Weekly Newsletter

May 15, 2026

Headmaster’s Welcome

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This past week has felt like a week of winter sun. It is odd to be experiencing a wind chill factor in May, but such is life.

I am pleased with how well our Year 7 and 8 pupils coped with their internal assessments this week. Our GCSE and A Level candidates sat numerous exams this week and by and large the pupils seem happy with how they performed in them.

Our silver Duke of Edinburgh award pupils are on their practice expedition this weekend, and they are due to return tomorrow.

There is a Learn to Earn workshop next week for Year 9 pupils. This will give them a first hand insight of what it is like to live in the real world and what salary they need to earn if they want to maintain their current standard of living.

Half term starts at the end of the school day on Friday 22nd May.

I spoke to pupils about mental health on Wednesday which is particularly important during examination season.

I found this comment from Michelle Obama particularly insightful. “When it comes to mental health conditions, we often treat them differently from other diseases like cancer, diabetes or asthma. And that makes no sense. Whether an illness affects your heart, your leg or your brain, it is still an illness, and there should be no distinction. Because we know that mental health is just as important as our wellbeing and physical health.” Very wise words indeed.

Have a good weekend.

Yours sincerely,

Francie Healy

Headmaster

Latest Sports News

The latest sports news from Bethany School. With exam season now in full flow, just two fixtures were scheduled this week as the U15 and U13 cricket team’s both took on Dover College.

Cricket | Bethany U15A v Dover College

The Bethany U15A cricket team returned to action at the wonderful Maxton Cricket Ground at Dover College, a venue beautifully overlooked by the imposing Dover Castle. Despite bright sunshine, a strong wind swept across the ground and made conditions challenging.

Bethany, put into bat, found scoring difficult against some disciplined Dover bowling. Runs were hard to come by, but Extras proved helpful, allowing the team to keep the scoreboard moving. Even with the pressure applied, Bethany showed resilience and lost only two wickets on their way to a total of 237.

Dover College began their reply confidently. Two of their players appeared to be experienced cricketers and settled quickly, rotating the strike well and punishing anything loose. Bethany continued to battle, and Eva Lambert produced a standout moment by claiming a well-deserved wicket, a reward for her accuracy with the ball.

Despite Bethany’s efforts, Dover managed to overhaul the target with composure, eventually winning by 36 runs. It was, in many ways, a tough day at the office, but far from a discouraging one. Several players delivered encouraging performances, with Eva showing confidence with the bat, ball and making meaningful contributions in the field.

The match offered valuable experience, highlighted areas for growth. With continued effort and belief, the team should aim to build on these foundations as the summer progresses.

Final score: Bethany (237/2) lost to Dover College (273/2) by 36 runs*

Player of the Match: Millie Flanders and Isabelle Hindley

Coaches Player of the Match: Eva Lambert

*Teams start on 200 runs

Cricket | Bethany U13A v Dover College

It was one of those classic cricketing weather days when sunshine and showers seem to compete for dominance. If the match had been called off due to the gloomy forecast, it would no doubt have turned out gloriously sunny; because it went ahead, of course, the rain made several determined appearances. Fortunately, there was a third way: the U13As’ fixture against Dover College on The Firs threaded itself neatly between the downpours, even dodging the brief burst of summer hailstones, and was played to a full conclusion.

Bethany lost the toss and were asked to bat first. All batting pairs applied themselves well, showing good awareness and running sharply between the wickets. When the bowling allowed, Bethany kept the scoreboard moving with a steady flow of quick singles and several well-struck boundaries. Grace Hetherington impressed with her clean hitting, forming the highest partnership of the innings alongside Molly Hirsch, while Darcie Vidler combined effectively with Darcey Branston. Bethany closed on an imposing 311 for the loss of just one wicket.

Dover College demonstrated real persistence and resilience with both bat and ball, but they struggled to counter Erin Pateman’s superb spell of accurate, pacey bowling. She claimed two wickets in two balls, narrowly missing the individual hat-trick, though Darcey Branston’s sharp run-out completed a memorable team hat-trick.

Despite the unsettled weather and some areas for improvement in their bowling, the U13As played with admirable energy and enthusiasm throughout.

Final score: Bethany (311/1) beat Dover College (271/5) by 40 runs*

Player of the Match: Erin Pateman

Coaches Player of the Match: Grace Hetherington

*Teams start on 200 runs

Annual Boarders’ BBQ

Boarding pupils enjoyed a wonderful evening at the Headmaster’s garden on Tuesday 12th May. The annual event brought the School community together in a relaxed and cheerful setting, and we were joined some Year 7 & 8 day pupils who had been involved in after-School revision sessions related to their Assessment Week.

