Teddington School Newsletter

Dear Families

Our Ofsted report is now live on the school website and can be viewed here. I would like to extend a final congratulations to our students, staff and wider school community for this achievement. We are very much looking forward to celebrating with students towards the end of term.

Our Year 9 students returned from Paris on Monday and reported having a fantastic time. They were able to practise their French while enjoying a rich and varied itinerary, including visits to the Vimy Memorial, the Eiffel Tower, and Parc Astérix, as well as a scenic boat cruise along the River Seine. Well done to all involved for representing the school so brilliantly.

On Wednesday, we were delighted to be awarded Gold Clean Air Accreditation, becoming the first school to receive this award. This recognises our continued commitment to improving air quality, promoting sustainable travel, and creating a greener school environment through initiatives such as active travel schemes, environmental workshops, and planting projects.

Also on Wednesday, 80 students took part in the Borough Sports, with 21 students achieving a top three finish in their respective events. Congratulations to all of those who represented the school.

Well done to our Year 11 and Year 13 students, who are now entering the final weeks of their examination period. We are incredibly proud of their hard work and resilience, and we wish them the very best for the remainder of their exams.

If you have not already done so, please complete our annual parent survey, which can be accessed via the link here. This provides an important opportunity to share your views on different aspects of school life. Your feedback helps us to understand what is working well and where we can make improvements. As this is now an annual process, it also enables us to track changes and trends over time. Please complete the survey by Friday 26th June.

Thank you for your support with Pink Slip Day and ensuring students were in correct uniform. Please continue to ensure your child attends school in full correct uniform. Further information on our uniform policy can be found on our website here.

As we move into warmer weather, we will continue to review uniform expectations and make reasonable adjustments where appropriate. This will include the removal of blazers and the option for students to wear tailored shorts if they wish.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Kind regards

Mr P Grills

Headteacher

Our Year 9 students recently enjoyed an unforgettable trip to Paris, packed with cultural visits, exciting activities and opportunities to practise their French.

The trip began with a meaningful visit to the Vimy Memorial, where students explored the historic site and even walked through preserved World War I trenches. They then travelled on to Paris, where they stayed near the city and quickly immersed themselves in French life.

During the visit, students experienced some of the very best that Paris has to offer. Highlights included a trip to the iconic Eiffel Tower, a scenic boat cruise along the River Seine, and exploring the artistic streets of Montmartre. A day at Parc Astérix provided plenty of fun and excitement, while a bakery workshop and market visit gave students a real taste of French culture.

Throughout the trip, students were exemplary ambassadors for our school. Their behaviour, enthusiasm and willingness to engage fully with each activity were outstanding. Staff were particularly impressed with the confidence shown when speaking French, we heard some fantastic use of the language in real-life situations.

It was a truly memorable experience, and we are incredibly proud of how our students represented the school.

🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️ Well done to almost 80 of our students who proudly represented the school at the Richmond Borough Athletics Championships on Wednesday at St Mary's University!

• Year 7: Nate – Long Jump
• Year 8: Imogen – 800m
• Year 9: Alana – 800m (breaking the Richmond Borough record!!)
• Year 10: Emma – 800m

🥈 2nd Place Achievements:

• Year 7: Macie – 100m
• Year 8: Bella – Javelin
• Year 8: Senna – High Jump
• Year 9: Alana – High Jump
• Year 10: Joey – 1500m

🥉 3rd Place Achievements:

• Year 7: Austin – High Jump
• Year 7: Anabelle – 800m
• Year 9: Ocean – 75m Hurdles
• Year 9: Eliot – 100m
• Year 10: Evie – 80m Hurdles
• Year 10: Seren – 300m
• Year 10: Lucia – 1500m
• Year 10: Peyton – Long Jump
• Year 10: Shai – 400m
• Year 10: Massimo – Long Jump
• Year 10: Joey – High Jump
• Year 10: Alec – Discus

On Monday, Cucina provided a meat-free menu, offering students a range of vegan and vegetarian meal options.

Tree-Free Tuesday saw staff making a concerted effort to reduce paper usage across lessons.

On Wildlife Wednesday, Year 8 students attended a celebration assembly recognising their participation in the three Park Days held throughout the year as part of the Green Futures Project, in partnership with The Royal Parks. Across the project, students worked hard to improve and enhance the natural environment. Their efforts have made a meaningful contribution to local biodiversity, helping to create a healthier and more resilient ecosystem for years to come. During lunchtime on Wildlife Wednesday, students also enjoyed a screening of David Attenborough: 100 Years on Planet Earth in the immersive room. This supported a wider celebration of environmental awareness and the global impact of Sir David Attenborough’s work across generations.

