6 November 2026
6 November 2026
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Above: Our annual Forest Fun Run - see highlights in Miss Abbott's fortnightly Sports Report!
Happy Diwali!
Happy Diwali!
Above: Girls from 5C recently practised their narration skills with Mr Cox in their weekly library lesson.
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Diwali, also known as Deepavali, is the Hindu Festival of Lights, with related celebrations in other Indian religions. It symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. Around the same time, many Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas, commemorating the release of Guru Hargobind Ji from imprisonment. Both festivals are often marked with lights, but they remember different events.
To all our readers, of all faiths and none, we hope that this sparkling festival season brings you joy, peace, prosperity and happiness.
A reminder from Mrs Crawshaw🎄
A reminder from Mrs Crawshaw🎄
Calling all aspiring artists! The deadline for GDST Junior Christmas Card Competition is upon us!
This year, girls should submit an A4 piece of artwork with a festive theme, using paint, pastels, felt tip, pencil or collage. Class teachers will now accept entries up to 9am this coming Monday morning, with name and class written clearly on the reverse.
Two entries (from Nursery to Year 2, and from Years 3-6) will be chosen for the GDST shortlist, with Chief Executive Cheryl Giovannoni then selecting the overall winner who will receive a £50 gift voucher and the honour of her design being featured on the GDST website and in digital communications.
Good luck, everybody - and remember, you have to be in it to win it!
Above - in 2021, Emily D (now in 5C) was the overall winner, with her wonderful painting of a snowman. Fingers crossed for this year, NGHS Juniors ...
Let's walk! 👟👟
Let's walk! 👟👟
Our annual whole school sponsored walk in aid of Children in Need will take place this coming Friday, 13 November!
This year's BBC Countryfile Ramble will explore the waterways of our great city. Nottingham Express Transit (NET) are providing free tram travel for girls in Reception to Year 6 - helping us to prove that it's possible to go for a good walk locally without the need for a car or crossing lots of roads - and Binks Yard is hosting our lunch break.
Thank you to everyone who has sponsored so generously.
Click on the GALLERY below to see highlights from previous years:
Spread the word 🗣️
Spread the word 🗣️
Calling all current and former Nursery families!
We are partnering with daynurseries.co.uk to promote our Nursery and Pre School to a wider audience.
We'd love for more families to know about us – are you willing to write a review on their website to share your daughter's experience of our Nursery?
Votes for women! 🗳️
Votes for women! 🗳️
Miss Baker
Rebel girls bring history to life
Year 2 have been immersed in their new Making Herstory – Women Who Changed the World topic, focusing on the legendary Nottingham suffragette, Helen Watts.
The girls have applied their English skills in creating persuasive speeches, urging people to stand with Helen and demand Votes for Women, and deepened their learning with a study visit to the Arboretum. Here, they reflected on the memorial plaque and juniper tree dedicated to our local heroine.
Standing proudly on the bandstand steps, 2B performed their speeches with grit and flair, capping off their hard work by presenting their research and speeches to others in assembly.
Well done, Year 2 Rebel Girls - your energy, curiosity, and passion for learning are infectious!
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
Thank you to everyone who is supporting this year's Poppy Appeal in aid of The Royal British Legion. Our pop-up shop - run by the Year 6 Sisters of Charity - will be open until Tuesday lunchtime, and then on Wednesday we will wear poppies with pride whilst observing the national two-minute silence at 11 o'clock.
Across the school, teachers have focussed on the history and meaning of Remembrance:
In Year 2, Miss Baker's class have been learning about the 'canary girls' and their dangerous, essential work supporting the munitions industry during WWI. They have discussed the health risks associated with the toxic chemicals that turned the workers' skin and hair yellow, and the respect which these women earned for their service:
And in Year 3, Miss Myers and Mrs Wood's class are collaborating to create a Remembrance wreath inspired by the colours of Diwali, having learnt about the important wartime contributions of men and women from India and modern-day Pakistan and Bangladesh:
Hand-me-downs, please! 🙏
Hand-me-downs, please! 🙏
If your daughter has recently grown out of a balance bike, please would you consider donating it to our Nursery and Pre School garden?
These bikes help young children to naturally master two-wheeled balance, steering and coordination before transitioning directly to a pedal cycle without the need for stabilisers. Because there are no pedals or training wheels, riders learn to centre themselves on two wheels from the very start. Balance bikes also help to build core and leg strength, promoting confidence and independence with minimal adult intervention.
Please email Miss Duce e.duce@not.gdst.net if you think you can help - donated bikes don't need to be in perfect condition, as we can ask our Design Technology and Estates colleagues for help with repairs and occasional servicing!
