Weekly Newsletter

Bethany is a leading independent co-educational day
and boarding school for pupils aged 11-18

November 22, 2024

Headmaster’s Welcome

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The air temperatures have dropped this week but at least we have avoided the snow. There is always a positive!

I was pleased to see so many Year 7 parents at the Parent Teacher meeting last night, and was delighted that they left happy and content because their children are very well cared for and well taught.

I enjoyed the Music Concert on Tuesday, which was organised by the Year 11 Musicians. It was great to see pupils from different year groups perform so well and some of them were performing in public for the first time. After this I had the pleasure of watching the Year 11 Drama groups perform their improvised pieces. These were thought provoking and impressive in equal measure.

Our Year 11 had a very useful Sixth Form taster day on Wednesday and I hope they learned a lot from this experience. Also on Wednesday, our Year 12 pupils found the trip to Christchurch University in Canterbury very informative.

I wish our Year 13 pupils the best of luck as they sit their trial A Level examinations next week.

There is a Year 9 Parent Teacher Meeting on Thursday 5^th December and part of that evening will involve presentations to parents outlining the choices available for GCSE studies.

The annual Carol Service takes place in St Dunstan’s Church in Cranbrook on Tuesday 10^th December at 7pm. Please note: all pupils are expected to attend this and therefore there is no return bus service after school on the Tuesday. All pupils can be collected from Cranbook Church after the service which lasts about an hour or if you wish we can return the day pupils to Bethany where they can then be collected.

I shall leave you with this quote by the American author Zig Ziegler ‘People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily.’ I am pleased to confirm that following my usual morning routine I was highly motivated today!

Yours sincerely,

Francie Healy

Headmaster

Latest Bethany Blog

This week’s blog has been written by Mr Manktelow, Head of Maths at Bethany School. He writes about the Maths Department spreading festive cheer through creative lessons like the ‘Merry Mathsmas’ show, hands-on mathematical activities and fun projects tied to “The 12 Days of Christmas”.

Have Yourself A Merry Little Mathsmas

With this newsletter going out with 33 days until Christmas, or to be more accurate and based on the mean time that this newsletter has been published since September there are only 2,793,420 seconds or 46,557 minutes until the big day!

The Maths Department have already started to think, ‘It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,’ and therefore, we have been planning ways to incorporate Christmas into lessons.

This year, Key Stage 3 classes will be taking part in something called ‘Merry Mathsmas’, where pupils will be taking part in an online show hosted by mathematician Zoe Griffiths. They will be exploring all things mathematical and festive. Pupils will participate in a magic trick linked to Christmas crackers, using a famous mathematical theorem in a hands-on activity making cut-out decorations, and play a festive lottery with the chance to win a prize.

Pupils have always enjoyed the Maths Advent Calendar that is available here with a new puzzle to solve each day. Pupils may wish to have a go at these during the holidays as the end of term falls with just under half (48%) of the doors still shut.

I am sure that Christmas co-ordinate plotting, origami, mistletoe and lines, volume of baubles, fractal Christmas cards and Christmas trees will all make an appearance as will ‘The Elf Game’, an end-of-term highlight, particularly among the Year 11’s.

No dive into festive mathematics is complete without the undoubted classic ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ and who can forget Roberts’s rendition at House Shout last year? It is a wonderfully mathematical song and any festive quiz that you take part in this year will likely feature a question based on the song, so I thought I would include this handy guide to help you out.

