Headteacher's Newsletter - Monday 9th October 2023

From the Headteacher

Important Notices

World Mental Health Day Sixth Form Open Afternoon Sixth Form Open Afternoon for our current Year 11 students will take place on Tuesday 17th October. The afternoon will run from 1430-1630 and parents are encouraged to come with their son and explore the A Level subjects on offer. Compressed Day - 17th October Please note that, due to the Sixth Form Open Afternoon and Open Evening events, lessons will be compressed on Tuesday 17th October. Years 7-9 students will be dismissed from school at 1250 and Years 10-13 at 1300. Games Afternoons Games is an integral part of the Tiffin education. Please do not organise medical appointments for your child’s Games afternoon, other than in emergencies. If your child is unwell or injured but in school, they are expected to attend all lessons including PE and they should travel to Games. If their illness/injury prevents them from taking part in physical activity, they will be given non participatory roles, such as coaching or officiating. Special consideration may be made for students with injuries which make transport difficult (such as a broken lower limb that requires crutches for movement). In such instances, please email their Head of Year and the Director of Sport. We can all struggle with how we’re feeling, but sometimes things get tough and it can be difficult to cope. For so many young people, when this happens, they don’t get the help they need, when they need it. But together we can change this. That’s why we’ve signed up to take part in HelloYellow on the 10th October. By taking part and wearing a small yellow accessory, we’re showing young people that we’re with them. We’re showing them that they matter and deserve the support that they need, when they need it, no matter what. To take part, students can wear a yellow accessory to school (think socks, tie, hair band), and we ask parents and carers to consider making a donation to YoungMinds. We will also be trying to raise funds for this charity by putting on a cake sale at break time on the 10th of October. Please note that these cakes must not contain nuts and students who have allergies need to check the ingredients if they are purchasing. We recommend that your child brings in some coins (£1, 50p, 20p) if they want to purchase.

Important Notices

Mental Health Day

School Development

Cross Country

Diamond League

Clubs and Societies Fair

It has been great to receive nearly 30 comments from parents via the new platform Tell us at Tiffin , all of which have been either been appreciative, and helped us think what we should do more of; or constructive and helped us consider what we can improve on. I said that I would keep parents up to date on our responses; and one change we have made already is in regard to blue blazers. There was a helpful comment about blazers in Tell us at Tiffin , and also in last year’s parent survey. I am keen on the idea of each Key Stage of the school having their own identity, and the unform/dress code can help with that; and so, from September, Year 10 will wear blue blazers, along with Year 11. The feedback suggests that parents will welcome this change and it will prove more cost effective. In addition to parent feedback, I am also very keen to hear feedback from your sons and daughters; and I recently spoke to all students in assemblies about Student Voice. One aspect of Student Voice is that during the course of the year I will see every Tutor Group in the school in my office for a lunchtime discussion, to hear their ideas and suggestions. I was slightly concerned about whether 30 students could fit in my office at once (!), but we got underway with 11AB last week and it worked well. The students were extremely articulate and constructive in their comments, and I look forward to meeting the other 50 forms in the school in similar fashion in due course.

Sixth Form Production

Memorial

Comedy Night

SEND Board

Contact Us Queen Elizabeth Road Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey KT2 6RL

020 8546 4638

If you would like to make a donation, please visit our JustGiving page by clicking below.

#HelloYellow

Best wishes

office@tiffin.kingston.sch.uk

Garth Williams Headteacher

Engage · Aspire · Excel

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