Welcome from the Head
Dear Parents
Welcome to this week’s newsletter. Since the last edition, it’s been a pleasure to welcome parents in Years 8 and 9 to our Welcome Evenings, as well as Year 11 students and parents to our Sixth Form Information Evening. Alongside touring the newly refurbished Sixth Form Centre, our guests were treated to subject talks from Heads of Departments and Sixth Form subject prefects; it was the perfect platform to help our Year 11s crystallise their A Level options. It’s been a busy time for our senior students, and I have been so proud of their commitment. I was privileged to read and review the finalists for the Head’s Essay prizes, which our Year 12 students construct on a topic of their choosing over the summer holiday. I was blown away by the standard this year, and huge congratulations to all entrants, along with our Commended, Highly Commended entries and our winner, Sanvi, who wrote on the works of Thomas Hardy. Please see later in the newsletter for further details on our winning entries.
On Saturday evening, we welcomed guests from the Dulwich Estate as we hosted this year’s Annual View. Our Sixth Form students acted as tour guides to much acclaim from the visitors. Then on Sunday, we were treated to a spectacular Foundation Schools’ joint concert as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Gustav Holst, former JAGS Director of Music. It was, quite simply, a sensational afternoon of music and our thanks to Tommy Foster, Director of Music, for his leadership of this incredible repertoire. It was then on to the church of St Barnabas to welcome Rev Liz Barnett as the new Priest-in-Charge of St Barnabas with Christ’s Chapel, Dulwich. We very much enjoy working with our Foundation Schools’ Chaplain and wish Rev Liz every happiness in her new role.
Year 11 have also started term with a bang, with students heading to Bedfordshire for their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh expedition and then to Slapton Sands in Devon for their GCSE Geography fieldwork. It has been super to see them settling into their GCSE year so well.
With best wishes,
Mrs Alex Hutchinson
Head
Dates for your Diary
- Friday 3 October – 7pm – JAGS Parent Talk, Helping your child flourish at school (Online)
- Saturday 5 October – 9am – Senior School Open Morning
- Wednesday 9 October – 1.30pm – Chapel Lunchtime Concert (Christ’s Chapel, Dulwich)
- Thursday 10 October – 6pm – A Level Drama trip The Other Place (National Theatre)
- Friday 11 October – 5.30pm – Joint Evensong with Dulwich College (Christ’s Chapel, Dulwich)
- Monday 14 October – Year 10 Discover Japan in London day trip
- Tuesday 15 October – 7pm – JAGS Parent Talk, Maximising Success (Online)
- Wednesday 16 October – 6pm – Senior School Performing Arts Show (Prissian Theatre)
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.
Please complete this form by 8:30am on the morning that your daughter is absent.
Additionally, when informing a teacher of any health issues your daughter may be facing, please remember to cc or School Nurse team on Nurse@jags.org.uk.
Sixth Form Update
Sixth Form students are shining bright like diamonds at the moment, whether it be through contributing to the magical sounds of the Foundation Schools’ concert, coming in to school on a Saturday evening to proudly lead tours of the school for guests at the Dulwich Estate Annual View Dinner or presenting their student voice at the Sixth Form open evening.
The feedback from visitors at each event has testified to the clarity, maturity and thoughtfulness of students’ contributions as they spoke about their school and aspects of their personal Sixth Form journey together. We were so pleased that so many Year 12s were keen to assist at the Saturday evening event – well done to them.
Year 13s are fully embracing their UCAS applications as they refine their submissions, supported by teachers, to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the drive to produce a successful form. What better inspiration than Aleksandra Pedraszewska, who came in to talk to them about her academic and professional life at Cambridge and beyond to run VividQ. We are very grateful to her!
Wishing everyone a relaxing and fun weekend!
Mat Weeks, Head of Sixth Form
Foundation Schools’ Concert
This past weekend, JAGS proudly hosted a special concert in celebration of Gustav Holst’s 150th birthday, bringing together the talented musicians from the foundation schools: JAGS, Dulwich College, and Alleyn’s School. As Holst once served as Director of Music at JAGS, the occasion held particular significance, honouring both his remarkable contributions to music and the legacy he left within our community.
The evening featured an exciting programme, with the big band performing The Jazz Planets, the choir enchanted the audience with A Fancy of Folk Songs, and the orchestra showcased powerful movements from Holst’s iconic The Planets. Each performance highlighted the incredible talent of our students, staff and alumnae and their deep connection to Holst’s legacy.
Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this celebration a resounding success!
Tommy Foster, Director of Music
Devices Rollout
We are proud to report the successful rollout of devices to Senior School students in Years 7 to 10. This decision to have digital devices as a learning tool is part of our ongoing commitment to providing the best possible learning environment for your daughters. We have carefully considered the ways in which technology can enhance both teaching and learning, and we are confident that these devices will be an invaluable tool in supporting your daughter’s educational journey.
