Winter Term Diary 2026
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Uppingham Cairo NEWGIZA KM 22 Cairo-Alex Road First 6th of October Giza Governorate Junior School Office +20 1040777571 jrschooloffice@uppinghamcairo.com
Admissions +20 1070222222 admissions@uppinghamcairo.com
Senior School Office +20 1031196004 srschooloffice@uppinghamcairo.com
School Shop +20 1070222222 uniform@uppinghamcairo.com
1584 School Reception +20 1012777777 info@uppinghamcairo.com
Website https://uppinghamcairo.com
The School Diary Please note that items in italics are either staff events, included for your information, or further details provided for sports fixtures. Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the published diary, it is possible that there may be some changes over the course of the term. This particularly applies to fixtures which may be changed by the hosting school. Parents will receive direct communication in the event that a diary entry is changed for any reason.
Term Dates Winter Term 2026 Term Starts: Sunday 6th September Public Holiday: Thursday 8th October Half Term: Thursday 22nd October to Thursday 29th October Term Ends: Thursday 17th December, 12 noon
Spring Term 2027 Term Starts: Sunday 10th January Public Holiday: Thursday 28th January Half Term: Sunday 7th March to Thursday 18th March Term Ends: Monday 19th April, 12 noon
Summer Term 2027 Term Starts: Tuesday 4th May Half Term: Sunday 16th May to Thursday 20th May Public Holiday: Monday 7th June Term Ends: Wednesday, 30th June, 12 noon (Speech Day)
Governance The Board Chair of the Board Dr Tamer Tammam
Mrs Barbara Matthews Mr Anthony Puri Mr Keith Budge Mr Mohammed Serry
The Board can be contacted through the Clerk to the Governors via email to chair@uppinghamcairo.com or by letter to the following address:
Chair of the Governors c/o Clerk to the Governors Uppingham Cairo NEWGIZA KM 22 Cairo-Alex Road First 6th of October Giza Governorate
To whom should I speak if my child is in the Junior School? Parents may contact members of staff by telephone, through the School Office, or by email. The first point of contact for any concerns should be the Form Teacher, who can also be contacted via your son or daughter’s diary, then as follows:
If you have a specific enquiry about curriculum content.
PUPIL
If your child is late, ill or if you need to pass on a message during the school day
If you have general enquiries about your child’s schooling (pastoral, academic or co-curricular)
SUBJECT HEAD
FORM TEACHER
SCHOOL SECRETARY
Any child protection (safeguarding) concerns
DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD
If you have a concern or a general enquiry about academic matters
If you have a query or concern about an aspect of UPPStart Co-Curricular provision
ASSISTANT HEAD (COCURRICULAR & OPERATIONS)
DEPUTY HEAD ACADEMIC
If you have a very serious concern thatHhas not been resolved or a query about school policy
HEAD OF JUNIOR SCHOOL
If you have a pastoral / disciplinary concern or a general enquiry about pastoral matters
DEPUTY HEAD PASTORAL
To whom should I speak if my child is in the Senior School? Parents may contact members of staff by telephone, through the School Office, or by email. The first point of contact for any concerns should be the Personal Tutor, who can also be contacted via your son or daughter’s diary, then as follows:
If you have a specific enquiry for a specialist teacher, for example about curriculum content.
