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Group science 2023

Admissions

open evening overall results posters 2022

If you are considering Great Baddow High School for your child please have a look through our Great Baddow High School Brochure and the Great Baddow High School Prospectus to read more about how we help our students achieve their academic potential and develop skills and attributes that enable them to follow their chosen paths and watch our ‘welcome to Great Baddow High School’ film.

 

General Information

VIEW INFORMATION SHEET: EXAM RESULTS 2023 HERE

VIEW INFORMATION SHEET: OFSTED INSPECTION 2022 HERE

Admissions Information

Number of students as at September 2023: 1528

The school pupil admission number (PAN) for Years 7-11 is 250 per year.

Number admitted to the school in September 2023: 251

Number of applications to enter Year 7 for September 2023: 990

Application Process

For places in 2025, applications must be made by 31st October 2024.

If your child is in Year 6 of a primary or junior school during the 2024/25 academic year, you will need to apply for their secondary school place for September 2025 via Essex County Council  Admissions | Essex County Council. 

The closing date for applications for Year 7 in September 2025: 31st October 2024.

Applications for the 2024 school year are now closed. 

For information about making a late application for a secondary (Year 7) school place, please refer to the admissions information at Essex County Council  Admissions | Essex County Council. 

Please note: All applications received after the closing date will be treated as late by Essex County Council and will only be processed after all on-time applications. You are less likely to get a place at one of your preferred schools if you apply late.

It is the responsibility of parents to make an application for their child’s secondary school place.  It is not necessary to wait to receive an application form or a letter before you apply.

We also offer a Sports Selection Scheme for students who do not meet criteria 1,2, 3 or 4 in our admission policy. Up to 10% of Year 7 students are selected for places at Great Baddow High School on the basis of aptitude for sport.

The selection process takes place following a practical activities day at Great Baddow High School. Students are assessed for their level of speed, balance, awareness, agility, endurance, coordination and ability at two sports chosen by the student.

For further information about entry to Great Baddow High School through the Sport Selection Scheme visit our Sports Selection Scheme page on our website here. 

Admission Appeals

If your child is not offered a place at our school, you can appeal against the decision.

To find out more about the timeline and process to appeal an admission decision, please visit the Local Authority website:

https://www.essex.gov.uk/after-your-school-offer/appeals

Mid-year admissions: Please contact Mrs G  Justier on 01245 265821 for information and an application form.

Sixth Form admissions: Please contact Mrs J Ferguson, Head of Sixth Form, on 01245 265821

Downloads

Admissions Date  
Great Baddow High School Brochure 18th Sep 2023 Download
Great Baddow High School Prospectus 18th Sep 2023 Download
Admission Policy 2024-25 07th Dec 2022 Download
Sports Selection Scheme Supplementary Information Form 2024-25 07th Dec 2022 Download
Admissions Policy 2023-24 11th Mar 2022 Download
Sports Selection Information Form 2023-24 11th Mar 2022 Download
Admissions Policy 2022-2023 22nd Feb 2021 Download
GBHS Priority Admission Area 14th Sep 2020 Download

Latest News & Twitter

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Year 8 and 10 Students visit German Christmas Market in Muni...
1st Dec 2023
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Year 8 and 10 Students visit German Christmas Market in Munich

München Weihnachtsmarkt Klassenfahrt   This week forty Year 8 and 10 students departed Great Baddow to fly to Munich. After landing we took the coach to drive to the Youth Hostel and after settling in and a German style dinner, we dressed warm to face the snow and headed off to explore the Winter Festival at the Theresienwiese where normally the Octoberfest takes place. The Tollwood festival is a spectacular display of lights and  21st century German culture.   On Wednesday, Mrs Fox organised her own special and very interesting sightseeing tour. We visited the Lady of Munich and saw the Devil’s footprint which showed a twist of divine intervention.  We loved the snow and even managed to build a few snowmen. Despite the cold temperature, Germans are mad enough to surf in the freezing waters of the river Eisbach (literally meaning freezing stream) but unfortunately none of us braved the dip. Then it was time to explore the traditional Christmas market. Lots of presents for family and friends were bought and typical German food was tried by all. A clear winner were the roasted nuts and Kartoffel Tornados. In the evening, we decided to revisit Tolwood for more street performances, music and celebrations.   Luckily, we had planned on Thursday to visit BMW Welt as it was snowing heavily and we also got a glimpse of the Olympic Park. Students, and especially the staff, enjoyed testing their balancing abilities on traditional and modern BMW motorcycles. The Elvis car for 8 Million Euro was a real treat. In the afternoon we explored the Deutsche Museum which is a technological marvel – we could have spent all day there as it was so interactive. We ploughed through the snow and climbed 306 steps to get a bird’s eye view of the centre of Munich with snow topped roofs. With the choir from the townhall balcony, we chose our last dinner at the Christmas Market and heading back for our last night at the Youth Hostel.   On our last day, Friday, we left our home away from home for the last time and took the bus to the Allianz Arena to see where the magic of Bayern Munich happens.  A massive thank you to all members of staff Mr Shah, Mr Fox, Mr Jackson and Mrs Leinemann and our wonderful Year 8 and 10 students. They were amazing.  
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Winter Concert at Chelmsford Cathedral
1st Dec 2023
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Winter Concert at Chelmsford Cathedral

