Chessinton School: Autumn 2025 Newsletter

AUTUMN TERM ISSUE 28‌

MESSAGE FROM MS WILSON Dear Parents, carers and all in the Chessington community

show off our great facilities, teachers and of course our students.

The end of a busy term for all of us at Chessington, I cannot believe that our new Year 7 & 12's have nearly finished their first term with us, they are very much part of the Chessington family.

The Year 11’s will be receiving their Mock exam results in January which will be followed by a tailored intervention plan created by their teachers to ensure that they close as many gaps as possible ahead of the summer exams. I know that parents of Year 11 students will support us with this but now is the time for them to dig deep and put in the extra effort, it will be worth it in the end.

So much has happened this term, not only have there been some cracking lessons with superb engagement from the students but some excellent enrichment activities that so many of our students have participated in. There will be much more detail in the rest of this newsletter on the learning and these events. Our sports team have had a great winning start to the season and seeing so many wins against schools which are twice as big as us is no mean feat either! Thank you to the parents and families that supported our Christmas concert earlier this week, the variety of the acts and high quality of the performances was simply amazing. Thank you to the Performance Team for the rehearsals and organisation of such a lovely christmassy event.

Mrs Cooper has worked hard to ensure that our students are rewarded for their GREAT values and also for their progress and efforts in their subjects.

We ran a celebration lunch for students that achieved well in their reports in these two areas. They were: Year 10 Marko D

Adam B

Jack M

Hollie W

Harrison B

Crystal F

Emily B

Samantha M

Diseni W

Julia M

Lily R

Year 9 Roza D

Emma S

Anaya J

Beau B

Maria M

Elena B

Lola D

Ollie C

Alexander C

Hope M

Alaina H

Year 8 Shayan K

Amrisa B

Grace K

Belle L

Caitlin M

Jessie C-B

Shiv S

Harishka S

Parthiv C

Amelia K

Ava-Mai M

Year 7 We have been busy recruiting not only Year 6’s but Year 12’s for next year following our amazing open events where many of our students were fantastic ambassadors and represented the school brilliantly. I have to mention Ellena and Ollie in Year 9 who supported me with my open morning tours, by the end of it they were running them! I was very proud to

Brooke B

Jackson Y

Valentine G

Masie M

Micheal A

Rhys C

Gracie-Mai R

Emma W

Amelie H

Zuahl S

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for the end of year draw to be in with a chance of winning the Air Pods. Plenty more opportunities to gain points and buy further items or raffle tickets.

We are saying goodbye to two members of staff, Miss Smith from the English department and Miss StaffordJones from the Humanities department - we thank them for their time over the last 2 years and wish them every success for the future.

In January, Mr Caven is joining our leadership team as an Assistant Headteacher, he will have oversight of attendance, rewards and behaviour systems. He is also an excellent English teacher who has a great track record of outstanding results so I know his Year 10 & 11 classes are very lucky to have him.

We will also be welcoming Miss Siregusano to the English department who is very excited to get started with her classes and will be a great addition to the English Team.

Miss Timoney is joining our pastoral support team as a student and family support worker. She will work with students and parents to overcome anxieties around attendance but will also be mentoring some of our students with other difficulties that they may be experiencing. This is a new role for us but I know that she will be fantastic and is very experienced in working with young people.

I wish you the loveliest of holidays and very best wishes for a wonderful 2026.

Ms Wilson Headteacher

We have celebrated many other students in the reward assemblies this week, where certificates were issued for the GREAT values and also for 100% and improved attendance - it was wonderful to see so many students collecting their certificates and prizes.

The Prefects have been running our first ‘live’ rewards store enabling students to cash in their points for prizes! Lots of footballs, basketballs, hair accessories, gel pens and of course chocolate and sweets purchased with the well deserved achievement points. Lots of students opted to buy the raffle tickets

MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNORS Dear all, I write to you at the end of 2025 after my first term as Chair of Governors, having taken over from Karen Carmen this academic year. The transition has been very smooth so I must thank Karen, our clerk (Laura), Ms Wilson and her senior team, all other Governors and Mr Ali from our Trust - Every Child Every Day - for ensuring we have kept the show on the road!

I must congratulate our 2024/25 Year 11 and Year 13 students on another set of great results in the summer. All of the Governors wish them the very best with their next stage, including those that have stayed on at Chessington School to continue their studies.

Well done everyone and long may the school's upwards trajectory of results continue.

This term has seen continued collaboration between all the schools that make up the Every Child Every Day Trust, of which we are one of five. Two of these schools officially joined the trust this year - welcome to Heathside Walton on Thames and Heathside Weybridge - and Governors and Heads had the opportunity to come together for a shared learning session earlier in the term. It was great to meet other Heads and Governors and tackle some of our shared challenges and opportunities together.

At all levels the dove schools in the Trust continue working together so the best of all schools improves us all. From my perspective this is what being part of a the right Academy Trust means: shared values, continuous learning and improvement, leaning on each other for help and sharing good practice. This is as true for Governors as it is for staff and it has been great to do some more of this as Chair of Governors.

Doing all of this alongside the benefits of some of the behind the scenes things about running a school means that being part of the the Every Child Every Day Trust puts us in a position of strength in an uncertain world and adds so much benefit to our students and that will always be the ultimate test.

All that is left is to wish everyone a wonderful break as we move from 2025 into 2026. However you chose to spend the time, I hope it is peaceful and restful.

Andrew Evans Chair of Governors

This term Governors have had the privilege to see and support the school being at it's very best. Highlights included: - the fantastic school open evening, which we know from feedback is one of the best around; - the fireworks show; - MacMillan coffee morning; - the Year 11 (from last year) celebration evening.

