Headteacher's Weekly Update 8 - Friday 23rd October 2026

Dear Parents and Carers

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

As we reach the end of our first half term, I wanted to thank students, families and staff for what has been a really positive and productive start to the academic year.  There has been a great deal of purposeful work taking place across the school, and I have been particularly impressed by the way our students have settled into their routines, embraced new opportunities and contributed to the wider life of Kelmscott.

It was great to see so many students and families at our Year 11 Progress Evening on Thursday. The evening provided an important opportunity to reflect on progress, discuss next steps and ensure that students are clear about the support available as they prepare for the months ahead.  I was particularly impressed by the focus and determination shown by our Year 11 students and their clear commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes.  Students were provided with a handout containing guidance on effective revision strategies and techniques, alongside advice about post-16 pathways and options.  Printed copies remain available and can be collected from the school’s main Reception. 

On Tuesday, we hosted our College Roadshow, providing students in Years 9 and 11 with an opportunity to explore the different pathways available to them beyond secondary school.  It is important that young people begin thinking about their futures early, understanding the range of academic, vocational and apprenticeship routes available.  Our careers programme continues to support students in making informed and ambitious decisions about their next steps.

As part of our recognition of Black History Month, students have been exploring an adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth, featuring a Black director and leading actors.  It is important that our curriculum reflects a wide range of voices, experiences and perspectives, while continuing to engage students with significant works of literature.  Opportunities such as these encourage students to consider familiar texts through different interpretations and broaden their understanding of the arts.

Our Bronze DofE participants have taken another exciting step forward and have now received their official eDofE logins.  In school, students are currently in the process of setting up their online profiles and choosing which section they will complete for three months and which for six months across their Physical, Skills, and Volunteering sections.

Half-Term Goal; over the upcoming half-term break, students are asked to take some time to carefully consider and choose their specific activities for each of the three sections and set clear, realistic goals for what they want to achieve.   Fill in and submit these details directly on their eDofE profile.  Parents and carers are encouraged to chat with their child over half-term about their choices and goals.  Thank you for your continued support as students begin tailoring their individual DofE journeys.

I also wanted to recognise an achievement beyond school. Tomas Prediger in 9L recently completed his Fire Cadets training and attended his passing-out ceremony. The programme requires considerable commitment, combining fire-safety education and the theory of firefighting with practical drills adapted for young people. We understand that Tomas conducted himself exceptionally well throughout and made a very positive impression on his instructors. Congratulations to Tomas on completing such a demanding and worthwhile programme.

We are also delighted to celebrate another achievement beyond school.  Max Rought-Richards in 9O received a Jack Petchey Award at Hackney Town Hall last week in recognition of his positive attitude and teamwork during camps and group nights with Hackney Woodcraft, a youth organisation similar to the Scouts.  This is a wonderful achievement, and we are very proud of him. Congratulations, Max.

Our attendance this week was 94%, an improvement on last week's figure.  Attendance since September also stands at 94%.  We are heading in the right direction, although our target remains 98%.  Consistent attendance makes a significant difference to students' learning, confidence and relationships, and I would encourage families to maintain good routines as we move into the second half of term.

Looking ahead, we are making a change to our PE arrangements.  From after half term, students may come to school wearing their PE kit on days when they have PE lessons. We hope this will make things more straightforward for students and families.  However, students must also bring their full school uniform, packed neatly in their bags, so that they can change if their PE kit becomes wet, particularly during periods of poor weather.  Our PE department will be mindful of the conditions and will not ordinarily keep students outside in heavy rain, but having a change of clothing remains an important precaution.  We expect students to wear the correct Kelmscott PE kit and maintain the same high standards of presentation as we do with school uniform. 

With this change, I also want to emphasise the importance of personal hygiene, particularly as students will now be wearing their PE kit for more of the school day. Regular showering, either the evening before or on the morning of PE, alongside the appropriate use of deodorant or antiperspirant, is important. Please have these conversations with your children and help them establish good personal hygiene routines.  Our PE staff will reinforce these expectations in school. These are important habits for young people to develop as they become increasingly independent.

A correction: in last week’s update to families, I was working from the preliminary results and incorrectly reported that Esa Bham (11E) had finished second in the cross-country event.  Esa in fact secured first place, an outstanding achievement; I apologise for the error.  The event saw Kelmscott students achieve several excellent results and record some very impressive times.  Congratulations to Esa and to all our Kelmscott athletes who represented the school so brilliantly.

