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MESSAGE FROM MS WILSON

The last year at Chessington School has flown by due to all the amazing activities that our students have been engaged with. It feels only five minutes since the new Year 7 & 12s arrived looking slightly nervous but excited, and now they are very much part of the family. It has also been a milestone year for us as a trust. At the start of the year, we welcomed Heathside Walton and Weybridge into our community, and moving from three schools to five has been a brilliant shift. It has allowed us to share expertise, collaborate more closely, and feel part of an even stronger, supportive network.

Some of our core highlights from the year are:

The energy from our teaching staff with the CPD programme this year which focused on our Teaching & Learning initiatives of Climate for learning, reading and culture of observing others. Staff have been willing to be ﬁlmed for use in the sessions to highlight excellent practice and learning points to support all colleagues to progress. Guided Reading during Tutor Time has now become embedded and very much featured in many lessons within the curriculum. Our library continues to be very busy and buzzy! Thank you to Miss Griffiths for leading these areas so well.

Our sports teams have continued their winning streak this academic year in many sports across many year groups. As a small school we have succeeded in beating some much larger secondary schools and this is largely attributed to our Sports Scholarship programme and the amazing energy from the PE department! A special shout out must go to our Sixth Form basketball team who won their league and have been promoted to CBL Tier 2 South East Division - a great achievement.

Our performing arts department put on a spectacular musical production of Shrek which really did join together so many different year groups of students and allowed our students to excel on the stage. Thank you to Miss Twomey, Mr DuBock, Miss Pipkin, Mr Ide, Ms Hudspith for their time and energy in the months of preparation. I am very much looking forward to next year's show!

I continue to be proud of our students and their focus towards their public exams. Our Year 11 and Year 13s

As I type this, the students are arriving back from various trips at the end of our annual Alternative Learning Week. We have had nearly 40 trips going out this week. From the Isle of Wight to the London Dungeons, from Spitalﬁelds Market to The Lion King, and Bushcraft camping to The Royal Courts of Justice - there has been something for everyone and I know that they have had an amazing time with so much cultural capital.

I am excited for the new academic year and our new Year 7 &12 joiners along with some new staff that will be joining our cracking team:

Miss Balepo - 2nd in charge of English Faculty

Miss Bingham - Head of Year 9 and PE/Science Teacher

Mrs Underwood - Lead Receptionist

Miss Henderson - Literacy & Reading Support Assistant

Mr Cumiskey -Teaching Assistant

Miss Champion - Literacy Intervention Practitioner

Miss Al-Obaidi - Acting Assistant Headteacher and Science Teacher

Miss Whelan - Religious Studies teacher

We also are saying goodbye to some valuable colleagues that have worked so hard with our students during their time at Chessington.

Mr Power - Head of Year and Science teacher

Miss Aggrey - English Teacher

Mr Dowell - Teaching Assistant

Miss Jenkins - Teaching Assistant

Mr Ashton - Literacy & Reading Support Assistant

Mrs Sheriff - Head of Religious Studies

Miss Norman - Science Teacher

We wish them every success in their new ventures.

Have a lovely summer break,

Ms S Wilson Headteacher Chessington School

HEAD OF YEAR UPDATES

MISS SWAYSLAND Head of Year 7

MRS COOPER Deputy Headteacher

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

As we reach the end of an incredible first year at secondary school, it is a chance to reflect on just how much our Year 7 students have achieved. Since we first welcomed them for their induction day last summer, they have grown in confidence, maturity and independence, and it has been fantastic to see them become such an important part of our school community.

This year group has shown an amazing commitment to our school values, earning an incredible 45,000+ positive points across the year. This reﬂects the kindness, effort, enthusiasm and ambition they have shown both inside and outside of the classroom. We have been so proud to celebrate the many moments where students have gone above and beyond to support each other and make our school a better place.

Outside of lessons, Year 7 have also enjoyed a fantastic year of opportunities and achievements. Our sports teams have represented the school brilliantly, securing many victories across basketball, netball and football, showing great teamwork, resilience and determination. Students have also enjoyed a range of trips and experiences in London, creating memories together and developing their conﬁdence beyond the classroom.

It has been wonderful to watch this group develop from nervous new starters into conﬁdent young people who are ready for the next stage of their journey. The transformation since September has been remarkable, and we are incredibly proud of everything they have achieved.

As they move into Year 8, we are excited to see what the next year will bring. We know they will continue to challenge themselves, embrace new opportunities and show the same enthusiasm and spirit that has made this such a special year group.

Well done, Year 7 — we are so proud of you and cannot wait to see what you achieve next!

Miss Swaysland Head of Year 7

Mrs Cooper

It has been a brilliant year for the Year group and a privilege to have been their Head of Year. They have grown into wonderful young people ready to take year 9 in their stride.