HEAD OF YEAR UPDATES MISS SWAYSLAND Head of Year 7

MRS CHAPMAN Head of Year 8

MISS RUTLEDGE Head of Year 9

MR LUCAS

Head of Year 10

MR POWER

Head of Year 11

MR DAVEY

Head of Year 12 and 13

YEAR 7

Miss Swaysland

We are delighted to share a glowing update on our Year 7 students as they successfully conclude their first term at Chessington. The transition from primary school to secondary school is a significant step, and we are incredibly proud of how quickly and confidently this cohort has settled into life here. They have embraced the challenges and opportunities of secondary school with remarkable energy and enthusiasm, finding their way around the school and quickly mastering the demands of a new timetable.

Our Year 7 students have been highly engaged in their lessons across all subjects. Teachers have noted their curiosity and enthusiasm, especially in subjects they are experiencing for the first time. It has been wonderful to see new friendships blossom and to watch the students fully integrate into our wider school community.

The students' energy hasn't been limited to the classroom; it has been vividly displayed on the sports field as well! We are thrilled to report some excellent sporting victories this term. Our Year 7 Football Team has shown incredible teamwork and skill, securing several impressive wins against local rivals. Similarly, our Netball Team has started the season with fantastic competitive spirit, achieving well-deserved victories that highlight their dedication and commitment to training. These successes are a testament to their hard work and the brilliant coaching from our PE department.

Looking ahead, we are excited to announce that a number of our talented Year 7 students have successfully auditioned and are now actively involved in rehearsals for the whole-school production of Shrek, which will take place next term. We are eagerly anticipating seeing them shine on stage. This participation underscores their eagerness to embrace the broad range of extra-curricular opportunities available here at Chessington.

Miss Swaysland Head of Year 7

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YEAR 8

Mrs Chapman

Wow, what a fantastic first term it's been for our Year 8 students! They have truly hit the ground running and shown so much growth and maturity. They've tackled some seriously challenging academic topics across all their subjects this term, embracing the step up in difficulty where their deeper understanding and critical thinking has really shone through. Outside the classroom, it's been brilliant seeing their commitment to our team sports, with great turnout and excellent performances in their first fixtures of the year. The students have demonstrated real teamwork and

dedication! Please keep encouraging your child to complete homework on time by checking Class Charts. We wish everyone a well-deserved, restful break before we kick off another exciting and busy term together!

Mrs Chapman Head of Year 8

YEAR 9

Miss Rutledge

Year 9 have had an enthusiastic start to year 9. Weekly I am celebrating the GREAT students and sharing the top student for limit e points overall, enthusiasm points and star learner. Weekly a star learner is selected to win an extra prize. Our sports teams in year 9 have had a secure stat to the year and lots of wins under our belt.

After the Christmas holidays we will begin to think about the options process, please keep an eye out for communications regarding events and meetings linked to this.

I hope parents' evening was a successful one for all and that students start to consider ways to make more progress towards targets and beyond.

Year 9 Students Enjoying the End-of-Term Rewards Lunch - 12/12/2025

Miss Rutledge Head of Year 9

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YEAR 10 Mr Lucas

It has been a pleasure to see how positively Year 10 have approached the start of this academic year. They have made an excellent transition from Year 9 into their GCSE courses, adapting quickly to the increased expectations and demands of Key Stage 4. Their maturity and resilience have been evident across lessons, and they should be very proud of how confidently they have embraced this next stage of their learning journey.

Many students have clearly thrived with a more focused timetable, now studying a reduced number of subjects that genuinely interest them. This has allowed them to deepen their understanding and engage more thoughtfully with their learning. I have been particularly impressed by the quality of work being produced in several creative subjects, including Art, Dance, and Construction, where students are demonstrating both commitment and originality.

excellent attitudes to learning that staff see on a daily basis. It has also been encouraging to see how fully Year 10 have bought into the new Star Learner system. Students have responded enthusiastically and competitively, using it as motivation to push themselves further and strive for success. This positive mindset will be crucial as they continue through their GCSE years, and I look forward to seeing their progress continue throughout the year.

Mr Lucas Head of Year 10

The recent reports were fantastic and reflected the

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YEAR 11 Mr Power

The first term for our Year 11 cohort has been marked by fantastic effort, focused dedication, and a strong sense of community.

I am incredibly proud of the maturity and commitment shown by the students during their recent mock examinations. The effort levels were truly commendable, setting a superb benchmark for the remainder of the year. This same focus is also evident in their coursework subjects, where many students are engaging positively with additional sessions and producing high-quality work.

Beyond the classroom, the Year 11 Prefect Team has demonstrated outstanding leadership, organising a highly successful bake sale that raised over £200 for our SEN department—a brilliant achievement!

To help maintain this momentum the students have embraced "The Climb" challenge. It's wonderful to see students receiving weekly recognition and prizes for their sustained and consistent efforts. It also helps us acknowledge and reward the resilience of those braving the bleak winter sniffles and keeping their attendance high!

With the first exciting murmurs of prom also starting to bubble up, the year promises to be a memorable blend of hard work and celebration.

Everyone here is looking forward to supporting them as they continue their journey to success!

Mr Power Head of Year 11

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YEAR 12/13 Mr Davey

The Sixth Form students have had a very busy first term. The year 13s have settled back into study and are making progress within their units of work. They have all had a one to one meeting with the Careers Advisor and in PDW sessions, with support from their Head of Year, they are making applications to University, Apprenticeships or Employment. All students will have a plan in place for when they finish Y13. The Y12 Sport students have had a careers talk from Chelsea FC looking at career pathways, and the different roles within a football club. The Child Development students have also had a Careers talk, from a Nursery Practitioner at a local nursery, again looking at career pathways and how the setting deals with safeguarding issues that may arise. All Y12 and Y13 Child Development students are gaining fantastic experience working daily in the onsite nursery, ensuring they complete all the necessary work experience hours required by the exam board. The Nursery Manager has reported on all of the students who are making excellent progress. The students are developing their skills in order to work in this profession full time once they finish their course.

Back in November, the Y13 Sport students sat a 3 hour mock exam ready for the real exam on 12th January for the unit Investigating Business in Sport. The year 12 Sport students have settled into school life and are enjoying assisting in school PE lessons and after school clubs with the younger year groups. This is a fantastic experience for our students and some of the students are taking advantage of the school's links with local Basketball and Football clubs, participating in volunteer work to make themselves more employable in the future. The Y12 Sport students also sat a mock in December and they have their Anatomy and Physiology exam on 9th January.

