A busy week with terrible weather!

Tuesday saw our annual carol concert at Holy Trinity in Sunningdale. It was a truly lovely evening, with readings from both staff and students alongside wonderful musical performances from our students and the staff choir. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the evening so special.

On Thursday, we held our annual prize-giving event for Year 11 (Class of 2025) and Year 13 (Class of 2025). It was a pleasure to hear from our Year 13 students as they shared their experiences of their first term at university and their transition into the world of work. Our Guest of Honour was Martha Collison, a former student who has gone on to build an impressive career in baking and writing, including the publication of several books and appearances on television. Martha’s journey began as the youngest-ever contestant on The Great British Bake Off (Series 5, 2014), where she reached the quarter-finals.

This week, the Children’s Commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, published a helpful guide for parents on students’ mobile phone use. The guide can be found here and offers thoughtful advice, encouraging us as parents to lead by example by modelling positive phone-use behaviours.

As we come to the end of term, we say farewell to several members of staff. We thank them sincerely for their dedication and the care they have shown our students, and we wish them every success in their next steps:

• Miss Coates, Headteacher’s PA – Retiring
• Ms Fernandes, MFL Department – Moving on to further study
• Ms Hobson, SEN Department – Training to become a teacher
• Ms Mair, English Department – Moving to a new school
• Mrs Marsh, Sixth Form Support Officer – Moving into a new role
• Miss A. Zittergruen – Returning to America

Wednesday saw the Christmas lunch for the students.  The annual Christmas lunch went ahead on Wednesday, with students sitting down with friends to pull a cracker and tuck into a hearty Christmas meal. It was wonderful to see them all sitting down and chatting to each other, enjoying each other's company, telling each other cracker jokes and wearing paper crowns.  Thank you to Cucina, our catering company, for helping to provide a wonderful experience for them all.

Attendance

As you know, attendance has been a focus for many schools and for us also.  We have approached this in many different ways, and I am pleased to see that it is having an impact.  We still have a way to go, and we will not rest on having the difficult conversation, as well as providing reward and positive feedback on those with high attendance, as we know that good attendance makes such a difference to outcomes in many different ways.  Below are the figures for the autumn term over the last three years, as you can see, we are moving forward, and we need to keep the momentum.    

Christmas 2023 91.4%

Christmas 2024 92.7%

Christmas 2025 93.5%

Wishing all in our community a restful and happy Christmas.

CHRISTMAS DRAW

Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket for our Christmas Draw - all winners have now been notified and can enjoy their prizes over the festive period.  Thanks to your support, a fantastic £3810 was raised towards giving the Main Hall a new lease of life. Our target of £7,000 was for the first step and the shortfall will be met through the regular donations that the school receives.  Thank you to each and every one of you who donate to the school.  it really does make a difference. 

CHRISTMAS CARD WINNER

We are delighted to have the results of the Headteacher’s Christmas picture competition for this year – the winner is Emma M from Year 7.      Well done!

MAKE A WISH COME TRUE!

If you have made a wish come true already this year for one of our departments, we send you our heartfelt thanks.

So far this year's Wish Lists campaign has generated over £3000 of donations to grant wishes for departments around the school to enrich the learning experience for our students. 

We are extremely grateful for the generosity shown by our school community.

You can view the wishes via the button below, and if you would like to spread a little Christmas magic this year by granting a wish, donations can be made via ParentPay or by using our secure online giving platform CAF Donate -  and then just let us know the wish you have granted by emailing marketing@chartersschool.org.uk 

If you’re able, please consider supporting this year’s Wish List – helping us shape joyful, memorable moments for our students.  The wish lists will be open until 6th January 2026. 

Thank you for your continued generosity and for making our wishes come true!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported our school this term. Our parents, carers and local businesses have been incredibly generous, and every penny raised will be used to create the very best environment for our students to learn, develop and thrive. Your continued support truly makes a difference to our school community.

Take a look at our Fundraising Roundup:

CHECK OUT THIS WEEK'S NEWS STORIES BY CLICKING ON THE IMAGES BELOW

Celebrating Achievement, Inspiration and community

2025 Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge

Take a look through our social media using the buttons below

A huge well done to all our Stars this week...

7	GEORGE	George has been working really hard this term and always a shining light to 7D every morning. He has shown true kindness by offering to hold doors open for staff members and putting a smile on lots of our school community. George is an absolute delight to have in 7D
8	ORLA	For being brilliant and completing the 2025 UK Bebras computational Thinking Challenge -top 10% nationally (2nd year running) and best in school!!
9	WILLOW	Had a fantastic week. Willow has been positive and a supportive member of the tutor group
10	ASHTON	A fantastic student who always contributing positively both in tutor time and PDL. Respectful to all, both peers and staff
11	RUBY	In recognition of her improving attendance and presence in tutor time! Brilliant
12	GUS	Well done for being awarded 4 Achievement points this week alone and for accumulating many over the year. You have settled in so well to Charters Sixth Form
13	ORLA	Exceptional student (of A- level Spanish) who works with a very high level of independence. Has really driven her own university application process and has been determined to find the path that best suits her - which is studying in Madrid

FoCS INITIAL FUNDRAISING SUMMARY

Friends of Charters School (FoCS) was set up at the beginning of term to support and enrich learning and wellbeing within the school, raise funds for facilities, resources and opportunities for our students and to create opportunities for parents/carers and the wider community to meet.

