Headteacher's Newsletter October 2026

Respect. Excellence. Determination.

Positive Pathways

It has been a fantastic first term, and we would like to congratulate all of our students for the positive attitude, hard work and enthusiasm they have shown throughout the term. Their commitment to learning and willingness to take on new challenges have been great. We are also incredibly proud of the effort students have put into earning House Points. Well done to everyone. Over 36,000 positive House Points have been awarded already this academic year. An amazing term – keep up the great work, and we look forward to seeing even more success in the terms ahead!

Mr Lewis, Assistant Headteacher

Reward trip to Thorpe Park

What a great day out with Years 8, 9 and 10 from both campuses on our annual Reward trip to Thorpe Park. One hundred students attended after achieving the top house points last academic year. Students were amazing and had a great day going on some of the scariest rollercoasters I’ve ever seen. The weather was perfect and we returned to school hyped on sugar and adrenaline! 

Mrs Rose, Assistant Headteacher

KS4 and KS5 Awards Evening

In September, we were delighted to celebrate the achievements of last year's KS4 and KS5 students at our annual Awards Evening. The event recognised outstanding academic success, exceptional effort and valuable contributions to school life. Awards were presented from all subjects for the school’s values of Respect, Excellence and Determination, plus some extra trophies and cups. Students, families and staff came together to applaud the hard work, resilience and dedication shown throughout the year.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the families who attended and continue to support our students in their educational journey. Your encouragement and partnership play a vital role in helping our young people thrive and achieve their full potential.

Congratulations to all award recipients. It was a wonderful evening and a fitting celebration of the talent, commitment and ambition within our school community. Click HERE for more photos.

Mr Lewis, Assistant Headteacher

Well-being

There are lots of places that you can go to for advice on your child’s well-being:

• The Charlie Waller Trust sends out seasonal newsletters which contain links to free webinars, book reviews, articles and advice. See the latest newsletter HERE.
• The online service Kooth offers a range of services –  Soluna by Kooth specifically for young people and Qwell for adults.

If you are worried about your child’s well-being and would like to discuss it with the school please contact their Head of Year.

Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG)

We are currently involved in a campaign with Kent Police and other schools in the Kent Area to raise awareness in school about Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). We have a team of students at both sites ranging from Year 8 to Year 13 who have volunteered to be ambassadors for the school to promote awareness about this subject and work to implement change. Both teams have met this term with PCs Clare Harrison and Sarah Stanley to discuss action they will implement in school.

White Ribbon Day, on Wednesday 25th November, aims to raise awareness about preventing gender-based violence and the theme this year is ‘It Takes All of Us'. During the week beginning 23rd November we will be holding activities including:

• A bake sale to raise money for the White Ribbon Campaign and DAVSS, a local charity that supports Domestic Abuse victims and their families

• Selling white ribbons for students to wear

• Using tutor time to discuss different issues around this topic

• Assemblies led by the student ambassadors.

We hope that you will support us with this campaign and look forward to telling you more about it in the next newsletter.

Mrs Rose, Assistant Headteacher

From the Development Office...

It has been a celebratory start to the new school year here in the TWGSB Development Department.

Following our first ever Giving Day held at the end of the last academic year, we are delighted to share that, together, our community raised £28,821 (before Gift Aid) in support of our School Fund. Profound gratitude goes to our wonderful parents for their support of this new initiative, which will become an annual fixture on our fundraising calendar going forward.

As part of Giving Day, £2,183.54 was raised by our own students. Despite the end-of-year excitement and the extreme heat of July, their superlative efforts donating and selling cakes, participating in a non-uniform day and an energetic ‘colour dash’ run added notably to the momentum of our online donations. Head Students Oli and Oliver are pictured below presenting a cheque for this amount to TWGSB Development Manager Mrs Roberts.

The School Fund enables many exceptional, enrichment opportunities for our students while also helping significantly with specific campus improvements. It is this additional support of our parents and students especially that allows us, as a state school, to go beyond what is government-funded to provide a truly exceptional educational experience for every student here at TWGSB. Thank you again for your generosity!