The Sport students have been enjoying their training with our specialised coaches. The Basketball students are particularly keen, in school every morning for training at 6.45am. The Basketball teams have had success in their fixtures. The current 1st Team have won all of their fixtures. For home games it is great to see many of the lower school students in the hall supporting.

Our Football students have had a mixed start to the season, most notably a 3-0 victory v Sutton Grammar School. It has been good to see some talented year 11 students also play alongside their Sixth form peers for the school 1st XI. Our links with Chessington & Hook FC remain beneficial, as students have the opportunity to play for their U18 and U23 teams.

It has been a pleasure working with all our Sixth Form students and I look forward to further success stories throughout the academic year.

Mr Davey Head of Sixth Form

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COMPUTER SCIENCE As we come to the end of the autumn term, I am delighted to share the fantastic progress our students have made across the Computer Science department. It has been a productive and engaging term, with pupils developing both their digital skills and their understanding of key computing principles.

Year 7 Our newest cohort has made an excellent start to their Computer Science journey. Students have been learning how to use Google Apps effectively, developing essential skills in organisation, collaboration, and digital communication. Alongside this, they have been introduced to the fundamentals of data representation —gaining an understanding of how computers store and process information in binary form.

Year 8 Year 8 began the year by revisiting data representation, ensuring they have strong foundations in place as concepts become increasingly complex throughout KS3.

They have also explored Artificial Intelligence, examining how AI systems are trained, their applications in everyday life, and the ethical considerations associated with them. This unit has sparked many interesting discussions in class about the future of technology.

Year 9 Our Year 9 students have been studying the key differences between hardware and software, building an understanding of the components that make up modern computer systems. They are now progressing into a recap of data representation, including work on hexadecimal and ASCII. These more advanced topics help prepare them for the transition into GCSE should they choose to continue with the subject.

Years 10 & 11 (GCSE Computer Science – OCR J277) Both GCSE year groups are working steadily through the OCR J277 specification. Year 10 students are building confidence with the theory content while developing their programming skills, and Year 11 students are deep into revision of core topics as they prepare for their upcoming assessments. Their focus and determination this term have been excellent, and we look forward to supporting them throughout the remainder of the course.

It has been a very positive term across all year groups, and I would like to thank students for their enthusiasm and hard work, as well as parents and carers for their ongoing support. We look forward to continuing this momentum into the spring term.

Mr Cosgrave Head of Computer Science

CAREERS

CAREERS The first term has been very busy for our year 11s as most have completed and submitted their applications for Colleges or Apprenticeships for when they leave school. Building on the Careers Fair that we held in the Summer term in Year 10, our Year 11 students have had talks from Kingston College and Hawk Apprenticeship Provider. Many have been to Open Events at local Colleges and have attended interviews regarding a place next academic year. The majority of Year 11 (and all Year 13) students have also had a meeting with our trained Careers advisor, with the rest due for completion in Term 2. Year 11 students, along with Sixth Form students were invited to attend a Careers Fair at Hollyfield School in October and it was fantastic to see so many of our students there, talking to and engaging with a range of local employers, post 16 providers and local Universities.

The year 10 students have had a presentation in assembly from NESCOT building on from Careers Day at the end of Year 9, with an Apprenticeship Provider coming in during term 2. It is important that our students make informed decisions about their future, so we want to present them with all options available.

Looking forward to next term, there will be a visit to the National Apprenticeship Fair for our Sixth Form students. We have also set up a fantastic link with local companies to do some exciting activities during STEM week later in the year.

Mr Davey Head of Careers

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CHILD‌‌‌ CHILD DEVELOPMENT‌‌ DEVELOPMENT

Year 10 have started the course extremely well and are working hard to gain knowledge and understanding the concepts of the course. Both myself and Mrs Clarke love teaching the classes.

Year 11 have started their NEA coursework tasks. This comprises of 14 hours of assessments over the next coming weeks and into next half term. All students will complete 6 tasks based on an scenario they have now all seen. I wish them luck with the completion of this, and am sure they will all take it very seriously.

Year 12 have begun the T level course successfully. Content is being taught in lessons and piglets nursery sessions have continued well.

Year 12 will sit two of their main exams this year.

Year 13 continue to be brilliant and have almost completed the course with only their practical portfolio to work through after Christmas.

Miss Rutledge Head of Child Development

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James G ()

Beth A ()

Jack M ()

James is part of a team that compete in the First Lego League (delivered by the Institute of Engineering and Technology). He and his team competed at a regional event held in Epsom. There were 14 teams and James' team won.

Bethany has truly distinguished herself as an exceptional member of the student council.

Jack has been recognised for his effort and enthusiasm in both his DT classes and weekly Engineering Club.

The competition is about building a robot and coding it to complete challenges autonomously. The team had to demonstrate gracious professionalism, core values, and also present a 30 minute presentation on their Robot Design and Innovation project.

As they won the regional heat they are through to the UK national finals where they will compete against about 80 other teams from all over the UK

She possesses the qualities of a dedicated leader and serves as a role model to the whole of Chessington School. Bethany assists in may areas of the school, from organising events to fostering inclusivity and teamwork among students. Bethany excels in articulating her ideas, particularly when addressing assemblies and school events. She captivates her audience with confidence and enthusiasm, inspiring others to participate and effect positive change.

His enthusiasm is palpable, as he consistently brings a positive energy to each session. Jack is not only eager to learn but also shows a remarkable keenness to support his peers during lessons.

Jack's commitment to the club is a testament to his passion for engineering and his willingness to contribute positively to the community.

Bethany's dedication and positive demeanor make her an invaluable asset to both the student council and the entire school.

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On the 3rd November we celebrated the remarkable achievements of young people across London at the Jack Petchey Award Evening held at the Rose Theatre.