Gift	Gift	Number of legs each	Combined number of legs	Times sung	Total number of legs
1	Partridge	2	1 x 2 = 2	12	2 x 12 = 24
2	Turtle doves	2	2 x 2 = 4	11	4 x 11 = 44
3	French hens	2	3 x 2 = 6	10	6 x 10 = 60
4	Calling birds	2	4 x 2 = 8	9	8 x 9 = 72
5	Gold rings	0		8
6	Geese	2	6 x 2 = 12	7	12 x 7 = 84
7	Swans	2	7 x 2 = 14	6	14 x 6 = 84
8	Maids*	2	8 x 2 = 16	5	16 x 5 = 80
9	Ladies	2	9 x 2 = 18	4	18 x 4 = 72
10	Lords	2	10 x 2 = 20	3	20 x 3 = 60
11	Pipers	2	11 x 2 = 22	2	22 x 2 = 44
12	Drummers	2	12 x 2 = 24	1	24 x 1 = 24
		Total	146		648

*however for the 8th gift, ‘8 maids a-milking’ we are to assume that they need something to milk, so if they are each milking a 4-legged animal such as a cow, goat or sheep rather than milking a nut, oat or bean then these extra legs need to be accounted for, so the 8th gift would be:

Gift Number	Gift	Number of legs	Combined number of legs	Times sung	Total number of legs
8	Maids + animal	6	8 x 6 = 48	5	48 x 5 = 240
		New total	146		808

If, however, the question is based on the number of wings in the song then the following table is relevant:

Gift	Gift	Number of wings	Combined number of wings	Times sung	Total number of wings
1	Partridge	2	1 x 2 = 2	12	2 x 12 = 24
2	Turtle doves	2	2 x 2 = 4	11	4 x 11 = 44
3	French hens	2	3 x 2 = 6	10	6 x 10 = 60
4	Calling birds	2	4 x 2 = 8	9	8 x 9 = 72
5	Gold rings	0		8
6	Geese	2	6 x 2 = 12	7	12 x 7 = 84
7	Swans	2	7 x 2 = 14	6	14 x 6 = 84
		Total	46		368

As everyone’s favourite line, 5 gold rings are rather left out of these calculations. So, at the time of writing the cost of 1g of gold is currently £66.70.

According to Google the average ring size in the UK is a size 6, so a typical ring that is 5mm wide and 1.6mm thick would have a weight 4.3 grams.

Therefore a solid gold size 6 ring would cost £286.81 and to give 5 gold rings, 8 times would cost £11472.40.

I hope that this information helps.

Feliz Navidad and happy quizzing.

Mr Manktelow

Head of Maths

Latest Sports News

The latest sports news from Bethany School. A busy week this week, with no less than 9 fixtures. The annual inter-house hockey tournament unfolded at Marden as well as the 1st XI football team travelling to the Gallagher Stadium to lock horns with Maidstone United U18’s.

Hockey | Bethany U15A v Dover College

The U15A hockey team braved the freezing cold and relentless rain to face off against Dover College in a challenging and hard-fought match this week. Despite the tough conditions, the team displayed unwavering determination and gave 100% effort from start to finish. The match didn’t start in Bethany’s favour as the team found themselves two goals down early on, but the players refused to give up. Their persistence was rewarded when Amelia Bickford made a stunning play, driving the ball into the back of the net. This crucial goal reignited the team’s spirit, boosting their energy and morale as they pressed forward with renewed focus and grit.

Fuelled by the goal, the team stepped up their game, working even harder in defence to keep Dover College at bay while pushing forward with promising attacking plays. The defence stood strong, and created several opportunities by making smart breaks toward the opposing goal. The relentless effort and determination finally paid off when Amelia Bickford delivered a perfectly executed setup for Leah Carnegie, who confidently scored the equalising goal.

From then on, neither team could then find another winning goal as the match ended in a draw. Although the match level, it felt like a victory for the Bethany players, who should be immensely proud of their efforts. The entire team should take great pride in this performance, proving their ability to thrive even in the toughest conditions and against strong opposition.

Final score: Bethany 2-2 Dover College

Player of the Match: Sophie Finnamore and Amelia Bickford

Coaches Player of the Match: Verity Davidson

Hockey | Bethany U13A v Claremont

This match took place on Wednesday 13th November.

It was bound to be a tough match for the U13A hockey team who faced Claremont’s A team at home last Wednesday. However, the team did it with much enthusiasm.

