Weekly Newsletter

June 27, 2025

Headmaster’s Welcome

Dear Parents and Guardians,

The temperatures this week have returned to more normal levels, which was a welcome relief from the very hot day on Speech Day last Saturday. Once again, the atmosphere during the morning was lovely and you could really feel the strong sense of community. It was great to see so many pupils rewarded for their academic and community efforts throughout the year.

There was a hive of activity at Bethany yesterday, when we had 65 Year 5 pupils spend the day at Bethany doing various activities including Art, Design Technology, Food & Nutrition, Sport, Outdoor Education, Science and Performing Arts. All those who attended had a great time.

This week has been dominated by the Junior Production of 13: The Musical. I attended last night. The performance was outstanding and the energy on stage was infectious. The future of Performing Arts at Bethany is in very safe hands, given our talented pupils in Year 7, 8 and 9.

Next week is the final week of term. Monday is the last normal day of School before enrichment activities begin. After my final assembly on Monday at 4pm there will be afternoon tea for all the pupils prior to their departure at the usual time. The final three days of term next week have activities and various year groups have been assigned to events and you should have received separate communications on this.

There will be a Microsoft Teams meeting for parents of pupils who will be in Years 7-11 at 6.30pm on Tuesday 1st July to explain how the Yondr mobile phones pouch system will operate at Bethany from the start of next term. An invitation will be sent to parents who can log in remotely if they so wish.

The Wimbledon tennis championships start next week. Given the theme of my speech on Speech Day was perseverance, I thought I should leave you with this quotation from the famous tennis player Serena Williams. She said “A champion is defined not by their win but how they can recover when they fall.” That is more than a tennis lesson – it is actually a life lesson as well.

Have a good weekend.

Yours sincerely,

Francie Healy

Headmaster

Latest Bethany Blog

The final Bethany blog of this term is written by Mrs Shapland, Head of English and Media at Bethany School. She writes about a transformative year of reading, literacy progress and pupil enthusiasm across Key Stage 3.

Bethany Readers Lead the Way

This academic year has brought a real sense of momentum to reading for pleasure at Bethany School. Across Key stage 3, pupils have embraced reading and language learning with enthusiasm, energy and impressive results.

Among the highlights was the success of the Reading Challenge. A remarkable 130 pupils from Years 7 to 9 achieved certificates for consistent engagement with reading every week, diving into books that captured their curiosity and imagination. The challenge focused on reading for pleasure, and pupils were recognised with Bronze, Silver or Gold certificates based on their level of engagement and the variety of texts they explored.

Particular congratulations go to the six pupils who achieved Gold: Frank C, Mia C, Isabelle H, Immy M, Alex M and Izzy R. Their commitment to reading throughout the year was outstanding. These pupils consistently went above and beyond, reading widely and thoughtfully. Each certificate represents a meaningful achievement, whether it was discovering new authors, finishing a challenging novel, or simply making time to read more regularly.

The excitement around the challenge was clear to see. Pupils shared book recommendations, swapped titles with friends and spoke passionately about the stories they were enjoying. I was pleased to receive some recommendations for books that should be on the reading list next year and as always Mrs Rendell our Librarian was pleased to be adding new, recommended titles to the library shelves.

In addition to the Reading Challenge, this year also saw the introduction of Bedrock Learning for pupils in Years 7 and 8. This adaptive platform supports literacy development through two key strands: Vocabulary and Grammar. The Vocabulary curriculum introduces high-utility Tier 2 words, such as analyse, contrast and justify, which are essential across all subjects. At the same time, the Grammar strand helps pupils build technical accuracy through interactive tasks in punctuation, sentence construction and grammatical analysis.

Each pupil followed a personalised learning pathway, with Bedrock sessions taking place three times a week. These sessions, delivered through English lessons, tutor time and Prep, provided a consistent and structured approach to literacy development.

To assess progress, pupils completed standardised Reading Tests at both the beginning and end of the academic year. These tests generated a Standard Age Score (SAS), which benchmarks reading ability against national expectations. While a score of +0 indicates expected progress, Bethany pupils achieved an average gain of +6.3 SAS points, well above the national benchmark.

Some pupils made exceptional progress. Among the top improvers were Hazel V (+18), Freddie C (+20), Zach L (+21), Harry K (+23) and Preston R (+32). These results are a testament to their hard work and the effectiveness of targeted, personalised support.

Looking ahead, the English department is excited to build on this success. Plans are in place to introduce differentiated Grammar pathways within Bedrock, ensuring that all pupils are both supported and challenged appropriately. Pupils are also encouraged to continue using Bedrock over the summer to maintain their momentum and keep developing their skills.

Finally, thank you to all parents and carers for your continued support. Your encouragement at home has played a vital role in helping pupils grow into confident, capable readers and communicators. We look forward to another year of progress, discovery and a shared love of language.

Mrs Shapland

Head of English and Media Studies

Latest Sports News

The latest Bethany sports news. Just three remaining fixtures were played this week as cricket teams continued to wrap up their seasons in style.

Cricket | Bethany U15A v King’s Rochester

Having managed to stop the Bethany Crow from stealing more match teas, the U15A cricket team played their final (hard ball) match of the season on the Arena. Bethany batted first with Amelia Bickford and Eleni Haines who did a good job against an excellent opening spell of bowling from King’s Rochester.

The team managed to keep the score moving despite not being able to play against many of the deliveries from the rest of the opposition bowling attack. The best partnership (15 runs from 15 balls) from the remaining pairs was between Mia Castle and Cecily Chettiar, who ran well between the wickets alongside Mia smashing a ball to the leg-side boundary for 4. Bethany ended their innings on 248 for 3.

