Weekly Newsletter

July 3, 2026

Headmaster’s Farewell

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This is the final newsletter of the year and my last one ever! As I look back at the last 37 years, I cannot believe how quickly the time has flown. If someone had told me way back in 1989 that I would still be here in 2026, I would never have believed them! I could not have asked for a better place to work which is why I stayed so long.

While all weeks at Bethany are busy this has been particularly full and wholesome as the final three days have been devoted for activities in the various year groups. This meant that the last whole School assembly took place on Tuesday and it was very gracious of the pupils to give me a standing ovation as I left the Assembly Hall at the end of it.

The range of activities enjoyed by the pupils included: Year 7 enjoying action water sports as well as visits to Port Lympne and Chatham dockyard; Years 8 and 9 took part in a range of outdoor pursuits as well as visiting Leeds Castle and Chessington World of Adventures, pupils in Year 9 who undertook their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award received training as well as completing the expedition; Year 10 pupils went to St Andrews Lakes, the Go Ape facility in Bedgebury and Port Lympne; Year 12 pupils spent Wednesday and Thursday preparing for their futures and finished the week off in Thorpe Park, meanwhile the Silver Duke of Edinburgh candidates completed their silver expedition in the South Downs. No doubt your children will be very tired and there is plenty of time for them to relax and recuperate over the summer months. I would like to thank all of the staff for their additional efforts this week in making sure your children had such a wholesome experience.

It was great to see the England national football team win their match on Wednesday evening. I’ll leave it up yourselves to decide whether your children watch the next match against Mexico at 1am on Monday morning. Unlike their state school counterparts, they will not have school to contend with on Monday!

I would like to thank you all for the wonderful messages and gifts you have sent both Frances and me as we embrace our respective retirements. I am so very fortunate to have worked for 37 years in an environment as nice as Bethany. The pupils are wonderful, and you as parents are the salt of the earth. I wish you all every possible good fortune in the future and I hope that your children will continue to shine at Bethany.

I read this pearl of wisdom recently which stated that “Retirement is like a long vacation in Las Vegas. The goal is to enjoy it to the fullest, but not so fully that you run out of money!” I certainly intend to enjoy my retirement. Frances and I are going to start it off by going to Italy for a few weeks in September.

I shall leave you with this very old Irish wish. “May the best day of your past be the worst day of your future”.

Have a great summer.

Yours sincerely,

Francie Healy

Headmaster

37 Years. One Extraordinary Journey.

When Mr Healy arrived at Bethany in 1989, the School was home to 255 boys, there was no internet, no laptops and no girls.

Thirty-seven years later, Bethany has transformed beyond recognition. Along the way, Mr Healy has been a teacher, Houseparent, ICT pioneer, Director of Studies, Deputy Head Academic, Headmaster and, above all, a constant presence in the lives of thousands of pupils.

This is the story of Bethany through Mr Healy’s eyes.

The Beginning

In 1989, Mr Healy arrived from Ireland to teach Mathematics, joining a very different Bethany School. Technology barely featured in classrooms and many of today’s buildings simply didn’t exist.

It was the beginning of a journey that would span nearly four decades.

A Bethany minibus outside of the School in 1989.

The Bethany School campus in the 1980’s.

The School Starts to Change

The early 1990s brought one of the biggest moments in Bethany’s history.

Girls joined the School for the very first time in 1991, opening an exciting new chapter for Bethany.

At the same time, Mr Healy became Head of Information Technology, helping prepare the School for the digital future.

The first Bethany Schools girls in 1991.

Mr Healy teaching ICT as Head of Information Technology in the 1990’s.

Building the Bethany We Know Today

Over the years, the campus evolved dramatically.

As Mr Healy’s career progressed, so did the School.

The Hayward Building appeared.

The famous Railway Block disappeared.

The Holmes Building, The Library/Learning Resource Centre, refurbished Dining Hall, Science Centre, Benians Building, Food Technology and Languages departments all followed.

Every project reflected a school looking confidently towards the future.

Major building works throughout the 1990’s at Bethany.

A photo of the Bethany outdoor swimming pool in 1992.

The Railway Block gets demolished in 1996.

Ahead of His Time

Long before digital learning became normal, Mr Healy was already leading the way.