An early goal off a short corner from Claremont meant that Bethany adjusted to a slightly more defensive game, playing very well out from the 16. Bethany goalkeeper, Juniper Ambrose-Gordon, was on fire throughout the whole game, saving many shots from all angles. When Bethany did manage an attack of their own, Darcey Stone, Darcie Vidler and Ciara Carnegie worked tirelessly to get some shots off at the Claremont keeper. Unfortunately, none of them were able to be converted.

The third quarter was the strongest by far for the Bethany team, with many attempts on goal and incredible defensive work. Claremont were unable to score a goal in this period due to the Bethany’s determination to keep them out.

Well done to all the players. This performance, despite the score line, reflects on the effort put in to all games and training sessions.

Final score Bethany 0-3 Claremont

Player of the Match: Juniper Ambrose-Gordon

Coaches Player of the Match: Darcie Vidler

Hockey | Inter-House U13 | Roberts v Kiplings v Speakers

All Year 7 & 8 girls travelled to Marden Astro to compete in their annual KRS Hockey tournament.

This was a competitive but played in a friendly spirit with lots of encouragement from their fellow house/team mates. Well done to all the girls!

Results

A Division

Speakers A 1-2 Kiplings A
Roberts A 5-0 Speakers A
Roberts A 3-0 Kiplings A

B Division

Speakers B 0-6 Kiplings B
Roberts B 5-1 Speakers B
Roberts B 1-3 Kiplings B

Overall results

A Division: 1st Kiplings, 2nd Roberts, 3rd Speakers
B Division: 1st Roberts, 2nd Kiplings, 3rd Speakers

Football | Bethany 1st XI v Maidstone United U18

The Bethany 1st XI football team travelled to the Gallagher Stadium to face Maidstone United’s U18 select squad this week, in what would always be a tough game. Played on the immaculate 4G surface, the match provided a high-paced and entertaining spectacle, with both sides displaying tactical discipline and technical ability.

Having worked extensively on their tactical shape during the week, Bethany showed remarkable discipline and organisation from the outset, effectively disrupting Maidstone’s attempts to build momentum. Their approach caused consistent problems for the opposition, as they capitalised on the artificial pitch to execute their fluid, two-touch football style.

In the opening 30 minutes, Bethany dominated possession and carved out several clear-cut chances. Their sharp passing sequences and well-timed runs created opportunities that, on another day, might have resulted in a commanding lead. Unfortunately, despite being the better side for much of the first half, they failed to capitalise on these chances. By the half-hour mark, Bethany could have easily been three goals ahead, but a combination of wayward finishing and excellent goalkeeping kept the game scoreless.

Maidstone, however, proved why they are a formidable team with a moment of brilliance just before the halftime whistle. Against the run of play, they struck a superb goal, catching Bethany off guard and taking a 1-0 lead into the break. It was a tough blow for Bethany, who had arguably been the stronger side throughout the first 45 minutes.

The second half brought a more evenly matched contest. Both teams showcased their quality, trading possession and creating opportunities. Maidstone, benefiting from their larger 19-player squad, implemented a strategy of frequent substitutions to maintain fresh legs. This rotation paid dividends as the game progressed, allowing them to sustain a high tempo and exert pressure on Bethany’s defence.

Despite Bethany’s valiant efforts to claw their way back into the match, Maidstone extended their lead late in the game with a well-executed second goal. Though the result was harsh on Bethany, their performance was a testament to their hard work, commitment, and quality. They battled from start to finish, never allowing Maidstone to dominate proceedings.

The final score line of 2-0 did not fully reflect the balance of play, as Bethany’s effort and style deserved a better result. Their display was a promising sign of the team’s potential and their ability to compete at a high level.

