Welcome from the Head
Dear Parents
Welcome to the first newsletter of the academic year 2026/27. It has been a delight to welcome back all our Senior School year groups and to see the JAGS community back in full swing.
Well done to our Year 7 cohort, who have made a great start to their time at JAGS. They are energetic, friendly and purposeful around school, and look extremely smart in their new uniform. It was also a great opportunity to welcome Year 7 parents to school last Wednesday evening; thank you to the form tutors for hosting such valuable discussions. We also welcomed Year 12 parents this week to reflect on the first fortnight for our Sixth Formers; they have settled into new routines brilliantly and are all looking very much at home in their A Level subjects.
On Friday, we welcomed guest speaker Lizzy Yarnold to our inaugural Sports Awards Evening. I was perhaps the most excited of all to wear two Olympic gold medals! Lizzy’s message hit the mark for everyone, and it was a superb evening to showcase the sporting life of JAGS. Thank you to the PE department for all their hard work organising the event, and congratulations to all our award winners.
The start of the new term has also seen the launch of our new school film, which you can watch below. Created with significant input from our students, and the expertise of a female-led production team, it captures the spirit of JAGS at its very best.
As we look ahead to the year to come, we also celebrate those who left us this summer. It has been a pleasure to see the diverse range of destinations, courses and opportunities our Year 13 leavers will pursue. We wish them every success for the future.
Mrs Alex Hutchinson
Head
Dates for your Diary
- Monday 21 September – 7pm – Year 8 Parents’ Welcome Evening (VWA)
- Wednesday 23 September – 10:30am – Senior School Open Morning
- Thursday 24 September – 7pm – Year 10 Parents’ Welcome Evening (VWA)
- Friday 25 September to Sunday 27 September – Year 10-13 Exploring Christianity Trip
- Thursday 1 October – 6pm – Year 11 Sixth Form Information Evening for 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.
Travelling to JAGS
We kindly ask that visitors and parents do not wait on either side of East Dulwich Grove or its side roads, including Great Spilmans.
KS3: Years 8 & 9
It has been a pleasure to welcome our Year 8 and 9 students back to school for the start of the new academic year. Over the past two weeks, they have settled quickly into school life and adapted impressively to a number of new routines. The newest routine is that of the Yondr pouch, and it has been impressive to see how sensibly all students have adapted to it.
At the time of writing, clubs and societies are starting up, and we encourage all our students to get involved in a new activity this term – in my recent assembly I encouraged everyone to be brave, take a risk and try something new.
Finally, a huge congratulations to all those in Year 8 and 9 who won awards at the recent Sports Awards Evening. It was such a magnificent event to rightly reward and recognise those outstanding talents amongst the different year groups.
Anna Lipczynska, (Assistant Head Years 8 & 9)
Key Stage 4 Update
It has been wonderful to welcome our Year 10 and Year 11 students back to school, and what an excellent start they have made to the new academic year.
A very warm welcome back to all of our Year 10 students, and welcome to Key Stage 4. The girls have made a fantastic start and we have already been incredibly impressed by their positive attitude, commitment, and work ethic. They have embraced the increased challenge and responsibility that comes with KS4 and have approached the start of the year with enthusiasm and maturity.
Our Year 11 students have returned with a strong sense of purpose following their end-of-Year 10 examinations. It has been fantastic to see them maintain their focus and determination, coming back ready to work hard and make the most of this important year. Their positive attitude and commitment to their studies have set an excellent example for the rest of the school community.
Hannah Dodson, Head of KS4
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Welcome assemblies
There was also real excitement this week as our Year 11 students collected their much-anticipated Year 11 jumpers!
In our welcome assemblies, we reflected on some important themes for the year ahead.
Students heard how marathon training can teach valuable lessons about resilience, perseverance, consistency, and the importance of taking one step at a time towards ambitious goals. These are qualities that will serve them well throughout KS4.
Year 10 students also heard Miss Mayo’s memorable motto for the year: “If we care, you care. If you care, we care.”
