We were delighted to welcome a very special visitor to school! Dr Kev Chavda, a dentist from Ilkeston, came to see us and talk to the children about the fantastic Ilkeston 100 campaign – #TheIlkeston100.

The aim of this project is to make sure every child in our local area has a toothbrush at home and understands the basics of good oral health. The project is fully funded by Dr Chavda through his clinical work, with no cost to the school or to families, which is an incredibly generous commitment.

Dr Kev spent time with our KS2 children, talking about effective brushing techniques and why looking after our teeth is so important. The children even learnt a fun brushing song to help them brush for the recommended 2 minutes, twice a day. Every child in school will come home with their free toothbrush today.

A huge thank you to Dr Kev for taking the time to visit us and for supporting children’s health in such a positive way.

What an exciting day we’ve had in School!

Dan from Express Coaching is back, and that can only mean one thing… wheelchair basketball is officially underway! The children absolutely loved it , they’ve been racing around, showing off their skills, and many are already proving just how much progress they’ve made since last year. We were seriously impressed!

Internet Safety Day

Today is Internet Safety Day. We will be having a whole school assembly today and working on activities in our classrooms. Here's a message from our Computing Lead, Mr Rippin.

Internet Safety Day 2026 – Supporting Children in an AI World

Internet Safety Day 2026 highlights the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in children’s online lives and the increased need for vigilance, guidance and shared responsibility between schools and families.

AI now influences what children see, watch and play online – from video recommendations and social media feeds to gaming and streaming platforms.

While technology offers exciting learning opportunities, it also makes it more important than ever that children are monitored, supported, and protected when online.

At Gilthill we are committed to helping our pupils navigate this fast-evolving landscape with confidence and critical thinking, and we ask all parents and carers to help us in ensuring our children remain safe and supported online:

Increased Vigilance: Talk to your child about what they are doing online. Ask them to show you the AI tools they might be using and the content they are creating.
Parental Controls: Ensure Parental Controls are active on all devices, including smart TVs, gaming consoles, and voice assistants, to block inappropriate or unvetted content.
Age-Appropriate Access: Only allow access to platforms and apps that are parent-vetted and meet official age ratings.
Monitoring & Mentoring: Regularly monitor your child's online interactions. Help them understand that while AI can be a helpful tool, not everything they see or hear online is real or reliable.

By working together, we can help children develop safe, confident and positive digital habits in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Thank you.Please enter an introduction for your news story here.

Whole school trip to see Sleeping Beauty at the Playhouse

What a fantastic day we had at the panto! The stage was set, the lights went down, and the show began! Oh no, it didn’t… oh yes, it did! 

The children loved every minute, from the songs and dancing to the evil Maleficent and her fiery dragon. I am so proud of our Gilthill lot for their excellent behaviour and conduct outside of school. They were kind and respectful, truly joining in with the panto fun. Well done to Reign for taking to the stage and helping out with one of the songs too.

A huge thank you to all the staff and adult helpers, including governors and parents, who gave up their time to help us out. I also want to thank Mrs Langmaid for her super organisation skills and making sure everything ran smoothly.

Back in October we held our annual Macmillan coffee afternoon. A huge thank you to all the parents and carers who donated cakes and took the time to support this charity. It was a resounding success, with an array of delicious treats available for sale. A special shout-out to Mrs Roper and the office team for their hard work in organising and running the event. We are thrilled to announce that we raised an impressive £119.75, all of which will go to Macmillan Cancer Support. Your kindness truly makes a difference!

Please enter aOver the summer holidays, a brand-new trim trail has been installed in the playground. The work is now complete and the equipment will be ready for the children to enjoy from Monday—we can’t wait to see them using it! This marks the second phase of our ongoing playground revamp, with even more exciting improvements planned for later in the year.n introduction for your news story here.