Weekly Newsletter

November 28, 2025

Headmaster’s Welcome

Dear Parents and Guardians,

It has been great to see the mild weather return after the recent cold snap.

I enjoyed chatting to Year 7 parents last Thursday evening and, having spoken with their child’s teachers, they were very pleased to hear how well their child was doing. Many parents said that there has been a substantial improvement in their child’s confidence and well being since they started at Bethany. That is how it should be.

The Winter Concert, on Wednesday evening, was another great success. The standard, once again, was very high and it generated a great buzz around campus.

It is hard to believe there is only two School weeks left in this term, and I would like to remind you about the Carol Service on Monday week, Monday 8^th December, there is no return bus service for day pupils that evening. Instead, the pupils will have supper in School at the end of the School day and then are transported to St Dunstan’s Church in Cranbrook for the Carol Service which starts at 7pm. All parents are invited to this, and are encouraged to sit with their children during the Service. Day pupils can be collected at the end of the Service at 8pm by any parents who are not attending. This is always a most enjoyable event and I hope as many parents as possible will be able to attend.

I am looking forward to chatting to as many Year 9 parents as possible next Thursday at the Year 9 parent teacher meeting which starts at 5.30 pm in the Assembly Hall. Please note that there will be a GCSE presentation to parents during the evening to better inform them about the GCSE choices process. Separate details about this will be sent to you this evening.

Having sponsored a very successful Christmas wreath making evening last night, FOBS have also organised a junior disco for pupils in Years 7-9 this evening. Those pupils going to the disco can remain behind after School where they will be given supper and the disco starts at 6pm in the Assembly Hall and finishes at 7.30pm. Every year I go to it, it takes years off me so I hope I feel like a teenager at 7.30pm this evening!

As this was budget week, I’ll leave you with this pearl of wisdom. “Fines are a tax you pay for doing something wrong, taxes are a fine you pay for doing something right.”

Have a pleasant weekend.

Yours sincerely,

Francie Healy

Headmaster

Latest Bethany Blog

This week’s blog has been written by Mr Willis, Head of Modern Foreign Languages, he writes about pupils showing resilience, language learning growing, exams expanding, results excelling and multilingual diversity strengthening our community.

Why Languages Matter

We have seen some changes in the Modern Foreign Languages department since I last wrote a blog for the newsletter.

Mr Garcia left us and returned to Spain and has been replaced by Mrs Murphy. Classes are enjoying her enthusiasm and passion for the subject and we look forward to seeing how pupils perform in internal and external examinations.

Looking back over the past ten weeks since our return in September, I’m struck by the determination and resilience shown by our MFL pupils. They’ve embraced the challenge of learning new structures, vocabulary and topics with real commitment. This is no small achievement, especially when English dominates their daily lives at home, with friends and in the wider community. We’re also fortunate to teach in a school enriched by pupils from more than 20 countries, each bringing unique insights and perspectives that make our classrooms vibrant and diverse.

We are in the process of organising exam entries for next summer’s examinations. And we are so pleased how many people are learning languages this year.

We will have GCSEs in:

+ French

+ Spanish

+ Chinese

+ Italian

+ German

We will also have A Levels in:

+ French

+ Spanish

+ Italian

+ Arabic

Last summer, we had a similar range of subjects taught with a brilliant success rate: at GCSE level 100% of pupils scored grade 5 or above, with A Level grades being even better!

Since I started at Bethany, it has been fabulous to see the department grow and flourish with a wide range of languages learnt. We are very lucky to have such a rich and varied community of people who speak other languages.

Unfortunately, the UK is an outlier in terms of learning a foreign language. They have the reputation of being hard, but in fact, have so many benefits. So….

Why bother with languages?

Smarter brain – It’s like a gym workout, but for your head.
Better jobs – Employers love bilingual legends.
Travel wins – Order pizza in Rome without pointing at the menu like a tourist.
More mates – Chat with people from all over the world.
Global hero status – Because “I only speak English” isn’t a flex.

If you have 10 minutes spare, I’d highly recommend a read of this excellent article:

Why Students Should Learn a Second Language — 7 Benefits

It’s an exciting time for the Modern Foreign Languages department and I cannot wait to see what’s next.

