pride participation empathy

As another UGS week draws to a close, we began the day with our whole school assembly delivered by Deputy Head Mr Regan on our core values ahead of LGBTQ+ History Month. This year it will be aligned with the themes of Science and Innovation, and Mr Regan profiled and celebrated prominent figures from the LGBTQ+ community such as Alan Turing, Barbara Burton, Charles Beyer and Jemma Redmond, who have contributed and achieved so much in this field, despite in some cases facing huge societal barriers.

Our students were then encouraged and inspired to reflect upon and action how they can foster inclusivity and respect, while harnessing our core school values to take pride in their identity and that of others, participate in their passions, and show empathy at all times.

Prior to Mr Regan's presentation, Sixth Form representatives from our successful Debating Club, along with staff lead Mr Warnes, showcased their skills in oratory, and invited students from KS3 to come along to the club's weekly Wednesday lunchtime meetings to try out debating for themselves.

Farewell Mr Whitehurst

But we end the school week with a sad but fond farewell to a long-serving member of staff: our dedicated Site Manager, Mr Whitehurst (pictured below), who is retiring today after 29 years (and 2 weeks!) at UGS.

Since 1997, Mr Whitehurst has been an invaluable member of our school community, serving with, as Mr Kennedy-Fowler observed, a "gold standard in site management", and a high level of expertise.

We are all hugely grateful to Mr Whitehurst for his hard-working long tenure, and he will be greatly missed by all of us at UGS.

We send him our heartfelt wishes for a long, healthy and happy retirement in the sunshine as he relocates to Cyprus.