A pleasing degree of sunshine provided the perfect backdrop for the event. Pupils were treated to a delicious selection of freshly barbecued meats, a wide array of salads, refreshing drinks and topped-off with the now traditional ‘Magnum’ ice cream!

Laughter filled the air as pupils took part in a variety of garden games from football to various tennis alternatives and even bubbles – there was something for everyone to enjoy! Music played throughout the evening, creating a lively and welcoming atmosphere. Many pupils commented on how much they appreciated the chance to unwind outdoors.

Boarding staff joined in the fun, helping to make the evening feel especially inclusive and friendly and the beautiful surroundings of the lovely garden added to the event’s success.

It was a fantastic opportunity for pupils to socialise and strengthen friendships and a memorable highlight for all who attended.

Latest Bethany Blog

The latest Bethany blog has been written by Mr Davies, Head of History and Politics at Bethany. With exam season upon us, Mr Davies gives advice on effective revision and lists a plethora of techniques to help pupils prepare successfully for exams.

The Art of Active Revision

And so we find ourselves slap-bang in the middle of GCSE and A Level revision time. The Year 7 and 8 pupils are doing their exams as I write and our Year 9s have theirs in the second week after half term. So what better to talk about than revision?

The key thing to remember about revision is that it has to be active, nothing sticks in the head through just staring blankly at a textbook or screen. The other thing to remember is that everyone does it differently and will find methods that work for them; some people love creating spider diagrams whereas others would rather pick their nose with a javelin.

What has certainly changed since my days of revising for GCSEs and A Levels (1990 and 1993, since you ask) is the online world, which can enhance the process hugely. There are many sites which offer free revision tools and even more which require a subscription; but in both cases, the instant feedback pupils get is valuable.

So here is just a small sample of revision techniques and ideas for pupils to help them get through the coming weeks successfully.

Road Map

Most subjects at Bethany use road maps. Use this to focus on the skills and topics you need to revise, not those you’re most confident in.

Quizzes

Use Kahoot and other sites (but bear in mind that anyone can contribute to the quizzes on Kahoot, so you need to take a look to see who made it – generally speaking those made by schools and teachers tend to be vaguely accurate). BBC Bitesize have all sorts of quizzes too.

Documentaries and video tutorials

Use the Revision folder on Teams, as well as YouTube and BBC Bitesize. But don’t just watch – take brief notes.

Notes

But don’t just write pages of notes. Keep them to bullet points, use highlighters to make connections/comparisons, and then test yourself on those notes – rewrite them without looking and see how much you get right and how much you miss out.

Flash Cards

But remember, don’t just write loads of notes – you need to test your knowledge of the notes.

Parents

Talk to them about your revision – explain the topics you’ve learnt, get them to ask you questions. Teach them!

Just A Minute

Test your knowledge of a topic by speaking about it for one minute without hesitation, repetition or deviation – give yourself three lives.

Practice essays/answers

Use the exam board past papers and the Revision folder in teams to find some practice questions. Either write plans for them or full answers. Hand them in to your teacher for marking.

Mind Maps

Use these to show links between different factors – particularly useful for History and Politics.

40-10

40 mins revision, 10 mins break.

Sticky notes

Stick them all over the house, in places which you are going to see.

Group revision

This can be really useful, chatting about topics is great and you can ask each other questions. However, sitting with your friends chatting about the latest hilarious TikTok video does not count.

Online revision sites

Lots of good ones. Gizmo and Medly are good, but speak to your teachers – they will probably have subject-specific ideas too.

Wishing the very best of luck to all pupils in their exams.

Mr Davies

Head of History and Politics

Welcoming Back Alumnus Chris Hall

At Bethany, we are proud to celebrate the achievements of our alumni and the powerful impact their stories can have on current pupils. Through Project Horizon, we connect current pupils with Bethany alumni whose experiences offer inspiration, encouragement and real-world insight.

Last Friday, we were delighted to welcome back alumnus Chris Hall (’98–’05), as he returned to speak with our Sixth Form pupils as part of Project Horizon. Chris’s journey is one of resilience, determination and real-world wisdom, a story that resonated deeply with pupils navigating their own futures.

Known affectionately during his school years as “Mr Glass” after suffering several broken bones, Chris also faced the challenges of dyslexia throughout his education. Yet it was during his time at Bethany that he began to recognise his strengths, developing the confidence and resilience that would shape the path ahead.

