19th June - Subject Planning & Development Day (INSET) reminder - Thursday 25th June
19th June - Subject Planning & Development Day (INSET) reminder - Thursday 25th June
Dear Parents/Carers,
Please be reminded that we have our final INSET day of the year next Thursday, 25th June, as per the school calendar. The school site will be closed to students.
Kind regards
School Office
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Just a reminder that our House Drama Competition takes place this evening (10th June) 7pm in the main studio. Entry is free and seating is unreserved so we kindly ask that audience members arrive at approximately 6.45pm so that we can start promptly.
We hope you are able to join us for proves to be another enjoyable night of performance.
Kind regards,
Mr L Norton
Dear Parents/Carers,
The annual Richard Challoner Sports Day will take place at Kingsmeadow Stadium (Jack Goodchild Way, 422a Kingston Road, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 3PB) on Tuesday 7th July.
Year 7 and 9 will complete sports day in the morning with Year 8 and 10 competing in the afternoon. When not at sports day the students are expected to be at home. The timings for the day are below but unfortunately we cannot accommodate any spectators at sports day this year.
Morning Events - Years 7 and 9
Afternoon Events - Years 8 and 10
Arrival - 8.30am (Years 7 & 9)
Dismissal - 11.45am (approx)
Arrival- 12.15pm (Years 8 & 10)
Dismissal- 3.15pm (approx)
Please ensure your son travels directly to the Kingsmeadow stadium and arrives on time with any required food, refreshments and clothing appropriate for the day, no football shirts please. A small amount of running spikes will be available, should boys wish to use them. School uniform does not need to be worn on this day. Should any of this cause a problem then please contact us at school.
Please also ensure your son wears his PE shorts and white socks and the appropriate coloured top/T-shirt, depending on his House (when competing):
Augustine- Red
Becket- Green
Columba- Yellow
Dunstan- White
Fisher- Purple
More- Sky Blue
Kingsmeadow Stadium is located on the Kingston Road, between New Malden and Kingston. The stadium is served by the 131 bus route (link below).
Yours sincerely,
Paul Manley
Director of Sport
Dear Parents/Carers,
I am delighted to inform you of an exciting exhibition coming to St Joseph’s Church in New Malden, 1 Montem Road, KT3 3QW.
This Vatican-approved international Eucharistic Miracle exhibition was designed and created by Saint Carlo Acutis. Carlo, an artist and avid computer enthusiast, created the art for the panels before his death from leukemia at age 15. His goal during his short life was to help bring others closer to Jesus through awareness of the mystery of the Eucharist. Carlo received the sacrament of the Eucharist daily and desired to share the joy of Christ’s presence with the world through his God-given talents.
The Eucharistic Miracle Exhibition will take place from Saturday 13th June until Sunday 28th June.
The Church will be open during these dates from:
9 -11.30am Monday to Friday
9 -11.30am and 4 - 7.30pm on Saturday
9am - 1.30pm, 4 - 7pm. on both Sunday
The church will be open all day on Saturday 20th June from 9am - 7.30pm with a talk and discussion in the hall with refreshments from 10.30am - 12.30pm.
You are all very welcome to come and see and bring your family and friends.
Thank you.
Kind regards
Mrs D’Silva
Lay Chaplain
Richard Challoner School
www.richardchalloner.com
Dear Parents and carers,
The Mental Health Support Team (MHST) would like to invite parents from the Hong Kong Community to join a focus group to discuss how schools and services can better support the emotional wellbeing of children, young people, and families in our communities.
If you would like to join them please use the link in the attached document.
Many thanks.
Kind regards,
Ailish Southall
Mrs A Southall
Assistant Headteacher i/c Safeguarding and Wellbeing
Richard Challoner School
0208 330 5947
Dear Parent/Guardian,
We’re thrilled to announce that the Summer Serenade is taking place on Thursday 2nd July at 7:00pm on the school field.
Arrive from 6:30pm with your picnic blankets and camping chairs to enjoy the many student bands, soloists and school ensembles, while the Friends of Challoner serve up delicious BBQ food and drinks. As onsite parking will be limited, we highly recommend walking, cycling or taking public transport.
Entry is £4 for Adults, £2 for Concessions, and FREE for Challoner Students and children under 3. Tickets can be purchased on the door or booked online via this link: Click Here
Why not make it a full evening of creativity? The Art Exhibition takes place right before the concert, featuring the stunning work of students from Years 7 to 13. It’s open from 3:30pm to 6:00pm in the Art & Design Department, leaving plenty of time to stroll over to the field and secure your spot for the music!
Thank you for your continued support of our music and arts events this year. I wish you all a wonderful, relaxing summer break.
Mr A Leach
Subject Leader for Music
Richard Challoner School
Dear Parents/Carers,
We have been working on a new School Website which should go live in August.
To prepare for this a photographer will be coming into school on Tuesday next week (9th June) to take photos of school life.
Please could I ask that you encourage your sons and daughters to make sure their uniform is immaculate and that they have all the appropriate sports kit or practical equipment needed for lessons on that day.
Thank you in advance for your support in helping us to showcase life at our school.
Yours sincerely,
Sean Maher
Headmaster
Dear Parents and Carers,
At Richard Challoner School, we are deeply committed to providing our students with a comprehensive, inspiring, and impactful careers programme. Our goal is to ensure that every student is fully equipped with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to navigate their future pathways.
To help us maintain the highest standard of careers education and tailor our provisions to the needs of our students, we ask for your vital feedback.
Please take a few moments to complete our Annual Careers Survey.
Why Your Feedback Matters
• Shapes the Curriculum: Your insights directly influence the career workshops, guest speakers, and work experience opportunities we organise.
• Measures Impact: It helps us understand how well our current careers guidance is supporting your child’s aspirations.
