Headteacher's Summer Update - Thursday 28th August 2025

Dear Parents/Carers

I hope this letter finds you and your families well. A summer update for you as we approach the start of a new academic year.

On Thursday 21st August, our Year 11 students collected their GCSE results.  Overall, results are consistent with last year’s record performance.  It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces as students secured the results they needed to progress onto their chosen post-16 pathways.  Those who worked consistently hard, attended school regularly, and took full advantage of the many opportunities beyond the classroom, rightly reaped the rewards of their effort.  Special mention to Iman Fatima who secured all grade 9s, a feat achieved by less than 1% of her peer group across the entire country - an incredible accomplishment.  We are incredibly proud of every one of our students, not just in terms of exam results but also the values they uphold, such as tolerance and respect.  We look forward to hearing of their future successes; once Kelmscott, always Kelmscott.

Improving attendance is a key priority in our School Development Plan this year.  While our figures remain above both national and borough averages, and we are proud to have the strongest attendance team in the borough, we believe we can achieve even more.  We are therefore setting an ambitious target of 98% attendance for the whole school.  This target reflects our high aspirations and our belief in what our students can achieve.  Research is clear: there is a strong correlation between attendance, pastoral wellbeing, and exam success.  We will therefore adopt a whole-school approach, with staff across all roles involved in tracking, monitoring and supporting attendance.  

Families will receive regular monthly reports and we ask for your ongoing support in avoiding term-time holidays, booking medical appointments outside school hours wherever possible and sending children in unless they are genuinely unwell.   Our focus will not be punitive; instead, it will be on building belonging and engagement through excellent lessons, a strong co-curricular programme and the exceptional pastoral care that makes Kelmscott such a kind and supportive school.  We are grateful for your continued support in ensuring every Kelmscott student attends school every day; your partnership has enabled us to remain above both averages.

On punctuality; please ensure that students leave home in plenty of time to arrive at school by 8.30am at the latest.  This ensures they are always on time for the start of the day at 8.40am.  Students living within two miles are strongly encouraged to walk to school, which brings not only health benefits but also sets them up positively for the day.  Our school is located on a very busy thoroughfare connecting commuters to many parts of the city.  Therefore, it is highly beneficial to check the live updates in the morning regarding traffic, bus delays and train cancellations.  Additionally, whilst we would not want to be alarmist, we think it is prudent to remind you that sadly, phone theft continues to be an issue in the borough, so we urge students to err on the side of caution when using their phones on their journey to and from school.

A reminder about equipment.  Students are checked each morning to ensure we have ‘disruption free learning’, this equipment includes, a black pen, red pen, pencil, ruler, journal and lanyard.  As we have no bells in school, students are responsible for arriving at their lessons on time.  A watch is recommended, as phones and other smart devices, including smart watches, are not permitted and must not be used, seen or heard on the school site.

A reminder that plain black or navy blue coats only are permitted, the phasing-out period has now

ended.  Baseball caps may only be worn if they are plain black or navy blue; these can be worn to and from school and to protect from the sun at break/lunchtimes in playgrounds, however, like all hats, they are not permitted to be worn in the building.  Uniform must fit properly: trousers worn at the waist, shirts buttoned to the top and tucked in. Following the temporary uniform change we allowed in the summer term due to hot weather, we are reviewing the option of students wearing PE kit throughout the day.  Should we adopt this formally, we would also redesign the PE kit into Kelmscott colours (blue and grey) over a phased period.

Jewellery expectations remain as set out in the student planner.  No acrylic or long nails please, as these limit participation in PE, technology and other subjects.

Students should also be reminded that face masks, snoods, or other facial coverings are not permitted in school or on the way to and from school, whether in or out of uniform.  These coverings give the wrong impression of our wonderful students, who are polite and kind, and it is important that they are seen for who they truly are.  Parents are encouraged to discuss this at home if their child is part of the small group currently choosing to wear them.

Our behaviour expectations remain very high, both in and out of school.  With the increasing use of RING doorbells in the local community, we are regularly sent footage of anti-social behaviour.  While this is rarely our students, we remind them that as Ofsted (2025) recognised, “Students are rightly proud of their school” their behaviour on the way to and from school must always reflect this pride.

As always, safeguarding remains my number one priority.  To remind families, as I do every summer:

• Weapons: possession on site or to/from school is likely to result in permanent exclusion

• Drugs: possession on site or to/from school is also likely to result in permanent exclusion

Electric scooters remain illegal and unsafe; they must not be used to travel to school. Any bicycles brought to school should be serviced and roadworthy, and helmets must be worn.  Please also ensure that bicycles are locked securely in the bike racks provided.

An important point to note; the Leisure Centre car park next to the school is pay and display and operates using ANPR technology.

Please note:

• A fine will automatically be issued by Gemini if you fail to pay and display or if you do not display a valid Blue Badge

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Please be mindful of this if you are using the Leisure Centre car park to drop off or collect your child.

Please note the price of a school meal has increased to £2.75.

This year we will only be using EduLink One as our single communication app.  Please ensure you have downloaded and are engaging with it. Our partnership with families is central to Kelmscott’s success, and EduLink is pivotal in keeping that partnership strong.  For support with EduLink One please email here.

At Kelmscott, we want to inspire our students to try new things, discover hidden talents and broaden their experiences.  At the start of the holidays, Mr Smith shared his ‘Things to Do’ challenge list, created with Year 10 mentors and a group of Year 8 students.

The idea was simple: students choose from a wide range of activities, then record their progress by taking photos or having parents/carers sign off tasks.  On return to school in September, they can share their adventures with their tutor or Mr Smith for rewards.  Did your child rise to the challenge this summer?  Are they an Adventurer, Challenger, Champion or Discoverer?  You can still view the challenge list here.

Our annual motto this year is “Per aspera ad astra” – through hardship to the stars. This Latin phrase, first used in ancient Roman literature, has inspired generations to see challenge as a pathway to success.  It feels particularly fitting for Kelmscott, a school that has overcome obstacles to become the thriving, kind and successful community it is today.

We say farewell and best wishes to Ms Free, who leaves us after two years teaching Classics. I apologise for not acknowledging her contribution in my last letter of the summer term.

Huge congratulations to last year’s Reward Points champions:

• Lily Adamo (8E) – 541 points

• Charlie Adams (9K) – 785 points (the most in the entire school)

• Ali Ahmed (10T) – 389 points

• Tanisha Ahmed (11O) – 348 points

Well done to all four students — keep up the good work.

Return to School – September 2025 

• Year 7 – Start Tuesday 2nd September

Arrive by 8:30am for an 8:40am prompt start - enter via the main school entrance

• Years 8–11 – Return Wednesday 3rd September

Arrive by 8:30am for an 8:40am prompt start

• Years 7 & 11 – enter via the main school entrance 

• Years 8, 9 & 10 – enter via the blue gate

A couple of dates for your diary in the first half term:

• Thursday 25th September 2025 – 10.40am start following Open Evening the previous evening

• The half term holiday has been extended again, following the disaggregation of two Inset days.  As a result, we return on Wednesday 5th November 2025; something for us all to look forward to

I am very much looking forward to welcoming our students for the new academic year.  I know together we will ensure Kelmscott continues to thrive as a school our students and community are immensely proud of.

With every good wish,

Mr Sam Jones 

Headteacher