The prestigious event, brought together award recipients, their families, educators, and community leaders to acknowledge the extraordinary contributions of the youth in areas such as leadership, community service, and personal development.

Award winners included 6 of Chessington School’s own students - see below for their individual story’s and for some wonderful photos from the evening itself.

Matthew M ()

Harrison B ()

Issabella D ()

Matthew has been recognised for his effort and enthusiasm in both his DT classes and weekly Engineering Club.

Harrison has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to Chessington School’s Music department , showcasing his talents and dedication in various impressive ways. As a guitarist in the school band, Harrison not only represents the school with pride but also contributes significantly to the ensemble's success. His passion for music extends beyond performance, as evidenced by his participation in a national song writing competition, where he showcased his creativity and compositional skills.

Isabella has been transferred to the scholarship class for her outstanding effort in PE and in her own sport outside of school.

She is a champion in her sport of Brazilian jujitsu. We have already posted her success in the newsletter. but would be nice to reward her in school as well.

His enthusiasm is palpable, as he consistently brings a positive energy to each session. Jack is not only eager to learn but also shows a remarkable keenness to support his peers during lessons.

Matthew’s commitment to the club is a testament to his passion for engineering and his willingness to contribute positively to the community.

Additionally, Harrison’s versatility shone through his role as a DJ during the school’s Open Evening, where he kept the atmosphere lively and engaging for three consecutive hours!

So much success so far this Autumn term, we’ve awarded star chefs for each lesson across KS3 at the end of the first rotation so well done to those students who showed dedication and hard work on all their practical's and homework assignments over the half term period!

Yr 7 students have been hard at work learning key kitchen skills such as knife, hob and oven safety and making staples such as fruit salad, small fruit cakes and pasta salad.

Yr 8 have been pushing their bread making skills to make excellent pizzas and as a reward have been able to make high energy chocolate tiffin bars.

Yr 9 have mastered cooking chicken safely with the temperature probes, and we saw some excellent examples of Swiss rolls in the previous rotation…this rotation have got some large shoes to fill!

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Yr 10 and 11 students have been getting to grips with the theory and coursework, as well as completing practical's of a high skill and complexity level.

mushrooms and their uses. Students successfully made mushroom and cheese omelettes, as well as setting up these Merit mushroom grow kits so we can grow our own (pink oyster, and lions mane varieties).

We also are very proud of our two Master Chefs, Maxwell and Mia who came 1st and 3rd respectively in the local round of the Rotary Young Chef competition.

In Food Club we have been exploring a wide range of local, seasonal and sustainable ingredients and ideas, most recently looking at different varieties of

In an effort to be more sustainable and introduce good habits, we have also introduced food waste recycling into the food room which has been met with tremendous enthusiasm with students.

Hopefully we can expand on this further in the coming months across the school!

Mrs Ford Head of Catering

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DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

As another term ends, it’s a great opportunity for me to share the fantastic work produced by our students across Design & Technology and Construction.

Year 7 have started their design journey at Chessington by creating food packages. By using what they already know about food (quite a lot, it seems) they have branded a new food invention and created the box it would be sold it. There’s logos galore, hopefully no lawyers watching, as some are quite similar to existing products (Harry, I’m looking at your ‘Harry-bo’ sweets)!

Year 8 have ventured into metalwork and casting their own pewter keyrings. There are a vast array of designs being made, starting off with the mould, hand cut from MDF to then casting the pewter themselves. Then it’s time for the polishing, which takes some time but is very satisfying. It’s not done until you can see your face in it! Many of the keyrings have gone home, along with their presentation box, all hand made, polished and felt lined, just in time for a Christmas present!

Year 9 have started Electronics and learnt about various components needed to create a time, then soldered these to a PCB to make a flashing Christmas tree decoration. We’ve also dabbled into packaging and making these trees free standing, drawing on design knowledge from the last 2 years.

Year 10 construction has been very popular this year with two large classes selecting the option. We've started off honing our skills in marking and cutting timber to make the tool box and then model a stud wall with rafters. Some excellent outcomes so far, with the realisation that ‘Construction is hard work’! In the approach to Christmas we’re embarking on Electrics - basic wiring, lighting circuits and switching.

Most of these students are willing to do DIY at home so feel free to ask them!

Year 11 are two thirds of the way through their NEAs having plumbed a sink and wired an upstairs/downstairs light system. The efforts put into the written work explaining and evaluating these practical’s has been very positive with the students getting some decent marks so far. We’ve just completed the year 11 mocks and these prove that revision pays off! One NEA task to go, then some exams. We can do this!

Mr May Head of Design and Technology

@chessingtondt

SPECIAL EDITION

VOL. 10 NO. 4

Chessington School

NEW FOR SPRI NG 2026

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eady to make your R mark and unleash your creativity? Join Chessington School's new Newspaper Club, where your voice shapes tomorrow's stories!

Whether you're a budding journalist, a talented writer, or passionate about storytelling, this is your chance to dive into news.

Gain hands-on experience in reporting, editing, and designing while working with a team. We cover everything from school events to global issues, reflecting the vibrant Chessington community.

Develop skills, make friends, and have an impact—join us and bring Chessington School's stories to life!

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HISTORY HISTORY LONDON, ENGLAND, DECEMBER 7, 2025

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What a fantastic start to the 2025/2026 in the History department. Students have been buzzing with excitement as they’ve settled positively into the new year. Year 7s have been beginning their study of History at secondary level, with studies of Mesopotamian civilisations, the immense Roman Empire, and more recently; the growth of the Islamic Empire. Credit to the Year 7s as they have adjusted wonderfully to the demands, which has been clear with an excellent set of autumn assessment results.

Year 8 have taken a look at the Tudor family through the lens of artists like Hans Holbein, with the study of portraits. This has been thoroughly enjoyable to teach with many students being highly inquisitive around the topic. I’d encourage you to explore these portraits, after an ice skate at Hampton Court Palace.