Mr Willis

Head of Modern Foreign Languages

Latest Sports News

The latest Bethany sports news. Football and hockey seasons continued this week, and with the seasons winding down for Christmas, the various different Bethany teams looked to end their seasons strong.

Football | Bethany U15B v Ashford School

On a chilly afternoon at home, Bethany U15B hosted Ashford School in what proved to be a tightly contested and hard-fought encounter. From the opening whistle, both sides showed strong discipline and organisation, giving very little away and keeping chances at a premium.

Bethany were the first to break the deadlock thanks to a sharp piece of play from Arlo Emly, who pounced on a loose ball and finished confidently to give the hosts a deserved 1–0 lead. The goal injected energy into the game, but Ashford responded well, gradually building pressure and eventually finding an equaliser to bring the score to 1–1.

The second half followed much the same pattern, competitive, physical and finely balanced. Both teams probed for a winner, but defences stood firm. The decisive moment nearly came late on when Ashford were awarded a penalty. However, the visitors failed to convert, sending their effort wide and allowing Bethany to breathe a huge sigh of relief.

In the end, a 1–1 draw felt a fair reflection of the afternoon: a gritty display, moments of quality and two teams unwilling to give an inch. Bethany will take confidence from their resilience and look to build on this performance in the matches ahead.

Final score: Bethany 1-1 Ashford School

Player of the Match: Seb Graham

Coaches Player of the Match: William Crampin

Football | Bethany U15C v Ashford School

The U15C football team played Ashford School on Tuesday afternoon.

Both teams started the match well and created chances. Jamie Sadler was energetic and winning a large amount of possession for the team, but the Ashford defence stood firm. Mid-way through the half, a good save from goalkeeper Stephen Kakouris kept the scores at 0-0.

Gus Tomlinson then came close to opening the scoring along with Ewan Aikman also firing the ball just wide of the post. Digby Bishop and Callum Rae grew into the match and started to win the midfield battle, but a route one ball by-passed them and the Ashford forward chipped the ball over the keeper into the back of the net for a neat finish and 1-0 lead.

The second half was played out in the same format, with both teams creating chances, particularly as the pitch opened up with midfield players tiring. Ashford took a 2-0 lead when a shot bounced in off the post after a goal mouth scramble.

Bethany then applied concerted pressure towards the end of the half, with Jamie Sadler still working hard all over pitch, and a fine driven finish from Callum Rae brought the score to 2-1. A final push from Bethany for the equaliser left the back four a little exposed and into the last minute of the match an Ashford counterattack resulted in a third goal for the away team.

A great competitive match and well done to Bethany U15C team.

Final score: Bethany 1-3 Ashford School

Player of the Match: Jamie Sadler

Coaches Player of the Match: Callum Rae

Football | Bethany U13A v Ashford School

Bethany U13A played Ashford School this week in what was a brilliant match, played with excellent tempo and intensity.

Bethany started very strongly with superb structure, and some early positional changes allowed the team to grow in confidence. It was a tight, competitive encounter, and the game remained goalless at half-time.

Bethany eventually broke the deadlock with a superb free-kick from Connor Matthews. The team continued to play excellent football and fully deserved their 1–0 lead going into the final minutes.

Unfortunately, with virtually the last kick of the game, Ashford broke on the counter and scored to make it 1–1. A devastating blow after such an excellent performance from Bethany, whose heads should remain high.

Final score: Bethany 1-1 Ashford School

Player of the Match: William Stevens

Coaches Player of the Match: Connor Matthews

Football | Bethany U13B v Ashford School

The Bethany U13B football team faced one of their toughest challenges of the season as they faced a well-organised Ashford side. From the opening whistle it was clear that Ashford possessed pace, strength and confidence on the ball, forcing Bethany onto the back foot early on.

Despite sustained pressure, Bethany showed resilience and moments of real quality. Their reward came through a moment of brilliance from Michael Waggott, who spotted the Ashford goalkeeper off his line and executed a superb looping effort from distance to bring Bethany briefly back into contention. It was a strike worthy of winning any match and lifted the team’s spirits.

At halftime Bethany trailed 4–1, battling hard but struggling to contain Ashford’s relentless attacking play.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Bethany working tirelessly but Ashford demonstrating their strength in depth and clinical finishing. A series of well-taken goals saw the hosts pull away, and despite Bethany’s determination to keep competing until the final whistle, the match ended in a 9–1 victory for Ashford.