On Monday 27th November an audience of 600 parents and students enjoyed the Great Baddow High School Winter Concert within the beautiful setting of Chelmsford Cathedral.  The concert featured performances from all the extra-curricular clubs run by the music department (minus Percussion Club, Music Tekk Club, and The Rock Band Club who will all feature in our next concert). Full details of our upcoming events can be found here. There were collaborations between Art and Drama too with the Art department displaying their Christmas card entries whilst the KS4 Drama leads prepared three short sketches devised around winter poems selected by the students. The evening had many highlights within the 80-minutes of music performed by our students but some of the credible mentions go to: Our exceptional Soloists: Hazel K (Y8) 'Tico Tico No Fuba' on Flute; Ava S (Y10) 'The Wizard and I' from Wicked the Musical; Luke M (Y10) 'Nocturne in Eb Major' by Chopin on Piano; Ollie K (Y13) with his own, very moving Composition for his friend Rosie; Jasmine A (Y13) 'Somewhere Only We Know' with the BSC; and Ben M (Y10) 'Evernore' from Beauty and the Beast. Our Readers: Ava M (Y11) and Iris O (Y10) who read winter poems. The BSC (Baddow Signing Choir) who made their debut at a Winter Concert and communicated the songs 'Mountain' (alongside Baddow Voices) and 'Somewhere Only We Know' which inspired over 70 students to learn the signs to the entire song on the day of the concert and join their performance at the Cathedral. Choir 16 (The Competitive Choir) also gave their debut live performances of 'Rise Up' by Andra Day and 'Seasons of Love'. There were lots of emotions after their outstanding performances and then the announcement that they have made it through to the final of the Stratford and East London Choral Competition (our first ever entry into competitive singing). The Year 7 Choir, consisting of 63 students who all learnt the song as part of the classroom curriculum, gave a heart-warming performance of John Farnham's 'You're The Voice' concluding their performance with an acapella refrain of the chorus with no conductor. They were an exceptional credit to themselves all night and have kickstarted their Baddow music journeys in style. The extra nice part of the Winter Concert this year is that we are enjoying it all again on Friday 1st December performing to 150 students from Beehive Lane, Larkrise and Mildmay Prinary schools. This is our first matinee of the Winter Concert and we will thoroughly enjoy singing carols with the primary students who had been preparing them to perform. Our thanks, as always, to the staff and parents who supported such an incredible event. We look forward to welcoming you all to our next events and the Music Department wish you a very merry Christmas.
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Science and Engineering Saturday Club
21st Nov 2023
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Science and Engineering Saturday Club

Chelmsford Science and Engineering Society have a fantastic opportunity that is open for all Year 10 students who are studying science subjects (biology, chemistry, physics, D&T, maths, computer science etc). CSES and ARU would like to invite Year 10 students to apply for a place at their Saturday Science and Engineering club which starts in January 2024 and will run for 15 weeks.  The club,  under the umbrella of the National Saturday Club (NSC), runs from10.00am – 12.30pm on Saturday mornings during term time at Anglia Ruskin’s Chelmsford Campus. More information about the National Saturday Clubs can be found on their website here.  Further information about CSES and ARU can be found on their respective web sites (https://cses.org.uk  and  CSES at Anglia Ruskin University - ARU). Club members will experience a range of different Science and Engineering topics using the state-of-the-art Super Lab and workshop facilities at ARUs Chelmsford Campus. Each session will explore the science and engineering behind real life activities and problems that can affect our daily lives. In addition to laboratory and workshop sessions there are also visits to science and technology related organisations. The programme is delivered totally free of charge to Club members and applications are open to all Year 10 students who are studying science subjects. The only thing they are looking for is a commitment to attend regularly, have a passion for science and technology and a willingness to explore new subject areas. If your child is interested in applying for a place, please visit https://saturday-club.org/join-a-club/ and fill out the form. They aim to start the Club on Saturday 27th January, but places are limited. Please note, that this is not a drop-in Club. They have a maximum of thirty places and if your child is successful in securing a place, they expect them to attend every week during their 2024 programme.  
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Geography Students Experience the Wonder of the Northern Lig...
17th Nov 2023
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Geography Students Experience the Wonder of the Northern Lights

As we read the news regarding the continuing earthquakes in Iceland and the concerns about a possible volcanic eruption, our thoughts go the residents of Grindavik who are being evacuated from their homes. The recent developments are being watched by our A Level Geography students as they consider the wonders that they witnessed on their recent trip to Iceland and the possible devastation that a volcanic eruption is potentially going to cause. However as we reflect on the Sixth Form trip, we are fortunate that it did not disappoint, as it allowed our Year 13 students to not just understand but experience, the enormous geographic forces which have shaped the countries amazing and varied landscape! Upon arrival in Iceland, we were greeted by interesting conversations with passport security around the 1400 earthquakes they had had in the previous 24 hours! The premise of feeling actual ground shaking or experiencing a volcanic eruption made for an exciting start to the trip! An early flight allowed the students to make the most of the first day. The day’s activities included crossing over one the world’s major plate boundaries- The mid-Atlantic ridge, walking through colourful geothermal fields of various mud pools and a trip to Reykjavik, the northern most capital city of the world. However, I think most would agree the highlight of the day was a trip to the hotel car park… Here we were lucky enough to see the Northern lights out in full force! What started as a tiny green smudge in the sky quickly transformed into a sweeping light show of vivid greens and pinks. They definitely lived up to their ‘wonder of the world’ title, remaining a talking point for staff and students for the rest of the trip! The remaining days were packed full of more amazing experiences including all three golden circle destinations (Thingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area, and Gullfoss waterfall), a dip in the secret lagoon and a breathtaking walk up to the Sólheimajökulll glacier. However, the lava tunnel could not go without a special mention. The 1.4km tunnel was created over 5000 years ago by an enormous volcanic eruption. The rocks within the tunnel had been formed by cooled lava, the minerals from which coloured the walls in a range of yellows, reds and oranges.  However, the beautiful vibrancy was lost when our guide turned out the lights leaving us all in an absolute darkness which many of us had never experienced!  The geography department are already looking forward to returning soon to share these awe-inspiring experiences with future Year 13 students. However, it was lovely to see that most of our Sixth Form students were already discussing their own plans to return whilst we were still there! In light of the recent tectonic activity, it will be interesting to see if the landscape has changed upon our next visit.  
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BTEC Sport Students Receive Fantastic Feedback at Panathlon...
9th Nov 2023
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BTEC Sport Students Receive Fantastic Feedback at Panathlon Event

