/brightoncollegesingapore /brightoncollege_sg
The Newsletter TERM 1 | WEEK 5 | 25 SEPTEMBER 2026
Contents Message from the Head of College
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Message from the Head of Prep
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Dates for Your Diary 3 Notices and Events 5 Happy Mid-Autumn Festival 12 Global Be Well Day 13 Reading with Mr Davies 14 FOBISIA Code Breaking Challenge 14 Spotlight on Reading 15 Spotlight on Art 16
Message from the Head of College Dear Parents, With the Mid-Autumn Festival upon us, there is a fantastic display in the Brighton Pier showcasing some pupil work to mark this important cultural celebration. I also had the pleasure of reading a Mid-Autumn Festival story to our Year 2 pupils this week and was particularly impressed by both their listening skills and their knowledge of this event! In fact, I have had the chance to read to several of our Lower prep classes over the past few days- something that is always a complete joy. Today has also been Global Be Well Day, an annual event across all Cognita schools which focuses on supporting the wellbeing of both pupils and staff. This year’s theme is physical activity and it was brilliant to see our Upper Prep pupils out on the playground this morning, dancing for 20 minutes, with each Year 4 class taking a turn to lead the choreography. Plenty of other opportunities to get active have been taking place across the College throughout the day and you can read more about this initiative below. There has also been a huge amount of sport this week- when the weather has allowed! We now have more pupils representing the College, across more teams and more sports, than ever before. None of this would be possible without the generosity and commitment of our staff, who give so much of their time to provide these opportunities. I am equally grateful to our parents for everything they do to support our teams, from encouraging children to arrive into school early for practices, helping with kit, to coming along and cheering from the sidelines. It really is a team effort. Finally, I am looking forward to our Class Representative meetings coming up soon. Thank you to all the parents who have volunteered to take on this important role. Our Class Reps are a valuable part of how we work in partnership with parents, helping us to maintain strong communication and importantly, ensuring we continue to receive regular feedback that we can use to make our school better. There are a few vacancies for certain classes still left, so if you can help with one of these positions, we’d be delighted to hear from you- again there is more information below. I hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend. Best Wishes, Nick Davies Head of College
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Message from the Head of Prep Dear Brighton College Community, One of the things I enjoy most about walking through our Prep classrooms is seeing what happens when children don’t immediately know the answer. “I can’t do this.” “I’m not sure.” “This is too hard.” These moments might not sound particularly exciting, but they are often where some of the most valuable learning begins. As adults, our instinct can be to step in quickly when a child is struggling. We want to explain, fix or make things easier. Yet learning to sit with a little uncertainty, try a different approach, make a mistake and have another go is an important part of becoming a confident and independent learner. At Brighton, we want our pupils to experience appropriate challenge, while knowing that support is always there when they need it. Sometimes, though, the most helpful response from a teacher isn’t an answer but another question: What have you tried? What could you do differently? What might help you take the next step? Interestingly, this commitment to learning doesn’t stop with our pupils. Our teachers have been thinking about many of these same ideas this week as part of their own professional development. Colleagues have spent time reflecting on what excellent learning looks like in our classrooms, sharing practice with one another and considering the small things we can continually refine to make learning even better for our pupils. There is something powerful about children being part of a community where everyone is learning. At home, we can support this too. When something feels difficult, resisting the temptation to immediately provide the solution can be surprisingly powerful. Even adding one small word can change the conversation: “I can’t do it… yet.” Warmly, Emma Shea Head of Prep
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Dates for Your Diary 2026/2027 School Year Calendar. *Please note the additional dates/changes (highlighted in red) in the calendar* Monday, 28 September
Upper Prep European Day of Languages Assembly
Monday, 28 September
Brighton Talks Episode 17: Pastoral Practices: Character & Values
Tuesday, 29 September
House Meetings: Pupils to wear House Shirts
Wednesday, 30 September Lower Prep European Day of Languages Assembly Thursday, 1 October
Sixth Form Class Representatives Meeting, 9.15am-10.15am, HOC office
Friday, 2 October
European Day of Languages Week (Non-Uniform Day)
Friday, 2 October Monday, 5 October
Class Representatives Meeting EYFS and Prep School, 9.30am-10.30am, Bubble Room Senior School Class Representatives Meeting, 9.30am-10.30am
Tuesday, 6 October
Nursery Stay and Play
Wednesday, 7 October
Pre-Nursery Stay and Play
Thursday, 8 October
Year 5 Explorer Talk by Robert Swan, Black Box, 9.10am-10.30am
Saturday, 10 October Monday, 25 October
School Holiday
Tuesday, 27 October
House Meetings: Pupils to wear House Shirts
Wednesday, 30 October
Lower Prep European Day of Languages Assembly
