Welcome from the Head
Dear Parents
Welcome to this week’s newsletter, reflecting on a fortnight in which we have almost completed the term’s Welcome Evenings, welcoming parents from Years 8 and 10 to share news and information from the start of term. We also welcomed Year 11 students and parents to the Sixth Form Information Evening, which proved to be a vibrant evening of animated discussion about Sixth Form life and A Level choices. Our Year 13 Subject Prefects, as ever, proved fantastic ambassadors for each subject area. We look forward to welcoming Year 9 parents next week.
In addition, parents gathered for the Mid-Autumn Festival tea and mooncakes event, and Year 7 parents came together for their Reception organised by the JPA. Thank you so much to all our parent volunteers who give of their time so generously to bring our community together.
In school, we were wowed by the Year 13 Everyday exhibition earlier in the week; the array of individual talent always makes these exhibitions so special. Year 11 students Lily and Kayla were placed second out of 48 teams, beating 94 other pupils to win the Silver award at the annual St Paul’s Girls’ School Debating Championship. And the Holst Hall was packed to the rafters during our Co-Curricular Fair with clubs ranging from origami to orchestra, robotics to rock climbing alongside some ingenious methods of attracting customers!
Last week we also welcomed staff and former staff for the renaming of Maths Classroom M4, which has now become the Sara Glover Maths Room. Sara, our much-loved former Head of Maths, worked at JAGS from 1996 to 2023 and sadly died in April 2026. It was an honour to name one of the maths classrooms, her home for so many years, in her memory.
Mrs Alex Hutchinson
Head
Dates for your Diary
- Monday 5 October – 7pm – Year 9 Parents’ Welcome Evening (VWA)
- Friday 9 October – 3:50pm to 6:45pm – Years 10-13 Joint Evensong with Dulwich College (Christ’s Chapel, Dulwich)
- Wednesday 14 October – 1:30pm to 2:15pm – Chapel Lunchtime Concert (Christ’s Chapel, Duwlich)
- Thursday 15 October – Years 10-13 Classics Theatre Trip to Cambridge
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: Year 7
“Last month, Year 7 gathered for a team-building day run by WISEUP! It gave us the chance to enjoy a day of outdoor fun while strengthening friendships through physical challenges, teamwork and strategic activities.
“Our school is a diverse community, and our team-building day really reflected that. No matter the game, students took part enthusiastically in all the activities, sharing ideas on how to tackle the challenges. Everyone had a voice in every decision and challenge. From laughs when things went slightly wrong to cheers when a challenge was completed, there is no doubt that this was a highly memorable day for Year 7.
“Highlights included Miss Whyte leading a singalong to Let It Go!, musical breaks during challenges, and the WISEUP team giving clues for the activities. Pupils were scored in their teams for each challenge based on their communication, planning and motivation. Congratulations to the Demonic Ducks of Doom, who came in first place!
“All in all, it was an amazing day for students and staff, and everyone was keen to thank the WISEUP team for organising such an eventful day. Hopefully, there will be many more to come for future JAGS students.”
Chloe and Elena (Y7)
KS3: Years 8 & 9
Students have settled brilliantly into their new routines, and much has already taken place. Clubs are now up and running, and all students had the opportunity to visit our Co-Curricular Fair last Thursday to find out more about the array of clubs and societies on offer. New for this year is the formation of an enthusiastic group of students from Years 8 and 9 who are going to be competing in the forthcoming VEX Robotics competition. There has been much preparation for this taking place each day in our Holst Hall.
Years 8 and 9 have also had their annual Road Safety talk by SAME Academy, which is so important as the days begin to get shorter and our younger students become more independent. Finally, Years 8 and 9 have also had online safety talks delivered to them in PSHCE lessons this week; in an ever-changing and progressing digital world, these talks always provide our students with the most up-to-date advice and guidance.
Anna Lipczynska, (Assistant Head Years 8 & 9)
Key Stage 4 Update
We held an additional Section Assembly this week, with plenty to celebrate. A number of prizes were awarded for the fantastic work students completed at the Botany Gardens, as well as for entries to the Religious Studies Spirited Arts competition. It was wonderful to recognise the creativity, enthusiasm and hard work of so many of our students.
We were also delighted to welcome our SSLP Ambassadors, who spoke to KS4 about the opportunities available through SSLP and the many ways students can get involved.
It was lovely to see so many Year 10 parents at our Welcome Evening. The event was an opportunity to share more about what students can expect as they settle into KS4, including some of the key milestones ahead, the support available to students, and how we can work together to help them make the most of Year 10.
Hannah Dodson, Head of KS4
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Year 10 Welcome Evening continued
Parents also had the chance to meet their daughter’s tutor and hear more about the important role tutors play in supporting students throughout KS4. Thank you to everyone who joined us. It was wonderful to put so many faces to names and to start the year together so positively.
For anyone who was unable to attend, all of the information and slides from the evening have been shared with families via JAGS Post, so we hope everyone has the opportunity to catch up on what was covered.
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An Exciting Time for Year 11
Year 11 have begun looking ahead to the next stage of their journey and thinking about A Levels and Sixth Form.
Following an assembly from Mr Weeks, students attended the Sixth Form Open Evening with their parents, where they gained an insight into life at JAGS Sixth Form from the Sixth Form Team and Head Girl Team. Students had the opportunity to explore what different A Level subjects might involve, alongside some of the wider opportunities available, including the EPQ, Medicine applications and international university pathways.