This simple message highlights the importance of looking after one another and working together to create a positive and supportive community.
Meanwhile, Mr Thakerar shared his vision for Year 11, reminding students that success comes not only from individual effort but also from the collective responsibility we have for one another. By supporting and encouraging each other, everyone is better placed to thrive.
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Screen Debut
We are incredibly excited to see Year 10 student Maya on the big screen in the feature film Our Share of Sand, which she filmed in 2025. The film was shortlisted for Critics’ Week at the Venice Film Festival and won the Audience Award. It is now set to premiere at a number of international film festivals, including Toronto, London and Morocco. Maya plays a character who shares her name, ‘Maya’, and reflects on the experience as an unforgettable opportunity, saying that she was incredibly grateful to be part of the project. We are immensely proud of Maya and all she has accomplished, and look forward to following her journey and the film’s continued success.
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Parent Events
We are looking forward to welcoming Year 10 parents to our Welcome Evening on 24 September, where we will share information about KS4 and how we can work together to support students over the coming years.
We are also excited to see Year 11 students and parents at the Sixth Form Information Evening on 1 October, as we look forward to A Levels and life at JAGS Sixth Form.
There was also real excitement this week as our Year 11 students collected their much-anticipated Year 11 jumpers!
In our welcome assemblies, we reflected on some important themes for the year ahead.
Students heard how marathon training can teach valuable lessons about resilience, perseverance, consistency, and the importance of taking one step at a time towards ambitious goals. These are qualities that will serve them well throughout KS4.
Year 10 students also heard Miss Mayo’s memorable motto for the year: “If we care, you care. If you care, we care.”
This simple message highlights the importance of looking after one another and working together to create a positive and supportive community.
Meanwhile, Mr Thakerar shared his vision for Year 11, reminding students that success comes not only from individual effort but also from the collective responsibility we have for one another. By supporting and encouraging each other, everyone is better placed to thrive.
We are incredibly excited to see Year 10 student Maya on the big screen in the feature film Our Share of Sand, which she filmed in 2025. The film was shortlisted for Critics’ Week at the Venice Film Festival and won the Audience Award. It is now set to premiere at a number of international film festivals, including Toronto, London and Morocco. Maya plays a character who shares her name, ‘Maya’, and reflects on the experience as an unforgettable opportunity, saying that she was incredibly grateful to be part of the project. We are immensely proud of Maya and all she has accomplished, and look forward to following her journey and the film’s continued success.
We are looking forward to welcoming Year 10 parents to our Welcome Evening on 24 September, where we will share information about KS4 and how we can work together to support students over the coming years.
We are also excited to see Year 11 students and parents at the Sixth Form Information Evening on 1 October, as we look forward to A Levels and life at JAGS Sixth Form.
Sixth Form Update
The largest ever JAGS Year 12 cohort has started the academic year with impressive enthusiasm, engagement and a conscientious attitude. It has been a pleasure to welcome them into the Sixth Form community as they embark upon their #SixthFormJourneyTogether. New students from other schools have joined the Class of 2028, enriching our school community, and the whole cohort has settled in very well! We are very grateful to the Year 13s for helping Year 12 students to acclimatise to the new (but familiar) environment of the Sixth Form.
Year 13 students have immediately embraced their important A Level lessons, as well as their Higher Education and Careers applications and their co-curricular activities around the school. Already, they have had UCAS talks and a study skills workshop, and School Prefects have been ‘leaning in’ to the school community through their lunchtime support of lower school students.
Wishing everyone a super weekend and a well-earned rest after a busy start to the academic year!
Mat Weeks, Head of Sixth Form
JAGS – The Making of Us
Independent School of the Year Awards 2026
We are thrilled to be a Finalist in the Independent Girls’ School of the Year category at the Independent School of the Year Awards 2026.
