Welcome from the Head
Dear Parents
Welcome to this week’s newsletter, as we look forward to a sunny week of half-term. Congratulations to our Key Stage 3 students, who worked through their assessment week so sensibly; we hope you all have a lovely break to recharge your batteries in advance of the busy second half of the summer term.
This afternoon, we celebrated together as a whole school community with the Big House Bash, the first major event for our new team of Year 12 House Captains. They have set a high bar for the remainder of their year in office! This follows two vibrant School Council meetings earlier in the week and an afternoon packed with fun for Year 8 and their French pen pals. Year 12 and their parents took the opportunity on Monday to receive feedback on their exam performances at our Parents’ Evening. The atmosphere reflected plentiful praise, support and advice as Year 12 approach their introduction to higher education and the first steps of life beyond JAGS.
JAGS students have been enjoying adventures at home and overseas, with recent trips to the Lake District, Bletchley Park, France and Switzerland. Over half term, we also have trips to Italy, Spain and more. Thank you, as ever, to our fantastic team of staff who organise and accompany these trips, which provide such valuable experiences for our students. We wish safe travels to everyone.
With all good wishes for a lovely half-term break,
Mrs Alex Hutchinson
Head
Dates for your Diary
- Friday 22 May to Monday 25 May – Italian Trip to Bergamo, Milan and Lake Como
- Monday 25 May to Friday 29 May – Half Term
- Thursday 28 May to Sunday 31 May – Year 8 Spanish Trip to Salamanca
- Tuesday 2 June – Students Return
- Thursday 4 June – Year 7 Visit Centre of the Cell
- Friday 5 June – 5:30pm – Year 8 BBQ with Dulwich College (Dulwich College)
- Thursday 11 June to Monday 15 June – Year 12 Biology Trip to Morocco
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.
Second-hand Uniform Sales
Second-hand Uniform Sales will take place between 7:45am and 8:30am in the VWA on the following dates:
- Wednesday 3 June 2026
Please note these are student-only events. Both cash and card payments will be accepted.
Key Stage 3 Update
As we reach the end of another busy and productive half term at JAGS, we would like to take a moment to celebrate the fantastic efforts of all our KS3 students. The girls have shown real dedication and maturity in their preparation for upcoming exams, approaching their revision with focus and determination. It has been wonderful to see them working so diligently in lessons and beyond, supporting one another and taking real pride in their learning. Their commitment has not gone unnoticed, and we are incredibly proud of all they have achieved so far.
With the well-deserved break just around the corner, it is especially welcome that the weather has begun to improve. The brighter mornings and warmer afternoons have brought renewed energy across the school, and we hope this continues into the half term so everyone can enjoy some rest, fresh air, and time with family and friends.
This half term has also included some memorable opportunities beyond the classroom. Our Year 7 students took part in a sports collaboration with Dulwich College, which proved to be a hugely positive experience. The girls demonstrated excellent teamwork, resilience, and sportsmanship throughout. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to develop their skills, build confidence, and form new connections, and it was clear how much they gained from the experience.
Myfanwy Bournon, Head of KS3
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Continued
We also enjoyed a brilliant Year 7 film night, which was a highlight for many. The atmosphere was full of excitement and laughter, and it was lovely to see the girls relaxing and enjoying time together in such a positive and sociable setting. Events like these play an important role in building our community and creating lasting memories.
Looking ahead, we are excited for the remainder of the summer term. With hopefully more sunshine to come, there will be plenty of opportunities to continue learning, growing, and enjoying school life together. There will be music, dance, and drama performances to enjoy before we break for the summer holidays.
We wish all our students and families a very happy and restful half term break.
We also enjoyed a brilliant Year 7 film night, which was a highlight for many. The atmosphere was full of excitement and laughter, and it was lovely to see the girls relaxing and enjoying time together in such a positive and sociable setting. Events like these play an important role in building our community and creating lasting memories.
Looking ahead, we are excited for the remainder of the summer term. With hopefully more sunshine to come, there will be plenty of opportunities to continue learning, growing, and enjoying school life together. There will be music, dance, and drama performances to enjoy before we break for the summer holidays.
We wish all our students and families a very happy and restful half term break.
Key Stage 4 Update
Year 10 students have now received their feedback following the end-of-year exams. We have been incredibly impressed with their mature and positive response, as well as their determination to continue making progress as they move forward in their GCSE journey.
We would also like to share some fantastic news within the year group. Cecilia (Y10) has been selected to represent the U16 Austrian Hockey Team at the European Championships in Turkey this summer. This is an outstanding achievement, and we wish her every success in the competition.