A chance to show off 🖼️
A chance to show off 🖼️
Mrs Crawshaw
We are thrilled to announce details of the Inaugural GDST Art Exhibition - a prestigious opportunity for girls aged 7-18 to have their artwork showcased at the Lyndsey Ingram Galleries in Mayfair next June!
1. Create your artwork at home – it can be a drawing, a painting, printing, photography, a sculpture or textile and fashion.
2. Produce a short written statement to describe the meaning behind your artwork and why it was created (maximum 50 words for entry).
3. Name and date your work on the reverse, and give it to your class teacher with your statement. The deadline is Friday 29th January 2027.
Above and below - examples of multipacks which do not have ingredients stated on individual packets.
FOOD BROUGHT IN FROM HOME 🍬
FOOD BROUGHT IN FROM HOME 🍬
An important reminder from Mrs Fowler
If you intend to send in treats for your daughter’s class on her birthday or any other occasion, these must be COMPLETELY NUT FREE and individually wrapped with all ingredients and allergens printed on each wrapper. Treats will be sent home with pupils, for parents or guardians to decide whether they can be consumed. They must not be eaten at school.
Due to various allergies - whether known or unknown - we are unable to distribute any treats that fall short of these rules. This includes items contained within multipacks which may display ingredients on the main packet, but where allergen information is not printed on individual items.
SPORTS REPORT 🏃♀️🏃🏽♀️
SPORTS REPORT 🏃♀️🏃🏽♀️
Miss Abbott
Our new 2026-2027 Year 6 Sports Ambassadors have made a great start in their new roles; this week saw them attending a sports conference to learn some of the skills required to help younger students become more active at school, laying the foundations for healthy lifestyles. Well done, girls!
A warm welcome back to another half term packed full of sporting opportunities!
The first race of the league season saw blue skies and temperatures not too low - perfect cross country weather. Our Years 5-6 runners turned up ready and raring to go, with the A team finishing in overall 2nd place and our B team coming 7th. These were great results in a tough field of 19 schools, and with extra congratulations going to Rosie who finished 4th individually.
The league consists of three races, so we are off to an excellent start and we wish the girls the best of luck when they compete again on 14th and 28th November.
Back at school, we finished the last half term with our annual Forest Fun Run for Years 3-6. Well done to all participants; this is always a hugely enjoyable event for everyone involved!
The Windblowers Cup 🏆
The Windblowers Cup 🏆
On Wednesday evening, we were delighted to host our Windblowers Cup Finalists’ Celebration, marking a high point in this term’s musical events.
Every competitor demonstrated exceptional skill and passion, stepping up courageously to perform in front of a live audience - the standard was nothing short of inspiring, with weeks of dedicated practice and preparation evident in every piece.
Mr Rolfe: "It takes so much to be able to do this - a supportive school and parents, outstanding teachers, and pupils who deeply love their craft. They were all amazing!"
Mrs Clarke (adjudicator): "I applaud the composure and professionalism of such young musicians."
Nick Millburn and James Beard (sponsors): "This was a great night of music making from some very talented girls ... It was a pleasure to hear them perform, and the job of choosing between them was challenging."
Mrs Fowler: "Each musical performance was accompanied by a beautiful spoken introduction, which elevated that performance and the overall stage presence."
The spirit of friendly inter-house competition added extra excitement to this event; congratulations go to HASTINGS who won House Music Cup, for 2026, with Skeel and Bolton in joint second place and Luxton in third position.
Thank you to all of the parents, staff and supporters who attended and cheered on our young performers. We look forward to seeing our musicians' continued progress in the terms ahead!
Gillian Roddis Trophy - Most Promising Year 5 Pupil
Erin
Percussion
1. Emily (Y5)
2. Rosie (Y6)
Peter Beaumont Trophy - Most Promising Year 6 Pupil
Chloe S
Voice
1. Penelope (Y6)
2. Etta (Y6)
Windblowers Cup 2026
Florence (Y6)
Guitar
1. Imogen (Y6)
2. Jasmine (Y6)
Strings and Woodwind
1. Isabelle (Y6)
2. Marni (Y5)
Piano
1. Florence (Y6)
2. Lannaé (Y6)
Runner Up Medalists
Year 5: Tilly, Saffron, Isla, Helia, Kiara
Year 6: Neve, Chloe D, Millie, Sophie. Hattie B, Annabelle, Orissa, Hamna, Eva
Click on the GALLERY below for more competition highlights:
Busking in aid of PASIC will take place on Sunday 13 December at Brookfield Planters Garden Centre in Mapperley. This is a very special event in our school year, as the tradition was established in memory of a former pupil - an avid musician and singer - who died in 2013. Our commitment to remembering Rose Whittle continues to this day.
