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Year 9 Student Dyuvan named Finalist in The Big Bang Competition!
Published 09/05/25
Year 9 Student Dyuvan named Finalist in The Big Bang Competition!

Year 9 student Dyuvan has achieved an incredible milestone with his project: Can plants adapt to polluted environments?. After initially entering it in the school STEM fair, he reentered his work into The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Competition - and has now been nominated as a finalist!

His project and school are proudly listed on The Big Bang website, recognising his achievement amongst 1,000 other participants from grammar schools and sixth forms across the UK. The competition, which is free to enter, welcomes young people aged 11 to 18 from state-funded secondary schools, home education settings, and community groups.

With competitors allowed to submit only one project, either solo or as part of a team, Dyuvan's success is a true testament to his hard work and dedication. On behalf of everyone at Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys, we are incredibly proud of Dyuvan and his remarkable achievement! Congratulations on this fantastic success!

The Big Bang 2025 Finalists

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World Fair Trade Day - 10th May 2025
Published 07/05/25
World Fair Trade Day is an annual event celebrated on the second Saturday of May. In 2025, it falls on May 10th. This day is dedicated to promoting the principles of Fair Trade, which aim to create a more equitable and sustainable global economy.

The fairtrade movement focusses on ensuring that producers, especially those in developing countries, receive fair wages and work in safe conditions. It also emphasises environmental sustainability and social justice.

Key objectives of World Fair Trade Day include:
- Raising Awareness: Highlighting the importance of fairtrade practices and their positive impact on communities and the environment
- Promoting Ethical Consumption: Encouraging consumers to choose Fair Trade products to support ethical and sustainable business practices.
- Advocating for Change: Inspiring businesses and policymakers to adopt and support Fair Trade principles.
- It's a day to celebrate the progress made in the fairtrade movement and to inspire further action towards a fairer world.
Fairtrade Foundation: This site offers a wide range of fairtrade products, from coffee and tea to flowers and gold. Look for the FAIRTRADE Mark when you shop.

The Fairtrade Store: An online retailer dedicated to fairtrade gifts and accessories, including bags, jewellery, homeware, and more.

Ethical Superstore: Offers a broad selection of fairtrade products, including food, clothing, and household items.

Here are some fairtrade brands in the UK that you might not know about:
- Tate & Lyle Icing Sugar: Perfect for baking, this Fairtrade icing sugar ensures that the sugar cane farmers receive fair wages. Tate and Lyle Sugars
- Fairtrade Flowers: Available at supermarkets like Co-op, Waitrose, and Aldi, these flowers support fair working conditions for farm workers. Buying fair trade flowers
- Ben & Jerry's: This iconic ice cream brand uses fairtrade ingredients in many of their flavours, ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions for farmers. Ben & Jerry's
- Green & Black's: Known for their organic chocolate, Green & Black's sources fairtrade cocoa to support sustainable farming. Green & Black's
- Divine Chocolate: A co-owned company by cocoa farmers, Divine Chocolate ensures that farmers receive a fair share of the profits. Divine Chocolate
- Rishi Tea: Offers a variety of teas sourced from fairtrade farms, promoting environmental sustainability and fair wages. Rishi Tea
- Clipper Teas: First UK company to receive the fairtrade mark for tea. Known for their natural, fair, and delicious teas with no artificial ingredients. They are celebrating 25 years of Fairtrade. Our Ethics - The World's Largest Buyer of Fairtrade Tea - Clipper Teas
Supermarkets
- ASDA Search Results for Fairtrade - ASDA Groceries
- Morrisons Search results for fairtrade - Morrisons online supermarket
- Tesco Results for "fairtrade" - Tesco Groceries
- Co-op Results for 'fairtrade' | Co-op delivery
- Waitrose Fairtrade - Search | Waitrose & Partners
- Ocado Fairtrade | Ocado
- Ethical superstore Fair Trade - Ethical Superstore
- M&S Our Commitment to Responsibly Sourced Cocoa | M&S Food
Great items to buy:
- Sun magic Our Drinks - Sunmagic
- Karma Drinks Karma Drinks | Online Store
- Guylian Sustainability - Guylian
- Mallow and Marsh Our Story - Mallow & Marsh
- Tony’s Chocolonely our promise – Tony’s Chocolonely United Kingdom
- Skincare Products | Pimple Patches | Primark
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Early finish Wednesday 21st May @12pm

Published 07/05/25

To facilitate the Year 6 Interviews, all students will be dismissed early on Wednesday, 21st May 2025.