For nearly 300 years, JAGS has been proud to put girls first, championing an education that empowers young women to thrive, lead and make a difference. At a time when this work remains as important as ever, we’re determined to continue supporting girls to find their voice and shape the world around them.
A huge thank you to our students, staff, families and wider community whose hard work, dedication and contributions have made this recognition possible.
Sport
Senior Sports Awards 2026
The Sports Awards Evening was a celebration of excellence, character and commitment, and it left me with an overwhelming sense of pride. To see so many pupils recognised for their dedication, resilience and sporting achievement was truly inspiring. The awards reflected not only success on the field, court, pitch, pool and track, but also the values that define our sporting community: teamwork, perseverance, humility and the courage to strive for continual improvement. Every recipient, nominee and participant has played a part in making this such a memorable year, and they should be immensely proud of all they have accomplished.
The evening was made even more special by our guest speaker, Lizzy Yarnold, whose journey to double Olympic glory provided a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through hard work, determination and self-belief. Her words resonated deeply with pupils, staff and families alike, reinforcing the importance of embracing challenges and pursuing excellence with passion and purpose. As we celebrated the achievements of our athletes, it was impossible not to feel optimistic about the future. The Sports Awards Evening was not simply about recognising success; it was about honouring the spirit of sport and the remarkable young people who continue to inspire us every day.
Michael Golding, Director of Sport
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Award Winners
- Rower of the Year (Y10) – Amy N
- Rower of the Year (Y11) – Jessica S
- Senior Rower of the Year – Arabella F (Class of 2026)
- Junior (KS3) Footballer of the Year – India W (Y10)
- Senior Footballer of the Year – Izzy W (Y11)
- Junior (KS3) Netballer of the Year – Chloe A (Y10)
- Senior Netballer of the Year (Frizzelle Cup) – Gargy S (Class of 2026)
- Junior (KS3) Hockey Player of the Year (Clare Leung Cup) – Arianna FS (Y10)
- Senior Hockey Player of the Year (Sofalarin Cup) – September P
- Junior (KS3) Swimmer of the Year (Johnson Cup) – Millie G (Y9)
- Senior Swimmer of the Year – Martha W (Y12)
- Junior Rugby Player of the Year – Iggy M (Y8)
- Senior Rugby Player of the Year – Matilda T (Y12)
- Junior (KS3) Cross Country Runner of the Year – Skyla (Y9)
- Senior Cross Country Runner of the Year – Sophie J (Y13)
- Junior Cricketer of the Year – Alice B (Y10)
- Senior Cricketer of the Year – Jayna P (Y11)
- Junior Tennis Player of the Year– Sam C (Y9)
- Senior Tennis Player of the Year – Olivia C (Y11)
- Junior Athlete of the Year – Skyla (Y9)
- Senior Athlete of the Year – Jackie N (Y12)
- Head Cup – Best Athletics Performance – Emilia A (Y12)
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Winners continued. . .
The Gibson Quad Cup – Ella S (Y10)
(Participation in at least four different school sports on a regular basis – awarded to a KS3 pupil)
The Raggett Cup – Darcie S (Y9)
(Services to school sport; reliable, responsible and dependable.It is not based on performance or achievement.)
The Thomson Award for Sporting Excellence – Cecilia S (Y11)
(Awarded to the pupil who has achieved the highest level of sporting performance in or out of school.)
