Headteacher's Newsletter July 2026

Respect, Excellence, Determination

Positive Pathways

A huge congratulations to all our students for their continued hard work, commitment and efforts in earning house points throughout the year. Together, you have achieved an incredible 218,637 positive house points this academic year – another amazing total for the year. 

This outstanding total reflects the dedication shown by our students in demonstrating our core values of Respect, Excellence and Determination every day. We are immensely proud of all that has been accomplished this year. We are also delighted to celebrate the fantastic number of students who have reached our positive house point milestones. Your achievements are a testament to your perseverance and positive contribution to our school community.

As a special recognition, a reward experience will be arranged early next academic year for the highest house point achieving students at the cut-off date. Further details will be shared in the new academic year.

Well done to everyone on an exceptional year – keep up the excellent work and continue striving for success next year!

Mr Lewis, Assistant Headteacher

Students who achieved over 150 House Points during this academic year were invited to have breakfast at their campus on the last day of term with some of the senior leadership team.

KS3 Awards Evening

On Tuesday 7th July, we held the school’s annual KS3 Awards Evening in the Main Hall at the Tunbridge Wells campus. Each department across the whole school nominated one student from Years 7, 8 and 9 to be recognised for demonstrating our core school values of Respect, Excellence and Determination.

More than 135 awards were presented, including some of the school's trophies and cups, celebrating outstanding achievement.

We are immensely proud of all our award recipients. With year groups of over 300 students across both campuses, their hard work, commitment and resilience throughout the year have been truly commendable, and it was a pleasure to recognise and celebrate their success. Thank you to the staff, parents/carers, family members and friends who joined us to support and congratulate the students on their achievements.

The students looked fantastic, with plenty of smiles captured throughout the evenings, making for a memorable celebration. It was a wonderful way to bring the TWGSB school year to a close.

The KS4 and KS5 Awards evening will take place in September of the new academic year. Click HERE for a gallery of more photos.

Mr Lewis, Assistant Headteacher

Well-being/PSHE

I hope that you are looking forward to the summer holidays, which are certainly a much-needed rest for students but it also can be a time of loneliness, away from their friends and normal routines. As the weeks go on, it can cause some stress and anxiety for students and for parents/carers, especially those who are working full time. The following websites offer support and advice for both students and parents/carers:

• Home - Kooth for young people 
• Home - Qwell for adults
• Get support - Family Action For parents and carers
• Students and young adults :: Kent & Medway ICS for students, parents and carers

For those students and parents awaiting exam results this can be an extremely uncertain time. These links give you support on how to manage receiving the results Results and next steps - Advice and Information - Student Minds and the time leading up to it Ella Purnell Talks About Exam Results Anxiety | Young Minds

We hope that all our families have a safe and happy break.

Police visits and future projects (PSHE/RSE)

The final visit for the academic year from the Child-Centred Police Team involved putting the students' knowledge to the test about anti-social behaviour. We have worked with the team all year building a good relationship between them and our school community. We are looking to continue this collaboration next year as well as working with White Ribbon groups who are educating their peers about Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG). Students will be presenting assemblies in the new academic year to their peers to raise awareness and understanding of this subject. 

Beyond Equality

We also welcomed back Beyond Equality for the fourth consecutive year to carry out workshops with Year 9 and 10 students at both campuses. The group explores topics that are important to our young men for example, what masculinity means to them and what impact this has on them, what influences their perception of masculinity and how can we challenge these stereotypes. In Year 10 they continued on these topics but explored a little more about the impact it can have on relationships and the expectations of their role. It promoted interesting discussions in a safe environment and the students engaged brilliantly in these discussions.

Mrs Rose, Assistant Headteacher

From the Development Office...

TWGSB's first Giving Day

July 9–10th saw TWGSB host its first-ever online Giving Day to raise funds for the School Fund. This 36 hours of online crowdfunding, together with a day of campus activities including non-uniform day, bake sales and a super-fun colour dash for some lucky PE classes, drew wonderful support from our staff, students and parents. Thank you, too, to the alumni who supported us. Together we managed to shatter our target of 200 donors with the final tally passing 300 (!) donors and raising over £28,000 (Gift Aid still pending). This splendid support will now help cover the costs of a number of essential items for school and activities that stretch us beyond our core funding.

Our heartfelt thanks to each and every donor who generously gave to help us serve our students optimally.

The Head Students did a brilliant job promoting and running bake sales at both campuses. Together with the non-uniform day, over £2,000 was raised in school towards Giving Day.

Save the date: Fashion Show at TW campus

After the success of our Fundraising Fashion Show at our Sevenoaks campus in May, we will be hosting this event at our Tunbridge Wells campus on the evening of Thursday 22nd October.

By popular demand, professional fashion stylist and TWGSB mum Sarah Lilly will be back to share more of her passion for making women feel fabulous about themselves. Do diarise this date if you would like to share in the fun.