In 1999, Bethany introduced laptops for Year 9 pupils, and Mr Healy trained colleagues to use them in lessons.

Today, technology is woven into every classroom, but it started with some very chunky laptops and one enthusiastic Maths teacher.

Year 9 pupils with their laptops in 1999.

Life Beyond the Classroom

Lots of pupils remember Mr Healy not just as a teacher, but as a Houseparent of Old Pops, with his wife, Mrs Healy, who was Housemistress.

Barbecues.

Fancy dress.

Bouncy castles.

Weekend activities.

Jokes (both good and bad!).

Plenty of laughter.

Old Pops wasn’t just a boarding house during Mr and Mrs Healy’s tenure as house parents, it was home.

Mr and Mrs Healy at a Bethany Christmas party.

Leading Bethany

After becoming Director of Studies and Deputy Head Academic, Mr Healy was appointed Headmaster in 2010.

During his leadership Bethany continued to invest in its future while staying true to its family ethos.

Major developments included:

+ Indoor Swimming Pool

+ Sixth Form Centre

+ Fitness Suite

+ Pengelly Performance Centre

Each project created new opportunities for generations of Bethany pupils.

The Pengelly Performance Centre construction in 2023.

The Pengelly Performance Centre exterior.

Always Up for Charity

If there’s one thing everyone knows about Mr Healy…

…he’ll never say no to dressing up for charity.

Whether wearing shorts in the middle of winter, swapping places with pupils, dressing as Barbie, supporting bake sales or standing under freezing buckets of water, Mr Healy has always led by example, and usually with a smile.

Mr Healy takes on the ice bucket challenge.

Mr Healy as a Bethany Year 7 pupil for the day.

Mr and Mrs Healy as Oliver Twist and Artful Dodger for World Book Day.

Mr Healy and Harrison’s Mr Healy themed Christmas Jumper for Christmas Jumper Day.

Mr Healy as Robin Hood for World Book Day.

More Than Buildings

Buildings tell one story. People tell another.

Thousands of pupils have passed through Bethany during Mr Healy’s 37 years.

Many will remember the warm welcome they received before even joining the school.

The conversation after assembly.

The encouragement before an exam.

The seemingly endless list of infamous ‘dad jokes’ that always raised a smile.

The sense that someone genuinely cared.

Those moments are his greatest legacy.

Mr Healy supporting a charity cake sale.

Mr Healy at the opening night of the Pengelly Performance Centre.

Thank You, Francie

From Mathematics teacher to Headmaster.

From floppy disks to AI.

From the Railway Block to the Pengelly Performance Centre.

Mr Healy has helped shape Bethany for nearly four decades.

Thank you for your leadership, humour, kindness and unwavering commitment to every member of the Bethany community.

We wish Mr and Mrs Healy and their family every happiness in retirement.

Speech Day Prize Winner Portraits

Speech Day 2026 Prize Winner portrait photographs are now ready to view and order.

To view and order your photos, please go to

www.alitusonphotographs.co.uk

click on the Schools tab at the top of the homepage. A window will appear. To access Speech Day portraits, please enter the access code: SPEECHDAY2026 and log in and the portraits will appear. Then follow the ordering process – Choose A Product, Select Image, Add To Basket, Go To Basket and Checkout.

Please place your order by Monday, 7th September 2026. Thank you.

Exciting Production Announcement

We’re excited to announce that our next whole school production is All Shook Up!

Inspired by the music of Elvis Presley, this high-energy show is full of unforgettable songs, hilarious comedy, romance and larger-than-life characters.

Whether you’re a production regular or thinking about joining for the first time, this production has something for everyone.

Enrichment Week: Year 7

Year 7 enjoyed a splendid few days to round off the past academic year as part of this year’s Enrichment Week programme. This year saw trips to Action Watersports, Port Lympne Animal Park and Chatham Historic Dockyard.

Day 1: Action Watersports

Enrichment Week started with a trip to Action Watersports and the excitement was palpable as pupils prepared to set depart School on Wednesday morning. The day started with pupils taking to the water for some paddle boarding, which was enjoyed by all. After topping up on suntan lotion, this was followed by the giant inflatable assault course. In the afternoon pupils took to the water again to be towed on giant bananas and other inflatables behind a powerboat. It was fantastic to see how much fun pupils had during the day and it was safe to say that the children were very tired on the bus back to School.

