Weekly Newsletter

December 12, 2025

Merry Christmas from Everyone at Bethany School

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Headmaster’s Welcome

Dear Parents and Guardians,

It is hard to believe that the last day of term has arrived. What seemed a long term back in September, has gone by very quickly indeed. This week has been particularly busy, starting with the excellent Carol Service on Monday evening. For me, the Carol Service signals the start of Christmas.

On Wednesday we had a very busy and successful careers exhibition. It was great to see so many pupils actively engaged with the exhibitors. I hope all the pupils had a great time yesterday afternoon at their various Christmas events.

It was great to see so many Christmas jumpers on display today, it never ceases to surprise me the variety of Christmas jumpers that are on show. This is, of course, a fundraising activity and all proceeds go to the Save the Children Charity. The link for contributions is here. In addition to being generous with other members of your family, I also hope that you will think of those less fortunate than yourself when it comes to donations.

Earlier on today, we had our annual House Shout competition where the 3 competitive houses tried their best to sing festive melodies. In the end the deserving winners were Kiplings.

We also had a scrumptious Christmas lunch today, and once again the caterers outdid themselves on how well they decorated the dining room and, of course, the food was delicious.

The last act of this term was the pantomime (oh no it wasn’t!) written by Mr Evans and Mrs Rendell-Jones and performed by Year 13. It was a lovely pupil centred way to finish the term.

There are some Year 12 pupils sitting an Applied Business Examination at 1.30pm on Monday 5^th January 2026. Boarders are expected to return to the boarding houses from 6pm on Tuesday 6^th January. Teaching starts on Wednesday 7^th January.

I like this comparison about overindulgence at Christmas. “People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between New Year and Christmas.” How very true.

Finally I will leave you with this humorous quotation. “I once bought my kids a set of batteries for Christmas with a note in it saying, toys not included.”

I wish you all a most enjoyable Christmas.

Yours sincerely,

Francie Healy

Headmaster

Latest Bethany Blog

The final weekly blog for this term has been written by Mr Evans, Head of Geography at Bethany School. He writes about pupils exploring a personalised pole-to-pole journey, researching countries along chosen longitudes and presenting creative, insightful geographical projects.

Travelling the Globe at Bethany

This term, our Year 7 pupils embarked on a global adventure as part of their “My World” topic in Geography. The highlight of the term was the much-anticipated “Pole to Pole” project, a creative and challenging journey that took pupils from the icy expanse of the North Pole all the way to the southernmost tip of the globe, the South Pole. But this was no ordinary trip: each pupil charted their own unique route, following a line of longitude and stopping off in at least three different countries along the way.

The project began with a simple question: What would you discover if you travelled from pole to pole, tracing a single line of longitude?

Armed with atlases, digital resources and plenty of imagination, pupils set out to answer this question. Each pupil selected a line of longitude and researched at least three countries it crossed, delving into both the physical and human geography of each place. They explored landscapes as varied as the tundra of the Arctic Circle, the bustling cities of Europe, the deserts of Africa and the rainforests of South America.

What made this project especially engaging was the creative freedom pupils had in presenting their journeys. Some wrote travel diaries, vividly describing the sights, sounds and people they encountered. Others sent “postcards” home from each country, sharing fascinating facts and personal reflections. Many included hand-drawn maps, photographs and even souvenirs to bring their adventures to life. The diversity of approaches meant that no two projects were alike, each was a window into a different corner of the world, shaped by the interests and curiosity of its author.

The results were nothing short of fantastic. We saw a wonderful variety of journeys, with pupils demonstrating not only their research skills but also their ability to empathise with people from different cultures and environments. The quality of work was outstanding, with many pupils going above and beyond in their investigations and presentations. It was clear that the project sparked a genuine enthusiasm for Geography, encouraging pupils to ask questions, make connections and see the world through new eyes.

As part of the assessment, pupils were encouraged to reflect on how life differs across the globe, considering everything from climate and landscapes to traditions and daily routines. This emphasis on both physical and human geography helped deepen their understanding of the world and their place within it.

We are incredibly impressed with the effort, creativity, and insight shown by our Year 7s. The “Pole to Pole” project has not only broadened their geographical knowledge but also inspired a sense of adventure and curiosity that we hope will stay with them throughout their studies. Thank you to all the parents for your support at home, whether it was helping with research, discussing travel experiences, or simply sharing in the excitement of discovery.

Mr Evans

Head of Geography

Bethany Carol Service

The Bethany School carol service at St Dunstan’s Church in Cranbrook on Monday night was a warm and joyful celebration of the Christmas season.

Pupils, staff and families gathered in the beautifully lit church, filling the historic space with warmth and festivity.

The evening featured traditional carols, thoughtful readings and impressive musical performances from the school’s choir and instrumentalists. Candlelight and festive decorations added to the atmosphere, creating a sense of togetherness and reflection.

The service highlighted the talents of the pupils and the spirit of the school, offering a memorable and uplifting start to the festive period.

This year the Carol Service is supporting the Marden Foodbank. Please consider a donation to this wonderful cause who are doing brilliant work with those in our local community who find themselves struggling.

Donate to Marden Food Bank