Shiv soared into an early lead for positive points, chased consistently by Max and Enrique but remained triumphant in the end, despite admirable competition!

Max did however steal the title of star learner of the year and helped lead 8JHH to tutor victory in the points race. With 8FSF taking a surprising victory in the attendance competition following a fourth place listing at Christmas!

Their competitive edge extends long beyond classcharts and into all the house competitions we have entered and won! The girls who topped their netball league after failing to win a game in year 7 and our own Lucia winning sports personality of the year.

Students have met with governors, toured and interviewed prospective school leaders, edited a school newspaper, delivered their own assemblies, performed in Shrek; consistently showing guests and visitors how wonderful our school is.

I know they will go into year 9 with their brilliant friendships, wild array of stationery, anticipation for their own football pitch and enthusiasm for all the opportunities that will be offered.

It has been one of my greatest joys in my time at Chessington school getting to know this year group. I have been honoured by all that they have shared with me and all I have gotten to be part of.

I can't wait to see Lydia get even funnier in next years performance. And I'm still waiting to see if Tony and Lucia ever run out of energy. I am excited to know what Gladys will read next, what practical jokes Raheel might be involved in. And so much more.

Have a wonderful summer,

Mrs Cooper Deputy Headteacher

Miss Rutledge

As we reach the end of another successful academic year, it is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on everything our Year 9 students have achieved. It has been a year filled with hard work, resilience, personal growth and memorable experiences, and I could not be prouder of everything they have accomplished. Throughout the year, students have represented the school brilliantly on a range of educational visits and school trips. These experiences have not only enhanced their learning but have also allowed them to develop confidence, independence and lasting friendships. Their behaviour and attitude whilst on these trips have been a credit to themselves, their families and the school.

Our recent Careers Day was a real highlight. Students engaged enthusiastically with employers and visitors from a variety of educational settings, asking thoughtful, insightful and, at times, exceptional questions about career pathways, qualiﬁcations and future opportunities. Their curiosity and maturity impressed our visitors and demonstrated a genuine desire to learn more about the world beyond school.

This year also saw a very successful Duke of Edinburgh group. Students embraced the challenges with determination, teamwork and resilience, supporting one another throughout the programme. They should be incredibly proud of their commitment and achievements, which reﬂect the values we strive to develop in all of our young people.

One of the standout moments of the year was seeing our Year 9 students headline the school’s production of Shrek the Musical. Their talent, conﬁdence and dedication were evident throughout rehearsals and performances, and they truly rose to the occasion. Watching them perform with such enthusiasm and professionalism made me incredibly proud, and they created memories that will stay with us for years to come.

It was also a pleasure to celebrate so many students at our Rewards Assembly. Recognising the effort, determination and achievements of our young people is incredibly important, and it was fantastic to see so many students receive the rewards they had thoroughly earned through their hard work and positive contributions across the year.

We celebrated subject awards, recognising those students who have excelled academically, shown exceptional effort or made signiﬁcant progress throughout the year. Every award reﬂected the dedication and enthusiasm that has been evident across the year group. As we look ahead to Year 10, I would like to thank our students for their enthusiasm this year, looking forward to a year of Ambition. I hope everyone enjoys a well-deserved summer break, and I look forward to seeing what the year group will achieve next year.

Miss Rutledge Head of Year

Mr Luc

As we come to the end of another academic year, I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate our Year 10 students on what has been a fantastic first year of GCSE and BTEC study. The jump from Key Stage 3 into examination courses is a significant one, but our students have risen to the challenge brilliantly. There has been a noticeable step up in their attitude towards learning, their maturity and the way they have approached their studies throughout the year.

A particular highlight has been the way students approached their end-of-year examinations. They understood the importance of these assessments and demonstrated a real determination to do their very best. Throughout the year, tutor time has included a strong focus on developing effective revision strategies and study habits. These are skills that students have already started to put into practice and, as they move into Year 11, we will continue to develop them so that revision becomes increasingly purposeful and effective.

This term also saw our Year 11 Prefect application process, which was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the year. It was fantastic to see over a third of the year group put themselves forward for the role. The quality of the applications and interviews was incredibly high, making the selection process a very difficult one. Every student who applied should be proud of the professionalism, confidence and commitment they demonstrated throughout.

As we look ahead, our students now become the oldest year group in the school, bringing with that new opportunities and responsibilities. I have every conﬁdence that they will continue to lead by example and make the most of everything that Year 11 has to offer. I hope everyone has a restful and enjoyable summer, and I look forward to welcoming them back in September for what promises to be an exciting and successful ﬁnal year at Chessington School.

Mr Lucas Head of Year 10

Chessington School Prefects 26/27

Mr Power

And just like that, the exams are over, the pens are down, and an incredible chapter has come to a close. Year 11 has officially their GCSEs! We could not be prouder of the resilience, determination, and humor they have shown throughout this intense year. To

Here is a look back at how we sent off the Class of 2026.

