Share This Page

Aylesford Weekly Newsletter - 06 November 2026

Back

FEATURED ARTICLE / 6th Nov 2026

Welcome from the Headteacher

We have enjoyed a positive start to the new half term following a well-deserved break. Andy circle

Before the holiday, our students selected three charities to support this year: Cancer Research UK, Rethink Mental Illness, and Guide Dogs. These are three fantastic causes where we can make a meaningful difference, and we are excited to begin raising funds and awareness for each of them.

Our students have already been hard at work developing fundraising ideas. One of the first initiatives comes from our Enterprise Café Team. Every Wednesday, the Enterprise Café at the Character, Culture and Careers Hub opens its doors, offering themed cuisine for students and staff to enjoy at lunchtime. This term began with a Mexican-themed menu, with loaded nachos and burritos proving particularly popular. With a new theme each week, there will be plenty of opportunities to sample dishes from around the world. Full details can be found below.

Next week, we will also be supporting Children in Need. Each tutor group will take part in Pudsey’s Race Around the World Challenge, and I am looking forward to seeing plenty of enthusiasm, teamwork and friendly competition as tutors and students take on the challenge together.

These fantastic opportunities enable our students to live out the Values of Aylesford, with Empathy at the forefront as they work together to support worthy causes and make a positive difference in the lives of others.

Meet Our Assistant Headteacher - Designated Safeguarding Lead - Mr Haslam

Newletter Jordan It has been wonderful to start at Aylesford as the Designated Safeguarding Lead this academic year. I have been impressed by the willingness of our parent/carers and staff community to support our young people with all the challenges that life throws at them. My main goal is to keep our young people safe in school but also in the wider local community.

Previously I was a primary school teacher as well as working in social care. I am based in the safeguarding office where we have an open-door policy for the students. I also wanted to make parents/carers aware that as well as the report a concern feature through the school website you can also call the school line and ask for the safeguarding office to discuss any concern you may have.

I look forward to getting to know the students better throughout the year ahead.

Mexican Week at The Enterprise Café - Supporting Our Chosen Charities

This week, our talented Enterprise Café students put their culinary skills to the test as they created and served a delicious Mexican-themed menu, raising funds for our chosen charities.

Students and staff enjoyed tasty treats including chilli burritos and loaded nachos, with all profits being donated to Cancer Research UK, Rethink Mental Illness, and Guide Dogs.

The Enterprise Café team will continue to host a different themed cuisine each week, giving students the opportunity to develop valuable catering and enterprise skills while supporting causes that matter to them.

A huge well done to the students and staff who made this week's event such a success, and thank you to everyone who came along and purchased some of the fantastic food.

Next Week: Italian Week!

Join us every Wednesday lunchtime at the Enterprise Café in the Character, Culture and Careers Hub for delicious dishes prepared by our very own students and help support our chosen charities.

Cash and card payments accepted.

Make sure you check out our Social media, Facebook and Instagram pages, for updates on the weekly cuisines and menus!

Mexican week round up

Enrichment at Aylesford

This terms Extra Curricular calendar is now live and is available to viewed here.

Our new Character, Culture and Careers Hub Enrichment Calendar offers a range of exciting opportunities for students to get involved in lunchtime and after-school activities. From Poetry by Heart and Careers Drop-In Sessions to Food & Culture and Cultural Design, there is something for everyone.

Please take a look at the calendar for full details of the fantastic opportunities available.

A sign-up email will be sent next week, enabling you to discuss the options with your child and register their interest in the activities they would like to attend.

Aylesford Tutor Group challenge - Pudsey’s Race Around the World

Next week, we are supporting Children in Need. Each tutor group will take part in Pudsey’s Race Around the World Challenge.

Get ready for an exciting five-day race between tutor groups!

Each tutor group will begin their journey in London on Monday. Throughout the week, pupils can make voluntary 50p donations to help move Pudsey around the world. Every donation adds miles to your tutor group's total distance travelled.

By Friday, the tutor group that has travelled the furthest will be crowned our Pudsey World Tour Champions!

Prizes and Points Available

World Tour Champions
Awarded to the tutor group that travels the greatest total distance, including any bonus miles earned through free challenges.

Best Travellers
Awarded to the tutor group with the highest percentage of pupils taking part in the free geography challenges.