Please note the special schedule for the day. Thank you for your understanding and support.

Period	Timings
AM Reg	8.40 - 9.10am
P1	9.10 - 9.50am
P2	9.50 - 10.25am
Break	10.25 - 10.40am
P3	10.40 - 11.15am
Lunch	11.15 - 12.00pm

FREE training & resources for parents & carers with the National College
Published 23/04/25
Free training & resources for parents & carers

Everything you need to bridge the knowledge gap in online safety, mental health & wellbeing, and climate education

Gain the confidence and skills to have age-appropriate, informed discussions with children to keep them safe, healthy and resilient to life beyond the school gates.

National College

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Earth Day 2025
Published 22/04/25
🌍 Happy Earth Day! 🌍

Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22nd to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote actions to protect our planet. It was first celebrated in 1970 and has since grown into a global event, with millions of people participating in activities such as tree planting, clean-up campaigns, and educational programmes. The theme for Earth Day 2025 is OUR POWER, OUR PLANET, inviting everyone around the globe to unite behind renewable energy, and to triple the global generation of clean electricity by 2030.

Today, we celebrate our beautiful planet and commit to protecting it for future generations. Let's take action to reduce our carbon footprint, conserve natural resources, and promote sustainability. Every small step counts! 🌱💚

Here are some ideas for some small, everyday actions you can take to contribute to a greener world:
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Follow the three R's to minimise waste. Recycle paper, plastic, glass, and metal, and reuse items whenever possible.
- Conserve Water: Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth, take shorter showers, and fix any leaks to save water.
- Save Energy: Turn off lights and unplug electronics when not in use. Use energy-efficient appliances and light bulbs.
- Use Public Transport: Walk, bike, or use public transportation where you can.
- Bring Your Own Bags: Use reusable shopping bags instead of single-use plastic bags.
- Avoid Single-Use Plastics: Opt for reusable water bottles, coffee cups, and containers instead of disposable ones.
- Plant Trees and Gardens: Plant trees, flowers, or a vegetable garden to improve air quality and support local wildlife.
- Eat Less Meat: Reduce meat consumption and opt for plant-based meals to lower your carbon footprint.
- Educate and Advocate: Spread awareness about environmental issues and advocate for policies that protect the planet.
Every small action adds up to make a big difference. What steps are you most excited to start with? 🌿😊
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Staying safe during the half-term holiday
Published 04/04/25
Staying Safe During the Half-Term Holiday

General Safety Tips:
- Stay Aware: Keep music or earphones off to stay aware of your surroundings.
- Stick to Safe Routes: Choose busy, well-lit streets and avoid taking shortcuts through alleys.
- Hide Valuables: Keep mobile phones and other valuables hidden from view.
- Communicate Plans: Always inform your parents or carers of your destination, plans, and expected return time.
- Road Safety: Remember to look before crossing the road—avoid distractions while crossing.
Additional Tips:
- Travel in Groups: Whenever possible, travel with friends or in groups, especially at night.
- Emergency Contacts: Keep a list of emergency contacts easily accessible.
- Trust Your Instincts: If something feels off, trust your instincts and seek help if needed.
- Stay Hydrated: Carry a water bottle to stay hydrated, especially if you're out for long periods.
- Weather Preparedness: Dress appropriately for the weather and carry necessary items like an umbrella or suncream.
Resources for Support:
- Young Minds (Mental Health Support): www.youngminds.org.uk
- Kooth (Free, anonymous, and safe space for well-being support): www.kooth.com
- Child Line (Help and advice on various issues): www.childline.org.uk or call 0800 1111
- NSPCC (National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children): www.nspcc.org.uk or call 0808 800 5000
- Samaritans (Emotional support): www.samaritans.org or call 116 123
Stay safe and enjoy your half-term holiday! 😊
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FREE online parent/carer engagement webinars with the MET Police Central Youth Team
Published 04/04/25
The MET Police Central Youth Team, are currently running a project, offering FREE and online, parent/ carer engagement webinars in partnership with YGAM Org. The sessions will give advice to parents/ carers, on preventing gaming and gambling harms among young people.