Our Leavers’ Assembly was a beautiful, emotional rollercoaster. Together, we took a trip down memory lane, looking back at baby photos, embarrassing school trip moments, and the milestones that shaped Year 11 into the young adults they are today. There wasn't a dry eye in the house—though we aren't sure if the tears were from crying at the heartfelt speeches or laughing at some of those Year 7 haircuts!

We couldn't let you leave without one ﬁnal physical challenge. At the Leavers' Barbecue, the highly anticipated Staff vs. Students sports matches took place. While the students talked a big game, we have to set the record straight for the history books: the staff officially won the football and netball!

This year’s Oscar-themed Prom was a spectacular success. The outﬁts were nothing short of breathtaking—the sheer elegance, style, and conﬁdence on display made everyone feel like Hollywood royalty.

This magical evening would not have been possible without the immense support and contributions of our fantastic parent community. From decorating the venue to helping coordinate the evening and providing an amazing photobooth, your efforts turned the night into an absolute masterpiece. We are incredibly grateful.

While the summer holidays are now theirs to enjoy, we are already looking forward to welcoming them back on Results Day - 20th of August. They have worked exceptionally hard under immense pressure, and we cannot wait to celebrate the fantastic results we know they all deserve.

Have a restful, safe, and brilliant summer break.

Mr Power Head of Year 11

Mr Davey

Earlier this term we said goodbye to our Year 13 students. They worked hard in the ﬁnal few weeks, to ensure all work was completed and excellent grades achieved. We held a leavers BBQ for them (thanks to Mrs Ford & Luis for cooking), which included speeches from the Head of Year, and the Sports Coaches, a staff v students game of football and a Y12 v Y13 Basketball match, which the Y13 won. We also gave out some awards Eva RD and Mia A in recognition for their outstanding work throughout Y12 and Y13, Alﬁe WS for his contributions to the PE department, Bradley L the award for Football and Bogdan K and Andrew A received the awards for Basketball. They truly have been an outstanding year group.. We wish all of them the best for their futures. Most of them are heading to either University or into employment.

The Year 12 Sport students have been busy completing coursework. They continue to assist in lower school PE lessons and were also an integral part of school Sports Day, helping to officiate events and record timings for races. They have also been fantastic ambassadors for the school leading PE sessions for Y5 students who have been in for Taster sessions. Students involved have been Ben E, Imogen C, Jack D, Luiz RT, Matt S, Noah S, Reece E and Zac B. They have also completed Work Experience which also included a day marshalling and leading events at OLI Primary School Sports Day. As part of their course the Sports students had to take part in mock interviews, some of them came dressed to make a good impression.

The Sports Department also had their annual Sports Awards. The award for Football went to Matt S, Basketball Player of the Year was awarded to Luiz RT and the Y12 Sport Student of the year went to Zac B. Honourable mentions also went to Jack D, Ben E, Elijah HT and Reece E.

The Year 12 Child Development students are making excellent progress on their course and continue to excel in the school on site Nursery. They have also completed Work Experience in a local Primary School. This gives the students experience of working with 4-5 year olds, which is also part of their course.

At the beginning of June, all of the Year 12s had a visit to the Emirates Stadium for a University and Apprenticeship Fair, which was very useful in helping the students shape decisions for progression after year 13.

So much success so far this Summer term, we’ve awarded star chefs for each lesson across KS3 at the end of the second rotation so well done to those students who showed dedication and hard work on all their practicals 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 bread rolls, fruit crumble, bolognaise and sausage rolls.

Yr 8 have been pushing their skills making fresh pasta using the rolling machines, curries, cheesecakes, meringue and chocolate mousse

Yr 9 have mastered cooking chicken safely with the temperature probes, and we saw some excellent examples of working with fish making fish cakes, and blind baking making french fruit tarts

Yr 10 students have been getting to grips with the theory as well as completing practicals of a high skill and complexity level. They have been learning about an EHO inspection and the Health and Safety laws They have been learning new topics to support starting the NEA in Sept Weekly practicals have also been a new challenge with students having to find and create their own recipes for the weekly brief, students have really been embracing the challenge week after week

Mrs Ford Head of Catering

Spanish Spanish

It has been another great term for our linguists at Chessington School. Students have consolidated their knowledge of key verbs and vocabulary and have demonstrated their ability to manipulate and transfer the language learnt through their sentence builders in their end of year exams. Year 7 have been learning to talk about their life in school in Spanish; Year 8 have been learning to use up to three tenses (present, past and future) to talk about what they like doing in their free time and about their food preferences, including how to order food in a restaurant (so get them talking if you are travelling to a Spanish speaking country this summer!); Year 9 have been learning to talk about global issues, all while combining present, past and future tenses; Year 10 have continued their GCSE Spanish journey preparing for their first ever speaking mock exam, which will help feel confident about sitting this paper ahead of Year 11. A special highlight is our Spanish GCSE Residential Trip to Salamanca, which will be going ahead again next academic year for Spanish students in Year 10 and Y11 It proved to be as popular as ever with all places being taken in a matter of minutes!

