Dear Parents/Carers
I hope this letter finds you and your families well; a Friday update for you as always, as we come to the end of the half term.
I am delighted to share with you the publication of our latest Ofsted report, which was released on Tuesday. The report reflects the hard work, dedication, and commitment of our entire school community. Inspectors highlighted the strong leadership, inclusive ethos, and high aspirations for all students. They praised our fantastic students, the engaging and ambitious curriculum, our high standards of behaviour, and the positive relationships between staff and students that create a supportive learning environment. The report also recognised the exceptional personal development opportunities we offer, ensuring students are well-prepared for their futures. This is a report we can all be very proud of.
It was wonderful to see so many families at our Options Evening yesterday. I hope you found the event informative, helpful, and supportive as you and your child navigate their option choices. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to email options@kelmscott.waltham.sch.uk
Straight into sports now - we saw our first Year 7 Basketball Inter Form tournament take place on Monday. The enthusiasm and high energy from all teams made for an exciting competition. After battling through the group stages, 7L, 7K, 7C, and 7O reached the semi-finals, with 7L and 7C advancing to the final. Both teams played fantastically, with 7L taking the top spot. It is clear that we have many keen and talented young athletes.
On Tuesday our attention turned to the Year 9 Basketball Inter Form tournament, once again a high energy event with some impressive basketball on display. After the group stage matches, 9S, 9E, 9T, and 9M advanced to the semi-finals. 9E and 9M emerged victorious, setting up for an intense final. 9E started strong, establishing a ten point lead early on, and although 9M showed incredible resilience, 9E went on to secure the win.
Congratulations to 7L, 9E and to everyone who took part.
Fifteen of our students headed to Goals on Thursday to support a Year 3 and 4 girls’ football tournament, promoting girls' participation in sport. With thirty five schools in attendance, our students took on the roles of referees and mentors, helping younger players understand the rules of football while also showcasing how fun and inclusive the sport can be. The feedback from primary schools was outstanding, highlighting the dedication and commitment our students have to football and sport. A huge well done to: Mevsim Aktas (8C), Hannah Arthur (9O), Yasmine Betka (8O), Lina Boultouak (9O), Kadara Elnagar (10O), Alexandra Gutoiu (9C), Ruxandra Handiuc (8S), Leah Higgins (10M), Melany Kocheva (9S), Lina Laichour (7T), Eleanor Nickson (7C), Aishah Salim (9O), Elis Shabanova (9C), Ziyadah Shobande (8O) and Valentina Tarallo (9O). Your hard work and enthusiasm truly made a difference to the success and enjoyment of this event. I am always very proud to learn of our students being such fantastic role models and ambassadors for sport.
Sticking with the sporting theme, we are also pleased to share an excellent offer from Walthamstow Leisure Centre for student membership. This is a great opportunity for students to stay active and enjoy local sports facilities at an affordable rate. More details can be found here.
Today, Year 10 Geographers are heading into the field to explore the regeneration, and the environmental and socio-economic impact of the Stratford and Westfield developments. I look forward to hearing their insights and sharing more about this trip in my first update to parents after half-term.
I shared a survey for parents to complete last week, that the Friends of Kelmscott parents group had devised, to glean information to help the group action plan around the fundraising they hope to do. I’m told there were some issues with that survey though, so consequently, it was taken down. We hope those issues have now been resolved and would be grateful if you could complete the new survey which can be found here.
We took part in Safer Internet Day 2025 on Tuesday, the UK’s biggest celebration of online safety. This year’s theme, “Too good to be true? Protecting yourself and others from scams online,” helped students explore online risks and how to stay safe. Tutor time discussions encouraged students to reflect on scams and cybercrime, linking perfectly with Year 9 Computing lessons on cybercrime and Year 7 lessons on online safety. These topics align with our Computing department’s online safety curriculum, ensuring all students at Kelmscott are equipped to navigate the digital world safely.
The UK Safer Internet Centre has provided useful resources for parents and carers:
A huge well done to Year 11 for their positive attitude during this week's mock exams. Their commitment and effort have been fantastic, and we are confident this will serve them well in the months ahead. I know they will be factoring in some revision over the half term holiday too, recognising the importance of striking a balance with some downtime, of course.
On 21st February, we celebrate International Mother Language Day, marking its 25th anniversary this year. Founded by UNESCO, this worldwide event promotes linguistic and cultural diversity, and highlights the importance of language preservation. It plays a key role in safeguarding cultural heritage, improving education, and fostering more peaceful societies.
As part of International Mother Language Day, our partners at the Global School Alliance have set a creative challenge for students: to create a calligram representing their mother tongue or languages spoken in our school. A reminder that a calligram is a piece of text, usually a single word or phrase, arranged in a way that visually represents its meaning, i.e. the text itself forms a shape related to the word, making it both a written and artistic expression.
For example:
The word "tree" might be written in a way that forms the outline of a tree.
The word "wave" could be shaped like an ocean wave.
Suggested themes include; animals, countries, nature, sport, buildings or food. The deadline is the 28th February 2025, all entries should be sent to Mr Eley, who will upload them to the GSA platform.
Bikeworks will be holding All Ability Cycling drop in sessions during the half-term holidays, at different parks in Waltham Forest. All Ability Clubs are where anyone can come along and try out different kinds of cycles, including people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities. The clubs are free to attend and welcome you to drop in at any time. More details can be found here.
Waltham Forest has a programme of fun, free, family-friendly activities taking place across the borough this February half term. Details can be accessed here.
For students considering a career in law, an exciting online careers opportunity is available with Clifford Chance, a prestigious international law firm. This is a fantastic chance to gain insight into the legal profession and develop key skills. More information can be found here.
For families interested in Opera, a date for your diary. Mantissa Opera present a fun-filled family opera concert at Blackhorse Road Baptist Church, E17 on Sunday 16th March. An opportunity to experience opera in a relaxed, inclusive environment. The evening will include highlights from operas such as Carmen, The Magic Flute and La Traviata. For more information please see the flyer here and a link to a short promotional video here. This is not a free event although exceptions will be considered on application.
Well done to our students who topped the reward points charts for each year group:
Year 7, Ciara Galloway in 7M with 25 points
Year 8, Ibrahim Farooq with 23 points
Year 9, Nevaeh Beadell-Alexander in 9M with 17 points
Year 10, Kitty Boniface in 10E with 22 points
Year 11, Amtul Akram in 11M with 20 points
Special congratulations to Ciara Galloway 7M, who achieved the highest total in the entire school with 25 points. Keep up the great work.
Finally, I wish all our families a wonderful half-term break, a chance to have fun, relax, and recharge. We look forward to welcoming students back on Monday 24th February at the usual time.
With every good wish,
Mr Sam Jones
Headteacher
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