Headteacher's Bulletin

23/02/24 - Edition 18

Highlights of the week

It has been a fantastic first week back at school, and I am truly delighted to witness such a variety of enriching activities taking place both inside and outside the classroom. The extraordinary hard work and focus from our students and staff have been palpable. In the past two weeks alone, we've embarked on our annual ski trip, hosted the Year 7 PGL trip, and conducted the Year 11 Geography field trip. Our students have also excelled in the UK Maths Challenge, demonstrating their problem-solving skills and mathematical prowess.

Our Young Enterprise initiatives are progressing impressively, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award participants continue to show exceptional dedication. Earlier in the week, Brunel University visited and introduced an Equality, Diversity, and Inclusivity (EDI) science project that truly captivated our students' interests.

Additionally, the LAMDA drama workshops and road cycling talks have provided unique opportunities for our students to explore their passions and develop new skills. It is all of these things and the countless other activities and opportunities that I haven't been able to capture here that really make Twickenham School a wonderful place to learn and grow.

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Gender Stereotype Workshop with Brunel Museum

The Brunel Museum visited the Science Department on Wednesday. The Museum are dedicated to recounting the tale of the Thames Tunnel, utilizing the narrative of Sophia Brunel, the elder sibling of the renowned Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The intention of the workshop was to underscore how gender stereotypes can hinder students from realizing their full potential.

Transported back to 1830, we received a message from Sophia herself, and the students actively engaged in creative activities and discussions. These activities delved into the obstacles that women encounter when contemplating a STEM-related career, emphasizing how both male and female students are affected by detrimental stereotypes throughout their educational journey.

The workshop received positive feedback from three classes of Year 8 and 9 students. We eagerly anticipate the return of the Brunel Museum team later in the year for similar enlightening sessions

Extra Curricular timetable

The latest edition of the extra curricular timetable is now available here . We actively encourage all students to take part in at least one club a term.

Ski Trip

During the February half-term holidays, a group of 34 students plus 5 teachers embarked on an exhilarating journey to the ski resort of Saalbach in the Austrian Alps, where they experienced an action-packed week of physical and personal development on the slopes. Having reached their destination 24 hours after departure, students were each fitted out with high quality skis, boots, poles and helmets. Ski lessons began in earnest after an early but hearty breakfast the next day. During the visit, each student received 6 days of ski tuition from their expert instructors who met them on the mountain early each morning. While some students were already adept at skiing and tackled challenging slopes from the outset, others started on the beginner slopes, gradually mastering the essentials of speed control and turning techniques. What was clear by the end was that all students had made truly inspirational progress from their own starting points. This required an enormous amount of physical endurance, perseverance and mental resilience, which left the accompanying staff members in awe and full of inspiration. Mr Chanter, Miss Charlton, Miss Green, Miss Goodwin and Mr Stiff were so proud of the students that they had difficulty each day agreeing on which students would win the 'Hero of the Day' award. Overall, this was a fantastic opportunity which we would like to run again for students in future years.

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Y11 Drama trip

Year 11 GCSE Drama students enjoyed an evening at our local Orange Tree Theatre last night to see Northanger Abbey. The play, based on Jane Austen's novel and adapted by Zoe Cooper, provided inspiration for upcoming performance exams as well as the content for the all important theatre review. Notes taken and ideas ready, we are truly entering the final stretch of the course with high aspirations for the final assessments.

SAFE Day 4 March

We wish to inform you of SAFE Day on March 4th, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at safeguarding all students in Richmond and Hounslow from Years 7-13. The project's aim is to provide substance awareness education. On this day, all students across the boroughs will engage in a 20-minute lesson during tutor time. This project, funded by public health, is in response to the tragic losses of young people in Richmond and Hounslow. To ensure the message extends beyond our classrooms, all parents and carers will receive a text message and an email with a link to a short film. This approach is designed to foster meaningful conversations at home about the day's learnings and the critical topic of substance misuse. The importance of these discussions cannot be overstated, as open dialogue between children and their parents/carers is a powerful preventive tool. Following SAFE Day, we'll send a reminder about a free online workshop for further information and support. Your cooperation is invaluable as we work together to protect and educate our children on this vital issue.

Kingston and South Thames Open Days in March

College open days for Y10 and 11 students seeking to further their educational journey

A message from the NHS School Immunisation team

Measles cases are rising in the UK. To be fully protected against this serious disease, your child needs to have received two doses of the MMR vaccine.

You can check your child’s vaccination status by checking their Red Book.

If your child is missing one or both doses, you can have them vaccinated at local community clinics. To book an appointment, head to the HRCH children’s immunisations website https://hrch.nhs.uk/services/search-services/immunisations-children