Welcome from the Head
Dear Parents
Welcome to this week’s newsletter. It has been brilliant to welcome back our staff and students, and we hope the first fortnight has gone as smoothly as possible for everyone. A special welcome to our new families – we hope you are all enjoying your time in the JAGS community.
The term has started at great pace, from welcoming Years 7 and 12 on Monday 1 September, to throwing open the doors to the remaining year groups on Tuesday, to the moment when (relative) peace descended about halfway through Tuesday when the whole Senior School were back in lessons! Since then, we have settled into our new routines and been entertained by Dr Peacock, who challenged us philosophically in assembly to consider the Meaning of Life. His message: learning is good.
Thank-you to our parents in Years 7 and 12 who have joined us for our Welcome Evenings at the start of term. Next week we welcome parents from Years 8 and 10, before being joined by Year 11 parents on Thursday 25 September for the all-important launch of Sixth Form life. It’s never too early to start thinking ahead about the exciting opportunities on offer in Years 12 and 13.
Friday sees a delightful JAGS juxtaposition: as our newest students in Year 7 find their feet, so we welcome back our alumnae who left 50 and 60 years ago! I have no doubt they still remember the excitement of their first few weeks at JAGS, and we very much look forward to sharing their memories of the JAGS community.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
Mrs Alex Hutchinson
Head
Dates for your Diary
- Monday 15 September – 7pm – Year 8 Parents’ Welcome Evening (VWA & Dining Hall)
- Wednesday 17 September – 10.30am – Senior School Open Morning
- Thursday 18 September – 7pm – Year 10 Parents’ Welcome Evening (VWA & Dining Hall)
- Monday 22 September – 6.30pm – Years 10-13 Parents’ Meeting for South African Sports Tour (Lecture Theatre)
- Thursday 25 September -7pm – Sixth Form Information Evening for Year 11 Parents and Students (VWA)
Reporting Absences
A reminder to all parents to use this form to report absence in the Senior School due to illness or to request absence for appointments. This form can also be found on our Contact page.
Additionally, when informing a teacher of any health issues your daughter may be facing, please remember to cc our School Nurse team on Nurse@jags.org.uk.
Key Stage 3 Update
As the summer sun fades and the crisp promise of autumn settles in, we are delighted to welcome our KS3 students back to school. We hope your break was filled with rest, adventure, and moments to cherish. Now, as we step into a new academic year, we look forward to the energy, curiosity, and enthusiasm you bring to our school community. Whether you’re returning to familiar faces or joining us anew, this is a fresh start.
It was absolutely wonderful to see the Years 8 and 9 students back in the building and hear their holiday stories. For many of them, there is a full range of new teachers, new form mates, and new tutors. It’s a time to consolidate all that they have learnt and to build on their successes from the past year.
The Year 7 students have impressed me so much with their enthusiasm and resilience over the last few weeks. Everything is new for them, and they have embraced every challenge with fortitude and excitement. They are all carrying their new devices and have adapted to this teaching tool extremely well.
Myfanwy Bournon, Head of KS3
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Continued . . .
In the KS3 assemblies, I spoke about the idea of mutualism in nature and how we can all learn from creatures who benefit one another in a reciprocal way. I have already seen evidence of this support, friendship, and nurturing attitude around school.
Next week, we are holding our first Co-Curricular Clubs Fair, where the Sixth Formers will have the chance to advertise clubs and encourage the girls to sign up. I hope this will be the encouragement some students need to embrace the opportunities here at JAGS.
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Parents’ Welcome Evenings
It was great to meet so many of the Year 7 parents at the Information Evening last week. Welcome to the community! I look forward to seeing Year 8 parents on Monday and Year 9 parents later this month, on Monday 29 September.
The year ahead is full of promise, and I can’t wait to see how each student will grow and thrive. Wishing all our KS3 students a fulfilling, joyful, and inspiring year — welcome back, and let’s make it one to remember.
In the KS3 assemblies, I spoke about the idea of mutualism in nature and how we can all learn from creatures who benefit one another in a reciprocal way. I have already seen evidence of this support, friendship, and nurturing attitude around school.
Next week, we are holding our first Co-Curricular Clubs Fair, where the Sixth Formers will have the chance to advertise clubs and encourage the girls to sign up. I hope this will be the encouragement some students need to embrace the opportunities here at JAGS.
It was great to meet so many of the Year 7 parents at the Information Evening last week. Welcome to the community! I look forward to seeing Year 8 parents on Monday and Year 9 parents later this month, on Monday 29 September.
The year ahead is full of promise, and I can’t wait to see how each student will grow and thrive. Wishing all our KS3 students a fulfilling, joyful, and inspiring year — welcome back, and let’s make it one to remember.
Key Stage 4 Update
It has been a pleasure to welcome our Key Stage 4 students back to school. The atmosphere has been full of energy and positivity, and it is lovely to see everyone reconnecting with friends and engaging enthusiastically with their studies.
We hope our Year 10 students are settling well into their new classes and enjoying their GCSE option subjects. Form tutors have shared how much they have enjoyed getting to know their forms through a variety of activities, including crafting origami tulip displays and taking part in music quizzes.
