Headteacher's Weekly Update 35 - Friday 19th June 2026

Dear Parents and Carers

As another busy and successful week draws to a close, I would like to thank our students, staff and families for their continued support. There has been much to celebrate across the school community and many examples of students demonstrating the values that make us so proud to be part of the Kelmscott family. A Friday update for you as always.

Attendance for the week 8th - 12th June 2026 was 92%. 

This week the Department for Education published new analysis highlighting how seemingly small absences can quickly add up and have a significant impact on a child's education and future opportunities. The research found that children are up to 55% more likely to miss school on their birthday and that absence rates rise significantly in the final week of term when schools do not finish on a Friday.

While an occasional day away from school may appear insignificant, the evidence is clear: regular attendance matters. Students with very high attendance in primary school are significantly more likely to reach expected standards in reading, writing and mathematics, while persistently absent secondary pupils are around three times more likely to become NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) later in life.

As we move towards the end of the academic year, I would encourage all families to continue making attendance a priority. Every day really does count. 

Attendance by Year group:

• Year 7 94.28%

• Year 8 93.38%

• Year 9 92.08%

• Year 10 91.46%

• Year 11 89.18%

  
  

On Thursday evening we celebrated our Year 11 Graduation and Prom. It was a wonderful occasion and a fitting way to mark the end of five years at Kelmscott.  Our students looked fantastic, dressed in their finery and conducted themselves with maturity, warmth and pride throughout the evening. It was a privilege to celebrate with them and their families.

A particular highlight was hearing from Dr Ida Saidy, our former Head Girl and the first Kelmscott student to secure a place through the Royal SpringBoard programme. Ida leaves university this month having completed her medical degree and begins her career as a doctor in July. Her story of resilience, patience, determination and ambition was truly inspirational. Seven years ago she was sitting where our Year 11 students were sitting on Thursday evening. Her journey is powerful evidence of what is possible through hard work, perseverance and belief in yourself.

We wish all of our graduates every success as they embark upon the next stage of their journeys.

Thursday 18th June was Thank a Teacher Day, an opportunity to recognise the incredible work carried out by teachers and support staff across the country.

At Kelmscott we are fortunate to have a truly exceptional staff team. Every day they go above and beyond to support, challenge, encourage and inspire our young people. Whether in classrooms, offices, workshops, sports facilities, the canteen or around the site, our staff make a difference to children's lives.  On behalf of our whole community, thank you to every member of staff for your unwavering commitment to our students.

Recent reporting has highlighted growing concerns about the amount of sleep young people are getting and the impact this can have on wellbeing, concentration and learning. Experts are increasingly linking poor sleep to increased anxiety, reduced resilience, difficulties with memory and lower academic performance.  As we approach the summer months, it can be tempting for routines to slip. We encourage families to continue supporting healthy sleep habits, including limiting screen use before bedtime and maintaining consistent routines. Good sleep remains one of the most important foundations for both learning and wellbeing.

It has been another action-packed week of sports at Kelmscott, with students proudly representing the school and competing across a range of competitions and events.

Our Year 8 girls' rounders teams enjoyed an outstanding afternoon at the Waltham Forest Rounders Tournament hosted by Lammas School. Competing against schools from across the borough, both Kelmscott teams demonstrated excellent skill, teamwork and understanding of the game throughout the competition. One team was crowned Waltham Forest Champions, whilst the other secured silver medals. 

Our athletics teams continue to excel. During the borough athletics finals, students demonstrated determination, resilience and excellent sportsmanship. Standout performances included Annabel Nogales (Year 7) and Victoria Stanko (Year 8), bronze medals in the hurdles. In Year 10, Sirine Alem, third place in the shot put and Melany Kocheva, third place in the long jump. The girls' relay teams also enjoyed success, with the Year 8 team winning the 4x100m relay and both the Year 7 and Year 9 teams securing bronze medals.

Five Kelmscott students were also selected to represent Waltham Forest at the Essex Championships, a fantastic achievement and recognition of their outstanding performances throughout the season. Congratulations to Hannah Arthur (Year 10) in discus, Sercan Kucuk (Year 10) in the 200m, Metecan Cetgin (Year 10) in shot put, Eleanor Nickson (Year 8) in the 800m and Myah Farrugia (Year 8) in the 300m. 

The boys' athletics team also enjoyed a successful week, with the Year 7, Year 8 and Year 10 relay teams all qualifying for the finals. In the heats, the Year 7 team finished second, the Year 8 team third and the Year 10 team first. Individual successes included Sam Lyall-Lee, second place in the high jump, Hussnain (Year 8), who finished second in the discus and Terrell, third place in the long jump. Ivo Edwards (Year 7) and Bogdan Popescu (Year 8) narrowly missed out on a medal in the hurdles.