The group of enthusiastic volunteers who have kick-started this initiative have organised two very successful events so far and have already raised almost £1500 for the school.  The first fundraiser - the festive wreath-making evening - was a lively, social event that not only brought in some money but was really fun and got lots of new parents mixing.  Then last week, FoCS hosted a bar at the Winter Concert raising additional funds that will be donated to the Music Department.

Their next outing is in the new year, Friday 6th February when they host the Race Night - an excellent way to banish those post Christmas blues.  Put the date in your diary and look out for further information in the new year.

All parents/carers are welcome to be part of the FoCS team - just come along to our next meeting on Wednesday 7th January 6-7pm in the Durning Room above the school library to meet the rest of the group.  Your involvement in FoCS can be as little or as mch as you want so come along on the 7th to find out more.

CHRISTMAS ADVERT

’Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the school, Our A Level Media students were creating something cool.

With cameras and care, this festive tale came to life — Wishing our whole Charters community joy, health, and delight. We hope you enjoy watching - just click the image below!

 

THE ALUMI NEWSLETTER

 

Please click image to read.

CHARTERS CHRONICLE

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KEEP SAFE DURING THE WINTER MONTHS

Road Safety

• Stay alert when crossing roads and avoid distractions such as mobile phones or headphones.
• Take extra care in certain areas e.g. the bridge on Dry Arch Road.
• Use pedestrian crossings where available and wait for traffic to stop.
• If you are cycling, make sure lights and reflectors are working and wear bright or reflective clothing and a helmet.
• Be especially cautious in wet or icy conditions, as stopping distances for vehicles are longer.

Personal Safety

• Stick to well-lit routes and avoid shortcuts through quiet or isolated areas.
• Walk with friends when possible and let someone know your plans.
• Keep personal belongings secure and out of sight.
• Trust your instincts—if a situation feels uncomfortable, move to a safer place and seek help.

General Advice

• Wear reflective items or light-coloured clothing so you are more visible to drivers.
• Keep your phone charged in case you need to contact someone.
• If you ever feel unsafe, speak to a trusted adult or a member of staff as soon as possible.

By being aware and making sensible choices, you can help keep yourself and others safe during the darker months.

SCHOOL EQUIPMENT LIST

As we move closer to a well-earned break it is always sensible for all students to have a quick equipment check and make sure that they can use the time off over the festive period to replenish pencil case, making sure that they all have the equipment that they need for the new year. As a reminder the Charters School equipment list is always displayed at the bottom of the newsletter. Please note that we have added whiteboard pens to the list. The primary aim here is that students can have good quality whiteboard pens of their own to use the many lessons where teaching use mini whiteboards to add engagement and deepen learning. The pens can be purchased, relatively inexpensively at a range of stores and online. Other suppliers are, of course, available, but we have put a few below that you might find kick and useful. An ideal stocking filler!

• Pack of 2 black pens here
• Pack of 10 assorted coloured pens here
• Pack of 10 black pens here

Our Upcoming Opportunities page is constantly updated with new and exciting Careers opportunities.

SUPPORT 1ST SUNNINGDALE SCOUTS – BUY A BRICK APPEAL

1st Sunningdale Scouts are raising funds to rebuild their Scout Hut in 2026, creating a modern community space that will support Scouting in the village for years to come. Over 130 local young people and 50 volunteers currently take part in Scouts locally, building skills, confidence, and lifelong friendships.

You can support the project by buying a brick and having your name or message engraved on the celebration wall at the new hut.

Learn more or order your brick at: www.sunningdalescouts.org.uk

 

BE PREPARED
EVERY DAY STUDENTS WILL NEED TO BRING...

HOPE FOOD SHARE

The Hope Church food share takes place each Tuesday from 12pm-1pm. 

The items include mainly fresh food and bakery items donated from local supermarkets. The food is at the end of its shelf life (but still perfectly fine to eat!) and would otherwise just go to waste. Bring a bag to fill up, stop for a chat and a cup of tea (and cake!!) and warm up in the church. ALL welcome, no voucher/referral required.

Hope Church, Sunningdale, The Hope Centre, High Street Sunningdale, (next to Nag’s Head).

Please CLICK HERE for more details.

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PARENT CURRICULUM/SUPPORT INFORMATION

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PLEASE NOTE: The school’s phone system records all external calls both incoming and outgoing. 

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