Final score: Bethany 0-2 Maidstone United

Player of the Match: Ollie Hughes

Coaches Player of the Match: Archie Cashman

Football | Bethany U15B v Radnor House

The Bethany U15B team were greeted on the pitch with very wet and cold conditions and as a result, started the match a little slowly. Radnor House quickly took advantage with a few breaks through the back line that produced good saves from Bethany goalkeeper Harry Jermyn. The deadlock was finally broken when Radnor House made one of their opportunities count and slotted the ball home to make it 1-0.

After the opening goal, Bethany grew into the game with Freddy Cavill marshalling the back four and Alfie Munthali breaking up play in midfield. With the team now winning the midfield tackles and passing into space to release runners in behind the back four, Radnor House started to drop deeper and miss control the ball and miss place passes.

Oscar Dresmon came off the bench midway through the half to play centre forward in his first appearance of the season, and his impact was almost instant as he provided two quick goals to put Bethany 2-1 up. Then a super accurate passing move, with players running off the ball and Radnor chasing shadows just before half time, was finished well by Michael St Clair Bishop for a 3-1 Bethany lead at the break.

Bethany built on their dominance in the second half with ball retention and excellent pressing. Winston Boudet-Fenoiullet scored a second half brace as well as Jamie Sadler slotting home after a well worked passing move from left to right. Alfie Munthali also fired the ball into the bottom corner after a driving run into the box from midfield to rubber stamp an excellent Bethany performance and victory. A good performance all round in very tricky conditions.

Final score: Bethany 7-1 Radnor House

Player of the Match: Freddy Cavill

Coaches Player of the Match: Alfie Munthali

Football | Bethany U13A v Radnor House

Bethany’s U13A football team hosted Radnor House in the penultimate fixture of their season, braving difficult conditions on a cold, damp day with a pitch that quickly became muddy and heavy underfoot.

From the outset, Radnor House demonstrated their strengths, with a particularly standout player dictating the tempo of the game and causing problems for Bethany’s defence. Bethany, however, showed resilience and flashes of quality that suggested their ability to compete at this level. Throughout the first half, they worked hard to disrupt Radnor’s attacks and occasionally threatened on the counter, but they struggled to find the final ball needed to unlock the opposing defence.

Radnor House capitalised on their attacking opportunities, scoring two well-taken goals to take a lead into halftime.

The second half saw Bethany emerge with renewed energy and determination. They worked hard to gain a foothold in the game, battling against both their opponents and the increasingly difficult pitch conditions. However, Radnor House’s composure and sharpness in key moments allowed them to add another two goals to their tally. Despite the score line, Bethany never let their heads drop, continuing to push forward and defend with spirit.

As the season nears its conclusion, Bethany can take heart from the effort and determination they displayed in this match. With a focus on improving technical skills and developing greater consistency, they have the ability and mindset to rise to the challenges of future fixtures.

Final score: Bethany 0-4 Radnor House

Player of the Match: Stephen Kakouris

Football | Bethany U13B v Radnor House

On a chilly afternoon, the Bethany U13B team put on their finest display of the season to date and claimed a well-deserved 2-0 win against Radnor House. The match was hard-fought, with both teams battling through the cold and challenging conditions.

The first half saw an even contest, with Bethany creating several chances but unable to break the deadlock. Their defensive organisation and teamwork kept Radnor House at bay, ensuring the teams went into halftime locked at 0-0.

The second half began with a moment of brilliance. Jake Krovina stepped up and delivered what could arguably be called the goal of the season. From a considerable distance, he unleashed a curling strike that soared into the top corner, leaving the Radnor goalkeeper helpless and giving Bethany a 1-0 lead.

Despite the tough conditions, Bethany continued to press forward. Radnor House showed resilience, but captain Gus Tomlinson sealed the victory with a superb individual effort. After a surging run through the defence, he calmly slotted home Bethany’s second goal to put the game beyond Radnor’s reach.

The entire team deserves credit for their determination, composure on the ball and attacking flair, which was on full display. This victory marks a standout performance for the season, with Bethany proving they can rise to the occasion under pressure.