BTEC Level 3 Sport students take part in several events as sports leaders, to support work within their course and to gain experience of leading a variety of young people with varied disabilities and needs. This is so important for our students as it gives them great opportunities to become an all-rounded individual with lots of experiences with working with different people. Year 12 and some of our Year 13 BTEC sport students attended the Panathlon event on Tuesday 7th November at the London Aquatic Centre in Stratford and helped lead the event. They worked with pupils with multiple disabilities and needs aged from 7-18 and were fantastic.  The students were phenomenal and we received multiple comments and emails with lots of fantastic feedback from the organisers and schools about our Great Baddow High School students. One email said: "Can we all thank the leaders from Great Baddow High School. They were all brilliant, both in and out the pool and I thought they were great with all the kids and helped them enjoy themselves."  Students who attended the event said: Lisa L (Year 12) - "I really enjoyed working with the young pupils, they made me happy seeing them so happy and proud of themselves being able to get in the water and compete." Fraser C  (Year 12) – "It was really good to see them getting involved in sport considering their different needs and it was so nice to be involved with helping them to achieve." Olly P (Year 13) – "I really enjoyed doing the Panathlon because it’s nice to help give these young people opportunities that they might be able to access, it was awesome to get to know the kids and one of them became my buddy and actually knew my name the whole day." We were also fortunate enough to spend a bit of time with the Great Britain divers in their elite environment. This included meeting Olympic diver Tom Daley, which we were all very excited about.
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Year 11 Students Enjoy Robot Challenge with BAE Systems
8th Nov 2023
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Year 11 Students Enjoy Robot Challenge with BAE Systems

Year 11 Computer Science students were privileged to be visited by BAE Systems engineers delivering a STEM session on robotics. The three hour session began with an overview of what BAE Systems do as a company and what it is like to be an engineer working for them. Students had the opportunity to ask a few questions and gain real insight into the daily work that the visiting professionals undertake. This led students into the first task of the day where they were introduced to ‘Sphero’ – a robotic ball that is controlled by an app. Students’ were immediately engaged in the task of understanding the robots capabilities within the context of exploring and mapping a disaster zone where humans cannot enter. There was a great deal of fun had at this point and students could have easily spent hours making the robots cruise around the hall. However, they were redirected to the next task which was using drag and drop coding to navigate a course through chair legs. This proved quite the challenge for students. They were required to use knowledge of kinematics to solve this part of the problem. Most students were able to complete the course within the allotted time using ‘scientific method’, and test/re-test principles. After a well deserved break, students were greeted back into the main hall and presented immediately with a ‘race course’ type challenge in front of them. They were required to visualise the course, take measurements, calculate angles, velocity and finally write the code to ensure the robot navigated the course correctly. This was quite a difficult challenge, stretching the students’ capabilities. Nevertheless, they showed their mettle and were totally engaged in trying to succeed. After a period of preparation the time had come for students to race the robots. We were graced with dimmed lighting, disco effects and appropriate music to set the atmosphere courtesy of our very own Archie in Year 11. With that, the race was on and the crowd went wild! All of our students had a fantastic time learning how to code these robots and putting into practice skills they have learned in maths and physics. It was a truly inspirational experience for them and one we hope to emulate in the future by forging a secure collaboration with BAE Systems. A massive thank you to Dan, Gary & Rhea from BAE Systems for providing our students with such a fabulous experience, we look forward to your next visit and are excited for the future opportunities.
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GBHS Welcomes Visitors from our German Exhange Partner Schoo...
2nd Nov 2023
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GBHS Welcomes Visitors from our German Exhange Partner School in...

Hallo! Guten Tag! Willkommen! On Friday 20th October GBHS had a fantastic opportunity to welcome 20 students and their teachers from our Partner school in Eschenbach, Bavaria, Germany.  The visitors were already on a residential stay in London and were excited to be invited to our school for the day, to experience lessons and school life at a typical British school. Around 25 Year 9 and Year 10 GBHS students studying German were partnered with our guests for the day. Our students took their" buddying" role very seriously indeed, escorted them to lessons, organising groups and giving our visitors a very warm GBHS welcome!. Lunchtime in the diner was just a buzzing crowd of students wanting to chat with the guests. Students have already been in contact with their new made friends! The Partner School Exchange Programme was set up by Mrs Fox back in 2006. Countless students throughout this time have taken part in the exchange programme, allowing them, and their families, to make long standing friendships. We are very keen to keep this partnerships alive and thriving.  Well done Year 9 and 10. Thank you to all buddies and, class members and staff for accommodating our guests and making it a wonderful day to end the half-term!  
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Year 7 & 8 Students Explore the Real World Applicati...
30th Oct 2023
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Year 7 & 8 Students Explore the Real World Applications o...

Students in Year 7 & 8 were privileged to have the opportunity to experience the depths of our oceans to the furthest points in space. The @roadshow_team in collaboration with BAE Systems, the Royal Navy and the Royal Airforce put on a spectacular show for our students to enjoy. They got ‘hands on’ exploring some of the engineering puzzles that deep sea and outer space exploration provide. Students were able to understand that the problems posed by each scenario are not  necessarily unique and the innovative ways of solving them can provide answers to similar problems in opposite areas. The ‘stand out’ wow factor which will not be forgotten is the scaled demonstration of the size of our Sun relative to our Earth. Bringing this concept to life in front of their eyes really captivated their interest and will certainly make that part of the curriculum all the more memorable. We hope the performance will inspire the next generation of engineers! Who knows? One of our students may be responsible for putting people on Mars within the turn of the decade!
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GBHS students visit Chelmsford Science Festival at Anglia Ru...
20th Oct 2023
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GBHS students visit Chelmsford Science Festival at Anglia Ruskin...

