Headteacher's Weekly Update 23 - Friday 6th March 2026

Dear Parents and Carers

I hope this letter finds you and your families well. A Friday update for you, as always.

Attendance remains at 92% for the second consecutive week.  We know there is more we can do together as we continue working towards our ambitious target of 98% attendance.  This target reflects the high expectations and aspirations we hold for every student at Kelmscott.  Evidence shows that even small improvements in attendance can have a meaningful impact on academic achievement, wellbeing and students’ confidence in their learning.  Being in school consistently helps students stay connected to their learning, their teachers and their peers.  Thank you for your continued support in helping ensure students attend school every day and arrive on time, unless they are genuinely unwell.

Year group attendance:

• Year 7 94.40%

• Year 8 92.18%

• Year 9 91.10%

• Year 10 90.67%

• Year 11 88.12%

  
  

This week marked the start of our Careers Fortnight, a two-week opportunity for students to explore different career journeys and pathways through activities embedded across the school curriculum.  It’s a valuable chance for young people to broaden their understanding of the world of work and discover the wide range of jobs and sectors that exist beyond school.

Next week, students will also attend an assembly led by our Careers Leader, Ms Ahmet, who will build on these themes and introduce tasks for students to complete on Xello, our school’s careers programme. These activities will encourage students to reflect on their interests and begin exploring potential future pathways.

To celebrate the start of Science Week a group of Year 7s created and displayed science projects today.  A wide range of scientific ideas inspired the students, with projects ranging from Oobleck (non-newtonian fluids) to the heart (where students created a model showing how the heart pumps blood).  Ultimately, the ‘magnetic slime project’ was voted the winner.  Well done to all Year 7s who took part and congratulations to the winners Arken Gharbi 7M, Numan Mohemmad 7M and Rayyan Ahmed 7K.

Sports now and this week saw Kelmscott take two Year 8 teams to compete against Walthamstow School for Girls, with both teams showing excellent skill and determination on the court. Team A, led by Eleanor Nickson and Lina Laichour, and Team B, captained by Isla Scott and Mae Milner-Feliho, guided their teammates to strong performances throughout the match.

Team A secured a 10–4 victory, with goals scored by Myah Farrugia, Kenza Idrissi-Kacemi, and Favour Ukwanda. Team B also performed admirably, with goals from Rosa Ahuja-Hopkins and Alannah Gairey.  Special congratulations go to Myah Farrugia and Mae Milner-Feliho, who were both awarded Player of the Match.  Well done to both teams for their excellent play.  Next week, Kelmscott looks forward to facing Frederick Bremer.

Alexandra Gutoiu (Year 10) recently returned from a football tour in Romania with her team, Rapid Strike London. Alexandra opened her team’s goal account during the tournament, and ‘demonstrated remarkable competitive spirit’ an achievement we are proud to share.

We were delighted to welcome Ashley Facey, a GB Paralympic athlete, to the school on Tuesday for a Q&A session with 28 students from Year 10 GCSE PE and Year 9.  Students had the opportunity to hear about the highs and lows of life as an elite table tennis player and asked a number of thoughtful and engaging questions, which Ashley answered in great detail.  The second half of the session was practical, giving Kelmscott students the chance to try their hand at returning Ashley’s powerful forehand topspin.  It was a fantastic and inspiring morning for everyone involved.

Following last week’s invitation to take part in our International Women’s Day (IWD) themed activities, a reminder that the deadline for entries to the mini-exhibition is Thursday 13th March.

Students have been learning about the history and significance of International Women’s Day in assemblies this week and have taken part in a short quiz exploring why the day is celebrated.  We would love to see as many entries as possible, work can be submitted directly, or via email, to Ms Ridler.  Full activity options and information may be viewed here.

Since 2023, balaclavas and face coverings that conceal most of the face have been banned at Kelmscott School. Items that cover the majority of the face make it difficult for staff to identify students and can create an image of fear or intimidation, which has no place in our school community. Balaclavas are not considered hats and are therefore not permitted.

Parents and carers are asked not to purchase these items for their children or allow them to be worn to school. We also remind students that these should not be worn outside of school, whether they are in uniform or not. Parents and carers are encouraged to reinforce this expectation by discussing it with their child. As always, I am grateful for your continued support and understanding with this.

We have noticed an increasing number of students arriving by bicycle without helmets, which is a significant safety concern.  Helmets must be worn when cycling to and from school to help protect students in the event of an accident.  Any bicycles brought to school should be properly maintained, roadworthy and locked securely in the bike racks provided.

The importance of kindness towards one another is something I value deeply as Headteacher and it sits at the heart of the culture here at Kelmscott. I hope that this message is embedded in everything we do, including our journeys to and from school. I would encourage parents and carers to speak with their children about being mindful of their behaviour and manners in the community and to remind them to be tolerant, kind and respectful to our neighbours, who are, of course, your neighbours too.

An exciting careers opportunity is available for students interested in pursuing a future in medicine or dentistry.  These virtual programmes offer students the chance to explore specialist fields such as Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatric Medicine and Dental Surgery, providing valuable insight into these professions.  The medical programme runs over six months, while the dental programme runs for four months, allowing students to explore a range of specialisms.

Students and parents can register for free using the links below:

Medical Registration: https://medicmentor.org/get-into_medicine_conference_signup/

Dental Registration: https://dental-mentor.org/get-into-dentistry-conference-sign-up/

Students who have not yet attended a Get Into Conference but would like to participate in the Virtual Work Experience Programme must first attend one of the upcoming conferences:

For aspiring doctors:Saturday 7th March, 9:00am – 1:30pmSunday 22nd March, 9:00am – 1:30pm

For aspiring dentists:Saturday 21st March, 9:00am – 1:30pm

Students aged 14–18 are invited to attend alongside a parent or guardian, with access to a working camera and microphone.

Finally, congratulations to the students who have accumulated the highest number of reward points for the week 23rd - 27th February 2026.  A special mention goes to David Nucsoreanu in 9K, who earned 22 reward points, the highest across the school.

• Year 7, Annabel Nogales in 7E with 19 points

• Year 8, Ella Lois in 8C and Edie Cambridge Brown in 8K both with 17 points

• Year 9, David Nucsoreanu in 9K with 22 points

• Year 10, Zikrea Turkmani in 10E with 14 points

• Year 11, a hat trick for Shania Ballout in 11O, Zahira Echeverry-Garcia in 11S and Hillary Herrera in 11K all with 4 points

With every good wish,

Mr Sam Jones 

Headteacher