Meanwhile, our Year 11 students are continuing to work their way through a busy GCSE exam timetable. Staff have consistently commented on how organised, focused, and well-prepared the students have been throughout this period. It has also been wonderful to see so many smiling faces as they leave their exams, demonstrating their hard work and positive attitude.
Hannah Dodson, Head of KS4
Sixth Form Update
The A Level exam season is now in full flow and Year 13 students continue to impress with their levels of personal organisation and resilience. Whilst many are coming into school to participate in study sessions in the library, we do miss them as ever-present members of our Sixth Form community. Still, we always have the fun of Smurfs Day to remember…
We are thrilled that Sofia (Y13) has been recognised for her many contributions to the life of the school through the Edward Alleyn Award (see more details below). Huge congratulations, Sofia – very well deserved!
We are looking forward to welcoming them back to school after their exams for the ‘Life After JAGS’ Day (Monday 21 June) and their Leavers’ Day (Tuesday 22 June), with a multitude of exciting events culminating in their starry-themed party in the evening.
Mat Weeks, Head of Sixth Form
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Year 12 step up
Year 12 students have stepped up as role models for the wider JAGS community. They have embraced student leader training and contributed enthusiastically across school life, assisting with the Alumnae Reunion Lunch, GAIN events, and a range of trips, including Bletchley Park, CERN, and the Lake District Geography fieldwork. Alongside these commitments, they also participated in a productive and focused Year 12 Parents’ Evening earlier this week.
The whole year group also shone today as they led the annual Big House Bash celebrations, ensuring that all members of the school community collaborated and had fun in an enjoyable end to the half term.
Wishing everyone a super half term.
Year 12 students have stepped up as role models for the wider JAGS community. They have embraced student leader training and contributed enthusiastically across school life, assisting with the Alumnae Reunion Lunch, GAIN events, and a range of trips, including Bletchley Park, CERN, and the Lake District Geography fieldwork. Alongside these commitments, they also participated in a productive and focused Year 12 Parents’ Evening earlier this week.
The whole year group also shone today as they led the annual Big House Bash celebrations, ensuring that all members of the school community collaborated and had fun in an enjoyable end to the half term.
Wishing everyone a super half term.
Edward Alleyn Award
We are delighted to announce Sofia(Y13) as the very deserving JAGS recipient of this year’s Edward Alleyn Award.
Sofia is an impressive member of the JAGS Sixth Form community who extols the virtues of Edward Alleyn in terms of the creative, enterprising and philanthropic manner in which she enriches those around her.
Whether formally displaying leadership in her position of Warrant Officer Class 1 in the Dulwich College CCF, or in her understated support of various school initiatives, she champions a generosity of spirit through her dedication of time and creative ideas. Sofia was a key member of her team’s entry into the Army Cadets National First Aid Competition 2025, helping them to win this UK-wide event. Sofia also provided crucial support to the creation of an origami poppy display that enabled students at JAGS to mark Remembrance Day in an appropriate, thought-provoking and innovative way.
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Within school, for over five years, Sofia has tirelessly represented her year group on the Food Committee, and in the Sixth Form she has always contributed to the thriving Careers Committee. Sofia selflessly forms part of the glue that holds the community together; she is the friend on whom others know they can rely.
Committed to her local community, Sofia volunteers at her local “Rainbows” group, and she has helped weekly at her local foodbank for the last three years. Sofia has also been a much-appreciated volunteer at the Saturday Literacy Scheme run at JAGS. Through her participation in these activities, she has given tremendously in the service and support of others.
Within school, for over five years, Sofia has tirelessly represented her year group on the Food Committee, and in the Sixth Form she has always contributed to the thriving Careers Committee. Sofia selflessly forms part of the glue that holds the community together; she is the friend on whom others know they can rely.
Committed to her local community, Sofia volunteers at her local “Rainbows” group, and she has helped weekly at her local foodbank for the last three years. Sofia has also been a much-appreciated volunteer at the Saturday Literacy Scheme run at JAGS. Through her participation in these activities, she has given tremendously in the service and support of others.
Community
Linkage Southwark
Afternoon Tea
We were delighted to host the annual Linkage Southwark Afternoon Tea earlier this month, welcoming so many guests from the local area for a truly enjoyable afternoon.
Alongside a delicious selection of cakes and tea, visitors were treated to a special performance by the JAGS Chorale and a tour of our historic Botany Gardens.
Our thanks go to our wonderful Year 12 volunteers and all those who helped make the occasion such a success.
Mental Health Awareness Week 2026
Last week, JAGS celebrated Mental Health Awareness Week, centred on this year’s theme, ‘Take Action’. It was fantastic to see students enthusiastically engaging in a wide range of activities designed to support key areas of care, including community, relationships, nature and the environment, as well as body and mind.