On Wednesday 18th October, 22 students from Key stage 4 & 5 were accompanied on a trip to the Chelmsford Science Festival at Anglia Ruskin University. Students were able to take part in a varied number of hands on experiences as well as lectures at the event. The day started with a hands on experience exploring the use of AI models in state of the art electric vehicles. This was possibly the most enjoyable part for some as they got to ‘play’ inside several different TESLA cars. Afterwards we were whisked away to a lecture from Prof Graham Ball on computational Biology including the use of AI to create models which can be used in drug development and disease treatment and management. The content and potential application of AI here was mind blowing! Students then took part in a session where auditory and visual perceptions were changed, exploring what it may be like to live life with deaf/blindness. Students really engaged well within the session and will look at the world in a different light because of it. After lunch, students took part in a hands on A&E trauma response exercise. This small session taught them what paramedics would do when attending the scene of an injury and then what happens as the patient is taken into to A&E. The group then also had time to practice their midwifery skills and discussed public health. Finally, students rounded things off with sessions on engineering where they put their maths skills to good use and then a lecture on understanding the use of AI in business models. The students really enjoyed the day and hopefully it has given them some experiences to consider where they might like to take their own career in the future, making STEM relevant to the everyday.
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Sixth Form Open Evening 2023
20th Oct 2023
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Sixth Form Open Evening 2023

Thursday night saw unprecedented numbers attending our annual Sixth Form Open Evening, with Year 11 students from near and far coming along to see what our Sixth Form has to offer. If you are a parent of a Year 11 student and looking for more information, visit our Sixth Form Admissions Page on our website where you will find a full copy of our Course Guide and Brochure, as well as presentations from each of the different subjects that are on offer. There is also a link to the Sixth Form Application Form, that must be completed by Friday 15th December 2023.  For further information, or to make an enquiry about applying for our Sixth Form, please contact: sixthformenquiries@gbhs.co.uk.    
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An Evening of Piano
11th Oct 2023
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An Evening of Piano

The Evening of Piano took place on Tuesday 10th October in Primmer Assembly Hall. Ten students took to the stool to perform a range of piano repertoire on the grand piano. Other students joined us and admired the performances by their peers, with all students taking inspiration from one another. The event was a very relaxing hour of music from our extremely talented students - rather apt for World Mental Health Day. Aside from Open Evening and the Curriculum Evenings for parents, this was the first music event of this academic year. There are fantastic opportunities coming up for students, including the expansion of the 'Evening of' series to include 'An Evening of Rhythm' and 'An Evening of Instruments: Brass, Strings and Woodwind'; a revamped 'Music Competition' in March; the regular concerts; High School Musical (the school show); and an Arts Fayre in July. For full details on our performance opportunities please click here Our events celebrate music and the creative arts and are for our school and wider community and most of the music events are free to attend. Please join us for future evenings. The next performance is: The Winter Concert at Chelmsford Cathedral - Monday 27th November 2023 (ticketed)  
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Year 8 Jersey Football Tour – October 2023
6th Oct 2023
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Year 8 Jersey Football Tour – October 2023

One of our regular school trips every year is the Year 8 boys football tour to Jersey. Organised by Mr Russell, the boys get to play against his former school, Victoria College, and other teams whilst also getting time to see the sights of Jersey. You can read more about the football tour below with a student report from Liam A (8E2) and as you will see it is popular trip with the boys, for the football and the multiple pit stops for food! Day 1 After waking before the crack of dawn myself and 13 other Year 8 boys were dropped at school for a 4.30am. start.  We were driven to Gatwick on the school minibus, happily waving goodbye to our parents, excited to be going on tour and having 2 days off school! Once we had cleared security, we grabbed some food and headed to our gate. We boarded the plane and In the blink of an eye we had landed in Jersey, while the rest of Baddow were heading to registration. On arrival at the airport, we picked up two rental mini-buses and drove to St Ouens Bay to have some time on the beach where we played some football, climbed a few small sand dunes and went exploring. We moved on to St Brelades Bay for brunch at the Midbay Café. Around midday we made our way to the hotel where we un-packed and prepared for our first fixture against Victoria College.  Upon arrival we were given a tour around the impressive and spacious grounds.  Mr Russell was very keen for us to win, with Victoria College being his former school and as some of the staff members were his close friends, the stakes were high!  Thankfully we triumphed with an impressive 7-1 win, with Harry F nominated ‘Man of the Match’ and Freddie C for scoring a memorable wonder goal from the halfway line. We finished our evening with dinner at McDonalds and headed back to the hotel with a quick stop at our local corner shop to gather food supply's, we were all rather tired from our early start and I am sure that the teacher were too. Day 2 We woke in time for breakfast in the hotel at 8 a.m. Shortly after 9.30 a.m. we walked into the town centre for an hour of shopping and sightseeing. At 10.30 a.m. we headed to Aqua Splash, unfortunately the pool was closed for lessons, but we had fun on the slides for a few hours. We then went to the market in the town centre of Jersey in St Helier and had pizza and pasta and looked around for a bit. After that we headed back to the hotel to get ready for our match against De la Salle. We got off to a great start with Thomas M scoring the first goal in under one minute and Jaiden M bagging 4 goals. It was an emphatic 10-1 win! Our keeper Reggie H had to come off because of an injury so we had our second-best star keeper Phillp K step into goal. Happy but heavy legged we made our way back to the hotel to shower and change for an enjoyable meal at Bella Italia. Dav 3 We had a small lay-in before meeting for breakfast at 8.30 and Mr Russell and Mr Brittle gave out awards to Harry F and Freddie C for their amazing contributions on tour. After room inspections, Mr Russell and Mr Brittle drove us for the last time back to Jersey airport.  We had a smooth journey back to Gatwick, landing just after 2 p.m.  After what felt like a long drive back to school, we were collected by our parents at 5 p.m., all extremely grateful to have had such a good time away, certainly a trip that we will all remember for the rest of our lives! Student Report Liam A 8E2
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Sixth Form Open Evening 2023
3rd Oct 2023
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Sixth Form Open Evening 2023

Our Sixth Form Open Evening will take place on Thursday 19th October 2023 from 6.00 - 8.00 p.m. and will provide students with the opportunity to find out about the courses available, meet current Sixth Form students and discuss options with some of our specialist teachers. We look forward to welcoming both current and external Year 11 students on the night. No booking is required. The 2024 Course Guide and brochure will be available shortly before our Sixth Form Open Evening to see our full range of courses that will be on offer, including 'NEW' for 2024 - A LEVEL SOCIOLOGY & A LEVEL SPANISH!
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Record Numbers Attend Annual Open Evening
29th Sep 2023
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Record Numbers Attend Annual Open Evening