All MFL students have put a lot of effort into their recent end of year exams, for which they deserve to be congratulated. Following exam feedback lessons, KS3 students continued their linguistic journey learning about the history, culture and traditions of a series of Spanish speaking countries, so do ask them about interesting facts they learnt! Year 9 have discussed inclusion, diversity and visibility through a very touching, inspiring and award-winning Spanish film, Campeones

As always, please encourage your children to continue to put their language skills into practice during the holidays with examples of real language use, especially if you are lucky enough to be travelling to Spain or a Spanish speaking country this summer! Why not try watching your favourite festive films or series in the target language or tune into an international radio station online for a few minutes a day listening for gist?

Mr Murray Head of Languages

Library

Summer has been another busy and exciting term in the school library. We are delighted to welcome two new student librarians, Joshaiah Fernando and Lily Stevenson, who have quickly become a valued member of the team and shown great enthusiasm in their library duties. All of our student librarians have been learning new skills this term, receiving training in automatic cataloguing using our library management software. They have worked incredibly hard this term, helping to complete a genre-by-genre stocktake of our collection and ensuring our shelves are organised and up to date

We have also introduced several new genre sections to make it even easier for students to discover books they'll enjoy, including dedicated Science and Maths, Wellbeing, and Poetry Corner shelves. Alongside this, our new Book Suggestion Box has already received some fantastic recommendations, and we look forward to adding many of these titles to the library in the future. Thank you to everyone who has helped make the library such a welcoming and vibrant space this term!

Accelerated Reader

Alongside our usual Accelerated Reader reading lessons, this term we have also been running guided reading groups with small groups of students, exploring a range of exciting Choose Your Own Adventure stories. These interactive books allow readers to make decisions that influence the direction of the story, encouraging students to problem-solve together as part of an engaging and immersive narrative. We have also explored some newly-published Choose Your Own Adventure football stories, which have proved especially popular with our Y8 football pundits!

EAL

Our EAL provision has continued to support students in developing their English language skills and confidence in speaking, listening and reading. We have maintained our targeted phonics programme for students who are building secure foundations in reading, while our older learners have continued to strengthen their fluency, vocabulary and performance skills through a group-based exploration of Shakespeare's Macbeth. It has been wonderful to see the immense progress and real enthusiasm of our students over the course of the school year, and we look forward to building on these successes when term begins again in September

Mr Murray Head of Languages

MUSIC

Sadly we said goodbye to our year 11 band members who have consistently put great effort into playing in our school concerts over the last three years and we wish them all the best fortune in the coming year as I am sure they will continue playing at a very high level. We will also be looking forward to results day in August to find out how well the music students did in their BTEC "Component 3: Responding to a Music Brief" external assessment

Although all energies were recently engaged in the school production of Shrek, music students were still very keen to attend music club on Tuesday and Thursday lunchtimes for the year 10 band and two year 9 bands. Several students have been making the most of extended rehearsal time after schools so we will definitely have some rocking performances to look forward to for open evening in the September term.

Warm regards,

Mr DuBock Head of Music

It has been a fantastic summer term in Computer Science, with students across all three year groups tackling some truly engaging topics

Year 7 have been exploring computational thinking learning to break problems down into manageable steps, spot patterns and think logically These are skills that go far beyond the classroom and will serve them well throughout their education and beyond.

Year 8 studied computer crime and cyber security, examining the threats individuals and organisations face online and the measures used to protect against them. We hope this knowledge helps students stay safe and savvy in their digital lives

Year 9 took on one of the most challenging areas of the subject logic gates and Boolean algebra exploring how computers make decisions at the most fundamental level using AND, OR and NOT gates, truth tables and Boolean expressions We have been hugely impressed with how they have risen to the challenge

Year 10 have been building strong programming foundations this term, focusing on algorithms and exploring how data can be sorted and searched efficiently Students have also practised representing and checking their algorithms using flow charts, pseudocode and trace tables essential skills that will underpin their GCSE work going forward.

We are proud of the effort shown across all year groups this term and look forward to building on it in September.

Mr B Cosgrave Head of Computer Science

BUSINESS STUDIES

Business Studies — Getting Started on Coursework

It has been an exciting term in Business Studies, where our GCSE students have made a strong start on their R068 NEA — Design a Business Proposal — as part of their Cambridge National in Enterprise and Marketing qualiﬁcation. Students have been researching their market, identifying a target customer and beginning to develop their own product or service idea, putting their classroom learning into practice in a really meaningful way.