Throughout the week, Holst Hall was a vibrant hub of activity at lunchtime. Students showed great creativity and compassion during community-focused sessions, contributing to bunting displays and badge-making for causes close to their hearts.
Physical wellbeing was promoted through dance, chair yoga and a guided walk, while midweek activities encouraged meaningful connections through letter writing and shared reading. The self-care circuit proved especially popular, offering mindfulness, meditation and creative opportunities such as weaving and drawing.
The week concluded with a peaceful nature walk, allowing students to appreciate the biodiversity of our school grounds.
Maths
Bletchley Park
“We recently went on a trip to Bletchley Park, the historic World War II codebreaking headquarters. We engaged in codebreaking workshops, toured the famous wartime huts, and viewed genuine Enigma machines, gaining a first-hand insight into how mathematics and probability shaped history and modern computing.
“During the codebreaking workshops, we used our knowledge of permutations and probability to tackle complex ciphers under pressure, while learning about the trillions of possible code combinations that wartime codebreakers had to solve at Bletchley Park.
“The guided tour brought history to life as we explored the famous wartime huts and sprawling Victorian mansion estate, with highlights including an up-close look at the Enigma machine and the Bombe machine, designed to break Enigma codes at speed. This trip provided a fantastic opportunity for A-level mathematicians to see the historical and modern significance of our studies.”
Radwa (Y12)
MFL
French
Pen Pal Visit
We were delighted to welcome students and staff from Collège Saint Robert, Merville, France, to JAGS on Wednesday.
Students from Years 6 and 8 spent time with their French pen pals, enjoying a picnic on the playing fields before taking part in a song competition in the VWA.
The programme is known to foster long-lasting friendships, and it was wonderful to see students making the most of the opportunity.
Russian
Year 8 students studying Russian enjoyed a creative afternoon making traditional straw dolls, known as Motanka dolls. Originating in Eastern Europe, these handmade figures are traditionally crafted without sewing or facial features and are believed to bring protection, good fortune and wellbeing.
Botany Gardens
On Sunday 7 June, JAGS Botany Gardens will, for the first time, take part in the London Open Gardens scheme, run by the London Parks & Gardens Trust. The event showcases over 120 hidden green spaces across the capital that weekend.
We will be opening the gardens for two bespoke Behind the Scenes tours led by the Botany Gardens team. These tours offer a wonderful opportunity for members of the school community and beyond to explore the history of this unique educational resource, as well as discover current projects to restore the gardens and enhance biodiversity.
We are pleased to offer a discounted weekend ticket to parents, staff, JAGS Sports Club members and governors. This provides access to all 120 participating gardens.
Ticket holders will also be able to book onto the Behind the Scenes tours at 10am and 11:30am on 7 June for a small additional fee.
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How to get your tickets
Tickets for London Open Gardens can be purchased via the link HERE
To redeem a £5 saving on a standard Adult Week Ticket enter discount code 5OFFLOG2026 at checkout.
Tickets for London Open Gardens can be purchased via the link HERE
To redeem a £5 saving on a standard Adult Week Ticket enter discount code 5OFFLOG2026 at checkout.
Economics
GAIN
“On Monday, six Year 12 students, including myself, went on a trip organised by GAIN to Davidson Kempner Partners, an asset management firm that manages $34 billion in assets.
“Throughout the day, we spoke to a range of employees, including a debt trader, a lawyer and an operating manager, and we were able to ask questions during speed networking sessions and a panel discussion. Some of the common questions focused on work–life balance, their favourite aspects of the job, and how they overcome challenges when things go wrong. The debt trader also took us through a case study involving Snapchat and Meta.
“I found the day very informative and enjoyable, as it gave us valuable insight into what it would be like to work in finance and whether it is a career we would wish to pursue in the future. It was also particularly useful because the employees were very honest in answering our questions and did not sugar-coat their responses. Overall, it was a great experience.”
Rania (Y12)
JAGS Alumnae
Alumnae Reunion Tea 2026
On Saturday, Head Alex Hutchinson and the JAGS Alumnae Team proudly welcomed a host of former students back for our flagship annual event – the Alumnae Reunion Tea.
Holst Hall was filled with alumnae spanning generations, from the Class of 1947 through to 2025, making for a truly special afternoon.
The reunion began with welcome drinks in Holst Hall, before guests set off on a trip down memory lane with school tours, followed by an indulgent afternoon tea in the Dining Hall. Helen Stein, Head of Library and Archive, curated a fascinating archive display, which was greatly enjoyed by guests. It was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with friends old and new, and to hear about the diverse paths our alumnae have taken since leaving JAGS.
We are already looking forward to next year’s Alumnae Reunion.
