Teddington School Newsletter
Friday 24 April 2026
Dear Families
Please refer to the letter sent to you this week regarding the proposed expansion of our Sixth Form. We are delighted to be able to share plans to enhance this provision, including additional classrooms, modern study spaces designed to support 1:1 device use, an improved canteen area and additional student toilet facilities. This development will also enable more effective use of the main school building, with Sixth Form use focused on specialist teaching spaces such as drama, music and art. Further information, including details on how to submit comments to the planning officer, can be found on our website and in the communication shared earlier this week.
We are also pleased to be welcoming another full cohort of 240 students into Year 7 this September, with a waiting list currently exceeding 70. This reflects a record number of applications, and we continue to see strong demand for places throughout the year as they become available.
Congratulations to our GCSE Art and Modern Foreign Languages students, who have approached their recent practical and speaking examinations with focus and commitment.
It was a pleasure to welcome author Catherine Johnson to work with our Year 8 students this week. She spoke about her writing journey and her novel Sawbones, and led engaging creative writing workshops which were thoroughly enjoyed by all involved.
Our Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition begins today. We wish all participating Year 9 students the very best as they complete their qualifying expedition over the weekend.
A reminder that the PTA will be hosting a plant sale on the school site tomorrow between 10am-12pm. Do come along to support this event and enjoy local business stalls, refreshments, home-baked treats and live music, alongside a wide selection of plants.
Finally, a reminder about punctuality: the school day begins at 8:30am, and students should be on site by 8:25am. We also ask that all students using bicycles ensure they are securely locked in the bike shed, rather than left against fences and/or unlocked.
Thank you for your continued support.
Kind regards
Mr P Grills
Headteacher
We are incredibly proud to share that last weekend, Elena in Year 13 competed at the GB Swimming Championships at the London Aquatics Centre.
Racing in open-age events alongside European and Olympic champions, Elena has shown outstanding dedication and determination. After months of relentless early mornings and late nights in the pool, while also preparing for her A Levels, she achieved qualification in both the 50m and 100m Butterfly events.
What an incredible accomplishment! A huge congratulations to you Elena! 🏊♀️✨
A huge congratulations to Marco in Year 9, who competed in the U16 category at the Amsterdam Waterland Marathon over the weekend with his club, The Royal Canoe Club, and finished in 1st place! 🥇
This is an incredible achievement and a true testament to Marco’s hard work, determination, and commitment. We are so proud of you! 👏
On Monday, we were delighted to welcome author Catherine Johnson to speak with some Year 8 students about her writing journey and her novel Sawbones, which they explored last year 📚
Students also took part in two engaging creative writing workshops, gaining inspiration and confidence to develop their own storytelling skills ✍️
A huge well done to our prize winners, who received signed copies of Blade and Bone! 👏
Year 7 Dragons Den Winners 🐉✨
Well done to Holly, Arthur, Arthur and Can from 7HV, whose idea Froyo Fruits impressed the Dragons!
The brief challenged students to create an original, healthy and sustainable food or drink brand, complete with a clear purpose, strong branding and an on-pack feature promoting healthy living.
Their frozen fruit snack, made with natural ingredients, offers a healthier alternative to sugary treats. With their catchy slogan, “chill like a penguin, snack like a pro,” and mascot Pengo, the team brought their brand to life brilliantly.
A well deserved win for a creative and thoughtful idea 👏
To celebrate Schools Cricket Day and in preparation for the Women’s T20 World Cup, we were delighted to host over 50 Year 7 and 8 girls from local schools for a cricket festival 🏏
Our Teddington girls showed great determination throughout, playing in the true spirit of the game and winning 2 of their 4 matches.
A fantastic afternoon of sport and teamwork 👏
Year 8 students have been investigating fermentation in science 🧪
Through hands-on practical work, they explored how microorganisms are used in the fermentation process and the role this plays in food production.
A great opportunity to develop their scientific understanding and practical skills in the lab.
🏏 Year 9 Cricket Team Victory!
A fantastic start to the Middlesex Cup as the Year 9 team beat Ashmole in the first round by 30 runs.
Special performances from Sam and Judah, both finishing on an unbeaten 50 not out, helping set up a winning total.
A strong team effort all round, well played! 🎉
🎾 Year 7 Tennis Season Opener!
The Year 7s kicked off their tennis season with their first match against Kneller Hall. A great effort all round as they got their campaign underway and gained valuable match experience on court.
Well played Year 7, a strong start to the season! 👏
We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Teddington School has been shortlisted for the Best Use of Technology category in the Tes Schools Awards 2026! 🎉
This fantastic achievement celebrates the innovation, creativity, and dedication of our students and staff, who continue to embrace technology in inspiring and impactful ways every day.
What an exciting milestone for our school community!
The winners will be announced at a gala ceremony on 19 June 2026 at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, hosted by Katherine Ryan. This year’s awards recognise excellence across 23 categories, highlighting innovation, leadership, and impact in education.
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 'Online Safety 11-13 Years'. 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.