PUPIL
SPECIALIST TEACHER
If you have general enquiries about your child’s schooling (pastoral, academic or co-curricular)
If you have a concern about an aspect of academic provision or a general enquiry about academic matters
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
If you have a serious academic concern or a general enquiry about academic matters
DIRECTOR OF STUDIES
If you have a very serious concern that has not been H resolved or a query about school policy
HEAD OF SENIOR SCHOOL
PERSONAL TUTOR
If you have a serious pastoral / disciplinary concern or a general enquiry about pastoral matters
HEAD OF LOWER OR HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL
If you have a more serious concern or a query about H Senior School pastoral matters
DEPUTY HEAD (PASTORAL)
If your child is late, ill or if you need to pass on a message during the school day
SCHOOL SECRETARY
Any child protection (safeguarding) concerns
DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD
If you have a serious concern about an aspect of co-curricular provision
ASSISTANT HEAD (COCURRICULAR & OPERATIONS)
To whom should I speak about Day Boarding? Parents may contact members of staff by telephone, through the School Office, or by email. The first point of contact for any concerns should be the Coaches for Individual Sports or the Heads of Department, then as follows:
If you have a specific enquiry about Day Boarding Academic Academy Tutoring
PUPIL
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
If you have general query or concern about Day Boarding provision (Sport)
If you have general query or concern about Day Boarding provision (The Arts)
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF DAY BOARDING & SPORT
Any child protection (safeguarding) concerns
DESIGNATED SAFEGUARDING LEAD
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF DAY BOARDING & ENRICHMENT
If you have a more serious concern or a query about Day Boarding policy
DIRECTOR OF DAY BOARDING, SPORT & EXPEDITIONS
Contact details Leadership Team
Headmistress
Mrs E Webb
Appointments with the Headmistress may be arranged through her PA, Mrs D Rashad
PA to the Headmistress
Mrs D Rashad
drashad@uppinghamcairo.com
Head of Junior School
Ms J Rhys-Evans
jrhysevans@uppinghamcairo.com
Head of Senior School
Miss N Alexander
nalexander@uppinghamcairo.com
Director of Day Boarding, Sport and Expeditions
Mr L Hucknall
Director of Studies (Senior School)
Miss A Bennett
abennett@uppinghamcairo.com
Deputy Head of Senior School (Pastoral)
Mr A Lane
alane@uppinghamcairo.com
Head of Futures and Innovation
Mr R Self
rself@uppinghamcairo.com
Head of Sixth Form
Mr I Trafford
itrafford@uppinghamcairo.com
Deputy Head of Junior School (Academic)
Mr M Lavoipierre
mlavoipierre@uppinghamcairo.com
Deputy Head of Junior School (Pastoral)
Mrs R de Wet
rdewet@uppinghamcairo.com
lhucknall@uppinghamcairo.com
Email Etiquette @ Uppingham Cairo The majority of modern communication is now electronic, and at Uppingham Cairo we recognise that this offers us the opportunity to communicate with parents more efficiently and effectively in many cases. However, in order to ensure all parties (staff and parents) find that email use continues to be effective and not too burdensome there are some simple guidelines listed below. Emails should not be used to communicate with the school regarding urgent or critical matters. It is always best to speak with the School by telephone or in person. Please continue to contact the School to arrange a meeting to discuss urgent or critical matters with the appropriate member of staff. Because of the nature of their work, teachers spend almost all of their time in the classroom. When they are not teaching, they may be in staff meetings, in training, planning or marking. In addition, all teachers perform a range of supervisory and cocurricular duties. Because teachers have a range of duties to fulfil, it may take longer than a parent might wish for them to respond to an email. Generally speaking, teachers will acknowledge an email within 24 hours and endeavour to respond in full within 48 hours. More complex issues and enquiries may require a longer response time. In the majority of cases, your son or daughter’s Form Teacher or Personal Tutor will be the most appropriate member of staff for you to make contact with.
WhatsApp Groups We understand that parents may wish to communicate with each other and we encourage the use of ‘Classlist’ rather than WhatsApp, to encourage the strong sense of community that this can bring. We do ask that parents communicate with the school directly should they have any concerns or questions. It is all too easy for misinformation to inadvertently and quickly spread through the parent body via WhatsApp groups, which can cause confusion and unnecessary upset. We are in the very best position to provide you with accurate information and professional support. So, please just ask us – we are here to help!
School Policies The following policies are available by clicking on the links in the digital version of the diary below: Aims and Ethos Academic (Curriculum) Policy Anti Bullying Policy Safeguarding and Whistleblowing Complaints Procedure First Aid Policy Behaviour Policy SEND & Learning Support Policy Supervision of Children Policy Uncollected Children Policy Cyber Bullying Policy Administration of Medicine Policy If parents wish to have paper copies of any of these policies, please contact the School Secretary.