There is a lot for Year 11 to think about over the coming months, and it is an exciting time as they begin to consider the opportunities ahead!
Parents also had the chance to meet their daughter’s tutor and hear more about the important role tutors play in supporting students throughout KS4. Thank you to everyone who joined us. It was wonderful to put so many faces to names and to start the year together so positively.
For anyone who was unable to attend, all of the information and slides from the evening have been shared with families via JAGS Post, so we hope everyone has the opportunity to catch up on what was covered.
Year 11 have begun looking ahead to the next stage of their journey and thinking about A Levels and Sixth Form.
Following an assembly from Mr Weeks, students attended the Sixth Form Open Evening with their parents, where they gained an insight into life at JAGS Sixth Form from the Sixth Form Team and Head Girl Team. Students had the opportunity to explore what different A Level subjects might involve, alongside some of the wider opportunities available, including the EPQ, Medicine applications and international university pathways.
There is a lot for Year 11 to think about over the coming months, and it is an exciting time as they begin to consider the opportunities ahead!
Sixth Form Update
Ahead of last night’s Sixth Form Information Evening, I had the pleasure of speaking with our Year 11 students. Balancing the need to look ahead to A Levels whilst also recognising the importance of enjoying and working hard in the present can be challenging, but it is essential.
Our thanks go to the Sixth Form students who gave up their time to speak so eloquently about academic, pastoral and co-curricular life at JAGS. Their contributions are always one of the highlights of the evening and played an important role in showcasing the brilliance of our Sixth Form community.
In other news, Sixth Form students, particularly Year 12s and the Head Girl team, played a leading role in the organisation and delivery of the Co-Curricular Fair. We are grateful for the vigour and enthusiasm they brought to the event as they encouraged younger students to embrace the many co-curricular opportunities available across the school.
Mat Weeks, Head of Sixth Form
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UCAS
Year 13 students have also found the time to impress all of us involved in supporting UCAS applications with the conscientious approach they have taken to completing their forms; Mrs Allan has been beside herself with joy at the number of students making appointments to see her at such an early stage. We now just need to see this attitude translated into confirmation that they would like their forms sent off. I have submitted two so far, with approximately 50 more to go!
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Everyday Exhibition
Finally, the Year 13 Art students have displayed their Everyday summer projects, and it was a pleasure to attend their exhibition this week.
There was so much talent on display, evident in the creativity, innovation and technical skill of the work exhibited. All visitors were hugely impressed.
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend, full of joy and rest!
Year 13 students have also found the time to impress all of us involved in supporting UCAS applications with the conscientious approach they have taken to completing their forms; Mrs Allan has been beside herself with joy at the number of students making appointments to see her at such an early stage. We now just need to see this attitude translated into confirmation that they would like their forms sent off. I have submitted two so far, with approximately 50 more to go!
Finally, the Year 13 Art students have displayed their Everyday summer projects, and it was a pleasure to attend their exhibition this week.
There was so much talent on display, evident in the creativity, innovation and technical skill of the work exhibited. All visitors were hugely impressed.
Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend, full of joy and rest!
Co-Curricular Fair 2026
Students explored the more than 130 clubs and activities on offer at JAGS during our Co-Curricular Fair. From sport and music to debating, drama and robotics, the event provided a fantastic introduction to the breadth of opportunities available beyond the classroom.
It was especially exciting to see our new Year 7 students embracing all that Senior School life has to offer and signing up for activities that spark their interests.
Art
Everyday Exhbition
This year’s Everyday exhibition showcased the rich variety of work produced by our Year 13 artists over the summer. Spanning different media, processes and perspectives, the exhibition offered a brilliant introduction to the creativity within the cohort. We are excited to see how these early ideas grow into their final A Level outcomes.
JAGS Alumnae
Five Year Class Reunion
Last Friday, we were delighted to welcome alumnae from the Classes of 2020 and 2021 back to JAGS for their Five Year Reunion.
More than 65 alumnae and staff gathered at the JAGS Copper Beech Café for a wonderful evening of catching up, reminiscing and reconnecting with old friends and teachers. There was a fantastic atmosphere throughout the evening, with plenty of stories shared and memories revisited.
It was particularly special to bring these two year groups together and to hear what our alumnae have been up to since leaving JAGS. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening such an enjoyable one.
Mid-Autumn Festival
Last Wednesday, JAGS celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival with a wonderful mooncake and tea event, bringing together students, parents and staff for an evening of culture, community and celebration. The Development and Alumnae Relations Department was delighted to collaborate with JAGS parent Chen Xiaoxi to bring this special event to life.
Held in Holst Hall, at the heart of the school, the event offered guests the opportunity to discover more about the traditions and significance of the Mid-Autumn Festival, a celebration centred on reunion, gratitude and togetherness. There was a wonderfully warm and welcoming atmosphere as students and parents came together to learn more about the festival and its customs.
Guests enjoyed a selection of traditional mooncakes, beautifully crafted and symbolising unity and prosperity, accompanied by fragrant teas chosen to complement their flavours. The tea was kindly provided by JAGS parents Wenyan and George.
Events such as this are a wonderful way to celebrate the rich cultural diversity of the JAGS community while creating opportunities for families, students and staff to come together.