Headmaster’s Update
Despite the supposition that this week started with ‘Blue Monday’, we’ve had a super time at TPS filled with a host of exciting experiences for the children. Indeed, Monday may have set a record for trips and workshops in the Spring Term on a single day, with Year 2 heading off to Windsor Castle, Year 6 enjoying a visit to Kempton Race Course and our budding Year 7 actors taking part in a LAMDA workshop at Twyford School. We are firmly committed to these learning experiences for the children, in the knowledge that there are so many opportunities for the children beyond TPS to consolidate and enhance their studies. Indeed, the highly motivational nature of trips and travel was the cornerstone of the brilliant class assembly the whole school witnessed on Tuesday, courtesy of 5R and Mrs Richards, focusing on travel and holidays, referencing the benefits of better understanding of places, people, culture and language. I’m convinced that 5R caused a stampede amongst staff and parents to book holidays that very same evening!
Regardless of the rather wet weather this week, there have been some lovely alternative sporting events taking place at TPS. The mornings have seen the Year 7 and 8 pupils take part in a very keenly contested table tennis tournament with Mr Howorth, whilst Miss Jones has been preparing her three teams taking part in the inaugural IAPS E-Sports Competition, with the practice round held only yesterday. Today we’ve been delighted to welcome staff from Sir William Perkins’s senior school to conduct some masterclass coaching sessions in netball and football with our Year 4 children. It is great that we can offer such a range of positive sporting experiences for the children each week, whilst also working alongside other schools.
You may be aware that today sees the launch of the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch for 2026 and our Upper School assembly focused on the amazing variety of birdlife that we see in the UK, even in urban areas. We looked at just how incredible birds are, highlighting the remarkable science behind avian flight, alongside their hunting skills and group behaviours, such as the murmurations of starlings we see at dusk sometimes. Please do get involved in the RSPB Birdwatch over the weekend if you can in order to aid the nationwide study of species populations. I think there is a live leaderboard too!
Finally, this week, I wanted to offer my thanks for the support received for our proposals to deny children the facility to bring in smartphones from September in Year 6. It is great that we have a broad consensus and please be reassured we will be monitoring the situation closely, taking account of research, feedback from senior schools and parent views. Online safety, including social media, is a critical topic, and this week I want to draw your attention to the very helpful information provided in our Safeguarding and Wellbeing update provided by Mrs Barnes on Group Chats, given how many children use messaging applications and the potential risks. Please do take time to read the very helpful guidance with the link in the MSP section at the bottom of the page.
Oliver Barrett, Headmaster
Key Dates
Jan
| Day: | Date: | Event: |
|---|---|---|
| Mon | 26 | School Council Meeting |
| Mon | 26 | Raising Resilience Parent Drop-in Sessions |
| Mon | 26 | Year 8 with Nel Holland |
| Tue | 27 | Strings Day at Epsom College (invite only) |
| Tue | 27 | Year 4 Academic Review Meetings (face to face) |
| Tue | 27 | Year 8 Photography session (during Art lessons) |
| Wed | 28 | Year 4 Academic Review Meetings (online) |
| Wed | 28 | 4H Class Assembly |
| Thu | 29 | Year 4 Academic Review Meetings (online) |
| Thu | 29 | E-Sports IAPS Competition – Qualifying Round (invite only) |
| Sat | 31 | Discovery Day |
All up to date events information can be found on MSP
Sports Fixtures
Jan
| Day: | Date: | Sport Event: | Location: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed | 28 | Year 6 Girls A&B Netball Tournament at Donhead | Wimbledon Park – Netball Courts |
| Wed | 28 | Year 7&8 Boys A&B vs St Philip’s | Kempton CC |
| Wed | 28 | Year 6 Boys A&B vs Surbiton & RGS Guildford (Triangular) | Surbiton – Hinchley Wood |
| Fri | 30 | *Rescheduled event* Year 3 A,B&C Netball Fixture | LEH |
| Fri | 30 | Year 4 Boys A,B&C vs Surbiton | Surbiton- Hinchley Wood |
| Fri | 30 | IAPS Swimming Qualifier (invite only) | City of London Freemens |
All up to date events information can be found on MSP
Year 3 PGL Trip Meeting
All Year 3 parents are invited to attend the initial PGL meeting in the Music Room at 3.30pm on THURSDAY 5th FEBRUARY. A copy of the PowerPoint will be put on the MSP on Friday 6th February. Year 3 teachers will also go through this presentation separately with Year 3 pupils and answer any queries they may have.
Travelling Book Fair
Mrs Fox and Mrs Lindsay’s February Half-Term Art Club at TPS
Spring Half-Term and Easter Holiday Touch Typing Course in Kingston
Next Thing Education – February Half-Term Tech Camp at TPS
My School Portal
My School Portal is a great school-to-parent communication system.
Here you will find the latest events, which can be synced with your electronic calendar, weekly menus and copies of all letters sent home.
Below are important notices from two key departments which are updated weekly:
Pre-Prep — messages from Mrs Barnes including club collection
Click Here
Safeguarding & Wellbeing messages from our Designated Safeguarding Team
Click Here
School Meals week commencing: 26th January Menu Week 1
