Headteacher's Bulletin

Dear Parents & Carers

What a week we've had as we move towards the end of term on Tuesday 17th December. Along with the hard work and continued focus on academic learning, building skills and confidence - we've also found time outside of lesson time for plenty of festive fun and coming together as a community where everyone has a sense of belonging.

We have embraced the Christmas season with a range of exciting events and activities. Highlights include:

Year 7 Pantomime: Jack and the Beanstalk – A fantastic production that brought laughter and festive cheer to everyone. A huge thank you to all involved in organising and performing!

Christmas Jumper Day – Our corridors and classrooms were filled with colour and sparkle as staff and students donned their most festive jumpers in support of Save the Children along with Santa hats, reindeer antlers and flashing lights! It was wonderful to see the whole community come together to contribute to this important cause.

Christmas Lunch – A brilliant team effort from our catering staff, who provided a delicious meal enjoyed by everyone. This event was an incredible success, with five sittings flawlessly executed thanks to meticulous preparation, cooking, serving, and cleaning. Huge thanks to our entire Cucina team for the delicious food, and to Ms Arnold for all her work in decorating the auditorium and organising the hall. Particular thanks to Ms Bailey, who organised the whole event with military precision and got special recognition, especially for the unforgettable moment when the entire Year 7 cohort sang "Happy Birthday" to her. It was a genuinely moving moment that reflected just how much she means to our students. Thank you to everyone involved for making this such a special day.

Year 7 Christmas Disco – Last night’s disco was a resounding success, with Year 7s dancing the night away with lots of sugar and pizza-fuelled fun! A massive thank you to Ms Cutting and all the staff who supported on the night and helped create such a memorable evening. Rumour has it that Mr Tabron has some impressive moves! A lot of Year 7 love goes out to everyone who made this event possible.

Sparkle and Shine Competition – Our classrooms have been beautifully decorated with lights and festive decorations as part of the Sparkle and Shine competition. The creativity and effort on display have truly brought the holiday spirit to life in our school.

Christmas Cake Decorating Competition – Cookery Club hosted a festive cake decorating competition, and what an array of delicious and creative ideas we saw! A big well done to everyone who participated.

Christmas Card Competition – Congratulations to our talented Year 7 winners:

• 1st Place: Robin (7R)
• 2nd Place: Yesha (7P)
• 3rd Place: Kany (7P)
• 4th Place: Alfie (7P)

Celebrating Achievement - Throughout the week, we celebrated the achievements of our students in attendance, academics, and sports and for upholding the PRIDE values of Perseverance, Responsibility, Integrity, Dedication, and Empathy. Congratulations to all our prize winners; your hard work and dedication inspire us all.

While we have enjoyed the festivities, there has also been a strong focus on academic and cultural enrichment:

Year 11 GCSE Devising Pieces – Our Year 11 students have been hard at work completing their devising pieces for their final GCSE drama component. The creativity and effort they have displayed have been truly impressive - well done and thank you to the Year 11s and to Ms Green, Ms Gough, Ms Charlton and everyone involved.

La Bohème at the Royal Opera House– Today, a group of 40 students had the extraordinary opportunity to visit the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden to experience Puccini’s La Bohème. This cultural outing was both inspiring and educational, broadening our students' horizons and enriching their learning.

As we move towards the close the term, I want to thank all the staff, students, and parents who have contributed to making Twickenham School such a special place. Your dedication, enthusiasm, and support mean so much, and it is a privilege to be part of this vibrant community.

Please remember to attend school right until the end of term. We will be teaching right to the end. Every lesson counts!

Each Monday morning in tutor time, students and their form tutors review the weekly student bulletin. This is a round up of all the important information, notices and reminders that they need to know. the bulletin is also posted on the screens around school so they can refer back to it at any time.

Step into the magic this Monday as our playground transforms into a sparkling Winter Wonderland!

Enjoy enchanting performances by our talented school bands, soloists, and the Twickenham Choir, who are sure to get everyone into the holiday spirit. The highlight of the evening will be the breathtaking moment when the lights are switched on, illuminating the playground in festive cheer.

