Above - Year 3 explore life at Gurdwara Baba Budha Ji - see Faith in the Community
Fourteen weeks of learning is already complete for this academic year. The girls have worked hard and their progress has been recognised through teacher praise, House Points, awards and certificates.
I do hope that you have enjoyed the many opportunities to come into School during the festive period, as well as delighting in the countless good news stories that we have shared via Spark and Instagram.
Please do check our calendar dates for next year, so that you are ready for the terms ahead.
On behalf of all the NGHS Nursery, Pre-School, Infant and Junior School staff, may I wish you all a restful Christmas break - we look forward to seeing everyone back in school in 2026.
Mrs Brown and Miss Duce
What an amazing performance from the very youngest members of our school! This week, girls from Nursery, Pre School and Reception lit up the stage of the Squire Performing Arts Centre with wonderful costumes, beautiful singing and outstanding acting, wowing their audiences with two outstanding performances of this year's Nativity.
Shine Star, Shine high is about a big star who must guide shepherds and kings to a stable where a special baby has been born, however she has one small problem - she just can't shine.
Did the visitors find their way to Bethlehem? They most certainly did - with a super cast leading the way! What a remarkable performance - well done to everyone involved, and thank you to our Year 6 Music Ambassadors for their support.
Click on the GALLERY below for highlights:
In our final assembly of 2025, Mrs Fowler reminded us that the Autumn Term is the longest term of the year, and thanked both staff and pupils for their RESILIENCE and POSITIVITY. Congratulations to SKEEL, winners of the House Cup for the first full term of the academic year, and thank you to the Year 10 and Year 6 musicians who opened and closed proceedings.
We also celebrated examples of EXCELLENCE across the year groups, with girls recognised for their individual achievements in mental maths or for entries in our BOOK OF EXCELLENCE, and their collective efforts in earning house points.
Amanpreet Landa (1G)
Lexi McHugh (2C)
Sakeenah Khan (3B)
Marni Mahal (4B)
Chloe Davy (5JC)
Orissa Mohla (5MC)
Aleesha Gadhia (6W)
Sneha Odedara (6B)
Elise Staples (1G)
Olive Perry-Fidler (2C)
Noor Ansari (3B)
Jovana Krzanicki (4B)
Hattie Buxey (5JC)
Sophie Staples (5MC)
Junli Chen (6W)
Charlotte Chen (6B)
Mrs Bailey
Year 3 very much enjoyed their Religious Education study visit to Gurdwara Baba Budha Ji this week, which was linked to our Autumn Term Incredible India topic. Learning about the Five Ks of Sikhism in this beautiful place of worship has added depth to the girls' learning about the beliefs and traditions of around 30 million Sikhs - 28 million of whom live in India itself. Our thanks go to Mr Landa for helping to arrange this experience, and to the Granthi (custodian) for his hospitality.
Bringing this wonderful topic to a close, 3B also recently enjoyed learning about saris and other examples of traditional clothing, and hosted a visit from Nihaal (5MC) who impressed them with a performance on her Indian harmonium.
Mrs Braud and Mrs Wood
Thank you so much and well done to our hardworking Year 6 House Captains who organised games and activities for everyone on Wednesday afternoon, and to our fabulous team of in-house chefs who provided such a delicious festive lunch!
Mrs Crawshaw
Year 5 have exercised their CREATIVITY this term by experimenting with mono printing, collagraph printing and cyanotypes. As well as discovering how texture, layering and even sunlight can create exciting effects, this has been a fantastic hands-on way for 5JC and 5MC to combine history and art.
The girls have especially enjoyed the element of surprise in each print, and can now look forward to a Spring Term art and design topic that will include a study of the work of Henry Moore.
Meanwhile at Years 4-6 Art Club, girls have been busy transforming old CDs into sparkling festive decorations. It’s been a joy to see their imagination shine as they transformed unwanted objects into beautiful, eye-catching artwork. Well done to everyone who worked on this project, proving that art and sustainability can go hand in hand!
Mrs Fowler
Well done to Pandora, Connie and Anya who gave up their spare time last weekend to work as elves for a Santa’s Grotto. Together, the girls helped to raise £700 to buy gifts for children who will be living in homeless accommodation this Christmas. What a lovely example of our girls showing EMPATHY for others through positive actions and generosity!
Mrs Fowler
What a wonderful gift for the Junior School! Florence from Year 7 (and previously 6B) recently returned to the Rainbow Room with a beautifully handmade nativity scene - a lovely set of knitted and crocheted figures, which we will treasure for years to come.
