2026/27 TWGGS Newsletter 4
Friday 23rd October 2026
A message from Mrs Marchant
Thank you to all for your commitment to the school and continued support of our various events and campaigns this half term. Eight weeks can feel like a very long time and yet our pupils have kept going until the end, supporting us at Open Morning, delivering boxes for Harvest and taking part in various charity events. Last night, our very own Twiglet Kirsty was on ITV receiving her very worthy Child of Courage Pride of Britain award; an example of a pupil absolutely living by our values and we are really proud of her and her vital work. You can learn more about Kirsty and her fundraising in this week’s latest news.
Some of you may have seen that we were on the BBC Politics South East programme last Sunday and this was another example of our outstanding pupil body demonstrating how our On My Way campaign has grown in size and gathered momentum as we have increased our outreach with other schools. A number of people have commented to me since the broadcast that ‘it is the same as it was when I was at school’ and that to me is the reason that we must address this behaviour. Society has moved on in so many ways, and yet we still cannot guarantee that a pupil can travel home safely without fear of being harassed or bullied. I would like to thank Ms Neave, Mrs Davis and Mrs Miller for their work on this campaign alongside every pupil who has been brave enough to come forward and use our system.
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. The new term starts for pupils on Tuesday, 2nd November. We have an INSET Day on Monday, 1st November for staff.
Wishing you all a restful half term break.
Mrs Katie Marchant, Headteacher
Upcoming Dates:
| Date | Event | Venue |
| Monday 1st November | INSET Day | School closed to pupils |
| Tuesday 2nd November | First day of Term 1.2 | |
| Thursday 5th November | Year 11 Parents’ Evening (4.30pm – 7:00pm) | School Hall & A Wing |
| Friday 6th November | PTA Quiz Wear Red – Poppy Appeal (£2 suggested donation) | |
| Wednesday 11th November | Upper Sixth Parents’ Evening (4:30pm – 7:00pm) | Hazell Building |
| Tuesday 17th November | Year 9 Options Afternoon (2:00pm – 4:30pm) Year 11 Options Deadline | School Hall |
| Wednesday 18th November | Junior Concert | School Hall |
| Tuesday 24th – Friday 27th November | School Production | School Hall |
| Thursday 3rd December | PTA Wreath Making | LWT |
| Friday 4th December | Carol Service | St John’s Church |
| Wednesday 9th December | Christmas Lunch and Christmas Accessory Day | |
| Thursday 10th December | Year 7 Parents’ Evening: 7B/7T/7W | School Hall |
| Friday 11th December | PTA Bring and Buy Sale | School Hall |
| Tuesday 15th December | Year 7 Parents’ Evening: 7G/7Y/7S | School Hall |
| Thursday 17th December | Speech Day – early closure (12.35pm) for Years 7 to 11 | |
| Friday 18th December | End of Term 1 – School will close at 1.45pm |
A Few Reminders for Parents and Carers
School Uniform
A little reminder that summer dresses should be put away after the October half-term break until Easter, when we hope the warmer weather will return! All pupils should come back after half-term in their winter uniform. Now might be a good time to check the skirts still fit. TWGGS hoodies (or any hoodies, for that matter) are not to be worn in place of our V-neck jumpers and trainers are not part of school uniform (even if you’re in the Sixth Form!)
Behaviour and Achievement Points
Our new behaviour processes are working well, and we’re pleased with how pupils are responding to them. We’d encourage parents and carers to keep an eye on their child’s achievements and behaviour through EduLink. Under the ‘Behaviour’ section, you can see both positive achievement points and any behaviour infringements recorded. Our staff have awarded 22,438 merits so far this term (which is 63% more than where we were this time last year!) We’re very proud of this positive culture at TWGGS and grateful for our pupils who give us so much to praise and reward.
Tracking behaviour through EduLink is a great way to celebrate the positives at home, as well as keeping up to date with how your child is getting on in school.
Homework
Did you know that EduLink now has an active ‘Homework’ feature too? This makes it much easier to keep track of assignments set through Google Classroom. You can see what homework has been set, when it’s due and whether your child has submitted it. We hope this will be a useful way for families to stay organised and support pupils in managing their workload.
As always, thank you for your continued support. Working together makes such a difference, and we’re grateful for everything you do at home to help your children make the most of school life.