• Strengthens Our Community: It allows us to identify parents or local businesses who might wish to get involved in our upcoming careers events.
Key Information
• Survey Link: Click Here
• Time Required: Approximately 5 minutes.
• Deadline for Completion: Wednesday 24th June
Note: We kindly request one submission per household.
Thank you in advance for your time and continued support in helping us inspire the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and creators.
If you have any immediate questions regarding our careers programme, please do not hesitate to contact the Careers Team.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Stansbridge
Careers Lead
Richard Challoner School
Dear Parents/Carers,
Since our PE kit changed a few years ago, we have been left with a lot of pre-loved stock of our old-style uniform. There is a school in Uganda who would love to be able to use this uniform and Fr Boniface (from the school but currently working at St Edmund's Parish in Beckenham) has already raised £700 towards the transport costs. He just needs our help to raise the final £416 so he can get it shipped!
If you can help in any small way the school and pupils will be incredibly grateful for your support. Thank you
Friends of Challoner
Dear Parents/Carers,
I would like to warmly invite you to the Richard Challoner Art & Design Department’s Summer Exhibition 2026. Students from all year groups have worked extremely hard throughout the year, and their efforts will be on display for one night only. The work from our GCSE and A-Level students is of an exceptional standard this year, and I know they are all looking forward to showcasing their talents.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday 2nd July 2026
Time: 3:30pm – 6:00pm (with an extra hour available for Summer Serenade attendees)
Location: Art & Design Department
Awards Ceremony: 5:30pm (separate information regarding awards will be sent out in the coming days)
A tremendous amount of preparation has been put in by both students and staff to make this exhibition happen. In previous years, we have proudly displayed work from every single student who studies Art & Design from Year 7 through to Year 13. We are aiming to achieve this again; however, due to significantly increased A-Level enrolment this year, space is limited. If we are unable to display every piece, I offer my sincere apologies in advance.
Please note that students currently studying GCSE Art, or those who have opted to take it next year, are strongly encouraged to attend. It is a fantastic opportunity to gather valuable ideas and insights for their own portfolios.
We also hope to have our Art Shop up and running on the night, selling Richard Challoner branded items, original student lino-prints, and mounted photographs of selected works from the exhibition.
We have a wealth of artistic talent at Richard Challoner, and this evening promises to be a wonderful celebration of our students' dedication and creativity. It is an event not to be missed!
Continue the Evening: Summer Serenade
Following the exhibition, the Music department will be hosting the annual Summer Serenade on the school field from 6:30pm onwards. It promises to be a brilliant showcase of our school's musical talent.
Tickets for the concert are priced at £4 for adults and £2 for concessions. You can purchase them on the door or in advance online via Click Here.
Why not make it a full evening of celebrating the Arts at Richard Challoner and attend both events? We very much hope to see you there.
Kind regards,
Mr T Bailey Subject Leader, Art & Design
Dear Parent / Carer,
I am writing to inform you of a vacancy for the role of Parent Governor on the Governing
Body of Richard Challoner School.
The Role of the Governing Body
The school’s governing body is responsible for providing confident and strategic leadership,
and creating robust accountability, oversight and assurance for the school’s educational and
financial performance.
The board is passionate about education and committed to continuous school improvement
to ensure the best possible outcomes for our students.
The Role of a Parent Governor
As a Parent Governor, you will work with the board to make sure it effectively carries out
the duties referred to above. You will also play a vital role in bringing a parental perspective
to the governing board, but you are not there to speak ‘on behalf’ of the parent body.
To be a Parent Governor you should have:
A strong commitment to the role and to improving outcomes for children
Good inter-personal skills, curiosity, and a willingness to learn and develop new
skills
Over time, gain the specific skills required to make sure the governing body delivers
effective governance
The governing body is keen for candidates to have skills in the following: Finance or HR.
However, this does not restrict you from applying.
Who can apply?
To be able to volunteer, you need to be a parent, carer (or someone who has parental
responsibility) for a child at the school. You do not need any specific qualifications. At the
end of the letter is information which summarises the circumstances under which someone
cannot serve as a Parent Governor.
To fulfil the role, you will need to:
Attend regular meetings (Five Full Governing Body Meetings and Committees meet
at least Five times each year)
Visit the school occasionally
Undertake some background reading
Take part in induction training and ongoing development (which will be provided for
you)
Maintain confidentiality
How to apply
If you’re interested in applying for the role, please complete the candidate form CLICK HERE.
https://forms.gle/gVWxU21uH7vuDz6t5 If we receive more applications than there are
vacancies, we will move to a secret ballot. If that is necessary, voting instructions will be sent to
all parents and carers. The personal statement will be included for the ballot.
The Deadline for Applications is Strictly at 1pm on Friday 12 th June, 2026.
If you have any further questions regarding the Parent Governor position, please do not
hesitate to contact me via email: clerk@challoner.kingston.sch.uk Please be aware that, while I
am unavailable during the school holidays, the election has been extended to allow enough
time for questions to be addressed.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours faithfully,
Heather Fowler
Governance Professional & Returning Officer
Richard Challoner School
Qualifications and disqualifications to serve as a Governor:
A person must be aged 18 or over at the date of their election or appointment. No current
pupil of the school shall be a Governor.