The crucial moment of the match came in the first over of King’s Rochester’s reply. With Grace Holmes bowling, the final ball of the over was smashed into the covers where Hazeley Kalisch made a fantastic stop. Even though one run was scored, Hazeley certainly saved 3 runs from what looked like a certain boundary. Despite being one down in the field Bethany’s bowling (with Amelia Bickford again bowling well and who took yet another crucial wicket) and fielding was excellent, and their determination made it hard for King’s Rochester to score.

The standout performance of the game came from Mia Castle, who did a great job with the bat but most importantly as Wicket Keeper, as very little got past and ensuring that Bethany stayed in the game.

And so, it all came down to the last ball, 5 needed or King’s Rochester to win. The last ball was bowled and King’s managed to scamper through for 2 runs from a wide (+2) but Bethany got the ball back to Keeper quickly and safely to ensure the game ended in a Tie!

Final score: Bethany U15A (248/3) tied with King’s Rochester (248/2)*

Player of the Match: Amelia Bickford

Coaches Player of the Match: Mia Castle

*Teams start on 200 runs

Cricket | Bethany U15B v King’s Rochester

On a beautiful summer afternoon, Bethany School’s U15B cricket team concluded their season in style with a well-earned victory against King’s Rochester.

Having won the toss, Bethany chose to bat first. Sophie Finnamore got the innings off to a lively start, striking a couple of boundaries, including a powerful six. Evie Pope and Lily Williams continued the momentum, each contributing confidently with well-timed fours, helping to build a strong team total.

Bethany finished their innings on an impressive 290 runs, setting a challenging target for the visitors.

In the field, Bethany continued their determined performance. Captain Leah Carnegie led from the front with a disciplined and effective bowling spell, keeping the pressure firmly on King’s Rochester. Lily Williams not only impressed with the bat but also made a significant impact with the ball, capping off her spell with a sharp piece of fielding that resulted in a crucial run out.

Despite a spirited effort from the King’s Rochester side, who reached 264 runs, Bethany’s cohesive performance ensured a 26-run victory.

Final score: Bethany (290) beat King’s Rochester (264) by 26 runs*

Batter of the Match: Sophie Finnamore

Bowler of the Match: Leah Carnegie

Coaches Player of the Match: Lily Williams

*Teams start on 200 runs

Cricket | Bethany U13A v Farringtons

In their final fixture of what has been a memorable season, the Bethany U13A cricket team signed off in style and delivered a superb all-round display against Farringtons.

After winning the toss on a bright afternoon, Bethany elected to bat first, a decision that quickly paid off. The top order settled into a steady rhythm, scoring at a consistent rate of around six runs per over. Every batter played their part, contributing valuable runs and showing excellent awareness with sharp running between the wickets. The innings was marked by aggressive intent and intelligent shot selection, with the team maintaining pressure on the opposition from the outset. Their efforts were rewarded with an impressive total of 149 runs, setting the tone for the remainder of the match.

Taking the field with confidence, Bethany struck immediately, claiming a wicket with the very first ball of the Farringtons innings. This early breakthrough sparked a dominant bowling display, as Bethany’s bowlers found both rhythm and accuracy. The attack maintained relentless pressure, with every bowler playing a role and the fielders backing them up superbly with sharp catching and ground fielding.

One of the most heartwarming moments of the match came when Jake McNair, stepping up to bowl for the first time this season, claimed his maiden wicket. It was a highlight in a game full of positives, as Farringtons were eventually dismissed for just 50 runs.

It was a fitting conclusion to a season that has seen the U13A team grow in skill, confidence and camaraderie. From solid individual performances to collective teamwork, the team can look back on this campaign with pride and excitement for the future.

Final Score: Bethany (149) beat Farringtons (50) by 99 runs

Player of the Match: Jake McNair

Coaches Player of the Match: Digby Bishop

Speech Day Success as Bethany Pupils Shine Bright

Bethany School’s annual Speech Day took place on Saturday 21st June 2025, basking in the warmth of a glorious summer’s day. As ever, Speech Day was not only a celebration of pupil success, but also a reunion for Old Bethanians’ and a fond farewell to the Year 13 Leavers.

The morning began with a vibrant display of the school’s diverse talents. Live musical performances, dramatic presentations and exhibitions of pupils’ work filled the campus with creativity and pride. From art installations to academic projects, the displays were a testament to pupils’ dedication and hard work over the past academic year.

The Prize Giving ceremony was the centrepiece of the day, beginning with a warm welcome and words of encouragement from Jonathan Fenn, Chair of Governors. He expressed gratitude to staff, pupils and families for their continued support and highlighted the school’s enduring commitment to a nurturing and aspirational learning environment.

The Headmaster followed with a reflective and inspiring speech, looking back at the year’s successes and challenges. He shared a strong message about the power of persistence, a theme echoed by guest speaker, Sky Newsreader, Gillian Joseph.

Gillian captivated the audience with stories from her journalism career and personal journey. She spoke candidly about overcoming obstacles and the importance of perseverance in achieving one’s goals. Her words resonated deeply, offering encouragement and wisdom as pupils look toward the future.

As the ceremony drew to a close, outstanding achievements from across the school were recognised and celebrated. The variety of awards reflected not just academic excellence, but also personal growth, creativity, leadership and community spirit.

The celebrations concluded with a special lunch for the Year 13 Leavers held in the Assembly Hall. It was a heartfelt send-off, offering a chance for pupils, staff and families to mark the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.

Speech Day 2025 was a joyful and meaningful occasion, perfectly capturing the values at the heart of Bethany School.

Portraits of all prize winners were taken by the wonderful Ali Tuson. You can view and order photos by clicking the button below. Bethany will receive a donation for each photo ordered. To access Speech Day prize winner portraits, please enter the access code: SPEECHDAY2025 and log in. 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 Friday, 29th of August 2025.