Foreword

This has been a wonderfully energetic year for the school, and we have revelled in being able to return to the full variety of school life after the restrictions of the last two years.

Looking back over a year filled to the brim with activity and achievement, it is hard to know where to begin in drawing out highlights. From a stunning production of Little Shop of Horrors at the New Theatre Royal to a jaw-dropping performance of Matilda by our Middle School; from our Remembrance concert with the London Mozart Players to a joint concert at the King’s Theatre with the Black Dyke Band as part of Ports Fest; from the critical-thinking which flows from the Portsmouth Point Blog to the brilliant creativity of our dance team in their performance The Muse in the Portsmouth finals of Dance Live – a brilliant achievement in their first year of the competition – there has been much to applaud this year.

Strengthening our commitment to our communities has again been a strand running throughout. In March, we held our second Giving Day in support of the William Smith Fund, and through the generosity of parents, OPs and friends of the school, we were overwhelmed to raise over £250,000 to support talented members of the community who would otherwise be unable to attend the school. Thank you so much to all those who have supported us. Our pupils too have been looking to the world beyond school. Award winning educators Unloc have visited school often this year to offer an integrated program for pupils from Years 7-11, designed to develop innovation and skills for the workplace. Building on this work, this term we have been very fortunate to receive a generous pledge to support the creation of an Innovation Centre which will further develop our ability to deliver exceptional entrepreneurship education to young people at PGS and in the local area, as part of our commitment to Life at 25 and to preparing young people to make a successful transition into the world beyond school. Work is expected to commence on this exciting development later in the year.

The Portmuthian represents an ambitious attempt to tell the story of an entire school year, and thanks to the efforts of the wonderful editorial team, it brilliantly captures the life of the school this year. We hope you enjoy it.