2025/26 TWGGS Newsletter 15
Friday 24th April 2026
A message from Mrs Marchant
We welcomed our pupils back this week, many in summer uniform, for what is already shaping up to be a busy term. We have started with GCSE Oral Exams for MFL and have hosted Lower Sixth parents and pupils for our ‘Preparing for Upper Sixth and beyond’ talk. Today is Easter Egg Bingo; thank you to all parents and pupils who have donated eggs for what is always a very popular event!
We have a number of events taking place between now and the May Half Term which is only four weeks away now – please see a summary of the main events below:
| Date | Event |
| Monday 27th April | Year 7 Globe visit (7T/7W/7S) |
| Tuesday 28th April | Year 7 Globe visit (7G/7Y/7B) Year 10 Medical Mavericks visit Year 11 Exams Assembly |
| Wednesday 29th April | Upper Sixth Art Finals Junior Maths Challenge |
| Thursday 30th April | Upper Sixth Art Finals |
| Friday 1st May | Upper Sixth grade sheet home Year 8 Bubble Football |
| Wednesday 6th May | Leavers’ Concert Last day for Year 11 in school |
| Thursday 7th May | French Exchange departs First GCSE exam |
| Friday 8th May | Last day for Upper Sixth in school |
| Monday 11th May | First A Level exam |
| Thursday 14th May | Silver DofE Practice 1 |
| Friday 15th May | Silver DofE Practice 2 |
| Saturday 16th May | Silver DofE Practice 3 |
| Monday 18th May | Weiner Library History visit Lower Sixth Own Clothes Day |
| Tuesday 19th May | Year 10 Art Exam |
| Wednesday 20th May | Year 8 Pett Level 1 Year 10 Exams begin |
| Thursday 21st May | Year 8 Pett Level 2 Year 10 Exams |
| Friday 22nd May | Year 10 Exams End of Term 3.1 at 2:40pm |
If you have any concerns about your child in this exam season please contact exams@twggs.kent.sch.uk and the relevant Head of Year. We have a strong wellbeing team here to support you and your child during these times. We encourage our pupils to be resilient and that exams and testing are a natural part of life; we celebrate successes and learn from mistakes and this only comes through familiarity.
Have a lovely weekend, I hope that you enjoy the sunshine!
Mrs Katie Marchant, Headteacher
Latest News
Links and buttons will take you outside of this document, such as the ‘View All News’ button which links to News items from last term hosted on our website. Please don’t forget to return to the newsletter to scroll all the way through.
This edition of the newsletter contains:
- Summer Term Charity Update
- Community Garden Plant Appeal
- Policy Spotlight
- National College Bulletin
- EWT Workshops
- Counselling
- Link to school calendar
- Attendance
Summer Term Charity Update
This term’s chosen charity is Rosa, a charity established in 2008 to help tackle the underfunding and under-representation of small charities across the UK which support women and girls in their own communities. The charities Rosa supports offer women and girls key services, counselling and a powerful public voice that aim to improve their lives, whether they have experienced poverty, violence, discrimination, healthcare inequalities or any other forms of trauma and crisis. If you would like to find out more, please click here to access the presentation from the recent Charities Assembly.
Years 7, 8 and 9 will be fundraising for Rosa this term and are coming up with lots of creative ideas in exchange for pupil donations. We look forward to supporting them in their endeavours.
Community Garden Plant Appeal
As we mentioned in the last newsletter, the last few weeks have seen a number of renovations made to the TWGGS Community Garden. We have been busy weed proofing, with four tonnes of gravel laid down to establish a large gravel garden. There have been significant additions of bark to support the development of the ‘wild area’, and over three huge bags of compost added to the raised beds to restock soil levels. The key focus this year is to develop pollinator plants and sensory elements in the garden that are deer resistant, and provide a peaceful and sustainable area for all pupils and staff to enjoy.