A person shall be disqualified from holding office or continuing to hold office as a Governor
if:
s/he becomes incapable by reason of illness or injury of managing or administering his/her
own affairs;
s/he is absent without the permission of the Governors from all their meetings held within a
period of six months, and the Governors resolve that his office be vacated;
s/he has been declared bankrupt and/or his estate has been seized from his/her possession
for the benefit of his/her creditors and the declaration or seizure has not been
discharged, annulled or reduced; or
s/he is the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or an interim order;
s/he is subject to a disqualification order or a disqualification undertaking under the
Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986; or
s/he is subject to an order made under section 429(2)(b) of the Insolvency Act 1986 (failure
to pay under county court administration order);
s/he ceases to be a Governor by virtue of any provision in the Companies Act 2006;
s/he is disqualified from acting as a Governor by virtue of section 178 of the Charities Act
2011 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that provision); or
s/he is otherwise found to be unsuitable by the Secretary of State;
s/he has been removed from the office of charity trustee or trustee for a charity by an order
made by the Charity Commission or the High Court on the grounds of any misconduct or
mismanagement in the administration of the charity for which he was responsible; or to
which he was privy; or which he, by his conduct, contributed to or facilitated;
s/he has, at any time, been convicted of any criminal offence, excluding any that have been
spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 as amended, and excluding any
offence for which the maximum sentence is a fine or a lesser sentence except where a
person has been convicted of any offence which falls under section 178 of the Charities
Act 2011;
s/he has not provided to the chairman of the trustees a criminal records certificate at an
enhanced disclosure level under section 113B of the Police Act 1997.
Dear Parent / Carer
We have received a communication from Achieving For Children with regards to a new Crisis and Resilience Fund that has been put in to place to support vulnerable families.
Please see below.
Kind Regards
Finance Department
The Household Support Grant funding that was paying for the issuance of meal vouchers for the school holidays has now ceased. This means that means-tested school meal vouchers can no longer be issued.
The Local Authority will receive grant through a new Crisis and Resilience Fund to continue to support vulnerable residents.
From May half term onwards, including the summer 2026 school holiday, Kingston will be moving from vouchers to individual payments through a direct application process.
If residents experience a sudden financial crisis, or need help paying for food during the school holidays, they can now apply for a crisis payment from the Crisis and Resilience Fund.
https://www.kingston.gov.uk/benefits-and-support/crisis-and-resilience-fund
More information, including eligibility details, are available on the council website. As part of the application process, broader support is now available designed to help prevent future crises. If families need extra help submitting their application they can call 020 8547 5000.
Kingston is committed to ensuring that vulnerable families will still be able to get help with food over the school holidays.
If you have any questions, please email householdsupportfund@kingston.gov.uk.
Kind regards,
Finance Team (Schools)
Achieving for Children
Civic Centre, 44 York Street, Twickenham, TW1 3BZ
Dear Parents and Carers,
At Richard Challoner, we are committed to providing our students with meaningful encounters with the world of work. These experiences are pivotal in helping our young men and women develop the "soft skills" that employers value—communication, resilience, and professional conduct—while giving them a tangible goal for their academic studies.
We are currently planning three major career-focused initiatives and are reaching out to our parent community for support. If you are in a position to host a student or can facilitate a placement through your professional network, we would be incredibly grateful for your help.
________________________________________
1. Year 11 & 12: Professional Work Experience
Dates: [Year 12 6th – 10th July, Year 11 2nd-4th September]
We are seeking week-long placements for our Year 12 and 3 days for our year 11 students. These are critical milestones that allow students to test-drive a career path before making final decisions about university or apprenticeships.
• Year 11: General introductory placements across any sector.
• Year 12: More specialized placements aligned with their A-Level or BTEC subjects (e.g., Engineering, Finance, Creative Arts, Law, or Trades).
2. Year 8: "Sons to Work" Day
Date: [Tuesday 23rd June]
For our younger students, we hold a one-day "Sons to Work" event. This is often a student's first exposure to a professional environment. We ask parents/carers to take their son to their own place of work for the day or arrange for them to shadow a relative or family friend.
Why it matters: Even a single day in an office, workshop, or studio helps students bridge the gap between the classroom and the "real world."
________________________________________
How You Can Support Us
If you can offer a placement—either for your own son or for another student in our community—please let us know. We are particularly looking for leads in:
• STEM & Engineering
• Business, Law, and Finance
• Creative Industries and Media
• Skilled Trades (Construction, Plumbing, Electrical)
Next Steps:
Please complete our brief google survey Click Here, or contact Mrs Stansbridge at careersiag@challoner.kingston.sch.uk
Thank you for your continued support in helping our students prepare for their futures.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs Stansbridge
Careers Lead
Richard Challoner School
Dear Parents/Carers,
As part of the ongoing development of the Catholic Life of the School we will be focussing as a school on Charisms and Saints.
Over the next term RE classes in Years 7-10 will be learning about saints and charisms. Students will then be invited to nominate new saints that they would like to see around our school. The bigger picture is to have each current House adopt an additional saint in time for the next academic year.
We would like to extend this opportunity to staff, parents and friends of Challoner, so that you can nominate saints too.
If you go to you will find the worksheet that students will be using to help them learn and explore charisms and saints.
I would like to invite you to take some time to read and reflect using the resource. Then nominate any saints you might have an affection for, or are particularly close to your family or culture. The link to the nomination form is on the last page of the resource or or by going to Click Here
Thank you for your continued support, if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me.
Yours sincerely
Neil D’Aguiar
Lay Chaplain
Dear Parents/Carers,
As part of the Catholic ethos of the school we offer a Mass for all students and their families every Friday morning at 8.10am, in the School Chapel. The Mass will be celebrated by Fr Sean from St Matthias Church.
If you and your family would like to attend the Mass, we ask that you arrive at the School Office between 8 and 8.05am and you will be escorted to the Chapel.
The week of rota for Friday Masses for this term are as follows:
• 9B – 1st May
• 9C – 8th May
• 9D – 15th May
• 9F – 22nd May
• 9M - 5th June
• 9A – 12th June
• 8A – 19th June
• 8F – 26th June
• 8M – 3rd July
• No Mass – 10th July
If there are any intentions that you would like us to pray for, at any time of the year, please ask your son/daughter to either to see me, or feel free to send me a message. I will then ensure it is added and prayed for in the intentions of our weekly Mass and included in our daily prayers.
