On 11th March, two of our teams participated in the JP Morgan Final, presenting their prototypes and pitches to a panel of esteemed judges.


Team Aquinity presented their Revolution Wave product – a device designed to be installed in rivers to help remove pollution from the water. Laura, Nainshi, Kacie, Lucy, David,, Ali, Aravind and Shayaan

 

Team Green Lungs showcased Air Nova, an innovative concept designed to help filter CO₂ from the air on busy roads. Nichola, Amritpal, Samar, Maria, Zafir, Hamaad, Adam and Tomas 


Top Influencer Awards – Brightside

Across all schools, Robert Clack achieved a clean sweep in the Brightside Top Influencer Awards for positive engagement:

🥉 Laura – Bronze Award
🥈 Adam – Silver Award

🥇 Hamaad – Gold Award


We also held a celebration event where students were recognised for their achievements and received personalised report cards.


Both of our teams worked incredibly well and scored highly among the teams present. One of the judges, who attended school in our area, commented on how great it was to see students representing Dagenham at such a prestigious event.


Some Reflections from the students

Amritpal 

After the final, I think it is the best thing I have joined because it has actually improved my public speaking a lot, and I get to learn different things that I never had before. Even though none of our ideas ever work together, we always make a final decision together. My favourite highlights of JPMorgan are that I get to meet everyone that I've seen around the school and meet everyone outside of school which made me inspire alot.


Aravind

After the final, I think JP Morgan has improved our community skills by letting us work together to makes something beneficial for our world. My most memorable moment is when we first built the product, and everyone I met had a powerful impact on my life.


Shayaan

After the final, I think it was still useful for me to join as it improved my teamwork, public speaking and speechwriting skills. We discussed ideas and put long thought into our product, which gave us a job - like experience which can be useful in the future and as part of our skillset. It was also a great experience as we got to visit workshops, the JP Morgan headquarters and Tottenham hotspur stadium, which for me are the highlights of our JP Morgan schools challenge journey.


Kacie

I think the JP Morgan program has been a great opportunity to be apart of as it’s helped people form new friendships and work on things they struggle with. Personally this experience has helped me with my confidence and my ability to solve problems. My favourite moments were designing our product in the studio and watching our product come together but also watching the team get so excited in the finals.


Lucy

JP Morgan has been one of my favourite experiences as it’s taught me how to be confident in what I talk about and has shown me how to work in a team with everyone who I may have not known at first but has grown to cherish as life long friends. The JP Morgan mentors have been such a help in growing our company into the best it could be and I’m forever grateful for this wonderful experience as every session has been so fun and I’ve enjoyed myself the whole time.


Congratulations to all the students involved – a fantastic achievement!

Mrs K McBride , Mr R McBride, Miss F Hibbit 

Manchester National NFL Flag Football Finals

By Nick Power • June 20, 2026
Our two-day school trip to Manchester for the Great Britain National Football Finals was an unforgettable experience filled with learning, teamwork, and achievement. Day 1 began with an afternoon visit to the Science and Industry Museum. The children explored the wide range of exhibits on offer, learning about science, technology, engineering, and Manchester's important role in industrial history. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to engage with interactive displays and discover new ideas outside of the classroom. In the evening, the group enjoyed some well-earned downtime with a trip to the bowling alley, followed by a visit to an arcade. The children had great fun competing against one another, celebrating successes, and spending time together as a team. Day 2 saw the main event arrive as the children took part in the Great Britain National NFL Flag Football Finals. They performed brilliantly throughout the tournament, showing determination, teamwork, and resilience in every match. During the day we got to meet former NFL players, including Londoner Efe Obada who played for the Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills and the Washington Commanders. After winning their group stage, they continued their impressive run through the knockout rounds and made it all the way to the final. We narrowly missed out on becoming champions, finishing as runners-up is an incredible achievement, making us the Number 2 ranked school in Great Britain for NFL Flag Football. We are immensely proud of all the children. What makes their success even more remarkable is that they only began playing the sport in late February. To progress from beginners to national finalists in such a short space of time is a testament to their hard work, commitment, and positive attitude. They represented the school exceptionally well both on and off the pitch, and they should be very proud of everything they accomplished throughout the trip. We would like to thank Mr Taylor and the school's Alumni Association for supporting us during this trip. Mr Jervier