For students in Years 10 and 11, work has been set on Google Classroom to complete over the half-term break.  I would encourage students to organise their time sensibly, completing the work set while also making space for rest, family and activities they enjoy.  A good balance is important, particularly as the demands of GCSE courses increase.

We are also offering Year 11 students the opportunity to attend independent revision sessions in school on Monday 26th and Tuesday 27th October, from 9.00am to 1.00pm, ahead of their mock examinations.  Students may attend either or both days and stay for as long as they find useful.  We recommend arriving between 9.00am and 11.00am.  The sessions are voluntary and will provide a quiet, focused environment for independent study, with laptops, revision materials and flashcards available.  Students may attend in non-uniform and should bring their own snacks, drinks and packed lunch.  I would encourage Year 11 students to make use of this opportunity, and Ms Ahmet looks forward to welcoming them.

A further date for Year 11 families is our Post-16 Information Evening on Wednesday 4th November.  This will provide guidance on the choices students should be considering, including sixth forms, colleges and apprenticeships, alongside the application process and important deadlines.  I would strongly encourage Year 11 families to attend, as making well-informed decisions about the next stage of education is an important part of preparing for life beyond Kelmscott.

We have had two non-uniform days to finish the half term. Thursday's was open to all students, with contributions going towards the Kelmscott Hardship Fund, which supports families in our community who may be experiencing financial difficulties.  Thank you to everyone who contributed. Friday's non-uniform day was a reward for students who have consistently met our expectations around attendance, behaviour and engagement with school life.  I recognise that this can sometimes be disappointing for students and families who feel that circumstances beyond their control have affected their eligibility, particularly in relation to attendance.  We do understand that individual circumstances vary, and these are always considered carefully.  Nevertheless, we believe it is important to recognise and celebrate students who consistently meet our expectations.  I hope families will understand the positive intention behind this approach and continue to support us in encouraging the habits and behaviours that help young people succeed.

Our Creative Arts Department, led by Ms Dempsey, was delighted to receive a generous donation of beautiful books from two of our parents who work in publishing.  Covering a wide range of art history, these books will be a valuable classroom resource and will, we hope, inspire students to develop an even greater appreciation of the printed word and image. 

It has been a pleasure to meet so many prospective Kelmscott families this half term, both at our Open Evening and during the many school-day tours that followed.  I am always proud to show visitors around personally, giving them the opportunity to experience our calm, purposeful environment and the special sense of community that defines Kelmscott.  As a reminder, applications are now open for children born between 1st September 2015 and 31st August 2016 to start secondary school in September 2027.  The closing date for applications is 31st October 2026.

The Bridge marked the end of the autumn half term with students taking part in a pumpkin-carving workshop today.  Working together to develop their designs, they demonstrated teamwork and collaboration while also applying patience, concentration and fine motor skills to the challenge of carving their pumpkins.  The activity prompted some lively conversations about the television programme The Traitors, with students debating whether they would rather be a Faithful or a Traitor.  This provided a fun opportunity to share opinions, listen to different perspectives and engage positively with one another.  Well done to everyone who took part.

As mentioned in my update to families on 9th October, bookings are open for the Waltham Forest October Half Term Holiday Activity and Food Programme, which runs from Monday 26th to Friday 30th October. The programme offers activities and food for eligible children receiving benefits-related free school meals. Families can view the available activities and book at www.walthamforest.gov.uk/holidays. If an eligible child requires additional support to participate, families should contact wfholidayactivityprogramme@walthamforest.gov.uk before making a booking.

As usual, Kelmscott has an extended October half-term break, providing a welcome opportunity for students and staff to rest and recharge.  I hope families are able to enjoy some time together and that students return refreshed and ready for the next half term.  School will reopen on Wednesday 4th November at the usual time.

Finally, our weekly rewards.  Congratulations to William and Andrei in Year 8, who have jointly topped the rewards chart this week with 38 points each.  A strong achievement from both students and a fitting way to end the half term.  Well done also to the many other students who have earned rewards through their effort, positive attitudes and contributions to school life.

Year 7: Jasmine Singh (7C) – 34 points

Year 8: Andrei Handiuc (8K) and William Ramster (8K) – 38 points each

Year 9: A hat trick for Mustafa Mustafa (9L), Zakariya Pandor (9M) and Matthew Zakharkov (9K) – 22 points each

Year 10: Uzair Talal (10C) – 22 points

Year 11: Lass Swara (11S) – 24 points

Thank you once again to our students, families and staff for a good first half term.  There is much to build upon, and I look forward to welcoming everyone back in November.

Mr Sam Jones 

Headteacher