One kind request... If you are planning a wardrobe spring-clean this summer holiday, please consider donating your best-quality, pre-loved clothing to us and delivering these items (clothing, shoes, handbags) to either of our school reception offices during working hours any time from the start of next term in September. (The loan of hangers and/or clothing rails would also be greatly appreciated wherever possible. For this please contact: iroberts@twgsboys.sch.kent.uk.)

Join our ad hoc volunteer team

The Development team has grown notably this year. With a number of superb events hosted and enjoyed, we now look ahead to the next exciting year. Our success depends in no small way on kind and able volunteers who can offer the occasional hour or two of support. If this is you, please pop me an email (iroberts@twgsboys.sch.kent.uk). We would just love to invite you in.

Mrs Roberts, Development Manager

Year 7 September starters and parents

At the end of June, on one of the hottest evenings of the year, we were delighted to welcome the parents of our Year 7 September starters into school. Parents had the opportunity to hear from Ms Simpson and Assistant Headteacher for KS3, Mr Millar, who shared information about the exciting opportunities ahead for their sons. Uniform suppliers and our catering team were on hand to answer questions and help families prepare for the transition to secondary school, as was our fantastic PTA team with their stock of second-hand uniform. A few days later we met the new students themselves on Transition Day...

Year 6 Transition Day

The Year 6 children enjoyed a fantastic Transition Day as they took their first exciting steps towards joining us in Year 7. The day was filled with a range of fun sports and team-building activities, giving everyone the chance to work together, build confidence and make new friendships. The students also met their Form Tutors and future classmates, helping them to feel more familiar with their new school environment. It was wonderful to see so much enthusiasm, resilience and positivity throughout the day and we are looking forward to welcoming them back in September.

Mr Roberts, Head of Year 7 for 2026/27 

Just one of the ten new form groups of current Year 6s on Transition Day, who will join us in September as Year 7s.

Sixth Form

Head Students for 2026/27

Congratulations to our newly appointed Head Students for 2026/27 pictured below: Oli (left) and Oliver (right). Following a rigorous selection process involving a strong field of candidates, both were chosen for the confidence, commitment and leadership qualities they consistently demonstrated throughout the process. Since their appointment at the end of June, Oli and Oliver have already represented the school at open events, supported Year 6 children during Transition Day and organised successful bake sales as part of Giving Day. They are looking forward to the year ahead and working closely with the team of senior prefects and staff to help the TWGSB community and their chosen charities, Breast Cancer Now and Caritas Internationalis. We very much look forward to seeing the positive impact they will make during their year in office.

Year 12 Sports Day

Year 12 students embraced the spirit of competition and teamwork during this year’s Sports Day, taking part in a range of exciting activities including football, frisbee, handball and bench ball. The event was a fantastic opportunity for students to come together, enjoy some friendly competition and celebrate the school values of Respect, Excellence and Determination. The enthusiasm, teamwork and positive attitude displayed by all participants made the day a great success. We are incredibly proud of how Year 12 represented themselves and the school, making Sports Day an enjoyable and memorable experience for everyone involved. Well done to all who took part!

Mrs Brooker, Sixth Form team

Sixth Form Prom

The Year 13 Prom took place on the evening of Wednesday 1st July at Salomons Estate. The celebrations began with welcome drinks on the lawn, followed by a screening of England’s winning World Cup match in the first knockout stage. Members of TWGSB staff joined the Year 13s to congratulate them on completing their examinations and to celebrate their many achievements. The evening was a great success, with students filling the dance floor and enjoying the occasion until midnight. It was a fitting way to mark the end of their time in the Sixth Form and to look to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.

The Sixth Form team looks forward to welcoming students back on A Level Results Day and wishes them every success and happiness in the future.

There are many more prom photos from the evening available on the TWGSB Alumni website. Current Year 13 students who wish to see them can sign up here: ‘Join Us’.

Mrs Brooker, Head of Year 13

ARE (All-Round Excellence) Week 2026

While some Year 10 students have been abroad on residential curriculum trips to France, Iceland and Germany, and others in Year 10 and Year 12 have been doing work experience, students in Years 7, 8 and 9 have enjoyed an exciting and varied programme of activities during this year’s All-Round Excellence Week. The week provided opportunities for students to learn beyond the classroom, develop new skills and demonstrate the teamwork, resilience and determination that underpin all-round excellence at TWGSB. Click HERE for a gallery of more photos from the week. 

Year 7 

Year 7 began their week's programme with an Enterprise Challenge. Working collaboratively, students developed their own business ideas, considered areas such as product design, marketing and finance, and presented their proposals. The day encouraged creativity, communication and problem-solving, while giving students an introduction to the skills required to turn an idea into a successful enterprise.

Students also competed in their first TWGSB Olympic Sports Day. Representing their houses, they participated enthusiastically in a range of track and field events. The support shown for teammates and the positive atmosphere throughout the day reflected the excellent contribution Year 7 students have made during their first year at the school.