6th- 10th September 2026
Week 1 Sunday 6th September
NO DAY BOARDING / StepUPP DAY
8.00am
Term starts for all pupils
8.30 - 9.00am
Junior School Little Gather: New Year, New Beginnings, Ms Rhys-Evans (QEII Exhibition Hall) Senior School Gather: Welcome to the new Academic Year, Miss Alexander (Thring Lecture Hall)
11.00am - 12 Noon
‘An Uppingham Education from the Beginning’; Presentation for new Junior School Parents with the Headmistress and the Head of Junior School (Barbara Matthews Theatre)
2.30pm - 3.30pm
‘An Uppingham Education from the Beginning’; Presentation for new Senior School Parents with the Headmistress and the Head of Senior School (Barbara Matthews Theatre)
Monday 7th September
NO DAY BOARDING
4.30pm - 7.00pm
Junior School: Parents’ Information Evening (All Parents)
Tuesday 8th September
NO DAY BOARDING
4.00 - 4.30pm
3rd - 5th Form Gather, Mrs Peacock (Thring Lecture Hall)
4.30pm - 6.00pm
Senior School: Parents’ Information Evening (New Parents)
6.00pm - 7.00pm
Senior School: Parents’ Information Evening (All Parents)
Wednesday 9th September
NO DAY BOARDING
All Day
Individual Pupil Photographs (QEII Exhibition Hall)
4.00 - 4.30pm
1st & 2nd Form Gather, Mrs Peacock (Thring Lecture Hall)
Thursday 10th September
NO DAY BOARDING
3.00 - 3.30pm
Junior School Celebration Gather
Week 2
13th - 17th September 2026
Sunday 13th September
UPPStart and Day Boarding Programmes Commence
All Day
Junior School Roald Dahl Day
8.30 - 9.00am
Junior School Little Gather: Roald Dahl Day (QEII Exhibition Hall)
9.00am
Individual Music Lessons Commence
Monday 14th September
4.30 - 5.30pm
Upper School Parents and Pupils: The Uppingham Cairo Sixth Form: The Next Chapter (Barbara Matthews Theatre)
Tuesday 15th September 4.00 - 4.30pm
3rd - 5th Form Gather, Mr Lane (Thring Lecture Hall)
Wednesday 16th September 4.00 - 4.30pm
1st & 2nd Form Gather, Mr Lane (Thring Lecture Hall)
Thursday 17th September
2.30 – 3.30pm
Parents’ Circle Meeting (Charities): Mrs Webb (QEII Dining Room)
3.00 - 5.00pm
U15 Girls Netball - NCBIS
3.00 - 3.30pm
Junior School Celebration Gather
Week 3
20th - 24th September 2026
Sunday 20th September
8.30 - 9.00am
Junior School Little Gather: Pupil Leadership, Mrs de Wet (QEII Exhibition Hall)
9.00 - 9.30am
Junior School Big Sing: Mr Jones (QEII Exhibition Hall)
Monday 21st September
Ms Rhys-Evans at IAPS Annual Conference
All Day
5th Form French & Spanish Speaking Mocks
8.20 - 8.30am
Whole School: School Council, Charity Committee and Sustainability Committee Elections
2.30 - 3.30pm
Headmistress and Head of Senior School Afternoon Tea and Workshop for Lower School Parents (QEII Dining Room)
Tuesday 22nd September
Ms Rhys-Evans at IAPS Annual Conference
All Day
5th Form French & Spanish Speaking Mocks
2.00 – 3.00pm
Junior School: House Competition (Non-Sporting)
4.00 - 4.30pm
3rd - 5th Form Gather, Miss Bennett (Thring Lecture Hall)
Wednesday 23rd September
Ms Rhys-Evans at IAPS Annual Conference
All Day
5th Form French & Spanish Speaking Mocks
4.00 - 4.30pm
1st & 2nd Form Gather, Miss Bennett (Thring Lecture Hall)
Thursday 24th September
Ms Rhys-Evans at IAPS Annual Conference
3.00 - 3.30pm
Junior School Celebration Gather
Week 4
27th September - 1st October 2026
Sunday 27th September