Mrs Roberts, Development Manager

Sixth Form

Year 12 induction

Before the majority of the students returned to school in September the Sixth Form Team welcomed the new Year 12s to their community. With a number of students new to TWGSB it was not surprising to see a few nervous faces! A series of icebreaker and team-building events helped put the students at ease. They spent time in their new tutor groups getting to know their peers and listened to talks about resilience and facing the challenges that A Levels will inevitably bring. The day was rounded off by all tutor groups competing in the famous ‘Golden Bucket’ challenge, a series of fun activities designed to get students out of their comfort zone – 12C were the winners! Induction Day always provides a good springboard at the beginning of term for our students as they start their next academic journey.

Mrs Brooker, Head of Year 12

Year 12 prefects

This year we have our largest ever team of Year 12 prefects. They have already made an excellent start in supporting the wider school community. Embodying our school values of Respect, Excellence and Determination, the prefects have enthusiastically taken on a range of responsibilities. They have represented the school at Open Morning events and Sixth Form Open Evening, welcoming prospective students and their families, as well as providing valuable support to staff with break duties. Their willingness to contribute reflects the positive role our Sixth Form students play within the wider school community, and we look forward to seeing them continue to develop as confident and responsible young leaders.

Mrs Brooker, Head of Year 12

‘Post-16 Marketplace’ a great success

More than a thousand Year 11 students and their families attended the Post-16 Marketplace recently at the Riverside Centre, Tonbridge, to explore the wide range of opportunities available after GCSEs. The event brought together local post-16 providers from across the West Kent area, offering valuable information and advice on sixth forms, colleges, apprenticeships and vocational pathways. Families had the opportunity to speak directly with representatives, compare options and gain a better understanding of the routes available to support students’ future ambitions.

The event proved to be a great success, helping students make informed decisions about their next steps and highlighting the strength and variety of post-16 provision available across the region. The collaboration between local providers ensured that every family had access to expert guidance as they begin planning for life beyond Year 11.

Mr Smith, Assistant Headteacher KS5

Sixth Form Open Evening

Our annual Sixth Form Open Evening last week was a great success. Hundred of visitors had the opportunity to explore the wide range of A Level courses on offer and speak with current Sixth Form students and staff about the opportunities, support and experiences available within our thriving Sixth Form community. The evening also featured presentations in the Main Hall from Ms Simpson and from current students who shared their own perspectives on Sixth Form life, delivering excellent and engaging talks about their experiences of TWGSB6.

Thank you to all the staff and students involved for helping the evening run so successfully. We had a great turnout and enjoyed meeting prospective students and their families. Applications for TWGSB6 for September 2027 entry open 11th December. Click HERE for further information.

Mr Smith, Assistant Headteacher KS5

Our New Year 7s

Our Year 7 students have made an outstanding start to life at secondary school. Since joining us in September, they have settled quickly into their new routines, embraced the challenges of a larger school environment, and shown great enthusiasm for learning. It has been wonderful to see students exploring new subjects, developing new skills and building positive relationships with their peers. Many have already formed new friendships and are growing in confidence each day as they learn their way around campus and become valued members of our school community.

A particular highlight of the term were our Year 7 Team Building Days at Arena Pursuits, whick took place over four days in all weathers! Students threw themselves into a range of exciting challenges that encouraged them to step outside their comfort zones, work collaboratively and develop important teamwork and communication skills. Throughout each day there were plenty of opportunities for fun, laughter and personal achievement, with students learning more about themselves and each other along the way.

We are incredibly proud of how well Year 7 have adjusted to secondary school and look forward to seeing their continued success throughout the year.

Click HERE for more photos.

Miss Brydon, Head of Year, Sevenoaks and Mr Roberts, Head of Year 7, Tunbridge Wells

PTA Fundraising

The PTA would love you to join us in creating a little Christmas magic for the students.

Non-uniform Day: Own clothes day on Friday 4th December – students who wish to take part should please bring in a £2 donation to hand to their form tutor on the day. 