Final score: Bethany 2-0 Radnor House

Player of the Match: Jake Krovina

Coaches Player of the Match: Gus Tomlinson

Football | Bethany U13C v Radnor House

On a day when winter felt like it had arrived, the U13C football team (in their last game of the season) took on Radnor House. It was a scrappy but nevertheless enjoyable match to watch, and it was a good opportunity to switch players around and try them in different positions on the pitch.

The team put together good passages of play and took most, if not all, of their chances to score. The goals were shared around with Leo Etherington getting a hat-trick; Harry Morgan, Arthur Seale and Kip Duncan getting a brace each and then one a piece for Alex Munthali and Daniel Stroude (who had an excellent all-round match). Callum Rae, in goal, also pulled off an excellent stop with a finger tip save from a direct free kick.

The move of the match resulted in Bethany’s final goal, with Harry Morgan picking up the ball on the right wing and passing it onto Arthur Seale who put a delightful cross into the box for Leo Etherington to smash home with his right foot. Just a snapshot of the type of excellent football that the U13C’s can play.

The most pleasing aspect of this match was, despite the heavy score line in their favour, Bethany remained humble and respectful of their opposition and the game.

Overall, it has been a season of progression during which the U13C’s have shown huge development in skill, character and strength.

Final score: Bethany 11-1 Radnor House

Player of the Match: Harry Morgan

Coaches Players of the Match: Daniel Stroude

Football | Bethany U13 Orchard v King’s Rochester

The U13 Orchard football team travelled to The Alps at King’s Rochester to play a couple of 6 a side matches. For the fixture the squad split into to two teams, Team Orchard and Team Kendon.

Team Orchard consisted of; Lily Bowler-Kemsley (goalkeeper), Grace Hetherington, Arabella Valentine-Brown, Darcie Vidler, Daisy Young and Olivia Garrett as captain.

The team played some marvellous, flowing, passing football and put constant pressure on King’s goal. The three players up front were Daisy, Olivia and Darcie and their skill in passing and finding space enabled them to get 6 goals past the King’s goalkeeper, 5 of which came from Darcie and one from Olivia.

The standout performance of the day came from Darcie, who showed skill and bravery in the face of strong tackles and pressure from the King’s defence. However, all the team showed resilience and worked so well together that King’s only found the back of the net once.

Thank you also to Ms Rendall-Jones for her excellent support, team management and coaching.

Final score: Bethany 6-1 King’s Rochester

Player of the Match: Darcie Vidler

Coaches Player of the Match: Olivia Garrett

Football | Bethany U13 Kendon v King’s Rochester

The U13 Kendon football team travelled to The Alps at King’s Rochester to play a couple of 6 a side matches. For the fixture the squad split into to two teams, Team Orchard and Team Kendon.

Team Kendon consisted of: Juniper Ambrose-Gordon (captain), Betsy Spruce, Millie Flanders, Holly Sole, Darcey Stone and Ciara Carnegie (goalkeeper).

The small sided nature of the match and the pitch size allowed Team Kendon to play lots of free-flowing football. King’s took an early lead with a well taken goal from their strongest player. Then after good pressure from Bethany, Juniper Ambrose-Gordon levelled the match with the first of her three well taken goals.

The best move of the match involved the whole team passing to each other and making their way up the pitch. It started with, Ciara Carnegie in goal (who made some excellent saves), who played the ball to Darcey Stone, who passed onto Holly Sole who played the ball to Betsy who found Juniper who eventually passed onto Millie who had a shot at goal which was saved. Brilliant play!

Betsy Spruce played with lots of skill and positional awareness. The standout player was Holly Sole, who defended with lots of bravery, blocking shots and clearing Bethany lines on many occasions.

Final score: Bethany 3-3 King’s Rochester

Player of the Match: Betsy Spruce

Coaches Player of the Match: Holly Sole

New Bethanian Magazine Available Now

We are pleased to announce that the latest edition of our Bethanian magazine is now available to read online. The School’s annual magazine brings together all the varied activity that goes on in the course of a school year.