The NEA is a substantial piece of work continuing into Year 11, so any encouragement at home — asking your child about their business idea or research ﬁndings — will be genuinely valuable. We look forward to seeing their proposals develop further next year.

Mr Cosgrave Head of Work Related Learning

It’s been an action-packed, discovery-filled term in the Science Department! Our students have been hard at work exploring the wonders of biology, chemistry, and physics. They have continued to conduct hands-on experiments and have been tackling real-world problems

Here’s a snapshot of what our year groups have been investigating:

Year 7: Explored the wonders of Space—discovering the mechanics behind day and night, the science of seasons and years, and what drives the phases of the moon. They have also been looking at how both humans and plants reproduce.

Year 8: Dove into genetics, examining the causes of biological variation and the mechanisms of evolution.

Year 9: Uncovered the world of Infection and Response, learning how different diseases enter the body and how vaccinations protect us

Year 10: Have started to learn Paper 2 content with Rate and Extent of Chemical Change, using practical experiments to test how different factors speed up or slow down chemical reactions.

On top of their regular practicals, our department has been heavily focused on exam preparation A massive well done to our Year 11 students, who worked tirelessly through targeted intervention sessions to prepare for their six final GCSE papers

We also delivered focused revision sessions for Years 7, 8, and 9 ahead of their end-of-year assessments.

Huge congratulations to all of our students for their hard work and resilience this term!

The Science team is so excited that Summer is finally here! While we want our Chessington students to use this time to recharge, the Summer holidays also make it too easy for those hard earned science concepts to float away

To keep those brains cooking without ruining the fun in the sun, the Science department highly recommends encouraging your students to spend a bit of their time on SparX Science over the holidays

Here is why a bit of summer revision goes a long way:

Retain the Essentials: Revising even 10 minutes a day keeps core physics, chemistry, and biology concepts fresh, which will ensure students don't have to waste time relearning old material in September

Bite-Sized & Manageable: Sparx Science is designed for independent, focused bursts of learning. Perfect for a too-hot afternoon or a quick session before heading out for a swim!

Hit the Ground Running: Returning to school feeling ready to succeed gives students a massive confidence boost for the new academic year

Let’s ensure they head into next term feeling confident and ready to excel. A little spark of revision now means a lot less stress later!

This year, the Science Club was filled with exciting hands-on learning experiences that brought science to life. Throughout the year, members took part in a range of experiments, from creating volcanic eruptions with baking soda and vinegar to exploring the properties of acids and bases using indicators. We also investigated germs using agar plates, built simple electrical circuits to test current and voltage, and experimented with chromatography to discover the hidden colours in ink. Each activity encouraged learners to ask questions, make predictions, and think like scientists

As the end-of-year examinations and assessments approached, our focus shifted to revision in an engaging and interactive way. I introduced a variety of quizzes, team challenges, and game-based activities that allowed learners to review key scientific concepts while having fun. These sessions promoted collaboration, healthy competition, and active participation, helping learners identify areas where they needed more practice while boosting their confidence.

It was wonderful to see learners become more enthusiastic about science and better prepared for their end-of-year assessments Science club truly is the best club to explore science and expand our learners minds!

The Science Department

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students, Guardians,

As the sun sets on another fantastic academic year, we look back at the Summer Term with immense pride. It has we Term has we back been a whirlwind of deep historical inquiry and outstanding academic resilience been a whirlwind of deep academic deep

Here is a look back at what our historians have been up to over the last few weeks, and a look ahead to the summer at over our been a summer break.

Our classrooms have been buzzing with energy this term. Students across all year groups have shown a energy been buzzing all phenomenal work ethic, diving into complex debates and challenging historical concepts with open minds ethic, with into challenging Year 7 took a deep dive into the turbulent world of Medieval England, most recently exploring the power of The Year a England, Church. Church.

Year 8 explored the profound impacts of the Industrial Revolution, looking closely at how our local area

Year the of Revolution, looking closely at how area transformed during the 19th century transformed during during the 19th century.

Year 9 tackled the complexities of 20th-century international relations, showing incredible maturity when Year 9 relations, the of relations, handling sensitive global histories handling handling global

Congratulations to all students in Years 7, 8, and 9 for completing their end-of-year history examinations. We know all their We in 7, that exam season can be a stressful time, but the dedication shown during revision sessions truly paid off. The be but the season sessions paid history department is currently busy marking papers, and we are absolutely thrilled with the level of detail, and the is are thrilled structured arguments, and historical knowledge on display. historical arguments, Finally, we want to say a massive, heartfelt goodbye to our incredible Year 11 GCSE History cohort

Finally, cohort incredible GCSE

You have navigated two years of rigorous study—from the depths of Medicine Through Time to the complexities of the of the Nazi Germany—with determination, humor, and resilience. The focus you displayed during the summer exam the Nazi Germany—with determination, humor, and you displayed during the summer exam displayed period was exemplary period