Junior Sports Girl of the Year – Chloe A (Y10)
Senior Sports Girl of the Year – Pyale W
Team of the Year – U14 Hockey Team
- Rower of the Year (Y10) – Amy N
- Rower of the Year (Y11) – Jessica S
- Senior Rower of the Year – Arabella F (Class of 2026)
- Junior (KS3) Footballer of the Year – India W (Y10)
- Senior Footballer of the Year – Izzy W (Y11)
- Junior (KS3) Netballer of the Year – Chloe A (Y10)
- Senior Netballer of the Year (Frizzelle Cup) – Gargy S (Class of 2026)
- Junior (KS3) Hockey Player of the Year (Clare Leung Cup) – Arianna FS (Y10)
- Senior Hockey Player of the Year (Sofalarin Cup) – September P
- Junior (KS3) Swimmer of the Year (Johnson Cup) – Millie G (Y9)
- Senior Swimmer of the Year – Martha W (Y12)
- Junior Rugby Player of the Year – Iggy M (Y8)
- Senior Rugby Player of the Year – Matilda T (Y12)
- Junior (KS3) Cross Country Runner of the Year – Skyla (Y9)
- Senior Cross Country Runner of the Year – Sophie J (Y13)
- Junior Cricketer of the Year – Alice B (Y10)
- Senior Cricketer of the Year – Jayna P (Y11)
- Junior Tennis Player of the Year– Sam C (Y9)
- Senior Tennis Player of the Year – Olivia C (Y11)
- Junior Athlete of the Year – Skyla (Y9)
- Senior Athlete of the Year – Jackie N (Y12)
- Head Cup – Best Athletics Performance – Emilia A (Y12)
The Gibson Quad Cup – Ella S (Y10)
(Participation in at least four different school sports on a regular basis – awarded to a KS3 pupil)
The Raggett Cup – Darcie S (Y9)
(Services to school sport; reliable, responsible and dependable.It is not based on performance or achievement.)
The Thomson Award for Sporting Excellence – Cecilia S (Y11)
(Awarded to the pupil who has achieved the highest level of sporting performance in or out of school.)
Junior Sports Girl of the Year – Chloe A (Y10)
Senior Sports Girl of the Year – Pyale W
Team of the Year – U14 Hockey Team
Summer Success
Eleanor (Y10) picked up bronze medals in both the British Fencing Cadet (U17) and the Junior National Championships at the University of Nottingham. These incredible performances mean she maintains her ranking as fourth in the country in the Cadet category and has risen to 11th in the Junior rankings. Well done to Eleanor, who will now represent Great Britain in an upcoming Cadet competition on the European circuit.
In addition, we were delighted to see Cecilia (Y11) compete for Austria in the European U16 Hockey Championship in Turkey in July. Despite playing in 40-degree heat, she scored her first six international goals for the team. Congratulations!
Careers
This summer, students gained valuable career experience through summer schools, work placements and courses. Here is a glimpse of what they got up to.
Women of the Future Ambassadors’ Reception
“The Women of the Future Ambassadors’ event featured excellent presentations on current topics in the business world, with speakers encouraging student participation and ensuring that every question was answered in detail.
“I connected with many women working in industries I am interested in pursuing, such as biological research, and spoke with others from a range of backgrounds, helping me to understand the huge variety of careers available. Overall, I was incredibly grateful for this opportunity. I believe it has greatly helped me to understand how networking works and the importance of talking to new people.” Sayuri (Y13)
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WOF continued
“The afternoon was split into two main events, the first being an engaging talk about how AI works and the future of this technology in business. I particularly enjoyed the end of the session, where we had the opportunity to ask questions, as many students sparked interesting debates about the ethics of using AI.
