This is a polite reminder that students should only travel on their allocated permitted school transport. Coach drivers may carry out random checks of bus passes at any time, and students who are not holding the correct travel permit may be refused travel.

Please remind your child to ensure they have their valid bus pass with them before travelling. Students may be refused travel if they do not have a valid pass for the service they are using.

This helps us maintain safe and organised transport arrangements for all students.

We have students in our school with severe nut allergies, and exposure can pose serious health risks. We kindly ask for your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe environment for all children.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

·         Log into Arbor

·         Navigate to 'Quick Actions' and click - this is usually in the top left of the screen

·         Click 'Attendance'

·         Click 'Log Absence'

·         Enter the reason for absence

·         Click 'Log Absence'

FOR GENERAL ENQUIRIES

office@chaileyschool.org

01273 890407

TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE SEND SURGERY

(Friday Mornings)

SENDCO@chaileyschool.org

01273 890407

TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE SLT SURGERY

(Friday after school)

srodd@chaileyschool.org

01273 890407

From the moment we set off, spirits were high. The rolling hills and winding trails of the countryside provided a beautiful backdrop, but they also demanded constant focus and cooperation. Navigation was a shared responsibility, and every decision—from choosing the right path to managing our pace—required clear communication. It didn’t take long for us to realise that success depended not on individual effort, but on how well we worked together.

As the day went on, the physical challenge grew. Carrying heavy packs across uneven terrain tested our stamina, but we encouraged one another through every steep climb and long stretch. Small acts—sharing snacks, helping adjust someone’s bag, or simply offering words of support—made a big difference. These moments strengthened our sense of unity and kept morale high.

However, it was the night that truly pushed us out of our comfort zone. Temperatures dropped sharply after sunset, and the cold became one of our toughest obstacles. Despite wearing multiple layers, many of us struggled to stay warm. Sleep didn’t come easily, and it would have been easy to feel discouraged. Instead, we leaned on each other—sharing extra clothing, keeping spirits up with conversation, and reminding ourselves why we were there.

That night taught us more about resilience than any training session could. We learned how to adapt, how to stay positive in difficult conditions, and how to keep going even when things felt uncomfortable. By the time morning arrived, we were tired but proud—we had faced the challenge together and come through stronger.

Looking back, the expedition was about much more than completing a route. It was about building trust, supporting one another, and discovering what we are capable of when we don’t give up. The cold nights and long days may have tested us, but they also brought us closer as a team.

In the end, the Surrey Hills didn’t just challenge us—they helped shape us into more resilient, determined individuals.

Having worked with the Speakers Trust for several years now, we were of course thrilled to welcome them back for what we knew would be another fantastic public speaking workshop. Our facilitator began by impressing upon the group why public speaking skills are so crucial and how building confidence with these skills can support them throughout their adult life. The facilitator encouraged the group to reflect that they are not merely 14- or 15-year-olds but, in actuality, the future: our future teachers, doctors, lawyers, politicians, decision makers and leaders.

After establishing the boundaries required for the day, including mutual respect, listening, and participation, it was time to get warmed up! The students had a series of ‘would you rather’ statements to respond to for their first taste of taking a stance and expressing personal opinions. A memorable question posed was, ‘Would you rather have integrity or success?’ This encouraged students to justify their position in articulating their response.

Another warm-up activity, working towards the goal of a one-minute impromptu speech by the end of the day, was to go around the circle to introduce themselves; students stated their name, a like, a dislike, and one wish they would like to be fulfilled. This allowed students another opportunity to build confidence with speaking in front of their peers – and to learn some new things about them, too!

Next, our facilitator introduced the ‘communication triangle’: the trifecta of content, delivery, and structure. The students discussed the necessary components of effective delivery such as pace, projection, and eye contact. In order to rehearse delivery skills through a game, it was then time for a few rounds of ‘Ding! Stop the Bus!’ This fast-paced game requires team work, quick thinking, and – crucially – no hesitation or hedging! It also incited the competitive spirit for lots of our students!

Once the ‘PEP’ structure (state your position, explain your position, return to your position) had been introduced, it was time for students to put it into practice with some impromptu speaking topics.