Chocolate Tombola: We are also running our ever so popular Christmas Chocolate Tombola on Thursday 10th December at the Sevenoaks campus and Friday 11th December at the Tunbridge Wells campus. Please send your child into school on the morning of those dates with a chocolate/sweets donation and £2 to purchase a tombola ticket. (You can also donate prizes by purchasing items off our Amazon wish list, which can be accessed HERE.) Every ticket is a winner and the students can stand a chance of winning one of our huge Christmas chocolate hampers, if they find a GOLDEN TICKET!

Christmas Trees: The PTA will also donate Christmas trees to both campuses, which we will be decorating early December, ready for the festive season. 

Please do contact the PTA if you are able to volunteer your time with either of the chocolate tombolas or decorating the Christmas trees: pta@twgsboys.kent.sch.uk. All money raised goes back to the students and to the school every year, purchasing much-needed equipment. Thank you.

PTA Committee

Duke of Edinburgh Awards

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and we couldn’t be prouder of the achievements that TWGSB has gained during our own 70th year as well! There were many stand-out moments from this DofE season, a particular highlight watching the England World Cup football match in a field during the Bronze Assessed Expedition in July!

As we draw this season to a close, many students are busy getting their assessor’s reports for the different sections uploaded, so that their award can be submitted and then verified. This will culminate in the annual Celebration Evening being held next term. We have started to send out invitation letters to those who have completed their Award. A special mention goes to three Year 13 students, Thomas, Owen and Eva, who have completed their Gold Award already with more students completing soon!

We will be getting ready to start our new DofE season in Term 2 – look out for the registration letter for students in Years 9, 10 and 12. 

Below are some photos from a recent Gold expedition that took place in Wales! The gold award involves an expedition section that lasts for four days and three nights. As you can see, this one encountered all weathers!

Mr Hamilton, Assistant Headteacher

Art

Research trip to London galleries

Mr Lamb and Mrs Spink recently took our A Level Art students to visit two galleries in London to research for their NEA projects – Thomas in Year 12 wrote up his experience of the day:

On Wednesday 14th October, the TWGSB Art department took the A Level students on a trip to the National Portrait Gallery as well as a ‘Renoir and Love’ exhibition in The National Gallery. This allowed Year 12 to gain a further understanding of their current topics of ‘People and Place’, and Year 13 to research for their Personal Projects; they were able to gather a range of inspiration as well as ideas for their work. The ‘Renoir and Love’ exhibition presented many portraits and paintings, which Year 12 found insightful and significant to the ‘People and Places' topic. I was very grateful to have seen and experienced it, as it added many insights and themes to my ideas for this topic. Furthermore, The National Portrait Gallery preserves some of the most intricate pieces of art, both old and new, displaying a wide range of diverse pieces and motifs in the artwork showcased. Overall, the trip was very helpful in helping us explore a wider range of thinking and potential inspiration for future pieces. Thomas C (Year 12)

Art competition – newsletter header design

Each term, the Art Department oversees creating the main header image for this newsletter. Previously we have used former students’ artwork that is relevant to the seasons. This year we have opened up the header design as a competition for all students to enter (click HERE for details). This term’s newsletter banner has been created by Woody in 7B, who worked diligently during Art Club on his lovely autumnal design and has been awarded 5 house points for his creation. Well done Woody!

Ms Kublik, Head of Art

Design and Technology

Last summer, the DT Department was on the look out for recycled packaging for students to make sculptures for Sevenoaks town council as part of their In Bloom 2026 competition. Students designed and assembled their sculptures, which were finally displayed to the public in the summer holidays. It was great to have the students involved in a local community initiative, and they had a lot of fun in the process!

We wanted to thank those who took the time to bring in their materials to DT, and to share a lovely thank you letter from the town council following the successful outcome of their competition.

