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Student and Parent Handbook 2026-27

thomas-scollege.co.uk

Dear students and parents It is such a pleasure to welcome you to Thomas’s College! To all our students and families - we are thrilled to be working with you as the first generations of our wonderful new school. It is so exciting to be sharing in the adventure of creating a really outstanding learning environment, led by our brilliant and passionate staff, who work with students to help them achieve their own personal best in ways that are new and unique and will equip them for the changing future. Together we are shaping a school of which we will all be very proud. As you know, our foundation stones are joyful academic excellence, breadth of experience and above all kindness. On those foundations we are building a radically innovative school that does things better, encourages our students to gain true self-knowledge, and fosters a diversity of creative thought and intelligence. It will also be a school where traditional excellence is innate in all that we do - and the combination, we believe, will see all students become ready for real-world success, with a generous and confident outlook on the world. You’ve already taken the first steps in preparing to join the school: this guide should help as the journey continues. It begins with our vision, aims and values. They are what define us as a school and they will connect us all into a community that seeks to do good in the world and to bring the greatest possible benefit to all those within it and beyond it. The rest of the guide is full of detailed and helpful information, so please read it through. If you are left with any questions, then don’t hesitate to ask - we’re here to help you feel happy and confident about September and all that lies ahead. Thank you: not just for your time reading this handbook, but for coming to join our community. Together, our goal is to build an experience that you will cherish, and that will bring you lifelong benefits. We are so looking forward to getting that journey underway! With warmest wishes,

Will le Fleming Founding Master Thomas’s College

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Contents 5

Vision, aims and values

Our values

Contacting us

How we communicate

Practical matters

Academic matters

Co-curricular life

Drama and Music

Sport

The pastoral system

Boarding

Careers and futures

Health and wellbeing

Community, attendance and Code of Conduct

Attendance ladder

Full uniform & kit list

Sixth Form uniform & kit

Parents’ evenings and reports

Parental involvement

Finance

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Our vision

Our vision is that every Thomas’s pupil flourishes as a compassionate contributor to society and a courageous shaper of the future. To realise this vision, we: ● Champion kindness, community and childhood ● Provide a breadth of experiences that develop lifelong passions ● Equip young people with self-knowledge, inner strength and

intellectual curiosity

Together, these commitments create the Thomas’s culture of joyful excellence, in which our pupils achieve both outstanding academic outcomes and build the confidence, character and adaptability to succeed in the world.

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Our values

KINDNESS

COURTESY

COMPA SSION

Kindness centres all that we do: simply, we are kind to ourselves and we are kind to others. We are a supportive community of good friends who actively look out for one another and ensure everyone feels encouraged.

Courtesy is at the heart of how we treat others and how we act in school: we build a happier world by being unfailingly polite, considerate and mindful of the impact of our behaviour on others.

Compassion connects us all: it demands that we see the world through each other’s eyes, appreciate different perspectives, and treat everyone with care and consideration.

SCHOL ARSHIP

PERSE VER ANCE

Scholarship sparks our curiosity: we learn to think independently, focus, and approach every new challenge with creative and critical thought and a sense of wonder.

Perseverance turns challenges into triumphs: we cheerfully embrace hard work and patience, knowing that our minds grow stronger with effort and that setbacks are simply chances to learn.

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INTEGRIT Y

RESPEC T

Integrity guides our choices: it is the moral purpose that leads us to be completely honest, mean what we say, and do the right thing even when no one is watching.

Respect unites our school: we value ourselves, each other, and our environment, while proudly championing and celebrating the unique differences that make us who we are.

CONFIDENCE

LE ADERSHIP

GIVERS, NOT TAKERS

Confidence is our quiet strength: an inner superpower, we believe in ourselves and celebrate who we are without boasting, giving us the bravery to face challenges and know that our voices truly matter.

Leadership unites courage and empathy: we lead by including everyone, taking responsibility for our actions, and use a voice that speaks up for what is right and fair for everyone.

Kindness is where we begin, and helping others is what we do: we show a true spirit of generosity by using our unique abilities, time and privileges to leave the world around us a kinder and better place.

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Contacting us KE Y CONTAC T INFORMATION All members of staff have an email address, which they access regularly. It is usually denoted by the first initial and surname, followed by ‘@thomas-s.co.uk’. For example, William Jones would be contactable at wjones@thomas-s.co.uk.

RO L E

This is the most efficient method for parents to contact members of staff for brief, non-urgent issues (given full teaching schedules). Parents who have an urgent enquiry should call the School Office on 020 7978 0901.

NAME

SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM Master

Will le Fleming

master@thomas-s.co.uk

Head of Community (Undermaster)

Ashley Vargas

avargas@thomas-s.co.uk

Head of Personal Development (Undermaster)

Mekhla Barua

mbarua@thomas-s.co.uk

Head of Pastoral Care (Designated Safeguarding Lead) & Director of Boarding

James Ralphs

jralphs@thomas-s.co.uk

Group Director of Admissions & Marketing

Laura Cottrell

lcottrell@thomas-s.co.uk

Director of Co-Curricular

Jamie Harrison

jharrison@thomas-s.co.uk

Director of Studies

Joanna Duncan

jduncan@thomas-s.co.uk

Director of School Operations

Lloyd Durbin

ldurbin@thomas-s.co.uk

Director of Sixth Form & Outcomes

Romain Pourre

rpourre@thomas-s.co.uk

Director of Fifth Form & Options

Andrew Norton

anorton@thomas-s.co.uk

Director of Fourth Form & Transition

Connie Bennett

cbennett@thomas-s.co.uk

Director of Estates

Adam O’Higgins

aohiggins@thomas-s.co.uk

Head of Admissions

Charlotte Bowen

cbowen@thomas-s.co.uk

Director of Tutorial Programme

Emma Hall

ehall@thomas-s.co.uk

WIDER LEADERSHIP TEAM

STAFF LIST

SCHOOL OFFICE

In the run-up to opening, you may find staff information in our Staff Biographies publication.

The School Office can be reached at: Tel: 020 7978 0901 Email: collegereception@thomas-s.co.uk There may be occasions when students need to call home. They will be able to do this in the School Office, with the permission of a staff member.

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How we communicate MY SCHOOL PORTAL (MSP)

TomCom has five sections:

My School Portal (MSP) is an online portal designed to streamline information and services between the College and parents. As a parent, you’ll have instant and easy access to information about your children, such as school timetables, attendance, reports, school information and single-sign-on to other booking systems such as clubs and parents’ evenings. All information is accessed securely online using a username and password and is accessible using your desktop, tablet, or mobile device. You only see information that is relevant to your child(ren). If you have more than one child at different Thomas’s schools, you will need to log in to their current school’s MSP: you cannot access information for all your children from the same dashboard.

● Need to Know – Your inbox with important school

Access is easy, and once logged in, you should find it intuitive to navigate around. The instructions below will help you to gain access to your account.

messages.

● Calendar – A personalised school calendar for each child. ● Highlights – A carousel of images and videos displaying

everyday life at school.

● News – A weekly news publication released every Friday

during term time.

● Gallery – A personalised photo and video gallery with

three sub-categories:

● Every day – A photo gallery with free downloads. ● Formal – Purchasable individual and class photos

(downloads and prints). You have the option to print your child’s formal photographs through School Snaps, who are print specialists and provide mounts, frames and much more. (Thomas’s does not profit from the purchase of photographic prints.)

● Productions – A photo gallery of relevant drama

TOMCOM TomCom is our communications app, which will be your go-to platform for all timely information relevant to you and your child about Thomas’s schools. All parents and students are expected to download the TomCom app. The app has been designed so that you receive important information relevant to just your child. It is easy to add important dates to your personal calendar as well as view bespoke ‘need to know’ information, the weekly news, and see a carousel of images giving you a window into everyday life at Thomas’s – all at the touch of a few buttons. Urgent messages will be relayed to you via notifications on your smartphone, so it is important to have your notifications turned on at all times.

productions with free downloads.

Currently, you can access a simplified version of TomCom and view ‘life at Thomas’s’. Towards the end of August, the app will automatically update, giving you access to your child’s complete profile, including all the elements listed above. TomCom is a one-way communication app. Urgent or oneto-one communication with the school or a staff member should be via email or by phoning the School Office. Please follow these links for guides and a video to support parents: ● How-to guide to download, install and log in to TomCom ● How to guide to login to MSP

Email and telephone support is available Monday-Friday, 0800 - 1700 Email: parentsupport@thomas-s.co.uk Telephone: 020 3327 4174

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WHO TO CONTAC T For day-to-day questions, your Tutor will be the first point of contact. Students are grouped into Tutor groups for pastoral time each morning.

