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CONTACT US Word from the Head – 5 September 2025
Dear Parents,
Welcome to the new year and, for some of you, welcome to Channing! It has been lovely to see the parents of Years 7, 10 and 12 at our Welcome Evenings this week and I look forward to seeing Year 8 and 9 parents next week at their events, along with Year 11 parents at the Sixth Form A level options evening on Tuesday. I have no doubt that we have an exciting year ahead.
Before we go forward, however, I’d like to start with a brief look backwards. In August we were delighted by an outstanding set of A level results from our Class of 2025. This year our total A*-B grades stand at 94.6%, outperforming many local schools who might be considered to be more academic than Channing. These outstanding results enabled 92% of the year group to achieve their first choice university offer, climbing to a staggering 97% first choice and insurance offers confirmed on the day.
Highlights included five of the 73-strong cohort achieving straight A* grades and a further 30 students with all A and A* grades, including one with 4 As. The girls in the year group who had been with us since the Junior School achieved 95% A*-B with 15 A*s, 12 As, 11 Bs and 2 Cs. We also saw very strong results from the seven girls who joined us for the Sixth Form, who between them achieved 17 As and 5 Bs.
In addition, Channing students took an EPQ in Year 12 rather than Year 13 for the first time this year and a staggering 92% of the entries achieved A*-A grades.
At GCSE our headline figures continue to be strong, with the total percentage of results awarded at grade 9 at 35.9%. 63.0% of all grades were achieved at 8 & 9, while the total percentage of 7-9 grades was 81.2%. The standout statistic this year is that 51% of the year group achieved a full set of results at grades 7-9 (up from 39% last year). There were also significant departmental successes at both GCSE and A level.
I could not be more thrilled with this spectacular outcome and must offer my thanks and congratulations to the students and staff whose hard work and dedication have certainly paid off. These achievements demonstrate that it is possible to twin inspirational teaching with a pastoral approach: a kind, warm school can also be highly academic. Congratulations on making the excellent choice of being a Channing parent and getting the best of both worlds!
The summer holiday was busy for those running trips and expeditions. Ms Yun and Mr Hill accompanied the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award groups on their assessed expedition: a challenging 4 day, 3 night hike in Wales which included wild camping and some wild weather! All the girls passed and many are on course to complete their Gold awards before they leave school, which is a marvellous achievement.
Immediately after the end of term Mr Raine and Ms Pavlopoulos organised and ran the Year 10 History & German trip to Berlin. They covered a huge amount of ground and learned a lot, while soaking up the culture of the city. You can read full reports from many of the participants in the section below. My thanks to them and to Mr Boardman, Mr Bowman and Ms Marcu for accompanying them.
One of the aspects of the Channing community of which I am immensely proud is our long standing tradition of community service and over the last three years we have been building strong relationships with our local community which provides fantastic opportunities for our own students to see beyond the gates of Channing and meet people from very different circumstances to their own. In July we hosted our third annual Summer Camp with our partners at HNCP for pupils from four local primary schools. I am grateful to Mr Felder, our Partnerships Coordinator, for overseeing this with support from Mrs Blase, Estates Manager, Mr Hill, the Bursar, Diego and Mo from our catering team and Mr Marshall in IT.
This term I am delighted to launch our first Social Impact Report detailing some of the ways in which we are making an impact and helping to widen access to a Channing education and the fabulous opportunities your daughters have access to. It paints an inspiring picture of the breadth and depth of our activities and the impact they have on our students and the wider community. The value and strength of our partnerships programme is reflected in the exciting news that we’ve been shortlisted for the Talk Education Awards in the Community Engagement category. I offer my huge congratulations to the whole team of staff and students involved – this recognition is a testament to their incredible dedication and hard work in making a real difference in our community.
I would urge you to have a read of the Social Impact Report and think about how you and your daughter might like to support this important and valuable aspect of life at Channing.
The start of term is always an exciting time: there is an extraordinary rush of energy as the girls come into school after our days of preparation and an air of optimism about the year ahead. For school leaders and teachers it’s a time to ensure that expectations are well understood and that’s why the chance to meet you in person in these first two weeks, as well as spend time getting to know the girls in our classes, is so important.