Tuesday was our annual Open Evening and it was attended by record numbers of visitors. Literally thousands of people explored the school, attended the Headteacher presentations and heard from current Year 7 students Freya and Caleb and the Sixth Form Head Boy and Head Girl about life at GBHS. Prospective students and their parents were able to visit all departments in the school and get a taste of the outstanding facilities and resources that are enjoyed by our school community. Most visitors took advantage of the opportunity to use a student guide to tour the school, gaining first-hand information about the school straight from the horses' mouth – the students! I can honestly say that they are the best ambassadors for our school and each and every guide did a superb job presenting the school in its best light. The sports selection information talk by Mrs Davis on our sports entry programme was rammed to the rafters and each of the Headteacher talks had standing room only. This shows that the way we deliver outstanding education here at GBHS is working, with the message reaching our community, leading to record numbers of parents wanting to place their children in such a successful and dynamic environment. We are still running our tours of the school during the week for the rest of this half term and if you have a child in Year 6 and are interested in attending please enquire at the school reception or contact us on 01245 265821.
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D&T Students Visit the Victoria & Albert Mus...
25th Sep 2023
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D&T Students Visit the Victoria & Albert Museum

Sixth Form Design & Technology students visited the V&A in London during London Design & Fashion week. They all went on an afternoon adventure around London and saw the many brands putting on events and shows. This all helped broaden the students’ horizons and hopefully inspire them to continue in the world of design in their future careers. “There was an interesting temporary exhibit called Field Notes that was all about sustainability and links from designers and materials. Another student found the Ironwork section really helpful for how he may construct his final product.” “We were impressed by the variety of visitors to the museum during Design Week and found the amount of items on show quite overwhelming.” Year 12 & 13 Student Quotes
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Performing Arts Students Perform at Thriftwood College
25th Sep 2023
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Performing Arts Students Perform at Thriftwood College

This Wednesday Year 13 Performing Arts students performed at Thriftwood College to the entire cohort of students (Year 10,11, 12s and 13s). Our Year 13s have been working on a ‘community theatre’ performance, aimed at students with additional learning needs, using the theme ‘Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging.’ There were two performances, one that took inspiration from The Greatest Showman and one that was a modernised Cinderella, set in a high school. Both were uplifting and featured harmonised songs and great choreography. The students at Thriftwood responded brilliantly to the performances and were laughing and clapping the whole way through!  It was a very humbling experience for our students and extremely rewarding; seeing first hand the power of the arts and the impact this kind of experience can have on others. Well done to our talented performing arts students, who have worked tirelessly on these performances.  
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Best Ever Results at Great Baddow
24th Aug 2023
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Best Ever Results at Great Baddow

Great Baddow High school students achieved the schools best ever GCSE grades this year. Despite a significant change to grade boundaries to pre-pandemic levels, students at Great Baddow performed extremely well and reached new heights. A particular mention must be given to the following students for their outstanding achievements: - Alexander H - Eight grade 9’s and one Grade 8. James R - Seven grade 9’s and one grade 8. Melissa W - Six grade 9's, two grade 8’s and a D2*. Oliver B - Six grade 9’s and two grade 8’s. Dylan W - Six grade 9’s and two grade 8’s We would like to congratulate all of our students on their examination results. We are delighted that a record number of students will be joining us in our Sixth Form next year, and we wish all our students every success for the future as they embark on their chosen pathways. We are extremely proud of our students and the smiles and joy on their faces this morning makes all the hard work so worthwhile.
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17th Aug 2023
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GBHS A Level Results Buck National Trend

Year 13 students from Great Baddow High school were delighted that despite not sitting exams in Year 11, they bucked the national trend by achieving more A*-A grades than last year. We would like to congratulate all of our students on their fantastic achievements. Their qualifications will open up pathways for further success and we are delighted that they have gained destinations of choice as they embark on new adventures. Many of our students will now be studying degree courses at some of the most prestigious universities in the country with a number of students selecting apprenticeships or prominent roles of employment. A level and vocational results were extremely pleasing, but notable mention must be given to Daisy S (4 A* grades), Freddie T (3 A*, 1 A), Callum W and Harvey S (3 A*). Harvey has now secured his place at UEA in Medicine, Callum has secured a place to study Physics at Manchester, Freddie will be studying Astrophysics at Bath university and Daisy will be studying English with Philosophy at Sheffield university. We are extremely proud of our wonderful students and their achievements, and we wish them every success for the future.
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GBHS Students Compete in Deaf Sports Day Event
6th Jul 2023
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GBHS Students Compete in Deaf Sports Day Event

Nine of our deaf students attended a ‘Deaf Sports Day’ event in St Albans on Wednesday 5th July. The event was organised by Heathlands school, and we were keen to attend to enable us to meet and socialise with other deaf teenagers whilst taking part in some friendly competition against other resources bases and specialist schools for deaf children; Heathlands, Heathcotes and Knightsfield.   Our students were impressed with the venue and facilities ‘this running track is better than any we have used before, as it is clear where you need to run and it’s not slippy!’ Students took part in field events such as Shot put, long jump and high jump. Plus running events such as 400m, 200m, 100m sprint and 60m sprint. There was some tough (and very tall!) competition.   The event gave our students exposure to others in the deaf community and were surprised at the speed at which some used British Sign Language. We were also able to meet with male and female deaf adults running the events-which gave us excellent role models. Whilst putting our students productive and receptive signing skills to practice. We were very proud of how our students behaved and represented Great Baddow Resource Base for Deaf Students. Overall we came 3rd place with some students receiving individual 1st, 2nd and 3rd place rosettes. We look forward to attending the event again in July 2024!
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Great Baddow High School Wins Award for Young Carer Support
5th Jul 2023
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Great Baddow High School Wins Award for Young Carer Support

