2025/26 TWGGS Newsletter 17
Friday 22nd May 2026
A message from Mrs Marchant
We are now fully into the swing of public examinations, and pupils have responded very sensitively to their older peers’ nervousness and need for a calm school. Thank you to all who have adapted the way that they walk around the site and for the quieter charity campaigns that Year 7 have been planning!
We saw our Silver Duke of Edinburgh pupils embark on their expedition last week and I would like to thank Mrs Brown for all of her work with the scheme, along with all the staff who attended and helped. Mrs Brown is going to Buckingham Palace today in recognition of her work as DofE Manager and we are incredibly proud of her and the sterling work that she does. We were contacted by a member of the public after the expedition who commented on the group of ‘delightful young people … polite, friendly and interactive and all were well-spoken and just generally a lovely group of girls. A credit to the school.’ The character shown by our pupils not just here but across the many different ways that they represent both the school and themselves never fails to make me joyful.
We are delighted to announce that we are the very proud recipients of a Gold Feminista Award for our work with our On My Way campaign that we launched early in 2026. We have seen real change in the short time that we have been working on this campaign which has grown even further in terms of partnerships with local schools. We are thrilled that KCC have agreed to update their Code of Conduct to include Sexual Harassment within the category of Highly Dangerous and Life‑Threatening Behaviour.
The revised version will be published in time for the start of the new academic year in September. We continue to lobby bus companies to take responsibility for the safety of our pupils and are increasingly seeing positive bystander behaviour emerge from our pupils who now can report to us easily. Work is only just starting, though, and we have much more that we wish to do in the forthcoming year to strengthen the start. We will be attending the awards ceremony at the Houses of Parliament on 8th June where I will be giving a short presentation of our work so far. An update regarding our campaign can be found below, and further information can be found on our website: On My Way information. Please do contact us at the school if you have any queries about this campaign.
Our PTA are absolutely incredible and have been working very hard to ensure that pupils are treated to a range of experiences, whilst also raising much needed (and much appreciated) funds for the school. Phil Booker is embarking on his annual charity ‘activity’ to raise money for the PTA, https://www.justgiving.com/page/phil-booker-2026, which will see him walk approximately 70 km in a day to go from Tunbridge Wells to a church dedicated to the Patron Saint of Charities, Saint Vincent de Paul in Battersea. Any donation that you can give would be very gratefully received as we rely on the generosity of the PTA to provide so many of our ‘nice to haves’ for pupils.
Many of you will be reading this newsletter with a child in either Year 11 or Upper Sixth. We are in need of any uniforms that you are able to donate for our incoming Year 7 evening in June, which is always very popular. If you do have any of the pleated skirts, new style dresses or jumpers, please do drop them into reception. We have removed the old ‘white collar’ dresses and the straight skirts from our uniform so we do not require any of these.
I would like to wish you all a peaceful weekend and a lovely half term.
Mrs Katie Marchant, Headteacher
On My Way Update
Since launching On My Way, the initiative has grown significantly! What began as a TWGGS pupil voice project about behaviour, safety and wellbeing on journeys to and from school has now developed into a wider local safeguarding campaign.
We are pleased to share that 15 local schools are now formally involved in the initiative! We are so pleased to have them on board and their collaboration is not just useful but imperative to the cause.
We have also continued to receive support from local representatives. Mike Martin MP has supported the project from its early stages, and Laura Trott MP has now also met with us to express her support as the initiative continues to grow. We are so grateful for this cross-community backing.
A key part of the work has been strengthening systems beyond school. Kent County Council has been involved and has already agreed to make changes to its Travel Saver Code of Conduct from September. This is an important step forward, although we continue to work with KCC and local schools on further improvements, particularly around how harassment is reported, recorded and addressed.
We continue to work with PC Amelia Brooker and Kent Police, who have supported the safeguarding aims of the project. We are also looking forward to upcoming meetings with transport operators, hosted in Parliament with Mike Martin MP, to discuss how schools, transport companies and wider partners can work together more effectively.
We are also pleased to have the backing and support of the NHS, who are following the development of the initiative and offering support where they can. Their involvement is important because issues such as harassment, fear, confidence, personal safety and peer behaviour are not only safeguarding concerns, but also wellbeing and public health concerns. NHS colleagues can help schools by sharing expertise around emotional wellbeing, healthy relationships, trauma-informed practice, pupil voice, preventative education and signposting to further support where needed.