The introduction of Microsoft Surface devices is grounded in a clear pedagogical rationale designed to deepen and enhance learning. Thank you for your continued support as we strive to provide a well-rounded education that prepares your daughter not just for exams, but for life.
Follow the links below to learn more:
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Key Benefits
The key benefits of this technology include:
- Improved access to real-world and experiential learning: Technology opens doors to a wide array of resources and information, allowing students to explore and engage with content in innovative ways.
- Enhanced clarity in modelling and explanation: Digital tools can present information in various formats, making it easier to understand complex ideas and concepts.
- Personalisation of learning: Each student can work at their own pace, ensuring greater progress and understanding through tailored resources and activities.
- Improved assessment and feedback: Technology allows for faster, more accurate, and personalised feedback, which is crucial for effective learning.
- Real-time collaboration: Students can work closely with their peers and teachers in ways that foster immediate communication and collaboration, building valuable teamwork skills.
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A balanced approach
While we embrace the benefits of technology, we want to assure you that the school is not becoming a “digital school.” We remain committed to a balanced approach, where lessons blend both traditional and digital pedagogies. Teachers will always choose the method that best supports your daughter’s learning and progress.
Handwriting will continue to be an important part of your daughter’s education, and all formal assessments will be handwritten. I have heard a small number of parents express concerns about textbooks being primarily digital. JAGS staff are dedicated to creating bespoke learning resources tailored to each lesson that go beyond the textbook and ensure your daughters make exceptional progress, to that end textbooks are used to support the learning. Teachers will judge the level of reading and comprehension required and will use physical resources where required.
In these early stages it is likely students will be on their devices more than ‘normal’ as we embed working routines. This will reduce as the half term progresses.
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Skills rooted in creativity
We also understand the value of traditional learning methods, and reading and writing will remain central to many lessons. However, we believe that education is about more than just academic success. In our classrooms, we aim to cultivate interpersonal skills, the ability to collaborate effectively, engage in meaningful debates, and develop design thinking. These are the skills essential for thriving in the 21st-century workforce – skills rooted in humanity and creativity, which cannot be replicated by technology.
The key benefits of this technology include:
- Improved access to real-world and experiential learning: Technology opens doors to a wide array of resources and information, allowing students to explore and engage with content in innovative ways.
- Enhanced clarity in modelling and explanation: Digital tools can present information in various formats, making it easier to understand complex ideas and concepts.
- Personalisation of learning: Each student can work at their own pace, ensuring greater progress and understanding through tailored resources and activities.
- Improved assessment and feedback: Technology allows for faster, more accurate, and personalised feedback, which is crucial for effective learning.
- Real-time collaboration: Students can work closely with their peers and teachers in ways that foster immediate communication and collaboration, building valuable teamwork skills.
While we embrace the benefits of technology, we want to assure you that the school is not becoming a “digital school.” We remain committed to a balanced approach, where lessons blend both traditional and digital pedagogies. Teachers will always choose the method that best supports your daughter’s learning and progress.
Handwriting will continue to be an important part of your daughter’s education, and all formal assessments will be handwritten. I have heard a small number of parents express concerns about textbooks being primarily digital. JAGS staff are dedicated to creating bespoke learning resources tailored to each lesson that go beyond the textbook and ensure your daughters make exceptional progress, to that end textbooks are used to support the learning. Teachers will judge the level of reading and comprehension required and will use physical resources where required.
In these early stages it is likely students will be on their devices more than ‘normal’ as we embed working routines. This will reduce as the half term progresses.
We also understand the value of traditional learning methods, and reading and writing will remain central to many lessons. However, we believe that education is about more than just academic success. In our classrooms, we aim to cultivate interpersonal skills, the ability to collaborate effectively, engage in meaningful debates, and develop design thinking. These are the skills essential for thriving in the 21st-century workforce – skills rooted in humanity and creativity, which cannot be replicated by technology.
Year 7 Author Visit
Last week, Year 7 welcomed author Radhika Sanghani for a special day of creative writing workshops. As well as sharpening their storytelling skills, students also had the opportunity to get creative elsewhere, with Art, Music and Dance workshops throughout the morning.
Below Lyla and Lexi (Y7) provide an insight into the day:
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Lyla and Lexi
“We have enjoyed our first weeks at JAGS Senior School, encountering a range of activities. However, this one particularly stood out for us as there was such a variety of different arrangements, the day was very useful because it involved many skills and problem solving.