Year 9s have been equally interested, with the study of the First World War through to the start of the Second. We have explored whether the First World War really deserves the title ‘World War’ or whether it should be named the ‘Great War’. More recently, we have considered why Europe collapsed after the war, with the start of the Second World War. Please find the plans for what comes next on our website here.

Students in Year 10 and 11 have started excellently to the year, with a real focus on learning great History, combined with the demands of GCSEs. Our Year 11s have completed their first round of mocks, with results coming soon.

I’m ever confident that we will see some great success this year with Year 11 historians. Year 10 have also completed their first GCSE style assessment with a number of students exceeding target grades already.

roman empire Julius Caesar roman empire

THE TUDOR FAMILY

As always, we are keen to hear from you regarding queries or ways to support your child. Please do email the Head of History, Mr Forsyth, at bforsyth@chessington.kingston.sch.uk.

Happy holidays!

Mr Forsyth Head of History

WORLD WAR II Phone: +123-456-7890 | Email: hello@reallygreatsite.com | Website: www.reallygreatsite.com

RELIGIOUS Studies It’s been an exciting and thoughtful term in Religious Studies as students across all year groups have engaged with big ideas, meaningful discussions, and new perspectives.

Year 7 have begun their RS journey by exploring the Abrahamic and Dharmic faiths.

They’ve been learning the key differences between these traditions and reflecting on how beliefs shape the way people see the world—while also developing their own personal world lenses.

Year 8 have taken a deeper dive into Hindu beliefs and practices, examining core concepts such as dharma and karma. They’ve also explored major Hindu festivals and how these celebrations express both devotion and community.

Year 9 stepped into the world of philosophy, investigating challenging ideas including moral evil and natural evil. Their thoughtful discussions have shown growing confidence in tackling complex ethical and existential questions.

Our Year 10 GCSE classes have made an impressive start to the course, beginning with Christian beliefs and practices.

Both groups performed excellently in their end-of-unit assessments—an encouraging sign for the months ahead.

Finally, Year 11 have been working hard revising the AQA Themes in preparation for their upcoming mock exams.

Their focus and effort show real commitment as they move into the final stage of their GCSE studies.

We’re incredibly proud of the curiosity, respect, and critical thinking that students continue to demonstrate in RS. More exciting learning ahead.

Mrs Sheriff Head of Religious Studies

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As I move towards the end of my first term as Head of English at Chessington, I am in awe of all the hard work that has gone on since September. Not only has a largely new and diverse curriculum been rolled out for Key Stage 3 students, but Year 10 and 11 students have been working very hard to consolidate their prior learning and delve into new and exciting texts as part of their GCSE journey. Here’s a closer look at what we’ve been doing: Year 7: Well, the weather really has matched the mood of our journey into gothic literature. On more than one occasion, we have had thunderstorms, hail and even snow beating at our windows as we have been reading extracts from Edgar Allan Poe or The Woman in Black. Exploring the gothic on Halloween was a particular treat. Well done Year 7 on all your hard work!

Year 8: We have been journeying through time this term. We began in September with The Odyssey: fighting monsters, surviving shipwrecks and learning that using your brain is even more important than physical strength when it comes to survival and heroism. Since half term, we have moved closer to home with our Beowulf to Dickens scheme of work. Who would have thought that the English we speak today evolved from Anglo-Saxon? Well done Year 8, you have had quite a journey.

Year 9: In preparation for GCSEs, Year 9 began the term with a poetry unit. We looked at diverse poetry from around the world and thought about the importance and subtleties of the poetic form. Since half term, we have remained with the theme of diversity, looking instead at a number of non-fiction texts such as the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. After Christmas, Year 9 will be assessed on their own non-fiction writing skills with a persuasive writing assessment. We are looking forward to reading your responses. Well done Year 9!

Year 10: In a change to the order of things, we began Year 10 this year by delving into the Victorian, gothic world of Jekyll and Hyde. This is the first GCSE text that Year 10 have taken on, and we are incredibly impressed by how well they have handled this complex study of the many facets of human nature. As we approach the end of term, we have been getting to grips with the strategy involved with Language Paper 1, and we look forward to embarking on Shakespeare’s great Jacobean tragedy, Macbeth, in January.

Year 11: Year 11 have had a busy year and are rapidly getting to grips with the challenges of exams. In November, they sat their first set of mocks: Language Paper 2 and Literature Paper 1. This involved a great deal of learning and revision of Macbeth, Jekyll and Hyde, and the strategic time management and writing skills necessary to complete Language Paper 2. They now need to be thinking about their next round of mocks in the Spring term. These will be the other two papers: Language Paper 1 and Literature Paper 2 (An Inspector Calls, Power and Conflict Poetry and Unseen Poetry).

Now is the time to start thinking about this next step. Rest up, Year 11, and be ready to work hard and celebrate great successes in 2026!

Please see some of our students’ amazing work to the right.

Mrs Elmas Head of English

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GEOGRAPHY

It has been an exciting start to the year for the Geography department with a new topic being studied in Year 8 and a Year 11 field trip earlier this term. Year 11 visited the River Tillingbourne in September and had a beautiful sunny day to investigate how the characteristics of the river changed downstream! Students really enjoyed wading in the river and measuring the depth, width and other key characteristics of the river.

KS3 students have been enthusiastic and engaged in Geography this term with Year 7 studying Amazing Places, Year 8 focusing on Asia and Year 9 studying Coasts. Year 10 have made an excellent start to their GCSE course and are currently studying Urban Issues and Challenges and have been comparing Rio de Janeiro to London. They will be going on a field trip next year to Stratford, to look at the regeneration of the area around the Stratford Olympic Park in more detail.

Year 11 have been focusing on the Challenge of Natural Hazards Topic and will be finishing up the GCSE content next term with the Challenge of Resource Management and learning about the Issue Evaluation section of Paper 3.

Miss Stafford-Jones Head of Geography

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HURRICANE MELISSA APPEAL

A huge thank you to our school community for their donations this half term to support our Hurricane Melissa appeal.

We were really blown away by the generosity of your donations, and were really grateful for your support.

