Headteacher's Weekly Update 29 - Friday 2nd May 2025

Dear Parents/Carers

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

It has been another busy and rewarding week at school, full of co-curricular opportunities that continue to enrich our students' experiences beyond the classroom.

This week, our Year 8 Eco group took part in the Young Green Britain Challenge, where they pitched their innovative sustainability ideas to a panel made up of members of the Senior Leadership Team and accredited representatives from the YGBC team. The event was a great success, with judges highly impressed by the quality and depth of the students’ work. Their feedback included: “The energy, creativity, and thoughtfulness behind each idea were nothing short of exceptional… every team brought their ideas to life with passion, preparation, and originality. You truly blew us judges away!”  This is a remarkable achievement for all involved, and we look forward to even more exciting opportunities as the students progress to the next stage of the competition.  A huge well done to everyone who took part.

As part of our ongoing commitment to climate awareness and sustainability, and inspired by the fantastic Year 8 presentations during the Young Green Britain Challenge, I wanted to highlight two important environmental initiatives currently taking place:

🌱 No Mow MayLet your lawns grow wild this month.  No Mow May encourages people to pause mowing their lawns for the month of May to allow wildflowers to bloom, supporting local biodiversity and struggling pollinators like bees.  It’s a simple way to make a meaningful impact on your local environment.  Learn more here

🌿 Compost Awareness Week (4th–10th May 2025)Turning your food scraps into compost is a great way to reduce waste and nourish your garden. This year's theme “Sustainable Communities Begin with Compost”, focuses on how small actions at home can contribute to greener, healthier communities.  To find out more please see here.   

Today our Year 10 students met with the ICEE Ltd team (https://iceeltd.com/)  to complete the third and final session of the Success Principles Workshops.  In session one students were thinking carefully about future careers and reflecting on their current skill set, but also what skills they would need to develop in order to be successful.  Students were also able to create and develop a CV.  In the second session, ICEE taught the students about personal branding and the power of networking.  The students engaged in a networking activity, seeking like-minded individuals but also seeking out others that would complement their personal brand and skillset.  At the end the students thanked the ICEE team for their time and expertise – We have been very lucky to be the only school in London and the UK to have worked with the ICEE Ltd team and to benefit from their vast knowledge.  We are already looking forward to continuing our partnership next academic year. 

We were thrilled to celebrate Culture Day today, a vibrant and joyful occasion with students proudly sharing their heritage and traditions.  The school came alive with colour, music, food, and storytelling, creating a heartwarming atmosphere that truly reflected the richness of our diverse community.  Highlights included fascinating insights into the Ring of Brogdar—an ancient monument older than Stonehenge and thoughtful conversations among Year 7 and 8 students, who compared their grandmothers’ and great-grandmothers’ traditions.  Students also discussed and explained traditional dress from countries including Norway, Germany, Russia, Ireland, Nigeria, Romania, Pakistan, India, and Greece.  A special mention goes to Ella De Lissandri in 7E for her creative handmade “Italy” t-shirt, cleverly decorated with four different types of pasta.  Culture Day was a powerful reminder of how much we can learn from one another’s histories and perspectives, we are incredibly proud of our Kelmscott community.

On Tuesday, students from our Year 9 History Club  enjoyed a valuable educational visit to the UCL Marshgate campus in Stratford, marking the culmination of a programme that has been running since the autumn term. Throughout the year, a member of UCL Special Collections has visited Kelmscott each Monday to deliver engaging sessions with the history club.  During the trip, students had the exciting opportunity to come face-to-face with original artefacts they’ve been studying. The group received high praise from university staff for their enthusiasm and engagement—both during the weekly sessions and on the trip itself.

We were pleased to welcome the Waltham Forest Mental Health Support Team to Kelmscott School on Thursday.  The team delivered an Exam Success Workshop to our entire Year 10 cohort. The session offered valuable strategies for managing exam-related stress and practical tips to support mental preparation ahead of the upcoming assessment period and transition into Year 11.  Students engaged positively with the workshop and found the guidance both relevant and reassuring as they look ahead to this important stage in their academic journey.

