In Years 7 to 9, students follow our unique Greenshaw curriculum, called The Big Ideas that Shape the World. Details of the programme are here on our website.

The course seeks to help students understand why the world is as it is now, and teach them ideas that help make sense of current trends. We teach students about ideas from consumerism to feminism. We encourage our students to ask themselves difficult questions such as ‘What is beauty?’ and ‘What are the benefits and the risks in democracy?’. 

One of the most interesting things about these lessons is that they involve reading about a topic, finishing with a piece of extended writing and always beginning with a piece of artwork as a starting point.

When I visited Year 8 lessons on Wednesday morning, classes were looking at this painting, The Derby Day*, painted around 1856. The lessons will look at the idea of social class, and how this painting captures so many different aspects of Victorian society all mingling together on the Epsom Downs.

Walking from class to class, students were staring closely at their copies of this really detailed picture, while teachers were zooming into the painting on their whiteboards and analysing different elements of the crowd. 

I was struck both by the focus and interest of the students, but also by how important this course is. It contains so many important ideas that cannot all fit into our busy subject curricula, but I am very proud that we have found a place for this course in our school. 

Volunteering week – 16th to 20th June

This year we are launching a 'Big Help Out' week, focusing on charitable work for our community. Each year group has come up with volunteering activities, whether this is giving up time, using talent or making donations of food and gifts. As a school, we are looking to support our immediate community. More information about these will come through your children, and also through text and emails over the coming days.

The activities are as follows:

• Year 7: Lend a hand – volunteering time to help someone within the family or neighbourhood 
• Year 8: Sutton FoodBank Collection 
• Year 9: Hampers for NICU St Helier/Royal Marsden Children's ward 
• Year 10: Collection of cat litter and food for The Ginger Cat House Rescue

Community clear up removing litter from the streets neighbouring the school.

Second-hand school uniform 

Sutton Community school uniform shop has second-hand uniform items available free for Greenshaw students. Please see this link: https://www.suttonhealthandcare.nhs.uk/uniform-shop

You can also donate uniform items or arrange a visit to collect free second-hand uniform. Please email suttoncommunityuniform@sutton.gov.uk for further information.

Students of the week

Congratulations goes to our stars of the week listed below for maintaining their commitment, focus and sense of drive. Well done to all!

Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	6th Form
Creighton	Lilly	Aliyah	Thomas G	tbc	Ethan, Issy, Harli, Dahamsha

 

 

 

 

Wishing you all the very best.

Mr N House, Headteacher

(*The Derby Day, painted by William Powell, courtesy of Tate Britain.)