FO U R T H FO R M ( Y E A R S 7 & 8)

FO R M

Connie Bennett

Director of Fourth Form & Transitions

cbennett@thomas-s.co.uk

Megan Wright

Assistant Director of Fourth Form

mwright@thomas-s.co.uk

Christina McCarthy

Form Tutor for 4CM

cmccarthy@thomas-s.co.uk

Mark Nightingale

Form Tutor for 4MN

mnightingale@thomas-s.co.uk

Naomi Goodall

Form Tutor for 4NG

ngoodall@thomas-s.co.uk

Isobel Langworthy

Form Tutor for 4IL

ilangworthy@thomas-s.co.uk

Mark Waters

Form Tutor for 4MW

mwaters@thomas-s.co.uk

Ibrahim Mohammad

Form Tutor for 4IM

imohammad@thomas-s.co.uk

Neil Redondo

Form Tutor for 4NR

nredondo@thomas-s.co.uk

Ben Lester

Form Tutor for 4BL

blester@thomas-s.co.uk

Rosie Richardson

Form Tutor for 4RR

rrichardson@thomas-s.co.uk

Jana Wanli

Form Tutor for 4JW

jwanli@thomas-s.co.uk

John Muhlemann

Form Tutor for 4JM

jmuhlemann@thomas-s.co.uk

Jennifer Harvey

Form Tutor for 4JH

jharvey@thomas-s.co.uk

C A N T E R B U RY:

WESSEX:

B E AU FO R T:

C LO U D S H I L L :

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FI F T H FO R M ( Y E A R S 9 & 10)

FO R M

Andrew Norton

Director of Fifth Form & Options

anorton@thomas-s.co.uk

Alice Ford-Senior

Assistant Director of Fifth Form

afordsenior@thomas-s.co.uk

Grace Goddard Assistant

Director of Fifth Form

ggoddard@thomas-s.co.uk

Andrea Martin

Form Tutor for 5AM

amartin@thomas-s.co.uk

Sarah Coles

Form Tutor for 5SC

scoles@thomas-s.co.uk

Daphne Cogan

Form Tutor for 5DC

dcogan@thomas-s.co.uk

Stephanie Kuye

Form Tutor for 5SK

skuye@thomas-s.co.uk

Thomas Bale

Form Tutor for 5TB

tbale@thomas-s.co.uk

Lily Glypti

Form Tutor for 5LG

lglypti@thomas-s.co.uk

Kenna Griffin

Form Tutor for 5KG

kgriffin@thomas-s.co.uk

Sean Roberts

Form Tutor for 5SR

sroberts@thomas-s.co.uk

Karen Barrett

Form Tutor for 5KB

kbarrett@thomas-s.co.uk

Hasna Salem

Form Tutor for 5HS

hsalem@thomas-s.co.uk

Jamie Harrison

Form Tutor for 5JH

jharrison@thomas-s.co.uk

Aodan De Havilland

Form Tutor for 5AD

adehavilland@thomas-s.co.uk

C A N T E R B U RY:

WESSEX:

B E AU FO R T:

C LO U D S H I L L :

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S I X T H FO R M ( Y E A R S 11, 12 & 13)

FO R M

Romain Pourre

Director of 6th Form & Outcomes

rpourre@thomas-s.co.uk

Lily Johnston

Assistant Director of Sixth Form (Year 11)

ljohnston@thomas-s.co.uk

Peter Brazier

Assistant Director of Sixth Form (Year 12)

pbrazier@thomas-s.co.uk

Lisa Stone

Sixth Form Administrator & Examinations Officer

lstone@thomas-s.co.uk

Pascale Goddard

Form Tutor for 6PG

pgoddard@thomas-s.co.uk

Matthew Lye

Form Tutor for 6ML

mkye@thomas-s.co.uk

Esther Arrnott

Form Tutor for 6EA

earnott@thomas-s.co.uk

Muhsin Ogretme

Form Tutor for 6MO

mogretme@thomas-s.co.uk

Thea Kelly

Form Tutor for 6TK

tkelly@thomas-s.co.uk

Flora Pringle

Form Tutor for 6FP

fpringle@thomas-s.co.uk

David Hammond

Form Tutor for 6DH

dhammond@thomas-s.co.uk

Sarah Thorne

Form Tutor for 6ST

sthorne@thomas-s.co.uk

Lily Kearney

Form Tutor for 6LK

lkearney@thomas-s.co.uk

Tim James

Form Tutor for 6TJ

tjames@thomas-s.co.uk

Marisa Milligan

Form Tutor for 6MM

mmilligan@thomas-s.co.uk

Genieve Charles

Form Tutor for 6GC

gcharles@thomas-s.co.uk

C A N T E R B U RY:

WESSEX:

B E AU FO R T:

C LO U D S H I L L :

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OT H E R I M P O R TA N T CO N TAC T S :

Boarding Team

wesley@thomas-s.co.uk

Reporting an absence

collegeabsences@thomas-s.co.uk

IT Support

parentsupport@thomas-s.co.uk

Thomas’s Accounts

tlds_accounts@thomas-s.co.uk

Administrative Team

collegereception@thomas-s.co.uk

Lisa Stone, Sixth Form Administrator & Examinations Officer

lstone@thomas-s.co.uk

Mark Waters, Head of Careers

mwaters@thomas-s.co.uk

Jane Graham, Medical Lead

jgraham@thomas-s.co.uk

Parents sending emails are asked to consider the ‘hundredword rule’. Email is an efficient means of disseminating brief information. It is a very inefficient medium for dialogue. When typing, if you reach 100 words, we strongly encourage you to pick up the telephone and arrange to speak to the relevant member of staff, either by phone or in person, where at all possible. Please also remember that staff are teaching throughout the day and will often not be able to reply to (or even read) emails. Urgent messages must go through the Office. We would also ask that parents try to avoid evening and weekend emails where at all possible and schedule messages to arrive during working hours. We will always aim to reply within one working day.

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Practical matters ARRIVAL & STRUC TURE OF THE DAY Students are expected to arrive at school in time for registration at 0845. Those arriving after registration will be marked as late. If you arrive after registration you must register in the School Office on arrival.

At the time of writing, private e-scooters are illegal on public roads and pavements and are therefore not permitted. In addition, you must be 18+ in order to rent e-bikes/scooters; therefore, students are not permitted to use them as a mode of transport during their commute to and from school. Buses and local transport

STRUC TURE OF THE SCHOOL DAY 0745

School opens; pre-school clubs and optional prep

0845

Registration and tutor time

0915

Period 1

1000

Period 2

1045

Morning break

1105

Period 3

1150

Period 4 / early lunch

1235

Lunch 1 / clubs / period 4

1315

Lunch 2 / clubs

1400

Period 5 / catch-up lunch

1445

Period 6

1530

Period 7

1615

Dismissal After-school clubs

1730

School closes for day students

From September 2026, we are introducing a coach service in order to provide a safe and effective method of transport for our students and families.The Thomas’s College bus service is managed on our behalf by Vectare, a specialist school transport management company. All bookings for our school bus routes are made online via the vectare online booking system thomass-college. vectare.co.uk. Further detailed information about the home to school bus service is published and linked from the school portal. We will continue to offer our own shuttle bus service from Richmond Station to and from the College at the start and end of the school day. If a shuttle bus is not immediately available, students should take the 371 public bus, which stops outside the College, or walk. Students are able to leave school unaccompanied or on a school shuttle bus to Richmond Station. Shuttle buses to Richmond Station will run after school, accommodating after-school clubs. Travel sharing We offer a service that enables parents to connect with other local families to plan travel. Where there are large groups of parents in one particular area, we will be in contact to help facilitate the most efficient form of shared transport. Parking

LUNCH Lunch is included for all students, taking place from 1235-1400. Students in the Fourth, Fifth and Lower Sixth Forms will use a rota system for the time they can enter the Refectories. Students in Middle and Upper Sixth will be able to have lunch in Red House. TR AVEL Bicycles and scooters Students who are cycling must wear bicycle helmets, wear reflective clothing and have serviceable lights. There are bicycle stands at the College, but students should bring their own bike lock. 15

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There is no parking on the school premises at Thomas’s College. We also kindly request that parents do not stop along Queens Road or Chisholm Place / Hobart Place to drop off or pick up their child, for their safety and in order to respect our neighbours and community. There are drop-off/pick-up parking spaces available outside the Harbour Hotel on Richmond Hill, which is a short walk to the College. Located on the same side of the road as the College, this drop-off and pick-up zone improves student safety. It also helps ease traffic flow and prevents congestion on nearby residential roads, showing courtesy to our neighbours.

