2025/26 TWGGS Newsletter 4
Friday 17th October 2025
A message from Mrs Marchant
Thank you to all of the school community for all their work this half term. Years 7 and Lower Sixth have been very successfully inducted and it feels like they have been with us forever, they are definitely fully-fledged Twiglets. Our Open Mornings and Evenings have been very busy and our pupils have been a total credit to us when meeting potential new families; enthusiastic, knowledgeable and happy.
Our staff have worked incredibly hard this half term, in their classrooms, on trips and from a wellbeing perspective, and I would like to thank them for all their efforts in ensuring that our community remains as vibrant and cohesive as it does. This has been a very long first term and I would encourage all pupils to ensure that they rest next week, refresh and recuperate for the second part of the Autumn term with all the exams, productions, rehearsals, deadlines and events that it brings.
Reducing the Spread of Illnesses this Winter
I have been asked by the DfE to share the NHS guidance with you which details when your child is too ill for school. Pupils should not miss school on a precautionary basis and can normally attend with a mild cough or cold unless they have a fever, diarrhoea or vomiting. Please access the NHS guidance here.
I hope you all have a restful and enjoyable half term, we look forward to seeing you all on Monday 27 October – remember our INSET Day is Monday, 3rd November 2025.
Mrs Katie Marchant, Headteacher
Key Dates for your Diaries: Term 1.2
| Date | Event | Venue |
| Thursday 30th October | Junior Concert | Hall |
| Monday 3rd November | INSET DAY | School closed to pupils |
| Thursday 6th November | Year 11 Parents’ Evening | In school – booking on EduLink from 6.00pm on Wednesday 29th October |
| Wednesday 12th November | Upper Sixth Parents’ Evening | In school – booking on EduLink from 6.00pm on Tuesday 4th November |
| Friday 14th November | PTA Year 10/11 Disco | Hall |
| Tuesday 18th November | Year 11 Option Forms Due | To Form Tutors please |
| Wednesday 19th – Friday 21st November | School Production | Hall |
| Wednesday 3rd December | Year 9 and Year 9 Interims Home | |
| Thursday 4th December | PTA Wreath Making | Hall |
| Friday 5th December | Carol Service (all of Year 7 to perform plus choirs and orchestras) | St John’s Church |
| Tuesday 9th December | Year 10 and Lower Sixth Interims Home | |
| Wednesday 10th December | Christmas Accessory Day Christmas Lunch | |
| Thursday 11th December | Year 7 Parents’ Evening for 7Y, 7B and 7T | In school – booking on EduLink from 6.00pm on Wednesday 3rd December |
| Friday 12th December | PTA Bring and Buy – lunchtime | Hall |
| Tuesday 16th December | Year 7 Parents’ Evening for 7G, 7W and 7S | In school – booking on EduLink from 6.00pm on Wednesday 3rd December |
| Thursday 18th December | Speech Day – early closure (12.35pm) for Years 7-11 | |
| Friday 19th December | End of Term 1 School will close at 1.45pm |
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:
- Hockey Season Reminder
- Monkhouse Schoolwear Discount
- TWGGS Policy Spotlight
- Tips for Parents and Educators
- UCAS Parent Guide
- Initial Teacher Training Applications Update
- Library News
- Give Your Best
- Link to school calendar
- Attendance
Hockey Season
Parents are reminded that whilst gum guards are listed as an optional item on the school uniform list, it is strongly recommended that pupils wear one when taking part in hockey lessons. Please note, however, that pupils will continue to participate fully in hockey lessons if they are not wearing a gum guard. For pupils who represent TWGGS in hockey matches, it is compulsory that a gum guard is worn.
Monkhouse Schoolwear Discount
Monkhouse Schoolwear are running a 20% off promotion for a limited time only, from Monday 27th October to midnight on Sunday 9th November. The discount applies to all orders of TWGGS uniform online and in-store. Please click on the image to download a flyer, or use the code SAVE20 online at https://www.monkhouse.com/
TWGGS Policy Spotlight
Supporting Pupils with Allergies and TWGGS Child Protection Policy
This week, we have two featured policies. The Pupils with Allergies policy aims to ensure that all children with allergies are properly supported in school ensuring their wellbeing and inclusion, and sets out our school’s approach to allergy management, including reducing the risk of exposure and the procedures in place in case of allergic reaction.