After leaving Bethany, Chris went on to study Sports at university before building a successful global career as a Business Consultant. His achievements demonstrate that success is not simply about intelligence, but about behaviour, taking action and believing in yourself. Alongside his professional accomplishments, he has completed marathons and triathlons in support of ARUK, reflecting his commitment to both personal challenge and charitable causes.

A particularly meaningful part of Chris’s story is his connection to the Anthony Clarke Memorial Trophy, awarded annually to a Bethany pupil who shows courage in overcoming learning difficulties. As the first-ever recipient of the award, Chris spoke movingly about what the trophy represents to him. Having known Anthony personally on the sports pitch, and being deeply affected by his loss, Chris keeps the trophy as a lasting symbol of perseverance, courage and determination.

During his talk, Chris shared ten key lessons that he believes employers truly value:

1. Be personable

2. Provide solutions

3. Use constructive feedback

4. Know when to say no

5. Be interesting

6. Master your 30-second pitch

7. Stay organised

8. Overcome hard moments

9. Stand up for your beliefs

10. Leave the table if respect disappears

His message was both inspiring and practical. Chris reminded our pupils that careers rarely stall because of a lack of intelligence, but more often because of weak behaviours, poor boundaries or low self-belief. Through honest reflections and personal experiences, he encouraged pupils to embrace challenges, trust their abilities and remain resilient when facing setbacks.

We are incredibly grateful to Chris for sharing his honest and inspiring journey with our pupils, reminding us all of the power of resilience, courage and determination.

Huge thanks also go to our founding Alumni Ambassadors, Year 12 pupils Charlie and Leo, for hosting Chris and continuing to strengthen our growing alumni community.

If you would like to support Project Horizon and help inspire the next generation of Bethany pupils, we would love to hear from you.

Mrs Smart

Project Horizon Coordinator

Jupiter Impress at Southeast England Competition

On Tuesday 12th May, ten members of Bethany’s Young Enterprise company Jupiter went and competed in the Southeast of England competition at the Coram Centre in London, representing Kent. They submitted a formal company report ahead of the competition, and on the day constructed a wonderful trade stand, delivered an excellent presentation and were all interviewed in person by the judging panel.

As expected at this level competition was very strong, but Jupiter acquitted themselves superbly, and despite not winning on the day were singled out by the judges for just how well they had run their company and the level of progress and improvement they had shown throughout their YE journey.

Getting this far has been a fantastic achievement and whilst the company will be disappointed, they should look upon what they have learned with great pride; these are transferable skills such as teamwork, communication, being able to reflect and improve, the ability to innovate and adapt, that will benefit them hugely in future.

Jupiter will now look to close and distribute very healthy dividends to shareholders, after what has been a fantastically productive year.

Mr Khan

Link Teacher

Assessment Week Success For Year 7

As Year 7 Assessment Week draws to a close, many pupils are probably feeling a little bit more tired than usual after what has been a busy five days. No doubt, all will be keen to celebrate the weekend and looking forward to relaxing after the effort they have put into their assessments.

Assessment Week provides pupils the opportunity to learn more about themselves and develop important skills for the future. Although the assessments are low stakes, they provide valuable experience in preparing for formal examinations higher up the School. Holding some assessments in the Assembly Hall also helps pupils become familiar with an exam-style environment from an early stage at Bethany.

We hope that by the time pupils reach Year 11 and begin their GCSE examinations, they will feel more confident knowing they have experienced similar situations before. Pupils will begin receiving feedback over the coming weeks, and parents will be able to view final grades when they are published at the end of the academic year. I hope Year 7 pupils have found the week beneficial, with a good many attending the afterschool revision sessions. Finally, I must congratulate Year 7 in regard to the mature way that they as a year group approached the week.

Mr Clough

Head of Year 7

Boarders Visit Chessington World of Adventures

Last weekend, Mr Allsopp and Mrs Iles took a group of Bethany boarders on an exciting trip to Chessington World of Adventures on a gloriously sunny day.

Pupils enjoyed a day full of thrilling rollercoasters, adventurous rides and plenty of fun together. A popular part of the trip was the amusement arcade with the competitive air hockey game, where pupils showed off their quick reactions. The Sonic Allstars basketball hoops game was also a big hit, which kept everyone entertained between rides. With lots of memorable moments, the trip was a fantastic experience for all the boarders who attended.

Behind the Curtain at Moulin Rouge

Earlier this week, the Performing Arts department took pupils to London’s West End to attend ‘Get Technical! Behind the Scenes of Moulin Rouge’ at the Piccadilly Theatre. The exciting event gave pupils a unique insight into the backstage world of one of the West End’s most spectacular productions.