Surveyors’ visit

Surveyors from Plowman Craven came into school this week to talk to our Year 12 and 13 DT students and demonstrate some of their specialist surveying equipment. Sariah in Year 13 wrote about the visit:

On Tuesday 20th October, Jon and Zara from Plowman Craven gave us a wonderful workshop on the different kinds of surveying, what they do at work and how they got there. They demonstrated their ‘Elios’ drone and LIDAR equipment to scan the workshops and the Main Hall. We also had a brief look into some of the software that they use to stitch and edit the scans together. It was an incredibly valuable experience and opened up options I didn't know existed. Sariah B (Year 13)

Ms Bramham, Head of Design and Technology

Drama and Theatre Studies

Oliver! Jr. rehearsals underway

Following a fantastic response at recent auditions, with large numbers of students eager to get involved, rehearsals have now begun for our annual school musical, Oliver! Jr. The cast are already hard at work learning songs, choreography and scenes as they prepare to bring this much-loved production to life.

Based on Charles Dickens’ classic novel Oliver Twist, the musical follows the adventures of young orphan Oliver as he navigates life in Victorian London, meeting colourful characters such as the Artful Dodger, Fagin and Nancy along the way. Featuring music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, Oliver! Jr. is one of the most popular family musicals ever written. Watch this space for rehearsal updates, behind-the-scenes news, and ticket information after the Christmas holidays.

National Theatre Connections 2027

We are delighted to announce that the school has been selected to take part in National Theatre Connections 2027, the National Theatre’s prestigious youth theatre festival. Students involved will create and perform a brand-new play specially commissioned and selected by the National Theatre, working as part of a nationwide celebration of young people’s theatre. As part of the project, students will perform their production at Trinity Theatre, Tunbridge Wells, and will also have the exciting opportunity to be selected to perform on the National Theatre stage in London. This is a fantastic opportunity for aspiring performers, directors and theatre-makers. Further information about auditions will be shared after the Christmas holidays.

Miss Turner, Head of Drama and Theatre Studies

Food Preparation and Nutrition

Year 10 Food and Nutrition students have learnt how to portion a whole chicken, developing their knife skills and understanding of safe food handling as part of the 12 key practical skill areas. They then used the chicken in a pie recipe of their choice, focusing on pastry skills, including rolling, shaping and finishing. This task encouraged students to combine technical skills with creativity, paying particular attention to decoration and presentation to produce an attractive well-finished pie.

Miss Hannah, Head of Food and Nutrition

Geology

Year 11 residential in Dorset

On Friday 25th September the Year 11 Geology students departed for their residential trip to PGL Osmington Bay near Weymouth in Dorset. On arrival they settled in and had a tour by our PGL contact Tom, who happened to come from Hastings. We then enjoyed a typical PGL evening meal of bangers and mash before Tom led the students in a game show-style quiz.

On Saturday we travelled to Durdle Door in the Lulworth Estate and made our way down to the beach in Man O’ War Cove. Here we studied the rocks in detail, recording their characteristics for each layer, measuring the dip angle and the width of each bed. This allowed us to draw the outcrops on a geological log in the evening. We saw ripple beds in the Portland limestone, bivalve beds in the Portland stone, pebble beds and plant material in the Wealden beds and the youngest layers of greensand and chalk that we had seen at Eastbourne in July. We were able to interpret how conditions changed from a tropical sea to a more shallow sea that dried up (we saw the cracks in the rock just below the Wealden sand, called desiccation cracks, where the sea had dried up). This was followed by the river/deltaic deposits of the Wealden sands, before returning to marine conditions to form the greensand and chalk. The students demonstrated their expertise in recognising the various structures and being able to record the characteristics of the rocks accurately.

We then drove round to Lulworth Cove where we discussed the formation of the cove by looking at the smaller opening at Stair Hole and how it would develop into a much larger cove. Being a real ‘honey pot’ site, the students enjoyed looking at the souvenir shops and buying an ice cream, as well as visiting the information centre which explained much of what we had seen during the day.