We will miss your lively classroom debates, your insightful questions, and the unique energy you brought to the miss your classroom your insightful questions, the We will miss your lively classroom debates, your insightful energy you brought to department

Keeping History Alive This Summer

For those looking to keep their historical minds active over the six-week break, here are a few quick those the here keep over recommendations:Have a wonderful, restful, and safe summer break! wonderful, summer a safe

Activity type

Recommendation

To read Horrible Histories (any!) for younger students; The Silk Roads by Peter Frankopan for older readers

To visit Check out your local museums or English Heritage sites. Many offer free or discounted entry for students over the summer

To watch Historical documentaries on BBC iPlayer or Timeline (YouTube) are great for visual learners

Warmest regards, Warmest

The History Department Department

Dear Parents, Carers, and Geographers,

What an incredible Summer Term it has been! As the academic year draws to a close, we want to take a moment to look back at the brilliant work our students have put in, reflect on our recent assessments, and celebrate our hands-on fieldwork. This term, our classrooms have been buzzing with curiosity. From exploring global ecosystems to debating climate solutions, students across all key stages have shown fantastic engagement

A massive congratulations to all students for completing their End of Year Examinations. We know that exam season can feel daunting, but the dedication shown across the board has been exemplary

Geography truly comes alive outside the classroom, and our Year 10 GCSE students proved just that during their recent human geography fieldtrip to Stratford, East London.

Students were investigating the long-term impacts of the 2012 Olympic regeneration project. They spent the day actively gathering primary data, which included:

Conducting environmental quality surveys

Mapping land-use changes.

Interviewing members of the local public to gauge community perceptions of the changes

The students represented our school brilliantly, showing maturity and sharp analytical skills. This hands-on experience is absolutely vital for their Paper 3 exam next year, and they now have a fantastic, real-world case study ready to deploy.

You don't need to be in a classroom to be a geographer! If you are travelling or exploring locally over the break, here are three quick ways to keep your geographical brain ticking over:

Be a Landscape Detective: Whether you're at a UK beach or abroad, look at the cliffs or coastlines Can you spot signs of longshore drift, or see where management strategies are protecting the cliffs?

Track Your Food: Next time you’re making a summer salad or grabbing a snack, look at the labels Where in the world did your food travel from? Think about the food miles involved

Documentary Digging: If we get a rainy day, check out nature and travel documentaries on BBC iPlayer or Netflix to explore ecosystems around the globe

Thank you for your continued support throughout this academic year Have a wonderful, safe, and restful summer break!

The Geography Department

Another busy term in Design & Technology where we’ve welcomed all the local year 5s into the workshop to give them a taste of secondary school. They all headed home with their fridge magnets cut from MDF and all of their fingers intact, so something to be proud of and we hope to see them back here on Open Evening!

Key Stage 3 have been busy making their CAD lamps, trophies and mechanical toys, mainly out of recycled materials and the added challenge that brings

Year 10 are now in the depths of their NEA and have just completed their plumbing project It’s always a challenge to make sure there's no leaks, but in the recent hot weather, a bit of a spray was much appreciated!

And finally we say goodbye to our wonderful year 11 Construction students, over half of whom are going off to NESCOT or Kingston to further their studies and realise their ambition of being an Electrician (Luxton, Noah, Ollie), Carpenter (James) or Architect (Aleks) among other trades. Do keep in touch!

Mr May Head of Design and Technology

EThis term has been a busy and productive one in English. We are so proud of how all our students have been working to achieve greater maturity and sophistication in both written and spoken English. Here’s a small taste of our English journey since April:

Key Stage 3:

Across Key Stage 3, we have been engaging students in a scheme of work called The Great Gender Debate. Students have read a range of non-fiction texts that explore issues surrounding gender. They have analysed these texts and also engaged in the questions and debates raised by them to write their own transactional pieces

Year 7 then completed a unit of work on performance poetry, getting to grips with the writing of poets like Benjamin Zephaniah and George the Poet. They have analysed this poetry and written their own, culminating in an oracy assessment at the end of this term. Well done on a very busy and productive year, Year 7!

Year 8 has relished the experience of reading and studying ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and Year 9 has ventured into the tragic streets of Verona, with ‘Romeo and Juliet’. As a department, we feel that it is very important for Key Stage 3 students to experience a range of Shakespeare texts before embarking on ‘Macbeth’ in Year 10 for GCSE. We are very pleased with the way that students have embraced the challenging language of Shakespeare this term and have grappled with the many themes and debates that surround these plays

Key Stage 4:

A huge amount of learning has taken place in Year 10 this year. Students have now completed their learning of all English Literature texts apart from the Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology. They have also completed a Language Paper 1 assessment. We are so proud of this outstanding year group and all the hard work that they have put in. A highlight of the year was when a visiting theatre company came to present their version of ‘Macbeth’ to the year group. It was wonderful to see the play come alive in a youthful and energetic way, with many of our own Year 10 students taking part

Although Year 11 left us some weeks ago, these fabulous students are still very much in our hearts. They worked extremely har English GCSE e results da results!