Throughout the session, pupils heard directly from members of the production’s technical and backstage teams, learning about the many roles involved in bringing a large-scale musical to life. From wigs and wardrobe to sound, lighting and stage management, pupils discovered how each department works together behind the scenes to create the magic of live theatre.

The experience included live on-stage demonstrations and fascinating behind-the-scenes insights into the technical elements of the production. Pupils were also inspired by hearing about the different career journeys of industry professionals, who shared valuable advice about pathways into the performing arts sector.

The trip was both educational and inspiring, broadening pupils’ understanding of the wide range of careers available within theatre beyond performing alone. Bethany pupils represented the school brilliantly throughout the visit and were a real credit to the department.

A huge thank you to Mr Harley and Miss Stewart for accompanying me on the trip helping to provide such a memorable and valuable experience for all involved.

Mr Ramsden

Technical Performing Arts Manager

Safi Wins Nando’s Cup

Each half-term the Sixth Form have a ‘lucky draw’ for a £20 Nandos voucher. Entry is simple – for each and every merit they get their name gets put into a virtual hat and then a lucky winner is drawn out! This encourages and indeed rewards our Sixth Form for being excellent members of our community.

The Spring Term 1 draw was delayed to this term – and between special assemblies on Teenage Cancer Trust and the ISI inspection we were only able to run the spring term 1 draw this week! However, better late than never! The lucky winner of the ‘Nandos’ Cup for Merits’ for spring term 1 was Safi who got Merits during the spring term for being Media Pupil of the Term (for making an outstanding start on her coursework), helping with the registers, participating well in ‘Project Horizon’ (our careers programme) and fundraising for the True Adventure trip to Vietnam/Cambodia this summer.

Well done, Safi!

We look forward to seeing who the summer term 1 winner will be… in next week’s assembly!

Mr Duff

Head of Sixth Form

Pupils of the Week

Each week in Assembly, ‘Pupil of the Week’ awards are given to pupils across the various year groups who have been nominated by their tutor.

This could go to an individual who has perhaps shone that week academically; demonstrated the values of kindness, tolerance, and respect particularly well; or represented the school or county in a positive way.

Year 7 Pupil of the Week is The Whole Year Group

All of Year 7 have handled their Assessment Week excellently well, so each and every one of them are Pupil of the Week this week. Well done, everyone!

Year 8 Pupil of the Week is Seb

Seb has approached this Assessment Week with excellent focus, determination and a really positive attitude to his learning. He has stayed motivated throughout, and should be very proud of the effort he has put in this week. Well done, Seb!

Year 9 Pupil of the Week is Axelle

Axelle has shown a consistently positive and hardworking approach to her learning. She has made excellent progress, especially in the areas she has found more challenging. Her confidence and effort have really stood out this term. Well done, Axelle!

Key Stage 4 Pupil of the Week is Seb

Seb is KS4 Pupil of the Week for his tremendous effort in Physics revision. He has completed the highest number of Physics papers in the class, achieving scores of 80% and above in every one. An outstanding achievement — well done, Sebastian!

AI Safety Tips for Parents

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming how children learn and interact with the world. With over 80% of teenagers reporting having used AI tools, it’s crucial for parents to understand how to support their children in using AI safely and responsibly.

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

Barsleys Uniform Update

We are aware that Barsley’s Department Store in Paddock Wood, which currently supplies the Bethany School uniform, is closing. Before the end of the Summer Term, we will share further details with parents about our new uniform supplier, including information about the transition and next steps.

With regard to purchases between now and September, Barsleys would like to share this message with the Bethany community:

“It is with sadness we share the news that we are planning to pass the Bethany uniform supply to a new provider. After 14 years of having the privilege to supply Bethany pupils with their uniform we are winding down our business. However we are determined to make the change as smooth as possible for all concerned. We will continue to sell Bethany uniform up until (and including) back to school this September 2026. Next week from Friday we are offering price reductions on all uniform items. Do visit our store or look at our web site for some great savings. We thank you and all the team at Bethany for your support over the years.”

We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to Barsleys for their many years of dedicated service to the school community. We are very sorry to hear that, after such a long-standing presence, the business has had to close, and we wish them all the very best for the future.

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

Upcoming Events

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Be at Bethany

Bethany Speech Day 2026

Bethany ISI Inspection 2026

Bethany Secures Continued CReSTeD Recognition

Bethany Ranked in Top 10% Nationally

Bethany Enrichment Week

Junior Production Is A Technicolour Triumph

Georgie Shortlisted for UCA Competition

Hattie Stars at Young Fashion Designer UK Competition

Darcey’s Open Water Swimming Success

Success for Grace in Open Water Swim