This year’s Work Experience (WEX) programme 

It’s been a busy fortnight for our Year 11 students as they undertake their work experience placements. Work experience is an invaluable way for students to enhance their CVS and develop their interpersonal skills in a different environment. It is always a pleasure to speak to the students and discover what they feel they have learned and noticed on their placements. Our students this year have managed to source a particularly diverse range of placements including: retail, construction, finance, diplomatic, theatre, education, dentistry, medicine, neuroscience and accountancy. One student even managed to find a placement with a firm in Italy! Feedback from our employers has been overwhelmingly positive and the students’ confidence has soared as a result. A huge thanks to our placement coordinators, visiting staff and parents for supporting the Blackheath High work experience programme. Well done to our hard-working Year 11s and have a well-deserved summer holiday.  

Written by Ms Day, Head of Futures 

See our students' onsite placement photos below: Liv – Estella Bartlett; Ava – Macquarie Group; Emma and Beth – Greenwich Theatre; Maya – Jamaican High Commission, Laila - Williamson & Co Accountants, Sofia - Sparkly Smile Dentists

Year 10 Sixth Form Taster Day: A Glimpse into the Future 

On Wednesday 2 July, our Year 10 students had the opportunity to immerse themselves in Sixth Form life. The day was designed to give them a real sense of what to expect in Year 12. 

Students took part in a series of engaging taster lessons across a range of subjects, giving them the chance to explore new academic pathways and experience the pace and independence of Sixth Form learning. They also heard from the Head Student Team whose Q&A session offered honest, thoughtful insight into the joys and challenges of Sixth Form life. 

A particular highlight was the Wollstonecraft Series session with Ms Day where students explored the theme of active listening - a vital skill both in and beyond the classroom. The session sparked thoughtful discussions and gave students a flavour of the wider intellectual and personal development opportunities offered in the Sixth Form. 

Mrs Argile also spoke to students about the many opportunities available in the Sixth Form, encouraging them to think ahead and start imagining the possibilities that lie ahead.  

Throughout the day, Year 10 showed real focus, maturity, and enthusiasm. Their excellent engagement with every aspect of the programme was a pleasure to see. We look forward to welcoming them again in the autumn term for their shadowing day in Sixth Form. 

Wollstonecraft Speaker Series 

A huge thank you to Gem O'Reilly for delivering the final talk of the year from our Wollstonecraft Speaker Series to our Sixth Form - what a powerful way to finish the year. 
 
Gem shared her inspiring journey from ambitious student to award-nominated BBC journalist, charting her path from creating local radio packages to covering breaking news live on-air. 
 
She spoke passionately about representation in media, the importance of uncovering untold stories, and her advocacy for disability awareness - shaped by her own experience of living with a heart condition and scoliosis. 
 
As a Forbes 30 Under 30 finalist, Gem embodies the resilience, purpose and creativity we encourage in our students. Her talk offered practical insights into career-building in journalism, while also opening up honest conversations about navigating setbacks and staying true to your values. 
 
This event is part of the Blackheath High School Futures Programme, which prepares students for life beyond school through meaningful talks, leadership experiences and real-world inspiration. Thank you Gem for showing our students what’s possible, and how to get there with impact and integrity.