year groups.

First, I’m delighted to announce the development of a Friends of PGS community group! This initiative aims to raise funds for both the school and local charities, and we’d love to hear from anyone interested in getting involved. Being part of the group would involve attending occasional virtual meetings (once or twice per term) and helping to plan events like a car boot sale or an Easter Fair. If you'd like to participate, please complete this short form: https://forms.office.com/e/HwS8BThuVJ.

In other news, our Year 11 students are focusing on GCSE strategies to help them prepare effectively for their upcoming exams. We’re also conducting Post-16 interviews to support them in planning their next steps.

As we reach the end of a busy and exciting half-term, I am incredibly proud of the achievements of our students, both inside and outside the classroom. This newsletter highlights just a few of their outstanding accomplishments, demonstrating their resilience, dedication, and passion.  

From Alfie’s impressive debut at the Welsh Ski Championships to Harry’s incredible comeback in BJJ, securing national and international titles, our students continue to push themselves to new heights. Our Year 9 prefects have also been making a difference through their research project, leading to improvements in school facilities. Meanwhile, preparations for our much-anticipated production of Legally Blonde are well underway, with tickets now on sale for what promises to be a fantastic show!  

Welcome to this edition of our school newsletter. As always, there is plenty happening across our school community, and we are delighted to share some key updates with you.

This week, our Year 10 French and Spanish students have been taking part in mock speaking exams, giving them valuable practice ahead of their final assessments. We know this can be a nerve-wracking experience, and we encourage students to make use of the support available in the Languages Department.

We also have an exciting opportunity for one more student to join our World Challenge Expedition to Norway in 2026. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to explore the fjords by kayak and camp in the mountains—if your child is interested, please get in touch as soon as possible, further details below.

What a fantastic start to the term! Last week saw a range of impactful events, including Luke Ambler’s inspiring resilience sessions, workshops on young passenger and driver safety, and Year 9 students beginning their options process—an important step in shaping their future.

We’re also delighted to announce the arrival of our new mini-bus, generously funded by the Penistone Grammar School Foundation Governors. This wonderful addition will open up more opportunities for trips and activities. Our thanks go to Neville Shiggins, Chair of the Foundation Governors Trust, and the team for their support.

This newsletter covers key updates, including the Post-16 application deadline, vaccination consent forms, curriculum updates for Key Stages 3 and 4, extra-curricular clubs, and information about the Penistone Youth Hub.

Happy New Year! I hope you had a restful holiday season. As we step into 2025, it’s been a frosty start with the recent snow day closures on Monday and Tuesday. We appreciate your understanding as we prioritise the safety of our students, staff, and parents / carers. With icy conditions persisting, I’d like to remind everyone of the importance of staying safe around the school site and while travelling to and from school. Please take extra care, particularly on untreated paths, and encourage your children to do the same.

This month’s newsletter is packed with key updates, events, and reminders to help us all begin the term with focus and enthusiasm. Highlights include details about the Year 9 GCSE Options Evening, the Year 11 post-16 application deadline, and careers support sessions to assist students in planning their next steps.

As we approach the end of the autumn term, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who has contributed to another incredible term at Penistone Grammar School. Our students continue to amaze us with their talent, determination, and community spirit.

Sometimes our students' modesty means we miss out on their extracurricular successes, but we know parents and carers would love to share these stories! If you have positive news about our students, please send the details (and a photo if possible) to enquiries@penistone-gs.uk. 

We look forward to seeing what they will accomplish in the upcoming half term! #beproud

Mr Crook

Welcome to this week’s newsletter, where we share the latest updates and highlights from our school community. As the festive season approaches, we’re proud to showcase the generosity and spirit of our students, staff, and families. From supporting local families at Christmas to celebrating the success of our recent Christmas Fair, it’s clear that kindness and collaboration are at the heart of Penistone Grammar School.  

In this issue, you’ll find important calendar updates, information about music lessons, and a vital message about cold water safety. There’s also news and updates from our Post-16 and curriculum teams.

Thank you for your continued support as we move closer to the holiday break. We hope you find this week’s newsletter both informative and inspiring.

As we approach the festive season, I’d like to take a moment to update you on the latest news from PGS.

This year, we are once again supporting Sheffield Children’s Hospital by collecting donations for their Christmas hampers, which are distributed to staff and parents on the wards over Christmas. If you would like to contribute items, such as non-perishable food and toiletries, please refer to the donation news item below for more details.

Our PGS Christmas Fair is just around the corner, and it promises to be a wonderful event. We look forward to seeing you there for some festive fun, great entertainment, and opportunities to support our school community. It's always a highlight of the year, and we are grateful for your ongoing support.

Welcome to the latest edition of the PGS Fortnightly Newsletter! In this issue we have implemented a variety of your suggestions arising from the latest communications survey - you can read more about the results in the "You Said, We Did" section below. We also have the first instalment of a regular series highlighting the work done by staff from different departments around school - first up are our fantastic Achievement Leaders.

In this issue, the Post 16 update provides important information about the upcoming progress exams and the deadline for Year 12 work experience registration, so be sure to check those out, as well as a report from our successful Post 16 Open Evening.

As we approach the end of the first half term of 2024-25, we want to extend a huge "well done" to our students, staff, families, and the wider community for all they have accomplished over the past eight weeks. A special shout-out goes to our Year 7 students, who have embraced the transition to secondary school with such a positive mindset. To learn more about what we've achieved this term, be sure to read our new half-termly Student Celebration Newsletter. We're confident you'll be amazed by just how incredible our students are.

When we reached out for updates on our students' accomplishments, we already recognised the exceptional talent within our school community. However, we have been truly amazed by the number of students achieving success both academically and beyond.

To honour these achievements, we will be providing a student achievement update at the end of each half term, highlighting all that our students have accomplished in the weeks prior.