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Academic matters CURRICULUM Curriculum Guides can be found linked on My School Portal (MSP). Please refer to these documents for specific details on the curriculum. You are also able to access the resources used in lessons through Google Classroom.

ONLINE PL ATFORMS FOR TE ACHING AND LE ARNING We make limited use of the most effective online learning platforms, but also use textbooks, writing by hand and physical planners to manage student work. Google Classroom (all subjects)

HOME WORK Homework at Thomas’s is called Prep. The amount of prep given per night differs between year groups. Full details on the expectations for each subject will be provided at the start of term in September. TIME TABLES Student timetables can be found on My School Portal.

Google Classroom is the online platform we use to support blended learning. It is used in class to share slides (materials) and for prep (assignments). Students will be added to a class for each of their subjects. Parents will be able to access these classes by using their own login. For each class folder, teachers will adhere to these set-up guidelines: ● Teachers will create one topic area in their subject for

each unit of work.

EQUIPMENT

● Topic Areas are titled with the term name and unit name,

Students require the following equipment:

eg Mich 1 - Numbers

● 3 black or blue pens for handwriting

● Materials used in lessons are titled with a number

● 3 pencils ● 3 purple pens for handwriting (for feedback on own

or peer work)

and lesson title. [01-Adding Two Digit Numbers or 05-Regrouping with Subtraction].

● All prep is set on Google Classroom with a set due date,

● Rubber

so everyone in the family can check what prep is due.

● Pencil sharpener

● There will be one Topic for prep so students can quickly

access assignments.

● Highlighter

● Prep is titled with P, the lesson number and the lesson

● Glue stick

title. (P01-Adding Two Digit Numbers).

● Protractor

● Resources from every lesson taught are added to Google

● Ruler

Classroom, so that students are able to catch up on any learning that is missed.

● Calculator (recommended Casio fx-85GTX) ● In-ear headphones (with USB-C or Bluetooth for use

with iPad Pro).

For Art homework: ● A4 sketchbook or cartridge paper pad

If your child misses a lesson (e.g. for a Music or Drama lesson, or as a result of illness), it is their responsibility to catch up on the work missed by using Google Classroom and communicating with their teacher ahead of their next lesson. All classwork and prep is uploaded to Google Classroom for reference. However, often prep is not digital nor submitted online: the Fourth Form (Years 7-8) only have two digital preps per week, both completed in school.

● Set of drawing pencils (minimum: HB, 3B and 6B) ● Blending stump ● Watercolour colouring pencils ● Fineliner pens (black)

Seneca (senecalearning.com/en-GB) is another platform that teachers will use to set homework and revision tasks for students. Teachers will add a link on Google Classroom to Seneca for students to access their learning tasks.

● White pen

DE VICES Students are expected to come to school with their devices fully charged. Year 7-11 will be issued with an iPad with a keyboard Year 12 students are given a choice between an iPad and a MacBook.

As a parent, you can connect your account to your child’s account to monitor their progress and support them with meeting deadlines and completing work set.

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Quizlet (quizlet.com/en-gb).

Careers

Students will be asked to create their own accounts.

Students are all given an account on Unifrog, an online platform that supports Careers and Futures teaching and allows them to record external achievements that can inform CVs and other statements they will use in their futures. This account is already accessible through existing school emails and with a password that students choose themselves on initial login. Parent logins are also available for those who choose to see what students are recording on this site.

Maths Sparx (sparx.com) provides personalised homework to each child, with questions that are challenging yet achievable, and tailored to their learning needs. Students access their homework on their online Sparx account using their school email address. In addition to Sparx, should your child wish to read around the subject, we recommend the following websites for independent learning: mathigon.org/dashboard parallel.org.uk Modern Foreign Languages LanguageNut (languagenut.com) is a helpful resource which enables students to reinforce their vocabulary, whilst simultaneously practising the four key skills of Modern Foreign Language learning, namely Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. Students make some use of this app for homework’ and in lessons to practise GCSE questions. Physical Education (GCSE only) EverLearner is an online platform with video tutorials, knowledge recall questions and exam-style questions. The large majority of GCSE PE homework will be completed using EverLearner. Students will be given log in details at the start of the year.

Accelerated Reader Accelerated Reader is a computer program that helps teachers and librarians manage and monitor students’ independent reading practice. Students pick a book at their own level and read it at their own pace. When finished, students take a short quiz on their iPad (passing the quiz is an indication that the students have understood what was read). Accelerated Reader gives children, teachers, and librarians feedback based on the quiz results, which the teacher then uses to help students set goals and direct ongoing reading practice. Students using Accelerated Reader choose their own books to read, rather than having one assigned to them. This makes reading a much more enjoyable experience as they can choose books that are interesting to them. Teachers and librarians help students choose books at an appropriate reading level that are challenging without being frustrating, ensuring that students can pass the quiz and experience success. Students are expected to read for 20 minutes a day. LIBR ARY

Art

The library aims to foster a love of reading, to develop literacy and information technology skills and to deepen their subject learning. It is also a place for students to work quietly and independently.

● Tayasui Sketches (app) ● Canva ● Adobe Photoshop

Each form group visits the library regularly. Students are encouraged to read for pleasure, with reading homework of twenty minutes a day an expectation on top of subjectspecific homework. All students will be expected to complete quizzes on Accelerated Reader.

● Google Slides ● PicCollage (app)

Outdoors DofE App (used for uploading evidence)

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TUTORING Thomas’s College does not encourage or support tutoring of students. The only exceptions to this policy are if a child has a specific learning need which cannot be provided for by the school, or if a new student comes from a different educational setting and requires support to access our school curriculum. Members of staff are not permitted to undertake tutoring without the written consent of the Master. LE ARNING ENRICHMENT The Learning Enrichment Department is made up of a team of specialist peripatetic teachers who specialise in English, Maths and Executive Function/Study Skills. We provide learning enrichment support based on the individual needs of each student, not solely based on formal diagnosis. All students who have extra support receive an ‘Individual Learning Plan’ (ILP) at the beginning of each term, which outlines the targets being worked on for that term. Feedback is communicated to parents at the end of each term. Parents are welcome to get in touch at any time. Catherine Marchant can be contacted on cmarchant@ thomas-s.co.uk.

Co-curricular life Clubs are offered across all years at Thomas’s College, and unless otherwise stated, all are welcome to all clubs. We aim to offer clubs across (and beyond) all learning faculties, at a mix of times throughout the day, some free and some paid, to support a range of interests and experiences. Clubs are sorted into four categories: Skills, Volunteering, Physical and Academic. We strongly suggest your child joins clubs from a range of categories to get the most well-rounded experience they can. In the Fifth and Sixth Form, joining clubs will help your child complete the Duke of Edinburgh Sectional Activities. We have been commended by the programme for the quality of our offer in this regard. At the start of each year, your child will be invited to the 'Clubs Fair', in which they can speak to the teachers or external providers delivering the club about the plans, the timings and the cost. This information will also be shared with you, and then the sign-up process will be completed. Each term, you will be informed which clubs are ending, and you will be sent a sign-up sheet for new clubs as well. Clubs require commitment, and are a great opportunity for students to also show consistency and practice communication. Most clubs will have a two-week trial period, after which students will be actively required to 'drop out' if the club is not for them. If this is not done, if this club is paid, the full terms' fees will be charged. When the club is free, it is still important that the child comes regularly, as teachers cannot plan and deliver quality clubs without knowing consistent numbers, which may lead to disappointment for other students. If your child cannot attend due to external events (e.g., a doctor's appointment), we ask either you or them to email the club leader informing them of the absence in advance. TRIPS Students are fortunate to enjoy many day and residential trips during their time at Thomas’s. Day visits capitalise on the best that London has to offer, as well as visiting museums and venues further afield. Residential trips enhance opportunities for outdoor and academic learning and include local, national and international trips. The trips planned for the academic year will be communicated to you in advance so that you are able to plan ahead. Trips are generally chargeable and will be added to your bill.

