.png)
Our Year 13 CTEC Sports students are excited to host the Poly Charity Cup - a knockout‑style Year 7 football tournament taking place on Monday 9th March 2026, 3:45 - 4:45pm!
It’s just £1 to play or watch, with every penny going to support Children in Need.
A brilliant after‑school event full of energy, teamwork and community spirit.
For more information, students can contact 19klonge@woolwichpoly.co.uk.
.png)
To mark Women’s History Month, we have shared a curated calendar of reading and viewing opportunities for students to explore throughout March. The resources range from short videos to longer reading pieces that support our ongoing literacy focus and our celebration of 2026 as the Year of Reading.
Women’s History Month also aligns with British Science Week, and so during the week beginning 9th March, students will focus on Women in and through the Sciences. Toward the end of the month, we will encourage students to look outward at the community and local heritage by exploring the stories and contributions of Women in the Local Area. Some of these opportunities are particularly interesting, and we hope they spark curiosity and discussion.
A huge thank you to Miss Tuckwell for coordinating this wonderful calendar for our school.
Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys was proud to take part in the Greenwich Regional Final of Jack Petchey’s Speak Out Challenge, hosted by Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls on 24 February 2026. The event brought together talented young speakers from across the borough for an inspiring evening that celebrated confidence, creativity and the power of youth voice.
Representing Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys was Year 10 student, Dyuvan, who delivered an exceptional speech that captured the attention of the audience from the moment he stepped on stage. His delivery was confident, articulate and authentic - a reflection of his hard work, maturity and growth throughout the programme. We could not be prouder of the way he represented our school.
We extend our congratulations to Fatiha (WPSfG), who was named Regional Champion, as well as all other finalists for their impressive contributions.
We also thank the Jack Petchey Foundation, Councillor Ann‑Marie Cousins, and WPSfG for hosting a fantastic and meaningful evening.
A Message from Mr T. Lawrence, Headteacher - Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys
“We are immensely proud of Dyuvan and the confident, thoughtful way he represented Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys. His speech demonstrated courage, character and genuine insight. Events like the Speak Out Challenge give our students a powerful platform to develop their voice and grow in self-belief, and we are delighted to see him rise to the occasion with such maturity and pride.”
National Offer Day - Why Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys Is the Right Choice
National Offer Day is today, and we know how important this moment is for families. Choosing the right secondary school shapes a child’s confidence, happiness, and future opportunities and Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys is a place where young people truly thrive.
At WPSfB, students join a community built on respect, ambition, and belonging. We combine high expectations with exceptional pastoral care, ensuring every child feels supported, challenged, and inspired.
Why families choose us:
If your son has been offered a place with us today, we can’t wait to welcome him into our community.
World Book Day 2026: Heroes & Villains - Costume Ideas
World Book Day has always been a celebration of imagination, creativity, and the stories that stay with us. This year’s theme - Heroes and Villains — is the perfect opportunity for boys to bring their favourite characters to life!
Here are some heroic (and villainous) costume ideas especially popular with boys of all ages:
Hero Characters
Adventure & Fantasy Heroes
Classic and Timeless Heroes
Heroes from Graphic Novels & Funny Reads
Villain Characters
Iconic Villains
Funny & Mischievous Villains
Mysterious or Dark Characters
Quick, Easy & Low‑Cost Ideas
This World Book Day, we can’t wait to see our corridors filled with brave heroes, mischievous villains, and unforgettable characters. Boys - who will YOU be?
This year is the National Year of Reading, and now more than ever we need to encourage young people to read regularly.
In 2025, just 1 in 3 children and young people aged 8–18 said they enjoyed reading in their free time - a 36% drop since 2005. These are really worrying figures for our young people.
We are lucky to have a school library that is open every day for students to choose books and read for pleasure. We also have a free public library in our town centre, as well as one in nearby Woolwich.
Throughout the year, our school library runs lots of events and competitions, including World Book Day in March, where there will be book giveaways and exciting activities.
I hope each tutor group will encourage students to visit the library and take books out. Last year, we celebrated with a pizza party for the tutor groups who read the most books - let’s see who wins this year!
Overdue books?
Please bring them back to the library as soon as possible. If you’ve lost a book, just let me know - I can remove it from your account immediately so you can start borrowing again. Don’t let this stop you from reading.
And finally - I would love to hear your book recommendations.
Come by and tell me what you’d like to see in the library: fiction, non‑fiction, magazines, poetry, plays… it’s your library, and your choices matter.
Let’s make this the year we all get reading again.