The week concluded with an outdoor activity day. Students visited either Bushcraft or Aqua Chimp, where they were challenged to step outside their comfort zones. During an action-packed day with The Bushcraft Company at Penshurst Place, Year 7s learnt key survival skills in the great outdoors, mastering fire lighting, shelter building and camouflage and enjoying delicious s'mores. They embraced the challenge with enthusiasm, resilience and plenty of charcoal! Meanwhile at Aqua Chimp at Yalding students had fun with floating jungle ropes and obstacles over water and the gigantic Gorilla Slip ’N’ Slide.

The students on both activities had fun while demonstrating courage, independence and excellent teamwork throughout the day. 

Year 8

Year 8 took part in a Future Skills Day designed to develop important skills for school, employment and life beyond the classroom. Students rotated through a carousel of activities, including first aid, podcast creation, artificial intelligence and digital futures, a science escape room and a financial challenge. Each session required students to think carefully, communicate effectively and work collaboratively. The day provided an opportunity for students to explore unfamiliar situations and recognise the importance of creativity, leadership and problem-solving.

Year 8 also enjoyed outdoor challenges at Bewl Water, where students worked together across a range of water-based and land-based activities. These experiences encouraged resilience, trust and cooperation, with students supporting one another to overcome each challenge.

Their week culminated in the Year 8 Olympic Sports Day, where students once again competed for their houses and demonstrated excellent sporting values, determination and encouragement for others.

Year 9

Year 9 began the week with their Olympic Sports Day. Students competed with enthusiasm and represented their houses with pride. There were many impressive individual and team performances, but equally important was the encouragement shown towards competitors and the positive spirit maintained throughout the event.

Over 200 of our Year 9 students also completed their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition (see below) this week, while other students took part in an exciting programme of outdoor activities, including the Aqua Chimp jungle ropes course. The challenges required balance, confidence and determination, while providing students with a memorable opportunity to work together outside the classroom.

During the Year 9 Design Day, students explored their creativity through activities led by the Art, Design and Technology and Media departments. They worked through the design process, developing ideas and creating outcomes in response to a project brief. The day encouraged students to combine imagination with practical skills and provided a valuable insight into creative subjects as they prepare to begin Key Stage 4.

All-Round Excellence Week was a fitting celebration of the many talents of our Key Stage 3 students. Across the three year groups, students embraced new experiences, supported one another and demonstrated the skills and personal qualities that will help them succeed both inside and outside the classroom.

We would like to thank all members of staff, activity providers and student leaders whose hard work and enthusiasm made the week possible.

Mr Millar, Assistant Headteacher

Olympic-style inter-house sports days

During ARE Week, students in Years 7, 8 and 9 took part in our Olympic-style Inter-house Sports Days at the Tunbridge Wells campus – Year 9 on Tuesday 14th July, Year 7 on Wednesday 15th July and Year 8 on Thursday 16th July. With house colours on show across the three days, the students represented Hever, Ightham, Knole and Scotney in a wide range of activities including football, athletics, handball, table tennis, ultimate frisbee, touch rugby and cricket. This gave students the chance to contribute in different ways and showcase a variety of sporting strengths, whether competing, officiating, scoring, supporting or helping their team.

Each day also included an Inter-house football competition, with finals taking place later in the day, alongside the wider programme of sports.

The Sports Days were a fantastic celebration of house spirit, teamwork and participation. It was brilliant to see so many students getting involved, encouraging one another and representing their houses with such enthusiasm. The events provided a fitting end to the academic year and reflected the energy, commitment and community spirit that make sport such an important part of school life at TWGSB.

Mr Woods, Head of PE

Year 12 Employability Fair: a valuable insight into the world of work

During ARE Week our Year 12 students took part in an inspiring and highly successful Employability Fair, bringing together more than 20 local companies and over 40 employers from a wide range of industries. Throughout the day, students engaged with employers in a bustling marketplace environment, developing their communication and networking skills while learning more about different organisations, career pathways and what life is really like in the workplace. The event provided an excellent opportunity for students to ask questions, gain advice and explore future career options.

Students also experienced realistic recruitment activities often used by major companies such as Microsoft. These assessment centre exercises included psychometric testing and other selection activities, giving students a valuable insight into the rigorous processes used by employers when recruiting new talent.

Practice interviews formed another key part of the day, allowing students to build confidence, receive professional feedback and better understand the expectations they may face in future job, apprenticeship or university interviews.

The event helped students develop a stronger understanding of their own strengths while broadening their knowledge of the world of work. Employers were overwhelmingly impressed by the maturity, attitude and intellectual curiosity demonstrated by our students, praising their engagement and professionalism throughout the day.

We would like to thank all of the employers and organisations who gave their time to support the event and help prepare our students for their future careers. It was a truly valuable experience that has equipped our Year 12 students with greater confidence, awareness and ambition as they consider their next steps.

