Headteacher's Weekly Update 36 - Friday 26th June 2026

Dear Parents and Carers

I hope this message finds you and your families well. As always, a Friday update from me as we draw another busy and challenging week to a close.

Attendance for the week 15th - 19th June 2026 was 92%. Thank you, as always, for your continued support in ensuring your child attends school every day. Every lesson matters, particularly as we approach the end of another successful academic year.

Attendance by Year group:

• Year 7 93.08%

• Year 8 93.56%

• Year 9 92.00%

• Year 10 90.64%

  
  

Firstly, I would like to thank families for your support and understanding over the course of this week's exceptional temperatures.

The decision to close the school site at lunchtime on four consecutive days is not one that I have taken lightly. Decisions of this nature are never straightforward. Throughout the week, we have sought to strike the right balance between maintaining education whilst ensuring the wellbeing of both students and staff in what have been exceptionally challenging conditions.

Looking ahead, the forecast suggests temperatures returning to a much more manageable 23–24°C next week. We will therefore return to full school uniform from Monday. As always, we will remain agile should the forecast change again.

One positive that has emerged from this week is that it has accelerated some of our longer-term thinking. We are currently reviewing this year's (healthy) budget and developing a rolling programme to install additional air conditioning units across the school. Whilst this cannot happen overnight, we are committed to beginning this work as soon as possible so that, should we experience similar conditions in future, we are in a much stronger position to keep the school fully operational. I will, of course, keep families updated as these plans develop.

Today marked our first-ever Year 7 Work Experience (Take Your Child to Work) Day and I would like to thank all of the families and employers who supported this exciting initiative.  Giving young people an insight into the world of work at such an early stage helps broaden aspirations and exposes students to the huge variety of careers available to them. It is also an opportunity for them to see first-hand how the workplace continues to evolve, including the increasing prevalence of hybrid and home working.

For those students who remained in school, colleagues organised a programme of workshops, employer encounters and career activities, ensuring every Year 7 student benefitted from the day. My thanks go particularly to Ms Ahmet for the considerable amount of planning and organisation that went into making this inaugural event such a success.

Our exciting Duke of Edinburgh Award programme continues to gather momentum. The official launch for Year 9 students will take place on Thursday 2 July at 6pm, a reminder that students must be accompanied by a parent or carer please. We are incredibly proud to be bringing the Duke of Edinburgh Award to Kelmscott and look forward to seeing our first cohort begin their journeys. 

As we begin to look ahead to September, a reminder that from Monday, our current Year 9 and Year 10 students will begin transitioning into their new year group bases to support a smooth start to the new academic year.  Our current Year 10 students, who will shortly become Year 11, will register in their new tutor bases within the Willow Building and should enter school via the main entrance on Markhouse Road.  Our current Year 9 students will register in their new Year 10 tutor bases on the ground floor of the Lea Building in the Modern Foreign Languages classrooms.

A reminder also that Monday 6 July is an INSET Day and the school will therefore be closed to students.

As you can imagine, the exceptionally hot weather has limited this week's sporting fixtures. We wish the very best of luck to all of our athletes who will be representing Kelmscott at next week's Borough Athletics Championships. Simply qualifying for this event is a tremendous achievement in its own right.  Let’s see if we can manage any podium finishes as well.

As we prepare for September, I would encourage all families who do not currently claim Free 

School Meals to take a few minutes to check whether they may now be eligible. Even if you are unsure, it is well worth checking. Eligibility can unlock valuable support for your child as well as additional funding for the school, which directly benefits students. The online eligibility checker is quick and easy to use: https://fsm.lgfl.net

If the checker confirms that you are eligible, you will then be invited to submit a formal application to the London Borough of Waltham Forest. We would strongly encourage families to complete this before September wherever possible.

The Mayor of Waltham Forest, is pleased to announce that applications are now open for two Youth Mayor positions.  This is an exciting opportunity for young people (14-25) to represent the views of their peers, develop valuable leadership and communication skills and play an active role in shaping their local community. Students with an interest in making a difference and getting involved in civic life are encouraged to apply.  Please see here for further information about the role and the application process.

Creative Services, Waltham Forest offer a range of free activities and support for young people in a safe and welcoming environment. Opportunities include music production, DJ and podcast workshops, performing arts, arts and crafts, cooking, multi-sports, gaming, mentoring, homework support, personal development and organised trips. Please see here for further information and details of how to get involved.

Finally, the Children's Commissioner for England has asked schools to encourage students to complete The Big Future survey. The survey is designed to hear directly from children and young people across England about their experiences, hopes and aspirations, helping to shape future national policy. At present, only one response has been received from a Kelmscott student, so I would be grateful if families could encourage their child to take part. The survey can be found here: The Big Future survey - have your say!

The highest reward scorer for the week of 15th - 19th June 2026 was Mae Milner-Feliho in 8K, who achieved an outstanding 59 reward points. A outstanding accomplishment. Congratulations also to our year group leaders and to every student whose positive choices, commitment to learning and consideration for others continue to embody the very best of the Kelmscott Way. 

Rewards Points winners:

• Year 7, Ahzem Zubair in 7M with 32 points

• Year 8, Mae Milner-Feliho in 8K with 59 points

• Year 9, a hat trick for Amina Yusaf in 9L, Charlie Adams and David Nucsoreanu in 9K each with 32 points 

• Year 10, Halim Benarab in 10T with 24 points

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

With every good wish,

Mr Sam Jones 

Headteacher