In addition to lots of other items, from toiletries, first aid kits, nappies and sanitary items, we collected the following across a one week donation period:

YOUR GENEROUS DONATIONS INCLUDED: 43 TOOTHBRUSHES 64 TINS OF FOOD 37 BARS OF SOAP 8.5KG OF PASTA 8KG OF RICE 25 FLASHLIGHTS 400 BATTERIES £260

THANK YOU

Our staff also contributed over 90 items of children's clothing, which has now all been packaged up with the dry goods and is on its way out to help families in need in Jamaica.

My thanks again for your generosity and support, Ms Jacob Assistant Headteacher

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MATHS It has been a great half term in the maths department with lots to celebrate!

Year 7s have settled really well into their new classes and are enjoying their learning. All year groups have sat their autumn assessments which overall have shown great progress made this term! Some students have moved classes as a result of these grades, as always we are trying to ensure that students are in the right group for them, and therefore any set change shouldn’t be seen as negative. As always please do email me with any concerns.

Year 11 recently sat their mock exams which they are eagerly awaiting their results for! We hope they feel a real sense of achievement but also are clear on what still needs to be worked on in the upcoming months.

Students are still working hard on their Sparx homework - please ensure your children refrain from using AI to generate answers as this then will make subsequent questions harder - a vicious cycle! If the students need any homework help we encourage them to come along to ‘Sparx & Snax’ on a Thursday after school.

Our Sparx competition this half term has shown some incredible resilience and results from our students with their independent work. Special well done so far to Charlie V, Ka Po C and Zac H. We hope to see many more students on the leader board!

Miss Spink Head of Maths

ART Department Department MS HUDSPITH HEAD OF ART

A fantastic term in art with our students displaying an array of talent across the year groups.

It has been a delight to welcome year 7 to the school and to welcome year 10s to the start of their GCSE creative journey.

YEAR 10 Year 10 have started their NATURAL FORMS topic. They have been extremely busy and have immediately shown their incredible talent, critical thinking and perseverance, by embracing new media and techniques with excellent outcomes.

We also enjoyed a trip to the Natural History Museum to collect primary source inspiration, with onsite drawing and photography. Showing a huge amount of focus and skill throughout their work, and even members of the public commented on “how mature and well behaved” our students were during the trip. What a credit they are!

YEAR 11 Year 11s have been preparing for their mock exam since half term. They have worked really hard developing their ideas, carrying out contextual research, testing out materials, and then finally spending 2 days in the art room bringing their ideas to life in final outcomes. I couldn’t be more proud of their dedication and maturity in this undertaking and they have now completed their coursework portfolios and banked 60% of their grades!

YEAR 7 Year 7 have been looking at the formal elements and focusing on line and tone. Everyone has worked hard to develop fundamental skills of drawing to create accurate base shapes and proportions, scale, contours, crosshatching, outlines and line for shading.

YEAR 8 Year 8 have been looking at art as activism and thinking about ocean plastic. Students have been using different media including collage, ink, monoprinting, and watercolour wash, reinforcing their skills in colour and tone.

YEAR 9 Year 9 have been inspired by the Surrealists and after studying Rene Magritte have been creating their own surreal rooms. Using realistic drawing skills students have juxtaposed items and morphed animals into weird and wonderful creatures, to create fantastical worlds

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ART Competition Competition This year’s art competition was based on colour and became almost impossible to judge as we had so many beautiful, vibrant and varied artworks submitted from across the year groups. The entries are displayed in the art room and it's reminiscent of the summer exhibition at the V&A (only better!)

Well done to all entrants and to the winners!

Year group winners can be seen to the rights, and all entrants have been displayed below.

ENTRIES

WINNERS

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SCIENCE It has been a busy start to the academic year in Science. Y7 have been taught how to work scientifically. This has included learning about safety in a science laboratory, planning, carrying out and analysing data from experiments and exploring the links between maths and science. They have also been looking learning about units of Matter, Energy and Ecosystems. Y8 have been building on the content that they were taught in year 7. They have explored the differences in reproduction of humans and plants, Matter and Energy and how to work scientifically. Y10 have been building on the GCSE content that they have previously studied in year 9 where they have been looking at communicable vs non communicable diseases and the process of photosynthesis in Biology, Chemical changes in Chemistry and Atomic structure in Physics . The team have been focussing on preparing Year 11 students for the mock GCSE exams both in lessons, morning and afternoon interventions. Well done year 11 for getting through these!

This term, Year 6 from Lovelace, Castle Hill and Ellingham have been into Chessington to support their Science Curriculum. Castle Hill have also bought their Year 5s into the school to also gain access to Science facilities Topics like Electricity and Properties of metals have been of focus, and loved by all involved.

Chessington’s Science Club has been overjoyed to welcome so many new faces this autumn, along with the return of our seasoned scientists from last year. From experimenting with microscopes and creating chemical snowmen to observing the differences between thermal insulators, our young researchers have been busy every Wednesday—filling their brains with new knowledge and keeping their hands actively engaged. If you’re curious, creative, or simply love discovering how the world works, come join us! There’s always room for more budding scientists, and we’d be thrilled to have you explore, experiment, and learn alongside us.

The Science team are thrilled to see the incredible engagement from our students with the SparX Science platform! We have been impressed with how actively students are using the platform to boost their learning and understanding of key concepts. As a reward for their dedication, students who appeared on the weekly SparX Science Leaderboards have been awarded three positive achievement points per week.

What’s more, those who were the top XP earners across the entire school earned an additional five achievement points!

We encourage all students to keep up the great work and continue using SparX Science, especially as it now features a helpful new update with flashcards—perfect for revision and reinforcing key topics. Keep striving to climb those leaderboards and rack up those achievement points!

Mrs Andrew Head of Science

Play Year 7

Year 9

Year 11

We have started drama at Chessington school by introducing the students into the world of performance, we have explored this with the students creating their very own performance based on spending the night in a haunted house. This half term the students are exploring the style of theatre Pantomime and having a go at creating some performance in this style. Students have also been given the opportunity to see ‘Robin Hood’ at Wimbledon Theatre.