In this edition of the PGS Fortnightly Newsletter, you will find important updates including: information on Restart a Heart Day; a Parent / Carer feedback form regarding our communications; and details about available school governor vacancies. We also address parking concerns, provide curriculum updates, and highlight our enrichment activities.

In this edition of the PGS Newsletter you'll find a number of important updates, including updates to our curriculum web pages and effort grade descriptors, the upcoming Year 11 practice exams, and Year 12 work experience. Please do read the attached information in these sections, particularly if your child is in Year 11 or 12. Parents of Year 12 students will need to make sure they have completed the work experience consent form. 

As we head towards the middle of this first half term we have a number of items requiring your attention - below you will find the vaccination schedule and link to consent forms, updates on uniform, ParentPay, and attendance. We are also sharing with you the contact information for Penistone Food Buddies, who are performing an amazing service in our community. This service is available to anyone living in the Penistone East or West wards, not just those whose children attend PGS, so please do feel free to pass the information to anyone who you think may benefit. 

It's Week 2B and we're back into the swing of another busy school year! Thank you to all parents and carers for your support at this crucial time in your child's school career, we understand just how busy September is for our families and we appreciate your efforts in helping us to transition smoothly into 2024-25.

Below we have important curriculum information for years 7 - 11 from English, History and Science; updates from our attendance team; details about external SEND events happening in the wider Barnsley community; and introductions from our recently-appointed prefects.

It's a pleasure to welcome our students back into school for what promises to be another action-packed year of extra-curricular activities, sporting achievements, and academic success. For new students and their families, these fortnightly newsletter updates will be your main source of general school news and announcements.

In this, our first bulletin of the 2024-25 academic year, you will find upcoming calendar dates and home learning guidance, plus important information about reception services and communication updates.

It has been an extraordinary year! It's hard to believe that summer is already here, the time has just flown by. This year has been an incredible journey in nurturing personal growth at our school, with a wide range of enriching activities that have expanded our students' horizons. We've ventured globally with international adventures like the World Challenge trip to Croatia, and cultural excursions to Madrid and Andalucía.

Locally, our students have discovered gems such as Penistone Paramount, York Maze, and the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, and have taken part in specialised educational visits to Bletchley Park and the Van Gogh Experience... 

These past two weeks have been eventful! Last week marked the Face Off Week, where the five houses vied for the coveted house trophy. A variety of challenges took place throughout the week, ranging from lunchtime quizzes to 'Ring My Bell' virtual mentor time challenges, keepy-ups, and Mario Kart races! The lead changed multiple times, culminating in Varsity (Sports Day) on Friday. We were in luck with the glorious weather, it was a joy to witness our students participating in such a diverse array of sporting events, including boccia, three-legged races, sprints, and the team relay. During period 5, the entire school gathered on the field to observe the 100m finals and the highly competitive—albeit amusing—teacher races. It was heart-warming to see students rooting for one another and their respective houses.

Welcome to this edition of the Fortnightly Digest. This week's edition will focus on a variety of topics, from Year 10 internal practice exam details, to Year 11 & 13 results days, sporting success, and numerous personal development updates.

We are immensely proud of our Year 11s and Year 13s for the manner in which they have tackled their exams. We continue to send them our best wishes as they approach the conclusion of the exam period.

Welcome to this edition of the Fortnightly Digest. This week's issue will highlight the amazing enrichment opportunities our students have engaged in. Additionally, we will continue to provide key information, important dates, and upcoming reminders.

Two weeks ago, we hosted our inaugural school show at the Penistone Paramount – School of Rock – and it was a remarkable event! I have never felt prouder of our students; watching them command the stage and impress us with their extraordinary acting and singing was a true honour.

Welcome to the latest edition of the Fortnightly Digest. In this issue, we will continue to bring you essential information, important dates, and friendly reminders. 

As the School of Rock becomes the focal point of discussion in our school community and our Year 11 students start their summer written exams, our students are finding themselves increasingly busy with numerous extracurricular opportunities. The next digest will bring you the highlights of the School of Rock production...

Welcome to this edition of the Fortnightly Update, where we'll keep you updated with key information, important dates, and upcoming reminders. 

Our house system competition is fierce, with Fulford currently edging ahead of Bowman by a narrow margin. However, the race is far from over, especially with events like Futsal and the art competition on the horizon. The lunchtime quizzes have been a resounding success, with nearly 500 entries last week alone...

Next week we look forward to our celebration assemblies, celebrating the successes of the past term. We also have the winning house celebration breakfast on Wednesday. This year’s house competition has been the closest in the fifteen-year history of the house system, with Fulford taking a narrow lead over Bowman. However, there are still events between now and the celebration breakfast next week, with everything to play for!

I encourage you to stay engaged with our school community...

In recent weeks, there has been a whirlwind of activity as students have fully immersed themselves in enriching experiences. Both our recent Madrid and ski trips were resounding successes, offering unforgettable opportunities for cultural exploration and adventure.

Our dedication to providing a holistic educational experience is further evident in the diverse array of extracurricular events that have captured the interests of our students, which are further detailed in this newsletter...

Welcome to the second Principal's Newsletter, I will be writing to all members of our school community on a termly basis from September 2023.

As we come to the close to 2023, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to parents / carers, staff and governors for their continued support towards Penistone Grammar School.

It's been an amazing first term. As we approach the festive season...

Welcome to the first Principal's Newsletter, I will be writing to all members of our school community on a half-termly basis from September 2023.

As we come to the close of the 2022/23 academic year, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to parents / carers, staff and governors for their continued support towards Penistone Grammar School.

It's been an amazing year yet again. In February, we welcomed Ofsted who ratified that Penistone Grammar School is still a good school.