Thank you for your continued support, if you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
Yours sincerely
Neil D’Aguiar
Lay Chaplain
chaplain@richardchalloner.com
Dear Parents/Carers,
A number of students attending the school suffer from a range of allergies; some suffer from a nut allergy. Should they come into contact with nuts, food containing nuts or any material that has been in contact with nuts, e.g. clothing and food wrappers, this could cause a severe reaction. It is therefore very important that students and parents are aware and do not bring into school any item containing nuts, to avoid the risk of potentially harmful allergic reactions for some students.
Yours Sincerely,
Sean Maher
Headmaster
Dear Parent,
Our Easter Bulletin is now available via the school website here.
With best wishes on behalf of the Headmaster, Governors and Staff at Richard Challoner School, for a very Happy and Holy Easter.
Sean Maher
Headmaster
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are officially in the home stretch of our Lenten challenge. With less than two weeks to go until Lent concludes on Sunday, 5th April, we wanted to remind you about our sponsored digital fast to raise money for charity.
If your son has successfully stuck to their Lenten pledge to limit their screen time and you would like to sponsor them for their efforts the Payment Service in MCAS is still available and will remain live until the 24th April should you wish to wait until Lent finishes to make your donation.
If your child hasn't started their challenge yet, there is still plenty of time to make an impact should they wish to take part! Whether it’s a "weekend reset" with no screens or giving up a specific gaming app for the final week of Lent, it’s still absolutely worth taking part and raising money for charity in the process.
A reminder that Every penny raised goes directly to two incredible causes:
1. The Catholic Children’s Society: Tackling poverty and mental health for vulnerable children across London.
2. Anstee Bridge Charity: Supporting our local students and young people through life-changing art therapy and mental health support.
Thank you – as always for your continued support with our fundraising efforts!
Warm regards,
The Student Charity Committee
Richard Challoner School
Dear Parents/ carers,
Our school community is built on a foundation of mutual respect and the shared moral purpose of providing a safe and nurturing environment for all its members: students and staff.
I am writing to you today to ask for your proactive support regarding your son's digital footprint. It has come to our attention that images and videos of staff members, accompanied by inappropriate comments, have been circulating on social media platforms, specifically TikTok and Snapchat.
In light of the recent challenges faced by schools across Kingston and London regarding social media-fueled incidents (such as the 'red blue' tensions), it is more important than ever that we work together to ensure our young men are using technology responsibly.
We ask that you:
- Regularly monitor your son’s mobile phone and social media accounts, if he has them (the minimum age for most social media platforms, including TikTok, Snapchat and Whatsapp, is currently 13, but is likely to increase in the near future)
- Discuss the impact of sharing or commenting on unauthorized images of others, including staff.
- Reinforce the boundary between private digital life and the respect required within a school community.
Please be advised that the school takes a zero-tolerance approach to the possession or distribution of images of staff members. Any student found to have such images on their devices, or to be participating in the online targeting of staff members, will face the strongest possible sanctions.
Thank you for your continued partnership in upholding the values of our school and ensuring the safety of our entire community.
Yours sincerely,
Matt Webber
Deputy Headteacher
Dear Parents,
As part of our commitment to provide an outstanding education rooted in Catholic values, we are officially launching our new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy. In a rapidly changing digital landscape, we aim to equip our students with "future-ready" skills while ensuring they remain ethical and responsible digital citizens.
Our Approach to AI in School
We believe that AI, when used intentionally, can enhance learning through personalised feedback and more effective administrative support for teachers. However, our integration of these tools is cautious and structured:
Approved Platforms Only: Use of AI for school activities is restricted to pre-approved platforms using school-provided credentials (typically a Google Account).
Age Appropriateness: Access to these tools on school devices is managed by year group to ensure content is age-appropriate.
Data Privacy: Protecting student data is a non-negotiable standard. Sensitive personal data must never be entered into AI tools without senior leadership approval.
Guidance for Students and Home Use
While we manage AI use on school devices, we are aware that many students may access AI tools on personal devices at home. We ask for your support in reinforcing the following standards:
Academic Integrity: Students are strictly prohibited from presenting AI-generated content as their own work. AI should primarily be used to support independent study, revision, and homework.
Assessment Restrictions: AI must not be used for internally assessed work or any material submitted to exam boards (such as NEA work) unless specific, explicit permission is granted by a teacher.
Critical Thinking: We encourage students to be "vigilant" regarding AI, as these tools can produce inaccurate information or exhibit bias. Students are expected to verify AI-generated content against reliable sources.
Ethical Conduct: The policy forbids the use of AI to generate harmful, offensive, or discriminatory content, including images of staff or other students.
View the Full Policy
The full Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy, which includes detailed guidance for staff, students, and organisational safety, is available for your review here: Click Here . This document will be reviewed regularly to stay aligned with the latest educational and safety standards.
Thank you for your continued support in ensuring our students navigate this new technology with resilience and integrity.
Kind regards,
Mr Henderson
Deputy Headteacher
KS3 Production - Sherlock Holmes and The Richard Challoner School Mystery
Wednesday 3rd- Friday 5th June at 7pm
Dear Parent/Guardian,
After the success of ‘WILL AND JULIET’ last summer, Mr Zoladkiewicz, the school’s previous Director of Drama, returns to direct a new Sherlock Holmes adventure in our studio.