Day 2: Port Lympne

After the intense activity of Wednesday, pupils had the chance to enjoy a day with a slightly slower pace with a visit to Port Lympne Zoo. Pupils enjoyed touring around the zoo in their various group and finding out a bit more about the animals that live there. The gorillas were a huge hit. At lunchtime, pupils set off on a safari which allowed them to see a range of animals including the giraffes and camels.

Day 3: Chatham Historic Dockyard

Friday saw the pupils finish off the week with a visit to Chatham Historic Dockyard. Whilst there, pupils had the benefit of being taken on a tour of the historic site to visit the historic ships that are located there. Whilst there, the pupils took part in a rocket workshop which had them working in teams to create their own rockets. George and Lorcan were crowned winners. It was fantastic to see just how much fun the pupils had with their various tasks on this final day of the academic year.

Throughout the week, and indeed throughout the year the pupils have shone in terms of their determination and camaraderie. They are a close knit year group and it has been a pleasure to witness them developing over the course of the year. These final trips of Year 7 were a fitting way to celebrate the end of their first year at Bethany. I have no doubt that they will continue go from strength to strength as they move up through the School over the coming years.

I’ll save my last lines of this report to extend my thanks to the staff who supported the trips throughout the week without whom they would not have been possible and of course to wish the pupils a very relaxing and well-earned summer break.

Mr Clough

Head of Year 7

Enrichment Week: Years 8 and 9

Our Years 8 and 9 pupils rounded off a busy and successful academic year with an action-packed Enrichment Week, filled with adventure, friendly competition and plenty of laughter.

Day 1: Outdoor Adventure

The week began with an exciting day of outdoor pursuits, where pupils challenged themselves across a range of activities including archery, climbing, clay pigeon shooting, quad biking and the ever-popular Air Drop. Pupils and staff alike embraced every challenge, making the most of a fantastic day outdoors.

There were some standout performances throughout the day. Congratulations to Andrew S (Year 9) and Orrin C (Year 8), who shared the title of Best Shot in the clay pigeon shooting competition. Etta S (Year 9) impressed everyone with her climbing skills to earn the title of Best Climber, while Group 3 (Year 8 Boys) took home the award for Best Overall Group thanks to their teamwork, enthusiasm and determination.

Day 2: Discovering Leeds Castle

Thursday saw pupils travel to the beautiful Leeds Castle for a day combining history, exploration and fun. They enjoyed exploring the magnificent castle and its stunning grounds before taking on the famous maze, obstacle course and a round of crazy golf, which proved to be one of the day’s biggest hits.

A particular highlight was a private falconry display, giving pupils the chance to see these magnificent birds up close and learn more about them. The annual photography competition also took place during the visit, with pupils capturing the beauty of the castle and its surroundings. The winning photographs, along with several highly commended entries, will soon be displayed in the Day Room for everyone to enjoy.

Day 3: Thrills at Chessington

The week concluded with an exciting trip to Chessington, where pupils enjoyed a day packed with rollercoasters, attractions and plenty of smiles. As always, there was no shortage of encouragement for staff members to join the rides… sometimes rather reluctantly! Fortunately, everyone survived to tell the tale, and the shared laughter made for a memorable finale to an outstanding week.

Enrichment Week has been a wonderful way to bring another successful school year to a close. A huge thank you goes to all of the staff who organised and supported the trips, and to our Years 8 and 9 pupils for their enthusiasm, excellent behaviour and willingness to embrace every opportunity. We wish them all a happy, restful and well-deserved summer break.

Miss King

Head of Years 8 and 9

Enrichment Week: Year 10

Year 10 embraced the spirit of Enrichment Week with three days packed full of adventure, teamwork and unforgettable experiences. Blessed with glorious summer weather, pupils challenged themselves, supported one another and created memories that will last long after the holidays.

Day 1: Making a Splash

The week got off to a fantastic start with a visit to St Andrews Lakes, where pupils enjoyed an exciting day on and in the water. From working together in bell boats to testing their balance on paddle boards, everyone embraced the challenge with enthusiasm.