In terms of sport, it’s been an active week with various fixtures and competitions.  The athletics season kicked off in style with two fantastic performances from our Year 9 and Year 10 teams.  The girls competed on Tuesday at the Feel Good Centre followed by the boys on Thursday.  Students took part in javelin, long jump, and the 400m, earning valuable points for Kelmscott and representing the school against eight other borough schools.  The Year 9 boys’ football team also wrapped up a strong season with a hard-fought semi-final against Highams Park on Wednesday evening.  Despite a depleted squad  the boys showed brilliant spirit and resilience.  While they were unable to retain their Year 8 title this time their effort and teamwork were outstanding.

As promised last week, some more details about the Kelmscott-led rugby festival: Following a previous competition where varying levels of experience created challenges, a full-day rugby festival was organised to build confidence and understanding of the game.  With support from Kelmscott School and Eton Manor Rugby Club, the event took place on Wednesday 23rd April, bringing together nearly 100 Year 7 and 8 girls from across Waltham Forest, including 35 from Kelmscott.  The morning focused on developing core rugby skills, while the afternoon featured friendly matches to put those skills into practice. Despite weather concerns, the day ran smoothly, and the girls showed impressive enthusiasm, athleticism, and rapid progress.  The event aimed to inspire continued participation in rugby among girls.

Walthamstow Cricket Club is a fantastic local grassroots team with a strong family ethos. They are currently welcoming new players of all abilities and ages.  It’s a great way to stay active and be part of a friendly, supportive community.  More information may be found on their website. 

Next Thursday, 8th May, is our Year 10 Progress Evening (from 4.30pm until 7pm). We very much look forward to seeing Year 10 families to discuss the progress their child is making.  Our progress evenings are appointment-based and students are expected to confirm an appointment time, for each of their subjects, for Thursday next week. These events are of vital importance, as we work together to maximise the success of all of our students.

With Year 8 exams beginning on Monday 19th May 2025, a reminder that revision topics are available on our school website.  You’ll also find a link to research-led revision strategies, which we hope will be helpful in supporting effective preparation.

Thank you for your ongoing support with uniform expectations.  Students have continued to look smart and ready for learning this week.  A gentle reminder: trousers must be grey (not black), should fit properly at the waist, and belts must be worn, where necessary, to ensure trousers sit correctly and comfortably.  Please also check for holes, faulty zips, or other issues to help maintain a neat appearance and modesty at all times.

We are signposting families to BeeZee Bodies, who offer excellent advice and support around healthy lifestyles for young people and families.  You can find more information and resources here.

Our Year 11 students have been offered an exciting online opportunity with Lloyd’s. Explore how a career in finance can evolve in the age of artificial intelligence at this exclusive online event hosted by Lloyds Banking Group on Tuesday 6th May, 5:00pm – 6:00pm.  The session will highlight exciting career paths at the intersection of finance and technology.  More information and to apply please see here. 

I would also like to highlight an exciting new opportunity for students with a strong interest in Art & Design.  A free summer course at the Slade School of Fine Art, an incredible chance to explore Fine Art in a university setting.  This two week course is open to Year 11 students living in London or nearby.  Students will gain real experience of working in an art school studio, develop collaboration skills, and be encouraged to take creative risks in a supportive, inclusive environment.  More details may be found here.

Congratulations to our top reward points earners for last week:

• Year 7, Andrei Vlad in 7C with 20 points.

• Year 8, Merve Catlioglu in 8S and Musa Samim in 8K with 18 points.

• Year 9, Frank Hoare in 9E with 25 points.

• Year 10, Aiyla Yaseen in 10L with 12 points.

• Year 11, Aicha Nimaga Cessay in 11K with 12 points.

  
  

A special mention to Frank Hoare in 9E, who earned an impressive 25 points.

Thank you for your ongoing support.  If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.

With every good wish,

Mr Sam Jones 

Headteacher