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Drama and Music Music and Drama are key aspects of life at Thomas’s College. All the creative, inventive and performing arts Art, Dance, Design and Engineering, Drama, and Music - are in our lifeblood. Whatever a young person’s creative passions and talents, we want them to be given the fullest and freest rein in our school: not as extras alongside the curriculum, but at the heart of our curriculum. They help us understand ourselves and each other, and provide opportunities for lifelong reward - as well as entry into one of the most internationally respected and successful sectors of our economy. As students at Thomas’s College, you will find wonderful opportunities in all these areas. This guide gives you some more information about Drama and Music in particular. DR AMA Drama is part of the taught curriculum. All students have lessons in Drama in the Fourth Form (Years 7 and 8), and may choose it as one of their options from Year 9 onwards. Drama also forms a major part of the cocurricular programme for all students. We have established an exciting partnership with the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond and look forward to celebrating all aspects of theatre, from acting and directing to script work, dramaturgy and technical production! In addition, we offer LAMDA Drama lessons. These are offered in a similar way to individual music lessons. There is the opportunity to study solo, in pairs or in groups. Rates for lessons vary depending on the number of participants in each lesson and on the level of exam entry and are included below.

Our LAMDA Drama students often play key roles in school plays and productions. Our work in these sessions directly feeds into performance opportunities throughout the school year - from class assemblies to major stage productions. It’s a fantastic way to build stage confidence and performance technique in a fun, structured way. Drama is not just about being on stage - it’s about building communication, empathy, creative thinking, and teamwork. LAMDA Drama offers all of this in a nurturing environment where students are encouraged to be bold, expressive, and imaginative. If you would like your child to be involved, please complete the ‘Drama at Thomas’s College Form’ in the MSP Welcome Pack 2026 as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Sarah Coles, Head of Drama, on scoles@thomas-s.co.uk. Sarah is always happy to discuss the program in more detail and help guide you through the next steps. Please see the costs for LAMDA Drama lessons below: ● Individual Lessons (Termly) - 10 x 30 minute lessons per

term £389

● Group Lessons (Termly) - 10 x 30 minute lessons per

term £134

● Paired Lessons (Termly) - 10 x 30 minute lessons per

term £298

Please note that there is a separate cost for the final exam, to be calculated depending on the number of entries.

LAMDA Drama is a structured yet imaginative program that encourages students to grow in confidence, creativity, and communication. These lessons focus on key performance skills such as voice, movement, character development, and storytelling. Students explore scripts, improvisation, and devised theatre, all within a supportive and energetic environment. Timetabled during the day in the Michaelmas and Lent Terms, these lessons are a perfect way for students to develop their dramatic talents without impacting their academic schedule. They follow the LAMDA syllabus, a globally recognised qualification that helps students gain skills for life, whether or not they choose a future in the performing arts. Students can choose to take graded examinations that celebrate their progress and achievements.

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MUSIC Music is part of the taught curriculum in the Fourth Form (Years 7 and 8) and one of the options for all students from Year 9 onwards. If you are passionate about music, the first step is to complete the ‘Music Form’ in the MSP Welcome Pack 2026 as soon as possible. We currently offer a school orchestra, chapel choir, string quartet, brass group, musical theatre choir, vocal group, woodwind ensemble and a number of rock bands. There are individual lessons on piano, voice, drums, guitar, violin, cello, clarinet, flute, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, trombone and French horn. We offer termly trips to theatres and concerts, and plan to take the chapel choir to Europe in 2027. We have weekly informal lunchtime concerts, more formal end of term concerts, karaoke, open mic sessions, house music competitions and other musical events throughout the year. The Music School also works alongside the Drama Department to produce musical productions. Individual music lessons All lessons are 35 minutes. Charges for 2026-2027 will be confirmed as soon as possible and communicated to all parents before the summer holidays. Lessons take place during the school day and rotate week by week in order to minimise disruption to the academic timetable. They will not be timetabled during Games or trips. Peripatetic music teachers will send their timetables weekly and will email you directly should any changes be necessary.

Sport We are incredibly excited for the year ahead and all that it promises for sport at Thomas’s College. From weekly training sessions and competitive fixtures to House tournaments and invitational events, there will be plenty of opportunities for students to challenge themselves, grow in confidence, and experience the joy of sport. Within the games programme, each term will feature a designated ‘major’ sport. Students will participate in this sport during their weekly games lessons and will have the opportunity to represent Thomas’s College in fixtures against other independent schools, primarily on Saturday mornings. The major sports for each term are outlined below: Michaelmas Term

Lent Term

Summer Term

Girls

Hockey

Netball

Cricket

Boys

Football

Hockey

Cricket

In addition to the major sports programme, Thomas’s College offers a range of other sporting pathways and regular competitive opportunities in Rugby, Rugby Sevens, Girls’ Football, Tennis and Athletics. These sports are supported through our extensive co-curricular clubs programme, providing students with additional coaching, training and fixture opportunities beyond their timetabled Games lessons. As students progress through the College, the range and choice of sports and physical activities available during games lessons broadens, enabling them to explore new activities, develop specialist interests and continue participating in sport in a way that matches their abilities, aspirations and enjoyment. VISION To deliver a comprehensive, student-centred sports programme that empowers students to achieve excellence in athletic performance, builds confidence, fosters school pride, and nurtures physical, emotional, and social wellbeing, while encouraging lifelong participation in sport and physical activity. COMMUNIC ATION Sports activities, coaching sessions, fixture venues, and related information vary throughout the term and are communicated to students and parents via TomCom at least 72 hours prior to each fixture. Team sheets are also displayed on the PE noticeboard with full fixture details.

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SUPPORT We warmly encourage parents to attend matches and support College teams. Your presence on the sidelines means a great deal to the students and helps foster a strong sense of community. However, we ask that all supporters – parents, guardians and family members – uphold the highest standards of sportsmanship and respect. Positive encouragement is always welcome, but coaching from the sidelines, negative comments, or criticism of referees, players, opposition teams, or coaches is not appropriate. We strive to model the values we teach our students, and your conduct plays an important part in that. PE KIT We place a strong emphasis on high standards of personal presentation and expect all students to wear the full and correct Thomas’s College PE kit for all sporting activities, including Games afternoons, PE lessons, and fixtures. Kit should be clearly named, well maintained, and worn with pride as a reflection of the College’s values. On designated Games afternoons, students are permitted to arrive at school wearing their full PE kit and may remain in it for the duration of the day. Students in the Fourth Form and Lower Fifth (Years 7–9) may also wear PE kit on days when they have PE lessons. Please note that wearing an incorrect or incomplete kit may result in sanctions in line with the College Uniform Policy. REPRESENTATION In addition to regular PE and Games sessions, students will have opportunities to represent Thomas’s College in competitive fixtures throughout the academic year. These matches are a highlight for many students and provide an excellent opportunity to develop confidence, teamwork, resilience, and school spirit. The majority of fixtures take place during Games afternoons, after school, or on Saturday mornings. It is a privilege to be selected to represent the College and, once selected, attendance is expected. As a smaller school, it is vital that students honour their commitments when selected. We regularly compete against a number of prestigious schools, and commitment, communication, and reliability are essential. Last-minute withdrawals can significantly affect team performance and, in some cases, may result in the College having to withdraw from an event altogether. This can be

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disappointing for teammates and may affect future participation in competitions. If a student is unable to participate in a fixture, parents should inform the relevant coach by email as soon as possible and, wherever possible, no later than 48 hours before the event. We also ask that students prioritise representing the College and commit fully to their team responsibilities. PICK-UP AND DROP- OFF ARR ANGEMENTS Games lessons take place at a variety of venues throughout the year. On these days, students may either return to school by coach or be collected directly from the venue at the end of the session. For fixtures, students may either meet at the venue or travel from the College with the team, as outlined in communications sent via TomCom. Following fixtures, students may be collected from the venue or return to the College with staff for collection. To ensure the safe dismissal of all students, clear arrangements should always be communicated in advance to the relevant member of staff. BEHAVIOUR At Thomas’s College, we place great importance on the way students conduct themselves during all sporting activities. Whether in lessons, training sessions, or competitive fixtures, students are expected to demonstrate the highest standards of behaviour, respect, and sportsmanship.