Individual music tuition recommences on Wednesday 7 January
Clubs and ensembles recommence on Monday 12 January
Swimming lessons start for Years 3 on Friday 9 January - no ear piercing over the Christmas holiday, please
Ski trip fitness sessions start on Friday 9 Jan at 8am in the fitness suite - all skiers are expected to attend
Mrs McDowell
Girls from 5JC and 5MC have worked hard recently to devise and rehearse their own staging of Carol Ann Duffy's Another Night Before Christmas, a contemporary take on Clement Clarke Moore's original poem of 1823. You certainly brought the spirit of Christmas Eve to life, Year 5!
Below - Louise Whittle - mother of NGHS alumna Rose Whittle who sadly lost her fight with neuroblastoma - spoke passionately about her daughter's legacy and thanked us for our continued support of PASIC.
Mr Rolfe
Hot on the heels of our recent Junior and Senior School concerts, pupils from Years 3-9 have once again exemplified the spirit of generosity and community engagement with a series of heartwarming performances outside of school.
On Saturday, fifty girls - supported by some exceptional Sixth Form helpers - busked at Brookfields Planters Garden Centre. Their collective POSITIVITY and EXCELLENCE raised an impressive £810 for PASIC, the local charity that supports families of seriously ill children. Since our partnership with PASIC began in 2011, we are proud to have raised over £20,000 for this great cause.
The girls performed with great enthusiasm, drawing praise from onlookers for their talent; we are enormously proud of them, and very grateful to everyone who gave generously of their time to help.
On Monday and Tuesday, our Year 6 Music Ambassadors supported the School's youngest pupils at this year's Nativity. Then on Wednesday, the goodwill continued as our musicians entertained a breakfast audience in the dining hall and then performed for the Radford Care Group, one of our long-time community partners. Festive favourites filled the room with cheer, and the girls then spent time speaking with pensioners who are supported by this charity.
By Thursday, there was still no let-up as the day started with festive music in assembly from the Year 6 and Year 10 bands. Then our Year 5-6 Vocalise choir - under the direction of Mrs Keys - showcased their singing at the prestigious Lace Market Carol Service, before regrouping and performing barely 24 hours later at the NGHS Carol Service!
Overall, the girls' passion for choral and instrumental excellence is a testament to the vibrant musical community we have cultivated - happy Christmas to all!
Mr Rolfe
The Music Department is proud to present this term’s Tuning Up Webisode which reflects on a remarkable term of music-making across the school. Witness the breadth, quality and enthusiasm of our musicians as they demonstrate musical EXCELLENCE and diversity in all its forms!
Miss Abbott
Last weekend saw the final County cross country league take place with us in 3rd place, but only by a single point from 4th so there was everything to play for! Fortunately, our talented bunch of runners produced an amazing performance, finishing 6th, 8th, 9th, 12th, 31st and 32nd from nearly 100 runners and not only kept hold of 3rd but were not far off sneaking into 2nd place 🙌 Our B team also finished in a very creditable 8th place overall and a big shout-out to Rosie in Y5 who finished 9th in the individual rankings after taking part in all 3 races. Thank you to all the girls who have participated and who have been brilliant during this cross country season - and our gratitude extends to the parents who braved the wind, rain, sleet, cold and plenty of mud. Your support is much appreciated!
Our last sporting event of the year was our ‘12 Days of Fitness’ challenge for girls in Years 1 to 6. Day 1 was a 25-second plank (which had to be completed twelve times!), Day 2 was two jumping jacks, and so on. This was very stretching, but all the girls (and staff!) demonstrated plenty of RESILIENCE and POSITIVITY and powered their way through! Huge thanks go to Mr Rolfe for providing a fantastic musical accompaniment.
I am delighted to hear that girls in Years 3 to 5 are enjoying completing their Advent calendars at home, and am impressed with those in Year 6 who have already finished their 12 Days of Christmas. I look forward to seeing everyone’s record sheets when we return in the Spring Term.
Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas, with plenty of exercise alongside the more traditional events!
Mrs Wood
Last month, our computer room was buzzing with logic and problem-solving as students from Years 2 to 6 participated in the UK Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge.
Competitors had to solve a series of interactive online puzzles, which introduced them to the skills required in computational thinking - and I was very impressed by the girls' focus and resilience as they tackled tricky scenarios with enthusiasm. They certainly proved that computer science is as much about creativity as it is about technology!
Well done to everyone who entered; I am pleased to report that many of our pupils achieved Merits and Distinctions, showing great aptitude for problem-solving.
An extra special mention goes to our winners of the coveted Gold Award, which places them in the top 10% of entrants across the entire United Kingdom:
Year 3
Emily D, Connie, Imogen
Year 5
Etta, Hattie B, Sumaiyah, Chloe S, Emily W
Year 6
Emily B
(Emily competed in the 10-12 age group and came third against all of Years 6-7 at NGHS)