💙📖 Mrs Hawgood - School Librarian
Students experienced a profoundly moving and challenging day as they visited Auschwitz on Wednesday 4 February 2026. In temperatures that never rose above 1°C - and at times dropped below freezing - they walked through the site with quiet dignity, taking in the scale and gravity of what happened there.
Sanad and Dylan each read extracts from survivors’ testimonies, sharing accounts of life under the command of Rudolf Höss, the camp’s Commandant. Later in the day, Sanad took part in the evening commemoration ceremony, standing beside Crematorium II as he honoured the memory of those who were murdered there.
Throughout the visit, the students engaged in thoughtful conversations with the Rabbi who travelled with the group. He spoke about the rise in antisemitism across the world today and shared his own family’s history, including the loss of relatives during the persecutions in Germany and Ukraine.
Year 12 student Tomilola reflected on the experience:
“Walking through Auschwitz, I felt a heavy silence that words don’t quite capture. Seeing the barracks, the barbed wire, and the piles of personal belongings made the reality of what happened there painfully real. It wasn’t history in a book anymore — it was human lives, interrupted and destroyed. I left feeling overwhelmed with sadness and reflection. I believe it’s important to preserve the memory of places like Auschwitz because forgetting makes it easier to repeat the same hatred and cruelty. Remembering honours the victims and reminds us of our responsibility to challenge intolerance, protect human dignity, and ensure that what happened there never happens again.”
Year 12 student Dylan also shared his thoughts, centring his reflection on the theme of hope:
“Hope. The idea that kept them from condemnation. My experience in Auschwitz revealed to me that despite all the troubles that we as humans go through, hope is the thing that keeps us who we are. I was truly humbled to walk through the concentration camps as it exposed to me the hardships they faced. The atmosphere was quiet and sombre, allowing me to be really tuned into my surroundings. Despite this, I was somewhat emotionless - I did not know how to feel. All I knew was that I had a purpose: to learn a lesson from this memorable trip and try to share my experiences with others. To be able to view such a place of modern history was truly an unforgettable moment that will stay with me for my whole life. Hope is the word that really stood out to me, and I wish more people truly understood its meaning. At Auschwitz, hope was not loud or confident; it was small, stubborn, and persistent - living in whispered prayers, secret kindness, and the will to see another day.”
Year 12 student Arjan offered a deeply personal reflection on the emotional impact of the visit:
“My experience of Auschwitz was a deeply moving experience that had a lasting impact on my understanding of history and humanity. Walking through the site and listening to the tour guide’s explanations allowed me to comprehend the scale and seriousness of the atrocities that took place here over 80 years ago, far beyond what textbooks can convey. The preserved surroundings and personal artefacts belonging to once innocent individuals who were persecuted and murdered simply for having a Jewish identity reinforced the importance of remembering the victims of the Holocaust. Visualising certain points - such as seeing the camp blocks and the so‑called ‘homes’ shaped like barns - made it so hard to imagine how people lived in such inhumane conditions. Scenes formed in my mind, and I tried to imagine myself as a victim of the Holocaust. It was unbearable. My in‑person experience of the concentration camp helped me appreciate the value of tolerance, respect, and humanity. The eerie atmosphere of Auschwitz made me realise how essential it is to learn from the past in order to shape a more peaceful future for people across the world. My trip to Auschwitz made me realise how grateful we should be now - how we don’t face the trauma and horrific experiences that people our age, younger and older, once went through. Auschwitz was a powerful reminder of the importance of remembrance and education, reinforcing the values of respect, responsibility, and a commitment to learning from tragic historical events to help build a more tolerant society.”
Students will now begin work on their Legacy Projects and, upon completion, will become Holocaust Educational Trust Ambassadors - continuing the vital work of remembrance and education.
Throughout the entire visit, they were an absolute credit to the school. Educators from the Trust commented on their maturity, compassion, and conduct, noting what a pleasure they were to accompany.
A powerful snapshot from our students’ visit to Auschwitz on Wednesday 4th February 2026.
We are delighted to celebrate the fantastic success of students from Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls and Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys who took part in this year’s UKMT Team Maths Challenge.
The girls’ team finished in 15th place and the boys’ team in 16th place, separated by just a single point - a clear reflection of how closely matched, focused, and competitive the event was. Competing against grammar, private, and international schools, both teams demonstrated impressive mathematical ability, teamwork, and resilience throughout the day.
