just the beginning of great things: farewell to our amazing year 13 students

We've been incredibly proud of our Year 13 students and all their hard work, achievements, and participation in UGS school life during their time with us.

Today marked the culmination of recognition of this amazing cohort during their final week, and pictured below is Newton Hall, just one of our Sixth Form facilities, primed and set up to welcome Year 13 for the celebration breakfast that would launch their final day. 

But we began on Tuesday with an Awards assembly organised by Head of Year Mrs Mohamed, that celebrated all that our Year 13s have achieved during KS5, and all the great aspects of UGS life, culture, and community that they have both participated in, and contributed to:

Today, the Sixth Form Team were delighted to host a final celebratory series of events for Year 13, commencing with the breakfast; this was a lovely opportunity for the students, and for staff, to join together, before a poignant Leaver's Assembly in our Theatre.

Mrs Wall opened proceedings by sharing her pride in the year group, paying tribute to their achievements during their time with us, as equally for the students who have been with us since Year 7, as for those who we were delighted to welcome into our Sixth Form only 2 years ago from other schools.

Mrs Wall wished the students every success in their next steps, and reflected that all their hard work, all their active and enthusiastic participation in the many enrichment opportunities available to them, and in the whole school community, events and initiatives, will serve them incredibly well; not only in their forthcoming exams and academic engagement, but in their professional and personal lives ahead.

Head of Sixth Form Miss Lingwood and Head of Year Mrs Mohamed echoed the praise, congratulations and good wishes, before the Assembly ended with the inaugural screening of a fantastic video tribute, orchestrated, filmed, and edited by Mrs Mohamed and the Sixth Form Team. This is a fun, heart-felt, and fitting farewell from staff to the students, and showcases an epic panorama of our fabulous UGS community, and it is now available to view on our socials - enjoy! 

The finale was a montage of photo highlights of our students from years gone by to the present day, with memories of the many events, visits, school trips, lessons, and life around school that they have all participated in; experiences that have contributed to the students' growth as individuals and as a community, and that they, and we, will all look back on fondly, and with pride.

Year 13 we will miss you all: you have been truly fantastic. And in the words of Dr Seuss, that so perfectly rounded off our video tribute:

You're off to great places!

Today's your day!

Your mountain is waiting ...

so get on your way!