Mr Smith, Assistant Headteacher – KS5

Co-Curricular

Bronze Duke of Edinburgh training and expeditions

Training day and practice expedition: A comprehensive Bronze Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) training day was held at the Sevenoaks campus in early June, where Year 9 students developed skills in expedition planning, map reading, route planning, basic first aid and kit preparation. They also learnt how to pitch tents and cook their own meals on Trangia stoves, and learnt about appropriate food planning and the Countryside Code. A week later, more than 220 students – over two-thirds of the year group – took part in their Bronze DofE Practice Expedition on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th June.

Starting from locations including Leigh, Penshurst, Ashurst, Frant and Crowborough, participants navigated independently to Adamswell Campsite in Langton Green, testing their navigation, teamwork and resilience. The practice expedition provided an invaluable opportunity for students to apply the skills they had learnt, identify areas for improvement and reflect on their experience ahead of their assessed expedition in ARE Week in July.

Assessed expedition, ARE Week: The end of the school year also marks the end of the expedition phase of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, culminating in the Bronze Assessed Expedition, which took place during ARE Week. Taking on the experiences and advice from the practice expedition, 33 teams put the planning of their routes into action as they navigated around the Kent and East Sussex countryside. Students were in high spirits as they started their expedition with most groups back within the 6-hour duration. 

At camp, students had to put up their tents and cook their evening meals on the Trangia. After the Day 1 debrief, the students were given a unique opportunity to watch THE World Cup football game in our makeshift fan zone area! This was truly an unforgettable experience (despite the result) as the Year 9 students were able to watch the game with their peers in the middle of the Kent countryside! 

We are pleased to report that all 33 teams completed their expedition section of the Award and will now be spending the summer uploading evidence and getting assessor's reports filled in for their other sections so that they can complete their award and receive their certificate and badge at the DofE celebration evening in November – details to follow in the new academic year. 

Thank you to all the TEP and TWGSB staff whose support allows these expeditions to take place! 

Mr Hamilton, Assistant Headteacher

Bikeability

Following on from the success of the Bikeability Level 3 course at the Sevenoaks campus last year, it was great to see 21 of our students from both the Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks campuses take part recently in this free course offered by KCC to promote safer cycling. During the course, the students gained invaluable road cycling experience and learnt vital skills for cycling safely in high traffic situations.  The students really enjoyed the course, and the instructors were impressed with how they conducted themselves throughout.

We hope to be able to offer more places to students next year.

Mrs McPherson, School Office

The Library

The Carnegies

The Carnegie Medal Award aims to spark a lifelong passion for reading by connecting more children with books that will change lives.

After ten weekly meetings of biscuits and book discussion Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School and The Skinners’ School joined TWGSB for the 23rd Annual Carnegie Balloon Debate. The premise is that if the eight Carnegie Medal shortlisted books were in a hot-air balloon plummeting to earth and all books but one had to be thrown out to stop the descent, which book should be kept and win the Carnegie Medal?

The press release for this year’s Carnegie shortlist announced an innovative list of books about 'identity, belonging, relationships and the meaning of home with creative storytelling ranging from the deeply personal to the historic and mythical'.

The students spoke about these themes with great empathy and understanding, reinforcing what we know to be true – that these young men are our hope for the future. So, the Carnegie Award’s mission 'To champion librarians to inspire and empower the next generation to create a better world through books and reading' is well served at our three schools.

At the balloon debate we asked the students from the three schools to vote for their favourite book of the eight. The clear winner by a large margin was Wolf Siren by Beth O’Brien. Later in the day we learnt that Wolf Siren had won the Official Carnegie Medal for outstanding literature for young people. It also won The Shadower’s Choice Award, a countrywide vote by young people taking part.

On the morning of the debate our Main Hall was buzzing with excited chatter about the books and our wonderful students did not let the stifling heat affect their performance. We heard some impressive and insightful opinions on all eight Carnegie books. Blaise and Jonathan in Year 7 won the overall book review competition, winner and runner up respectively.

The winning team speaking for The Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody by Parick Ness included Harry (Year 9), Seb and Alex (Year 8) and Mike (Year 7).

Harry B in Year 9 won the TWGSB Carnegie cup this year for outstanding all-round participation.

Carnegie Shadowing is the flagship activity of the TWGSB library and our students never fail to impress us with how able, urbane and sure of themselves they are. They also consume a lot of cake, the weather making little difference!

National Year of Reading 2026: summer reading

Good news! The National Literacy Trust’s recent research has discovered that there has been an increase in reading for pleasure after a 20-year low! More than one in three young people now say they enjoy reading in their free time. To boost these tentative green shoots, we are encouraging students to continue with our READ Up challenge over the summer with 30 minutes' reading a day.

Our reading lists are available HERE on the school website. Alternatively, locate 'Library log-in' under 'Quick Links' at the top of the Home page. This will open up Oliver, our Library management system, which also has our reading lists available to download or print. If books on our reading lists cannot be accessed, then Shelf Talkers or Read-Up book reviews can be completed for any book. Students can simply write a review of no more than 150 words, or they can write three punchy short sentences recommending a book for a notice that could be displayed.

