Matthew Arnold Newsletter

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we reach the end of another successful academic year, I would like to take this opportunity to celebrate the many achievements of our students and staff. This edition of the newsletter highlights just some of the wonderful experiences and accomplishments that have made us so proud, from our World Music Day Concert and Sports Day successes to educational visits, reward trips and work experience placements. It has been a fantastic year filled with hard work, resilience, talent and community spirit, and I would like to thank everyone who has played a part in making it such a success. As we head into the summer holidays, I hope all of our families enjoy a well-deserved break.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back in September, along with our new Year 7 students, for another exciting year at The Matthew Arnold School.

Ms Ruse

Thursday 20 August - Results Day

Monday 7 September - Term Starts for everyone

We are delighted to announce our Year 11 Prefect Team for the next academic year. The selection process was highly competitive, with students first completing a written application letter before taking part in a formal interview. We were incredibly impressed by the standard of applications and the maturity, enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated throughout the process. Every student who applied should be extremely proud of themselves; all candidates were fantastic, making the final decisions exceptionally difficult.

Our prefect team will play a vital role in supporting the school community. Subject Prefects will help to promote their subjects and assist at key events such as Open Evening, while our Transition Prefects will support Year 6 pupils as they make the exciting move to Year 7. Alongside these roles, our senior prefect team will act as ambassadors for the school and role models for younger students.

We are pleased to announce our prefect appointments:

Head Prefects

Head Girl: Florence G

Transition Prefects

Holly B, Charlotte D, Liam B, Scarlet G, Imogen H, Daisy H, Leah B and Millie B.

Subject Prefects

English: Aanya C, Sidney H

Congratulations to all students who have been appointed. We are incredibly proud of what they have already achieved and look forward to seeing the positive contribution they will make to our school community over the coming year. We know they will be excellent ambassadors for the school and fantastic role models for their peers.

The World Music Day 2026 concert was a tremendous success! It was a real pleasure to work with our talented students once again for our third concert of the year.

Students from Years 7–11 took part in the performance, including several who made their concert debut. We are incredibly proud of every student who contributed to making the evening such a memorable occasion.

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has supported the Music Department throughout the year. Whether you attended rehearsals, performed, helped backstage, supported from the audience, sold refreshments at concerts, or encouraged our students in any other way, your contribution has made a genuine difference.

These events simply would not be possible without the enthusiasm, dedication, and support of our school community. Music has a unique ability to bring people together and spread joy, and this year has been a wonderful reminder of just how true that is. Thank you for helping to make it such a special year for music.

The 2026 Matthew Arnold School Sports Day was a fantastic celebration of participation, competition and House spirit. Despite the warm weather, students conducted themselves impeccably throughout the day, demonstrating excellent behaviour, encouragement and respect for one another across all events. A huge thank you to the PE department for running another highly successful day, our scorers and any other staff who came out to assist with the running of the day. It was also great to welcome back some of our Year 11 students to help with the day.
The morning field events provided a highly competitive start to the day, with athletes battling hard for every point in the throws, jumps and field disciplines. With scores incredibly close, it was truly all to play for after the field events, setting up an exciting afternoon of track action.

The afternoon track session certainly delivered, with competitors producing outstanding performances in the sprints and relays to determine the final points tally. The atmosphere around the track was superb, with students enthusiastically supporting their teammates and Houses throughout the day. This was accompanied by Mr MC Howes once again providing the music choices that were so upbeat, they were loved by students, staff and some of our school neighbours alike.

A special mention must go to Val in Year 7, Eva in Year 8 and Grace in Year 9, who all showed tremendous commitment. Each stepped up to compete in multiple events when there were gaps to fill and valuable points to be earned. Their willingness to put themselves forward embodied the spirit of Sports Day and made a significant contribution to their respective House teams.

After a day of excellent competition, Swans emerged as the overall Sports Day champions, edging out Crowns in a closely fought contest.

Final House Standings:

Swans – 605 points

Year 7 & 8 Winners: Swans (333 points)

Year 10 GCSE and BTEC Sport students completed the annual trip to the University of Bath for a day of Sport Science testing. Students were able witness elite athlete, laboratory-style testing by a couple of their peers. Followed by everyone being able to put in their own efforts in component of fitness testing. Finished off by a tour of the extensive, and as ever impressive, Sport Village. A great day full of aspiration and hard work, thank you to Jonathan and his team as always and we look forward to returning in the future.

Our Year 10 Art and Textiles students enjoyed an inspiring day at the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum, experiencing art, design, science and culture first hand.

The visit gave students the opportunity to explore world class collections, develop a deeper appreciation of art, history and culture, and gather creative inspiration to support their own coursework. It was a fantastic learning experience that will help prepare students as they begin their Year 11 project.

