Headteacher's Weekly Update 33 - Friday 6th June 2025

Dear Parents/Carers

I hope this letter finds you well as we move into the final half-term of what has been a busy and productive year at Kelmscott.

Led by Mr Lowe, Head of Computing, a group of our students enjoyed an inspiring visit to the Science Museum on Wednesday.  It was a fantastic opportunity to engage with STEM in a real world context.  The trip featured three dynamic exhibitions that brought the world of computing and technology to life.  Students explored over 200 years of innovation in communication and information technology, uncovering key breakthroughs that have shaped our connected world. They also dived into the evolution of video games, interacting with iconic consoles and games from the past five decades.  In the final exhibition, students discovered the essential yet often unseen roles of technicians across a wide range of industries, gaining insight into the real world skills and careers that keep our modern world running.  It was a day filled with inspiration, innovation and interactive learning, a highlight for our young tech enthusiasts.

I would like to remind families of our Everyone’s Invited lecture for parents, as referenced in my previous letter, on Tuesday 18th June from 17:30–18:30 in the school hall.  This is a valuable opportunity to reflect on how we all support a safe, respectful and inclusive school culture.  We look forward to welcoming many of you to what we hope will be an informative and thought-provoking evening.

Thank you to the Year 11 families who have already signed up for the Year 11 Graduation Event on Thursday 19th June.  It promises to be a fantastic evening, with students dressed in their finery and enjoying a well-deserved evening together.  If you have not yet confirmed your attendance, please do so as soon as possible.  The deadline for ticket bookings is Wednesday 11th June.  Please be mindful that each family is initially allocated two tickets, and all guests must be aged 21 or over.  If any tickets remain unclaimed closer to the event, we will consider offering a third ticket per family, although this cannot be guaranteed at this stage.

I also want to alert our community to a mobile phone snatch incident that occurred this week on Markhouse Road.  Thankfully, this did not involve a student, but we encourage everyone to remain vigilant, especially during busy times of day.  Sadly, this is an issue affecting many parts of London, not just our local area.

I was pleased to note the recent positive news that more families will soon be eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) under the expanded criteria, including those receiving Universal Credit.  This change means that a greater number of children will have access to a nutritious meal each day, helping to support concentration, wellbeing and academic progress.  It also ensures that more families facing financial challenges can benefit from this vital support, easing some of the pressures caused by the current cost of living.  We welcome this move and the potential it has to positively impact students both in and out of the classroom.

A reminder too that Tutor Parent Day will take place on Thursday 12th June.  This day is a vital part of our calendar and offers families the opportunity for a focused, 1:1 discussion with form tutors, covering attendance, punctuality, academic progress and co-curricular engagement. All families are expected to attend please.

As a follow-up to our Year 9 students’ recent visit to All Hallows by the Tower, we were delighted to welcome Clio’s Company into school for a drama workshop exploring themes of history, identity and London’s past.  The workshop was engaging, interactive, and brought historical learning to life in a creative and memorable way.  Students collaborated to reimagine real stories from the site and responded brilliantly to the challenge of combining performance with historical interpretation.  Our thanks to Clio’s Company for their inspiring work with our students.

We are excited to invite you to a special event; Echoes of the Past: Unearthing Walthamstow's Hidden Histories,  hosted by Clio’s Company, on the evening of Thursday 12th June from 4pm.  This event marks the culmination of our collaboration with Clio’s Company and celebrates the remarkable work produced through the project.

This celebration of the Arts and London’s rich history showcases the collaborative efforts of our talented Year 9 students and pupils from Mission Grove Primary School.  The evening will feature artwork, dramatic performances and original interpretations — the culmination of an inspiring project delivered in partnership with Clio’s Company and our dedicated Art Department.  As part of this special event we will welcome Les Capon, a leading British archaeologist with AOC Archaeology Group, renowned for his work in urban archaeology and public engagement. His insights into London’s evolving landscape, revealed through the study of buried remains, will add a fascinating dimension to the evening.   In addition, guests will have the opportunity to view a display of locally discovered museum objects and historical photographs, generously loaned by Vestry House Museum.

Students taking part in The Scholars Programme continued their impressive efforts this week, using dedicated time to develop the first drafts of their final written assignments.  The early drafts are already showing great promise, reflecting the outstanding talent we are proud to nurture here at Kelmscott.  From poetry exploring the landscapes of Bulgaria to thoughtful articles on the repatriation of the Benin Bronzes, students have responded to the theme of home with creativity, insight and passion.  They now look ahead to receiving feedback from Dr Efi Spentzou, Reader in Latin Language and Literature at Royal Holloway, University of London, whose expertise will help further refine their work.

We will celebrate the achievements of our scholars at the Evening of Excellence on Wednesday 9th July.  A limited number of spaces will be available for members of the wider community to attend.  More details about this special evening will be shared with you soon.

Congratulations to all our reward points winners:

• Year 7, Eleanor Nickson in 7C with 34 points

• Year 8, Ruxandra Handiuc and Bobby Koo both in 8S with 50 points 

• Year 9, Owais Bhatti, Tomiwa Apata and Dima Shehab in 9O with 19 points 

• Year 10, Niamh Bonner in 10E with 24 points

• Year 11, Assiya Kaudeer in 11L with 13 points

  
  

A particular well done to Ruxandra Handiuc and Bobby Koo in 8S, who have both reached an impressive 50 rewards points.  Keep up the great work.

With every good wish,

Mr Sam Jones 

Headteacher