Click to read The Bethanian

Year 11 Music Concert: The First Note

The newly opened Kendon Music School hosted it’s first live event on Tuesday evening, ‘The First Note’ organised by the Year 11 Music BTEC pupils.

Tuesday evening was a great success largely down to the dedication and hard work by not only the organising Year 11 class but all the performers who took part. The gig had such a large turnout that the Performing Arts department are even having to consider moving to a larger venue within the Pengelly Performance Centre for the next gig!

The feedback was excellent with everyone so pleased for the opportunity to see and hear our ever-growing talent at Bethany.

Don’t miss the next chance to see our Performing Arts pupils perform at our Winter Concert on Thursday 28^th November 2024 at 7pm. You can book tickets using the link below.

Winter Concert Tickets

Sixth Form Taster Day

On Wednesday 20^th November our Year 11 internal pupils and a few Year 11 external pupils had a taster day of the Sixth Form where they took over the Sixth Form timetable as well as the Sixth Form Centre as a base!

Whilst cups of tea, a ‘welcome doughnut’ and the facilities were enjoyed in the Sixth Form Centre – more importantly Year 11’s impressed during their Sixth Form taster lessons from Politics to Photography and Maths to Music. Year 11’s all had a wonderful experience, we hope it gave them a full flavour of Bethany Sixth Form but also helped guide them in regards to what A-level subjects they wish to do next year.

Mr Duff

Head of Sixth Form

Year 12 Visit Canterbury Christchurch University

On Wednesday, all Year 12 pupils spent the day at Canterbury Christchurch University’s main campus to learn about next steps after Bethany.

Pupils were given an informative talk on the UCAS process, a whistle-stop tour of the excellent facilities, and the chance to speak with current student ambassadors about the university experience.

I was impressed by the engagement shown by our Year 12 attendees, many of who asked pertinent questions during the initial presentation. I trust they found this day informative and useful, and I hope it will get them thinking about their next steps.

The day was rounded off with a walking tour of the beautifully historic city and a spot of lunch before heading back to school. Thank you to all of Year 12 who made this a great trip.

Mr Bell

Head of Next Steps

Careers in Sustainability Workshop

Friday morning saw Year 7 and 8 pupils take part in a sustainable energy workshop with Dr Stephen Wise, Director and Consultant at CERES, and were able to get a hands-on experience of the various parts of the waste management industry.

This was a fantastic opportunity for our Year 7 and 8 pupils who were very grateful for Dr Wise’s time and expertise. Well done to all who took part and volunteered during the session – especially those who had to be various parts of an anaerobic waste digestion plant!

I hope this also provided an insight into potential career opportunities for our Year 7 and 8 cohorts in sustainability and renewable energy sources – two areas of existential importance for us and our planet.

Mr Bell

Head of Next Steps

Bethany School Tug Of War

Greetings, Sports Fans!

Last week we saw the annual inter-house Tug of War return to the sports hall. Getting the whole school together in one space meant the atmosphere was charged…

The rounds were grouped by age categories into Year 7 & 8, 9 & 10 and 11 & 12 with each team needing a minimum of 8 competitors.

One House dominated each and every round, their volunteers clamouring for a chance on the rope. Other Houses were more reluctant, possibly afraid of the army of participants flowing from the Kiplings seating areas.

This proactive participation plan proved productive for Kiplings and as such they emerged victorious from each battle, claiming a confident victory overall extending their lead in KRS points. Speakers came second, winning 2 and drawing 1 and Roberts came third.

The next big event in the calendar is the infamous House Shout in the last week of term, the theme this year being Christmas Dinner – whatever that means!

Mr Reilly

Competitive House Coordinator

Young Enterprise To Feature At Goudhurst Christmas Fair

Our Young Enterprise team, Galahad, are working hard in preparation for the Goudhurst Christmas Fair on Saturday 30th November. Click ‘read more’ to read an important message from Team Galahad!