All girls in Years 4 to 9 are invited to join us in this fundraiser! Come along for just an hour, or stay for the whole event - every contribution to the team effort helps us to keep Rose’s memory alive, whilst raising vital funds for children on the Cancer Ward at Nottingham's QMC.
No previous singing or playing experience is required - all we need is enthusiasm and a desire to join in with festive fun!
Invitations have already been sent to parents, but you can also sign up your daughter by emailing me direct at m.rolfe@not.gdst.net 😀
Squire Performing Arts Centre - What's On
Squire Performing Arts Centre - What's On
Don't forget there are some great shows coming up over the next few months at the Squire Performing Arts Centre right here on the school site. There really is something for everybody. Details can be found and tickets booked at some of the particular events listed below, or see them all by searching the What's On section at THIS LINK.
🎤 Granny's Attic: Friday 13th November
With exceptional musicianship and boundless energy, Granny’s Attic are going from strength to strength. Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne (melodeon, anglo concertina, vocals), George Sansome (guitar, vocals) and Lewis Wood (violin, vocals) have honed their skills touring the UK and Europe since 2009. They are much loved by audiences up and down the country, with bookings everywhere from Cambridge Folk Festival to Cecil Sharp House.
The trio have been heralded for their lively performances and skilled delivery of traditional material, playing with verve, energy and their own inimitable style. Though grounded in tradition, they are keen to push new boundaries by exploring fresh approaches and writing their own compositions. In October 2021, they released The Brickfields, an instrumental collection that saw them reach new heights as both composers and performers. This was followed up in 2025 by Cold Blows the Wind, an album of largely traditional material which went down a storm with reviewers and audiences alike.
Described by KLOF Magazine as “one of the most exciting and accomplished English folk acts on the scene right now”, this outstanding trio can hold audiences in the palm of their hand.
🎤The Rheingans Sisters: Friday 20th November
The Rheingans Sisters’ new album Start Close In, was released in September 2024 to enthusiastic critical acclaim. Celebrated at #2 in The Guardian’s Top 10 Albums of 2024, “it’s clear that the Rheingans Sisters have made their boldest album yet”. MOJO Magazine gave the sisters “joyous” album #5 in their Top 10 Folk Albums of 2024 round up and Trad Folk described it as “experimental and brave and genuinely magical”.
Produced by New York based Adam Pietrykowski (whose genre-diverse work spans rock, contemporary classical and prog folk) the visionary duo’s new album is “wildly expressive; at the forefront of the recent upsurge in experimental, drone-led folk” (KLOF) The sisters’ new live show is an immersive and uplifting musical journey. Taking in baroque fiddle tunes and trance beats, metal-inspired arrangements of traditional ballads and improvisations with phone voicenotes, Rowan and Anna once again make music like painters; revealing in bold colours the next soaring chapter in their unmistakable brand of avant garde trad, blending ancient song and universal stories with future imaginings, dystopias and dreams.
Previous winners of BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for ‘Best Original Track’ and nominees for ‘Best Band’, with their uniquely blended sound of fiddles, voices, feet, banjos, electric guitar, synths and the powerful bass drones of the medieval tambourin à cordes, The Rheingans Sisters remain one of the most visionary acts on the British folk scene today.
🎭The Secret Show: Saturday 21st November
Little John Improv present:
“An uproarious show built from the audience’s own confessions” – LeftLion Magazine
Juicy confessions, awkward mishaps and scandalous secrets all get exposed at The Secret Show. What’s the one thing you’ve never told a soul? The Secret Show turns your anonymous whispers into laugh-out-loud scenes.
Slip us your secrets before the show—no names, no judgments, just pure inspiration. Our cast of improvisers will transform your hidden truths into outrageous sketches, and unforgettable stories—all made up on the spot. It’s Nottingham’s only monthly improv comedy show.
Confess. Laugh. Repeat.
🎤 Piaf: Friday 27th November
This is not a tribute show! Christine Bovill established her reputation as one of Europe’s finest interpreters of French song with her smash-hit Piaf. She now returns with a revised version of the show and looks back on her remarkable journey with a fresh take on this self-penned work. At the heart of the often funny story is a young Glasgow girl, reluctant in school French until she heard ‘that song’. Her journey is interwoven with Edith Piaf’s life and those incredible songs.
An award-winning songwriter in her own right, Bovill has toured throughout Europe and the Far East with her self-penned homage to the Little Sparrow, appearing on BBC Newsnight and on BBC Radio 4’s series, Soul Music. Her own compositions have appeared in film and TV. During her Edinburgh Fringe sell-out run at the Famous Speigeltent, she shared the stage with Charles Dumont, great friend of Piaf and, most famously, composer of ‘Non, Je ne Regrette Rien‘. Validation for her work didn’t come much higher…
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