Mrs Elmas Head of English

Year 10/11

Year 10 have completed over half the course in preparation for the coursework to begin in late October All content will be complete by the end of the first half term and I look forward to getting the short through to another set of excellent results. Year 11 completed their coursework and final exam. And I look forward to seeing the results they so deserve in August

Year 12

Work experience has started ahead of year 13 and the occupational specialism part of the course. The new T level is a great course split into 3 areas All content areas have been taught and the exams have been completed.

Year 13

Students have been successful in completing the level 3 course and over half of the cohort have been employed in the early years and education sector

Class of 2026

Miss Rutledge Head of Child Development

YEAR 5 TASTER DAYS

Chessington School recently threw open its doors to host seven action-packed Year 5 Taster Day sessions, welcoming nearly 400 eager young students from across the community.

The vibrant sessions saw pupils from Ellingham, Castle Hill, Lovelace, Claygate, St Paul’s, St Mary’s, and Malden Manor primary schools get a thrilling sneak peek into secondary school life

The visiting children threw themselves into a range of hands-on activities designed to spark curiosity and creativity. Highlights from the action-packed schedule included:

Construction: Technical challenges where students had to saw out wooden fridge magnets

Creative Arts: High-energy drama workshops and vibrant art sessions

Hands-on Skills: Culinary creation in catering, producing mini pizzas

PE: Team-building and high-energy sports sessions on the MUGAs and hard court

"The energy across all seven days was absolutely incredible," said Mr West, Assistant Headteacher. "The students brought so much enthusiasm to every single department."

Celebrating GREAT Values

The excitement didn’t stop at the classroom door. Each taster day concluded with a special mini-celebration assembly. These assemblies were dedicated to recognising and rewarding the students who stood out for demonstrating Chessington’s core GREAT Values throughout their visit

The events were a resounding success, thoroughly enjoyed by visiting students and Chessington staff alike. With the taster days now wrapped up, Chessington School is already looking to the future. Plans are already in motion to welcome these same bright sparks back next year for even more exciting activities when they enter Year 6!

Mr West Assistant Headteacher

Biscuits Galore!

Check out the biscuits designed by students during our SEN Breakfast and also in Pokemon Club

As we come to the end of the academic year, we have not slowed down for a second. We have enjoyed many visits from primary schools for their taster sessions and look forward to seeing lots more talented artists join our school in years to come.

We were delighted to celebrate excellent examples of artwork from across the school years in our art exhibition - thank you to everyone who came along to support the evening and enjoy the fantastic work of Chessington students

School Events School Events

We enjoyed working with Drama to create the final props and forest scenery for their fabulous production of Shrek which we thought was hilarious and brilliantly performed, so it was a pleasure to contribute towards that Also, Chessington PE department ran a fantastic sports day - It was great to support that with making banners and flags and the students loved illustrating and supporting their houseswell done Mrs Ford and Pegasus!

Year 11 Year 11

Year 11 students finished their GCSE Art course, here at Chessington, with 2 days in the art room producing their final pieces for their exam projects. The students worked incredibly hard and the outcomes reflected their level of dedication throughout the final project. It has been a real privilege to see how far the students have developed and grown throughout the course

Year 10 Year 10

Year 10 had a fantastic trip into London this term giving them a flying start to their new project CITY LIFE

We started in the Leake Street Tunnels (The Vaults) to take in all the bright and interesting street art and graffiti that London has to offer. Next we walked along South Bank to take in the many architectural delights, including the iconic Houses of Parliament, London Eye, and city skylines throughout; past the brutalist architecture of the theatres and galleries including NT, Hayward, and Festival Hall; then stopping to eat lunch next to the baroque style of St Paul's Cathedral. After lunch we popped back across the millennium bridge, for a whistle stop tour of The Tate Modern to be inspired by the building and the wide range of art within.

The students were, as always, a credit to the school and produced some amazing reportage drawings in a variety of media and styles

Year 9 Year 9

Year 9 have been looking at Pop Art and specifically the work of Roy Lichtenstein to inspire their own still life outcomes. We can see here the work in progress where students have arranged their own compositions; deciphered and simplified their photographs; used good brush control to produce flat, bright/ primary colours; considered shading through the use of benday dots; and considered some of the printing and gender differences between modern day, and 1950s comic book America

Year 8 Year 8

Year 8 have been taking a closer look at bugs starting with tonal drawings to explore the details and then using their visual research to inform their 3D cardboard sculptures. We have been developing observational skills; fine motor skills; use of pattern, colour and shape; and layered thinking.