On Saturday we travelled to the Isle of Portland where the limestone has been quarried for centuries. We started the day analysing the rocks in a cliff full of fossils and Chert nodules. We then moved along the coast to look at a disused quarry and discuss how the rock was cut by hand into blocks and winched out to sailing boats. We also measured the size of the quarry to work out the volume of material removed. Across the road was a working quarry where we could see how modern machinery makes a much cleaner job of cutting the blocks on a considerably larger scale.

We then travelled down to Portland Bill where we found some exposed beds on the coast where we could take some dip readings. We continued to a local church to look at the limestone headstones and their dates. This allowed us to see the rate of weathering as the writing becomes increasingly illegible. We also saw the site of a 1942 German bomb which fell in the graveyard destroying a circle of gravestones. Moving on, we visited Tout Quarry, now a wildlife area and sculpture park where people can learn to sculpt in an open-air class and are then free to practise on the rocks left in the quarry. We saw the sculpture ‘Still Falling’ by Antony Gormley who made the ‘Angel of the North’. Our final stop was a very windy and wet Chesil beach to see the extensive sea defences.

Monday 28th September was our last day. After breakfast we walked along the cliff top and down on to Osmington beach to look at the rocks and look for fossils. We walked a little further than most groups to the headland where the Oxford clays outcrop and were rewarded with many ammonite fossils as well as the fossil Gryphaea, known in Victorian times as ‘The Devil’s Toenail’.

We came back for a lunch of pizza and chips (with salad!) before travelling back to school. The students were well behaved and a pleasure to be with. They worked hard and were fully engaged. It was nice to see them so excited by the Geology that they saw. Thanks must also go to Mr Tindall who supported the trip.

Mr Ash, Head of Geography and Geology

History

Trip to Whitechapel, London

Towards the end of September we took our Year 11 GCSE History students to London’s East End to support part of their Crime and Punishment module on Whitechapel.

Starting at Liverpool St station the students were divided into three groups, each led by an expert guide from Anglia Tours. From the outset, the guides brought the area’s history to life, explaining the development of the station and encouraging students to compare the modern surroundings with how they would have appeared in the nineteenth century.

Along the route, the students saw the boundaries between the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, and learnt about the relationship between the police and criminals in Victorian London. They also learned about migration into the East End and examined housing in Artillery Row, considering the challenging living conditions of the time, with as many as 30 people sharing a tiny room.

Two of the groups were lucky enough to be invited into one of the area's remaining synagogues. The students were fascinated to hear that the building had been used by Disney as a filming location for an Avengers film!

During a break, students had the opportunity to explore Spitalfields Market before continuing the tour. They learned about the lives of the women murdered by Jack the Ripper and visited locations where two of the victims lost their lives. The guides also explained the significant role of alcohol in Victorian Whitechapel, with a pub on virtually every corner. Students passed The Ten Bells, a historic public house that still stands today and has some original architectural features on the facade.

The day involved plenty of walking, but the fascinating history and engaging commentary ensured that time passed quickly. Overall the visit provided valuable context for students' understanding of the Whitechapel area of London.

Mr Pratt, Head of History and Politics, and Mrs McLaren, Office Manager

Modern Foreign Languages

European Day of Languages bake sale

To celebrate the European Day of Languages on Saturday 26th September, the MFL Dept created a range of activities, culminating in a successful bake sale on Thursday 24th September across both sites, proving that our students really do have an appetite for getting involved in linguistic, cultural and community initiatives.

During the week students, and in particular our new Year 7s, were treated to a cultural European quiz, ‘design a poster’ competition, and on the Thursday brought in a range of baked goods that embraced the European Day of Languages theme ‘Languages Unite’. Our thanks to so many Year 7s who showed great baking skills, as well as some visually impressive language designs. The bake sale was so successful that everything was sold across both sites, raising an impressive £341 for our nominated local charity, Nourish Community Foodbank.

Our thanks also to the catering team who supported the event with a range of European-flavoured meals including a delicious Spanish tortilla and Greek filo pie. 

Mr Allen, MFL

Year 13 students visit Valencia

In September, we spent four amazing days and nights in Valencia as part of our A Level Spanish course. We had an amazing time exploring this lively city and visiting the extraordinary aquarium, historic old town, theme park and Science Museum. We also had the opportunity to take part in a Spanish cooking class, where we made traditional Valencian paella, followed by an unforgettable live flamenco performance.