Throughout the morning, the students had multiple opportunities to discover and express their viewpoints on a variety of topics. This meant that when the time came to generate a topic for their speech, they had lots of ideas to draw upon! As the students are encouraged to select a topic that they personally really care about and that matters to them, it was heartening to hear so many students tackle topics such as happiness, motivation, and the need for equality and diversity. As with previous years, it is a privilege to be able to witness students speaking so bravely and passionately about issues they care about in front of their peer group. They were a hugely encouraging and supportive audience for each other and embodied our school values of community, kindness, and participation.

The workshop clearly had a very positive impact on the students. Josie shared, ‘It helped to build my confidence.’ Rosie added, ‘It helped me feel more comfortable around people I didn’t know that well before.’

This group made Speak Out Challenge history for our school as we were unable to shortlist six students from the group to be put forward for the next round of the competition… In fact, we were so impressed by their speeches that we have chosen to take forward eight students to the next round!

We are very proud of all of the students who took part and look forward to the next stage of the competition: the assembly final.

From the very beginning, the atmosphere was electric. The trampolining routines were nothing short of astounding, with performers executing high-flying twists and flips that had the audience holding their breath. Each bounce demonstrated precision and control, reflecting dedication and training.

Gymnastics performances followed, equally captivating. Athletes displayed strength, flexibility, and grace in routines that were both powerful and elegant. Every movement was carefully choreographed, highlighting the incredible discipline required to reach such a high standard.

Cheerleading brought a new level of excitement to the show, with a routine full of energy, lifts, and synchronized stunts. The teamwork on display was truly inspiring, as each member relied on one another to deliver a flawless performance.

The dancers added creativity and expression to the evening telling stories through movement, leaving the audience both entertained and deeply impressed. Their passion and commitment shone through every step.

Overall, the 2026 Aesthetics Show was an amazing celebration of talent, teamwork, and perseverance. Every performer demonstrated extraordinary dedication, and the result was a truly astounding event.

Thank you to Mrs Cain and Miss Key for all their hard work. We can't wait until next year's show!

Artsmark is the only creative quality standard for schools, accredited by Arts Council England. It transforms teaching through creativity, empowering teachers with the skills they need to embed arts, culture and creativity across the whole curriculum, and is proven to support pupil outcomes and wellbeing.  

To achieve their Artsmark Award, Chailey School had to develop their arts and cultural provision to embed a broad and ambitious curriculum. This was achieved by creating an overall plan that was committed to and delivered across the whole school.

Over two years, Chailey School received professional support through an immersive learning programme from Artsmark’s delivery partner, Goldsmiths, University of London, who are world-renowned leaders in creative pedagogy and cultural placemaking.

The Artsmark Assessor commended the school, noting that, ‘Your school sounds like a really engaging place to be and your strong commitment to arts and culture is having measurable effects on staff and pupils. There is SLT support, and the arts are clearly embedded into school planning and ethos. There is a credible and growing exam offer. All pupils can access an established range of arts and cultural provision through work with local and national arts and cultural organisations, in school and on enrichment activities outside the classroom through the Chailey Award and Diploma, which leads to showcasing opportunities in school and the local community, such as local choir performances …Strengths in your application include your arts-based values and ethos, including the strong descriptions of your pedagogy behind the planning; your pupil voice activities … and your consideration and measurement of equity, diversity and inclusion throughout.’

On receiving the award, Head Teacher Paul Holt said: “We’re extremely proud of achieving our Artsmark Gold Award. We are committed to delivering a high-quality arts and cultural education. Our Artsmark journey has transformed our school by

Dr Darren Henley OBE, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, said:

“I would like to congratulate Chailey School on their Artsmark Award. Creative activities and cultural experiences enrich our lives, open our minds to new possibilities and help us make sense of the world around us. As an awarded Artsmark school, you’re demonstrating that by offering a broad, ambitious and creative curriculum, your young people will develop character and resilience, increasing their knowledge, curiosity and skills that will remain with them through to adult life.”

For more information, contact Tim Dudgeon, Assistant Headteacher at Chailey School at tdudgeon@chaileyschool.org  

https://support.arbor-education.com/hc/en-us/articles/203792102-Booking-Guardian-Consultations-Parent-s-Evenings-on-the-Parent-Portal-or-Parent-App

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Unfortunately our Ofsted report has not been published yet, we anticipate this will happen over the Easter break and will update families in our first newsletter back.

Thank you for your ongoing support, and we hope all Chailey families enjoy their Easter.

Mr Holt