Entries can be handed in or emailed to mmusselwhitesteel@twgsboys.kent.sch.uk in September.

There are many prizes and house points up for grabs.

Mrs Musselwhite Steel, Library Manager

Art

Year 7 Famous Artworks Recreation

We were delighted once again by the tremendous response to our Year 7 Famous Artworks Photography Recreation Competition. The challenge invites students to select an artwork and recreate it as a photograph. Every year we are amazed by the Year 7s' creativity, imagination and attention to detail with their wide range of artistic interpretations and often incorporating an array of props, costumes, family members and even pets!

The quality of submissions was exceptionally high and made the judging process a real challenge. The winners are listed below – the top three students in the whole year group earning 7 House Points each and class winners 5 House Points each

Mrs Spink has created a fantastic gallery that showcases not only the winning entries but also a selection of other remarkable pieces that we felt deserved special recognition. We hope you enjoy watching the video below and celebrating the creativity and talent of our Year 7 students.

Ms Kublik, Head of Art

Design and Technology

Year 8 have been making flower sculptures for Sevenoaks Town Council as part of their 'Sevenoaks in Bloom 2026' competition, honouring Sir David Attenborough's 100th birthday this year. The students focused their attention on designing ideas in the natural world and ways in which to celebrate environmental awareness and sustainability, values closely associated with Sir David Attenborough’s work. Following a whole school initiative to collect recycling, the Year 8 students created a series of flowers from the material for the town's display.

The completed sculptures are currently on public display at The Vine and in the Upper High Street Gardens until mid-August as part of the final showcase. Click HERE for more information.

Ms Bramham, Head of Design and Technology

Drama and Theatre Studies 

Year 8 Shakespeare

Year 8 Drama students have been exploring the opening scenes of Shakespeare’s great tragedies this term, investigating how playwrights establish atmosphere, conflict, and key themes from the very beginning of a play. In their most recent lesson, students focused on the mysterious witches in the opening scene of Macbeth, examining how Shakespeare creates tension and intrigue through their language and presence. Through discussion and performance activities, students developed their understanding of character, mood, and dramatic storytelling.

Year 10 Devising Exam performances

Year 10 GCSE Drama students have recently completed their Component 1 Devising performances, showcasing original pieces developed through a creative and collaborative process. Drawing on a range of stimuli, students demonstrated their ability to devise, perform and communicate powerful ideas to an audience. The performances highlighted their growing confidence, creativity and commitment, and provided an excellent opportunity to celebrate the hard work and artistic development of this talented cohort.

Musical announcement!

Following the tremendous success of Newsies Jr, the Drama and Theatre Studies and Music Departments are delighted to announce that next year’s school production will be Oliver Jr! Once again, students will have the opportunity to work collaboratively to bring this much-loved musical to life on stage, featuring memorable characters, fantastic songs and plenty of theatrical excitement. We look forward to sharing more details about the production and audition process when we return in September.

Miss Turner, Head of Drama and Theatre Studies

Food Preparation and Nutrition

Cameron Jones's visit

Year 10 students at Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys recently enjoyed another inspiring alumnus visit from Cameron Jones, a former student who has gone on to build an impressive career in the culinary world. Cameron is currently working at the renowned Waterside Inn in Bray, a restaurant that has held three Michelin stars for decades and is recognised as the second longest-running three-star Michelin establishment in the world.

During his visit, Cameron delivered an engaging and highly skilled demonstration, giving students a glimpse into the precision and artistry of fine dining. He prepared venison in a classic French style, explaining key techniques and the importance of discipline and attention to detail in professional kitchens. Students were fascinated by both his technical ability and his journey from TWGSB to senior chef in a prestigious restaurant (managing 20 chefs).

The session was extremely well received by Year 10, with feedback describing the demonstration as 'fantastic' and inspiring. Many students appreciated the opportunity to see how classroom learning can translate into real-world careers, particularly in such a high-profile and competitive industry. Cameron’s visit, an annual event since leaving TWGSB, was both memorable and motivating. (In addition, a big thank you from us for the venison, donated and buttered by our own Year 10 Food and Nutrition student Sam F).

Mr Leather, Head of Food Preparation and Nutrition

Geography and Geology

Year 12 trip to Juniper Hall

We travelled to Juniper Hall Field studies Council centre for a four-day residential on Monday 1st June with all 29 Year 12 Geography students in two minibuses. Here is the students' report:

The centre: Juniper Hall provided a variety of options which included high-standard food, common rooms, opportunities for activities outdoors, such as football and a common room for socialising where we could play games, chat and even have a quiz. We enjoyed a campfire on the last night where we played various games including riddle solving. Overall, my peers and I found it an enjoyable experience to gain new memories.

Monday: Arrival and the Carbon Day: After eating lunch, we began our trek up Box Hill to start our carbon investigation. Firstly, we measured the tree density of an area using random sampling, before moving on to measuring tree carbon storage. These two measurements can be combined to provide the total carbon stored in the forest. Having collected our primary data on the first day we used some of the final day to finish our carbon investigation by working out the carbon storage of the soil.