For many, the highlight of the day was tackling the aqua park, with its inflatable obstacles, slides and plenty of spectacular splashes! The combination of sunshine, teamwork and laughter made for a brilliant start to the week.

Day 2: Reaching New Heights

Thursday brought even more adventure as pupils took on the high ropes course before heading to Bedgebury. High above the ground, Year 10 demonstrated impressive determination and resilience, encouraging one another every step of the way as they navigated the challenging course.

The day also brought some wonderful compliments from members of the public, who commented on how polite, respectful and well-mannered our pupils were throughout the visit. They were excellent ambassadors for Bethany School, and we are incredibly proud of the way they represented our community.

Day 3: A Wild Finish

To round off an action-packed week, Year 10 visited Port Lympne for an unforgettable safari experience. Pupils enjoyed getting up close to an incredible variety of animals, learning more about conservation while exploring one of the UK’s most impressive wildlife parks.

It was the perfect way to celebrate the end of a fantastic week and welcome the start of the summer holidays.

A huge well done to all of our Year 10 pupils for embracing every opportunity with such positivity, enthusiasm and teamwork. Thank you also to the staff who organised and supported the trips, helping to make this year’s Enrichment Week such a memorable success.

Mr Bolton

Head of Years 10 and 11

Enrichment Week: Year 12

As the end of term approached, Year 12 pupils enjoyed an Enrichment Week designed to strike the perfect balance between preparing for life beyond Bethany and celebrating a fantastic year together. From CV workshops and university applications to dodgeball, air hockey and a thrilling trip to Thorpe Park, it was a packed three days that combined productivity with plenty of fun!

Day 1: Looking Ahead

The week began with a focus on future pathways. Visitor Anne Cameron led an insightful workshop on CV writing and apprenticeships, giving pupils valuable advice on presenting themselves to prospective employers and exploring the growing range of apprenticeship opportunities.

Next came one of the week’s highlights: our Alumni Networking Event. We were delighted to welcome 24 former Bethany pupils back to school, where they shared their experiences of university, apprenticeships and working life. Current Year 12 pupils had the chance to ask questions, make connections and gain first-hand insight into the exciting opportunities that lie ahead.

Coffee and Connections Alumni Coffee Morning.

The remainder of the day was dedicated to making a strong start on personal statements, with pupils drafting and refining the opening section of one of the most important documents in their UCAS journey.

To round off the day, it was time to swap laptops for trainers! Pupils could choose between an energetic game of dodgeball with Mr Khan or learning practical self-defence skills with Mrs Healy, both proving to be a brilliant way to finish a productive day (and watching England win their game!).

Self defence in the Bethany sports hall.

Watching England eventually beat DR Congo in the World Cup in the Sixth Form Centre.

Day 2: Building Skills

The second day continued the focus on preparing for the future. Visitor Jane Marshall delivered an engaging interview skills workshop, equipping pupils with practical tips and techniques to help them shine in interviews for university, apprenticeships and employment.

Pupils then continued developing their personal statements, completing further paragraphs before exploring online learning opportunities through MOOCs and AI-related courses, encouraging them to think about how they can continue learning independently over the summer.

The afternoon featured an important road safety presentation from Kent County Council, titled “What to Do Post Collision?”, providing valuable advice for many pupils as they begin driving independently.

The day ended on a lighter note with a fiercely competitive air hockey tournament in The Orchard. With a “winner stays on” format, the competition quickly became one of the week’s most entertaining events, with plenty of laughter and some surprisingly impressive skills on display!

Day 3: One Last Adventure

After two days of preparing for the future, it was time to celebrate. Year 12 headed off to Thorpe Park for an action-packed day of rollercoasters, thrills and well-earned fun together before the summer break. It was the perfect opportunity to unwind, make memories and enjoy one final adventure as a year group before returning in September as Bethany’s senior pupils.

As pupils head into the summer, they have been challenged to make the most of the weeks ahead by gaining work experience, polishing their personal statements and researching their next steps, whether that involves university, apprenticeships or employment. With UCAS choices beginning to take shape, this summer represents an exciting and important stage in their journey.

I wish all of our Year 12 pupils a restful, enjoyable and productive summer, and look forward to welcoming them back in September for an exciting final year at Bethany.