The play takes place in London and Surrey in 1896.Dr. Watson’s nephew Arthur attends Challoner School, a boarding school for boys in Old Malden, close to the Hogsmill River. He arrives upset at 221B Baker Street, home of Sherlock Holmes. He refuses to go back to school as he is being bullied because of his uncle’s stories about the famous detective. He is persuaded to return to school and Dr. Watson agrees to pay a visit. The school has in its possession the Coronation Ring of King Æthelstan, the first King of all England, who was crowned at Kingston in 925. When the ring goes missing, Sherlock Holmes is called to the school to solve its mysterious disappearance.
There will be an introductory audition workshop and audition on Wednesday 4th March from 3.30 P.M. TO 5 P.M. Students who are interested, should indicate their interest by joining the Showbie class using the following code: HQVPY.
If you have any questions please contact me via the usuals channels or ask your child to come and see me.
Yours sincerely,
Mr L Norton
Dear Parents/Carers,
At Richard Challoner School, our goal is to provide a positive, inclusive environment where every student can successfully balance their personal responsibilities with their education and wellbeing. We know that life outside of school can sometimes bring challenges that impact a student's ability to focus or feel their best.
To help us support your child effectively, we would like to invite you to share any information regarding their home life or personal circumstances that you feel we should be aware of. Having this context allows us to make necessary adaptations where necessary. whether that is additional pastoral care or simply a more informed approach from their teachers.
Suggestions where it might benefit school to know about are:
• Young Carers: A young carer is a child or young person who provides care, assistance, or support to another family member who has a physical or mental illness, a disability, or a substance misuse issue. This often involves taking on practical or emotional responsibilities that would normally be expected of an adult.
• Bereavement: If your child has experienced the loss of a member of their immediate family or someone close to them, knowing this helps us monitor their emotional needs.
• Other Home Circumstances: Any other significant changes or situations that you feel may impact your child’s mental health or engagement with school.
Please rest assured that any information you share will be treated with the utmost sensitivity and will only be shared with relevant staff members to ensure your child receives the right support.
With this in mind please will you fill in this link:
But also, if there is anything you would like to discuss further, please contact your child’s form tutor or mentor, Year Leader or any one on the pastoral team.
We are committed to working alongside you to ensure your child feels safe, heard, and supported throughout their time with us.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs A Southall
Assistant Headteacher i/c Safeguarding and Wellbeing
Richard Challoner School
Dear Parents,
I am pleased to report that despite the inclement weather the new term has started very positively and on my ‘tours’ of the school it is a joy to witness the positive and purposeful learning environment across the school. Hopefully, the rain will start to lighten and our sports pitches will recover so that our football teams can get their season up and running properly. Last week’s production of Julius Caesar was a tour de force and Mr Norton and the cast should be congratulated on tackling one of Shakespeare’s most challenging plays with such aplomb.
Cycling to School
I am very pleased that many of our boys choose to cycle to school as it is better for the environment and their general health. However, I have noticed that some students do not have lights which is a concern on dark or dim mornings and evenings this term. Please ensure that your son or daughter has both lights and a helmet that fits. Students who are unable to follow this simple safety rule will be asked not to cycle to school.
Unfortunately, I also have to report that last week after the school day had finished and the bike sheds were unlocked a member of the public came onto the school site and stole a bike. For this reason, we ask that all students lock up their bikes in the bike shed to prevent this happening in the morning and after school when the bike shed is necessarily open.
Holidays During School Time
I am very grateful for all the efforts both parents and students make to ensure that students are in school on a regular basis ensuring that our attendance is generally excellent. I would like to remind parents though that they should not book holidays or request time off for holidays during term time. I am very keen to support families for extraordinary leave for family emergencies, significant celebrations or religious observations but I cannot support families for general leave requests for other reasons. Thank you to the vast majority of parents who do not ask for leave that I cannot grant. It saves any embarrassment on both sides.
Arriving at School
I have noted that the number of students just scraping into school on time has escalated recently. I am sure this is due to the dark and cold mornings when some students might be less enthusiastic to get out of bed! Please can I remind parents that students should aim to be in school by 08.30 at the latest and the school gate will always be shut at 08.37 promptly. Any student arriving after this time will unfortunately have to serve a 30 minute detention on that day. Any student who is late four times or more in one term will also have to serve a Headmaster’s detention.
Uniform
We are very proud of the appearance of our students who generally make every effort to have their shirts tucked in, top buttons done up and wear their uniform appropriately. A polite reminder that students should be dressed smartly on the way to and from school and they must not wear sports shorts underneath their trousers. Thank you for your support in this matter.
Nut Allergy
A number of students attending the school suffer from a range of allergies; some suffer from a nut allergy. Should they come into contact with nuts, food containing nuts or any material that has been in contact with nuts, e.g. clothing and food wrappers, this could cause a severe reaction. It is therefore very important that students and parents are aware and do not bring into school any item containing nuts, to avoid the risk of potentially harmful allergic reactions for some students.
Friends of Challoner
The FOC continue to do an amazing job to provide extra funds for departments and the school to buy resources that we simply could not afford from our school budget. Recently they have purchased a canopy to go outside the pavilion on the sports field, new speakers and sound system for music productions, new furniture for the mezzanine area and professional dance flooring for the drama studio. The Challoner Lotto continues to be a wonderful sources of income and I would gently encourage anyone who has the means to do so, to sign up to support the school and FOC. There are also a number of events coming up imminently that should be fun for all the community starting with a Curry & Quiz night on Friday 6th February and a St. Patrick’s Day Ceili on Friday the 13th March. Please do come along and support if you are free. Both events promise to be great fun and another opportunity to bring our community together whilst raising funds for the school and our students.
Finally
I am very much looking forward to celebrating the fantastic GCSE success of our students at the Year 12 Awards Evening on Thursday next week.
I hope to see many parents at the numerous Academic Awards Evenings this term. A reminder that students should attend these evenings with their parents and in full school uniform.
