Senior School newsletter – 2 October 2026
Issue 2/2026/27
Headmaster’s reflections
One of the happiest periods of my working life was the five years I spent as a boarding housemaster at a previous school.
Nothing quite prepares you for it and there is nothing like it in education. 55 teenage boys, all sleeping, eating, working, playing and leaving their clothes all over the place under your roof all term, including the weekends – it was hard work, but it was also tremendous fun. It was also a huge privilege and a great responsibility to play that role in the boys’ lives for their parents.
The special beauty of it was that the boys and their families became part of our family, and vice versa, and we were our own big family within the even bigger family of the school. Activities and fun were at its heart, but so were commitment to each other and a constant metaphorical arm around the shoulder. Supportive conversations, boundaries, laughs, not taking ourselves too seriously – boarding is family life on a grand scale, with a LOT of siblings!
Kimbolton has a proud history of boarding and it is imprinted in our DNA. Our Victorian boys slept in the upper floors of what is now the Prep. The boarders of the 1950s and 1960s slept in the Castle (the bedrooms of the Duke of Manchester’s family!) and then proliferated out into boarding houses around the village and into Stonely as the school grew. Kim House and White House were amongst these. OKs’ stories from those days are always worth listening to – scrapes, japes (and the occasional daring escape) feature with crystal clarity from the memories. In 1975, with the school on the cusp of co-education and an emerging day market, about two-thirds of its boys were boarders.
Today, boarding remains the beating heart of Kimbolton life and a strong link to that tradition. White and Kim Houses are beautiful, historic buildings on the High Street, whose size and character make them warm and characterful homes. Those happy, busy homes buzz with energy guided by our skilful and experienced Houseparents, Mrs Hadden, Mr and Mrs Gilbert, and their families. Every boarder is known and loved, and together the big boarding family is joyful, inclusive, noisy and diverse. They have so many more opportunities to develop those key skills of empathy, communication, courage, independence and initiative than their day friends – that’s the beauty of living away from home as a teenager.
And that’s why we call it ‘Boarding with character’. I hope you will come to see and feel it for yourself tomorrow, at our Boarding Open House event this Saturday, 3 October, from 2pm to 4pm.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Will Chuter
Headmaster
“Boarding is family life on a grand scale, with a LOT of siblings!”
Will Chuter
Headmaster
Whole school updates
Assessment and reporting
With the academic year now well underway, I hope that your son or daughter has settled happily into the new term and is making the most of the many opportunities available at Kimbolton. Strong communication between home and school is central to supporting each pupil’s success, and I am writing to outline our assessment, reporting, and academic support arrangements for the year ahead.
Formal assessment data is shared with pupils and parents five times a year. These assessments provide a snapshot of a pupil’s progress and are based on their engagement in lessons, completion of homework, and attainment over the preceding six weeks. The assessment cycle forms an important part of our tracking and support systems, helping us to monitor progress and identify where additional challenge or support may be beneficial.
Most importantly, these assessments are not simply a record of performance but a tool to support future progress. Pupils receive individual progress graphs showing assessment trends over time, which form the basis of discussions with their tutors. Together, they reflect on successes, identify areas for development, and agree targets for the coming term. Tutors work closely with Houses and academic departments to ensure that any necessary follow-up support is put in place. Pupil self-reflection also plays an important role in this process. Alongside these regular assessment updates, pupils receive more detailed feedback through our written reports and Parents’ Evenings. Each pupil receives one written report annually, and parents are invited to two Parents’ Evenings. The timing of these varies by year group to ensure that feedback is provided at the most appropriate points in the academic year. A schedule outlining the dates for written reports and Parents’ Evenings is below.
Your son or daughter’s tutor is the first point of contact for any academic questions or concerns and plays a key role in monitoring progress and supporting individual pupils. Subject teachers are also always happy to discuss any specific matters relating to their subject. I have included additional year-group-specific information in the links below, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or your child’s tutor.
