Senior School newsletter – 12 September 2025
Issue 01/2025/26
Head’s welcome
I’m very pleased to welcome you to our first Senior School newsletter. Our aim is to provide essential school updates and to reduce the volume of Kimbolton emails in your inbox by consolidating as many as possible in this single publication. I also hope that it will give you a richer flavour of daily life in and out of the classroom here. This introductory edition is relatively light in content – expect more from the next one – and this term we will trial it on a fortnightly basis, and review at the end of the term. We would welcome feedback to marketing@kimboltonschool.com so that we can make it work as well as possible for you.
I hope that your children have started to hit their strides in their new routines and are coming home tired but happy. The atmosphere here is purposeful and energetic, and I was delighted with the launch of our Learning DNA in Assembly last Friday by Mrs Latham and Mr Chipperton. We are a learning organism in all that we do, and I have told the pupils that these ideas of how we think, how we approach learning, what is important to us and what we become as a result must be embedded in our cells. It has set the academic tone for the year. Of our values, I have urged the school to draw on their courage at the start of this new year – be brave, dive in, ask questions, take opportunities and make new friends.
The school is transitioning to homework set on MS Teams, and you can now see those assignments in the Satchel One app that Mrs Taylor wrote to you about yesterday. This is overdue and I’m glad you will now have good visibility of this work.
It was a privilege to host 23 independent schools for the ISFA U18 Boys’ Sixes football tournament on Sunday.
Our own boys were excellent and were unlucky to lose to Charterhouse in the Plate quarter-final on penalties. We’re now gearing up for a festival of Old Kimboltonian sport on Sunday (girls’ hockey and boys’ football) on the back of a happy OKs’ drinks event in Covent Garden on Wednesday, where the 1996 leavers were at large. Please do come and watch.
Finally, I would like to extend an invitation to all parents for the 425th Anniversary Dinner on 11 October. This had been designed as an OKs’ event, but interest from the Kimbolton community has been much wider. Please organise a table of friends for what will be a fabulous evening of celebration. You can book tickets here.
Warm wishes,
Will Chuter
Headmaster
“I have urged the school to draw on their courage at the start of this new year – be brave, dive in, ask questions, take opportunities and make new friends.“
Will Chuter
Headmaster
Whole school updates
In the Senior School, it’s been a purposeful and positive start to the term. Pupils have returned with renewed energy, settling quickly into lessons and routines. Co-curricular clubs are already well underway, with plenty of enthusiasm across sport, music, drama and academic societies. It’s also been a pleasure to welcome new pupils into the Kimbolton community — we’re looking forward to seeing all that this term brings.
Senior School Open Morning – Saturday 20 September
We are looking forward to welcoming many visitors to our site for Open Morning next Saturday and showcasing all that makes Kimbolton so special. Pupils involved in the day will already have received an email from Mr Gray with further details. If you know families who may be interested in attending, please do share the booking link below – it promises to be a wonderful day.
Castle opening – Sunday 5 October 1-4pm
Join us for a historic tour of our castle which will include all the State Rooms including the Queen’s Room where Katharine of Aragon died as well as the dedicated Heritage Room on the history of the Castle from its motte and bailey origins to it being acquired by the school in 1950.
Save the Date: Living History at Kimbolton Castle
Mark your calendars for 3–4 May 2026 for Living History at Kimbolton Castle — an immersive event brought to you by the KSPA. Expect knights, queens, re-enactors, jousts, and period camps spanning the Medieval, Tudor, Civil War & WWII eras … and lots more. Dress up if you wish, and step back in time with us!
Multi sports camp in October half term – save the date
We will be running a fun multi sports camp during the October half term. The camp will run over 3 days from Tuesday 28 – Thursday 30 October. The camp is for both girls and boys in Year 3 to Year 10. More details to follow soon.
Stattie Fair – Wednesday 17 September
Next Wednesday’s Statute Fair will mean road closures in Kimbolton, so please note that all school buses will use Robinson’s Garage (with supervised walks to and from the Castle), return journeys may be around 15 minutes later, there will be no 6pm late bus, after-school clubs are cancelled (though supervised homework runs as usual), and the school site will close at 6pm; full traffic arrangements were shared in a letter to all parents this week.
From Monday 15 September, the Health Centre will be moving to an appointment system for non-emergency visits. Pupils will be able to book slots easily via the intranet or QR codes displayed around school. Break and lunchtime visits, emergencies, and care set out in individual plans will continue as normal without the need for an appointment. The new system aims to reduce waiting times and allow the nursing team to expand their health promotion work across the school community. Find out more.
Find out more about our daily late bus and the stops it makes. More information on our bus service is here.
Hot off the press!
As we settle back into school life, it’s already been a busy and brilliant start to the term. From award nominations and results, to a new STEM installation and sporting successes, here’s a snapshot of the energy and enthusiasm filling our classrooms and corridors this week.
