News & Events

GCSE Results

Our Year 11 pupils are celebrating a significantly above average performance in their GCSE results. Despite increases nationally in the numbers attaining higher grades, our Year 11s massively surpassed the national averages; almost half our grades were awarded at A*-A. 94% of our pupils left with 5 A*-C passes and, most importantly, 94% gained at least a C in the core subject of English. Despite the fact that Thames is a mixed ability school 65% of our students achieved at least 3 A* or A grades.

Our outgoing pupils now move on to a number of top schools for A levels or equivalent including James Alleyn's Girls School in Dulwich, Kings College School Wimbledon, Tiffin Girls School, The Brit School, Guildford College, Esher College, Graveney School, St Francis Xavier (SFX)  and San Diego College in the USA.

It is very hard to pick out specific names for congratulations because everyone did so well that all deserve a mention. We must remember that for an academically gifted student an A* grade may not be as big an achievement as a C grade is for a student whose real gifting is in Art, Sport or maybe just working with people. So whilst we are thrilled that some of our top academic results include one pupil achieving 8A*s, 2As and an A grade AS level, another 6A*s and 3As, another 3A*s and 6As, and one boy 5A*s, 5As and an A grade in AS level Mathematics as part of our extension programme, we are equally proud of the young man whose first language is not English who achieved 1A*, 2As, 3Bs and 4Cs.

Although Art again topped the subject tables, almost every subject (and almost every pupil) shared in the plethora of top grades with particularly high percentages gained in English, Maths, Science (Double and Separate Sciences), Spanish, Religious Studies, Physical Education and Business Studies. In addition almost all our pupils achieved a Level 2 ICT qualification with most taking the ECDL.

Education is not just about grades, its also about character and the most satisfying area for our staff is not that these teenagers now have the grades to give them choices for the next phase of their life, they also have the character to make the most of the opportunities that will now come before them.

A Dream Performance

The course of true love may not have run smoothly in Shakespeare’s play … however, we are pleased to say that our recent magical production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream ran very smoothly indeed! Head of Drama, Nini Pitt, once again directed pupils of all ages to deliver a confident performance which was enjoyed by guests, parents and pupils alike. The performance was preceded by a Review of the Year given by outgoing Head Girl and Boy Shanice Burke and Dominic Davis. Shanice and Dominic hand over these prestigious roles to Alice Holsgrove and Christopher Stidwill.

Awards were presented to Key Stage 3 and 4 pupils for excellent behaviour and attitude, as well as high academic performance. This was followed by the emotional graduation of our Year 11. Prayers were said over the students who will be leaving us to start their 6th form education in some of London’s best schools including James Allen’s Girls’ School, Kings College School Wimbledon and Tiffin’s Girls School, Kingston.

The audience was also treated to several musical interludes and the choir opened and closed the evening’s events.

Year 10 Ready for Credit Crunch!

Our Year 10 pupils have proved that they will be more than able to manage their finances when the time comes to start earning their own money! We are delighted to report that our students who sat the GCSE Personal Finance paper in June achieved 4 A* grades, 6 As and 4 Bs with one pupil obtaining 100% and another 97%! We are one of the first schools in the country to make Personal Finance a core GCSE subject as we firmly believe that financial literacy is a crucial life skill. Our pupils are taught personal financial management solutions and how to make the most of their money whilst avoiding debt. The Credit Services Association states that the average graduate leaves university more than £2,000 in debt, adding that younger people are becoming far more blasé about borrowing “Responsible use of money will stand these teenagers in good stead for the whole of their lives,” states Stephen Holsgrove, who introduced this Institute of Financial Services course into the GCSE curriculum.

Can we give hope to children with HIV?

Our pupils were challenged by speakers from HopeHIVa charity which works with children with HIV in Africa. There are almost as many children in Africa with HIV as the total number of people living in London. Our Year 9 class is taking up the challenge of their Social Entrepreneurship program and are looking at ways of staging events to raise money for the HopeHIV charity. The class is looking at staging a cinema at the end of term. They will have to produce all the publicity and manage the event themselves.

Helping the Community  

In an exciting joint venture some of our Year 10 and 11 pupils have been trained as mentors by Wandsworth Council to work with primary-aged pupils from neighbouring Falconbrook School. They spend one lunchtime each week being role models to some needy but very precious young lives. Our pupils were trained in inter-personal, listening and communication skills and about the issues facing young people today, such as bullying, social exclusion, deprivation and peer pressure. “It’s inspiring, as they look up to us,” said Tosin in Year 10. “They are all so small, but have such a lot to say. It is very rewarding to make someone smile.” “This is such a good opportunity to help others and show responsibility,” added Rebekah. Our pupils spend time playing games with the children, whilst building relationships in the process. Dominic, in Year 11, recently spoke to them about job opportunities and the value of education.

Reggae Reggae Healthy Lunches

Question: How do you get teenagers to eat a healthy, hot lunch with no chips? Answer: Make it a little different. Last February Levi Roots came to national fame with his musical pitch on the TV programme Dragons’ Den, successfully raising £50,000 capital from dragons Richard Farleigh and Peter Jones to expand his Reggae Reggae sauce business. This resulted in his opening the Papine Jerk Centre, a Caribbean take-away restaurant, celebrated in true West Indian style with traditional steel band and street party, attended by local MP Martin Linton and full press coverage. What has this to do with Thames? Conveniently for us, Levi’s new restaurant is sited just behind the school. The healthy, home-made food was an immediate hit with our pupils who soon asked why they could not have these meals for school lunches. This half term we ran a trial with pupils pre-ordering dishes including West Indian Jerk Chicken with Rice & Peas, Jamaican Patties and Curried Goat; for the more traditional, barbecued Chicken Drumsticks and Lasagne. For just £3/day, the meals are cooked from fresh ingredients in the morning and delivered hot as take away items at the start of lunchtime. And not a chip or Turkey Twizzler in sight— Jamie Oliver would be proud! www.reggae-reggae.co.uk

Charitable Fundraising for MicroLoan

Pupils have raised £936.88 by starting a tuck-shop selling drinks and snacks with the profits going to MicroLoan Foundation, a charity working in Africa that enables women start their own businesses through a small start-up loan. Find out more about Microloan at www.microloanfoundation.org.uk

Year 11 Art

Year 11 pupils have recently had a two day ceramics workshop led by a professional ceramicist. This year the ceramics will be fired on site in the recently-completed kiln room. Life drawing classes have recommenced this term, so pupils can improve their drawing skills in a way that is not usually available until A level.