Year 7 Year 7

Year 7 have been transported back in time and across the globe to ancient Japan where they have looked at the art of black ink painting, Sumi-e. Students have then considered more specifically the tonal differences and different brush techniques in Suiboku-ga to produce wonderful bamboo paintings. Using these influences, year 7 have studied the symbolism of the Koi and produced some wonderful outcomes in ink, developing their skills in scale, proportion, detail, brush control and understanding of tone.

I think our art students need a well deserved rest after all their hard work this year, so we wish you a lovely creative summer break.

Mrs Hudspith Head of Art

As another busy and successful academic year comes to an end, we would like to take the opportunity to reflect on some of the fantastic achievements of our students.

This term, we said goodbye to our wonderful Year 11 students as they completed their GCSE examinations. We were incredibly proud of the determination, resilience and commitment they showed throughout the lead-up to the exams. From attending revision sessions and completing independent study to persevering through challenges, they demonstrated an excellent work ethic and represented the Maths Department brilliantly. We wish them every success as they move on to the next stage of their education.

The positive attitude shown by Year 11 was echoed across the rest of the school during the end-of-year assessments. It has been fantastic to see the progress students have made, and we have been particularly impressed with how maturely they have engaged with feedback. They have taken time to reflect on their strengths and identify the areas they would like to improve next year, putting them in a strong position for continued success

We are already looking forward to an exciting year ahead and can’t wait to welcome everyone back in September for another year of learning, progress and achievement.

A reminder for September: Please ensure that all students have a scientific calculator ready for the new term, as this is an essential piece of equipment for maths lessons and assessments. Arriving fully equipped will help students make the best possible start to the new academic year

We hope all of our students and their families have a safe, relaxing and enjoyable summer break. We look forward to seeing everyone in September!

Miss Spink Head of Maths

CAREERS

Year 11

Following on from Careers Day at the end of year 10, the year 11s had further talks from Kingston College, NESCOT, Hawk Training Apprenticeships and Hollyfield School. Students were then supported making their post 16 applications. Each student had a one-to-one interview with our Careers Adviser Mr Poole, who helped guide students on to their planned next steps, looking at all available options. In the first term, there was a Careers fair at Hollyfield school which many of the students attended, and some students went to an Apprenticeship Fair. By the time they started their GCSE exams, almost all students had a firm offer in place for post 16 and Mr Davey will be in school on results day to help advise students if necessary

Year 10

The year 10 students have also had presentations from Kingston College, NESCOT, South West Trains Apprenticeship opportunities, Hollyfield School and also Esher College. They are aware of all the different types of pathways post 16, e g A levels, BTEC, Apprenticeships, T levels and the various local providers. There have also been talks and activities for some students from South West Trains and some students also benefited from an excellent trip to Sussex University to experience Uni life. On the Careers Day during Alternative Learning week, the students benefited from a speed networking event, where they had the opportunity to meet a range of employers from various sectors, from Banking to Engineering, and Professional Sports clubs to Beauty Therapy. Our students are now aware of various jobs in the local area, and the career path they need to take to get there. As well as this, students also completed Virtual Work Experience with Springpod, and can now build on this over the summer, now they are registered to this platform. In Tutor sessions the Y10s have also been writing a CV and also taking part in mock employment interviews

Year 9

The year 9 students also benefited from Careers day during Alternative Learning Week and the speed networking event They also completed a research task that has ensured they are familiar with all of our local further education providers. This was on top of presentations in assembly from NESCOT and Hawk Training Apprenticeships. Year 9’s have also had their options evening that gave information regarding local labour markets, and advice and guidance regarding key stage 4 subjects and their influence over future career choices.

Years 7 & 8

In PDW lessons, the year 7 & 8 students each had a half term focussed on Careers. The students have considered various jobs, the skills and qualities needed to successfully carry out these roles, assessing their own skills profile. They have been introduced to post 16 options and the key terminology. They also took part in the school Careers Day where they completed various tasks including a Dragons Den type activity which helped to develop their interpersonal skills as well as business acumen.

Year 12 & 13

Year 13 students were supported with their UCAS/Apprenticeship applications and all received firm offers for their next steps. The students also had a careers meeting with Mr Poole who gave the students ideas for consideration. Both year 12 and 13 students visited the Careers fair at Hollyfield school, attended the National Apprenticeship fair and had engaging careers talks from Chelsea Football Club (Sport students) and a Nursery Practitioner (Child Development students). Year 12 Sport students also benefited from trips to Kingston University. There was also a visit to the Emirates Stadium for the University and Apprenticeship fair which had over 100 exhibitors. The students have also benefited from the onsite work experience, with our child development students working in our onsite nursery and the sport students assisting in lower school clubs and PE lessons. Finally, our child development students also benefited from two weeks work experience in a local primary school, and the Sports students took part in 4 days of external work experience working in a range of different roles within the Sports industry

Mr Davey

Head of Careers