We also have the annually reviewed TWGGS Child Protection Policy. Please click below to read both policies.
All of our policies and key information documents can be found on our website.
Tips for Parents and Educators
Dealing with Traumatic and Challenging Events
Children and young people may face a wide range of traumatic or challenging events from bereavement and illness to bullying, family breakdowns or witnessing violence. Events such as these can affect their mental health, behaviour, relationships and academic progress. This guide offers practical and empathetic ways to provide support and promote positive outcomes.
Click on the image for more information on how to provide the right support for your child.
Supporting Parents with Children’s Mental Health
Free Webinar and Toolkit Launch
The MindForward Alliance is inviting parents to attend a free webinar and toolkit launch focusing on the most frequently asked questions about children’s mental health. The webinar will explore how to spot warning signs of poor mental health in your child, offer guidance on where to find support and provide practical strategies for looking after your own wellbeing as a parent.
Click here to register for the webinar on Thursday, 6th November at 12.00pm – 1.00pm.
UCAS Parent Guide
As a parent or carer you’re likely to be one of the most important and trusted sources of information and advice to your child. With that in mind, UCAS has produced a useful guide designed to give you the tools to support a young person consider all their options, including starting a course or apprenticeship in 2026, through their decision-making and the UCAS application process.
UCAS has also produced a guide on apprenticeships: what they are, levels of apprenticeships, the rights and responsibilities of an apprentice, and how to apply for a position. Click here for further information on apprenticeships, or for more general information on the UCAS process you can access their help page here.
Initial Teacher Training Applications Now Open
Are you, or is someone you know, interested in a career in teaching?
Applications are now open for the September 2026 Initial Teacher Training Intake. If you would like to discuss options, subject eligibility or school placements, you can speak directly with the KMT recruitment team at recruitment.team@kmt training.org.uk or alternatively apply here.
Library News
New Library Book Group: Page Turners
Our new Page Turners book group starts this month and runs until March. The group is open to all pupils but we especially welcome Years 7 to 9. Meetings are held every two weeks, with a mix of activities and discussion, and there will be a prize draw for any keen readers who finish all the books and a special inter-school gala evening in March at the Weald of Kent Grammar School. This is a fun event where pupils can dress up, celebrate the books, chat with fellow readers and even meet some famous authors!
The theme for this year’s book award is ‘ADVENTURE’. We’ll be joining our characters on all sorts of different journeys, as they discover more about the world around them… and about themselves. There are twelve books on the shortlist, so hopefully there’s something for everyone.
Penguin Clothbound Classics
We are delighted to announce that our brand new collection of Penguin Clothbound Classics is now available in the Library. Designed by the award-winning Coralie Bickford-Smith, these beautiful and collectable editions are a treat for the eyes as well as the imagination. We have 30 titles, covering a wide range of classic literature from ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ to ‘Wuthering Heights’, so there should be plenty of favourites, old and new, for pupils to discover.
A huge thank you to the PTA for this generous donation and for their continued support of the Library.
TWGGS Chamber Choir Sings
The TWGGS Chamber Choir comprises our most experienced Sixth Form singers enjoying a broad range of repertoire in many different styles. They will be singing at the Hospice in the Weald on Saturday, 15th November, closely followed by a performance at the Salomons Estate Winter Shopping Fair. If you would like to go and support them, details on how to obtain tickets are on the flyers below. If you would like to go and support them, details on how to obtain tickets are on the flyers.
Kirsty W (Year 7) – For the generous donations to Chat and Craft Club
Juno D (Lower Sixth) – For creating an excellent ‘flip the cell’ assignment; creative and informative
Sky W (Lower Sixth) – For completing an imaginative, creative piece of homework in Biology
Ellie J (Year 9) – For performing amazingly well in trampolining, being fully engaged and managing to perfect a back landing
Amelia S (Year 7) – For a fantastic country study on St Kitts and Nevis, with outstanding analysis and facts
Upcoming Events
Attendance
| Year | Attendance % |
|---|---|
| 7 | 97.67 |
| 8 | 97.10 |
| 9 | 96.44 |
| 10 | 97.22 |
| 11 | 95.60 |
| L6 | 87.74 |
| U6 | 83.41 |
| Whole School | 93.74 |
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.