The Willink School & Sixth Form

Bilbao Trip Update 🇪🇸✨

Today was the group’s last full day in Bilbao, and it was certainly a busy one! 🤩

The day began with a visit to the iconic Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, where students admired the spectacular architecture of the building and visited the famous Puppy 🐶🌸 and Maman 🕷️.

In the afternoon, the students cooled down in a shopping centre, spending their remaining euros on gifts and souvenirs 🎁🛍️ before enjoying a special cultural experience: watching the new Super Mario movie in Spanish 🎬🍄🇪🇸.

Back at the hotel, everyone came together for their final Spanish dinner 🍽️ before celebrating the week with a prize-giving event 🏆🎉, recognising some of the many memorable moments from the trip.

What a fantastic final full day, packed with culture, fun, language learning and lasting memories! 🇪🇸❤️

Bilbao Trip Update 🇪🇸🌊☀️

What a fantastic day! The students headed to the coast this morning for a session of surfing 🏄‍♂️ and paddleboarding 🏄‍♀️, led entirely by a Spanish team. Everyone had an amazing time in the water, and the weather could not have been better ☀️🌊

The language learning didn’t stop there! After all that activity, students put their Spanish skills to the test by buying lunch at a local supermarket 🛒🇪🇸

The afternoon was then spent making the most of the beautiful beach, with students paddling in the sea 🌊, sunbathing ☀️, building sandcastles 🏰, and simply relaxing with friends 😎

Next on the agenda is a well-earned gelato 🍦 before heading back for a relaxing shower 🚿 and a delicious Spanish evening meal 🍽️🇪🇸. The day will be rounded off with a photo competition. 📸

Another brilliant day packed with adventure, culture, language learning, and unforgettable memories 🤩✨

🇪🇸☀️🌊🏄‍♂️🍦📸

🎶✨ Summer Music Concert ✨🎶

Join us for an evening of fantastic live music performed by our talented students! 🎤🎸🎻

📅 Tuesday 7 July 2026
🕖 7:00pm
📍 Main Hall, The Willink School

Enjoy performances across a wide range of genres and styles, showcasing the incredible musical talent within our school community 🎶✨

🎟️ Tickets just £3 and available now via Scopay

Come along and support our students as they take to the stage for what promises to be a wonderful summer celebration of music 🌟👏

🇪🇸 Bilbao Trip Update 🇪🇸

After breakfast, the group set off into the vibrant centre of Bilbao, kicking things off with a Spanish-style Starbucks stop ☕🇪🇸

They then met their brilliant guide, Hirune (former Spanish FLA at the Willink), who brought the city to life with a lively public quiz challenge 🎤😄

Next came an unforgettable ride on the funicular 🚡 up to the top of Bilbao, where the students took on an exciting treasure hunt with energy and enthusiasm 🗺️🏆

The adventure then continued back down into the old town, where students are now enjoying well-earned free time soaking up the atmosphere near Santiago Cathedral ⛪🌆✨

🇪🇸 Bilbao Trip Update 🇪🇸✨

Last night our students slipped straight into the Spanish routine with a late dinner followed by bedtime.🍽️😴

This morning everyone woke up refreshed and enjoyed a continental breakfast 🥐☕ before moving on to Spanish vocabulary practice. Vocabulary work formed our “Do It Now” task for today.📚

More photos to follow from their day out exploring Bilbao with their guide later today. 📸🌆

🎨✨ Year 12 Art Trip to the University of Reading ✨🎨

This week, a group of our Year 12 Art students visited the University of Reading 🎓 for an inspiring screen printing workshop led by Jo Giles and Mark Aitchson 🎨🖌️.

Students explored professional screen printing techniques, developing their skills and strengthening their A Level Component 1 work. It was a fantastic opportunity to see how creative ideas are developed in a university setting and to experience industry-level processes firsthand ✨

The visit also included a tour of exhibitions and studios, plus an introduction to the architectural graduate show and teacher training spaces - offering a real insight into exciting creative pathways beyond school.

A huge thank you to Jo Giles, Mark Aitchson, and the team at Reading University for such a warm welcome and inspiring experience 🙌💛

Our students returned energised, motivated, and full of new ideas for their artistic journeys ahead 🚀

Today, a group of our Year 8 students set off on their educational trip to Bilbao, Spain. 🇪🇸

Despite a delayed flight, the students were incredibly patient and have all arrived safely. We wish them a wonderful trip and look forward to sharing updates on their adventures over the next few days.

Have a fantastic time, Year 8!

🏛️ Year 10 Visit to Parliament and the Supreme Court 🏛️

Last week, 31 Year 10 students visited the Houses of Parliament and the Supreme Court in London as part of our PSHE curriculum.

The trip gave students a valuable insight into how laws are made, how democracy works in the UK, and the role of the judiciary in upholding justice and the rule of law.

Students were a credit to the school throughout the day, asking thoughtful questions and engaging brilliantly with the experience. They even kept their spirits high when caught in a sudden downpour crossing Parliament Square! ☔

We are incredibly proud of how they represented the school and hope the visit has inspired an interest in politics and public life.

👏 Well done to all involved!

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ Year 7 Athletics Success! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

On Friday, 5 June, our Year 7 boys' and girls' athletics teams travelled to Palmer Park to compete in the Reading Schools Athletics event.

The students represented the school brilliantly, competing with enthusiasm, determination and excellent sportsmanship across a wide range of events, including the long jump, high jump, shot put, javelin, 75m, 150m, 300m, 600m, 1000m and relay races.

The teams thoroughly enjoyed the day and gave their very best effort in every event. We are especially proud of our medallists, Josh V, Fletcher B and Tabitha P, who all achieved top-three finishes in their respective events.

Congratulations to all of our athletes for representing the school so positively and for demonstrating such commitment and teamwork throughout the day. We are incredibly proud of you all! 👏🏅

⚽🌍 Get ready for a Festival of Football in our school canteen! 🌍⚽

To celebrate the excitement of the upcoming World Cup, Harrison, our school canteen provider, are launching a special football-themed promotion starting on Thursday 11th June.

A selection of exciting football-inspired specials will be available alongside their regular menu throughout the tournament. Please note that on Thursday 11th June, the special promotion menu will replace the usual main meal option.

Whether you're cheering for your favourite team or simply enjoying the tournament atmosphere, there's something for everyone to enjoy! ⚽🏆