![A group of children with face paint draw and write on a large white sheet of paper spread across a table in a classroom.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1785611085/whitgiftcouk/ltc09ggqs9ajwwvygm3x/IMG_4851.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1785611085/whitgiftcouk/ltc09ggqs9ajwwvygm3x/IMG_4851.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1785611085/whitgiftcouk/ltc09ggqs9ajwwvygm3x/IMG_4851.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1785611085/whitgiftcouk/ltc09ggqs9ajwwvygm3x/IMG_4851.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1785611085/whitgiftcouk/ltc09ggqs9ajwwvygm3x/IMG_4851.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1785611085/whitgiftcouk/ltc09ggqs9ajwwvygm3x/IMG_4851.jpg","width":2200}])
Academic-
Week three at Whitgift Summer School was another masterclass in academic excellence as our global learners and 10 exceptional teachers successfully carried our phenomenal momentum forward. Following our rigorous morning sessions focused on linguistic development and essential skills, our afternoon task-based learning projects took an exciting, highly immersive new direction. Our upper school students produced their own video storybooks focused on navigating modern teenage problems, which successfully targeted advanced oral competence with a specific emphasis on vocal stress and intonation. Meanwhile, our lower school teams stepped back in time to explore the rich history of the campus, bringing the medieval houses of Whitgift to life by completely embodying historical characters. As Director of Studies, watching our international students transition so confidently into expressive digital storytellers and vivid historical actors was the ultimate highlight of a truly impactful week.
Activities-
Another busy and memorable week has flown by at Whitgift Summer School, packed with activities, new experiences and plenty of smiles along the way.
During the day, students took part in a mix of Academy and Multi-Activity sessions. Our Academy students worked with professional coaches and instructors in Football, Golf, Street Dance and Design Technology, developing their skills and learning from experts in their field. Meanwhile, our Multi-Activity programme gave students the chance to get involved in Badminton, Arts & Crafts, Table Tennis and Water Polo, led by our fantastic Activity Leaders.
It has been great to see students throwing themselves into every session, trying new things, building confidence and supporting one another. Whether they were picking up a new skill or improving an existing one, the enthusiasm shown throughout the week has been fantastic.
Our evening programme got underway with the House Olympics, where students competed for their houses in a range of fun challenges. Events such as the Blind Obstacle Course and Tennis Ball Triathlon tested teamwork, communication and problem-solving, with plenty of house spirit on display throughout the evening.
Tuesday brought one of the highlights of the week – Whitgift's Got Talent. We were treated to an incredible range of performances, including singing, dancing, magic, art and even a few brave staff appearances. The standard was exceptionally high, making the judging incredibly difficult, but a stunning ballet performance was a very deserving winner.
On Thursday evening, our annual Ho-Down returned. With a live band leading the way, students learned traditional ceilidh and line dances, creating an evening full of energy, laughter and some very enthusiastic attempts at becoming cowboys and cowgirls. Let's just say there may be a few future dancers amongst our students, but probably not many future rodeo stars!
Friday's Graduation Ceremony gave us the opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our students and recognise the effort they have put in throughout the week. We also revealed the winners of this week's Krispy Kreme Cup. After a fantastic week of participation and house spirit, congratulations go to Austen House for taking the title.
Our excursions were another huge success. On Wednesday, students visited an Outdoor Education Centre, where they took part in activities such as archery, caving, buggy building and gladiator-style challenges. It was brilliant to see so many students stepping outside their comfort zones and embracing new experiences.
Saturday saw us visit the ever-popular Madame Tussauds, where students enjoyed posing with their favourite celebrities, sports stars and historical figures before heading to Oxford Street to explore one of London's most famous shopping destinations.
As another successful week comes to an end, we say goodbye to some students who have completed their Whitgift Summer School journey. There were certainly a few tears at the end of the week, but as we reminded them: don't be sad because it's over, be happy because it happened. We hope they leave with wonderful memories, new friendships and experiences they'll remember for years to come.
Thank you to all of our students for bringing such fantastic energy to every activity, and to our staff for helping make each day so special. We can't wait to do it all again next week, and we hope to welcome many of our departing students back to Whitgift Summer School again next year.
Welfare-
Week three was a busy and exciting week at Founders House! We have seen our students grow in confidence with both their English speaking skills and with making new friends. Some students showed off their cooking skills with a homemade Spanish tortilla during house time on Saturday.