One of the most unforgettable moments of the trip was attending a live football match between Valencia CF and Real Sociedad. We even had the incredible opportunity to meet Álex Remiro, a goalkeeper who has represented Spain at the European Championship and won it once.

The trip was a fantastic opportunity to practise our Spanish in real-life situations, immerse ourselves in the local culture and discover more about Spain’s rich heritage and traditions. It was a truly memorable experience for everyone involved! We hope you enjoy the short video below showcasing some of the highlights of our stay. (Click HERE for more photos from the trip.)

Ben B, Year 13

MFL cooking to impress

James, Ben and Niki were so inspired by their recent trip to Valencia that they cooked Spanish tortilla, paella and patatas bravas for the MFL Department to offer visitors at the Sixth Form Open Evening!

Music

This year we will be staging a single Christmas concert for all students at the Tunbridge Wells campus on Thursday 3rd December. We are holding auditions at both campuses and hope to see many of you at the concert for what is always a fabulous musical occasion.

Mr Joris, Head of Music

Physical Education 

Cross-country 

On 15th September, TWGSB students from the U13 and U15 age groups took part in the Skinners’ cross-country races. On a lovely afternoon, all students ran with great resilience and determination. In the U13 race, Otto W finished fifth, with Sam G finishing 11th. In the U15 category, Jack L finished seventh. Well done to all the runners who represented the school.

On 17th October, TWGSB students from the U13 and U15 age groups represented the school in the ESAA XC Cup Kent R1. Jack L was the highest-placed finisher, coming ninth, while Daniel M finished a very respectable 20th. Well done to all the runners who took part.

Mr Boddy, PE

Football

It has been a very enjoyable term of football, and after-school practices at both campuses have been very well attended. The football teams have been entered in 22 cup competitions this season, Kent and ESFA National, at A and B team levels.

U18 1st XI: The team lost 2–1 away at Ardingly College, West Sussex in the ESFA National Cup. The team responded by winning 7–1 away at Newstead Wood, Orpington in the Kent Cup. The next round will be away at Wilmington GS on Wednesday 18th November.

U18 2nd XI: The team won 5–0 with a fine performance against Hayes in the Kent Cup. Round 2 will be at home against Ravens Wood on Wednesday 18th November.

Year 11 U16 A and U16 B teams: The A team won 5-1 away at Charles Darwin, Biggin Hill in the Kent Cup before losing 4-3 in a very close game against Meopham. In the ESFA National Cup the team played away at Oathall Community College in Haywards Heath, West Sussex and won 5-1 to move into the next round. The B team won 5-1 at home against Oxted in the ESFA National Cup. The next round will be at home against St James Senior Boys’ School from Surrey.

Year 10 U15 A and U15 B teams: The A team won 4–0 away at Homewood, Tenterden and then won 6–1 at home against Bullers Wood, Chislehurst both in the Kent Cup. The next round will be at home against St Paul’s Academy. In the ESFA National Cup the team achieved an impressive 10-0 win against Cornwallis, Maidstone before losing 4–3 away at Herne Bay. The B team, current Kent champions, won 3–1 away at Oxted in the ESFA National Cup. They will play at home against Whitgift in the next round.

Year 9 U14 A and U14 B teams: The A team had an exciting 5–5 draw against Stone Lodge in the Kent Cup with TWGSB winning the penalty shootout in torrential rain. Wrotham then conceded the game in the ESFA National Cup. The team will play Ravens Wood at home in the Kent Cup and at home against George Abbot School in the ESFA National Cup. The B team won the Kent Cup in both of the last two seasons and also reached the ESFA National Cup semi-final in both seasons. The team will look to win the Kent Cup for the third year in a row and also go one step further in the ESFA National Cup. Hurstmere conceded the game in the Kent Cup and our team will play away at Oakwood Park GS in Maidstone in the Kent Cup quarter-final. The team will play away at Oathall Community College, Haywards Heath in the ESFA National Cup.