“During the second part of the afternoon, there was a networking opportunity, where I had the chance to speak with several women working in research science, a field I may like to pursue in the future. As research science is often under-discussed in schools, this opportunity was especially valuable.” Bethel (Y13)
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GP Work Shadowing
“The placement was extremely beneficial to me, as I shadowed a GP for two days, during which I sat in on telephone appointments and clinic visits. I learnt a lot about the kind of care delivered locally, the importance of the GP-patient relationship, and some of the health economics of the NHS. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience.” Kritika (Y11)
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UBS Investment Bank
“My work experience at UBS Investment Bank was extremely insightful. I learnt many things that school would not be able to teach me, not only about working in a bank, but also about life skills, social skills, and what life might be like once my education is over. It gave me an insight into what it would be like to work a 9-to-6 job and helped me decide what direction I want to take in the future. I highly recommend this experience, as it was fascinating.” Anna (Y11)
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Psychiatry Summer School
“It was a great experience! It gave lots of insight into every aspect of psychiatry, as we got to listen to and meet experts in each field. The three-day summer school was full of new and exciting lectures, with plenty of time for questions and discussions. I had such a good time, and it really helped me understand the kind of career I am looking for in the future.” Martha (Y12)
“The psychiatry summer school was an amazing opportunity. It was well organised and very informative, covering lots of different aspects of psychiatry. I especially enjoyed hearing from all of the people who came in to share their individual stories. This whole experience helped me to understand and respect the work of psychiatrists even more.” Florence (Y12)
“The IOPPN Psychiatry Summer School was such an insightful experience and I gained a lot of knowledge from hearing from a variety of psychiatrists and patients. I particularly enjoyed learning about OCD and bipolar disorder, as well as hearing from many patients about their personal experiences with mental illness. I would definitely recommend the Psychiatry Summer School to others, especially those interested in medicine or psychology, as it was engaging and I learnt so much about what a psychiatrist does and the different areas of psychiatry that I had not known about before.” Elizabeth (Y12)
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GSK Virtual Work Experience
“I took part in the GSK virtual work experience programme, which provided an excellent insight into the pharmaceutical industry and the wide range of careers involved in developing medicines. The programme included sessions on how medicines and vaccines are developed, employability skills such as teamwork and critical thinking, and a live Q&A session with GSK employees, who shared valuable advice about their career journeys and university choices. One of the most interesting parts of the programme was learning about the ‘Molecule to Market”‘pharmaceutical process. I really enjoyed seeing the various stages of manufacturing, trialling and testing that a vaccine goes through before it can be given to a patient, as well as the collaboration between scientists, clinicians and engineers to ensure vaccines are safe and effective.” Bethel (Y13)
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InvestIN Education
“Over the summer, I took part in InvestIN’s Young Lawyer Work Experience programme. I spent a week in central London learning about the different sectors of law and the pathways into them. Each day, we spoke to a professional who answered our questions and guided us through simulation tasks. I was able to meet lawyers working in criminal defence, prosecution, family law and corporate law, all of whom shared valuable insights into what day-to-day work in their field is like and the journeys they took to reach their roles.
“Throughout the week, our activities included negotiations, writing bail applications for a murder trial and defending clients against large corporations. It was so nice to be surrounded by people with the same interests and aspirations as me, and I have definitely made some new friendships.
“This work experience was more than just something to put on my CV; it was a great opportunity to learn about the varied sectors of law, receive advice from industry professionals and put my skills to the test.
“At the end of the course, I won Lawyer of the Week for my confident public speaking skills and continued contributions to discussions and tasks. I’m so grateful to have had this experience.” Kayla (Y11)
“The afternoon was split into two main events, the first being an engaging talk about how AI works and the future of this technology in business. I particularly enjoyed the end of the session, where we had the opportunity to ask questions, as many students sparked interesting debates about the ethics of using AI.