Mrs Webb at HMC Annual Conference
8.30 - 9.00am
Junior School Little Gather: The Power of Reading, Mr Lavoipierre (QEII Exhibition Hall)
9.00 - 9.30am
Junior School Big Sing: Mr Jones (QEII Exhibition Hall)
Monday 28th September
Mrs Webb at HMC Annual Conference
4.30 - 7.00pm
Whole School Pastoral Parents’ Evening
Tuesday 29th September
Mrs Webb at HMC Annual Conference
4.00 - 4.30pm
3rd - 5th Form Gather, Mr Hucknall (Thring Lecture Hall)
Wednesday 30th September
Mrs Webb at HMC Annual Conference
9.30 – 10.00am
School Council Meeting, Charity Committee and Sustainability Committee meetings
4.00 - 4.30pm
1st & 2nd Form Gather, Mr Hucknall (Thring Lecture Hall)
Thursday 1st October
Mrs Webb at HMC Annual Conference
8.30 - 9.30am
Nursery and 4s Parents: Stay and Play
3.00 - 3.30pm
Junior School Celebration Gather
Friday 2nd October
8.00 - 11.00am
U11, U13 and U15 BSME West Boys and Girls Swimming Gala, Uppingham Cairo
Week 5
4th - 8th October 2026
Sunday 4th October
8.30 - 9.00am
Junior School Little Gather: Celebration of 6th October Day (QEII Exhibition Hall), Mr Nagy
9.00 - 9.30am
Junior School Big Sing: Mr Jones (QEII Exhibition Hall)
Monday 5th October
4.30 - 5.30pm
Upper School Parents and Pupils: A Levels or the IB Diploma: Choosing the Right Pathway (Barbara Matthews Theatre)
Tuesday 6th October
4.00 - 4.30pm
3rd - 5th Form Gather, Celebration of 6th October Day, Mr Yussef (Thring Lecture Hall)
Wednesday 7th October
9.30 - 10.00am
Junior School: Parents’ Circle & Charity Committee Bake Sale (QEII Exhibition Hall)
10.30 - 11.00am
Senior School: Parents’ Circle & Charity Committee Bake Sale (The Buttery)
1.45 - 2.30pm
Senior School House Challenge Final
4.00 - 4.30pm
1st & 2nd Form Gather, Celebration of 6th October Day, Mr Yussef (Thring Lecture Hall)
Thursday 8th October ALL DAY
PUBLIC HOLIDAY - SCHOOL CLOSED
Week 6
11th - 15th October 2026
Sunday 11th October
8.30 - 10.30am
Junior School House Sports’ Competition
Monday 12th October
2.30 - 3.30pm
Headmistress and Head of Junior School Afternoon Tea and Workshop for Pre-Prep Parents (QEII Dining Room)
Tuesday 13th October Morning
Junior School Harvest Festival Rehearsal
4.00 - 4.30pm
3rd - 5th Form Gather, The Scholars (Thring Lecture Hall)
Wednesday 14th October
8.30 - 9.30am
Little Harvest Festival (4s to 6s) (All 4s - 6s Parents to attend)
2.30 - 3.30pm
Prep School Harvest Festival (7s - Top Year) (All Prep School Parents to attend)
4.00 - 4.30pm
1st & 2nd Form Gather, The Scholars (Thring Lecture Hall)
Thursday 15th October 8.30 – 9.30am
Parents’ Circle Charity Meeting: Mrs Webb
All Morning
Charity Committee to prepare Harvest Donations for delivery
3.00 - 3.30pm
Junior School Celebration Gather
Week 7
18th - 22nd October 2026
Sunday 18th October
8.30 - 9.00am
Junior School Little Gather: (QEII Exhibition Hall)
9.00 - 9.30am
Junior School Big Sing: Mr Jones (QEII Exhibition Hall)
Monday 19th October
Afternoon
Senior School Half Term Reviews sent to Parents
Tuesday 20th October 4.00 - 4.30pm
3rd - 5th Form Celebration Gather (Thring Lecture Hall)
12 Noon
5th Form: 6th Form Pathway Preference Deadline
Wednesday 21st October 4.00 - 4.30pm
1st & 2nd Form Celebration Gather (Thring Lecture Hall)
Thursday 22nd October
All Day
HALF TERM - SCHOOL CLOSED