PE LESSONS Students in the Fourth Form and Lower Fifth (Years 7–9) participate in one core PE lesson each week in addition to their regular Games programme. Our curriculum combines traditional sports with innovative and contemporary activities to ensure that every student experiences a broad, balanced, and engaging programme. Our aim is for students to leave each lesson feeling energised, confident, and with a genuine sense of enjoyment from participating in meaningful physical activity. OFF GAMES If a student is unable to participate in Games or PE due to illness or injury, they must provide a written note from home or have a parent email the Director of Sport directly. Without written communication, students will be expected to participate as normal. This ensures that attendance and participation can be accurately monitored and that appropriate support can be provided where required. Students may have either fixtures or training sessions on Saturdays. The most sporty may play most Saturdays, while other students who play recreationally may only have occasional training and fun competitions at the weekend. Both are considered an important part of the sporting programme and play a vital role in each student's sporting experience, development, and commitment to College sport. Attendance at Saturday sport is therefore expected when students have been selected for a fixture or are required to attend a scheduled training session.

This includes listening to coaches, showing courtesy towards teammates and opponents, respecting officials, and responding positively to both success and setbacks. Representing the College in sport is a privilege, and we encourage students to take pride in their attitude, effort, and commitment as much as their performance. Any behaviour that falls short of these expectations will be addressed in accordance with the College’s Behaviour Policy.

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The pastoral system THE TUTORIAL PROGR AMME

BULLYING

A student’s Tutor is central to their journey at Thomas’s College, acting as the primary point of contact for all academic and pastoral matters. Tutors build deep, meaningful relationships with their students, ensuring they are supported to achieve their personal best. We operate a vertical tutoring model, where students join a group of peers from across their specific stage. In the Fourth and Fifth Forms, students remain with their tutor group for two years. As Year 11 is integrated into our Sixth Form, students in this stage benefit from a three-year cycle, allowing for greater continuity and the opportunity to learn from the experiences of older role models.

At Thomas’s, our aim is that staff, students and parents work together to create a happy, caring, learning environment in line with our school ethos ‘Be Kind’ and our School Values. Our aim is to make the school into a place where bullying – of any kind – is not tolerated and to have a whole school approach to ensure safety, security, openness and confidence.

HOUSE SYSTEM Every tutor group belongs to one of our four Houses: Beaufort, Canterbury, Cloudshill or Wessex. The House system fosters a vibrant sense of community and healthy competition through various events throughout the year, from House singing to competitive sports. We warmly encourage every student to involve themselves fully in House life. Participation and excellence are rewarded with House Points, which accumulate throughout the year as students compete for the prestigious House Cup. SAFEGUARDING Thomas’s College is committed to safeguarding and to promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect every member of our community to share this commitment and to create an open environment in which students and members of staff feel able to raise concerns, in which concerns will be listened to and in which support services and other agencies are readily involved.

If you encounter or witness bullying, please report it to your Form Tutor, Director or Assistant Director of Stage or any member of staff at the earliest opportunity. Please see the school’s Anti-Bullying Policy on MSP (My School Portal) for further information. ONLINE SAFE T Y Online safety is a high priority and an important focus and discussion point with students and parents at school. There are multiple layers of security, monitoring and filtering systems on all school devices, shared MacBooks, iMacs and student iPads. Education around healthy habits and behaviours when online is addressed during Tutor Time, subject lessons, PSHE lessons and assemblies in all year groups. The school has created a controlled online environment in which students can learn the behaviours and habits they need to develop, over time, to remain safe and thrive in the online world.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead is James Ralphs (jralphs@thomas-s.co.uk). He is supported by the Safeguarding Team, composed of the Directors of Stage and the Boarding House Parent. All of these staff members can be contacted on collegesafeguarding@thomas-s. co.uk Any concern, no matter how small, should be raised with the safeguarding team. Students will be informed of who to contact if they have a worry or concern. They may do this in person or through the anonymous reporting app on each child’s device.

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Boarding Boarding at Thomas’s College is offered to students in the Fifth and Sixth Form, spanning Years 9 to 13. Designed to blend seamlessly with modern family life, our boarding provision is highly adaptable. Families can choose weekly boarding, which runs from Monday afternoon to Friday morning and allows students to focus entirely on school life during the week before returning home for the weekend. Alternatively, flexi boarding offers a regular commitment of one to three nights a week, providing an ideal balance of consistency and convenience. For families requiring ultimate flexibility, ad-hoc boarding allows for occasional overnight stays that can be booked the day before, subject to room availability. The boarding community is found in Wesley House, a historic and beautiful space situated on the upper floors of the College that accommodates up to 58 boarders. The house is arranged across wings, ensuring privacy and comfort. Wesley North is the dedicated home for boys, while Wesley South is reserved for girls. An additional level, Wesley Upper, is dynamically allocated to either boys or girls each year, depending on where the higher enrollment numbers lie. Beyond their comfortable bedrooms, boarders enjoy full access to the campus facilities during the evenings. Furthermore, the local surroundings have much to offer with students regularly taking advantage of Richmond Park for cycling, exercise and outdoor activities, alongside organised trips to the local theatres, cafes and restaurants. Wesley House operates as a supportive home-awayfrom-home, guided by a resident team committed to the well-being and academic success of every student. Boarding is led by our Director of Boarding, Mr Ralphs, alongside Houseparent Miss Ford-Senior and our two Resident Tutors, Miss Higgins and Mr Jeffreys. For more details regarding boarding, please refer to the Boarding Handbook.

Careers and futures Preparation for a successful and varied future, that students can direct and have real agency in, is a principal aspect of the Thomas’s College experience. Building a strong academic profile and participation in co-curricular activities is a significant part of this but we also need our young learners to appreciate and develop soft skills, value the potency of informed choices and anticipate the range of challenges they may face as they find their place in a changing contemporary world. To this end Careers and Futures classes are delivered as part of the Tutorial Programme right from Year 7. The content of these adhere to the Gatsby Benchmarks, which is the UK’s key framework of criteria guiding the delivery of high-quality career education in schools, while incorporating wider aspects of what students need to know as they grow toward adulthood. Progressing through each stage of their learning, Thomas’s College students will gain and apply knowledge on different fields of employment and how their own skills and passions can become a part of these. They will enhance their communication and presentation skills, understand how to effectively collaborate and set measurable personal targets for short and long term development, as well as gaining an appreciation of different elements of self-management in the workplace around themes of diversity, wellbeing, professionalism and problem solving. Students will build CVs, look at interview practice, evaluate psychometric testing and research 16+ and 18+ options without a bias on any of the routes available to them at these stages. In Sixth Form there is then the expected focus on finding the best University places and undergraduate life, alongside a focus on entrepreneurship and the possibility of immediately entering the world of work after A-Levels. All the way through they will also spend time looking at money management, including a focus on PAYE, National Insurance and Pensions as appropriate to their age. All of this has to be supported by work experience, exposure to those in the labour market and conversations with experts in a wide variety of different careers. This will come through links with the community and Thomas’s alumni, but parents can also play an invaluable role here and we invite you to get involved with this essential part of College life. If you have any questions or are interested in contributing your expertise here, please email Mark Waters, the Head of Careers, Futures and Partnerships, at mwaters@thomas-s.co.uk.

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Health and wellbeing MEDIC ATION

SECURIT Y

If a student is required to take medication at school, a Prescribed Medication Form must be completed, available from the School nurse or on My School Portal. Please ensure that all medication is clearly labelled, in date, and in its original packaging. Please also make sure the student’s Medical Form is completed and up to date through My School Portal. Students should not carry medications in school on their person unless this is an emergency medication, such as asthma inhalers or auto-injectors. The Medical Centre has a selection of non-prescription medications available. Should a student wish to hold their own medication, they must complete a self-medication form with the school nurse.

We look forward to welcoming parents at Thomas’s College for Parents’ Evenings, events, performances and socials. When visiting during school hours, parents, carers, and any visitors will be greeted by our Security Team at the main entrance, before being escorted to Reception to be signed in and receive a visitor’s badge. All visitors will be escorted during their visit to the College. These simple measures enable us to maintain a careful balance between the safety of our students and the friendly, welcoming atmosphere that you expect of Thomas’s.

DIE T Any special dietary requirements or severe allergies should be brought to the attention of the Medical Lead, Form Tutor and Assistant Director or Director of Stage through completion of the onboarding forms on My School Portal. It is essential for the safety of our students that the information held in school is kept up to date if there are any changes during a student’s career at the school e.g. vaccinations given, new diagnosis or medications.