The lavender we ordered will be delivered in May to support local bee populations, but, with limited money, we require support in the purchasing of plants for the gravel garden. The following are recommended as deer resistant. If any parent wishes to donate any of these plants to the school, they would be gratefully received: Allium, Hidcote Lavender, Nepeta (not those that work as catnip – there are many cats who visit the school site), Santolina (lavender cotton), Thymus (wild thyme), Euphorbia characias, Crinum lilies, Cytisus (Firefly, Allgold, Lena, Boskoop Ruby), Nerine (Guernsey Lily), Papaver (Californian Poppy), Ornamental grasses such as Miscanthus, Pennisetum and Stipa, Centaurea Bella, Gazania, Kniphofia, Limonium (Sea Lavender), Oenothera (Evening Primrose), Verbena, Osteospermum, Scabiosa, Veronica (Royal Candles). Please contact Mr Smith at richard.smith@twggs.kent.sch.uk if you would like to make a donation.
TWGGS Policy Spotlight
Our featured policy this week is TWGGS’ Child Protection Policy. TWGGS recognises our statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everybody’s responsibility and members of our community (staff, volunteers, governors, leaders, parents/carers, wider family networks and pupils) have an important role in safeguarding children and making this community safe and secure. The full policy can be accessed by clicking on the button below.
All of our policies and key information documents can be found on our website.
Online Safety Bulletins
What parents and educators need to know about YouTube
The Google-owned platform allows users to upload and share videos globally. It is a readily accessible resource with free content on almost any topic and, with twenty million videos uploaded daily, not all material is suitable for younger audiences. As videos are based on what a viewer has previously watched, this can encourage excessive screen time. The platform’s algorithm also promotes content which attracts high engagement, which can sometimes include videos containing extreme viewpoints, misinformation or risky behaviour.
Click on the poster for useful tips on how to manage young users’ exposure to unsuitable content. Parental controls, privacy settings and spending time watching together can help you understand what they enjoy and guide your conversations about content.
Self Defence and Personal Safety
A weekly programme is being offered to local young people in a safe and supportive environment to build confidence, learn practical self‑defence skills and develop greater awareness of personal safety. Delivered in partnership between Kent Police and the Gracie Barra Jiu Jitsu Centre, the sessions focus on helping young people make positive choices, improve resilience, and feel more confident navigating everyday situations. By combining professional coaching with police‑led safety guidance, the scheme aims to empower young people with skills that promote wellbeing, respect and long‑term safety within the community.
Lessons will run at the Gracie Barra Jiu-Jitsu Centre, 86-92, Hargreaves House, Calverley Rd, Tunbridge Wells TN1 2UN, every Wednesday, 4:30-5:30pm from 22nd April to 27th May. If your child is interested they can just turn up – there is no need for them to sign up, or attend every week.
EWT Workshops
The Emotional Wellbeing Teams (EWT) have another series of workshops taking place for both pupils and also parents/carers over the Summer Term:
- Less Stress Guide to Exams – 07/05/26
- Understanding the Teenage Brain – 18/05/26
- Understanding Neurodiversity – 29/06/26
- Co-Regulation in Conversations and Conflict – 15/06/26
All the workshops take place via Zoom. Please click on the posters below for information on how to attend.
Counselling
Our new counsellor, Liz Yonge, has started working with us this term and we are pleased to be able to continue to offer pupils up to eight school-funded sessions. If you feel that your child would benefit from support, then please do contact Mrs Miller by emailing DHTPastoral@twggs.kent.sch.uk. Please note, that counselling in school cannot take place alongside additional interventions.
Upcoming Events
Attendance
| Year | Attendance % |
|---|---|
| 7 | 97.41 |
| 8 | 96.83 |
| 9 | 95.78 |
| 10 | 95.15 |
| 11 | 94.70 |
| L6 | 88.64 |
| U6 | 81.60 |
| Whole School | 93.11 |
Family Holidays
Holidays must be taken in school holiday time. We do not authorise absence during term time as this clearly has a major impact on pupils’ learning. If it is unavoidable, a letter should be sent to the Headteacher, requesting permission well in advance and the absence will be recorded as unauthorised in all but exceptional circumstances.
Reporting an Absence
The EdulinkOne portal is a quick and simple method for reporting an absence. We ask that you report on each day that your child is absent to avoid any ambiguity. If your child will be off school for a known period of time, for example if they have been signed off by a doctor, then please state this in the notes on the Edulink message, so that our staff can interpret this effectively. You can also attach medical notes to the message that you send. If you are unable to report via Edulink, please contact reception by phone on 01892 520902, or via email, reception@twggs.kent.sch.uk
We would urge parents to avoid making medical or dental appointments for your children during school hours, whenever possible.
For further guidance on using EdulinkOne, please visit our website.