The results are being tallied and the marking pens are out, but before we even look at the grades, we need to talk about the attitude! Last week, our Year 11 cohort sat their core-subject mock exams. While mocks are often viewed as a “dreaded” milestone, our students handled the pressure with a level of maturity that truly deserves a spotlight. Be it English or maths, PRE or the sciences, the atmosphere in the exam hall was one of focused determination.

We want to give a special mention to some of the areas where Year 11 truly excelled: punctuality and appearance. It might seem like a small detail, but arriving on time and in full school uniform sets the psychological tone for success. Here is why this matters:

– Stress Reduction: by arriving early and prepared, students avoided the “last-minute panic” that can negatively impact exam performance.

– Professional Mindset: walking into the hall looking the part helps students feel the part. The transition from “student” to “candidate” was seamless.

– Efficiency: because so many followed the rules regarding uniform and equipment, students were able to begin their papers quickly, maximising every minute of the session.

This mock week wasn’t just a test of knowledge, it was a dress rehearsal. By mastering these routines now, the Year 11 students have ensured that the logistics of the final exams in May and June will be the least of their worries. When the formal GCSE season arrives, our students won’t be stressed about where to stand or what to wear – they will be able to channel 100% of their energy into the paper in front of them.

Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out. Our Year 11s proved this week that they have the discipline to match their ambition.

Well done, Year 11. Keep this momentum going!

Mr Gardener

World Book Day is one of the most exciting days of the school year for the library, with a real focus on reading for pleasure. We’ve been enjoying the fun and creativity that reading can bring, and getting stuck into lots of great activities connected to books and reading. The staff dressed up as characters from their favourite books, and the students had the task of trying to guess who they were. We also had a Book Swap at break, lunch and after school, with lots of favourite books changing hands, and we were delighted that the canteen staff joined in by preparing sweet treats on a bookish theme. Lots of fun was had by all! Every student has been given a World Book Day token at some point over the last week or so, which is valid until 15th March. Full details are on the voucher, so go and get your free books, while stocks last! Also, this week in the library, we have displays of all our books connected to Ramadan, so drop by and pick up something interesting!

Over the half-term break, KWS held its second round of Student Council meetings. A big thank you to our fantastic Student Council representatives – with our Year 9 team pictured here – as well as our Head Students, who confidently chaired and led the meetings.

There were many excellent suggestions and thoughtful feedback on how we can continue to improve our facilities and enhance the overall experience for all pupils. A more detailed update on the key points discussed will be shared with the whole school community soon.

Inclusive Sports

This week we had some medal success, as various students competed in a county table cricket competition at Beaumont School. The team ended up winning the competition and progressed through to the London and Thames Valley regional finals in Aylesbury. If they progress through that competition, they then get to compete at Lord’s (the home of cricket). Well done to everyone involved.

A-Level PE

Thank you very much to the science department for allowing our A-Level PE students to deepen their understanding of the heart with a dissection during their lesson this week. The students engaged fantastically and hopefully learned a lot from the experience.

Rugby 

One of the biggest highlights of the term for girls’ sport has been the creation of our first ever rugby team. The girls have shown great commitment and improvement in a short space of time to learn all the rules and make progress. The recent game against Robert Clark School reflected that. Stand out performers in rugby have been Ethel M, Jesse TL and Rose S in particular.

Netball

Well done to the U13B netball team on a 18-8 win against NBS. Player of the match was Heather G.

Basketball

Well done to the Year 7 basketball team on a hard fought 18-15 victory against Sandringham on Wednesday. The player of the match was Zaran S.

Football

A good 5-1 win for the U14 girls in the district cup. Goals from Poppy D x3, Sophie K and Lucy H. 

Well done to the senior girls’ football team, who won their game against Onslow 6-2. Goals from Izzy J x2, Emily B x2, Alice T and Lexi F.

Congratulations to our Year 8 boys on a dramatic win on penalties in the county cup plate. The boys now progress to the semi final.

Meanwhile, the Year 10 boys’ football team progressed to the semi final of the district cup with a 5-1 win over St Columba’s. Ed J scoring another hat trick to take the game out of reach after a rocky start to the game.

Athletics 

A great afternoon this week for some Year 7 students at the sports hall athletics. The girls came 11th and the boys finished 4th!