Thank you for your continued support for all that we endeavour to do at Challoner.
With my very best wishes,
Sean Maher
Headmaster
Dear Parents/Carers,
I hope you are having a pleasant start to the new year.
Since returning to school following the Christmas break a number of students, across several year groups, and some staff have raised a few questions regarding smart glasses. We have made the decision that smart glasses are not allowed in school. This restriction may be modified in the future but at present the risks are deemed to outweigh the benefits.
Some of these risks are highlighted below-
1. Privacy & Surveillance: Discreet recording capabilities pose threats to student and teacher privacy.
2. Data Security: Risk of breaches of sensitive student or school data .
3. Academic Integrity: Potential for cheating by accessing notes or answers during tests.
4. Equity & Access: Cost can create a digital divide, leaving some students behind.
If a pupil has a pair of smart glasses in school they will be confiscated and parents asked to collect the glasses from the school office.
As the technology develops along with the training and understanding required by school staff we will review the policy and update our school code of conduct as required.
If you have any further questions please make contact via the school office.
Yours faithfully
Mr M Cox
Assistant Headteacher
Dear Parents/Carers.
As you may know from previous communications, Richard Challoner School has been in ongoing discussions over many years now regarding forming a closer working relationship with other local Catholic Schools to improve and develop Catholic education across our Deanery and in neighbouring Deaneries. By working together more closely we hope to be able to offer more economies of scale, improve key transition stages for students and ensure that our Catholic schools remain a beacon for education in South West London.
In keeping with the Archbishop’s vision for education, we have been taking part in discussions with the newly formed Christ the Redeemer Trust (CtRT) which currently includes many of our primary feeder schools. After careful consideration regarding the pros or cons of joining CtRT our school Governors have overwhelmingly demonstrated a desire to join Christ the Redeemer Trust in September 2026.
On a day to day basis there will be no difference to the provision that we offer our young people but behind the scenes there will be ongoing collaboration to improve the education and opportunities in all of our schools for our students and our staff. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape and develop Catholic education for future generations and ensure all of our schools remain strong, viable, outward looking and at the forefront of future educational development and opportunities.
We understand that change can be unsettling for staff and families and we would welcome any feedback or questions that staff or parents might have so that we can share these with the Governing Board prior to a final vote on Thursday 4th December. If you have any points you would like to make for consideration, concerns or questions you can put these to Governors by filling out this Google Form:Click Here
Yours sincerely,
Sean Maher Francis Corrigan
Headmaster Chair of Governors
Dear Parents/Guardians,
To help support families with the cost of buying football boots, the PE Department is running a Boot Exchange Scheme. We are initially asking students to donate any spare or outgrown boots to the PE Department. We hope to collect a wide range of sizes, and we are particularly in need of larger sizes.
Students will then be able to exchange a pair of boots that no longer fit for a pair from our stock. If a student does not have a pair to exchange but still needs boots, they will be able to purchase a pair for £5. If this is something you would like to access, please send a note to your son's PE teacher and they will ask the finance department to add a £5 payment to MCAS. Any money raised will be used within the department to help facilitate the wide range of sports on offer.
If any students are able to donate their old football boots, please bring them to the PE Department.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Kind regards,
Mr Jerwood.
Dear Parents/Carers,
We have communicated with you previously regarding our policy on being a nut-free school and this means we never intentionally serve items with nuts; we also rely on a partnership with you in keeping all packed lunches and snacks nut-free as well.
However, when dealing with commercially prepared foods, we sometimes run into required labelling. A very limited number of products we purchase carry a Precautionary Allergen Statement (PAS), meaning they are labelled "May Contain Nuts." This is a legal disclaimer indicating that while nuts aren't an ingredient, the item was made on shared machinery. It’s a tiny risk, but one we take seriously and want you to be aware of.
Specifically, we want to let you know this "May Contain Nuts" advisory applies to the cookies and croissants/pastries currently available for sale in our canteen. Because we buy in these products, this labelling is unavoidable. We strongly advise parents of children with severe allergies to keep this advisory in mind when deciding on canteen purchases.
We appreciate that the pupils in the school make the food choices themselves, so we ensure that these products are appropriately labelled, both on the Fusion app when ordering any items, on digital signage and the signage at point of sale.
If you could remind your child to look for these allergens listed when purchasing their food items as this is the most up to date information that can be provided. We are looking for alternative products but currently there aren’t items available that have different allergen labelling. They are encouraged to talk to the catering staff when collecting or purchasing food items if they have any severe allergies or any queries regarding the ingredients in any of the food sold.
With kind regards,
Mrs Harvey
Dear Parents/Carers,
We are excited to announce the full launch of SOCs, a new system designed to help us organise fixtures and improve communication for school sports. After a successful trial last year, we are now extending access to all parents. If you do not have an account from a previous year, please activate one by following the steps below.
To activate your parent account, please follow these steps:
Visit www.socscms.com
Click on the green Parent tab
Select Activate an Account
Enter the email address you have registered with the school to complete the activation
Once your account is activated, you will be able to view fixture details, including dates, times, and locations. While you will not need to log in each time, we recommend saving your login details.
Please note: Team sheets will still be sent directly to students via email. You will also be asked to provide consent for your son to play. Completing this at your earliest convenience helps us plan effectively and ensures students are not held back from playing.
We hope that SOCs will make it easier for parents to stay informed and engaged with the Sports Department. As we continue to familiarize ourselves with the system, we kindly ask for your patience.
At Richard Challoner, we believe sport is a powerful way to build self-determination, resilience, and independence. We hope SOCs will help with this by encouraging students to take responsibility for their sporting commitments. We also ask that if your son has a question about school sport, you encourage him to speak directly with his coach. While this can feel daunting for younger students, our staff are here to guide and support them in developing this important life skill.
