CultureFest returned to BGS on Saturday 28th June, bringing our community together to share, connect and celebrate the many cultures that shape our school. 

View the colourful photos here.

The field came alive with games, creative activities, student stalls and delicious food. One of the most popular features was the food demonstration tent, organised by The Association (PTA). Families gathered to learn about traditional recipes from Libya, Mexico, Pakistan and Lebanon, watching dishes being prepared and sampling flavours from around the world. Everyone was also kept hydrated with Mrs Sira’s (Chair of The Association) chai.

BGS parent, Mrs Bradford, who organised the food demonstrations commented: “We were blown away by the success of the Culturefest food demonstrations. Our chefs were amazing! It was so lovely to watch them share their cultural dishes with the BGS community and to see everyone enjoying the delicious tasters throughout the afternoon. It was clear to see the passion they have for their cooking and heritage.”

Mrs Sira commented: "The festival was a proud moment for us all – a joyful and inclusive event that brought our school community together in a spirit of unity and appreciation for all cultures. It truly reflected one of our core values here at BGS, celebrating diversity and fostering inclusivity. As Chair of The Association, I was delighted to be part of such a special day. The positive feedback we’ve received on the day and since has been heartwarming."

Mrs Swan (Head of Geography) added: “It was lovely taking part in an event that celebrates the many cultures within our school community. Sharing a dish of Fattoush, such an integral part of Lebanese cuisine and daily life, was a special moment, it reminded me of home.”

You can download the full recipe cards here.

Our younger students joined in with enthusiasm, helping at stalls and welcoming visitors. Mrs Simms (Business and Economics Teacher) reflected: “It was amazing to see the Junior School students so enthusiastic about helping at our Young Enterprise toy tombola. They worked hard, had fun, and looked brilliant in their CultureFest outfits.”

Throughout the afternoon, a programme of live performances unfolded, including Bollywood, Sega and Salsa dance, music and choral performances, and student-led acts. Miranda (Year 5), who performed a Venezuelan dance, said: “I was really nervous when I got there and I didn't think I could go on stage alone, my friends encouraged me to go and do my dance and once I started I got more confident and I felt really proud to be able to represent the music from my Venezuelan culture. It was so fun!” Miranda’s mum added: Preparing a dance for Miranda to do at the festival was a really fun family experience, we were surprised she did it even better than she had rehearsed it, despite the nerves. All the performances were beautiful, and the different stalls had a great variety of items to buy, and the food was delicious. Well done to the organisers and teachers, it was a lovely day.”

The Junior School Choir gave a moving performance, with Rosie Freear (Lower Sixth) commenting: “Seeing everything come together for CultureFest was amazing! Everyone worked so hard on their stalls and performances, and this really shone through. I loved being able to share a musical composition I had been working on, and the Junior Choir’s performance was impressive. It's lovely to see the girls’ enthusiasm in getting involved with different cultures, and it certainly brightened my day. Refreshments and food demonstrations were a relief against the hot weather and I had a great time planting my own thyme at the sustainability stall.”

Our entrepreneurial students impressed visitors with handmade gifts, refreshments and sustainability-themed items. Sophie Wilshin (Lower Sixth), who ran the Eco-stall, said: “The Eco-stall run by the Sustainability Team was selling the BGS reusable cups as well as some plant pots that customers were able to decorate themselves. With an emphasis on reusability and recycling, we were also giving out free bags of coffee grounds. These came from the Sixth Form Café, Chequers, as waste from the coffees, so we were very pleased to hand them out and help reduce school waste. We had lots of conversations with both students and parents about the importance of sustainability and initiatives that can help the school reach its sustainability goals. Overall, it was a lovely event and we were very pleased to have raised some money for the school charities.”

As compère, Mr Gracie (Deputy Head) reflected on the day. “It was so lovely to share an afternoon as a wider school community, celebrating every student and the breadth of cultures in our school,” he said. “The support of families with cooking demonstrations, enabling small business stalls, donating and purchasing made the event a great success in our eyes. It was also a delight to have family members join our amazing students on stage to perform, showing the breadth of talent around us. The buzz of the event was brilliant and the hard work of all the staff who helped put it on felt thoroughly worthwhile to create such a memorable afternoon.”

Mrs Tombs, Catering Manager, summed it up perfectly: “CultureFest 2025 was an incredible celebration of our BGS community. Seeing the pride and excitement of students as they showcased their talents and cultures was electric. The sunshine was just the icing on the cake.”

CultureFest was a really special day that brought everyone together.