Year 8 U13 A and U13 B teams: The A team lost 1–0 against Cornwallis in a very close game in the ESFA National Cup that could have gone either way. The team responded well by winning 4–1 in the Kent Cup away at St Simon Stock, Maidstone. The B team had an impressive 4–1 win away at Maidstone GS in the Kent Cup and will play away at Norton Knatchbull, Ashford in the next round. In the ESFA National Cup the team will play at home against Howard of Effingham from Surrey.

Year 7 U12 A and U12 B teams: The A team won 4–1 away at Cornwallis, Maidstone in the Kent Cup and will play Trinity, Sevenoaks at home in the next round. The team defeated Priory School, Lewes, at home 11–0 in the ESFA National Cup. The B team’s cup matches will start in Term 2 with an away match at Bishop Justus, Bromley in the Kent Cup and a home match against Rutlish in the ESFA National Cup.

Year 7 after-school practices have been extremely well attended at both campuses on Mondays, Wednesdays in Sevenoaks and on Thursdays and Fridays in Tunbridge Wells. Well done to all students involved in all year groups and we look forward to another busy term in Term 2.

Mr Menzies, Head of Football and Head of Co-Curricular Sport

Rugby

Year 7: Year 7 have made an excellent first impression in the rugby programme this term. Regular attendance at training has been superb to see, with students demonstrating great enthusiasm, commitment and an eagerness to develop their skills. The students have worked hard in sessions and are building a strong foundation as they prepare for their first league fixture. The team will begin their league campaign with a home clash against Bennett Memorial Diocesan School on 17th November. The squad is in a strong position heading into the fixture and we look forward to seeing their hard work and progress put into practice on the pitch.

Year 8: As a school, we are extremely fortunate to have such a large pool of Year 8 rugby players across both the Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks campuses. The group boasts an impressive range of talent, enthusiasm and potential, with students showing a real appetite for the game and a willingness to develop their skills. The Year 8s kicked off their season with an internal league fixture between the A and B teams. In a closely contested match, the A team came out on top with a 30–20 victory. It was particularly pleasing to see students from both campuses combining in the same teams, demonstrating excellent teamwork, cohesion and skill on the pitch.

The enthusiasm shown by Year 8 has been fantastic and with so many keen players available, we decided to trial a games-afternoon format on Monday 19th October. This saw A, B and C teams take on The Skinners’ School, giving more students the opportunity to represent the school and experience competitive rugby. All three teams performed superbly, showing great determination, teamwork and attacking intent. The A team secured an impressive 40–10 victory, while the B team followed with a convincing 45–25 win. The C team narrowly missed out on victory 20–30, but their effort, resilience and commitment were equally commendable. Congratulations to all 56 students involved across both campuses. To have so many students representing the school in fixtures on a single afternoon is a fantastic achievement and the results speak volumes about the talent and enthusiasm within the year group. It is also particularly encouraging to see rugby continuing to grow across both campuses and a shared sense of pride in representing the school.

Year 9: The Year 9 rugby team have made a very positive start to the season. Following some impressive performances in previous fixtures last year, the boys were rewarded with a place in the Kent Trophy competition, the top tier of Kent school rugby. Their first fixture of the season saw them travel away to Tonbridge School, where they narrowly missed out on victory in a closely contested match 17–28. On another day, the result could easily have gone our way and the performance provided plenty of encouragement for the fixtures ahead. A particular highlight was the contribution of four Year 8 students, who stepped up a year to provide cover for injured players. All four rose to the challenge and slotted seamlessly into the team, demonstrating the skill, confidence and determination required to compete at this level. Their performances were a real credit to them and a positive reflection of the strength and depth developing within the squad. It has also been great to welcome some new faces to training and see the enthusiasm and commitment shown by the group. There are still plenty of opportunities ahead, with a number of fixtures remaining for the boys to look forward to as the season progresses. Our next fixture is on Tuesday 3rd November, when we welcome Norton Knatchbull for a home match. We will look to build on the progress made so far and continue to develop as a team, carrying our positive start into the next game.