SMOKING The School operates a No Smoking Policy. Neither smoking nor vaping is not permitted anywhere in the school buildings or grounds.

NUTS Thomas’s College strives to be a nut-free environment but we cannot claim to be completely ‘nut free’. The school asks staff and students not to bring any nut (including pine nuts, peanuts and coconuts) or sesame products into school. Some of our students are prone to an anaphylactic reaction to nuts, sesame and coconut, which can be extremely serious and, in the worst instance, fatal. Please always check the ingredients list on packets, boxes and jars. FIRE AL ARMS AND DRILL S We carry out fire and safety drills throughout the year, for students and staff, following strict evacuation procedures. If the fire alarm sounds, all members of the community will make their way to the College Lawn for registration.

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Community, attendance and Code of Conduct STUDENT VOICE

CODE OF CONDUC T FOR STUDENTS

We believe that the voice of the young people here at Thomas’s College is of the utmost importance, and aim for every child to feel heard on all matters, small or large. Students have the opportunity to join any of our Student Voice Committees. We have half-termly meetings for the following committees:

To ensure our school remains a thriving place for everyone to learn and grow, we have developed a code of conduct for both staff and students to the follow:

Online Safety

● Our Community: We will uphold the Thomas’s Values

and model the behaviour we expect of others. We will cultivate warmth by ensuring we greet each other and visitors, and we will respect people and the school environment.

● Our Inclusivity: We will be inclusive in everything

Wellbeing

we do. We will build a safe community where we will challenge discrimination and accept everyone, and we will step up when someone needs support.

EDI

● Our Growth: We will continue to persevere even when

we get things wrong, viewing mistakes as opportunities to learn. Because we value everyone’s journey, we won’t take away from the learning of others.

Food In addition to this the School Council meets half-termly and aims to give our students a chance to voice their opinions about school life at Thomas’s College. Each class has two Student Council Representatives who put forward the views of their classmates at the meetings. STUDENT LE ADERSHIP We have a team of Student Leaders. There is a rigorous application process involving written applications, interviews and student/staff expressions of support. Although there may be some flexibility each year, we aim to have students holding the following roles: ● Head Students

AT TENDANCE Excellent attendance is vital for students’ well-being and academic progress. Working together to ensure all our students attend school every day is of utmost importance. Attendance is analysed weekly, and Tutors write home half-termly with an attendance update for those that fall below 95%. MSP also shows up-to-date attendance statistics. As a school, we are required to report students who have been absent for 15 days or more in a school year to Richmond Borough. Whilst we register all lessons, morning registration and Period 4 registration marks inform our attendance data and student reports. Therefore, if a student is late to Period 4 despite being in school, this will be reflected on their report.

● Deputy Head Students ● Student Voice ● Community & Houses ● Charity ● EDI ● Pastoral & Wellbeing ● Admissions ● Sustainability & Innovation ● Boarding Captain

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Attendance ladder

EQUATES TO:

7 9

SCHOOL DAYS OFF EACH YEAR

20 30

SCHOOL DAYS OFF EACH YEAR

100%

PERFEC TION

98%

IMPRESSIVE

96%

GOOD

95%

NE ARLY THERE

94%

NEEDS TO IMPROVE

90%

CONCERNS

85%

SERIOUS CONCERNS

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ABSENCE FOR ILLNESS

DRESS AND APPE AR ANCE

Absence for illness must be reported to the School Office (020 7978 0901) or via email to collegeabsences@ thomas-s.co.uk. The School Office must be notified on each day that a student is absent through illness. The school reception will be covered between the hours of 0730 and 1800.

Thomas’s is committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion. Whilst we respect and understand each individual’s desire to express their identity through clothing and appearance, we are rightly proud of our high standards of dress. Wearing a uniform neatly and without adaptations is an important way to show a sense of belonging within our community. Our approach to dress and appearance is designed around common sense, consistency and pride in the school.

If a student has vomited or had a fever, please leave a minimum of 24 hours without symptoms before returning to school. In the case of diarrhoea and vomiting, this should be 48 hours. From 0900, telephone calls will be made to parents of all students whose whereabouts are unaccounted for. Students are expected to catch up on any learning missed through absence. It is their responsibility to complete the work using resources uploaded to Google Classroom, ideally ahead of their next lessons. ABSENCE FOR E XCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES Parents are required to request permission in advance for a student to be absent from school. This is a legal requirement. Requests for absence for reasons such as exceptional family events should be made in writing to the Head of Pastoral, with at least one week’s notice. A decision will be made regarding whether the absence will be marked authorised or unauthorised and the register marked accordingly. Authorised absence is not granted for holidays taken during term time. Unauthorised absence is truancy and is included on school reports. Routine medical treatment (e.g. an appointment at the orthodontist) should be arranged out of school time. All students are expected to begin and end term on the published dates. The school publishes term dates at least a year in advance, and family holidays must be arranged to coincide with the school holidays. MOBILE DE VICES We strongly encourage parents not to purchase their child a smartphone until Lower Sixth (Year 11). Students in Years 7-11 will hand in their mobile devices during tutor time each morning. These must be switched off and kept in phone lockers for the duration of the school day. Students in Middle and Upper Sixth (Years 12-13) will be allowed to keep their mobile phones with them, but these should remain switched off during lesson times and should not be seen outside of the Red House.

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Students are expected to wear their blazers at all times when moving around the school site unless given permission otherwise by staff. Ties are optional on a normal school day; however, if a tie is worn, the top button of the shirt should be fastened. Ties must be worn for formal occasions such as Prize Giving or other designated school events. Shoes should be smart, plain and appropriate for school. Trainers, trainer-style footwear and sports shoes are not permitted as part of the school uniform. Students should not be wearing coats during the school day, except at break or lunchtime outside. In Sixth Form (Years 11-13), students are not required to wear a uniform day-to-day. However, Sixth Formers are role models for the school community, alongside members of staff, and are subject to the same dress requirement: they should dress in a manner that reflects the professionalism expected in a learning environment. We ask that students observe this rule and apply judgment and common sense. For more information, please refer to the Sixth Form Uniform & Kit section below. MAKE-UP Any make-up worn should be natural. False eyelashes, nail varnish, fake nails and nail extensions are not allowed. JE WELLERY Students are permitted to wear one set of stud earrings at school. Students may be required to remove them for reasons of safety, such as when playing sports or exercising. Given the above, we request that students wishing to have their ears pierced do so at the beginning of the summer holiday, so that, by the time term begins in September, earrings may be removed during school hours when requested. Nose piercings are not permitted. A simple chain necklace with a small pendant may be worn. A watch may be worn on the wrist.

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HAIR Students must ensure that their hair is neat in appearance and of a natural colour. Hair styles should be commensurate with professional dress and appearance and reasonable in the opinion of the Leadership Team. To meet safety requirements, hair that is longer than shoulder length must be tied back in some subjects, such as Science, Art, Design & Engineering and Sport.

Our school champions the right of students and staff to embrace all Afro-hairstyles. We acknowledge that Afro-textured hair is an important part of our Black students' and staff members' racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious identities, and requires specific styling for hair health and maintenance. We celebrate Afro-textured hair worn in all styles, including, but not limited to, afros, locs, twists, braids, cornrows, fades, hair straightened through the application of heat or chemicals, weaves, wigs, headscarves, and wraps. In this school, we recognise and celebrate our students' and colleagues' identities. We are a community built on an ethos of equality and respect, where hair texture and style have no bearing on a student's ability to learn or a staff member's ability to teach.

Uniform & kit list INTRODUC TION We offer two uniforms: the ‘Skirt Uniform & Kit’ and ‘Trouser Uniform & Kit’. Uniform applies to day wear and kit to any items worn for sport, games or PE. Students can choose to wear either a ‘skirt’ or ‘trousers’ to suit their preference. Our uniform and kit outfitters are Perry. Uniform and kit can be ordered directly from Perry via perryuniform. co.uk. For questions about your order, please email: info@perryuniform.co.uk or call: 0113 238 9520. Delivery and returns are free to UK addresses. Uniform/kit is worn by all students in Fourth Form (Years 7 & 8) and Fifth Form (Years 9 & 10). In Sixth Form (Years 11-13) students are not required to wear uniform day-to-day, but should wear Thomas’s College sports kit for games, PE and representational matches. On days when students have PE (in Years 7-9), Games (any year group) or two sporting clubs, they may wear the relevant sports kit and tracksuit to School throughout the day, and will not be required to wear the skirt or trouser uniform. Otherwise (for example students in older years who study PE, or students in any year with one sports club), they wear uniform, bring the necessary kit, and use school changing rooms before and after their session. For those who have opted to take part in Dance, please click here for the Dance uniform list.