On Wednesday the PE department organised a Badminton and Table Tennis Tournament. Over seventy students competed in a series of group-stage matches before progressing to knockout rounds. Students displayed outstanding leadership, sportsmanship and organisation, taking responsibility for umpiring matches, recording scores and managing fixtures. Congratulations to all competitors, especially medal winners: Alex Velicu (Gold), Tayyab Mohammad (Silver) and Mohamed Habibi (Bronze) in Table Tennis; Alisha Mahmood (Gold), Elizabeth Pater (Silver) and Kenza Idrissi-Kacemi (Bronze) in Girls' Badminton; and Augustine Essiaw (Gold), Zak Kamran (Silver) and Musa Nasir (Bronze) in Boys' Badminton. Well done to all athletes involved and thank you to staff for their support and organisation.

Congratulations to Kaelan Kwateng, who was recently crowned a National Plate Champion in football as part of the Waltham Forest District team. This is a tremendous achievement and reflects the dedication and hard work Kaelan has shown both on and off the pitch. We are incredibly proud of him.

We are pleased to have launched the Youth Health Champions Programme for a group of Year 9 and Year 10 students. Through this initiative, students receive training to become advocates for positive health and wellbeing within their communities, developing valuable leadership, communication and teamwork skills whilst learning about key health issues affecting young people. These students have already demonstrated a strong commitment to promoting health, wellbeing and positive lifestyles within our school community. Over the coming months, they will play an active role in a range of health promotion initiatives, helping to raise awareness, encourage informed choices and support their peers in leading healthier lives.

Bookings open on 22 June for the Waltham Forest Summer Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) Programme, which runs from 27 July to 21 August.  The programme offers a wide range of holiday activities and opportunities for children who are eligible for benefit-related Free School Meals, including specialist provision and support for children with SEND.

Families can find full details and booking information via the Waltham Forest website or by clicking on the link above. A limited number of places are also available through professional referral for vulnerable children who are not currently eligible for Free School Meals. Referral applications close on 13 July.  We encourage eligible families to explore the opportunities available.

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London have published groundbreaking findings showing that the HPV vaccination programme has reduced the risk of dying from cervical cancer before the age of 30 to almost zero for those vaccinated in early adolescence. The researchers estimate that nearly 200 lives have already been saved in England, and for the first time there were no recorded cervical cancer deaths among women aged 20–24 between 2020 and 2024.

This is an extraordinary example of how scientific research, public health programmes and vaccination can transform lives. Vaccinations remain one of the most effective ways of preventing serious illness and protecting communities. We are grateful to all families who engage positively with school vaccination programmes and help ensure young people receive this important protection. 

With temperatures forecast to exceed 30°C next week, students will be permitted to wear their Kelmscott PE kit to school should they prefer. Students must, as always, wear their school lanyards clearly and visibly at all times. We hope this temporary adjustment will help students remain comfortable and focused on their learning during the hot weather. Students should continue to bring a refillable water bottle, stay hydrated throughout the day and apply sunscreen before coming to school where appropriate. As this adjustment is being made specifically because of the hot weather, students should not wear non-uniform sweatshirts, hoodies or other additional layers. If temperatures are above 30°C, there is little need for extra clothing, and we ask families to support us in ensuring that students dress sensibly for the conditions. Stay well in the heat. Thank you for your support. 

Waltham Forest Music Service is offering an exciting two-day Songwriting Course for young people aged 14–18 who are interested in creating their own music. Whether students play an instrument, write lyrics, sing, or are simply passionate about music, this course provides a fantastic opportunity to develop their creativity, confidence and songwriting skills.  The course costs £85 per student, with an Early Bird discount of £10 available for bookings made before 24 June. The final booking deadline is 8 July.  Places are limited and expected to fill quickly. Further information and booking details can be found at:  https://summersongwriting.eventbrite.co.uk

Our students earned an outstanding 2,926 reward points during the week of 8–12 June 2026. These points recognise the many positive contributions our students make each day: excellent attendance, outstanding effort, exemplary behaviour, kindness towards others and a commitment to learning. They are a reminder that success is built through positive habits and consistent effort.

A special mention goes to Lass Swara in 10S, who topped the reward charts for the entire school with an impressive 48 points. Well done also to all of our year group winners and to the many students who continue to demonstrate our values day in and day out. Congratulations to our reward points winners from last week.  

• Year 7, Jannat Shahin 7E with 19 points

• Year 8, Caleb Evers in 8S with 13 points

• Year 9, Jasmine Jeffery in 9K with 13 points

• Year 10, Lass Swara in 10S with 23 points

• And finally, a hat-trick for our departing Year 11 students Aleka Williams in 11L, Hillary Herrera in 11K and Zahira Echeverry- Garcia in 11S

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

With every good wish,

Mr Sam Jones 

Headteacher