Dear Parents/Carers
I hope this letter finds you and your families well; a Friday update for you as always.
The holy month of Ramadan began last Friday with the sighting of the crescent moon. During this time our Muslim students and families embark on a period of deep spiritual reflection and fasting. I would like to extend my warmest wishes of Ramadan Mubarak to our entire Muslim community.
Next Wednesday, I will be fasting in support and solidarity with our Muslim community. This will be my fifth consecutive year taking part, and it’s something I now look forward to each time. As always, it sparks meaningful conversations with students and staff about both my experience and theirs. I especially enjoy hearing about the rituals and traditions families observe during this period, particularly the significance of iftar, the special meal that marks the breaking of the fast.
It has been a typically busy and exciting time at Kelmscott and I am pleased to share some of the fantastic activities and achievements from this week.
Today has been an incredible day in school as we celebrated International Women’s Day, recognising the achievements of women past and present and encouraging our students to consider how they can be agents of positive change in the future.
We had a full programme of events for International Women's Day celebrations, guest speakers and workshops, including art led mirror, placard making and bracelet making workshops on offer. We will share photos from many of the events in next week's newsletter. It was brilliant to see so many students wearing purple, green and white in support of equality. It seems like the perfect time to share the news that the girls football teams have chosen the first ever Kelmscott Girls' football kits and the order has been sent today. Ms Ridler and Ms Shepherd would like to extend their sincere thanks to all of the organisations and people who generously donated to their fundraiser, without these acts of kindness it would not have been possible.
This week, we have been marking the start of Careers Fortnight with a strong focus on exploring future career pathways in subject lessons. Students have been engaging in discussions and activities that connect their learning to potential career opportunities, broadening their aspirations and ambitions. In Computer Science, students completed a ‘Matchmaker’ questionnaire, which asks about their skills and interests to generate potential career matches. Additionally, a Careers Challenge is available on year group Google Classrooms, featuring short courses on Apprenticeships, T Levels, and Higher Technical Qualifications. Completing a course earns students a certificate and an R3 reward point. Please see here for the MyEd message that went to families on Monday with more information about the careers challenge.
Tuesday saw Year 10 students enjoying the privilege of visiting Stoneydown Park Primary School, one of our West Walthamstow Partnership (WWP) Primary Schools, to judge their Poetry Slam competition. The event was a huge success, with Stoneydown staff highly impressed by the way our students conducted themselves, supporting and encouraging the younger pupils. They also delivered their own original poetry, which was exceptionally well received. A huge well done to all involved, this was a wonderful example of our students leading by example and giving back to the community.
On Wednesday twenty Year 10 Art students visited UCL Slade as part of their Wider Participation Programme. This marks our sixth year collaborating with the university, which generously hosts our students for gallery and studio tours, as well as a drawing and copper plate etching workshop. While the canteen may have been a highlight for some, all students demonstrated exemplary behavior and focus throughout the day. For the first time, students also had the opportunity to visit The Grant Museum of Zoology, an intriguing and visually rich experience that provided excellent inspiration for observational drawing. The visit will be followed by another workshop at Kelmscott, where students will work with UCL graduates to create acrylic intaglio prints.
Our athletes have had a typically busy week, with our Year 7 boys football team playing their second fixture of 2025 against a strong Willowfield side, ending in a 5-1 defeat. Despite the result, the players showed great determination and are ready to demonstrate their resilience and bounce back, in their next match against Lammas.
The Year 7 netball team played their first of five fixtures this week. Lina Laichour captained her team and started by setting the positions of each player in motion. The team had a very up and down game going from end to end. In the final quarter the team recorded a victory with a 2-0 win. Both goals were scored by Kenza. Great play from all students and really nice to play against George Mitchell. We move on now to next week and another game.
As we celebrate International Women’s Day today, it has been a fantastic reminder of the power of sport in inspiring and empowering young women. A group of forty five girls from Years 7-11 took part in a fun filled day of football, engaging in drills, activities and a tournament, all while drawing inspiration from the Lionesses. The day began with a series of drills designed to build confidence, teamwork and a positive football spirit. All students had the opportunity to participate in six different exercises, including shooting, passing, movement, and a fun game. After watching and learning from the Lionesses, the girls reflected on their determination and passion for sport, discussing how they can grow as a team and inspire future students as they move up through the school. The final session saw the girls take part in a football tournament, where they showcased their skills, teamwork and goal scoring abilities. It has been an inspiring day, bringing together students from different year groups to celebrate their love of football and the opportunities it creates for young women in sport.
You may recall that in previous updates, I shared a survey created by the Friends of Kelmscott parent group. The purpose of this survey is to gather insights to help shape their fundraising action plan. Unfortunately, the response rate has been lower than hoped and we want to ensure all families have the opportunity to share their input. If you haven’t already, please take a few moments to complete the survey, which can be found here. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Following National Offer Day, we were pleased to receive confirmation of our new cohort of Year 7s for 2025/26. We are fully subscribed again; this is a fantastic achievement and testament to the dedication and hard work of our whole staff team and students. I am very much looking forward to welcoming our new cohort in September.
The Early Help Community Drop in sessions are a valued resource in Waltham Forest with no appointment needed they are available four days a week across the borough. For more information please see here.
An updated directory of foodbanks where families may access food across the borough can be found here. A reminder too that Kelmscott foodbank can be accessed by emailing foodbank@kelmscott.waltham.sch.uk no referral is necessary.
A huge well done to the following students who topped the reward points charts this week:
Year 7, Anas Rage in 7O with 23 points
Year 8, Samira Ali and Farham Khalif both in 8K with 22 points
Year 9, Elizabeth Pater in 9T with 22 points
Year 10, Sireen Alkhaleel in 10K with 15 points
Year 11, Eliza-Iona Luca in 11M with 19 points
A special mention goes to Anas Rage in 7O, who achieved an incredible 23 reward points, the highest in the entire school. Keep up the fantastic work.
Next week, Mr. Eley, our Deputy Headteacher, will be travelling to China as part of a leadership delegation. During his visit, he will observe teaching and learning at our partner school, building relationships with colleagues and exploring opportunities for future collaboration. We are particularly excited about the possibility of a student trip to China in 2027, which aligns perfectly with our vision of ensuring that Kelmscott students can operate confidently on a global stage. While 2027 may seem far away now, the planning starts here, and we look forward to sharing more details in due course.
Thank you for your ongoing support. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
With every good wish,
Mr Sam Jones
Headteacher
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