On Wednesday morning Miss Hamalis, the Head of the Junior School, and I were joined by the Junior School and Senior School Head Girls to lead our first whole school assembly of the year. We focused on the Channing Promise, a special commitment that everyone in the Channing community shares. It’s a promise that helps create a school environment where everyone feels safe, respected and valued. Written by the girls and upheld by all, we believe this promise is essential to our pupils’ personal growth, not just their academic learning.
The Channing Promise is made up of five core principles. In the Junior School version each of them is linked to a Channing Character animal to help students remember and apply them.
- Treat everyone with respect and kindness (Respectful Hedgehog): This promise is about using kind words, helpful hands, and friendly actions. In assembly students were encouraged to give a genuine compliment to the person next to them to practice this value.
- Think of others and be aware of their feelings (Empathy Rabbit): This principle reminds students to look after one another and make sure everyone feels included. It takes courage to be brave and do the right thing, especially when others are silent.
- Create a supportive environment with freedom for thought and voice (Curiosity Fox and Resilience Robin): Students were encouraged to be curious and open-minded, like the fox who loves to ask questions. The robin reminds them that it’s okay to make mistakes and to just try again.
- Make the most of all the opportunities we receive with a positive and appreciative attitude (Independence Owl and Perseverance Squirrel): This promise teaches students to make the most of every opportunity, try new things, and keep going even when things are difficult.
- Uphold fairness and inclusivity in all we do (Responsibility Badger and Bravery Mole): This final promise emphasises making sure everything is fair and inclusive, so that everyone feels valued and welcome.
The Channing Promise isn’t just a set of words on a poster; it’s something we are all expected to live out every day through our actions. In the words of our founder, Matilda Sharpe, ‘Life expects much of you and me’, and the Channing Promise helps students live up to that expectation and be the best versions of themselves. As I explained to the girls, these five promises are the sum total of our school’s rules. The values of kindness, respect and inclusivity should be a guide for their actions, both in the classroom and in their conversations with one another. I have no doubt that you will help us in ensuring that they do so.
Finally this week, a brief introduction to some of the key people who are new in role, or have new titles, and play an important role in your child’s life at Channing. Many of you already know Mr Meier, who has the new title of Senior Deputy to reflect the significance of his role in the school. His assistant, Mrs Matharu, is on maternity leave and her role is being covered by Miss Dorey, who you can contact on edorey@channing.co.uk if you need to make an appointment to speak with him.
I am also delighted to introduce our new Deputy Head (Academic), Ms Flint. Ms Flint joins us from Burgess Hill School for Girls, where she was Assistant Head Academic for the last 6 years. Prior to that her CV includes the remarkable experience of being the founding Deputy Head of a new independent school in Kent. I have no doubt that she will bring an exciting new perspective to the leadership of the academic life of the school.
We also have some new pastoral staff to introduce: Mr Raine takes on the role of Director of Sixth Form this year as maternity cover for Mrs Tomback, while Mr Waring becomes Head of Year 8. We are delighted to welcome Miss Richards, our new Head of Pupil Wellbeing, and Ms Sealy, our School Nurse, who is known to the girls as Nurse Kay. There are a number of new teaching staff in addition to those mentioned above, whose details I have included below. I know that you, and your children, will make them feel welcome at Channing. As always at the start of the year, here is our useful Who should I contact 2025:26.pdf document, which is also readily available on the Parent Portal for reference.
I have had the unusual experience of writing not one but two Friday missives this week, the second being my first letter to my fellow Heads as President of the Girls’ Schools Association. I take up that role with the privilege of speaking on behalf of all GSA Heads about the power and importance of all-girls schools, and the responsibility to champion the extraordinary education which we provide. I finished my letter to them with this: ‘Someone told me recently that the new parenting trend is to ask your child ‘Would you like to be hugged, heard or helped?’ – we’re here for all three.’ The same is true for your daughters at Channing – and for you.
With best wishes for the year ahead and for now a restful weekend,
With warmest wishes,
Lindsey Hughes
Headmistress
