A group of Year 11 students recently visited the City of Bristol College, College Green Campus, where they enjoyed an informative and engaging morning exploring the wide range of courses, facilities and opportunities available after secondary education.
Gordano School’s 70th anniversary celebrations got off to a delicious start as students showcased their creativity, teamwork and House spirit in the Gordano70 Celebration Cake Bake Off, the first interhouse event of the academic year, part of Gordano’s House Championships.
With Gordano celebrating 70 years since opening its doors in 1956, the competition marked the beginning of a special year of activities honouring the school’s past, celebrating its community and inspiring the next generation.
Students were invited to submit designs for a special anniversary cake inspired by the Gordano70 theme, with finalists selected to bring their ideas to life. The results were a fantastic display of imagination, creativity and pride in their Houses, with each design offering a unique take on this milestone anniversary.
The competition was organised by Mrs Coggins, with guest judges Shannah and Charlie from local bakery Pullins taking on the difficult task of choosing the winners. A huge thank you goes to them for giving up their time, and to Angela Pullin for generously donating prizes for the competition.
The Bake Off was filmed and presented by House Captains Connor, Maggie and Josh, helping to capture the excitement and make the event a memorable start to the school’s anniversary year.
First place: Isla F., 8B1 – Biscay
Second place: Sienna Aston R., 8L1 – Lundy
Third place: Seren W., 7S1 – Shannon
Fourth place: Portland
Fifth place: Fitzroy
Well done to everyone who took part! Whether students submitted a design, made it through to the final or supported their House, the event was a brilliant opportunity to get involved, try something new and celebrate one another’s achievements.
The House Championships are a key part of Gordano’s commitment to fostering a strong sense of belonging, connection and community across the school. With a variety of events planned throughout the year, there will be opportunities for students of all ages and interests to participate, discover new talents and represent their Houses.
While a healthy dose of competition is part of the fun, the Championships are about much more than winning. They encourage teamwork, togetherness, supporting one another and celebrating the achievements of others, helping students build connections beyond their usual friendship groups and year groups.
Above all, Gordano wants to celebrate those who have the confidence to give something a go. Every contribution matters, and taking part, trying something new and championing fellow students are just as important as the final results.
The Cake Bake Off was a fantastic example of this spirit in action, combining creativity, collaboration and friendly competition while launching a year of exciting House events.
Headteacher Louise Blundell said: “At Gordano, community is at the heart of everything we do. Our House system is a wonderful way to bring students together, helping them build friendships, support one another and feel part of something bigger than themselves. The House Championships are about celebrating participation, effort and teamwork just as much as achievement, and it has been fantastic to see students embracing the opportunity to get involved. As we celebrate 70 years of Gordano, we want to recognise the people and connections that make our school so special, while creating new memories together for the future.”
The Cake Bake Off is just the beginning of Gordano70: Honouring our Past, Inspiring our Future.
Throughout the 2026/27 academic year, Gordano School will be bringing its community together to celebrate seven decades of learning, friendships, achievements and opportunities. Students, staff, families, alumni and local partners will all have opportunities to get involved and contribute to the school’s ongoing story.
Planned celebrations include Gordano Through the Decades, with special anniversary-themed menus created in partnership with Aspens, taking students and staff on a culinary journey through the school’s history. The first menu, celebrating the 1950s and 1960s, will launch in November.
The school is also inviting former students and staff to share their memories and stories, helping to build a lasting archive that celebrates the people and experiences that have shaped Gordano over the years. Alongside this, creative projects, community contributions and opportunities to reconnect with former classmates and colleagues will help bring the school’s rich history to life.
The celebrations will build towards a special Creative Arts Festival in summer 2027, bringing together students, families, alumni and community partners for a celebration of Gordano’s past, present and future.
As the school looks ahead to the next chapter of its story, Gordano70 is an opportunity to recognise the generations of people who have made Gordano what it is today and to celebrate the opportunities, connections and achievements still to come.
Here’s to 70 years of Gordano, hundreds of stories, one Gordano community
Our Year 13 Media Studies students recently enjoyed an exciting and inspiring trip to BBC Studios Cardiff, where they were given a unique behind-the-scenes look at the world of broadcasting and media production.
A taste of the past is coming to Gordano School as we celebrate our 70th anniversary with a special series of themed school menus, starting this November.
As Gordano School celebrates its 70th anniversary during the 2026/27 academic year, we’re bringing our history to life in a variety of exciting ways, starting with something everyone can enjoy: food!
Thanks to our catering partners, Aspens, students and staff will be invited to step back in time throughout the school year with our special Gordano Through the Decades menus, celebrating the food, flavours and memories of the decades since the school first opened in 1956.
Our first themed lunch takes place on Thursday 26 November 2026, transporting us back to the 1950s and 1960s. The menu will feature comforting classics, including homestyle cottage pie or traditional shepherdless pie, served with buttered carrots and savoury peas, followed by steamed jam sponge pudding with vanilla custard.