The techniques we learned at Juniper Hall can be used in our coursework component to sample effectively, collect relevant data and answer hypothesis. We learnt a wide range of statistical techniques to help us analyse data.

Tuesday: The Coasts Day: During our trip we visited Newhaven and Seaford in East Sussex. At the two locations we carried out numerous data collection methods for our fieldwork. We learnt how the size of pebble varies across the beach and along the coast. We also learnt how hard engineering impacts the coast by surveying the effect of groynes that help to trap material and build up the beach in one place while also starving the beaches on the neighbouring coast.

Newhaven, which is more natural was a good comparison to Seaford which is intensely managed. We noted that Newhaven beach had a much smaller beach with more wave features on it than Seaford. We also surveyed the impact of the beach defences at Seaford using scoring charts and surveys.

The experience was not only educational but also a great bonding experience too.

Wednesday: The Urban Day: On Wednesday we spent a damp day in Dorking. We conducted surveys and questionnaires to establish the impact of urban planning on the character of the town. We were looking particularly at whether Dorking had become a ‘clone town’ being dominated by national chain stores or whether it had managed to retain some character with a range of independent stores. We also surveyed the impact of traffic on various congestion points. The wide range of techniques that we carried out during the day will allow us to develop our own methods to study an urban area of our choosing for our coursework.

The students were a pleasure to take on the trip and have had a great start to designing their own coursework project. They were engaged and interested, despite the weather in Dorking and worked diligently during the classroom sessions. It was nice to see them enjoying their down time together and partaking in games and quizzes or just socialising. They appreciated the enthusiasm and energy of their tutor Will, an ex-Skinners' student, and presented him with a card at the end of the week.

Mr Ash, Head of Geography and Geology

Year 10 Bexhill field trips

During one of the hottest weeks of the year at the end of June Year 10 geographers travelled to the coast at Bexhill-on-Sea to carry out the second of two field work visits in their GCSE Geography course. Having been to Greenwich earlier in the year to study sustainable urban living we were at Bexhill to look at the effect of the beach management at Bexhill on the coast towards Hastings.

The sediment at Bexhill is largely trapped by the many groynes starving the beach towards Hastings. This has forced the environment agency to implement a variety of management strategies to protect the housing, retail park and railway at Glyne Gap. We surveyed the size and shape of the beach at three points to establish the effectiveness of the management. We also recorded and rated the management strategies and mapped the land use behind the coast to establish the cost/benefit of the techniques. Finally, we completed some field sketches to support our observations and looked at the wave action and its effect on beach processes.

The students were well behaved and engaged. They enjoyed the facilities at the Cafe on the Beach which did a roaring trade in ice cream and drinks! On returning to class the students' task is to analyse, present and write up their findings ready for the skills sections of Paper 3.

Mr Ash, Head of Geography and Geology

Year 10 Geology field trips

On Monday 6th and Tuesday 7th July the Year 10 Geology students travelled to the Sussex coast to conduct fieldwork that will contribute towards the skills paper next year.

We spent the first day analysing the cliffs at Pett Level, starting by making a field sketch of the cliff structures and fault using secondary sources to identify the named beds from the Wealden sandstone series. We then took a closer look at each bed, making detailed notes in order to draw up our findings on our return. We then carried out a dip-and-strike analysis of one of the exposed beds to establish the angle of dip. To establish the past environments that existed when the rock was laid down during the Cretaceous period we searched for fossil evidence. We found beds of shellfish, disturbed lake beds and armoured fish teeth. We also looked for plant evidence and dinosaur footprints. The evidence we found points to a deltaic river environment in a tropical area experiencing a monsoon climate. We also looked at the deposits on the beach that have preserved the forest floor and tree stumps that were submerged at the end of the Ice Age only 4,500 years ago.

The following day we travelled to Eastbourne where we walked along the cliff towards Beachy Head before dropping down to the beach via Cow Gap. Here we were looking at a later Cretaceous marine environment, We identified the lowest layer, the Gault Clay, on the wave-cut platform followed by the greensand with the first layer of chalk above that. Again, we drew a field sketch of the outcrop before analysing the exposed beds in more detail. We looked for interesting fossils and other deposits, finding bivalves, ammonites and belemnites as well as sea sponges and burrows in the greensand boulders on the beach. The students were extremely well behaved and engaged in the two days' activities. Thanks to Mrs Thomson and Mr Tindall for accompanying the trips.

Mr Ash, Head of Geography and Geology

ARE Week trip to Iceland

Year 10 Geography students enjoyed an unforgettable five-day expedition to Iceland during ARE Week, experiencing first hand the incredible landscapes and natural processes they have studied in the classroom. Every day offered a new adventure – from hiking to the summit of Eldfell Volcano on the Westman Islands and walking across a glacier, to spotting puffins along the dramatic coastline and visiting the Lava Centre, where interactive exhibits and immersive displays help bring Iceland’s volcanic history to life.

