HEAD’S WELCOME

2023 at Kingswood is a year of celebration as we mark our 275th anniversary. It’s a wonderful opportunity to draw strength from our roots and reaffirm our values as the first Methodist school, founded by John Wesley to “train up children in every branch of useful learning”, preparing them pre-eminently to lead fulfilling lives of service.

This anniversary year also gives us an extra reason to engage with our community of past and present pupils, parents, staff and governors, and we have curated an interesting programme of events over the year to ensure that there will be something for everyone. This is the first of the monthly newsletters, covering a range of topics and keeping you abreast of the goings on.

I’m excited also about the international possibilities that this year brings as we prepare to host leaders from Methodist schools and universities from every continent at the Transforming Lives Education Conference we are co-hosting in April. This is a fabulous opportunity to build a vibrant network of schools around the world, taking on the Global Schools Challenge we have designed, learning the newly commissioned conference song, and hopefully cementing strong partnerships for future work. Delegates and schools have already registered in great number to take part, both in person and virtually, through the Methodist Schools portal on the Global School Alliance platform.

Our 275 fundraising campaign is now live as we aim to raise the £2.75m needed to fund some of the extra opportunities we would like to offer our pupils. Thank you to Tim Lindsay, our Chair of Governors for his introduction below and also to Graham Papenfus, our

Development Director, who explains our case for support in a little more detail.

Please follow us on social media, check out our website, and most importantly, please come along to the anniversary events that appeal to you. You will, as ever, be warmly welcomed into school.

Our 275 year will be marked by an array of celebratory events including; Made In Kingswood, Commemoration Day, Creative Writing Competition, 275 Lecture Series, hosting The International Association of Methodist Schools, Colleges, and Universities (IAMSCU) Conference and a Charity Hike to name but a few! Some events are open to the wider community and we will share how to register your interest in the coming months.

February

We look forward to welcoming an exciting line-up of guest speakers for our 275 Lecture Series.

We are thrilled to bring a truly inspirational figure for the beginning of our 275 lecture series.

Will Bayley is a shining example of what can be accomplished through determination, drive, and resilience in the face of adversity.

Through his athletic achievements and advocacy for disabled sports, Will promotes inclusion and diversity, reminding us that with the right mindset and attitude, anything is possible. His story is a testament to the human spirit, and we are honoured to welcome him to Kingswood.

TUESDAY 28 FEBRUARY:

• Student table tennis session

• Lecture in the Chapel

William John Bayley MBE (born 17 January 1988) is a British professional Paralympic table tennis player, ranked world number one. He is the 2016 Summer Paralympics Games Gold medallist and the 2014 and 2022 World Champion.

From September 2019, Bayley participated in the seventeenth series of Strictly Come Dancing, paired with professional dancer Janette Manrara. At the age of seven he was diagnosed with cancer. During his recovery he began playing table tennis after his grandmother bought him his first table tennis table. Will lives on the coast in Sussex with his partner and two children.