Mr Duff

Head of Sixth Form

Duke of Edinburgh Award Expeditions

Over the course of the last three days, our Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh participants have successfully completed their expeditions. Throughout the challenge, pupils travelled across varied landscapes, camped at different sites each evening and showed impressive resilience, cooperation and perseverance. Their willingness to support one another and maintain a positive attitude, even when faced with challenges, was commendable and reflected the true spirit of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Bronze Award

Bethany’s Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participants enjoyed warm weather as they set off on this year’s expedition, putting their training, teamwork and resilience to the test.

The first day focused on developing essential expedition skills. Pupils practised navigation using compasses and Ordnance Survey maps, pitched tents and bivouacs and learned how to safely use Trangias to prepare meals outdoors. The training provided a valuable opportunity to build confidence ahead of the assessed expedition.

Day 2 saw the groups tackle a challenging circular route from Bethany, taking in fields, woodland and country lanes before climbing towards Goudhurst. Despite the hot conditions and the occasional navigational detour, every group successfully completed the route, covering at least 15km, with some clocking up even more distance along the way.

Throughout the expedition, staff discreetly shadowed each group, offering support when needed while encouraging pupils to work independently. The expedition was a fantastic demonstration of determination, resilience and teamwork, with everyone returning tired but proud of their achievements and ready for the next stage of their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Silver Award

The Silver Qualifying Expedition 2026 took place across the beautiful South Downs, beginning at Ditchling Beacon and finishing just south of Frant.

Pupils demonstrated excellent resilience and determination on the first day, completing a demanding route despite encountering a few minor navigation challenges along the way. Their teamwork and positive attitude ensured they stayed focused and supported one another throughout. They were rewarded with excellent weather, particularly at the campsite in the evening, where they enjoyed cooking their meals outdoors and relaxing after a long day’s walking. Spirits were high as they even found time to celebrate England’s football victory with a friendly game of their own.

Day 2 brought much hotter conditions, testing everyone’s endurance, but the groups continued to work exceptionally well together, sharing equipment fairly and encouraging one another to the finish. We look forward to hearing more about their experiences when all three groups present their expeditions to Years 7–10 during the first carousel session of the new academic year.

Success for Grace in Open Water Swim

We are delighted to celebrate Grace’s incredible achievement in completing her open water swim last Sunday. She crossed the finish line in an impressive time of 1 hour, 8 minutes and 38 seconds, after months of dedicated preparation.

Even more brilliantly, Grace has raised an amazing £2,100 for Motor Neurone Disease, supporting vital research and helping those affected by this devastating condition. Her commitment, perseverance and generosity is inspiring and we are immensely proud of everything Grace has accomplished.

Well done, Grace!

2026/27 Heads of School Announced

Introducing our new Heads of School for the next academic year!

We’re delighted to announce that current Year 12 pupils Rufus and Maisie have been appointed as Heads of School. They will be supported by our new Deputy Heads of School, Charlie and Lewis.

The quartet will begin their roles in September. Congratulations to all!

Olivia Wins The Nando’s Cup

The Nandos Cup is a a half-termly ‘lucky draw’ we have in the Sixth Form for a £20 Nandos voucher! The entry ticket is a merit. Every time a Sixth Former does a good deed they get a merit and their name goes into the lucky draw hat. The more good deeds, the more entries and the more chance of being the lucky winner!

The winner of Summer term 2’s Nandos Cup is Olivia J.

Well done, Olivia!

The Nandos Cup will return next year!

Mr Duff

Head of Sixth Form

Award Winning Fashion!

Bethany continues to produce award winning fashion designers!

We’re incredibly proud to celebrate the success of one of our Year 12 pupils, Hattie, who recently achieved 2nd place in the prestigious Young Fashion Designer UK competition.

The competition brings together pupils from across the country, challenging them to respond to industry-style briefs that encourage creativity, innovation and personal expression. This year’s theme, “Wear the Change,” asked designers to explore how fashion can play a role in creating a more ethical and sustainable future.

Hattie’s response stood out for its thoughtful concept and strong storytelling. Inspired by Maison Margiela’s use of reclaimed materials and the traditional Japanese Boro technique of repairing and reusing textiles, her design explored how clothing can reflect the passage of time and personal change.