“We started with an assembly from Radhika where she explained her personality and book, we enjoyed that it was interactive, engaging and inspiring. We followed with a creative writing workshop in the Lecture Theatre, which made us use our imaginations to create a story about a magical object and what it does. We had fun writing these stories and then sharing with the room. After this, our day continued with a Music workshop where we were tasked to create a body percussion routine. In our Art workshop we loved making our own personalised bangles that reflect our individual personality that we got to show off in the VWA.
“We had such a brilliant time with meeting Radhika Sanghai and enjoying the activities, we hope the next year of Year 7s will enjoy it as much as we did!”
“We have enjoyed our first weeks at JAGS Senior School, encountering a range of activities. However, this one particularly stood out for us as there was such a variety of different arrangements, the day was very useful because it involved many skills and problem solving.
“We started with an assembly from Radhika where she explained her personality and book, we enjoyed that it was interactive, engaging and inspiring. We followed with a creative writing workshop in the Lecture Theatre, which made us use our imaginations to create a story about a magical object and what it does. We had fun writing these stories and then sharing with the room. After this, our day continued with a Music workshop where we were tasked to create a body percussion routine. In our Art workshop we loved making our own personalised bangles that reflect our individual personality that we got to show off in the VWA.
“We had such a brilliant time with meeting Radhika Sanghai and enjoying the activities, we hope the next year of Year 7s will enjoy it as much as we did!”
Head’s Essay Competition

Congratulations to all those students who took part in this year’s Head’s Essay competition.
This year was particularly tough to judge with so many incredible entries across wide-ranging topics.
Follow the links below to learn more about the winning entries:
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Winner
In Hardy’s hands, language becomes a tool of immense versatility and power. – Sanvi (Y13)
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Highly Commended
Continuity in Crisis: The Economic Impact of the Black Death and World War I on Working Women. – Naomi (Y13)
How do proteins fold consistently, and what does this mean for the protein folding problem? – Sara (Y13)
Will the loss of indigenous languages fuel the conflict in property rights? – Zoha (Y13)
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Commended
To What Extent is Caring for Geriatric Patients the role of the NHS? – Kate (Y13)
To What Extent Will Quantum Computing Challenge Our Current Understanding of Computational Limits? – Katie (Y13)
In Hardy’s hands, language becomes a tool of immense versatility and power. – Sanvi (Y13)
Continuity in Crisis: The Economic Impact of the Black Death and World War I on Working Women. – Naomi (Y13)
How do proteins fold consistently, and what does this mean for the protein folding problem? – Sara (Y13)
Will the loss of indigenous languages fuel the conflict in property rights? – Zoha (Y13)
To What Extent is Caring for Geriatric Patients the role of the NHS? – Kate (Y13)
To What Extent Will Quantum Computing Challenge Our Current Understanding of Computational Limits? – Katie (Y13)
Art
‘Everyday’ Exhibition
Over the Summer, our Year 13 Art students spent time building ideas and developing their personal investigations through the ‘Everyday’ Project. They were tasked to create, collect or document a subject matter each day. Since returning for the Autumn Term they have developed their work further.
The ‘Everyday’ exhibition on Wednesday proved the perfect forum to celebrate their work, giving the entire school community a valuable insight into their creative process. The work of each student was so singular and it was wonderful to see their individuality shine through.
Geography

The Geography department took 45 Year 11 students to Slapton Sands in Devon to investigate coastal processes through landscape evidence. We had glorious weather for our 4km walk along the beach whilst measuring the profile of the beach and characteristics of sediment. We also enjoyed some rock collecting, a beach clean, fish and chips and ice cream.
Emma Bailey, Head of Geography
Russian
On Thursday, Year 9 Russian students celebrated International Day of Languages learning about the techniques and symbolism behind traditional Russian homeware.
Sport
Congratulations to Eleanor (Y8) who earned first place in a recent U14 British Fencing ranking competition.
An incredible achievement made more impressive by the fact she did so without losing a single match.

JAGS Alumnae

Mid-Autumn Festival Mooncake & Tea Reception
On Tuesday 17 September, we had the pleasure of welcoming JAGS parents to the Mid-Autumn Festival Mooncakes & Tea Reception. The event, staged at JAGS for the first time, was hosted by JAGS parents Xiaoxi Chen and Wenyan Gao who hosted the gathering along with the Development & Alumnae Relations.
Guests were treated to a wonderful presentation by Wenyan about the history and importance of the harvest festival in Chinese culture. She also spoke about the tradition of serving mooncakes and tea with a variety of mooncakes and incredible green, black and oolong teas available for guests to enjoy. It was a truly special occasion which proved a wonderful opportunity for parents to connect.
If you would be interested in hosting or have ideas for an event, please contact the Alumnae Relations Team on alumnae@jags.org.uk.