Saturday, 31 October Sunday, 1 November
Football Tournament U13 FOBISIA Football, Malaysia
Thursday, 5 November
Deepavali Celebrations (TBC)
Friday, 6 November
School Holiday
Sunday, 8 November
Remembrance Sunday
Monday, 9 November
Public Holiday: Deepavali
Tuesday, 10 November
House Meetings: Pupils to wear House Shirts
Wednesday, 11 November
Remembrance Day
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Dates for Your Diary 2026/2027 School Year Calendar. *Please note the additional dates/changes (highlighted in red) in the calendar* Thursday, 12 November
Sixth Form Opening Event
Friday, 13 November
Coffee and Connect, All parents of Prep Year Groups are invited
Monday, 16 November
Odd Socks Day & Anti-bullying Week
Wednesday, 18 November
Year 5 Batam Residentials, Parents Information Evening (TBC)
Thursday, 19 November
Reception Stay and Play
Tuesday, 24 November
House Meetings: Pupils to wear House Shirts
Wednesday, 25 November
Whole School Fire Evacuation Drill
Monday, 30 November
Christmas Tree Lighting Event - British Club
Thursday, 3 December
Nativities ( Nursery - Reception )
Thursday, 3 December
Nativities ( Year 1)
Thursday, 3 December
Nativities ( Year 2)
Thursday, 3 December
Christmas Celebration Show (Year 3)
Friday, 4 December
Brighton Society Event - Christmas
Monday, 7 December
PCP and PCS Graduation Celebration
Tuesday, 8 December
House Meetings: Pupils to wear House Shirts
Tuesday, 8 December
Prep School Rehearsals Christmas Shows
Wednesday, 9 December
Year 4 - Year 6 Festive Show
Friday, 11 December
Senior School Carol Service Year 7-10
Friday, 11 December
End of Term 1
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Important Notices & Events Help Us Broaden Horizons: Senior School Speaker Series As part of the developed Brighton College (Singapore) curriculum, we are establishing a Speaker Series to give pupils access to a broad range of ideas, disciplines, industries, life experiences and future pathways. Sessions will connect with our current curriculum offering, futures & careers, and wider enrichment across the Senior School and Sixth Form. We know that our parent community holds a remarkable range of experience and connections. We would therefore be grateful to hear from parents or contacts who may be willing to contribute a short, age-appropriate session for pupils. This might involve sharing professional expertise, explaining an area of research or innovation, discussing a university or career pathway, exploring a significant contemporary question, or reflecting on a genuine challenge, achievement or lesson learned. Opportunities may include a 20-minute assembly contribution, a 40-minute lesson or lunchtime talk, or an interactive workshop. Expressions of interest will help us build a balanced programme; submitting a suggestion will not automatically confirm a session, as all contributions will be reviewed for fit, timing and school requirements. If you may be able to help, please complete this form accordingly. Thank you for helping us extend learning beyond the classroom and broaden the horizons of our pupils.
Free Speech and Language Screening We are offering pupils a free speech and language screening with Thumbs Up Therapy during the school day. The short session will give families a snapshot of their child’s speech and language skills, with feedback shared afterwards. To find out more and register your interest, click HERE.
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Important Notices & Events 500 Speech and Language Screening Children in Years 1–6 are invited to take part in our 500 Words Competition. This is an optional homework task and a fantastic opportunity for children to let their imaginations run wild and enjoy writing for a real purpose! This year’s prompt is “The Day Everything Changed…” and stories should begin with: “When I woke up that morning, everything looked exactly the same… until I opened the front door.” Stories should be no more than 500 words, fit on one A4 sheet of paper and be the child’s own original idea. Entries should be written in prose (not poetry, rap or rhyme), contain no personal details or real/historical events, and AI must not be used. There are three age categories: Years 1–2, Years 3–4 and Years 5–6. Completed stories should be sent to your child’s class teacher by Wednesday 4th November. This competition is completely optional. If your child would like to take part, please ask your child’s class teacher for more information.
Invitation to SCC 7s As part of our commitment to promoting sport and physical activity, we are pleased to share details of this year’s SCC 7s. Many of our families are already connected with SCC and attend the event, so we are happy to support this opportunity for our pupils and families to enjoy a weekend of sport together. This year’s event is free to attend, with registration required in advance. Register here to secure your tickets. 6
Important Notices & Events Brighton Theatre Night at Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) Join fellow Brighton parents and staff for a theatre night at Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) on Tuesday, 24 November! SRT is presenting Eureka Day, a Tony Award-winning play set in a progressive school where everyone has a say. One meeting, five parents and everything that could possibly go wrong. Brighton parents and staff can enjoy 15% off, with a selection of seats reserved for our community. Book your tickets here. After the performance, Director Daniel Jenkins will stay for a special post-show conversation, offering a glimpse behind the scenes of the production. For more theatre outings, SRT news and occasional discounts, Brighton parents and staff are also welcome to join the Brighton Theatre WhatsApp group.