We have explored the style of Physical Theatre, the students have been looking into different practitioners and how they developed and pioneered the style of theatre. Students will be creating their own performance in this style.

We have spent the autumn term completing the students devising performance ahead of their assessment before Christmas. In the new year the students will be starting to prepare their scripted performance prior to the visiting examiner coming in to assess them in the Spring term. They have been really enjoying the design elements as well as the performance side of the course.

We took a trip to the Rose theatre, where the students watched a production of 'Emma'. The students really enjoyed this performance and now have lots to write about in their exam!

Keep your eyes peeled for information on the year 9 trip to the National Theatre where the students will be able to explore backstage of this amazing space!

Year 8 We have been exploring Sweeney Todd in year 8, the students have looked into a brief history of Melodrama and Musical theatre and how different cultures have explored the style. The students were then able to create a performance in groups for their assessment.

Year 10 We have been looking into the history of theatre and how different practitioners have been able to shape and adapt the world of theatre as we know it. Some of the styles the students have enjoyed more than others! We have also begun to explore 'An Inspector Calls' as this will be the set text that the students will complete their assessment on.

We took a trip to the Rose theatre, where the students watched a production of 'Emma', the students were captivated and really enjoyed this performance.

Trip to the Rose Theatre The year 10 & 11 student went to the Rose theatre to see the modern adaptation of ‘Emma’. The students will use this performance to be able to complete the written exam questions on live theatre.

The students were impeccably behaved and were absolutely captivated by the performance!

Thank you to the Rose theatre for providing us this free theatre trip.

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PHYSICAL EDUCATION As the newly appointed Head of PE, I could not be prouder of how our students have immersed themselves in all things physical activity and sport at Chessington. From September 3rd through to December 18th, an impressive number of our students have taken part in over 70 fixtures and 18 extracurricular clubs and scholarship sessions — all made possible by the dedication and commitment of our outstanding teachers and coaches.

FOOTBALL Another academic year kicked off with Surrey Cup and Kingston/Merton League action, and our teams wasted no time making their mark. The first Chessington victory of the season came from our newest recruits — the Year 7/8 Girls’ Football Team — who secured a win against Hollyfield, with two outstanding goals from Amelie H-M. Our dominance over local competitors continued as the Year 9 Boys’ Football Team battled to a well-earned 2–1 victory, with an honourable mention going to goalkeeper Mason L, whose key saves kept the team in the game. The Year 9/10 Girls’ Football Team showed no signs of easing up either, delivering an incredible 13–0 win, with Megan N and Elsie B scoring four goals each. To conclude the series of fixtures against Hollyfield, the Year 10 Boys produced a high-scoring thriller, finding a last-minute winner to seal a 6–5 victory. Dexter B and Lenny G were deservedly awarded Players of the Match.

Year 7 Boys beat Rutlish in the Surrey Cup 2-0. Goals from Klarke S-R and Ronnie S. They progressed to the second round of the Surrey Cup where they faced Epsom College. A tough battle ended in a 5-1 defeat. Other results have included a 4-0 victory over Southborough and a 4-0 defeat against Hollyfield . Coach Morgan has repeatedly highlighted Harry S as playing a pivotal role in the team.

A huge thank you to Coach Morgan, who oversees all things football. Our squads continue to improve each year, and it is wonderful to see Chessington competing so strongly against local rivals.

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NETBALL One word: unbeaten!

Our Year 7–10 Netball teams have made an exceptional start to the season, remaining undefeated across all fixtures.

The Year 8s and Year 10s have been particularly impressive. Year 8 results: 8–2 win vs Epsom & Ewell, 6–6 draw vs TKA, 8–7 win vs Raynes Park. This team has shown remarkable improvement since Year 7, with Lucia B (GD) and Grace K (GS) stepping up as standout players. Year 10 results: 22–4 win vs Raynes Park and 22–7 win vs Harris Academy Wimbledon, with Megan N (GA/C) dominating on the court.

The Year 7s opened their season with a confident 7–2 win, led by excellent performances from Bonnie N (GA/C) and Scarlett L (GD). The Year 9s also impressed with a 16–4 win over Three Rivers Academy, where Hope M earned Player of the Match for her movement and shooting.

We look forward to the remaining league fixtures against Tolworth, Hollyfield and Ricards Lodge. The progress and legacy built by our older students over the past four years is something to be incredibly proud of.

BASKETBALL Basketball club attendance has been fantastic this term, with huge thanks to Coach Addy and Coach Serin for leading our morning, lunchtime and after-school sessions.

Our Year 8/9 Boys recorded Chessington’s first win of the season with a 47–36 Surrey Cup victory over Ashcombe. The Year 7 Boys secured their first win, beating Rutlish 28–15. The Year 8 Boys followed with a win over Blenheim High. The term concluded with a brilliant 50–15 win for our Year 10/11 Girls against Raynes Park.

Our Chessington CBL Tier 3 team are currently 6–1, recently defeating Three Rivers Academy 99–51. Jordan O was the topscoring player with 16 points. They now prepare for their next challenge against Northfleet Academy.

Our Chessington AOC squad are still seeking their first win but have seen standout performances from Andrew A (10 points per game) and Bogdan K (20 points per game).

SIXTH FORM

SPORTS LEADERS

In September, we welcomed our lovely new Yr 12s who have settled into Chessington brilliantly. Our BTEC Sport students are working hard on Unit 7 (Sports Performance). Alongside preparing for their first exam in January (Unit 1). A special thank you to Matt S, Imogen C, Abbie O, Jack D and Zac B for their proactive support in lessons, clubs and fixtures.

Our fantastic Sports Leaders (Megan N, Lenny G, Chase S, Nevaeh A, Phoebe J O, Evie B, Rhys K, Aidan P, Emily B and Julia S) have played a key role in supporting and running events this term. These have included KS1 and KS2 Cricket Festivals, a KS1 Multi-Skills event, and two Year 5/6 five-a-side football tournaments. Their commitment and reliability have been widely praised, and we are incredibly grateful for their contribution.