Thank you for your continued support of school sport and for working with us as we introduce SOCs to enhance our provision.
Kind regards,
Mr P. Manley
Director of Sport
Richard Challoner School
Dear Parents and Carers,
I apologise for sending this just before the end of term and I truly hope you and your family enjoy a restful and safe summer. However, I have been asked by the police to share this urgent safeguarding message with you now.
We are increasingly concerned about the rising number of children and young people being cleverly groomed, coerced and exploited online, often through social media, messaging apps and gaming platforms, both across the country and closer to home. This can happen slowly and subtly, without your child even realising they are being targeted until it’s too late.
The most powerful protection we can offer our children is a trusting relationship where they feel safe talking to us about anything. As parents, carers and teachers, we can all help to create that positive space. The idea that: ‘this wouldn’t happen to my child’ is not enough anymore, as times have changed.
Given the information the police have shared with us, we urge all parents and carers to take time as soon as possible to:
• Check your child’s device for unknown contacts, hidden photo vaults, locked folders, or inappropriate images - explaining to your child why.
• Review the apps installed - some allow disappearing messages or hidden content (such as Discord).
• Talk openly about how online grooming works. It often begins with compliments, or friendly chats, before becoming manipulative and harmful. Sadly, online groomers are very skilled at building trust, and even confident, thoughtful young people can be manipulated without realising it. This is why these conversations matter so much.
• Remind them not to share personal photos or move chats to private platforms without your knowledge. There are many cases where children are asked to share photos and then blackmailed. The police told me last week that sextortion is, sadly, becoming more and more common.
• Reassure them they can talk to you or to school without fear of getting into trouble. A trusting relationship is the most effective protection we can offer, and together we can create that safe space.
If something doesn’t feel right, you can report it to the school, or directly to:
• CEOP: www.ceop.police.uk
• Childline: 0800 1111
We are continuing to educate and support students in school, but this is a shared responsibility, and your involvement at home is crucial. The actions you take this week could protect your child from real harm.
Please take this email seriously and act on it as soon as possible.
Thank you, as always, for your support.
Mrs A Southall
Assistant Headteacher i/c Safeguarding and Wellbeing
Richard Challoner School
0208 330 5947
Dear Parents,
In today’s digital age, platforms like TikTok and social media influencers can expose young minds to narrow or even harmful perspectives. As these platforms play a significant role in our children's lives, it’s crucial for us to stay informed about their social media use. Equally important is approaching this topic with curiosity, rather than judgment to encourage dialogue and openness.
Instead of focusing solely on the potential risks of emojis, slang, or online trends, we encourage you to have open, honest conversations with your child. Asking questions like, “What does that emoji mean?” or “What’s the latest slang you and your friends are using?” can help you better understand their online world, while also showing your interest in their digital lives.
At the same time, it's important to remain mindful of the potential risks social media can bring. While emojis and slang may seem harmless, they can sometimes be misused or misunderstood. A major concern today is sextortion—a form of online manipulation where individuals pressure children and young adults into sharing explicit content. This can have serious emotional and psychological effects. If your child is ever approached inappropriately online, it’s essential they feel safe coming to you for support. Many platforms, such as CEOPS, Take it Down, or Report Remove, can help remove explicit images if necessary, but acting quickly is key.
We all play a part in helping our children engage with social media in a positive and safe way. To support you, I’ve attached a breakdown of emojis and slang terms that may be useful in understanding their online communication. By staying informed, we can work together to spot potential issues and intervene when necessary.
Here is the link to the resource: [SmartSocial - Teen Slang, Emojis &
Hashtags]. https://smartsocial.com/teen-slang-emojis-hashtags-list#popular-slang
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Kind regards,
Ailish Southall (Assistant Headteacher) and Jake Mundy (Inclusion Mentor)
Dear Parents/Carers,
At Richard Challoner we take the mental health and wellbeing of our students very seriously, and therefore have several forms of support available to help students navigate difficulties and develop coping skills. This includes a team of staff within the school, as well as colleagues from the Mental Health Support Team (MHST) at Achieving for Children - please see more information about the MHST attached. We believe in the importance of early intervention, and therefore a lot of the support we offer is about addressing difficulties, such as anxiety and low mood, at an early stage.
If you have concerns about your child and feel that they may benefit from support with their mental health and wellbeing, please complete the below form, which will be received by the school's Mental Health Lead.
Parent referral form: Click Here
Kind regards
Mrs A Southall
Assistant Headteacher i/c Safeguarding and Student Wellbeing
Richard Challoner School
0208 330 5947
Dear Parents/Carers,
It has been brought to our attention that some of the parking and drop offs in the area close to school is causing problems for some of our local residents. We always strive to maintain good relationships with the local community so we ask for your support and cooperation in this matter.
If you are parking, please make sure that you do so with consideration and that you are not overlapping someone's drive. If you are dropping off, you may think that you are only obstructing a driveway for a short period of time, but when this happens multiple times a day, and each and every day of the school term, it can become a problem.
If you are dropping off, please could you also refrain from dropping your son immediately outside the school, particularly across the driveway of the house adjacent to the pupil entrance.
We appreciate that not all of these problems are caused by members of our school community but anything we can do to help alleviate the issue will be a positive step in overall community relations.
Thanking you in anticipation of your cooperation in this matter.
Kind regards
Mr I O'Brien
Deputy Head
Dear Parents and carers,
We like to be as informed as possible so we can support and adjust our responses to the needs and requirements of your child.
With this in mind please would you complete the following goggle form if you child is a young carer, has been bereaved by an immediate family member or there have been any changes you feel would be beneficial for us to know about.