Great Baddow High School has been given a Bronze award for our work to make sure our students don’t miss out on an education because they are young carers. The Young Carers in Schools programme helps schools improve outcomes for young carers and celebrates good practice through the Young Carers in Schools Award. Young carers are responsible for emotional, practical or physical care for a parent, sibling or other family member who has a physical disability, mental health issue or substance misuse issue. The 2011 Census statistics revealed that there are just over 166,000 young carers in England, but research reveals that this is just the tip of the iceberg. The true figure could be closer to 800,000 young carers in England, equivalent to one in 5 secondary aged school children many of whom are unrecognised and unsupported. Research carried out by Carers Trust and The Children's Society shows that, on average, young carers miss or cut short 48 school days a year and often have lower levels of self-confidence, mental wellbeing and significantly lower educational attainment at GCSE level, because of their caring role. Ofsted's Common Inspection Framework states that inspectors will look at how well schools support young carers.  While some schools are doing this really well, others struggle and this causes real problems for young carers. To help schools support young carers, the programme offers a step-by-step guide for leaders, teachers and non-teaching staff, with practical tools designed to make it as easy as possible for schools.  “Over the past 12 months, we have been working towards the YCIS Young Carers in School Award. We are pleased to announce that we have now gained recognition of our level of support towards our Young Carers. To achieve the Bronze Award, we have demonstrated the effectiveness of our young carer support. This support includes homework clubs and drop-in sessions with a member of staff who is responsible for this vulnerable group of pupils as well as noticeboards and posters around the school to highlight our support.  We continue to encourage our Young Carers and their families around the school to seek support if it is ever needed.” Mr T Wells, Young Carer Lead at GBHS Luella Goold, Service Manager at The Children’s Society, is delighted that the Young Carers in Schools Programme is bringing about national change. “Hundreds of schools across England are participating in the Young Carers in Schools programme, using the tools and resources to improve their support systems, and ensuring that no child need miss out on educational opportunities because they are a carer. 74% of schools who have achieved a Young Carers in Schools Award have noticed improved attendance among their young carers, and 94% have noticed improvements in their wellbeing and confidence.”
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GBHS Scholars visit University of Sussex
30th Jun 2023
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GBHS Scholars visit University of Sussex

Our scholars, who completed their assignments earlier this year, had an opportunity to visit another university this week, travelling to Falmer, just outside of Brighton to visit the University of Sussex. Accompanied by Mrs Baker, Mr Lewis and Ruby (a past Year 13 student last year who has just finished her first year at Sussex University) acted as our tour guide. We spent the morning looking around the university, visiting the sports centre, library (600,000 books), lecture theatres and accommodation before having lunch in “Eat central”. We spent the afternoon on Brighton sea front getting an idea of what it may be like to study away from home. Students appreciated the contrast between the city centre university we visited in Cambridge and the campus university of Sussex. Everyone had a good time and hopefully realise that if higher education is something they wish to pursue when the time comes it is certainly a route open to them.  
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Bronze Duke of Edinburgh - Assessed Expedition 2023
30th Jun 2023
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Bronze Duke of Edinburgh - Assessed Expedition 2023

Last weekend, 39 of our Year 10 students completed their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award Expedition. Despite the extremely hot weather, the groups walked around the Roxwell countryside fully self-sufficient. They navigated pre-planned routes whilst carrying their tents, food and water, cooking equipment, clothes, and personal kit. The students were a real credit to our school and have developed incredible team skills during the award. Over 50% of students have completed the Award in it’s entirety (this includes their Volunteering, Physical Development and Skill Development that they have been doing since November) and more are soon to finish. We are very proud of the students and the Duke of Edinburgh staff team would like to share a massive congratulations with them!  
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Year 9 Students Practice their Spanish Language Skills in Se...
21st Jun 2023
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Year 9 Students Practice their Spanish Language Skills in Seville

On 13th June 2023, Mrs Barkway, Mrs García, Mr Chesher, Mr Shah and Mr Jackson accompanied forty Year 9 students on a four day residential trip to Seville, Spain. During the trip, the students had many opportunities to show off and practise their Spanish language skills. Despite the very early wake-up call and arriving in the extreme heat, the students were excited to be in Spain and to get out and about with their first stop being el Museo de la Bellas Artes (art museum). After the museum visit, the students had some free time in the hostel to relax before heading to a restaurant ‘las Lapas’ for dinner where they were able to sample paella and other traditional Spanish dishes. The second day included a walking tour of the city which took them past some of the main sights of Seville. Students were given some free time to explore the centre of Seville they had the opportunity to order their own lunch in Spanish and cool down with some ‘helados’ (ice creams). In the afternoon, they took part in a river cruise along the river ‘Guadalquivir’ where they saw a different perspective of the sights from water and gave them a chance to relax. In the evening, they saw a traditional flamenco show with classic Sevillanas (dances) being performed, accompanied by the Spanish guitar whilst enjoying some tapas for dinner. Day three took them to Seville’s famous cathedral where they climbed ‘La Giralda’ bell tower; (a thirty-two floor tower boasting an amazing panoramic view of the city). Some students also got to visit the tomb of Christopher Columbus (Cristóbal Colón) who is laid to rest there. After some down-time and shopping, students headed out for dinner again and later, enjoyed some cooler free time in María Luisa park which is home to many monuments and fountains representing each of Spain’s provinces. The final day (and the hottest, 40 degrees!) included a visit to Seville’s bull ring ‘la Maestranza’, where their guide showed them around the museum and the bull ring itself. They could see where the bulls are kept and looked after before ‘una corrida’ and given some information about the customs and traditions that bullfighting is based upon which allowed them to make up their own mind about it. It still remains quite controversial amongst the students, but was good to get the Spanish perspective on this historical custom. In the afternoon, the students visited Sevilla FC stadium where they could spend the last of their spending money on football merchandise before their flight back home! We hope all the students enjoyed the trip and were able to develop their confidence in the Spanish language. Mrs Barkway, Teacher of Spanish
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Media Students Visit Warner Bros Studio
9th Jun 2023
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Media Students Visit Warner Bros Studio

Forty media, film and drama students attended a wonderful scene workshop at Warner Bros Studios on Thursday where students were able to see the real props, effects and costumes used in the Harry Potter films. The sun was shining and there was a new installation of the greenhouse where students were able to pull the mandrakes. Students drank butter beer and ate chocolate frogs. They behaved impeccably and were punctual making the trip was a wonderful success. 
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Students Nominated for English and Media Centre Production A...
26th May 2023
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Students Nominated for English and Media Centre Production Awards