Brighton Talks Ep 17 - Pastoral Practices on Character & Values (English Edition) We warmly invite Lower and Upper Prep parents to the next episode of Brighton Talks, focusing on Pastoral Practices: Character & Values. Our Pastoral Team will share how our evolving approach - including moving away from sanctions hierarchies and continuing to emphasise restorative and relational practices - supports pupils in developing character and values, reflecting on their choices and building positive relationships within our school community. We hope you can join us to learn more about the pastoral approach that underpins everyday life at Brighton. Date: 28 September 2026 Time: 9:15am - 10:15am Venue: Brighton College (Singapore), ELV, Wind Room, Level 1M Please click HERE to register.
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Important Notices & Events 8 OCTOBER , BRIGHTON COLLEGE (SINGAPORE)
Brighton Talks Ep 18 - Pastoral Practices on Character & Values We warmly invite our Mandarin-speaking parents to join us for a dedicated session exploring Brighton’s approach to pastoral care, with a focus on restorative and relational practice. Our Pastoral Team will share how we support pupils in developing character and values, reflecting on their choices and building positive relationships with others. Please complete this form to register your interest in attending. Date: 8 October 2026 Time: 9:15am - 10:15am Venue: Brighton College (Singapore), ELV, Wind Room, Level 1M Please click HERE to register.
Deepavali at Brighton - Parent Volunteers Needed! We look forward to celebrating Deepavali at Brighton College (Singapore) on Wednesday, 5 November 2026, with a special parent-led celebration for our whole College community. From 8.30am to 3.30pm, pupils across all year groups will visit the celebration space to enjoy festive activities and traditional Deepavali goodies. The venue will be confirmed nearer the date. We warmly invite parent volunteers to help shape and lead the celebration by sharing their ideas, traditions and creativity through activities, decorations, food and cultural experiences.. Keen to be part of it? Please register HERE to join our parent volunteer team. Registration closes on 1 October 2026. We would love for our parent community to come together to make this a meaningful and joyful celebration of Deepavali.
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Important Notices & Events Under One Moon: Mid-Autumn Photography Competition This Mid-Autumn Festival, we are inviting our Brighton parent community to get creative and take part in our MidAutumn Photography Competition: Under One Moon. Running alongside our school-wide competition for pupils, parents are invited to capture what Mid-Autumn Festival means to them. It could be a family tradition, a glowing lantern, festive food, the moon in the night sky or simply a moment that brings Under One Moon to life. Each parent may submit one photograph, accompanied by a short caption sharing the story or meaning behind the image. Competition Period : Friday, 11 September 2026 - Monday, 28 September 2026 Winning photographs will be showcased around the school alongside selected pupil entries and featured as artwork for a Brighton College (Singapore) postcard. We would love to see Mid-Autumn Festival through the eyes of our Brighton families. Register to submit your photo here.
Senior Music Department Concert Join us on Friday, 9 October at 2.30pm for a concert featuring GCSE solo and ensemble performances by our Year 10 and 11 pupils.
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Important Notices & Events 2 OCTOBER , BRIGHTON COLLEGE (SINGAPORE)
European Day of Languages 2026 European Day of Languages is approaching, and here at Brighton College (Singapore) we are looking forward to celebrating the wonderful multilingualism and multiculturalism within our College community. This year, activities will take place throughout the week, including special assemblies and a House Quiz, culminating in our main celebration on Friday, 2 October. We would also love to involve our European parent community. Parents of pupils in ELV, Lower Prep and Upper Prep will be invited to visit classes to read a short story in another language or share something about their language and culture. Further information on how to get involved will follow. Our Main Celebration On Friday, the whole College will be invited to take part in a European-themed non-uniform day. Pupils are encouraged to wear something European. They may wear something inspired by a European country, flag, landmark or cultural tradition. Prizes will be awarded for the most creative outfits across Prep and Senior School. European Bake Off - Senior School ONLY Our popular European Bake Off will also return for Senior School pupils. Pupils are invited to bring in a bake inspired by a European country or culture, with prizes awarded for the best entries. Please remember that Brighton College (Singapore) is a nut-free College, so all entries must not contain any nuts. Further details about where and when to bring entries will be shared nearer the date. We are very much looking forward to celebrating the many languages and cultures represented within our College and to seeing the creativity of our pupils and families throughout the week. A presto, à bientôt, hasta pronto, bis später, até logo! 10
Important Notices & Events Elements Science Competition: Small Things, Big Impact How can something small make a big difference? Pupils are invited to explore a tiny animal, plant, virus or natural phenomenon and show its wider impact. For example, earthworms may be small, but they help keep soil healthy so plants and crops can grow. Pupils can create a poster, comic strip, video or PowerPoint presentation. Entries should explain the topic clearly and include labelled visuals and interesting scientific facts or data. For research, pupils can explore Encyclopaedia Britannica Kids, National Geographic Kids, WWF or London Zoo. Please submit entries to your Science Teacher by Friday, 13 November.
