Aylesford Weekly Newsletter - 23 October 2026

Welcome

Dear parents and carers

Thank you all for your support this first half term of the year, we are working hard to ensure Aylesford continues its improvement journey and my colleagues and I appreciate the positive feedback we are receiving on this endeavour.

Next half term will be one of planning significant strategic change.  We have established our new vision and values and now need to build the school around these to deliver successful young adults in our community.  We will be concentrating our efforts on 7 key strategies and policies, researching the very best practice available and innovating at every opportunity.  The 7 areas being recreated, adapted or improved are:

• Our curriculum so it delivers the best possible outcomes and confident, empathetic students with integrity

• The Great Teaching Framework which will redefine what teaching looks like at Aylesford so it engages all our students

• Assessment so our students have aspirational targets and are a taught precisely what they need to achieve them

• Literacy to embed a love of reading, skilled writing and to develop oracy skills

• Behaviour and relationships which will establish what good learning and professional behaviour looks like, teach it to our students and reward them for responding

• An anti-bullying strategy which ensures all students are empathetic, understand protected characteristics and feel safe

• An innovative Personal Development provision which delivers our values and is unrelentingly focused on success in the workplace

As well as this, we will be consulting with parents on a potential change in school uniform, exploring the options available to us, ensuring it lasts and that it is good value for money. 

It will be an exciting half term of strategic development for our school and I look forward to ensuring parents' voices are heard as part of this improvement planning.

Best wishes

Mr Perry

Meet Our Headteacher of Primary - Mrs Gould

My name is Mrs Gould, and I am proud to be the Head of Primary. I joined the school in 2017 and have had the privilege of teaching across Year 1, Year 3 and Year 6 here, as well as holding the roles of SENCO, Deputy Headteacher, and now my current position. Having been part of our school’s journey from the early days, I feel incredibly fortunate to have watched our community grow.

One of the most rewarding aspects of working within our all-through school is seeing our pupils’ journeys unfold from Reception right through to secondary school. It is especially exciting that the very first children who joined us when the primary phase opened in 2015 are now in Year 11. Watching those young children grow into confident, capable young people has been a real privilege and highlights the unique opportunities that an all-through education can provide.

I am passionate about making learning engaging, meaningful and memorable. I strongly believe that children learn best through rich experiences that spark curiosity, encourage creativity and bring learning to life. I am equally passionate about ensuring that every child can thrive. This means creating truly inclusive classrooms and practices that enable pupils with SEND to succeed, while also providing the right level of challenge and opportunity for our most able learners, helping them to deepen their understanding and reach their full potential.

As our school continues to grow, I am delighted that the links between our primary and secondary phases are becoming ever stronger. The opportunity for colleagues across both phases to work together, share expertise and support one another benefits not only our staff, but ultimately the children and young people we serve. I look forward to continuing to build those connections and to working in partnership with families as we support our pupils throughout their educational journey.

Year 10 Work Experience and Ten Steps to Success At GCSE Information Evening

This week, our Year 10 students and their families joined us for an information evening focused on Work Experience and our Ten Steps to Success at GCSE. The event was filled with positivity and enthusiasm. At Aylesford, we know that success is built through strong partnerships, and it was wonderful to see so many families working alongside us to support our students in achieving their full potential.

Aylesford Chosen Charities

Over the past few weeks, our tutor groups have been researching charities they would like Aylesford School to support this year. Each tutor group presented their chosen charity, sharing their research and explaining why they felt it should be one of our three nominated charities.

Following a series of thoughtful and passionate presentations, all tutor groups took part in a vote to decide which charities will receive our support this year. We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm, teamwork and community spirit shown throughout the process.

Our Three Chosen Charities are:

• Cancer Research UK - Funding research to help prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.​
• Rethink Mental Illness - Supporting people affected by mental illness and campaigning for better care.​
• Guide Dogs - Helping people with sight loss live more independently.​

Three amazing causes.Together, We can make a difference.

Look out for the upcoming fundraising events to help support our chosen charities.

Remembrance Day Poetry Competition

To celebrate the launch of our new Poetry By Heart Club, Miss May is inviting students to enter a poetry competition inspired by Remembrance Day.

Students can write a poem in any style or form, provided it takes no longer than two minutes to read aloud.

How to enter:

• Write a poem inspired by Remembrance Day
• Hand it in to Miss May (G72)
• Deadline: Wednesday 4 November

The winning poem will be read at our whole-school Remembrance Service. The winner can choose to perform their own poem or have it performed by one of our talented Drama students.

Interested in poetry? Join the new Poetry By Heart Club, taking place on Monday lunchtimes (Week 2) in the Careers Hub.

And yes, there will be biscuits!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enterprise Café Returns After Half Term! 

Our popular Enterprise Café will reopen after half term in The Hub and will be open every week at lunchtime, serving a range of themed foods.

The café is run entirely by our students, who prepare and sell the food to raise money for our chosen charities.

Wednesday 4 November: Mexican Week 

If you would like to purchase your lunch from the Enterprise Café, please remember to bring cash or a card.

Thank you for supporting our students and the charities they are fundraising for.

 

Extra-Curricular PE Opportunities

Upcoming events/ Dates for your Diary

• Monday 2 November - School reopens - All students return to school

Other Useful Information

Kids Eat Free - Half-Term

Kids Eat Free have published their latest guide to restaurants, cafés and attractions offering free or discounted meals for children during the October Half Term.

Visit their website for full details and participating venues.