Ygam are a national charity with a mission to prevent children and young people from experiencing gaming and gambling harms through awareness-raising education and research.  In partnership with the Metropolitan Police, Ygam is offering free online awareness sessions for parents across Greater London to help increase understanding of the risks associated with gaming and gambling.

Following research with organisations, parents and children, we have developed an awareness session providing parents and carers with information around gaming, gambling and the blurred lines between the two. 

For details on the topics covered and how to register, please refer to the attached flyer.

In the meantime, feel free to visit Ygam’s Parents Hub which is designed to provide parents with the knowledge and resources to safeguard their families.

The session for the South London boroughs (Lambeth, Southwark, Croydon, Bromley, Sutton, Lewisham, Greenwich & Bexley) will take place on Tuesday 6^th May, 7pm – 8.15pm.

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Royal Borough of Greenwich 500 word short story competition - prizes to be won!
Published 03/04/25
Enter the 500-word short story competition from the Royal Borough of Greenwich and showcase your creativity. The theme this year is HOME.

🗓️ Deadline: Friday, 25th April 2025

Write a short story inspired by the theme of home. Keep it under 500 words and type your entries if possible. This is the perfect activity to complete over Easter!

🏆 Prizes: Winner and runner-up for each key stage:
- Key Stage 1
- Key Stage 2
- Key Stage 3
- Key Stage 4
- Key Stage 5
Include your initials, school, and year group when entering!

📧 Send your entry to: dhawgood@woolwichpolyboys.co.uk

Get writing and good luck! ✨
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Success at the UKMT Team Maths Challenge 2025
Published 03/04/25
Success at the UKMT Team Maths Challenge 2025

We are thrilled to announce the outstanding success of our students in the UKMT Team Maths Challenge held on Monday. Competing against 13 grammar schools, our teams from Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys and Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls showcased remarkable skill, teamwork, and determination. The boys' team finished in 8th place, while the girls' team secured a commendable 11th place. This achievement is a testament to their hard work and dedication.

Their enthusiasm and perseverance were truly inspiring, and we've received positive feedback from other supervising teachers who were impressed by our students' problem-solving abilities and teamwork. It was a pleasure to see them perform so well under pressure, and we are incredibly proud of all their efforts.

It was wonderful to see our students being bold and confident as they competed alongside grammar schools. They were excited by the whole experience. On the journey back, the bus was full of laughter, with students proudly boasting about their school. They were particularly thrilled to be the only non-grammar school present, and their pride and excitement were incredible to watch and hear. They all went home with a smile on their face, carrying a new motto: Poly and Smart.

Thank you once again to everyone involved for their dedication to our students' success. We are excited to see what lies ahead and look forward to witnessing our students continue to excel in future competitions.

#UKMTChallenge #StudentSuccess #Teamwork #PolyAndSmart #WoolwichPolytechnicSchoolForBoys #WoolwichPolytechnicSchoolForGirls #Polymat #polymatschools

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Important Information for Parents/Carers - Hayfever Season
Published 03/04/25
As hayfever season is upon us, students may exhibit symptoms such as swollen red eyes, a runny nose, and sneezing.

To help manage these symptoms, please ensure that students who suffer from hayfever take an antihistamine (cetirizine hydrochloride) each morning before coming to school.

If you haven't already, please use the MCAS (My Child At School) app to provide parental consent for over-the-counter medications, including antihistamines, paracetamol, ibuprofen, and strepsils.

For more information, please visit the following links:

Click here to view the NHS page for Hayfever

Click here to view our Medical & First Aid webpage which is updated regularly

Thank you for your cooperation.

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Year 11 Engagement Evening - 1st April 2025
Published 03/04/25
A big thank you to all Year 11 parents who attended the Year 11 Engagement Evening on 1st April 2025!

We had such positive discussions about exam practice, revision, and well-being.

For those who couldn't make it, you can find the PowerPoint presentation below:

Year 11 Engagement Evening 2025 PPT

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Download our GCSE & GCE Student Handbooks 2025 now!
Published 03/04/25
Attention students at Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys!

If you're sitting your exams this summer, we've got you covered. We've uploaded the GCSE & GCE Examination Student Handbooks to our website. These handbooks include all the essential information you need for the exam season, from key dates and contact details to how to collect your exam certificates.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to Mrs. Woods or Mrs. Crowley in the Exams Office. Good luck!

View and download the student handbooks here:

Exam Information - GCSE & GCE Handbooks 2025

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