At the heart of the piece was the idea of identity evolving through experience, influenced by the play People, Places and Things. Hattie brought this to life through references to portraiture and fragments of “past selves,” carefully stitched together to represent growth, resilience and transformation. The use of recycled materials, including blazer fabric, linen and other repurposed textiles, further reinforced the very important message of sustainability. Beautiful hand and machine embroidery added an extra layer of depth, with stitched imagery and textures suggesting memory and emotion beneath the surface. This is a key feature of all of Hattie’s work and was evident in her top grade GCSE work and now into her A Level work.

Hattie’s project also showcased an impressive level of dedication and technical skill. From her initial sketches through to the final garment, she worked through a rigorous and ambitious design process, including:

+ Developing patterns and constructing a fitted bodice using recycled fabrics

+ Layering materials to create texture and depth

+ Experimenting with shape and proportion to support the concept

+ Using embroidery to weave narrative details into the design

The finished piece was both striking and meaningful, bringing together concept, craftsmanship and sustainability in a powerful way. Achieving 2nd place nationally is a fantastic accomplishment, and a real testament to her creativity, commitment and talent.

We’re excited to see where Hattie’s creative journey takes her next, and we’ll be cheering her on every step of the way.

Mrs Smart

Head of Art

Bethany at The Kent County Show

Bethany School is delighted to be sponsoring the Kent County Show on 3rd, 4th and 5th July.

As one of Kent’s premier agricultural events, the show brings together families, local businesses and countryside enthusiasts for three days of entertainment, education and celebration of rural life.

Visitors can enjoy a packed programme of activities and displays throughout the event. If you are attending the Kent County Show, be sure to stop by and say hello to the Bethany School team. We look forward to meeting visitors and sharing more about our fantastic school community.

Photo Gallery: Joseph

As the curtain fell for the final time on Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Bethany’s junior performers brought two unforgettable evenings of music, colour and storytelling to the Pengelly Performance Centre. We’re delighted to share a photo gallery capturing some of the standout moments from this wonderful production. Photographs taken by the brilliant Ali Tuson.

If you would like to order prints or high resolution copies of photos from Joseph And The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, please go to www.alitusonphotographs.co.uk and click on Schools at the top of the homepage. A window will appear.

Please enter the access code: JOSEPH and log in. The gallery of images will appear. If you would like to order an image, please follow this process: Choose A Product, Select Image, Add To Basket, Go To Basket and Checkout. Please place your order by Monday, 7th September 2026.

Thank you.

View gallery

Year 7 PBL Winners Announced

Congratulations to Edward, Holly, Isaac and Morgan, whose Wildflower Garden Project was selected as the winning proposal. The judges were particularly impressed by its positive impact on biodiversity and its potential to enhance the school grounds.

A special mention also goes to our runners-up, Joseph, Lev, Wilbur and William, for their innovative Car-Sharing App Proposal, which offered a practical solution for reducing traffic and carbon emissions associated with the school run.

Congratulations everyone!

Coffee and Connections Morning

Wednesday’s Coffee and Connections event was a brilliant success, bringing together Bethany alumni and current Year 12 pupils for a morning of informal networking and conversation.

Over refreshments, alumni shared their journeys through university, apprenticeships, gap years and the world of work, offering valuable insight and encouragement to pupils as part of our Project Horizon programme. The atmosphere was relaxed, engaging and full of meaningful discussions about future pathways and next steps.

It was fantastic to see connections being made between past and present pupils, helping to strengthen our growing alumni network and open the door to future mentoring opportunities, work experience links and professional support.

A huge thank you to all our alumni who attended and generously shared their experiences, we look forward to building on this momentum and welcoming you back again soon.

Georgie Shortlisted for UCA Competition

We are delighted to celebrate the success of Bethany pupil, Georgie, who has been shortlisted for the prestigious UCA YouCreate: Weird Competition 2026 in the Years 11–13 and FE category. This is a fantastic achievement, as the competition attracts a wide range of high-quality entries from across the region.

Georgie’s artwork impressed the judges with its creativity, originality and technical skill, earning a well-deserved place on the shortlist and the chance to win one of the top prizes. As part of this recognition, Georgie’s work will be displayed at a special exhibition at the University for the Creative Arts in Canterbury, where it will be viewed by industry professionals and members of the public. Winners will be announced at the exhibition opening event in July.