For those that are unsure of what qualifies as a young carer,
‘A young carer is someone 18 years old or under who helps look after a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem.’ They are still considered a young carer even if they are not the main carer.
Please also add anything that you feel would be of benefit for us to know about.
Kind regards,
Ailish Southall
Assistant Headteacher i/c Safeguarding and Student Wellbeing
Richard Challoner School
0208 330 5947
Dear Parent/Guardian,
Over the last few years, we have been working hard behind the scenes on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Richard Challoner.
Although we have always believed in these values and see them as fundamental to Catholic teaching, national and international events served as catalysts for this work to become a school priority.
This academic year, aside from marking Black History Month, South Asian Heritage Month and White Ribbon Day, we were delighted to achieve the Bronze Race Charter Mark. We have just become a White Ribbon Support school to show our commitment to combatting violence against women and girls. You can read more about this here, and you can find details about our work within our Equality Information and Objectives Policy. We have completed extensive work on policy, undergone staff training, reviewed schemes of work, adapted our teaching, analysed our data and set up the Diversity Group to encourage student voice.
We recognise our students have had and continue to have experiences both inside and outside school which may lead them to feel excluded, less valued or unsafe, and we do not accept this. All our staff have shown their commitment to improving student experience for all at Richard Challoner, supporting our students to embrace difference, cultivate curiosity and show respect to all. We recognise that combatting racism, sexism and homophobia must be an absolute priority, but also that it is an ongoing process.
We cannot achieve our goals without the support of those at home. Therefore, as we continue to strive for equity and inclusivity at school, we ask parents and guardians to support us. We ask you to have conversations at home about the need to challenge discriminatory language or stereotypes. We are acutely aware that our students will be accessing content that may expose them to language and points of view that do not align with the values of our school, or those of wider society. We ask you to be alert to the content students are accessing, and to contact us if you are unsure or concerned.
As ever, we would like to thank you for your ongoing support of the school, and we hope that, like us, you will see this work as a priority. If you would like to know more about what we have achieved as a school and what we are working on now, please contact the office and you will be passed on to our Inclusion and Diversity Lead, Lucy Parkinson, or the relevant staff member.
Kind Regards,
Sean Maher and Lucy Parkinson
Dear Parents
All schools in England have received a communication from the National Crime Agency asking us to alert parents to the increasing number of cases of financially motivated sexual extortion, often referred to as ‘sextortion’.
This is particularly pertinent to a boys secondary school. Though victims can be of any age and gender, the majority of cases involve male victims aged between 14 and 18.
Unfortunately, at Challoner we know of three of our young people who have been exploited in this way in the last few years. It is important that we make clear to our sons and daughters that if they are exploited in this way then they are victims of abuse, they should not be ashamed and that we will do all that we can to help and support them.
I have attached an article from the BBC Click Here
which summarises the problem as well as a letter from the NCA with lots of useful advice for parents to help support their children.
We will also be spending some time in tutor groups educating students about this issue but I would also strongly encourage you to discuss this with your sons and daughters at home.
If you ever need any support, help or guidance in dealing with financially motivated sexual extortion please do not hesitate to contact the safeguarding team at school.
Yours sincerely,
Sean Maher
Headmaster
Dear Parent,
I have written to you previously to make you aware that the school has changed its Games and Sports uniform supplier. We have moved from Trutex, which has closed down to Village Sports in Raynes Park.
The old school sports kit is still acceptable and should be used until it cannot be used further or is lost. To replace the kit please go online or in store to Village Sports to purchase the new style kit.
Village Sports do not currently have stock of Rugby shirts, shorts and socks and these will become available in June/July. Until then should you need to replace the kit please use plain black items.
At this point I would also like to remind you of the importance of naming kit, we find lots of lost kit and having a name makes it very easy to return items to their owner.
A list of the kit and contact details for Village sports are listed below.
Should you have any further questions please contact myself via the school office.
Many thanks
Mr Manley
Indoor Kit
Black polo shirt with emblem Black gym shorts with emblem White ankle socks Trainers (non-marking sole) Outdoor Kit School reversible shirt Black and Green socks Boots with studs Gum shield Shin pads
Optional Kit
Base layer
Challoner Contact Top
Tracksuit Trousers - black
Dear Parents,
Following a health and safety review, I am writing to all parents to remind them that it is their responsibility to ensure that their son or daughter attends school with an asthma inhaler or EpiPen should they need one. They must carry it with them at all times. We do also have spares on site for emergency use.
The office can also store any medication for your child that they might need during a school day e.g. antihistamine. This should be passed to the school office with clear instructions.
I would also ask students to make sure they take any medication with them when they attend sports fixtures or when playing sport on the back fields.
Finally, please do make sure that your child’s medical details are up to date on Bromcom as this is where we would draw information from for trips or in an emergency.
If you have any questions or are unsure how to update your details, please contact either the school office or our systems manager in the first instance.
Yours sincerely,
Sean Maher
Headmaster
Dear Parents,
You may be aware that Trutex in Worcester Park has now closed as the owners have retired.
The official supplier of Challoner Uniform has therefore moved to Village Sports, who are located in Raynes Park, and stock can be viewed on their website:
https://www.village-sports.co.uk/collections/richard-challoner-school
They offer a click and collect or delivery service, or you can of course pop into the shop.
Richard Challoner School
Dear Parents,
Our school is a very busy place at the weekends, hosting a large Polish School, Willson’s Dance School and many sports fixtures.
We employ 2 members of staff to manage the lettings and look after the car parking on site, utilising both the car park and the playground in order to accommodate all the vehicles.
We would therefore ask you to remind your child, if they are at school at any point over a Saturday or Sunday, that the playground is used as a car park and they must be mindful of moving vehicles at all times.
Thank you for your help with this.
Richard Challoner School