As part of Green Week, Thrifty Thursday saw students showcase their creativity by producing animal sculptures made from recycled plastics and other reusable materials. These impressive works of art were displayed in the library, helping to raise awareness of marine pollution, waste reduction, and the importance of more sustainable practices.

On Feel-Good Friday, students took part in planting projects around the school site, promoting biodiversity and supporting sustainability across the campus.

We are asking all parents/carers to complete our annual parent survey. This survey provides an important opportunity for you to share your views on different aspects of school life. Your feedback helps us to understand what is working well and where we can make improvements. As this is now an annual process, it also enables us to track changes and trends over time.

The questions follow a format similar to the Ofsted Parent View survey, which many of you completed during our recent inspection. We have also added two additional questions asking what you feel we do particularly well and what we could improve on, as we greatly value your feedback and suggestions.

We would be very grateful if you could complete the survey by Friday 26th June.

We are delighted to share that Culture Week will be taking place at school during the week commencing Monday 29th June.

This is a fantastic opportunity for students to celebrate and explore a wide range of cultures through engaging activities and experiences.

As part of the week, students in Years 7, 8 and 9 are invited to take part in a series of optional enrichment sessions. Students may express interest in up to three activities. Due to expected high demand and limited spaces, places will be allocated via a random lottery system, and students will be notified if they have secured a place.

Sign-up deadline: Friday 19th June

Sign-up forms are available via students’ year group Teams pages - available from Monday.

In addition to these sessions, students will also enjoy:

• Themed assemblies
• A cultural carousel of activities
• A variety of international foods in the school canteen

Culture Week promises to be a vibrant and enriching experience, and we encourage all students to get involved.

Thank you for your continued support.

Auditions for our next school production, Grease, will take place after school next Monday and Tuesday. We would be grateful if parents could remind any students who are interested in taking part to attend.

Please see the audition poster for full details. Students can also join the School Production Team using the code: nd9muwv.

I am pleased to confirm that all Year 8 students/parents who completed the survey or contacted me by 9th June have been allocated their preferred language choice for next year.

This summer, our own Mr Spyridakis, together with former Learning Support Assistant and much-loved member of our school community Mr Lamy, will take on an incredible challenge: cycling 600km from London to Luxembourg to raise funds for Make-A-Wish UK.

Setting off on 18th July, the pair will travel entirely under their own pedal power through England, France and Belgium before finishing in Niederanven, Luxembourg, where Mr Spyridakis grew up. While the ride will be a significant test of endurance, it is motivated by a cause that is deeply personal.

We wish them both the very best of luck and encourage our school community to support this inspiring fundraising effort. If you would like to make a donation, please do so via the link below.

The Molly Rose Foundation offers a range of valuable resources designed to support parents. These include practical guides to help you better understand what influences your child’s online world, from the content they see to the people they interact with. The guide also explores how these influences can impact young people’s mood, confidence, and safety online.

We encourage you to explore this guide and the Foundation’s wider resources using the link below.

Welcome to this week’s digital parenting update, part of our series designed to help you support your child’s online world. Each week, we share advice from Internet Matters with practical tips and resources. This week’s resource is titled 'AI Age Limits Guide'. You can see a snippet of the resource pictured, please click on the image to view the whole document.

As your child develops digital independence, smartphones and social media can support connection but also bring risks to wellbeing, sleep, and self-esteem. Open conversations, clear expectations, and family agreements are powerful tools to create balance. Download templates here.

Key points for parents/carers:

• Mobile phones are banned at Teddington School.
• Smartphones can affect sleep, wellbeing, and expose children to bullying, harmful content, and peer pressure.
• Most social media platforms are not age-appropriate: WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok (all 13+). These limits help protect against unsuitable content and privacy risks.

At Teddington School, Year 7 and 12 students receive school-managed iPads to support learning. Devices include safety settings and educational apps, with clear guidance for use. Please see our iPad Parent Guide for more information.

We have also produced a Parent EdTech Guide, which provides a simple overview of the online platforms we use, with links and login support.

Thank you for your continued partnership in promoting safe and healthy digital habits.

16 Jun: Year 12 Geography Trip to Seaford

17 Jun: Year 8 'A Pop' Parents' Evening

18 Jun: Geneva Parents' Information Evening

22 Jun: A-Level and GCSE Art Department Exhibition

23 Jun: Year 11 Leavers Assembly and Shirt Signing

23 Jun: Year 9 High Flyers Presentation

23 Jun: Year 13 Prom at the Wharf, Teddington

24 Jun: Year 8 'B Pop' Parents Evening