Although the result was tough, the Bethany team showed character and effort throughout, with individual flashes of skill and a never-give-up attitude that will serve them well in future fixtures. Matches like this provide valuable learning opportunities, and the standout goal from Michael Waggott will certainly be remembered.

Final score: Bethany 1-9 Ashford School

Player of the Match: Michael Waggott

Coaches Player of the Match: Lucas Holdsworth

Football | Bethany U13C v Ashford School

The U13C team played Ashford School on Wednesday afternoon.

Bethany started the match well against a physically bigger team, moving the ball well and were competitive in the tackles despite the size difference. Lorcan Chadwick was in good form, making some strong runs forward along with the growing goal threat of Wilfred Davis.

After a few near misses, Rafe Broad broke the deadlock with a composed finish into the bottom corner of the goal. Ashford struck back as they grew into the match with a deflected shot nestling in the back of the net.

Bethany then pushed on and dominated the half with good link play between Seb Pateman and Wilfred Davis up-front causing panic in the Ashford defence. When Ashford did attack, the Bethany defence stood firm and Toby Lowe, on his debut in goal, controlled his keeping area.

Wilfred Davis had a very good end to the half and scored two more goals before the break as Bethany took a deserved 3-1 lead into half time.

Ashford changed their whole team at half time and with the slope favouring them, they applied more pressure. Bethany tackled really well, stopping many forward runs and blocking shots in front of goal. The pressure paid off as a little tiredness crept into the Bethany team and two Ashford goals drew the scores level.

Bethany never gave up and still offered a threat, and in the final minutes and well worked attack with crisp passing found Wilfred Davis in a scoring position and he obliged with a arrowed drive into the bottom corner for his hat-trick. Bethany saw the match out well, breaking up play in the midfield to secure a very good win.

Final score: Bethany 4-3 Ashford School

Player of the Match: Wilfred Davis

Coaches Player of the Match: Lorcan Chadwick

Hockey | Bethany 1st XI v Dover College

The Bethany 1st XI hockey team travelled to Dover College this week and were dominant from the very first whistle.

Bethany wasted no time getting started, with Safi Chettiar scoring a hat trick in the opening five minutes. The team’s press, intensity and structure were outstanding, which was particularly pleasing after working on these aspects throughout the season.

Bethany continued to control the match and added to their tally throughout, finishing with a convincing 9–0 victory.

It could well have been more if not for Stella Flynn, who kindly stepped in as goalkeeper for the opposition.

Final score: Bethany 9–0 Dover College

Player of the Match: Cecily Chettiar

Coaches Player of the Match: Mia Castle

Hockey | Bethany U13A/B v Battle Abbey

On a crisp late autumn afternoon, Bethany’s U13A and U13B hockey teams faced Battle Abbey in their penultimate fixtures of the season. Both Bethany teams were missing key players through illness, while Battle Abbey arrived at full strength.

From the outset, Bethany demonstrated resilience and commitment, with signs of expansive, attacking hockey. There were moments of exciting interplay and determined defending that highlighted both teams’ progress and spirit. However, Battle Abbey’s experience and clinical finishing in front of goal ultimately proved decisive.

For the U13A’s there were standout performances from Ella Pantony, Molly Hirsch (who stepped up to support the A’s), Arabella Valentine-Brown (in goal) and Phoebe Cowell. And for the B’s, the standouts were Esme Pollen (whose stick skills and positioning off the ball were excellent), Tess O’Shea, Dee Redmond-Howard and Morgan Vine.

While the results did not favour the home teams, their performances reflected growth, teamwork, and determination, qualities that will serve them well in their final match of the season. Both teams can take pride in their attitude and commitment against strong opposition.

Players of the Day

U13A – Ella Pantony and Arabella Valentine-Brown

U13B – Tesse O’Shea and Dee Redmond-Howard

Coaches Players of the Day

U13A – Molly Hirsch and Phoebe Cowell

U13B – Esme Pollen and Morgan Vine

Young Enterprise at Goudhurst Christmas Fair

If you are going to the Goudhurst Christmas fair this Saturday please do pop in and say hello to / support our Young Enterprise company ‘Jupiter’. They will there for the whole event, 12pm to 6pm, based in the Church, selling a selection of homemade Christmas themed products. The event is very nice besides, taking place in the whole village.