The group also explored the historic rift valley at Þingvellir National Park, relaxed in the naturally heated waters of the Secret Lagoon, and witnessed the power of Iceland’s famous waterfalls – each one more spectacular than the last. It was a truly memorable trip that brought Geography to life and created experiences that will stay with our students for years to come.

Mr Tindall, Trip Leader

History

Year 10 trip to Munich and Berlin

During ARE Week Year 10 History students have been on a five-day trip to Germany, focusing on sites and museums that shed light on the rise and fall of the Nazi Party as well as sites related to the importance of Berlin during the Cold War – all relevant to the students' GCSE History curriculum. The following brilliant report comes from Samuel R:

There’s been a lot to take in on this trip so far, to say the least. We’ve visited a range of museums, memorials and historic buildings across Germany, in cities that were once part of both East and West Germany.

We’ve learnt how each city reflects on its past and the attitudes it holds towards this. We hit the ground running, starting in Munich by following in the footsteps of history as we traced the events of the Munich Putsch, learning about each stage along the way. 

Tuesday saw us explore how Munich remembers this period of its history through its memorials and museums. This marked the end of our time in Munich as we embarked on our eight-hour coach journey to Berlin.

By Wednesday, we made the most of our first full day in Berlin, immersing ourselves in as much of the city’s history and architecture as we could. We visited important parliamentary buildings, explored its wide range of unique monuments, and discovered its rich and complex history.

On Thursday, we began our day at Sachsenhausen, one of the area’s most significant concentration camps. We then visited a neighbouring memorial before heading to the 1936 Olympic Stadium. We concluded the day by taking in the beautiful views from the top of the Reichstag, ending with a stunning way as we looked out across Berlin.

Throughout the trip, we’ve seen how places that were once breeding grounds for Nazi ideology now openly condemn and reflect on that past, striving to ensure that such ideas never take hold again.

MFL

Year 10 trip to Madrid

Our recent Year 10 trip to Madrid was packed with exciting and memorable experiences. Highlights included a visit to the bull ring, an action-filled day at a theme park, and a hands-on cookery lesson where students learned how to make traditional dishes such as paella and tortilla. The group also enjoyed a tour of the famous Real Madrid Stadium, as well as a vibrant tapas and flamenco evening that showcased Spanish culture.

Here are a few reflections from students who took part in the trip:

Overall, it was a really great trip with many fun activities and lots of free time! My favourite moment was when we met Raul Asencio (Real Madrid footballer) in the theme park. (Dylan D)

I really enjoyed eating the delicious local food in Madrid and meeting Spanish people while playing football in the evening. (Aydin T)

I loved spending quality time with my friends in the theme park and watching flamenco dancers at the tapas evening. (Ollie Y)

I found the bull ring really informative and entertaining. To top that the flamenco show was enjoyable too. (David M)

Madrid was a great cultural experience to see life there and to spend time with friends during our planned trips and free time. Plus, the teachers were always fun! (Oscar W)

I really enjoyed the bull ring and using the free time to learn and practise Spanish! (Jack B)

I enjoyed the theme park and the Real Madrid Stadium tour the most. I also loved going to the bull ring and eating the churros con chocolate. (Freddie G)

My favourite part of the trip was when we visited the Warner Brothers Theme Park. (Olly B)

My favourite moments of the trip were visiting the bull ring, seeing the Bernabeu stadium, the local tapas night and meeting some of the locals! (Milo W H)

Ms Blenkin, MFL Lead for Spanish

Trip to French Institute

Year 12 A Level French students enjoyed every moment of a fantastic cultural trip to London recently. The day began with a visit to the French bookshop La Page and a stop at The Ampersand Hotel, before heading to the Institut Français in South Kensington where students  toured the multi-media library La Médiathèque, enjoyed a delicious meal at Gazette Brasserie, and watched A Magnificent Life by Sylvain Chomet at the Ciné Lumière’.

Mr Williams, MFL Teacher

MFL World Cup football

Earlier this term, and particularly relevant now that the World Cup final is upon us, our Year 8 Spanish classes were building their vocabulary with terms like el delantero, marcar un gol and el centrocampista, while reading, writing and even designing their own football kits!

A special shout out to Dawid, Arthur, Mitchell, Thomas, Eddie, Thomas, Matt, Leon and Louis for their fantastic effort and for completing the most tasks – ¡excelente trabajo! 

Ms Blenkin, â€‹MFL Lead for Spanish

During ARE Week, Year 10 GCSE MFL students have been coping in the heat in Paris while practising their French and have enjoyed seeing the Eiffel Tower, visiting Parc Astérix and the PSG stadium and watching World Cup football in the hotel. 

Music

‘Hope 4 the Future’ summer concert

On Wednesday 8th July the Music Department hosted a special summer concert 'Hope 4 The Future'. In addition to showcasing a diverse range of musical talent, the evening served as a wonderful home-coming for several alumni, who returned to perform and share how music has shaped their lives. Many of these former students are now thriving in the professional music industry.