We are excited to announce that Team Galahad will be showcasing, and selling, our products at the Goudhurst Christmas Fair on Saturday, 30th November!

This is a fantastic opportunity to explore our collection, find unique gifts, and support young entrepreneurs.

We’ll be posting images of some of the items we’ll be selling on our Instagram page (see link below) before the event. Be sure to check our page to see them and we please ask if you could help spread the word by following us and sharing our posts!

We’ll also be sharing promotional images leading up to the event, so stay tuned on Instagram and keep an eye on the upcoming newsletters for more details. We look forward to seeing you there and hope you’ll stop by our stall to say hello!

Thank you for your support, and don’t forget to mark your calendars for November 30th!

Team Galahad

Team Galahad Instagram

Bethany 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’s of the Week are Darcie V and Arabella V-B

This week two pupils were awarded Pupil of the Week as there was no assembly last week.

Darcie V was awarded Pupil of the Week for her excellence in sports. She has thrown herself fully into all that Bethany sport has to offer.

Arabella was awarded Pupil of the Week for her continued excellence across the board and for winning the Year 7 design a Christmas Card competition.

Year 8 Pupil of the Week is Andrew S

Andrew has thrown himself into his lessons this week and represented the school at football on Wednesday afternoon. All round good egg and a deserved winner of pupil of the week.

Year 9 Pupil of the Week is Tula C

Tula has had a very positive term, and is kind, has improved enthusiasm in lesson and is making the most of the opportunities available to her.

Key Stage 4 Pupil of the Week is Sophie F

Sophie is a consistent all rounder. She is the model pupil and deserves Pupil of the Week for her general diligent, polite, eloquent, kind, persistent, and resilient self.

EAL Pupil of the Week is Hanseo L

The EAL Star of the Week is the fabulous Hanseo from South Korea. Hanseo joined Bethany in Year 10 and has opted to stay with us for Sixth Form. As the only Korean pupil at Bethany currently, Hanseo needs to communicate in English all the time. This is one of the reasons why he has made such huge progress in EAL since he has been here. Hanseo was also one of the helpers during the Sixth Form Open Evening and chatted with other EAL pupils about life in the Sixth Form and the delights of learning EAL! He is always pleasant, friendly, humorous and a pleasure to teach. Definitely deserving of EAL Pupil of the Week!

Orchard Pupil of the Week is Nuria B

Nuria is always ridiculously cheerful, friendly and enthusiastic. She gets involved in every activity that is on offer and has really made the absolute most of her term at Bethany.

Mount Pupil of the Week is William J

William is this weeks Mount Boarding Pupil of the Week for his amazing baking skills, wow-ing staff and fellow pupils alike in the boarding house.

Lost Property Made Easy

We have added a new Lost Items application, available via the button below or on MySchoolPortal. This new 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 every weekday. Items will be added with photos on a regular basis, so please keep checking.

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.

Bethany School Lost Property

Boarders Snowsports Trip

On Saturday 16th November a group of eager Bethany boarders enjoyed a day out tobogganing and snow tubing, then shopping at Rochester.

Great fun was had at the Chatham Snowsports centre, as the boarders first raced each other round the Toboggan circuit, and down the artificial snow slope in snow tubes. This was a new excursion for Bethany and definitely one to repeat.

The group then went on to Rochester here they spent a few hours exploring the High Street and finding various places to eat, from Pizza Express to Sushi to good old fashioned fish and chips wrapped in (pretend) newspaper. Rochester Castle was impressive, and some chose to visit the Cathedral, though perhaps of more interest was the very distinct busker outside.

A great day was had by all, staff included.

Exploring Identity Through Photography

Last week, our A Level Photography pupils and Year 10 Art Scholars took part in an enriching trip to the National Portrait Gallery. The day began with a visit to the Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2024, a renowned exhibition showcasing the best in contemporary portrait photography.