Georgie said:

“I created this piece of work inspired by the theme ‘Weird’. My stimulus was how I find beauty standards very weird. I created this message with the combination of mirrors and latex. The latex symbolises the prosthetic and false identity we have to succumb to, in order to live up to unrealistic standards. To make the piece personal and individual, I made the background out of mirrors. The mirrors allow you to see yourself within the work, which is something that I really like, as it connects the audience with the message and brings you to ‘face yourself’. The imperfection of the latex faces really stands out to me as it pushes the message that no matter how hard we try to be ‘perfect’ we will still have imperfections and flaws. Overall, this piece was really interesting to make as I developed skills and explored many different elements that brought everything together.”

Congratulations, Georgie, we can’t wait to see what’s next!

Darcey’s Open Water Swimming Success

A fantastic achievement for Darcey!

On Sunday, Darcey in Year 8 took on her first ever open water race at the South East Regional Open Water Swimming Championship at Mercers Lake, Surrey.

Swimming an impressive 2km in 26 minutes 13 seconds, Darcey secured 3rd place in the Kent County Championship, earning a well-deserved Kent bronze medal

Her brilliant performance also placed her 10th overall across the entire South East Region for her age group – a wonderful result, especially for her first experience of open water racing!

We are incredibly proud of Darcey for overcoming those pre-race nerves and embracing a new challenge. We look forward to seeing what comes next!

The Orchard Boarding House G.O.A.T

The GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) for this week isn’t a pupil at all, which is a bit of a cheat really. However, we couldn’t allow Dr Evans’ departure to go unremarked.

He has been an absolutely wonderful addition to the House staff for the last two years, he has been fabulously supportive of both the pupils and the staff, and even his line in appalling jokes will be missed when we reconvene in September without him.

We wish him every success at his new School in Croydon. He’s a worthy recipient of the final GOAT of 2025-26 and David was delighted to present him with the trophy.

Mr Davies

Housemaster, The Orchard

A Thank You to FOBS

We are very grateful to the Friends of Bethany School (FOBS) who have kindly donated the money to purchase some standing desks for classrooms in the school.

These will allow pupils who work better in a standing position to focus and concentrate on work and will be very well used next year. Year 8 tried these out in English this week and gave their seal of approval!

FOBS have also purchased an acoustic bench to support regulation which will be kept in Room 4 next year. We look forward to providing pictures of this in action as well!

Thank you, Friends of Bethany School.

A Parent’s Guide to Steam

Written by online safety expert: Ruth Noble, Digital Safeguarding Education Specialist

Steam is a comprehensive digital distribution platform and gaming hub primarily used for PCs. It provides a vast online marketplace where users can browse, purchase and download a massive library of video games, from indie titles to AAA releases (high-budget, high-production-value video games).

Read more here

Lost Property

We have added a new Lost Items application, available via the button below or on MySchoolPortal. This application allows parents, and pupils, to check if we have found your lost item(s).

If you spot something that is yours, please send your child to the Lost Property Office (top of the Food Tech/Textiles building) between 1.30pm and 2pm.

Access the items list by either logging into the parent portal and then heading to School Information where the list can be accessed or by clicking the button below.

Items that cannot be reunited with their owner will be donated to charity.

Bethany School Lost Property

Prayer Requests

If you would like the chaplain to pray for you or for someone you know, you can send your prayer requests to him using the link below and he will include them in his prayers for the school. All submissions are anonymous and won’t be seen by anyone other than the chaplain.

Submit a Prayer Request Form

Prayer Group

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Mr Ian Butler

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Mr Jakub Sleczka

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Mr Matt Tatnell

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Mr Nigel Edwards

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Mr Richard Smith

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Dr Clare Notley

Lead Teacher of Biology

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Miss Leaf Ye Zhao

Teacher of Maths

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Miss Mathilda Fuller

Teacher of Mathematics, Second Assistant Housemistress The Orchard

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Miss Sam King

Head of Girls’ Sport, Head of Year 8 & 9

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Mr Adam Manktelow

Head of Maths

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Mr Alex Bolton

Director of Performing Arts, Head of Key Stage 4

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