News Round Up Friday 12th December 2025

Year 8 Textiles: Textiles this week became a stocking making factory! All Year 7's, 8's, 9's, and 10's were in on the stocking making trend, making them for all family members including animals! We've also been making Christmas cards, cushions for gifts, and other Christmassy themed crafts. It's been busy but full of creative spirits and fun. Year 7 Art: For the final lesson of the term, the 7's had fun making little paper lantern sculptures designed to look like a small village, glowed alight by a battery tealight. Perfect for the Christmas season.

Year 7 Spanish

This term in Spanish, Year 7 have been exploring the rich traditions and customs of Christmas and New Year in Spain. Students learned a range of new vocabulary linked to “La Navidad” and enjoyed a festive Bingo activity to practise their words in a fun and engaging way. They also revised colours in Spanish while creating their own Christmas lists and themed crafts. Alongside their learning, Year 7 looked at how Spanish families celebrate the festive season, gaining insights into cultural practices that make Christmas and New Year in Spain so unique.

St Nicholas Day

We introduced something new in J&O this year to celebrate St Nicholas Day, a tradition our German boarders told us about. The custom involves cleaning your shoes the night before, and waking up the next morning to find them filled with treats. Our girls were delighted to discover a clementine, sweets, Christmas biscuits, and a few chocolate gold coins waiting for them. It was a simple but magical moment, and one that everyone thoroughly enjoyed. This lovely tradition is certainly one we plan to keep.

The Mayor's Toy Appeal

It was a pleasure to welcome Tunbridge Wells Mayor David Osborne and Trevor Crawford from the Mayor's Toy Appeal to our Prep and Senior School. We’re deeply grateful to our parent community for their generous donations, your kindness will brighten Christmas morning for many families in our area.

Carol Service

The Wellbeing Hub

We are delighted to invite you to our next online session on Engaging your whole school community with The Wellbeing Hub, taking place on 14th January at 12:30pm, where we will be sharing our top tips on how to get the most out of your subscription, and how other school communities use our resources effectively.

Staff News

We are delighted to welcome several new staff members who will be joining us after the Christmas break, each bringing valuable experience and fresh energy to our school community. At the same time, we extend our thanks and warmest wishes to the colleagues who will be leaving us at the end of this term. Their hard work, dedication, and positive impact on our students and school life will be missed. We wish them every success in their future endeavours.

Paul Showell - Head of Senior, Jan 2026

I am delighted to be joining Kent College in January 2026 as the new Head of the Senior School, at such a pivotal time in its development. As both a senior leader and a parent, I see the move to full co-education as a positive, inspiring and exciting step for Kent College - one that reflects my strong belief in the value of boys and girls learning and growing together. I am deeply committed to an inclusive, values-led education and have seen first-hand how it can shape confident, compassionate young people, ready to thrive in an increasingly diverse world.    As Head of the Senior School at Babington House, I have led strategic improvements in academic outcomes, school culture, staff development and student wellbeing, including guiding the school through a successful transition to co-education. Before this, at Eltham College, I was instrumental in shaping the academic strategy and championing high-quality teaching and learning throughout the school’s transition to a fully co-educational model.  I have also spent several years working in the state sector, gaining valuable insight into a range of educational contexts and challenges.    Throughout all these roles and experiences, my commitment has always been to create an environment where academic excellence is achieved through high expectations, strong, positive relationships, and a culture built on kindness, determination, ambition, respect and inclusion. I believe that when students (and staff) feel known, valued, and supported, they thrive above and beyond.   Before moving into education, I enjoyed an extensive career as a professional musician working as a pianist, conductor, and musical director both nationally and internationally. I had the privilege of performing at major concert venues and theatres, collaborating with a wide range of talented artists. These experiences continue to inform my belief in the power of the arts to foster confidence, resilience, and self-expression, especially in the lives of young people.    Having recently completed my NPQH (National Professional Qualification for Headship) I’m excited to bring my leadership experience, creative energy, and commitment to holistic education to Kent College, helping to shape a dynamic, inclusive environment where every student can thrive.

Will Haslewood - Head of Physics

I’ve enjoyed my time as Head of Physics at KC, watching students grow in confidence and develop a real passion for the subject. Seeing so many choose Physics or Engineering at university has been incredibly rewarding. One of the highlights for me has been running the GCSE Astronomy Club, where our enthusiastic students have explored the wonders of the night sky; whether through stargazing evenings or memorable trips to the Herstmonceux Observatory. I will truly miss both the staff and students and wish everyone the very best for the future. I’m now excited to take on a new challenge at Tonbridge Grammar School, where I look forward to continuing to develop my career and inspire the next generation of scientists.  

Angela Quigley - Teacher of Physics from Jan 2026

With two decades of Physics teaching experience, including 13 years at Kent College, I’ve continued to channel my passion for science education into my current role with the University of Oxford. As a tutor with Oxford’s Comprehensive Mathematics and Physics Online School (COMPOS), I lead a team of skilled tutors and deliver advanced tutorials to exceptionally able Year 12 students from across the UK. My work combines deep subject expertise with a dedication to nurturing the next generation of physicists, encouraging students to stretch their curiosity, sharpen their analytical thinking, and discover the excitement of exploring complex scientific ideas. I am delighted to return to Kent College to support the Physics Department while continuing my work with COMPOS.