“During the second part of the afternoon, there was a networking opportunity, where I had the chance to speak with several women working in research science, a field I may like to pursue in the future. As research science is often under-discussed in schools, this opportunity was especially valuable.” Bethel (Y13)
“The placement was extremely beneficial to me, as I shadowed a GP for two days, during which I sat in on telephone appointments and clinic visits. I learnt a lot about the kind of care delivered locally, the importance of the GP-patient relationship, and some of the health economics of the NHS. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience.” Kritika (Y11)
“My work experience at UBS Investment Bank was extremely insightful. I learnt many things that school would not be able to teach me, not only about working in a bank, but also about life skills, social skills, and what life might be like once my education is over. It gave me an insight into what it would be like to work a 9-to-6 job and helped me decide what direction I want to take in the future. I highly recommend this experience, as it was fascinating.” Anna (Y11)
“It was a great experience! It gave lots of insight into every aspect of psychiatry, as we got to listen to and meet experts in each field. The three-day summer school was full of new and exciting lectures, with plenty of time for questions and discussions. I had such a good time, and it really helped me understand the kind of career I am looking for in the future.” Martha (Y12)
“The psychiatry summer school was an amazing opportunity. It was well organised and very informative, covering lots of different aspects of psychiatry. I especially enjoyed hearing from all of the people who came in to share their individual stories. This whole experience helped me to understand and respect the work of psychiatrists even more.” Florence (Y12)
“The IOPPN Psychiatry Summer School was such an insightful experience and I gained a lot of knowledge from hearing from a variety of psychiatrists and patients. I particularly enjoyed learning about OCD and bipolar disorder, as well as hearing from many patients about their personal experiences with mental illness. I would definitely recommend the Psychiatry Summer School to others, especially those interested in medicine or psychology, as it was engaging and I learnt so much about what a psychiatrist does and the different areas of psychiatry that I had not known about before.” Elizabeth (Y12)
“I took part in the GSK virtual work experience programme, which provided an excellent insight into the pharmaceutical industry and the wide range of careers involved in developing medicines. The programme included sessions on how medicines and vaccines are developed, employability skills such as teamwork and critical thinking, and a live Q&A session with GSK employees, who shared valuable advice about their career journeys and university choices. One of the most interesting parts of the programme was learning about the ‘Molecule to Market”‘pharmaceutical process. I really enjoyed seeing the various stages of manufacturing, trialling and testing that a vaccine goes through before it can be given to a patient, as well as the collaboration between scientists, clinicians and engineers to ensure vaccines are safe and effective.” Bethel (Y13)
“Over the summer, I took part in InvestIN’s Young Lawyer Work Experience programme. I spent a week in central London learning about the different sectors of law and the pathways into them. Each day, we spoke to a professional who answered our questions and guided us through simulation tasks. I was able to meet lawyers working in criminal defence, prosecution, family law and corporate law, all of whom shared valuable insights into what day-to-day work in their field is like and the journeys they took to reach their roles.
“Throughout the week, our activities included negotiations, writing bail applications for a murder trial and defending clients against large corporations. It was so nice to be surrounded by people with the same interests and aspirations as me, and I have definitely made some new friendships.
“This work experience was more than just something to put on my CV; it was a great opportunity to learn about the varied sectors of law, receive advice from industry professionals and put my skills to the test.
“At the end of the course, I won Lawyer of the Week for my confident public speaking skills and continued contributions to discussions and tasks. I’m so grateful to have had this experience.” Kayla (Y11)
Botany Gardens
JAGS Botany Gardens Volunteering Day
In August, we welcomed our second group of volunteers into the dry and crispy JAGS Botany Gardens for a day of gardening adventures. On a day as hot as they come, an enthusiastic bunch, donning sunscreen and hats, got stuck into potting on, sowing seeds, planting out seedlings and slow watering! The smiles and chatter brought another kind of sunshine in a challenging and sometimes heartbreaking summer in the gardens.
In the second week of the October half term, we will be holding another, cooler session. We are getting such positive feedback from the volunteers about these days. It is a great opportunity to connect with other parents and alumnae and to hone some gardening skills, so keep an eye out for our sign-up information in JAGSpost in the coming weeks.
Sally Rendel, Botany Gardens Manager
JAGS Alumnae
One Year Class Reunion
The JAGS Alumnae Association was thrilled to kick off the 2026-27 academic year by welcoming back the Class of 2025 for their One Year Reunion on Friday 4 September. With over 60 alumnae in attendance, it was a wonderful evening of celebration, catching up with old friends and lively conversation.
Call for Venue Hosts
Support Our Alumnae Networking Events
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 2027. Our past professional networking events have been a great success with alumnae, parents and students alike and have included the Medical Society Dinner, Creative Industries Networking Event and the London Professional Networking Event.
If you are able to offer a space to host an event, whether a stylish office, a unique venue or anything in between, we would be most grateful for your support. Your support 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.