Most Creative Tutor Group
Awarded for the best-decorated Pudsey Passport.

On Friday 13 November, we will be celebrating the week with Race Across the World Bingo during tutor time and Tuck Shop in the Character, Culture and Careers Hub at lunchtime.

Please bring in change for the tuck shop, should you wish to purchase anything.

Good Luck!

Children in need

Geography in Action

Year 7 Map Skills

Year 7 students have been developing their map-reading skills this half term, Geog 1 learning about grid references, contour lines, land height, scale and distance.

To bring their learning to life, 7Y2 put their knowledge into practice by creating impressive 3D contour models. Students carefully cut each layer to match the shapes shown on a contour map, created springs to raise the layers to the correct heights, and assembled the models to accurately reflect the landscape they were representing.

It was fantastic to see the enthusiasm and teamwork shown throughout the project. 7Y2 rose to the challenge brilliantly and thoroughly enjoyed seeing their maps transformed into three-dimensional landforms.

Year 9 Discover Pangaea

Year 9 students have recently begun their new topic on volcanoes and earthquakes. In their first lesson, they Geog 2 explored the theory of the supercontinent, Pangaea, and examined the evidence that supports this idea, including the way continents appear to fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, as well as matching fossils and rock formations found across different continents.

Students were then challenged to use these clues to reconstruct Pangaea using cut-out continents. It was a fantastic first lesson for both 9Y1 and 9Y2, with students ending the session full of curiosity and asking thoughtful questions such as, “Why have the continents moved?” Their eagerness to learn more bodes well as they continue exploring this fascinating topic.

Aylesford Rugby Vs Myton School

Year 10 and 11 students from Aylesford School and Myton School took part in an exciting rugby fixture this week at Kenilworth Rugby Club, with the closely contested match ending in a 22-22 draw.

Myton started strongly and took control during the first half, but the Aylesford team responded superbly after the break. Dominating much of the second half, the Aylesford lads fought back impressively and came close to securing victory in the closing stages.

Adding to an already successful season, Aylesford's Year 11 rugby team has also earned a place at the prestigious Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens Tournament in March. Widely regarded as one of the country's premier school rugby competitions, the tournament attracts some of the best rugby schools from across the UK, as well as international teams from overseas, including Dubai.

This is a fantastic achievement and a wonderful opportunity for our students to represent Aylesford School on the national stage.

Congratulations to all involved, and we wish the team every success as they prepare for this exciting challenge.

Rugby duo Bronze DofE Meeting Reminder

Thursday 12^th November 6.30pm- 7.15pm - Teams virtual meeting with BXM with more information about Bronze DofE Award Teams link Bronze DofE

DOFE Bronze

Miss Wilcock Completes Her Six 10Ks for 2026 Challenge

Last half term, Miss Wilcock officially completed her Six 10Ks for 2026 challenge, finishing in Wales, where the journey first began. Over the course of the challenge, she has run through the hills of Anglesey, the capital cities of both England and Wales, two locations close to school, and finally along the beautiful Welsh coastline.

The final run provided plenty of geographical interest along the way, with coastal processes and offshore wind farms offering a welcome distraction from the miles underfoot!

Miss Wilcock and Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue (OVMR) would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the challenge. Thanks to the generosity of staff, families and the wider community, almost £1,500 has been raised so far this year.

In recognition of this support, OVMR invited Miss Wilcock to visit their base in North Wales to learn more about the incredible work made possible through donations. During the visit, she was able to indulge her love of geography by exploring the team's Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which play a vital role in rescue operations.

The team also demonstrated their impressive telecommunications technology. If they have a person's phone number, they can send a message containing a secure link that helps pinpoint their location, although Miss Wilcock insists that pupils should still rely on their map-reading skills first!

The tour continued into the specialist equipment rooms, where she saw the extensive kit required to support mountain rescue operations. Highlights included some fascinating historical equipment from the early days of mountain rescue, ranging from a stretcher fitted with a single bicycle wheel to a remarkable backpack system designed to power and carry high-powered search lights.

A huge well done to Miss Wilcock on completing this fantastic challenge and helping to raise vital funds for such an important cause.

Extra-Curricular PE Opportunities

Sport schedule (15)