With the weather forecast looking great, it’s the perfect opportunity to come together and celebrate the season. Don’t miss this magical event—we can’t wait to see you there!

Tickets available on sQuid or on the door.

We are thrilled to announce that our school will be participating in a Camps International trip to Tanzania in 2026! This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will give students the chance to experience a new culture, engage in meaningful community projects, and explore the breathtaking landscapes of Tanzania.

The trip will focus on making a positive impact, with students working on sustainable development initiatives, such as building infrastructure, conserving the environment, and supporting local communities.

This adventure promises to be an unforgettable experience filled with personal growth, teamwork, and the chance to make a real difference.

It’s with sadness that we say farewell to Sarah Weinberg, who will be standing down at the end of December after over 8 years on the Local Governing Committee for Twickenham School. Sarah has shown dedication and commitment to supporting staff and students through the journey that the school has been on in that time. She always brought humour and a focus on doing the right thing to the activities that she undertook. We will miss her and thank her wholeheartedly for her contribution. On behalf of the entire school community, I extend my deepest gratitude for her service and wish her all the very best for the future

The Cooking Club’s Festive Cake Decorating Contest was a huge success, with fierce competition and an impressive display of creativity! Our talented students showcased their skills by crafting beautifully decorated cakes that captured the magic of the season. From intricate designs to bold, colorful creations, each cake was proof of the students' hard work and imagination.

Mr Lisseman, Ms Bromly and Ms Johnson judged the contest and were genuinely astounded by the quality of the cakes. Great British Bake Off here we come?

While the competition was tough, every participant did brilliantly, and I couldn’t be prouder of their efforts. A huge congratulations goes to Celeste and Beatrix who came first with their Winter Wonderland snowmen cake and runners up Holly, Matty and Rhyanne. A big thank you to everyone who took part and made this event such a sweet success!

U16 Boys Basketball Team
Congratulations to the U16 Boys Basketball team, who had an action-packed week with a triple header of fixtures! They secured a win in their first game and played two incredibly close matches, finishing within five points. Their efforts earned them a respectable fourth place in the league. Well done, team!

House Games Success
It was wonderful to see students enthusiastically participating in house games this week. The competition was fierce as students earned points for their new houses: Curie, Farah, and Mandela. Great teamwork, everyone!

Exciting New Clubs Next Term

• Climbing Club (Free, but sign-up is required)
• Count on Us Maths Club
• When: Tuesdays after school, 3-4 PM

Don't forget, there's still time to sign your child up Badminton or Judo club

Team Sponsorship Opportunity
Do you own a business or know someone who does? We are seeking sponsorships for our team kits! For more information, please contact Mr. Hayes at info@twickenhamschool.org.uk.

Hampton Youth Zone and Whitton Youth Zone are thrilled to be offering a joint christmas holiday programme this xmas that is absolutely jam-packed full of fun activities for young people aged 8-16. It runs from Wednesday 18th December - Saturday 4th January.

With a load of Christmas-themed activities and events across art, music, and sport we are hoping young people will join us to get into the spirit of things. There are also 3 really cool trips exclusively for those accessing FUEL/HAF support.

You are invited to an exciting event that is taking place on Thursday 16th January, 6pm-7:30pm. Halliford School have been lucky enough to secure Emma Mitchell, a fantastic motivational speaker, to deliver a keynote speech for students and parents.

In January 2016, Emma made history as part of the Coxless Crew after an incredible nine-month journey across the Pacific Ocean. When the team finally reached Cairns, Australia, they had spent 257 days at sea in their pink 29ft boat, Doris.

This event is open to students in Years 9, 10 and 11 and the Sixth Form. Parents are also welcome to attend.

Dates for the Diary

Monday 16 December - Carols in the Courtyard - 5:30pm

Tuesday 17 December - School closes at 3pm for Christmas break

Monday 6 January - School re-opens at 8:30am for all students

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

Jonathon Lisseman

Headteacher

Twickenham School

Percy Road

Twickenham

TW2 6JW

0208 894 4503