29 Jun 2022

School community enjoy visit from Paralympic legend

Attending the school’s annual awards day, celebrating the achievements of students across the school, Baroness Grey-Thompson spent time looking at and talking to the children about their work, before presenting certificates and encouraging the assembled children to, “work hard, work smart and find something you love doing.”

Baroness Grey-Thompson went on to explain, “when I was at the age these children are now, I started doing physical activity. I tried so many different sports and only after a lot of trying, eventually found something I was great at. My message to the children today is to never be afraid to try different things and to make the most of the fantastic opportunities St George’s offers, because if they do, they can achieve some really amazing outcomes.”

Travelling straight from the event to the Houses of Parliament to take part in a debate pushing for mandatory defibrillators in every school, Baroness Grey-Thompson even took the time to record a video message for the students she did not have time to meet.

“It was a real honour to welcome Baroness Grey-Thompson to our school,” said William Goldsmith, head at St George’s School Windsor Castle. “We are very grateful to her for taking the time out of an incredibly busy schedule to help our children celebrate their efforts over the past year and offer some tremendously inspiring insights into her life and work. I don’t doubt that these words will stay with the students as they continue to grow and develop the skills they need to leave St George’s truly real world ready.”

In addition to Baroness Grey-Thompson, the event was attended by Rachael Westgarth, CEO of Round Square, a network of more than 200 like-minded schools across 5o countries. Round Square’s philosophy, fostering the importance of international understanding, democracy, environmental stewardship, adventure, leadership and service, underpins the school’s St George’s Awards programme.

By taking part in fundraising activities, project work and self-led tasks, all students at the school work towards the Pioneers Award across Years 3 and 4, the Explorers Award across Years 5 and 6, and the Trailblazers Award in Years 7 and 8. Designed to connect learning with the real world, the programme provides children with an additional opportunity to develop their resilience and self-confidence.

Further information about St George’s School Windsor Castle can be found at www.stgwindsor.org or by attending the school’s next open event on Saturday 1 October 2022.

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01 Jun 2022

School’s Jubilee celebrations conclude with number 70 in Windsor Castle grounds

The gesture, involving almost 400 members of the school community, was followed by a celebratory Jubilee picnic and brought to the conclusion a half term of events marking the occasion, including a gala concert in St George’s Chapel, a baking competition and various arts and crafts, some of which are now on display across the town.

“We are very proud to have Her Majesty The Queen as our Patron,” explained William Goldsmith, head at St George’s School Windsor Castle. “Generations of St George’s students will have memories of seeing her and The Duke of Edinburgh on one of her numerous visits to the school, or riding or driving past on Home Park Private, always taking the time to wave or talk to the children.”

As the school’s Patron, Her Majesty The Queen has made several official visits to the school throughout her reign, including on St George’s Day in 1997 and most recently, in May 2011.

“I have no doubt the significance of these celebrations will be understood by the children. It is highly unlikely, most certainly within their lifetimes, that we will ever observe such a long reign again by a Monarch.” Goldsmith added.

A celebratory message created for Her Majesty can be viewed on the school’s social media channels, by searching for @stgwindsor on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

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24 May 2022

Eco Club create crisp packet blankets for the homeless

The blankets, which were each made from over 100 crisp packets, were originally inspired by a story explaining the process on BBC Newsround earlier in the year. This led to a school-wide call for donations of empty packets, followed by the school’s Eco Club, a group of 15 children aged from seven to 13, spending several hours washing, cutting and ironing them together.

The resulting blankets, which each measured approximately two metres wide, were collected by Dr Natasha Price, parent to two children at the school and a local GP and clinical lead for outreach to the homeless. Dr Price then passed these on to Pilgrim Hearts Trust during one of her mobile clinics for the charity, who have since distributed them to local people in need of shelter.

“I am so immensely proud that the children’s hard work has benefited such a worthwhile cause,” said Emily Ralfe, Year 4 teacher and Eco Club leader at St George’s School Windsor Castle. “It required real commitment from the children to put the hours in that were needed and not only have we helped two people to stay warmer as a result, we have also prevented over 200 crisp packets from ending up in landfill.”

In addition to making blankets, the Eco Club, who meet weekly on Thursday afternoons, have also been working on creating eco bricks which they plan to use to build a bench in the school playground. Both initiatives are part of the school’s drive to become an Eco-School and earn a coveted Green Flag Award.

“Pilgrim Hearts Trust exists to give a hand up not a hand out to the homeless and those on the edge of society,” explained Elaine Chalmers-Brown, who founded the charity in 2000. “Dr Price’s outreach clinic at our drop in service is a great benefit to our guests and the blankets made by the children at St George’s School Windsor Castle will be extremely useful for the homeless men and women sleeping rough in cold, wet conditions.”

Pilgrim Hearts Trust drop in centres in Bracknell operate from 11am to 2pm each Tuesday at St Andrews Church in Priestwood Court Road and each Thursday at the Methodist Church in Shepherds Lane. Further information about the charity can be found at www.pilgrimhearts.org.uk.

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