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:
- Upcoming Dates
- Reminders for Parents and Carers
- Library News
- Policy Spotlight
- Online Safety Bulletins
- Give Your Best
- Link to school calendar
- Attendance
Library News
Once again we are welcoming back the Scholastic Book Fair to the Library. As advertised in our recent letter, the travelling book fair will be in the Library from Monday, 16th to Thursday, 19th November, stocked with a selection of junior and teen books, gift items and stationery. Study Guides for ‘An Inspector Calls’ on the GCSE English Literature curriculum for all TWGGS pupils are also available. Your child will have the opportunity to visit at break and lunch times during the fair. Many books are at discounted prices and it’s an ideal opportunity to do some Christmas shopping or treat themselves to a new book.
The school receives a small percentage of sales from the fair as vouchers to spend on books for the Library, a lovely bonus for the school which the entire community can benefit from. As 2026 has been designated a ‘National Year of Reading’ what better way to celebrate than the gift of a book?There will also be some ‘pre-loved’ Library stock available for no more than £1 (cash only) for anyone on a budget.
If your child would like to buy anything from the book fair please make sure that they have cash (preferred) in school. Or alternatively ask them to complete a wish list (available in the Library during the fair) and pre-pay using the QR code in this link: Book Fair Wish List & QR code.
Books pre-paid in this way can be collected (or ordered if out of stock) in the Library the following day. Anything ordered by the end of lunchtime on the Thursday of the fair should be available to collect from the library on Friday, 20th November 2026.
TWGGS Policy Spotlight
Our featured policy this week is TWGGS’ Child Protection Policy.
TWGGS recognises its statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children. Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility and everyone has a role to play in keeping children safe. This includes all staff, volunteers, governors, leaders, parents/carers, wider family networks and pupils. TWGGS believes that the best interests of children always come first. All children have a right to be heard, protected and supported and TWGGS is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive, anti-discriminatory safeguarding culture. Staff are expected to recognise and challenge racism, discrimination and prejudice, and to consider how these experiences may affect children’s safety, welfare and access to support. When concerned about the welfare of a child, staff will always act in the best interests of the child. TWGGS recognises the importance of providing an ethos and environment where children are safe and feel safe. Children will be respected, listened to and encouraged to talk openly. For the full policy, click on the button below. The pupil guide to Safeguarding, ‘Keeping You Safe at TWGGS: Our Promise to You’, is also attached.
All of our policies and key information documents can be found on our website.
Online Safety Bulletins
Microtransactions
Microtransactions are digital purchases made within an app or game to unlock extra features or additional content such as new levels. Loot boxes are a subset of microtransactions which contain random selections of virtual items such as character skins or better weapons. These are now widespread in apps and games but there are concerns surrounding microtransactions that they can normalise gambling and foster addictive behaviours, especially among young players.
Click on the poster to learn about potential risks such as data collection, satellite spending, ‘paying to win’, whether microtransactions are a gateway to gambling, and how they may affect your young person’s daily routine. The bulletin provides useful advice on how to watch for the signs, how to chat to your child about how microtransactions work, and if you don’t want to invest in an in-game currency gift card, how to stop spending at source.
Give Your Best
- LCpl Jac L (Year 11) – For being an excellent bystander and helping out a member of the public.
- Lavinia A (Lower Sixth) – For such a strong start to the sixth form – well done!
- Jessica L (Lower Sixth) – For promoting reading amongst younger pupils in her role as Library Prefect.
Staff Star Nominations
- Sra S Rodriguez, Mrs C Brown and Mrs S Charlton – For all their amazing help and support on Naples Trip One.
- Mrs O Bello, Ms T Hurley and Mrs Z Dawson – For their fantastic support, enthusiasm and dedication on Naples Trip Two.
- Mrs A Finlayson – For being a fabulous mentor.
- Miss L Vrbovska – For going above and beyond to make the options evening for Chemistry much more visual and exciting.
- Mr I Patterson – For attending all five of Mr Speller’s Year 7 computing lessons to help the pupils get signed in to the network and their emails.
Upcoming Events
Attendance
| Year | Attendance % |
|---|---|
| 7 | 98.43 |
| 8 | 96.88 |
| 9 | 96.78 |
| 10 | 97.21 |
| 11 | 94.89 |
| L6 | 96.41 |
| U6 | 86.38 |
| Whole School | 95.43 |
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.