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Happy Mid-Autumn Festival At Brighton College (Singapore), we are celebrating this special festival across all three schools. Students have been enjoying cultural lessons and taking part in a variety of Mid-Autumn-themed craft activities. In the Pier, we are proudly showcasing students’ work, and classes have been visiting the display to appreciate and learn from one another’s creations. We are also delighted that Mr Shea and Mr Davies have joined our Lower Prep students for special storytelling sessions, sharing stories connected to the Mid-Autumn Festival. Our photography competition has brought together students, staff, and parents from across the College community. Thank you to everyone who has submitted photographs so far. We will be reviewing the entries next week and look forward to announcing the winners shortly. Wishing all our families a joyful Mid-Autumn Festival filled with happiness, togetherness, and moonlit celebrations. - Ms. Wang (Head of Mandarin)
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Global Be Well Day
We were thrilled to hold our annual Global Be Well Day, centred around this year’s theme, In Motion We Thrive. The day was a fantastic opportunity for those in the across the college to slow down, move together, and explore practical ways to support physical and mental wellbeing. The day started with an energetic, school-wide WakeUp, Shake-Up event to get everyone moving and smiling. Following this, the pupils took part in a range of interactive sessions and activities structured around our four key pillars: Calm, Connection, Motivation, and Energy. In EYFS, we explored the difference between energy and calm through movement and music. We danced and jumped to an energetic song before slowing down with calm breathing. We then enjoyed a song that combined both types of movement, thinking about how each made our bodies and minds feel and which movements made us feel happiest. To keep the momentum going, pupils can also participate in an optional follow-up Wellbeing Challenge designed to help build lasting, healthy habits. Thank you to all staff and pupils for bringing so much positive energy to the day! - Mr. Davidson (Year 4 Teacher) & Mrs. Davidson (Puffins Teacher)
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Reading with Mr. Davies The children in PCP 4–6 were delighted to welcome Headteacher Mr Nick Davies for a special reading session. Mr Davies read two engaging stories with the children before they completed a listening comprehension activity based on the texts. The children were enthralled as they listened to Mr Davies read and were keen to answer his questions, share their ideas and ask their own questions about the stories. It was a wonderful opportunity for the children to develop their listening and comprehension skills while enjoying the pleasure of reading together. - Ms. Roberts (Head of EAL Provisions)
FOBISIA Codebreaking Challenge This week in Upper Prep, pupils in Years 4–6 took part in the FOBISIA Codebreaking Challenge during their maths lessons. The challenge encouraged pupils to think logically, spot patterns, solve problems as they tackled a series of increasingly difficult codes. It was lovely to see their perseverance and enthusiasm as they worked to crack each one! - Ms. Loh (PCP Teacher)
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Brighton Society A Brilliant Night at British Club Last Friday, 18 September, we welcomed our parent community to The British Club for our first Brighton Society event of the academic year. With plenty of friendly competition, some wonderfully creative team names and lots of laughter along the way, Quiz Night brought together parents for an evening of good food, new connections and familiar faces. A big thank you to everyone who joined us and brought such great energy to the evening. We loved seeing our Brighton community come together beyond the school gates. Here are a few moments from the night. We look forward to seeing you at the next Brighton Society gathering! - Ms. Teo (Parent Experience Manager)
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Spotlight on...
Reading
Update on our September reading. Through Accelerated Reader, pupils have been busy reading and completing quizzes on their books and the numbers are already impressive - a huge improvement has been seen in September already! Well done Brighton! Keep going! - Ms. Mills (Prep English Lead)
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Spotlight on...
Art
This week’s Artist Spotlight Award goes to William Graham, whose observed study of a human skull is a truly impressive and ambitious piece of work. Working in charcoal and pastels, William produced this striking piece as a direct response to his own studio photography session, in which he experimented with professional lighting techniques, using both a soft box and a snoot to sculpt dramatic, directional light across his subject. This dual process, first as photographer, then as draughtsman, demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of how light defines form, and William has carried that understanding beautifully into his drawing. The skull is rendered with real confidence and anatomical awareness. The deep, dark background throws the subject into sharp relief, and William has used the contrast between rich shadow and carefully placed highlights to give the skull a powerful threedimensional presence and shows a mature command of his materials. What makes this work particularly noteworthy is the clear connection between William’s photographic experimentation and his drawing. By controlling the light source himself, he was able to observe exactly how shadow falls across complex forms, and that understanding
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