The Trust extends a huge thank you to the Premises Team for supporting with transport and remaining with the group for the entire day. Sincere thanks also go to the wider team for their invaluable support with logistics. Mr M. Barrett and Mrs F. Abdulsalam‑Mustafa are recognised for their ongoing commitment to supporting both teams every Tuesday.
Message from Ms Williams, Headteacher of Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls: “Well done! It is always wonderful to see our girls and boys working together. This was a great opportunity for them to showcase their skills and build their confidence. Thank you to everyone who played a part in making this happen!”
Message from Mr Lawrence, Headteacher of Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys: “Well done to all the students who took part in this year’s UKMT Team Maths Challenge. Their teamwork, determination, and enthusiasm were outstanding. It is fantastic to see our boys and girls working together and embracing the challenge. Thank you to all staff whose support made this opportunity possible.”
Please find below a curated selection of useful links highlighting a variety of free events and activities available during the upcoming February half‑term. These include opportunities taking place locally within Greenwich, across central London, as well as a number of events celebrating the Lunar New Year.
We always take great pride in putting these lists together, as they allow us to support our families and the wider community in planning an enjoyable and engaging half‑term break.
Greenwich
Central London
Lunar New Year
Safer Internet Day 2026 takes place on Tuesday 10 February, with the theme “Smart tech, safe choices – Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI.” This theme reflects how artificial intelligence now shapes many aspects of children’s online lives, from personalised recommendations to voice assistants and homework tools.
To support families, we have gathered a collection of trusted UK-specific resources offering practical guidance, conversation ideas, and age-appropriate support.
Official Guidance from the UK Safer Internet Centre
The UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC) provides the key resources for Safer Internet Day 2026. Their dedicated hub includes advice on using AI safely, talking to children about new technologies, and supporting responsible digital choices at home.
Practical Advice and Conversation Starters
A parent-friendly information letter is also available. It explains how AI affects the information children see online, how AI may be used during homework, and the potential risks linked with misuse such as scams or manipulated images. It also provides conversation starters to help families approach the topic confidently.
Download the letter
ParentLine – UK’s AI Online Safety Assistant
ParentLine is the UK’s first AI‑powered online safety assistant for parents. It provides clear, practical guidance on online risks, apps, games, social media, AI tools, cyberbullying, privacy settings and more. It uses verified information from the NSPCC, Internet Matters and the UK Safer Internet Centre.
AI Safety Resources Designed for Parents
The London Grid for Learning (LGfL) offers specific materials to help families navigate generative AI. These include an explainer video, a downloadable parent letter, and a ready-made presentation for running parent information sessions.
LGfL resources
NSPCC – AI Safety Tips for Parents
The NSPCC provides trusted, expert‑backed tips on how AI tools work, what risks they pose to children, how to recognise AI‑generated content and how to talk to children about what they’re seeing online.
UNICEF – Guidance on AI and Children
Global guidance focused on children’s rights in the age of AI. Helps parents understand AI risks, child data protection, fairness, transparency and how global changes affect young people.
Why These Resources Matter
AI is increasingly present in children’s everyday digital interactions. Whether through search results, games, online platforms, homework support or social media, children often engage with AI without realising it. Providing families with accurate information and practical tools helps children:
These resources empower parents and carers to guide children confidently and support positive digital experiences.
.png)
Our school needs your support!
We are applying for a £30,000 council grant to help transform our outdated sand‑based pitch into a safe, FA‑compliant 3G surface. Thamesmead and Woolwich urgently need more quality football facilities, and this project would create a year‑round community sports hub for local young people.
A new 3G pitch would mean:
Please take 10 seconds to vote for our bid:
Scroll to “Thamesmead Community 3G Football Hub – Youth Sports & Community Pitch” and click Vote:
Action Funder - Vote Thamesmead Community 3G Football Hub
If you can, please share the link with friends, family and community groups. Every vote helps us get closer to a modern sports facility that will benefit both our students and the wider community.
Thank you for supporting Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys and the young people of Thamesmead and Woolwich.
.png)
February marks LGBTQ+ History Month, a valuable opportunity for our school community to celebrate diversity, champion inclusion, and recognise the remarkable contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals throughout history.
To support meaningful conversations and reflection, we have shared a curated resource calendar for use during AM and PM registration. It features a rich selection of videos, articles, and podcasts designed to engage students and staff, spark thoughtful discussion, and deepen understanding.
This resource calendar - expertly put together by Miss Tuckwell, our Head of Humanities and Social Sciences also includes additional links to ensure our community has access to a wide range of high‑quality materials - please see attached below.
Useful Links & Resources:
