Headteacher's Weekly Update 20 - Friday 6th February 2026
- Mr S. Jones
- 1 minute ago
- 4 min read
Dear Parents and Carers
I hope this letter finds you and your families well; a Friday update for you as always. I look forward to sharing these updates with you as we continue working in partnership to support our students’ wellbeing and success.
Attendance this week remains at 93% for the second consecutive week, which is encouraging and something we want to continue building on as we work towards our ambitious whole-school target of 98% attendance, a key priority in our School Development Plan this year. Our 98% target reflects our high aspirations for all students. Research consistently shows that even small improvements in attendance can have a significant impact on academic outcomes, pastoral wellbeing and confidence in learning. Thank you for your continued support in helping students attend every day and arrive on time.
Year group attendance:
Year 7 94.32%
Year 8 93.67%
Year 9 94.19%
Year 10 91.89%
Year 11 88.83%
We are aware of increasing concerns around harmful content circulating on TikTok and other social media platforms. We would like to remind parents and carers, particularly the bill payer and account holder of any mobile device, of the importance of monitoring online activity, privacy settings and the content young people are accessing. Please continue to talk openly with your child about what they see online and encourage them to report anything that makes them feel uncomfortable. If you have any safeguarding concerns, please share them with the school so we can support appropriately.
Below are some links to online safety support and guidance that you may find useful:
Molly Vs The Machines is a powerful short film and online safety animation that helps young people understand how algorithms work and how online content is pushed to them. It is a valuable resource which can support important conversations at home about screen time, social media and staying safe online. There will be cinema screenings nationwide on 1st March. The film will also be broadcast on Channel 4, date to be confirmed. The age rating is 15+. You can watch the trailer here.
I am delighted to share that our students have had a fantastic time in Barcelona this week. Year 10 and 11 Spanish and Art students enjoyed four days immersed in Spanish culture and sightseeing, with highlights including Barceloneta Beach, Park Güell, churros and a Flamenco show, complete with audience participation. Some students have even picked up souvenir castanets. Throughout the trip, students were excellent company, consistently demonstrating resilience, enthusiasm and good humour. Many have already said they would love to return to experience more of this wonderful city in the future. We wish everyone a safe and smooth journey home and extend special thanks to staff for supporting this brilliant opportunity and leading such a memorable trip.
Basketball semi-final Kelmscott v Frederick Bremer - The Year 10 basketball team have enjoyed an excellent season, earning their place in the semi-final on Tuesday through hard work and consistent performances. Frederick Bremer took an early lead that proved difficult to close, despite a determined effort, the team narrowly missed out on a place in the final. True to Kelmscott values, the players showed real resilience, fighting until the final whistle and producing impressive offensive and defensive team play. Standout performances for their focus and energy came from Robert Jr Basilio (10C) and Tay Jay Thompson-Perez (10S).
On Monday, our Year 11 GCSE PE students attended a practical moderation session at the Lee Valley Indoor Athletics Track alongside five other Waltham Forest schools. The standard of competition was high, with students taking part in events including the 60m, 200m, 800m, high jump, triple jump and shot put. A special mention goes to Alife McCormack (11K), who achieved second place in the 800m.
We are pleased to share an excellent opportunity via the Art Department now. Students can take part in a 15-week Saturday Club run in partnership with The Slade School of Fine Art / UCL, working with university tutors in professional studio spaces. This programme is designed to support young people who may not usually have access to specialist materials or space to express themselves creatively. This is an ideal opportunity for students considering continuing their art journey post-16 and is completely FREE. For more information and to apply please see here.
An exciting opportunity to highlight for students interested in a future in law: the Clifford Chance Virtual Work Experience Day, on Thursday 19th February from 10am - 3pm for Year 11 and 12 students. This one-day online programme offers students the chance to gain first-hand insight into the legal profession, develop key legal skills and hear directly from leading solicitors about pathways into a legal career. It is an excellent opportunity for those considering law or related careers to broaden their understanding and strengthen future applications. For more information, please see here.
There will be a non-uniform day on Thursday 12th February in support of our Kelmscott Hardship Fund. The cost is £2, payable via ParentMail. Please note that cash payments will not be accepted on the day.
We are looking forward to welcoming Year 8 families to Progress Evening next Thursday 12th February, from 4:30pm to 7:00pm. This is a vital opportunity to meet subject teachers, discuss progress and continue working in partnership to get the very best outcomes for our students. You will be aware that students are usually expected to attend Progress Evenings in full school uniform. However, as Thursday 12th is a non-uniform day, this expectation will not apply on this occasion.
Finally, well done to all our reward points winners for the week of 26th -30th January 2026. A special mention to Jude Cambridge-Brown (10K), who topped the charts for the entire school with 23 rewards points, keep it up, as I know you will.
➪ Year 7, Yigit Aktas in 7E with 16 points
➪ Year 8, Bea Burgess in 8L with 15 points
➪ Year 9, Ayyub Ahmed 9S with 11 points
➪ Year 10, Jude Cambridge Brown in 10K with 23 points
➪ Year 11, Ataullah Achekzai 11E and Zahira Echeverry- Garcia 11S both with 6 points each.
Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support.
With every good wish,
Mr Sam Jones
Headteacher
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