Dear Parents/Carers
I hope this letter finds you and your families well. A typically busy week here in school as we have come to expect; a Friday update for you as always.
As part of our collaboration with the UCL Wider Participation Program, Monday saw twenty Year 10 Art students take part in a workshop led by UCL graduates. Students created detailed drawings inspired by their recent visit to The Grant Museum of Zoology, which they then developed into a collection of experimental intaglio prints. This work will be exhibited later this summer at UCL’s Pool Street site in Stratford. Our visitors were highly impressed with the students' creativity and dedication, sharing that visiting Kelmscott has been the ‘highlight’ of their program this year.
A group of Year 11 students visited Ravensbourne University in North Greenwich on Tuesday, where they participated in a Character Creation Workshop. They explored shape language in animated characters, investigating the archetypes of heroes, villains, and mentors, before crafting their own characters using modeling clay. Following the workshop, students toured the university’s state-of-the-art facilities, including the TV studio with a green screen, live production rooms, games design workshop, and architecture model displays. Many students were so inspired by the experience that they now aspire to attend Ravensbourne in the future.
Also on Tuesday, a group of Year 9 students took part in the interactive workshop ‘Lundenwic’ at All Hallows by the Tower. Set in a time when two Londons coexisted—the remnants of Roman Londinium and the newly established Saxon settlement near present-day Trafalgar Square; the workshop brought history to life. Students became fully immersed in the experience, actively participating in storytelling, exploring historical artefacts, and learning about the church’s rich history and its significance in the area. Just some of the feedback from students - ‘It was very unique of a trip, it was nothing I have experienced before’ - Lass, and ‘I found it interesting to discover the stories of our artefacts and the local location’ - Jude.
I have been following the Shakespeare residential to Stratford-upon-Avon for students from Years 8, 9, 10 and 11 with interest. I look forward to sharing more about this in my update to families next week. In the meantime, please take a look at our ‘X’ account for a glimpse of the highlights so far.
Sports now and another busy week for our Kelmscott athletes. The Year 7 girls played an exciting netball match against Chingford South, showcasing great teamwork and movement across the court. Eleanor Nickson, centre position, was a key playmaker, constantly calling for the ball and driving the game forward. Kenza got off to a fantastic start, scoring five goals in the first quarter. Both teams played exceptionally well, but Kelmscott dominated the match, securing a 13-0 victory. Kenza scored 10 goals, Favour added 2, and Rosa Ahuja-Hopkins contributed 1. Eleanor Nickson was deservedly named Player of the Match for her outstanding performance.
The Year 8 girls played their first netball match against Heathcote, demonstrating strong movement and control across the court. Despite dominating possession, the team struggled to convert opportunities into goals. Heathcote, though having less of the ball, proved clinical with their shooting and secured a 4-1 win. The Kelmscott girls played brilliantly; we look forward to seeing them build on this experience in their upcoming match against George Mitchell next week.
In a fun and competitive challenge, the Year 7 football team took on the Year 7 netball team in a friendly netball match. The boys showed great determination, making it an intense 20-minute game with constant back-and-forth play. In the end, the netball team secured a 5-0 victory. Kenza and Ronan were named Players of the Match for their excellent performances. The teams are now looking forward to their next challenge—a game of football. It's fantastic to see such healthy competition and camaraderie between our sports teams at Kelmscott. Well done to all our athletes who competed this week, demonstrating outstanding skill, determination, and sportsmanship.
An exciting opportunity to highlight for students, of all technical abilities, backgrounds, and musical influence who love to create their own music. The Nationwide BBC Young Composer Competition 2025 is now open. Winners will receive a year-long programme of mentorship and development, working with a professional composer on a project with members of the BBC Concert Orchestra, culminating in a performance or broadcast opportunity, giving them an invaluable experience in the world of music-making. For full details on how to enter please see visit: bbc.co.uk/youngcomposer
A reminder that the Year 8 Progress Evening will now take place on the rearranged date of Thursday 3rd April. We had originally hoped to trial a hybrid event, offering both online and in-person appointments with class teachers. However, due to the delays in the roll out of the EduLink app, we will proceed with the traditional in-person event.
Year 8 exams will be from 19th to 23rd May. Topics for each subject, as well as helpful revision tip videos, are available on our website. Please encourage your child to make use of these resources to support their preparation.
Interesting data published this week by the Department for Education highlights the importance of excellent attendance. Students with outstanding attendance are twice as likely to achieve at least a Grade 5 in both GCSE English and Maths. Additionally, statistics indicate that those with excellent school attendance go on to earn an average of £10,000 more per year by the age of 28. Another compelling reason to ensure students are in school every day and benefiting from our high-quality lessons and curriculum.
You would have received an update yesterday about The Pantry, our school caterers, which included their new menu. If you missed this, you can read the update here.
Similarly, a communication was sent out regarding the deposit for our Barcelona 2026 trip yesterday; this can be reviewed here. The expression of interest for this trip closes at midnight on Sunday (23rd March).
On 30th April, we are hosting the Kelmscott School Careers Fair, and we would love for you, your partner, friend, or colleague to get involved. By joining us, you can offer invaluable career insights and inspire students as they explore future pathways. If you are unable to attend, please consider sharing this request with your HR department or Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team, who may be interested in supporting our school. Our mission is to empower students with the knowledge and inspiration to achieve their full potential. For more information or to offer your support, please contact: 📩 Linda Cottrell (Events Officer) – l.jestico@kelmscott.waltham.sch.uk 📩 Mark Jones (Assistant Headteacher) – m.jones@kelmscott.waltham.sch.uk
We appreciate your help and look forward to hearing from you.
Finally, thank you for your understanding regarding the move to online learning, on Wednesday next week, to allow staff to attend the funeral of Sharon Morgan, our long-serving and extraordinary teacher, colleague, and friend. Students should log in to Google Classroom for each of their subjects on the day and complete the assigned work. Many Year 11 students have been invited into school for additional support, and a study space will be available for students who wish to work on-site. For your reference, my communication earlier this week to families may be viewed here.
Well done to all the students who have excelled in our rewards system this week:
Year 7, Osama Medjbour in 7L and Lukas Grazulis in 7C, both with 30 points
Year 8, Musa Samim in 8K with 35 points
Year 9, Elizabeth Pater in 9T with 25 points
Year 10, Abdullah Hussain in 10M and Niamh Bonner in 10E, both with 22 points
Year 11, Juliana Sukai in 11K, Eliza-Ioana Luca in 11M and Muhammad Ahmed in 11E, all with 17 points
Special congratulations to Musa Samim (8K), who topped the entire school with an impressive 35 points.
With every good wish,
Mr Sam Jones
Headteacher
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