This year’s display featured a diverse range of images, from formal commissioned works to intimate and spontaneous moments, created by talented young photographers, gifted amateurs, and seasoned professionals.

In the afternoon, pupils participated in an inspiring workshop led by Marysa Dowling, a London-based artist celebrated for her thoughtful and playful exploration of human behaviour, relationships, and identity through photography. The session, titled ‘How Can Identity Be Communicated Through Photography?’, encouraged pupils to explore the concept of identity by examining the photographic portraits on display. Inspired by the exhibition and Dowling’s creative insights, the group then created their own portraits in the Law Photography Studio, responding to the theme with creativity and originality. The educators at the gallery were impressed with the pupils knowledge, engagement and enthusiasm, and they were a credit to the school.

Marysa Dowling’s extensive career includes international collaborations in Cuba, India, Ireland, and Mexico, as well as work with leading institutions such as the National Portrait Gallery and Tate Modern. Her thought-provoking projects, including recent knowledge-exchange initiatives with researchers from Oxford University and University College London, have garnered her recognition and awards, including the Portrait of Britain by the British Journal of Photography (2022).

The day was a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to develop their practical skills, engage critically with professional work, and reflect on the ways photography can convey complex ideas about identity and human connection. We look forward to seeing how this experience will influence their future work and continue to provide strong evidence for their examination work.

Mrs Smart

Head of Art

Year 7 Project Based Learning

Last week year 7 participated in a project-based learning week all about pizza creation.

Pupils undertook an exciting challenge to create a new pizza concept. They began by brainstorming ideas, drafting a shopping list, and cooking their unique pizza creations. Alongside this, they designed custom pizza boxes, developed advertising campaigns, and presented their ideas to a panel of three teachers. The teams, as shown in the photo attached, worked collaboratively to bring their visions to life.

Team 4 emerged as the winners, impressing the judges with their creativity and presentation skills. They earned a well-deserved pizza lunch at the Goudhurst Inn, along with certificates and merit awards. Team 8 was recognized as the runners-up for their innovative efforts.

This project highlighted creativity, teamwork, and entrepreneurial skills, offering a fun and educational experience for all involved.

WINNERS: Team 4 – Genevieve, Daisy, Connor and Leo

VIDEO: Watch their winning marketing advert

World Philosophy Day

Every year, on the third Thursday of November, the world comes together to celebrate World Philosophy Day, a day dedicated to the love of wisdom, critical thinking, and the exploration of life’s fundamental questions.

This year’s theme is “Philosophy for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future” and “bridging social gaps,” emphasising the need to promote respect, mutual understanding, and cooperation.

I would like to admit, often people think of philosophy as a subject or topic that never has an answer and ends up being circular and meaningless. Many a time have I had friends and family roll their eyes the second I start asking, ‘Why do you think that?’ or “Can we truly know if anything is objective fact?’

However, that’s the fun part! It encapsulates critical thinking skills, creativity, and meaningful dialogue, which are just as important in our ever-growing world.

This year, I encourage all parents, staff, and pupils alike to try to incorporate at least one bit of philosophy in their lives, whether it be over dinner or in their day-to-day activities. When teaching our pupils about philosophy, you would be amazed at their ‘outside the box’ thinking and their approaches to certain topics and debates, and it is one of those skills that are invaluable. Being able to reflect and stop for a minute to question why things are the way they are opens up doors to thought-provoking and meaningful dialogue for our pupils here at Bethany.

So in the spirit of World Philosophy Day and everyday, I encourage everyone to stop, reflect, and engage in a little bit of philosophy. I will leave you with one of my favourite quotes, often attributed to Socrates.

“I know that I know nothing”

Socrates Stock Illustrations – 1,076 Socrates Stock Illustrations, Vectors & Clipart - Dreamstime

Mr Allsopp

Head of Philosophy, Ethics and Religion

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