BLOUSES AND SHIRTS: SHORT SLEE VE AND LONG SLEE VE We are trialling two fabric weights for our blouses and shirts: a 100% cotton, and a polycotton mix. Parents are welcome to choose their preferred fabric to suit their child and circumstances. The 100% cotton option is a dense, high-quality option. This does require a little more attention at the laundering and ironing stage, as you would expect. Parents tell us they value the opacity of the fabric. The polycotton option is a lighter-weight fabric. However, the high cotton content feels good quality when worn and has the obvious laundering benefits of a polycotton. Subject to parent demand, it is likely we will withdraw one of these fabric weights in future - however, both will be permissible for years to come, so please choose the option that suits you best. The shirt associated with the ‘Trouser uniform’ is a boxier shape. The blouse associated with the ‘Skirt uniform’ is more fitted at the waist. JUMPERS: V-NECK OR ROUND NECK Our previous uniform included a round-neck jumper. This jumper is being phased out in favour of a new V-neck jumper. Students may still wear the round-neck jumper, and you may still purchase this from the nearly-new sale. However, the new V-neck jumper will become mandatory from September 2027 onwards. A jumper is an optional item, useful on colder days. SKIRTS: STR AIGHT OR KILT-ST YLE

USED UNIFORM Used uniform sales are run and managed by the PTA with support from students. Once students have outgrown their uniform/kit, parents are warmly encouraged to donate well-looked-after, clean, branded items to the regular nearly-new sales. All profit from sales is donated to the Thomas’s Foundation. The PTA also run a sale of donated Ski/Snowboarding gear ahead of relevant trips.

Our previous uniform included a straight skirt. This is being phased out in favour of a new closed kilt-style skirt, available in a 20” and 22” length - please select the length that best suits your child. The straight skirt style may still be purchased from the used uniform sales and can be worn up to September 2027, when the kilt-style skirt will become mandatory. The skirt may be worn with black or navy ankle socks on warm days and black or navy tights on cold days.

MANDATORY ITEMS All students should have a water bottle, pencil case, coat and school bag/rucksack. Coats and rucksacks should be black or navy and unbranded or lightly branded. These items do not need to be ordered from the outfitters. Rucksacks should have padded straps and suitable padding for school iPads or laptops, as well as room for books and possessions. We recommend that all items brought into school are labelled, including the rucksack.

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Skirt uniform

Navy fitted blazer

Long-sleeve fitted blouse (winter)

Short-sleeve fitted blouse (summer)

V-neck Jumper

Navy fitted trousers

Check skirt pleated

● Items pictured above must be purchased from our uniform outfitters ● Black or navy tights for winter or black/navy ankle socks for summer ● Black polishable shoes, must be black leather/synthetic leather polishable shoes in a

traditional ‘school shoe’ style (no open toes, heels, trainers, hybrid versions, boots or canvas)

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Skirt kit

Reversible games top (compulsory)

Technical midlayer (compulsory)

Training top (optional)

EITHER navy skort (above) OR skirt uniform shorts (right) (compulsory)

EITHER skirt uniform shorts (above) OR navy skort (left) (compulsory)

Navy baselayer leggings (optional)

Blue/red games socks Sports bag (compulsory - personalised (compulsory) initials optional)

Snood (optional)

Long-sleeved baselayer (optional)

Navy performance T-shirt (compulsory)

EITHER classic-fit EITHER multi-sport tracksuit bottoms trousers (above) OR (above) OR multi-sport tracksuit bottoms (left) trousers (right) (compulsory) (compulsory)

● Items pictured above must be purchased from our uniform outfitters ● Football boots - not metal studs ● Trainers with non-marking soles for games/PE/astro. These can be any colour ● Shin pads - compulsory for football and hockey ● Mouth guard - compulsory for hockey ● 2 pairs of white sports socks ● Hockey stick - optional, will be supplied by the school ● Students will play cricket in their Thomas’s College games kit rather than traditional cricket whites.

This approach reflects the shorter-format version of the game played within our sports programme

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Trouser uniform

Navy fitted blazer

Long-sleeve fitted shirt (winter)

Short-sleeve fitted shirt (summer)

V-neck Jumper

Navy trousers

School tie see note below ● Items pictured above must be purchased from our uniform outfitters ● Black polishable shoes, must be black leather/synthetic leather polishable

shoes in a traditional ‘school shoe’ style (no open toes, heels, trainers, hybrid versions, boots or canvas)

● School tie: the College day-to-day standard is to wear the shirt open-

necked. The tie will be worn for specific, formal occasions

● Black/navy ankle socks

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THOMA S’ S COLLEG E

Trouser kit

Reversible games top (compulsory)

Technical midlayer (compulsory)

Training top (optional)

Long-sleeved baselayer (optional)

Navy performance T-shirt (compulsory)

Shorts (compulsory)

EITHER classic-fit tracksuit bottoms (above) OR multisport trousers (right) (compulsory)

EITHER multi-sport trousers (above) OR tracksuit bottoms (left) (compulsory)

Navy baselayer leggings (optional)

Blue/red games socks (compulsory)

Sports bag (compulsory - personalised initials optional)

Snood (optional)

This approach reflects the shorter-format version of the game played within our sports programme

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Sixth Form uniform & kit Students in the Sixth Form (Years 11-13) are given greater independence in their choice of dress. Sixth Formers are regarded as role models for the school community, alongside members of staff, and are subject to the same dress requirement: they should dress in a manner that reflects the professionalism expected in a learning environment. We ask that students observe this rule and apply judgment and common sense. If in doubt, they seek guidance from the Sixth Form team. Students should note that the following items are likely to be suitable: ● Tops: Collared shirts, blouses, or smart jumpers

SIX TH FORM SPORTS/GAMES & PE As a minimum, Sixth Formers should purchase the below Thomas’s College branded PE kit from the items outlined in the Uniform and Kit List section above. Sixth Formers are expected to wear Thomas’s College branded PE kit only. ● 1 x Reversible top ● 1 x Midlayer ● 1 x Skort or Shorts ● 1 x Tracksuit Bottoms or Multi-sport trousers ● 1 x Games Socks

● Bottoms: Chinos, tailored trousers, skirts, or smart

dresses

● Footwear: Loafers, brogues, smart flats, or ankle boots ● Layers: Blazers or cardigans ● Accessories: Understated and professional

The following items are likely to be unsuitable: ● Casual trousers, such as denim, jeans-style trousers

with visible studs, leggings, or casual shorts

● Casual tops, such as T-shirts or clothes with motifs,

logos or slogans

● Revealing clothing, such as spaghetti strap or crop tops,

or shirts with multiple buttons undone

● Damaged or torn clothing ● Trainers, unless with sports kit, flip-flops, or other

casual footwear

● Tight-fitting/bodycon clothing is not permitted.

For formal occasions, such as Open Day and other school events, a more formal dress should be worn. Suits, blazers, collared shirts and ties, tailored suit trousers, skirts or dresses are recommended.

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THOMA S’ S COLLEG E

Parents’ evenings and reports PARENTS’ E VENINGS AND REPORTS Please see the overview of our Parents’ Evening and reporting cycle below: Month

Parents’ Evening (f2f) (14.10.26)

Parents’ Evening (f2f) (08.10.26)

Nov

Dec

Parents’ Evening (f2f) (29.09.26)

Sep Oct

Data report

Full report

Data report

Parents’ Evening (f2f) (11.11.26)

Parents’ Evening (online) (17.11.26)

Data report

Nothing

Data report

Nothing

Mock results Parents’ Evening (f2f) (21.01.27)

Jan Parents’ Evening (online) (28.01.27)

Parents’ Evening (online) (24.11.26)

Parents’ Evening (online) (26.01.27)

Mock results data report (22.01.27) TQ Exhibition 1 (20.01.27)

Feb

Mock results Parents’ Evening (f2f) (10.02.27)

Mar Data report

Options Evening (16.03.27)

Options Evening (03.03.27)

Data report

Full report

Data report

Full report

Mock results data report (05.02.27) Parents’ Evening (online) (11.03.27) Data report

Full report

Parents’ TQ Exhibition 2 Evening (online) (16.04.27) (28.04.27)

Apr

May

TQ Exhibition (28.05.27)

Jun

Parents’ Evening (online) (08.06.27)

Jul

Parents’ Evening (f2f) (04.02.27)

Options Evening (23.02.27)

Full report

Data report

TQ Exhibition (28.05.27)

Data report

Full report

Letter

Full report

Letter

Parents and students will receive a Need to Know message via TomCom to indicate when their reports are available to read. School reports are found on MSP and are released according to the timetable above.