3.30 - 5.30pm
U16 Boys and Girls Football BSME West, King’s School, The Crown
Week 8
25th - 29th October 2026
Sunday 25th October
All Day
HALF TERM - SCHOOL CLOSED
Monday 26th October
All Day
HALF TERM - SCHOOL CLOSED
Tuesday 27th October
All Day
HALF TERM - SCHOOL CLOSED
Wednesday 28th October
All Day
HALF TERM - SCHOOL CLOSED
Thursday 29th October
All Day
HALF TERM - SCHOOL CLOSED
Week 9
1st - 5th November 2026
Sunday 1st November
ALL WEEK: 5th Form Mock Examinations
8.30 - 9.00am
Junior School Little Gather: Top Year (QEII Exhibition Hall)
9.00 - 9.30am
Junior School Big Sing: Mr Jones (QEII Exhibition Hall)
Monday 2nd November
8.30 - 9.30am
Headmistress and Head of Junior School Coffee Morning and Workshop for Prep Parents
4.45 - 8.00pm
3rd Form Parents’ Evening
Tuesday 3rd November 4.00 - 4.30pm
3rd - 5th Form Gather, Mr Self (Thring Lecture Hall)
Wednesday 4th November
4.00 - 4.30pm
1st & 2nd Form Gather, Mr Self (Thring Lecture Hall)
Thursday 5th November 3.00 - 3.30pm
Junior School Celebration Gather
Friday 6th November Morning
U11 BSME West Boys and Girls Athletics, Uppingham Cairo
All Day
4th and 5th Form Geography Field Trip to Cyprus (until 9th November)
Week 10
8th - 12th November 2026
Sunday 8th November
Mrs Webb at AOBSO Annual Conference, London
8.30 - 9.00am
Junior School Little Gather: Top Year, World Kindness Day (QEII Exhibition Hall)
9.00 - 9.30am
Junior School Big Sing: Mr Jones (QEII Exhibition Hall)
Monday 9th November
Mrs Webb at AOBSO Annual Conference, London
All Day
9s and Top Year Day Trip
10.30 - 11.00am
House Shout Rehearsal, Mr Alexander and Mr Jones (House Common Rooms)
Tuesday 10th November
Mrs Webb at AOBSO Annual Conference, London
4.00 - 4.30pm
3rd - 5th Form Gather, Ms Howell (Thring Lecture Hall)
Wednesday 11th November
Mrs Webb at AOBSO Annual Conference, London
4.00 - 4.30pm
1st & 2nd Form Gather, Ms Howell (Thring Lecture Hall)
Thursday 12th November All Day
World Kindness Day
2.00 - 2.30pm
Whole School: Big Friend, Little Friend
3.00 - 3.30pm
Junior School Celebration Gather
3.30 - 5.30pm
U13 BSME West Boys and Girls Football, King’s School, The Crown
15th - 19th November 2026
Week 11 Sunday 15th November
ALL WEEK: 9s and Top Year Primary Maths Challenge
8.30 - 9.00am
Junior School Little Gather: Top Year (QEII Exhibition Hall)
9.00 - 9.30am
Junior School Big Sing: Mr Jones (QEII Exhibition Hall)
Monday 16th November
All Day
5s and 6s Day Trip
10.00 - 10.30am
House Shout Rehearsal, Mr Alexander and Mr Jones (House Common Rooms)
3.30 - 4.30pm
Headmistress and Head of Senior School Afternoon Tea and Workshop for Upper School Parents (QEII Dining Room)
Tuesday 17th November 4.00 - 4.30pm
3rd - 5th Form Gather, Mr Huxter (Thring Lecture Hall)
5.00 - 8.00pm
2nd Form and 5th Form Parents’ Evening (and Mock Assessment Results for 5th Form only)
Wednesday 18th November 9.30 - 10.00am
School Council, Charity Committee and Sustainability Committee meetings
4.00 - 4.30pm
1st & 2nd Form Gather, Mr Huxter (Thring Lecture Hall)
Thursday 19th November 1.30 - 2.00pm
Upper School House Debate Final (Thring Lecture Hall)
3.00 - 3.30pm
Junior School Celebration Gather
Friday 20th November
U11 & U13 Boys and Girls Football & U16 Boys and Girls Basketball, CAC (Morning)
Saturday 21st November