We are delighted to announce that Sixth Form students Ethan E and Jasmine A have been nominated for their music video in the English and Media Centre Production Competition 2023. Jasmine composed, wrote and sang the song and is the main performer in the video and Ethan filmed and edited it. We are so very proud of them, as the range and quality of the schools nominated is extremely high and we wish them the best of luck in the competition. English & Media Centre | Production Competition 2023: Tell us a story! – The Shortlist | Competitions (englishandmedia.co.uk)
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Commitment to the Creative Arts
26th May 2023
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Commitment to the Creative Arts

On Thursday a large group of boys received Arts Awards for their commitment to the Creative Arts. Most of the students have been involved with the school musical, art clubs, drama clubs and the Top Secret Choir. They are fantastic ambassadors for the arts and will now be seen around school with an extra badge on their lapel. For any students in Art, Drama or Music clubs – don’t forget to get your card stamped every week you attend to earn similar awards.
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Beehive Lane Primary School win GBHS Spellcasters Competitio...
26th May 2023
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Beehive Lane Primary School win GBHS Spellcasters Competition 202...

On Thursday 25th May we were joined by four of our local primary schools, Baddow Hall Junior School, Barnes Farm Junior School, Beehive Lane Primary School and St. Andrews Junior School, for our annual Spellcasters event.  Each school brought along four students who had all been working very hard learning spellings for the competition. There were seven rounds of spellings including individual spellings, team spellings and a surprise round. Every single student was amazing and worked very hard. The scores were extremely close but only one school could win.  A huge congratulations to Beehive Lane for winning yet again! “The Year 5 Spellcasters event was a tremendous success resulting in Beehive Lane winning for the second time in a row. Although they all found this event challenging, entertaining and exciting, all the Year 5s should be extremely proud of themselves for their hard work by answering challenging questions. The student librarians helped the Year 5s with their fantastic teamwork of encouraging them and making sure they are all happy and comfortable.” Laura, Year 9 STUDENT LIBRARIAN QUOTES “The Year 5 should be extremely proud of themselves as they have shown amazing teamwork.” “It was incredible to see their hard work and determination.” “Exceptional work and perseverance were demonstrated by the Year 5s.” “They were all confident in themselves and their team by supporting each other.” “The Year 5s were very polite and tried to get everyone engaged.”
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Platinum School Games Award
4th May 2023
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Platinum School Games Award

We are delighted to announce that Great Baddow High School has achieved the School Games Platinum Mark Award for the 2022/23 academic year and is the first secondary school in Chelmsford to reach and achieve Platinum level in the school games. The School Games Mark is a Government-led award scheme launched in 2012, facilitated by the Youth Sport Trust to reward schools for their commitment to the development of competition across their school and into the community, and we are delighted to have been recognised for our success. At Great Baddow High School we offer a wide range of sports and activities, over the years these have adapted and changed with the Student Voice being key in the changes made. We have introduced blocks of work looking at adapted sports such as archery, boccia and kurling. We have made sure that the curriculum for both boys and girls in KS3 matches so that all students get the same opportunities in sports they love. Our House system runs intra house competitions throughout the year giving all students the chance to represent their tutor groups with clear intent on enjoyment and fun. This year we have introduced our Sports Leadership Academy with students from Year 8-13, and we currently have 102 students making up the Leadership Academy. These students get to take part in training at a variety of sports then use the skills learnt and work with the CSSP in delivering events to the Primary schools from across Chelmsford. This has been a huge success and students have really enjoyed being a part of this academy. Every Term as a school we run meetings in Student Voice, a collaboration between House Representatives from each tutor group, and House Captains/Vice Captains. At the Student Voice meetings a wide range of topics crop up including: the school offer in sport, active break and lunch times, active travel to and from school as well as many other areas, all building towards a delivery that the students here at Great Baddow want and love.    
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GB Medics Students Visit ARU
21st Apr 2023
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GB Medics Students Visit ARU

As part of our GB Medics programme, 9 students from Year 11 and a student from Year 12 who have all shown interest or are applying for medicine attended ARU for a taster day. Students had the experience of listening to a senior lecturer at the university about what it takes to be a doctor as well as the different career pathways you can take. We were also fortunate enough to have a former GBHS student who is now in his third year studying medicine and gave us a great student perspective on what it takes to study medicine. Students were then given a full tour of the modern medicine department which boasts incredible facilities including a full mock GP suite and a hospital ward. Students also experienced a clinical setting and were given the opportunity to perform CPR.
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Sorrento trip 2023
21st Apr 2023
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Sorrento trip 2023

Over the Easter holidays twenty-three students from Great Baddow High School were excited to be going on a 4 day Geography trip to Italy to see the sights of Naples, Pompeii and Sorrento.  Their adventure began at 2.15 am on the 5th April when the sleepy students embarked on the coach outside school which took them to Gatwick Airport. They finally arrived in Naples at around 9.30am and, despite the extreme lack of sleep, they went on an underground tour of the City.  Naples was noisy and colourful but they also saw a lot of deprivation.  Once underground, they descended into the dark and saw an area that had been found when a farmer dug a well. It was originally built in 79AD and had been covered by the Super volcano eruption of Vesuvius. It was an area where the slaves tended their wealthy owners and was fascinating.  There was time for a little shopping  and the boys had a lot of fun haggling with the shop owners.  The next morning they set off for Vesuvius and Pompeii. The views from the coach were impressive but they were all amused, but mainly horrified by how people drove. Yet there seems to be no road rage, it’s all expected and accepted in Italy!  The guide for the ascent of Vesuvius was very knowledgeable and made sure the students all understood that the volcano is active and as it tends to erupt every 80 years, they are all watching and waiting. If it’s another super eruption like in 79 AD it would take 3 days to evacuate the 1 million people living there!  The walk was tough but the views were worth every blister!  The first sight at Pompeii was of the bodies that had been uncovered. Most of the students were shocked at how tiny and fragile they seemed. They got to walk where the Gladiators had fought for their lives against lions and men. To see how people lived 2000 years ago was almost unbelievable.  The next day was an early start and then off to the Amalfi Coast. We did a little shopping in Portofino and our students were incredibly well behaved and polite. Then off to Salerno for lunch and a browse and then they hopped aboard a boat. The skies had cleared and they could see the most stunning views of coloured houses built into the hills and a coastline that took their breath away!  On the last morning there was a trip to Sorrento, a lovely historic town and a chance for some lunch and a final browse before they caught the flight home.  Our students were a real pleasure to be with. They were polite, friendly and very funny! We were very proud to accompany them.  Mrs S English - Communication Support Worker
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Train to Teach with Essex School Direct
17th Apr 2023
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Train to Teach with Essex School Direct

