Philosophy

WGS aims to be a busy, happy and successful community with young people, their learning, development and welfare at the heart of everything we do.

Our philosophy is ambitious and demanding; it seeks the best for, and of, its students and teachers.  It places scholarship at the heart of a challenging education which promotes achievement through active involvement. WGS seeks to develop self-awareness and a sense of responsibility and fosters the spirit of community and commitment traditional to the school.

Pastoral Care
At WGS we want to get to know students as individuals in order to bring out their talents, whether in the classroom or in the vast range of extra-curricular activities on offer. The positive quality of students’ experiences in the school is central to success, and we aim to work hard on this in co-operation with both student and parents. That is why we put great emphasis on the role of the tutor and the pastoral system.

Tutors, backed up by the Head of Year, are the first point of contact between school and home. With an average of 20 in each form up to GCSE, classes are small enough for tutors and teachers to get to know their students.

From Big Six to Year 11, we place each student in a tutor group for registration and one period of Personal, Health and Social Education each week. Tutors aim to get to know students well, so that they can praise and encourage when things are positive, or offer help if there are problems.

In the Sixth Form, tutors look after smaller groups. In most cases they teach one of the subjects that a student is taking, so that they know them academically as well as pastorally. Their role is that of mentor and coach, guiding students through the academic programme, ensuring balance of experience and helping them to prepare for life beyond WGS.

At all stages we maintain close contact with home through reports and parents’ evenings -and occasionally a phone call if that is felt to be the best way. Progress is monitored; celebrating success whilst at the same time offering honest evaluation.