The first half of the programme featured high-energy band performances covering rock icons like The Foo Fighters, Bon Jovi and Green Day, alongside impressive original compositions by student bands Holloway and Hammerhead. The newly established Jazz Standards Club delivered a smooth rendition of Miles Davis’s 'Freddie Freeloader', while captivating solo performances – including a powerhouse rendition of Khachaturian’s 'Toccata' by Vuk H and a lively penny whistle solo by Jack H – interspersed the set list.

The second half opened with an inspiring video diary from alumnus Paul Forster, currently serving as a musical director on a luxury super yacht. The energy continued with technically demanding piano repertoire from Oscar B-W and Finlay C, followed by classic rock and alternative hits from Toto, Led Zeppelin, the Goo Goo Dolls and Blink-182. A particular highlight was the alumni reunion on stage for a well-received Bill Withers medley, fronted with exceptional aplomb by Callum King.

To conclude the scheduled programme, a mixed-year choir – supported by elite student musicians and two alumni – delivered a stirring performance of 'A Million Dreams' from The Greatest Showman. Just as the evening seemed to draw to a close, the audience was treated to a surprise finale: a spellbinding violin performance by star musician Karson L, expertly accompanied by his mother on piano.

The evening perfectly realised its vision of uniting past and present students to celebrate the future, leaving the audience with a profound sense of optimism. The Music Department extends its heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this spectacular, well-attended event possible.

Click HERE for a gallery of more photos.

Mr Joris, Head of Music

Physical Education

Cricket

We have experienced a mixed set of results across the year groups this cricket season. We have also had both beautiful and frustrating weather conditions to contend with, with some matches having to be played indoors due to persistent rain. Fortunately, the vast majority were played in wonderful cricket weather!

The Year 7 cricket team started the season with a great win against Bennett, by eight wickets. This was followed by a tough away match against The Judd, who eventually won by six wickets.

The Year 8 team enjoyed the most success of all the year groups this season. Their first match was against Chislehurst and Sidcup, where they narrowly lost by just two wickets. This result meant they were drawn against Bennett in the Plate competition, where they secured an impressive eight-wicket victory. Year 8 then played a thrilling match against Eltham College, which went down to the final over, with our team winning by just six runs. Unfortunately, they lost their quarter-final match against a strong Langley Park side.

The Year 9 team faced two tough matches in both the main draw and the Plate competition, losing to Skinners' by nine wickets and Hurstmere by 39 runs.

The Year 10 team beat Colfe's School by six wickets in their opening match. They then came up just short against The Judd in the next round, losing by 42 runs. The match itself was much closer than the scoreline suggests.

Well done to all the cricket players and teams this season. Every year group will be looking to go at least one step further next year!

Mr Boddy, PE

Religion and Philosophy

Year 10 RE Day: Exploring the Meaning of Life

Year 10 students recently took part in RE Day, an opportunity to explore different perspectives on one of life’s biggest questions: What gives life meaning and purpose? Through presentations and Q&A sessions with Christian, Humanist and Muslim speakers, students were able to engage with a wide range of beliefs and experiences. It was very interesting to collect together the students' comments on the day.

Many students praised the Christian speakers for their enthusiasm and interactive approach. One student described them as 'very interactive and engaging', while another enjoyed the 'good/bad scale' activity and appreciated how the speakers 'spoke very clearly on the subject'. Others commented that the Christian speakers were 'very open' and brought 'energy' to their presentations.

Students also valued the Humanist perspective, particularly the logical arguments and thoughtful explanations of how people can find meaning through relationships, kindness and personal values. One student commented that the Humanist speaker was 'realistic, well presented, thoughtful and answered the questions well'.

The Muslim speaker was praised for sharing personal experiences and answering questions in depth. Students described him as 'relatable and very good at answering questions' and appreciated hearing about his own journey of faith.

The Q&A sessions were frequently highlighted as a strength of the day, giving students the chance to hear different viewpoints and ask challenging questions. As one student reflected, 'the meaning of life isn’t a question but an interpretation that we are all invited to answer in a variety of ways'. Another concluded that 'everyone has their own views'.

Overall, RE Day encouraged thoughtful discussion, broadened students’ understanding of different world views and provided valuable opportunities for reflection on belief, purpose and identity.

Mrs Hawkes, Head of Religion & Philosophy

Other News

Summer Activities

Marketing, Development & Alumni Relations

We are always delighted to celebrate the achievements of both our current students and alumni, so please do share any news with us that we can feature either here or on our alumni platform: Home | TWGSB Connect.

Thank you in advance, for any items you generously choose to share with us via one of these email addresses below. We are so grateful always! Thank you. Happy Summer holidays to all.

Ingrid Roberts, Development Manager

iroberts@twgsboys.kent.sch.uk

connect@twgsboys.kent.sch.uk

Do follow us on our social media platforms:

TWGSB school social media	TWGSB Official YouTube	Alumni social media