This is an exciting stage in their academic journey, and we are thrilled to see such a positive and mature approach to learning over the past week. We look forward to welcoming parents and carers to the Year 10 Parents’ Welcome Evening on Thursday 18 September 2025. This will be a great opportunity to share key information and build strong partnerships for the year ahead.
Hannah Dodson, Head of KS4
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Year 11
It has been wonderful to welcome back our Year 11 students, who have embraced their role as positive role models for Year 10. Staff have been impressed by the dedication shown in completing summer work, which provides a strong foundation for the year ahead.
We would also like to wish our Year 11 Geographers a fantastic trip to Devon this weekend. We know they will represent the school brilliantly whilst completing their studies of the local area.
We invite all Year 11 students and their families to attend the Sixth Form Information Evening on Thursday 25 September 2025. The evening will offer valuable insight into life in the JAGS Sixth Form and provide guidance on post-16 options to help students begin planning for their next steps.
It has been wonderful to welcome back our Year 11 students, who have embraced their role as positive role models for Year 10. Staff have been impressed by the dedication shown in completing summer work, which provides a strong foundation for the year ahead.
We would also like to wish our Year 11 Geographers a fantastic trip to Devon this weekend. We know they will represent the school brilliantly whilst completing their studies of the local area.
We invite all Year 11 students and their families to attend the Sixth Form Information Evening on Thursday 25 September 2025. The evening will offer valuable insight into life in the JAGS Sixth Form and provide guidance on post-16 options to help students begin planning for their next steps.
Sixth Form Update
It has been a pleasure to welcome back our Year 13 students and to celebrate the arrival and achievements of our new Year 12 cohort. Alongside those joining us from JAGS Year 11, we are delighted to welcome several students from other schools, enriching our Sixth Form community.
Year 13 students have quickly settled into their all-important A Level lessons, while also embracing their Higher Education and Careers applications, as well as their co-curricular commitments. Our School Prefects, in particular, have been actively engaging with the wider school community—supporting the school through their lunchtime duties and presenting to younger year groups in assembly.
Year 12 students made a fantastic start during their induction morning and the rollout of their devices. They have adapted swiftly to the Sixth Form environment, showing themselves to be engaged, productive, kind, and full of energy. We are excited to support them on their #SixthFormJourneyTogether.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend.
Mat Weeks, Head of Sixth Form
Bursaries
Independent School of the Year Awards 2025
We’re proud to be named as a finalist in the Independent School of the Year for Contribution to Social Mobility category at the ISOTY Awards 2025.
Since 1741, JAGS has championed a forward-thinking, philanthropic approach to education. Central to this is our generous bursary scheme, which provides life-changing opportunities for bright, talented girls—regardless of financial background.
We are deeply grateful to all who support this vital provision and help ensure that a JAGS education remains accessible to those who will thrive here.
CCF
Congratulations to Connie (Y13), who has earned a university scholarship through the University Officers’ Training Corps (UOTC).
She secured the scholarship following a selection training camp held over the summer, making her the first JAGS student from the DC Combined Cadet Force to receive this honour.
World Challenge
Sixth Form students who took part in the World Challenge expedition to Vietnam returned with unforgettable memories, from breathtaking scenery and incredible food to once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Below, Asia (Y13) reflects on the adventure:
“The 2025 World Challenge trip to Vietnam gave me an incredible opportunity to build new friendships, immerse myself in a different culture, and strengthen my own character and resilience. In addition, fundraising with my friends in the lead up to the trip helped to make it feel all the more rewarding!
“I loved the variation in what we did – from trekking through rice paddy fields, climbing to the top of mountains and building a wall to protect the village heritage site, to navigating through the lively streets and night markets of Hanoi.
“Some of the highlights of my trip included playing a football match with the local kids in Bac Son village (to boost morale after a difficult day of trekking), ‘train street’ in Hanoi on the first day, the boat trip through Hạ Long Bay, and meeting lots of friendly faces in all the places we went.
“It was undoubtedly an unforgettable trip, with so many memories and fun times to look back on!”
JAGS Alumnae
One Year Class Reunion
We were delighted to welcome back alumnae from the Class of 2024 for their One Year Class Reunion on Friday 29 August, marking the first JAGS Alumnae Association event of the 2025–26 academic year.
It was a wonderful turnout, with alumnae and staff alike enjoying the opportunity to reconnect. The JAGS Quad and Dining Hall were filled with lively conversation and laughter as everyone caught up and celebrated the year group.
Call for Venue Hosts
As part of our commitment to fostering meaningful professional connections for JAGS alumnae, students, and the wider JAGS community, we are currently seeking suitable venues to host professional networking events in 2026.
Our previous professional networking events have been highly successful with alumnae, parents, and students alike, and have included the Medical Society Dinner, the Creative Industries Networking Event, and the London Professional Networking Event.
If you are able to offer a space to host an event – whether it’s a stylish office, a unique venue, or something in between—we would be most grateful for your support. Your contribution plays a vital role in strengthening our alumnae network and providing valuable opportunities for engagement.
If you are able to assist or would like to discuss possibilities, please contact the Alumnae Relations Team via alumnae@jags.org.uk