Year 13 students are similarly committed as they prepare for their January Unit 22 exam. They recently completed Unit 4 (Leadership), delivering sessions to KS3 groups. A particularly impressive session came from Eva R-D, who led a highly effective Tag Rugby lesson for Year 8.

GCSE/ BTEC Mr Davey and Mr Sherlock have been working tirelessly with Year 11 BTEC students to complete Component 2.

Congratulations to Stiven M, Myla H-T , Noah R and Luxton M for achieving the highest marks.

Year 10 BTEC students have begun Component 1, demonstrating excellent leadership in planning and delivering warm-ups, with Chase S , Phoebe J O and Reagan V praised for outstanding examples.

Year 11 GCSE students have now covered all Paper 1 theory content and recently completed their mock exam. We look forward to reviewing their results in January. Students continue gathering external evidence in their chosen sports while preparing for internal moderation. Year 10 GCSE students have been working diligently through Chapters 1 and 4 whilst undergoing basketball and football practical assessments.

KS3 PE KS3 lessons have been energetic, engaging and focused on developing fundamental skills across a wide range of sports.

Year 7: fitness, gymnastics and football, moving on to netball and basketball next term. Year 8: tag rugby and basketball, soon transitioning to tchoukball, handball, fitness and table tennis.Year 9: a three-part rotation of Volleyball/Badminton, Netball/Football and Fitness/Dance.

SUMMARY What an exceptional start to the academic year. The PE department is already considering nominations for our Sports Awards as we reflect on an inspiring term of hard work, skill and dedication across all year groups.

A big thank you to all coaches, teachers and support staff who make these opportunities possible. We look forward to another exciting term of lessons, clubs and fixtures in January.

Miss Williams Head of Physical Education

Spanish

All students continue to work hard in lessons to learn new vocabulary and younger year groups are growing in confidence at reading aloud in Spanish. I continue to be very impressed in lessons when students sight read Spanish brilliantly and with lots of enthusiasm - sight reading is a new skill required in the new specification Spanish GCSE exam.

Year 11 have worked hard on their mock exams in writing, reading and listening papers and at the end of this term have been reflecting well on how to improve. Year 11s will finish course content at the end of January and in February we will move to focus on the speaking exam ahead of a full mock speaking exam in March.

Ms Griffiths Assistant Headteacher

LITERACYANDORACY In November, 60 of our Year 10 students took part in the annual Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge, a day-long workshop on public speaking and presentation skills. Students worked on preparing and delivering two-minute speeches on topics they are passionate about, which they then had to perform in front of their entire class entirely from memory. Drayke G, Maria A C, Millie B, Emily B, Maisie D and Regan V were selected to share their speeches with their entire Year Group in the school final, with Millie taking the win with an engaging speech about the importance of women’s football. The whole experience was a wonderful opportunity for our Y10s to develop their confidence in oracy and public speaking skills, and it was lovely to hear a wide range of thought-provoking contributions on issues such as teenage mental health and AI’s effect on creativity — a massive well done to everyone who took part!

Since September, the library’s fiction shelves have slowly been reorganised into genres in response to student demand for topic-based shelves. The new collections include Graphic Novels, History, Fantasy, Sport, Adventure and Mystery, making it much easier for students to browse and find something they’ll enjoy. A huge thank you goes to our devoted Student Librarians, who have worked brilliantly on this project and took real pride in improving the space for everyone. The library is also housing the winning entries for Year 11’s Jekyll and Hyde house model competition, with some fantastically creative interpretations of the brief on display.

Our EAL students have also been very busy this term. Students have been following the BBC Speak Out course during their English Language interventions, which has supported them in building knowledge of core vocabulary and has noticeably boosted their confidence in spoken conversation. Alongside this, tailored phonics sessions have continued to run during tutor time, and targeted maths and science interventions have continued to support students’ progress across the curriculum in preparation for GCSE exams next year. We’re incredibly proud of the serious effort and hard work that our EAL students have continued to show in their studies this term, and look forward to even greater progress made in the new year.

Mr Ashton Reading and Literacy Support Assistant

Oh Yes We Did! Year 7 Trips to the Wimbledon Theatre to see Robin Hood Our Year 7 students recently enjoyed an unforgettable excursion to the spectacular pantomime, Robin Hood at the New Wimbledon Theatre (starring Diversity!), experiencing the magic of live theatre first-hand as part of their studies into the history and traditions of British pantomime.

Having spent several weeks in class exploring key pantomime conventions—from the classic characters and slapstick humour to audience participation and the allimportant 'behind you!'—the pupils were perfectly primed to see these elements brought to life on stage.

The energy was palpable from the moment the curtain rose.

Students were brilliant ambassadors for our school, joining in with gusto as they booed the villain, cheered the hero, and sang along with the cast. Seeing the theoretical aspects of their lessons translated into such vibrant reality has been a fantastic way to conclude this topic. We hope this trip has ignited a lifelong love for theatre in our students and thank all the staff who made the trip possible.

Miss Twomey Head of Drama

MUSIC

The music department continues to be very busy with a vibrant atmosphere both at lunchtime and after school during music club and band rehearsals.

Year 11 BTEC class have just completed their final piece of moderated coursework and year 10 are preparing to start their first piece of moderated coursework.

Many bands and acts from all year groups have been preparing for the Winter Concert on Tuesday 16th December. There are two sections to the concert - the festive opener with Christmas songs then an opportunity in the second half to play non-Christmas music.

We are looking forward to next term where we will see the school production of Shrek and the year 11's will begin their final externally assessed work making music for a commercial brief.

Mr Dubock Head of Music

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HOUSE CUP

STANDINGS DECEMBER 2025

1st Place

23,055

2nd Place 22,869 3rd Place

21,494

4th Place

20,999

Everyone valued Every day an opportunity Every moment focused on success

Garrison Lane, Chessington KT9 2JS 020 8974 1156 chessington.kingston.sch.uk