44 students across Years 9 and 10 embarked on an enjoyable journey to Cornwall, packed with learning and discovery. Upon arrival, students took part in a farm tour, which illustrated the daily workings of farm life and the importance of sustainable practices; gaining insight into the rhythm of farm life outside the classroom.

The following day, students visited The Eden Project, exploring the vast biomes and appreciating diverse ecosystems. Adventure was at the forefront as students challenged themselves at Hangloose Adventure on the high ropes course, soared on a zipline over the biomes, and experienced the thrill of the gravity swing. Spontaneous entertainment, such as impromptu singing courtesy of Lucy T and Simran S, added energy to the day!

On their final morning, students were taught survival skills by ex-army soldiers, learning techniques such as making stretchers and fire, and testing their aim with slingshots. These activities encouraged practical problem-solving, teamwork, and resilience, providing memorable learning experiences outside a traditional classroom setting.

Year 7 students enjoyed an exciting rewards trip to Chessington World of Adventures. The day was packed with fun as students made the most of the rides and attractions, as well as exploring Chessington's Zoo and seeing a variety of animals.

Year 8 visited London Zoo to augment and enhance what they had learnt about ecology in Science lessons this term. The sun was beaming and students and staff were buzzing. Even the King turned up for the Zoo’s 200th anniversary and some students even got a wave from the Royals themselves. They were outstanding representatives of Matthew Arnold School and we are all very proud of them.

Year 9 students attended the Thorpe Park Rewards Trip, a well-deserved opportunity to celebrate their excellent attendance, positive behaviour and contributions to school life throughout the year. Students enjoyed a fantastic day experiencing some of the park’s most popular rides and attractions, while also spending valuable time with friends outside of the classroom. It was wonderful to see so many students stepping outside of their comfort zones, building confidence and creating lasting memories.

Monday 6 July to Friday 10 July saw our Year 10 students taking part in their annual Work Experience Week, giving them a valuable opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the world of work. Students completed placements across a wide range of industries, helping them to develop key employability skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving and professionalism.

Work experience is an important part of our careers programme, enabling students to explore potential career paths, build confidence and make informed decisions about their future education and employment opportunities. Congratulations to all our Year 10 students on a successful and rewarding week and we extend our sincere thanks to the local employers who have generously supported this initiative.

We are delighted to share that 'Stranger Sagas' is now in print, featuring the work of 105 Matthew Arnold students. Each student was challenged to write a captivating 100-word story inspired by 'Stranger Things' and the results showcase an incredible range of imagination, creativity, and story-telling talent. We are immensely proud of every student whose work has been published and congratulate them on this fantastic achievement. Copies of 'Stranger Sagas' are available to buy at:

Www.youngwriters.co.uk/online

In Gardening club this year we have grown potatoes, carrots and onions. We are looking forward to harvesting our peas, radishes, kale and other vegetables in September!

Students and staff had the opportunity to purchase new books and stationery from the Scholastic Book Fair, hosted by the library. Thank you to everyone in the community who showed their support - every book purchased helps buy new books for our library!

The Performing Arts department is delighted to announce that we are running a show in December.

Save the dates Wednesday 9th - Friday 11th December!

We would like to make a heartfelt plea to all of our families: please stay safe around rivers, lakes, reservoirs and other open water. While these places may look inviting on hot days, they can hide strong currents, cold water and sudden drops that make them extremely dangerous. We ask our students to enjoy the summer safely by staying away from open water and only swimming at supervised venues. Please remain vigilant, talk to your children about the risks, and help us ensure that everyone returns safely in September with happy memories of the holidays.

As we prepare for the new academic year, we are seeking donations of good-quality pre-loved school uniform items that are no longer needed.

Donated uniform can be brought to school on 20 August (GCSE Results Day) or at the start of the new academic year. All items should be clean and in good condition so they can be passed on to other families in our school community.

We know that the cost of school uniform can be challenging for some families. If you require support with uniform, please contact us at info@matthew-arnold.surrey.sch.uk and we will do our best to help.

Thank you for supporting our school community.

We’re excited to share that an unforgettable, immersive experience is arriving in Staines at the end of July and our students at The Matthew Arnold School are invited to step inside a world of colour, light and wonder.

Take a sneak peek: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4_BJiUv5C0

Creators: https://www.youtube.com/@architectsofair_official

Thanks to Staines Business Improvement District and Elevate Arts, we have 50 free tickets available for our school community. These are first come, first served and must be booked online — so don’t miss out! Code: MATTHEWARNOLD

How to book:

https://gigantic.com/enter-code and enter your code to claim up to 2 complimentary tickets (with the option to add more at standard price). Tickets are limited to 50 uses, so act quickly!

We can’t wait to see our students experience something truly magical.