2026/27 TWGGS Newsletter 3
Friday 9th October 2026
A message from Mrs Marchant
What a busy week for TWGGS! Thank you to all parents who have loaned us their children for for our Sixth Form Open Evening this week. It has been such an exciting week welcoming potential new pupils into the school and the pride in which our pupils show visitors around and the enthusiasm that they show for their subjects is just lovely to see. I was very proud to see that The Times has declared that we are 83rd in the country for secondary schools based on our GCSE and A Level results from this summer.
One of the best parts of my job is going into lessons and as part of our growth we are continuously looking for ways to improve and to show what we can do. This week I have been in RS lessons as part of their Departmental Improvement Plan and it has been great to see so many different ways that pupils can learn and support each other. This continual growth is part of our INSET day offer too; we will have a staff INSET day on Monday, 2nd November where the school will be closed to pupils and we as teachers will be looking at inclusion in the classroom, online safety and innovative teaching ideas.
A reminder that our uniform policy states that our shirts are to have a revere collar. Whilst we no longer require these to have ‘TWGGS’ embroidered on them, we do have this stipulation. Can you please ensure that all shirts worn conform to this collar (pictured).
Finally, I would like to thank the PTA for providing funding for the purchase of Chromebooks which have now been delivered and are already being used in lessons. These devices will be a valuable addition to our teaching and learning resources, enabling pupils to access a wider range of interactive learning materials, conduct research, collaborate on projects and develop their digital skills across the curriculum. The Chromebooks will provide greater flexibility within lessons and help us to create engaging, varied and inclusive learning experiences for all pupils. We are very grateful to the PTA for their continued support and, if you would like to be involved, please contact pta@twggs.kent.sch.uk. We are always looking for members to join, in any capacity.
I hope that you all have a very happy weekend.
Mrs Katie Marchant, Headteacher
Illness and Absences
With coughs, colds and seasonal illnesses circulating, it can sometimes be difficult to know whether your child should attend school. The NHS advises that children can usually come to school if they have a mild cough, cold, sore throat or runny nose, provided they are otherwise well and do not have a high temperature. However, some illnesses require children to stay at home to prevent the spread of infection. For example, children should remain at home until they have been free from vomiting or diarrhoea for 48 hours, while specific illnesses such as chickenpox, measles, impetigo and scarlet fever have their own exclusion periods. Please see the infographic below, or NHS guidance, for further information on when your child should attend school and when they should stay at home.
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:
- Illness and Absence
- Policy Spotlight
- Online Safety Bulletins
- Give Your Best
- Link to school calendar
- Attendance
TWGGS Policy Spotlight
Our featured policy this week is TWGGS’ Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance Policy. TWGGS Futures, our careers department, provides access to impartial careers education, information, advice and guidance to all pupils from Year 7 to Upper Sixth Form. Pupils are supported to make informed choices about their future, develop skills, knowledge and experience to enable them to be successful in the world of work and their future lives. Careers work is underpinned by the school’s ongoing policies for teaching and learning, assessment, recording and reporting achievement, PSHE, equal opportunities, health and safety, and special needs, linking with the whole school development plan. Please click on the button below to read the full policy.
All of our policies and key information documents can be found on our website.
Online Safety Bulletins
Looksmaxxing
Looksmaxxing is an online trend focused on improving one’s physical appearance, involving grooming, skincare, diet and exercise advice. At its extreme it can promote unproven or dangerous practices and contribute to body image concerns, low self-worth and mental health difficulties.
Click on the poster to access useful advice and tips on how to keep an eye out for concerning behavioural changes in young people, how to check social media and think about implementing parental controls on platforms such as TikTok, and how to help your child recognise misleading influencers and harmful online communities.
Give Your Best
- Julia F (Upper Sixth) – For being the first person to send their UCAS this year – well done!
- Lucy, T, Bianca M and Clover P-E (Upper Sixth) – For being the first to receive UCAS offers – well done!
- Amelia G (Year 10) – For resilience and continuing to work extremely hard.
- Lois M (Upper Sixth) – For being a superstar on the bus on Wednesday looking out for members of the wider community.
Staff Star Nominations
- Mrs D Oatley – For being so supportive of events and helping out.
- Mrs A Harold – Thank you for your kindness and continuous support whenever it is needed.
- Mr J Speller – For his continued commitment to the PTA. His constant support is greatly appreciated.
Upcoming Events
Attendance
| Year | Attendance % |
|---|---|
| 7 | 98.37 |
| 8 | 96.73 |
| 9 | 96.69 |
| 10 | 97.20 |
| 11 | 96.29 |
| L6 | 96.19 |
| U6 | 86.29 |
| Whole School | 95.52 |
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.