You can also follow Jupiter’s Young Enterprise journey on their Instagram page: @jup1ter.ye

Click the link for full details of times of the Goudhurst Christmas Fair and some examples of Jupiter’s items are shown below:

More info on Goudhurst Christmas Fair

The Bethany Young Enterprise team will be selling a selection of homemade Christmas products.

The Bethany Young Enterprise team will be selling a selection of homemade Christmas products.

The Bethany Young Enterprise team will be selling a selection of homemade Christmas products.

Year 7 Public Speaking

Each Friday morning at 8.30 Year 7 have their year group assembly. As part of the programme pupils have the chance to develop their public speaking by planning and presenting an assembly as a tutor group.

They provide a great opportunity for pupils to develop their confidence when it comes to speaking in front of their peers and groups of people. Each tutor group has the chance to do this at least twice throughout the academic year and the first round of assemblies will focus on the Bethany values of Kindness, Tolerance, Respect.

First up was Mrs Duncan’s tutor group who this morning delivered an assembly on Kindness. They harnessed the message from Cadbury’s chocolate “a glass and a half in everyone” to illustrate this point. We also learned, as an aside, that the chocolate of choice for Year 7 pupils was a Crunchie bar, something I can get behind!

The pupils engaged their peers excellently during their first go at presenting an assembly and didn’t lose focus on their key message. I was hugely impressed with the confident way each of them spoke and had prepared for the task. They have set the bar high for the other tutor groups who will be presenting over the next few weeks.

Mr Clough

Head of Year 7

World Philosophy Day Competition: The Result

Last Thursday, we celebrated World Philosophy Day, a day dedicated to the love of wisdom, critical thinking and the exploration of life’s fundamental questions. Philosophy encapsulates critical thinking skills, creativity and meaningful dialogue, which are just as important in our ever-growing world!

I announced that I would be running a competition to celebrate and the pupils could enter by answering one of the following questions:

“What is happiness”

“Who am I?”

“Is it okay to break a rule to help someone?”

“Can a machine think?

Since announcing this competition, I have been amazed by the broad spectrum of different ideas and views through different mediums! I will admit, I struggled to choose a true winner because of how profound many of the entries were. So have therefore chosen a winner for each year group in which pupils entered!

The winners will receive their prize next week, and their work will be displayed in the RS Corridor.

Year 11 Winner: Olivia D

For her extensive essay-based piece on “What is Happiness?”. Olivia’s essay explored all different ways of tackling this question and has demonstrated all the key skills that come with Philosophy. A really interesting piece to read!

Read Olivia’s winning entry

Year 9 Winner: Sydney V

For her lovely and powerful response to “Who am I?”. Sydney’s piece was moving and encapsulated the often confusing but formative years of school life and growing up.

Read Sydney’s winning entry

Year 8 Winner: Finn C

For his interesting thoughts towards, “Can a Machine Think?”. Finn looked at whether or not AI had a consciousness which brings forth further questioning about our own brains.

Read Finn’s winning entry

Year 7 Winner: William S

For answering and responding to all questions with extensive thoughts! William put good effort into his entry, and it showed. Well done William!

Read William’s winning entry

For everyone else who entered, they will receive a Level 2 merit for their brilliant ideas and responses. They were truly impressive to see and I could not be more proud of the pupils here at Bethany for taking time to think and apply themselves towards the competition this year.

‘Till next year, keep on philosophisin’.

Mr Allsopp

Head of Philosophy, Ethics and Religion

Pride Club Bake Sale for Porchlight

Bethany School Pride Club held a fantastic bake sale this week, raising an impressive £77.66 for Porchlight, a charity who help people facing homelessness.

The stall was bursting with colour and the sweet smell of freshly baked treats. Pupils and staff enjoyed a delicious selection of doughnuts, biscuits, and beautifully decorated cupcakes, all handmade with care.

A huge thank you to everyone who baked, bought, or helped on the day, your generosity made the fundraiser a true success and a celebration of inclusivity.