Year 10: The team began their season with a dominant 51–17 victory over Oakwood Park Grammar School in the Continental Tyres National Vase. This outstanding performance demonstrated the students’ determination and ambition to progress as far as possible in the competition. The squad is excited to represent the school on such a prestigious stage, with the potential opportunity to play at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. The boys understand that a long season lies ahead and that continued dedication, hard work and focus will be essential to maintaining their progress. Building on this impressive start, the team also competed in the Kent Shield producing another excellent performance to secure a convincing 43–7 victory over Howard School. These early results reflect the commitment and quality within the squad and the players will be looking to maintain this momentum as the season progresses.

1st XV and Year 11: The 1st XV began their season with a closely contested fixture against Sutton Valence School, narrowly missing out on victory. Since then, the boys have enjoyed an impressive away win against Dartford Grammar School in the Continental Tyres National Vase. This performance made a strong statement in the competition. The integration of several talented Year 11 players into the squad has added further strength and depth to the team, with the younger players stepping up and making valuable contributions. The team will now look to build on this promising start and progress through the rounds, with the exciting prospect of earning the opportunity to play at the iconic Allianz Stadium, Twickenham. With plenty of rugby still to come, the students will need to maintain their commitment, determination and teamwork as they look to make their mark on the competition this season and on the upcoming league fixtures and friendlies for both the 1st XV and the Year 11 team.

Congratulations to all students who have taken part this term. We look forward to another successful and enjoyable term of rugby, with further fixtures scheduled across all year groups. Wishing everyone a restful and well-deserved break.

Mr Stevens, Head of Rugby

Psychology & Sociology

The Psychology and Sociology department had a fantastic two days recently when former students who achieved A and A* in this year's A Levels returned to discuss with the current cohort how they prepared for Year 13 and the exams in the summer. It was very valuable and motivational for the current cohort of Year 13s to hear from those who have achieved just what they are hoping for!

Mrs L Main, Head of Sociology & Psychology

RE and Philosophy

Year 11 RE Day at Sevenoaks

The Human Search for Meaning (Part 2): This term the Year 11 students took part in the second instalment of their Human Search for Meaning RE Day, held at the Sevenoaks campus on 7th October and the Tunbridge Wells Campus on 14th October.

Students had the opportunity to hear from both Christian and Muslim speakers, who explored their beliefs about the meaning of life, what it means to live a religious life, and the impact that faith has on their everyday experiences. Discussions also included important reflections on mental health and well-being, offering students valuable insights into how religious belief can provide purpose, resilience and support.

We were also delighted to welcome a Buddhist speaker, who shared Buddhist perspectives on meaning, happiness and personal growth.

A particular highlight of the day was the question-and-answer sessions. Students asked thoughtful, challenging and highly insightful questions, demonstrating both intellectual curiosity and a genuine interest in understanding different world views. The day provided an excellent opportunity for students to further engage with a range of religious perspectives, deepen their understanding of faith in the modern world, and reflect on some of life's most important questions. 

It was a fantastic day enjoyed by all, and we are grateful to our guest speakers for sharing their experiences and inspiring our students. Some of the students’ feedback follows:

I learnt that, while there may be some beliefs out there which I may disagree with, it is still worthwhile to expose myself to them so that I may learn about them. This is not only to understand those with differing faiths, but for my own personal growth and knowledge of the meaning of life. I think the Buddhist speaker had many great points on what ‘enlightenment’ actually was, even though I am not actually a Buddhist myself. Mohid

I learnt that many people take many varied paths of life/religion and that peace is a personal matter. Freddie

I have a better understanding of the meaning of life because I learned that different religions have different beliefs about why we are here and how we should live. Overall, I learned the importance of respecting other people’s beliefs and that religion can give people a sense of purpose, guidance and hope in life. Dagan

Mrs Hawkes, Head of RE, Philosophy and Ethics

Half-Term 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 half-term.

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