Pupil voice remains central to On My Way. Pupils continue to share their experiences, report concerns and help shape the campaign. They are currently working on campaign posters and poetry to support and explore the aims of the initiative. We have also delivered a further whole-school assembly to update pupils and reinforce the importance of recognising, responding to and reporting unacceptable behaviour.
In addition, we are selecting our pupil ambassadors for the White Ribbon Campaign, supported by funding from local police. Staff ambassadors, including Mrs Miller and Ms Neave, have already completed their training.
Next steps include further meetings in Parliament, continued collaboration with pupils and local schools, the election of White Ribbon pupil representatives, and further work towards meaningful system change. We are also looking ahead to our new Year 7 intake and considering how we can help pupils feel safer, more confident and better supported as they begin travelling to and from TWGGS.
There is much more to come, and we will continue to keep pupils, parents and carers updated as the initiative develops.
On My Way remains rooted in a simple principle: pupils have the right to feel safe, calm and respected on their journeys to and from school. Their voices continue to guide this work, and we are grateful to pupils, parents, carers, schools and partners for their ongoing support.
Get Help Now
Are you worried about a young person’s thoughts, feelings or behaviour? This infographic from KCC has useful information on the process you can follow if you are concerned about someone you know, particularly out of hours. If they are in immediate danger, always call 999 or 111 if they are in a mental health crisis.
There are also multiple agencies who can offer advice and guidance. The Kent Therapeutic Alliance (KTA) and the Kent Therapeutic Support Service (TSS) bring together different mental health and emotional wellbeing services to provide support for things like bereavement, self-harm, low mood and anxiety. The KTA also offers services that support those who have experienced domestic abuse, those who are exploring their gender identity and/or sexuality and for young people in care, or leaving care. There is also free support and access to fully trained online counsellors, 365 days a year.
Please click on the poster for further information.
Latest News
As ever, this week’s newsletter is packed with news and information. Links and buttons will take you outside of this document, such as the ‘View All News’ button which links to News items 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:
- On My Way Update
- Get Help Now
- Policy Spotlight
- National College Bulletin
- Tunbridge Wells Family Hub Course
- Give Your Best
- Link to school calendar
- Attendance
TWGGS Policy Spotlight
Our featured policy this week is Supporting Pupils with Medical Conditions Policy. The aim is to ensure that all children with medical conditions, in terms of both physical and mental health, are properly supported in school so that they can play a full and active role in school life (wherever possible), remain healthy and achieve their academic potential. Please click on the button below to access the full policy.
All of our policies and key information documents can be found on our website.
Online Safety Bulletins
Managing Exam Stress
Most young people will encounter exam stress at some point in their education, and this can affect their mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. The build-up to exams can feel overwhelming with competing demands on time and energy.
This guide provides useful advice on how to support your young person by reducing pressure and preventing burnout. You can help them create a revision timetable, build a tech toolkit, use active study methods, practise with online tools and use visual memory aids. Click on the poster to find out more.
Tunbridge Wells Family Hub Course
Kent Adult Education’s Tunbridge Wells Family Hub is offering a free online course for parents and carers on understanding your teenager, and helping them to achieve their full potential through negotiation and communication techniques to support their confidence and self-esteem.
This course will be available online from the 9th to the 30th June with four sessions running from 7:00pm to 9:00pm.
Click on the poster for details on how to book your place.
Give Your Best
- Bo C (Year 7) – For very successfully organising the 7G charity event.
- Freya J (Lower Sixth) – For her initiative in founding the school’s first ever Marine Biology and Conservation Club.
- Poppy B (Year 10) – For putting together such a beautiful PowerPoint presentation for our form assembly. Your creativity and effort really stood out!
- Isabelle B (Year 9) – For delivering such an amazing speech in assembly to Year 9. It was so powerful and very thought-provoking. You were a star!
- Amber M (Year 10) – For a brilliant start to her role as EDI 3Cs ambassador. Innovative, bold and diligent.
Staff Star Nominations
- Mrs H Moon – For her support during the French exchange trip, for being an incredible team member, for her dedication and positive energy in every situation.
- Ms T Hurley – For being the safe and caring space some of our pupils need.
- Mrs R Bowler – For being such a passionate mentor and supporting everyone.
Upcoming Events
Attendance
| Year | Attendance % |
|---|---|
| 7 | 97.44 |
| 8 | 96.89 |
| 9 | 96.01 |
| 10 | 95.16 |
| 11 | 89.87 |
| L6 | 88.37 |
| U6 | 77.74 |
| Whole School | 91.98 |
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.