Ruth Taylor
Deputy Head – Academic
Parents’ evenings and written reports
| Year group | Autumn | Spring | Summer |
| 1st | Parents’ evening in person – Thursday 5th November | Parents’ evening online – March 2027 | Written report |
| 2nd | Parents’ evening in person – Wednesday 25th November | Written report | Parents’ evening online – May 2027 |
| 3rd | Written report | Parents’ evening in person – January 2027 | Parents’ evening online – June 2027 |
| 4th | Parents’ evening online – Wednesday 18th November | Written report | Parents’ evening in person – June 2027 |
| 5th | Parents’ evening in person – Tuesday 13th October | Parents’ evening in person – February 2027 Written report | |
| L6 | Parents’ evening online – Tuesday 1st December | Written report | Parents’ evening in person – June 2027 |
| U6 | Parents’ evening in person – Tuesday 6th October Written report | Second parents’ evening in person – March 2027 |
Assessment criteria for Sixth Form
In the Sixth Form, assessment criteria are different, reflecting the different approach and demands of A Level studies. A 2 for effort is a minimum and a good Kimboltonian will achieve 2s or better. The attainment grade reflects the equivalent A Level standard for that period of work. It is not a prediction of their final grade.
The Ian Knapp Fitness Suite
Following its successful opening this week, the Ian Knapp Fitness Suite is now fully operational.
Parents are warmly invited to look around during opening hours, 17:00–21:30, Monday to Friday.
We are also pleased to confirm that free pupil access has been extended until 18:00. The facility will soon welcome parents, staff and the local community alongside our pupils.
This magnificent new addition has been made possible through generous donations from parents, staff, Old Kimboltonians and governors, together with funding from the school’s capital projects budget.
To recognise this support, donors’ names will be etched into the glass wall and illuminated in purple ahead of the official opening celebration in November. If you would like your family’s name included, please make your donation by Friday 16 October.
Recital of Baroque music – 9 October – free entry
On Friday, 9 October, musicians from Kimbolton School will give a varied recital of Baroque music in the atmospheric acoustic of St Leonard’s Church in Catworth. The programme will include movements from Purcell’s Abdelazar Suite, Telemann’s Concerto for Two Recorders and the first movement of Bach’s Concerto for Violin & Oboe in C minor.
7.30pm | St Leonard’s Church, Catworth
FREE ADMISSION, ALL WELCOME
A retiring collection will be taken, with proceeds shared equally between St Leonard’s Church and the forthcoming School Choir’s Christmas Tour.
New term, new Prime Minister!
Politics Podcast: a new team takes the mic
Our Politics department’s podcast returns with a new team! Join Alex, Charlotte, Noah, Clara, Freya, Darcy, Harley and Josh as they explore Reform’s recent windfalls, the failure of the Assisted Dying Bill and the “Burnham Bounce”.
Tune in to hear our students share their perspectives and debate the political stories making headlines.
Build your workforce with degree apprenticeships
If you own a business that is considering taking on degree
apprentices, you are warmly invited to join us on Monday 5 October 7pm-9pm for an informal employer
event. Learn how degree apprenticeships work and how to set
them up from Anglia Ruskin University, hear from local businesses already benefiting, and network with employers, parents, pupils and alumni over
drinks.
Find out more and book a place
Boarding Open House – this Saturday
Ever wondered what boarding at Kimbolton is like? Our boarding houses, Kimbolton House and White House, will be opening their doors this Saturday, 3 October, from 2 – 4pm.
Come and have a look around, ask questions and get a feel for life in our boarding community. Whether your child is interested in boarding or you would simply like to find out more, this is a lovely opportunity to explore their home from home.
We look forward to welcoming you!
Water Sports at Kimbolton
Watch our new film on not just learning about adventure, but living it!
Mini Music Makers – free for ages 0-4 years
Join us on Friday 16 October, from 9am to 10am, for a fun-filled morning of songs, movement and musical play for children aged 0–4.
Our Mini Music Makers session is a lovely opportunity for little ones to discover the joy of learning through music, while families explore our Pre-School and Reception classrooms.
Booking is essential, as spaces are limited. Do share the invitation with friends and family who might enjoy coming along!
Prep Open Morning – Friday 9 October
Do you have a younger child who might enjoy being part of our Prep School, or friends and family considering Kimbolton?
Our Prep Open Morning on Friday 9 October offers the opportunity to meet school leaders, teachers and current families, explore our facilities and discover more about life at the Prep.
Whether you are considering the next step for a younger sibling or sharing the invitation with someone new to Kimbolton, we would be delighted to welcome you.