U12 & U14 Girls Get Strong Event, CAC (Morning)
Week 12
22nd - 26th November 2026
Sunday 22nd November
ALL WEEK: 1st - 4th Form Assessment Week / LAMDA Examinations
8.30 - 9.00am
Junior School Little Gather: The 9s (QEII Exhibition Hall)
9.00 - 9.30am
Junior School Big Sing: Mr Jones (QEII Exhibition Hall)
Monday 23rd November
All Day
7s and 8s Day Trip
Tuesday 24th November 4.00 - 4.30pm
3rd - 5th Form Gather, Farleigh House (Thring Lecture Hall)
Wednesday 25th November
All Day
School Book Fair (QEII Exhibition Hall)
4.00 - 4.30pm
1st & 2nd Form Gather, Farleigh House (Thring Lecture Hall)
Thursday 26th November
All Day
School Book Fair (QEII Exhibition Hall)
3.00 - 3.30pm
Junior School Celebration Gather
3.30 - 7.00pm
Junior School Day Boarders’ Coach & Parent Meetings
Friday 27th November All Day
U13 BSME International Boys and Girls Football, NCBIS & MES
Saturday 28th November All Day
U13 BSME International Boys and Girls Football, NCBIS & MES
Week 13
29th November - 3rd December 2026
Sunday 29th November 8.30 - 9.00am
Junior School Little Gather: The 9s (QEII Exhibition Hall)
9.00 - 9.30am
Junior School Big Sing: Mr Jones (QEII Exhibition Hall)
Monday 30th November 5.00 - 8.00pm
1st Form and 4th Form Parents’ Evening
Tuesday 1st December
Morning
Pre-Prep Christmas Performance Rehearsal
4.00 - 4.30pm
3rd - 5th Form Gather, Mrs Huxter (Thring Lecture Hall)
Wednesday 2nd December Morning
Nursery Christmas Performance (Dress Rehearsal)
All Day
Senior School Individual Graded Music Examinations (ABRSM)
Afternoon
Pre-Prep (4s - 6s) Christmas Performance (Dress Rehearsal)
4.00 - 4.30pm
1st & 2nd Form Gather, Mrs Huxter (Thring Lecture Hall)
Thursday 3rd December 10.00 - 10.45am
Nursery Christmas Performance
1.30 - 2.00pm
Senior School House Shout Final (Theatre)
2.30 - 3.30pm
Pre-Prep (4s - 6s) Christmas Performance
Week 14
6th - 10th December 2026
Sunday 6th December
All Day
3rd & 4th Form Day Trip
8.30 - 9.00am
Junior School Little Gather: (QEII Exhibition Hall)
9.00 - 9.30am
Junior School Big Sing: Mr Jones (QEII Exhibition Hall)
Monday 7th December
All Day
1st & 2nd Form Day Trip
4.45 - 7.00pm
Junior School Academic Parents’ Evening
Tuesday 8th December 4.00 - 4.30pm
3rd - 5th Form Gather, Mr von Broen (Thring Lecture Hall)
4.45 - 7.00pm
Junior School Academic Parents’ Evening
Wednesday 9th December Morning
Prep School and Senior School Choir Rehearsal
4.00 - 4.30pm
1st & 2nd Form Gather, Mr von Broen (Thring Lecture Hall)
Thursday 10th December
2.30 - 5.30pm
Prep School and Senior School Songs for Christmas and Parents’ Circle Michaelmas Fair for Charity
Week 15
13th - 17th December 2026
Sunday 13th December
8.30 - 9.00am
Junior School Little Gather: Reflections on the Term, Ms RhysEvans (QEII Exhibition Hall)
Afternoon
Winter Term Reports issued to Parents
Monday 14th December Afternoon
Charity Committee Trip to Orphanage
4.30 - 6.30pm
The Scholars’ Conference
Tuesday 15th December 4.00 - 4.30pm
3rd - 5th Form Celebration Gather
Wednesday 16th December
12 Noon
Junior School Christmas Lunch
1.00 - 1.30pm
Senior School Christmas Lunch
4.00 - 4.30pm
1st & 2nd Form Celebration Gather
Thursday 17th December
LAST DAY OF THE WINTER TERM
All Morning
World Arabic Day Celebration
12 Noon
End of Term