Train to Teach with Essex School Direct If you’re looking for a new challenge, or if you have a degree and would like to put it to good use, maybe you should consider teaching? Why not log onto their next virtual event to find out more! Essex School Direct is a large and successful teacher-training provider, covering the Epping Forest, Chelmsford, Harlow, Havering and Herts areas. They host regular Zoom Information Evenings, where you can hear from recent, current and future trainees. So if you, a friend, or a relative is thinking of training from next September (or in the future) please encourage them to tune in, or contact Mr Gibbon on gbn@gbhs.co.uk for further information. The next virtual information event is: Thursday 27th April, 7.30pm. You can register via Eventbrite, find the details on their website or just join the Zoom below! https://zoom.us/j/98467485514?pwd=eWJQMUhuZTlwc3R0dFBrZnV1TFN6QT09
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Essay Writing Competition for our Year 13 Psychology Student...
28th Mar 2023
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Essay Writing Competition for our Year 13 Psychology Students

At the beginning of the Spring Term a selection of Year 13 Psychology students were invited to take part in an essay writing competition. Students had to research the essay topic independently and it challenged them to explore a new  area of psychology that they did not study as part of their course. All submitted essays had to be fully APA referenced ensuring that students learn these necessary skills ready for further study at university. Students were asked to discuss in their essays whether female offenders should be treated differently to male offenders. As part of their arguments they were expected to explore a range of views and use relevant psychological research to support them. All essays were submitted anonymously and completed in students own time. This was a very competitive process, with students showing they were able to produce a very high standard of work. There was very little difference in scores between the essays submitted making judging very difficult. However, prizes were awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for the following students: Sarah G – 1st place Ella B – 2nd place Jessie B – 3rd place Congratulations to all of the students that took part and our winners. The winning essay can be read here.
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The GBHS Annual Inter-Primary Music Competition
20th Mar 2023
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The GBHS Annual Inter-Primary Music Competition

On Saturday 18th March, 28 students joined us from their respective Primary Schools for a morning of music and healthy competition in our annual Inter-Primary Music Competition. We hosted students from Baddow Hall, Beehive Lane, Galleywood Infants, St Andrews (Hatfield Peverel), St Michaels and Mildmay. Mr Hull (School Governor) joined us as the judge and had a very difficult job of deciding the competitions results due to the high-level of talent that was shown. We enjoyed performances on a range of instruments including voice, recorder, cornet, trombone, violin, drum-kit, guitar, piano and even a lever harp! After a fun morning, the results were as follows: CATEGORY WINNER INSTRUMENT & SONG CHOICE Winner of the Beginner Category Lucy W St Michaels Recorder: Where Have All The Flowers Gone Commendable in the Beginner Category Ruaa N Galleywood Infant School Voice: Truly Scrumptious Winner of the Intermediate Category Floss M Voice: Lovely Commendable in the Intermediate Category Lotte M  Baddow Hall Junior School Voice: Somewhere Only We Know Winner of the Advanced Category Minaya S St Andrew's Junior School Lever Harp: Fairground Commendable in the Advanced Category Annabella P  St Michaels Primary School Voice: Lost Boy Most Expressive/Emotional Performance Floss M Voice: Lovely Most Energetic Performance Reya N St Michael's Primary School Voice: Tomorrow Most Accurate Performance Damon C Baddow Hall Junior School Trombone: Rondino All participants were awarded a certificate and treble-clef lapel to remember their morning competing with us at Great Baddow High School. We are already excited to host next year’s competition for our local Primary Schools.
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British Science Week
13th Mar 2023
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British Science Week

British Science Week is a ten-day celebration of thousands of events running throughout the whole of the UK with the aim of celebrating science, engineering, technology and maths. At Great Baddow High School we always get excited about this week and this year we have planned activities specifically to acknowledge the importance of STEM subjects. On Tuesday, Year 7 & 8 students can register to get involved in an after school activity with Mr van Os to transform copper into gold, or hold fire in the palm of their hand…. limited spaces are available! Running throughout the week will be our inter-house competition on this year’s science week theme of ‘CONNECTIONS’ Students have been tasked to be creative and build or make or design something that relates to the theme of ‘CONNECTIONS‘. For example students could show how an eco-system is connected to the environment, or how parts of a car are connected or how we are connected with the world….. the options are endless. If any student is struggling to think of a design or a model – please let them know that they can talk to their science teacher for advice and an idea to work towards. The science week challenge will run for a week after the 19th to allow all students a chance to have something entered and we look forward to seeing how creative our students can be.
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British Sign Language Week
13th Mar 2023
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British Sign Language Week

British Sign Language Week takes place from the 13th – 19th March. There will be lots of information around the school for ways students can join in and learn more about British Sign Language (BSL), including: Activities for tutor groups. An Assembly for each year group presented by a member of the Resource Base for Deaf Students. Sign language videos on the digital screens round school. Posters around school with links to external information. Lower school students can join the Signing Club run by Mrs English on a Wednesday in the Resource Base. If anyone in the upper school would like to learn some sign language, if they let a member of the Resource Base know and they may be able to arrange an additional lunchtime club. The aim of the campaign is to encourage people of all ages across the UK to take up the challenge of learning BSL for themselves and finding out more about the language and culture of the Deaf, Deaf-blind and hard of hearing British people for whom BSL is their first or preferred language. The positive impact of BSL on thousands of Deaf and hard of hearing people are often underappreciated. Our goal is to make everyone realise the importance of BSL, and how awareness can make a big difference.
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