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Parental involvement PARENT TE ACHER A SSOCIATION (PTA )

How to Get Involved:

We’re fortunate to have a brilliant PTA Committee working in close partnership with the College. Our mission is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging with and empowering parents and teachers alike to support our children. Guided by the Thomas’s Values we work in partnership with the College to enrich student experiences through volunteering, fundraising and community events.

Explore Online: Visit thedirectory-thomas-s.co.uk to view the digital version of the 13th edition.

Whether you are new to Thomas’s College or a longstanding member of the Thomas’s community, your time, ideas and energy are valued - and we would love to hear from you if you would like to get involved with whatever time and area of passion that you may have.

Get Your Copy: A printed copy of the latest edition will be distributed to families this autumn. Advertise your business: If you would like to recommend a business or advertise your own in the upcoming 14th edition, please get in touch via the website.

WHAT TO E XPEC T FROM YOUR PTA & HOW TO GE T INVOLVED Parent Liaison – Year Group & Class Reps These roles help foster community spirit within each year and class. While most formal school communication comes via TomCom (our efficient digital platform), WhatsApp groups are a great way to manage everyday questions and reminders. If you’re interested in becoming a Rep, please get in touch. If you would like to support the PTA through your time, skills or with a specific role, please volunteer by emailing collegepta@thomas-s.co.uk. THE DIREC TORY - BUSINESSES RECOMMENDED BY FAMILIES FROM THOMA S' S SCHOOL S What is The Directory? The Directory is a dedicated platform designed to help our school community support each other’s businesses. It allows parents to share and recommend "Tried and Tested" services to a wider audience. Why Use It? Exclusive Perks: Access special offers, latest news, and unique discounts from over 90 diverse businesses. Supporting Our School: 15% of all advertising revenue is donated directly to the schools' PTAs for charitable use. To date, this initiative has raised over £26,000.

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PARENTS’ CODE OF CONDUC T

COMPL AINTS

At Thomas’s College we are committed to fostering and celebrating a safe and respectful environment for everyone. As part of this, we hold shared expectations about the conduct and behaviour of all members of our community, including students, staff and families. When you accept a place for your child at Thomas’s College, it is the start of a partnership in which good working relationships between staff and parents are essential. Please refer to the Parents’ Code of Conduct, available on MSP, for further information about how we ask parents to interact with the school and behave towards and communicate with other members of the school community, including school staff, representatives of the school and other pupils or parents – in person or online. The Code outlines a few simple and common-sense principles, including supporting the school in matters of education and discipline, showing courtesy at all times, and observing the given term dates.

Thomas’s has long prided itself on its openness and on the quality of the teaching and pastoral care provided to all students. The school also actively seeks to maintain an open dialogue with parents. We aim to ensure that all concerns or complaints are managed sympathetically, efficiently and at the appropriate level, and are resolved as soon as possible. Doing so is good practice, it is fair to those concerned and it helps to promote parents’ confidence in the school’s ability to safeguard and promote welfare. It is in everyone’s interests that any issues are resolved at the earliest possible stage. Many can be resolved informally, but there may be occasions when people would like to raise their concerns more formally. Thomas’s attempts to resolve all issues internally, through the stages outlined in our Complaints Policy, which is available on MSP.

UPDATING YOUR INFORMATION When a student joins Thomas’s College, students and parents will be given access to My School Portal via TomCom. It is essential for the safety of our students that the information held in school is kept up to date. If there are any changes during a student’s career at the school, e.g. medical circumstances, contact details or home address, the School Office must be notified immediately. If parents are going away for any reason during the term and leaving their child in the charge of another adult, the student’s Tutor and the school must be informed in writing, giving the name, address and mobile phone number of any person acting in loco parentis and how parents can be contacted in an emergency. The emergency contact which you provide must be somebody who lives locally and who would be willing to act on your behalf should we be unable to contact you. COMMUNIC ATION AMONGST PARENTS We are aware that parents at Thomas’s have some common interest communication groups that are hosted on social media platforms (such as WhatsApp). These groups are administered by parents and are not considered by Thomas’s to be official communication channels or endorsed by the schools. Where a member of Thomas’s staff is a member of a parent group, this is in their capacity as a parent/carer of a Thomas’s student. Any communication they share will be their personal opinion and shall not be considered to reflect the views of Thomas’s. Thomas’s will not monitor the groups or communicate with parents via any WhatsApp group or other social media platform.

THOMA S’ S COLLEG E

DATA PROTEC TION At Thomas’s we have always taken data security seriously, as we appreciate the consequences of data being shared inappropriately or incorrectly and the implications this can have on everybody involved. Thomas’s London Day Schools aim to ensure that all personal data about staff, students, parents, visitors and any other individual is collected, stored and processed in accordance with UK data protection legislation. This applies to all personal data, regardless of whether it is in paper or electronic format. Full details can be found in our Privacy Notice and Data Protection Policies which are available on MSP. Any queries should be sent to dataprotection@thomas-s. co.uk. PHOTOGR APHS The keystone of our approach is our unique communication system, TomCom. This is a closed-loop system, designed by us, that allows us to share highquality images with you in a wholly secure way. Most schools make use of open or third-party systems to share images with parents: our approach ensures a far higher layer of safety and privacy. We do believe that the careful use of pupil images on other platforms, such as Instagram, can bring benefit to the school community: primarily in sharing the qualities that make a Thomas’s education special with prospective parents to ensure the continued future success of our schools. However, we treat any featured image with the utmost care, and have a separate tier of consent to ensure you are fully aware of any intended use of this kind. In addition we will seek image-by-image permission for any

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high-quality or high-profile imagery we intend to use on such platforms or share with third parties, on top of general consent. Parents are welcome to take photographs of and, where appropriate, film their own children taking part in School events unless otherwise notified. No photograph or film taken in school may be published (this includes on any social media platform such as Instagram, Facebook, YouTube etc.) without the explicit consent of each person recorded and, in the case of a student, without the explicit consent of their parents. For full details, please see the Policy on Taking, Using and Storing Photographs of Students, which is available on MSP.

Finance Fee bills, including the cost of lunches and weekly boarding, will be sent via email at the end of each term before the new term starts. Bills will need to be settled via direct bank transfer before the first day of term. School fees are charged on a termly basis and in advance of the upcoming term. Charges such as clubs, music lessons and trips are charged retrospectively at the end of the term. Those with Parental Responsibility are responsible for ensuring that all of the Fees are paid to the College. This is because our contract applies to both of you together and each of you on your own. In practice, this means that if any of the Fees have not been paid, then the College can, in its discretion, choose to seek payment of the amount outstanding from either or both of you.

When making invoice payments, please use your family reference of 3 letters followed by 3 numbers (ABC123), which can be found on your invoices & statements. Alternatively, please use your pupil code of 3 letters followed by 2 numbers (ABC12), which can also be found on your invoices. Payment Via Third Parties We can accept payment from third parties, such as a grandparent or employer. However, those with parental responsibility will remain responsible for the payment of fees, unless we agree otherwise in writing. In this instance, please contact the finance office to discuss.

All parents who have parental responsibility and who have signed the acceptance form will receive a joint fee bill via email. KE Y FINANCE/BILLING CONTAC TS If you have any queries regarding your invoice, please direct them to the Accounts team on: 01425 481500 or email: tlds_accounts@thomas-s.co.uk. The postal address for this office is: Thomas’s London Day Schools Finance Team Suites 2 & 3, Brightwater House, Market Place, Ringwood, Hampshire, BH24 1AP Bank Details Bank Address - HSBC, 593 - 599 Fulham Rd, Fulham, London, SW6 5UA Account Name: Thomas’s London Day Schools Limited Sort Code: 40-07-14 Account Number: 91723162 SWIFT/BIC HBUKGB4B IBAN GB21HBUK40071491723162

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THOMA S’ S COLLEG E

THOMAS’S COLLEGE Queen’s Road, Richmond Hill, Richmond upon Thames, TW10 6JW

thomas-scollege.co.uk