Shrek Production Merchandise: Coming Soon!

We are excited to announce that our pupil-led Young Enterprise team are preparing to launch official Shrek production hoodies and T-shirts for families to purchase.

The Young Enterprise team are currently finalising details with a supplier and hope to provide a dedicated website where families can easily order either a hoodie or a hoodie + T-shirt. Both the hoodie and t shirt will feature the entire cast list of names on the reverse. Please note that the T-shirt will not available to purchase separately.

Their aim is to make these items available to buy before Christmas, with all merchandise ready for collection in the New Year.

During the performance evenings, the Young Enterprise team also plan to offer:

+ Professional photographs, available for parents to pre-order

+ Photo books featuring a selection of images from across the production

As soon as the ordering website and purchasing details are confirmed, the Young Enterprise team will update again with more information.

Thank you for supporting our Young Enterprise Company as they bring the world of Shrek to life!

Boarders Footgolf Mania

Last Sunday, Mr Henson and Mr Allsopp took a selection of Bethany boarders to Tonbridge Golf Centre for a highly competitive round of footgolf. The standard at the top was extremely high, with several impressive moments, most notably Logan holing out spectacularly from 70 yards.

Pre-tournament underdog and rookie footgolfer Mr Allsopp showed his inexperience early, barely getting his first shot off the tee. His form recovered slightly across the remaining holes. As the group approached the final hole, the scores were unknown, and nerves began to show with a few missed simple chances.

After a quick tally from the scorer, the final standings were revealed:

1st – Mr Henson (38 shots)

2nd – Xavier and Guillermo R E (49 shots each)

4th – Guillermo B M-E (53 shots)

5th – Logan (56 shots)

6th (Last) – Mr Allsopp (62 shots)

A brilliant and thoroughly enjoyable morning of footgolf for all.

Pupils Take Centre Stage at Winter Concert

This year’s Winter Concert brought together pupils from across Bethany School for a wonderful evening of music and dance. The evening highlighted not only the talent within Bethany School, but also the supportive and creative spirit that makes Bethany such a special community.

The concert experience began in the atrium, which pupils decorated with warm lighting and seasonal style. As families entered and enjoyed a drink, background piano performances from Lewis and Alex helped to create a relaxed winter atmosphere. During the interval, the atrium became a lively social space again, with acoustic performances providing music while guests chatted and enjoyed refreshments.

Inside the theatre, the programme offered a fantastic range of performances. Pupils presented music from Gorillaz to Howard Blake, demonstrating both breadth of learning and enthusiasm for exploring different sounds and styles. There were full bands with woodwind sections, solo singers and pianists, and ensembles that showed strong teamwork and confident musicianship.

Dance also featured throughout the concert, with a positive balance of pupil-choreographed routines and pieces created together with teachers. Whether performing solo or in larger groups, dancers showed expressive movement and impressive stage presence.

One of the highlights of the evening came from The Vines, an ensemble featuring Mrs Vine, normally found in the Bethany HR department, and her children Morgan and Sydney, who are both Bethany music scholars. Their performance showed how creative life at Bethany expands beyond the classroom, bringing families and pupils together in a shared experience.

The concert ran smoothly thanks to the excellent work of the pupil production team, who led sound, lighting and backstage coordination with calm focus. Their professionalism ensured that performers felt supported and the audience enjoyed a seamless evening.

Our comperes, Harry and Toby, helped make the evening friendly and enjoyable with their confident introductions and warm humour.

One of the most meaningful elements of the Winter Concert is that pupils lead every aspect of it. By taking responsibility for planning, organising and performing, they gain a deeper understanding of what it takes to present a high-quality event. They also develop genuine pride in their work and in the community that supports it. That sense of care is shared by the audience too, bringing performers, backstage teams and families together in one connected creative experience.

Throughout the night, there was a clear feeling of joy and togetherness in the theatre. The Winter Concert provided a fantastic opportunity for pupils to showcase skills they have worked hard to develop, while encouraging and celebrating one another’s achievements.

As families headed home, there was a strong sense of pride in how brilliantly pupils are developing within the performing arts at Bethany. We look forward to future opportunities to share and celebrate their achievements!

Full gallery, including high quality digital prints to purchase, will be included in next week’s newsletter.