This week in our school community: 6 December 2024

"Konnichiwa! "  

We have been delighted to welcome six students from Beppu in Japan who arrived on Monday and experienced a warm St Greg's welcome, quickly becoming part of our family.  Beppu is twinned with Bath which makes this visit even more special - both are spa towns built on hot springs and both have a strong sense of community and culture.  Our Year 9 International Ambassadors have been very supportive when helping our Japanese guests settle in to school life but a special mention must go out to Cara K and Rebecca P in Year 10 who have gone above and beyond in their hospitality skills. We said a fond farewell to our Japanese friends today and wish them safe travels home. 

We also say goodbye to our wonderful Spanish Sulis students who will be heading back to their school in Lanzarote after having spent almost three months with us. They have immersed themselves in school life and will be missed by many. Feliz Navidad y Feliz Ano Neuvo!

Our Japanese visitors arrived at one of the most magical times of the year - the start of Advent.  This week the community explored how to be a positive light in the world this Advent by hearing about inspirational young people who have shone their light and made a huge impact across the globe and more locally.  Thank you to Nicola S, Daisy M and Clara M in Year 12 for helping me to deliver Collective Worship assemblies to each year group this week and for taking on such an important leadership role within the whole school.

Mr Robinson also led our beautiful and reflective Reconciliation services on Wednesday and Thursday this week— another fitting way to get ready and wait for the birth of Jesus Christ. We gathered as a school community to remember our ancestors in the faith as they waited for the coming of the Messiah and we focused on the idea that when we wait for something, we are given the opportunity to see and hear and feel things we are often too busy to notice. This year, we long to be Advent people as we are invited to become pilgrims of hope. Thank you to Fr Robert, Fr Jeremy and Fr Tibor for being with us to hear confessions, and giving our community a special way to get ready for the coming of the Lord. 

Last Friday I joined Year 9 on their visit to the fascinating Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset.  The stars of the trips chosen by Mrs Sarbatta were Charlie GN for enthusiastically participating in the workshops and dressing up as a war-time figure and Naomi T for demonstrating her excellent historical knowledge when answering questions in the various workshops.  Well done to all Year 9 for engaging so positively with this learning experience and thanks to the History department for organising the visits. 

BANES are consulting on their school admissions for 2026-27 so please see the details below if you would like to have your views heard.  All of the consultation documents are available by clicking on the links below.

Public Consultation on School Admissions 2026/27

School Admission Arrangements 2026 to 2027

The consultation started on 2 December 2024 and will end on 13 January 2025.  To respond to this consultation please send your comments by email to

admissions_transport@bathnes.gov.uk   Alternatively you can write to The Admissions & Transport Unit, Bath & North East Somerset Council, Manvers Street, Bath, BA1 1JG

While the Friday night is already sold out, it is not too late to get your tickets to see Oliver! on Wednesday or Thursday next week.  The PTFA will be selling hot dogs and snacks before the performance and there will be a paid bar on the night.  Thanks to the PTFA, this year's raffle prizes are even better than before so please come along to support the school and be entertained by our extremely talented cast and crew who will be taking you on a journey following the young orphaned Oliver who escapes from the workhouse and has lots of adventures along the way.  You are guaranteed to be toe-tapping and singing along with all the famous musical hits from the show!

In other exciting news, we have been awarded the National Whole School Wellbeing Silver Award which recognises the excellent strides we have taken as a school to support student, staff and family wellbeing.  We are truly committed to ensuring that St Gregory's is a positive and happy place to be.  It was good to see so many families logged on to the online webinar this week about helping young people with anxiety.  Thank you to Miss Hollywood for spearheading the way in her new role as Senior Mental Health Lead.

Have a wonderful weekend and, in honour of our Japanese friends, I will leave you with a Japanese haiku poem which I think perfectly captures the beauty and mystery of winter in such a simple poetic form:

Winter light

touches the Great Buddah,

then the hills

Mrs Melissa George (BA Hons, MA, PGCE) 

Headteacher