Roger Ayling - Teacher of Physics from Jan 2026

I graduated from Liverpool University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. I then spent several years working as an Oil Field Services Engineer in Africa, primarily in Algeria and Nigeria. When I returned to the UK, I built a varied career in Service Management, Print Management, and Facilities Management, during which I implemented several global IT systems. A few years ago, I moved into education and have since taught Physics in two different school settings. Outside of work, I enjoy surfing and windsurfing, and I’m currently restoring a classic car, a 1969 Lotus Elan.

Cat Noyek - Dance Teacher

After 15 wonderful years at Kent College, I will be moving on to begin a new chapter in counselling, psychotherapy, and mental health support. This is a journey I’ve been preparing for over the past four years, and I feel now is the right time to take this step. From Christmas, I’ll be dividing my time between the Children’s Ward at Tunbridge Wells Hospital, supporting young people and their families during challenging times, and establishing a private practice. While I’m excited about what lies ahead, saying goodbye to such a special school community is not easy. Kent College has been a huge part of my life, and I will always treasure the memories and friendships made here. I’m delighted to share that Miss Victoria Johnson will be taking over as Teacher in Charge of Dance. Miss Johnson is a trained dancer with professional experience and a qualified teacher. Having completed her teacher training here last year, she already knows the school and its community well. I’m confident she will bring fresh ideas and inspiration to the department and help it continue to thrive. I look forward to coming back to watch the school productions and the dance showcase from the front of house rather than backstage, and to celebrating the incredible work your children will create.  

Victoria Johnson - Teacher in Charge of Dance, Jan 2026

Professionally trained at Bird College, I have built a diverse and accomplished career in the dance industry. My professional work includes performing abroad, working as an ensemble dancer and dance captain in UK pantomimes, and collaborating with artists in the pop industry as both a backup dancer and head choreographer. I also toured with the UK’s West End production of Tina Turner the Musical, which further strengthened my versatility and stagecraft across large-scale productions. Alongside my performance career, I have spent the past five years teaching in education and running my own dance school, developing a teaching style that blends strong technical foundations with creativity, confidence building, and individual expression. I am committed to fostering an environment where students feel empowered to explore movement, challenge themselves, and discover their unique artistic voice. I am very excited to begin my role at Kent College. My vision is to elevate the dance provision with a dynamic, forward-thinking curriculum that reflects industry expectations and supports the growth of young dancers today. I aim to build a vibrant, inclusive dance community, offer diverse performance opportunities, and guide students in developing the skills, discipline, and passion needed to thrive both on stage and beyond, all while ensuring that dance remains fun, joyful, and inspiring at every level.

Holly McNicoll - Food Technology Technician

It has been an absolute joy working at Kent College. I have been so fortunate to work with such wonderful colleagues in the Food Tech Department, as well as with others across both the Senior and Prep schools. The KC staff are so kind, supportive, and truly inspiring. Getting to know so many fantastic students has also been a pleasure, and I know they will continue to flourish, I wish them all every success. While I am very sad to be leaving Kent College, I am also excited to embrace the opportunity to travel the world with my husband, gaining new experiences, exploring different cultures, and taking part in volunteering and teaching abroad.

Georgie Hughes and James Beck - Director of Sport

We wish Mrs Hughes all the very best as she begins her maternity leave, and we are pleased to share that Mr Beck will be stepping in to lead the team during her time away.

Kevin Brewer - PE Teacher Maternity Cover, January 2026

I am delighted to be joining the PE Department at Kent College from January 2026. As someone who lives locally, I have long been aware of the school’s excellent reputation in the community, built not only on outstanding academic performance, but also on its commitment to developing confidence and character, prioritising students’ wellbeing, and preparing them for life in a rapidly changing 21st-century society. Alongside 30 years of teaching PE, during which I have consistently secured some of the strongest GCSE and A Level/BTEC results in my school, I bring a wide and varied sporting background. I have competed in the National Swimming Championships, represented my home county in both football and rugby, and represented my school in athletics, tennis, table tennis, gymnastics and basketball. My greatest passion, however, is cricket. Having played county cricket at all levels, I went on to spend 10 years with Lashings in Maidstone, taking part in exhibition matches around the country alongside legends of the game such as Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara. These days, my focus is more on personal fitness, and I look forward to sharing my breadth of experience with the students at Kent College. It is an exciting time to be joining the school as it approaches co-educational status in September. I look forward to getting started in January, supporting the school through this next chapter, and meeting the students and parents who make the Kent College community such a special place.

Chaplain Katie's Reflections of the Week

Sometimes Christmas drives me crazy. It is full of pressure to buy the perfect gift or be invited to the best party or experience all the traditional trappings of the season. Honestly, there are times I just want it all to stop! Why are we doing this to ourselves?! Has Christmas gone insane, or are we setting ourselves up for the ultimate let down on Christmas morning when that perfect gift isn't under the tree like we expected. How did we let it go this far? It was 2,000 years ago when a little baby was insignificantly born, in what ancient scholars believe, was a cave. And now here we are: lights, tree, Santa. What have we learned from this miracle, brought to us through the most unlikely situation? Jesus ultimately grows up to teach us to love one another, not to be selfish, to feed the hungry, to welcome the stranger. How do you think we're doing so far? This week, we wrapped up the term with THREE wonderful chances for our students to be generous and they really stepped up. The Mayor's Toy Appeal brought in a plethora of presents, the bake sale beamed with goodies, and our new kindness spreading candy-grams sweetened our lives with joy. I am inspired by the size of our students' hearts!  May the blessing of God's generosity inspire you to love one another, not be selfish, feed the hungry, and welcome the stranger. 

Have a wonderful Christmas break

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