It’s a chance to enjoy a taste of school life from the past while celebrating the people, memories and milestones that have shaped Gordano over the last 70 years.
A huge thank you to Aspens for helping us bring this celebration to life. We look forward to sharing more decades-inspired menus as the anniversary year unfolds!
The Gordano Through the Decades menus form part of a much wider programme of activities marking this special milestone for our school community.
Our Gordano70 celebrations began with a creative logo competition, inviting children and young people from across our community to help shape the visual identity of our anniversary year. With more than 200 entries, the response was fantastic, demonstrating the pride and creativity that Gordano inspires across generations.
More recently, our Gordano70 Bake Off brought another delicious dimension to the celebrations, giving our school community an opportunity to get involved, share their creativity and celebrate together.
Alongside these activities, we are developing our Gordano70 Legacy Project, bringing together stories, photographs, memories and reflections from former students, staff and members of the wider community. By capturing these experiences, we hope to celebrate the people who have shaped Gordano’s history while inspiring future generations.
And this is just the beginning! With more anniversary activities, opportunities to get involved and special events planned throughout the year, there will be plenty of ways to celebrate seven decades of learning, friendship, achievement and community.
As we look back on our history and forward to the future, our 70th anniversary is a chance to recognise what makes Gordano special: the generations of people who have been part of our story.
Honouring our Past, Inspiring our Future. 1956–2026.
To share your Gordano memories or find out more about our anniversary celebrations, please contact legacy@gordanoschool.org.uk.
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Gordano School has welcomed representatives from Sainsbury’s Portishead to see how funding from its Good Food For Us All Community Grant is helping to create inclusive opportunities for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The visit provided an opportunity to showcase how the grant is supporting Gordano’s work to improve access to food and develop practical, food-related learning opportunities for students, helping them build confidence, independence and valuable life skills.
Toni Stuckey, Community Champion for Sainsbury’s Portishead, met with Gordano School Headteacher Ms Louise Blundell and Ms Caswell from the school’s SEND department to learn more about the initiative and see how the funding is making a difference to students.
The grant is helping the school develop meaningful experiences that support students’ wider personal development, ensuring they can access opportunities to learn practical skills in an inclusive and supportive environment.
Ms Louise Blundell, Headteacher at Gordano School, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to Sainsbury’s for their generous support. Funding like this enables us to create meaningful, practical opportunities for our students and ensures that every young person can take part, develop new skills and feel a valued part of our school community. It was wonderful to welcome the Sainsbury’s team and show them the difference their support is making.”
The visit also highlighted the importance of strong relationships between schools and local businesses in helping young people thrive. By investing in opportunities that support students’ individual needs, community partners can play a valuable role in strengthening inclusion, independence and a sense of belonging.
Gordano School is committed to ensuring that every student feels known, valued and included, with opportunities to develop the skills and confidence they need for the future.
The school would like to thank Sainsbury’s for its investment in the Gordano community and for taking the time to visit and see the impact of its support first-hand.
Gordano School is calling on businesses and organisations across Portishead and the surrounding area to get involved with its work experience programme in the summer to help open doors for the next generation.
The appeal comes following Gordano’s successful Annual Careers Convention, giving students the opportunity to meet employers, explore different career pathways and find out more about the world of work.
Work experience plays an important role in helping young people develop confidence, communication and workplace skills, while giving them valuable insight into industries and careers they may not otherwise encounter.
Gordano already has a strong network of local businesses supporting its students, with organisations offering work experience placements, attending careers events, providing mentoring and supporting students in a variety of ways.
The school is now looking to build on those relationships and encourage even more local businesses to get involved.
Gordano’s commitment to working closely with its community has also been recognised through its Gordano Community Partners programme and recent Together Portishead double-award-win.
Businesses and organisations interested in finding out more can contact the Gordano Careers Team at Careers@gordanoschool.org.uk
Together, Gordano and its community partners can help students Dream Big, Do Their Best and Give Back.
We’re inviting artwork and photography entries that celebrate the Christmas spirit and show a clear connection to Portishead.
Our Year 7 boys made an impressive start to their rugby careers at Gordano School on Monday as they competed in the North Somerset Schools Rugby Tournament.
A group of our Year 10 and Year 11 students recently enjoyed an exciting visit to South West Skills Campus (SWSC), Weston College, where they gained first-hand insight into life as a further education student and explored potential career pathways within the construction industry.
We are delighted to share some fantastic news following a recent review of marking for one of our students’ History GCSE.
There is so much happening at Gordano beyond the classroom, from enrichment and trips to clubs, competitions, community projects and opportunities that help our students to flourish.
Our annual Careers Convention is always one of the busiest and most exciting events in the school calendar, and this year was no exception!