Alumni Psychology Talk

By Nick Power • June 18, 2026
It was wonderful to welcome back former pupil Ibukun Dada (class of 2021) to our school recently for an inspiring and informative visit. Ibukun spoke passionately about her journey in Psychology, describing how her interest in the subject began when she chose it as an option at the end of Year 9 following an assembly talk by a teacher. From those early beginnings, she has gone on to achieve great success and is now working as a trainee Clinical Psychiatrist while also studying towards her Doctorate in Psychology. Our Year 9 Students were fully engaged throughout the session and asked a wide range of insightful questions, showing great curiosity and enthusiasm for the subject. They particularly valued hearing about the steps involved in pursuing a career in Psychology and the dedication required to reach such a high level of study. It was wonderful for both pupils and staff to hear first-hand about Ibukun’s achievements and the journey that started right here at our school. Her visit was both motivating and empowering, with a couple of students looking to change their Options choices as a result of her visit! We look forward to welcoming her back again in the future.

Art Club News

By Nick Power • June 17, 2026
As another successful year of Art Club comes to an end, I would like to thank all the pupils who have attended sessions and contributed so enthusiastically throughout the year. Your creativity, commitment, and willingness to try new ideas have made Art Club a wonderful place to learn and create together. This term, pupils have been working on artwork inspired by the theme "Under the Sea" in honour of Sir David Attenborough' 100th birthday. The imaginative and colourful pieces they have produced are a testament to their hard work and artistic talent. It has been a pleasure to see their confidence grow as they explored different techniques and developed their own creative styles. I am incredibly proud of everything the pupils have achieved and look forward to showcasing their work in our exhibition on 8th July, Drama Studio, Gosfield Site . Thank you to everyone who has taken part and helped make Art Club such an enjoyable and successful part of the school year.

Inspiring Futures: Alumni Architecture Talk

By Nick Power • June 16, 2026
We were delighted to welcome back former student Mariah, who left Robert Clack in 2018, to deliver an engaging career talk on architecture. The session, attended by students in Years 9 and 10, provided a valuable insight into both the academic and professional pathways within the field. Mariah explained her journey into architecture, including the stages of qualification, and shared that she is now Part 2 qualified, currently working as an Architectural Assistant while studying towards her Part 3 qualification. A key highlight of the talk was Mariah’s focus on the importance of building a strong portfolio during Sixth Form. She shared examples of her own work, giving students a clear understanding of how creative ideas are developed and presented. This practical insight helped students to appreciate the level of commitment, creativity and organisation required to succeed in the profession. Students were highly engaged throughout and Mariah encouraged them to make the most of their current studies, explore their interests early, and begin thinking about future pathways. We are extremely grateful to Mariah for returning to support and inspire our students. Opportunities like this play a vital role in broadening horizons and helping young people make informed decisions about their futures.

Vision and Voices Trip - June 2026

By Nick Power • June 14, 2026
These Year 9 students have been part of the Vision and Voices Oracy Project, delivered in partnership with the National Gallery and the University of Cambridge, for the past three years. This week marked their final visit to the National Gallery, where each student stood in front of a chosen artwork and delivered a speech explaining why it should be included in the Robert Clack curriculum. Every student spoke with remarkable confidence, articulated their ideas thoughtfully, and engaged their audience throughout their presentations. Their speeches were so compelling that members of the public and National Gallery staff stopped to listen, with many rewarding them with well-deserved rounds of applause. The students were absolutely outstanding and should be incredibly proud of what they have achieved. Their dedication, growth, and commitment over the past three years have been truly inspiring. To celebrate the successful completion of the project, students have been invited to a graduation evening at the National Gallery on 3rd July, where they will be able to share this special achievement with their family and friends.

Year 10 Experience Engaging Workshops from UCL Pure Mathematics Lecturer

By mhooper • June 8, 2026
Dr Niki Kalaydzhieva, a lecturer in Pure Mathematics at UCL, delivered a series of engaging workshops for Year 10 pupils, with 104 students attending across the sessions. Pupils were introduced to the mathematical card game SET, through which they explored key concepts including finite geometry, modular arithmetic, and projective geometry, while developing their problem-solving skills. The workshops, tailored for top-set pupils, were highly engaging and encouraged curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking.

Alumni Teams Call - Law

By mhooper • June 4, 2026
We were delighted to welcome back former student Elona Morina, who returned to Robert Clack to share her journey into law via Teams. After leaving in 2017, Elona studied A Levels at Havering Sixth Form College before going on to Brunel University to study Law, including a placement year in a law firm. She is now completing a training contract in criminal law near London Bridge and is close to fully qualifying. Elona spoke honestly about overcoming challenges at school, encouraging students to work hard, take opportunities, and build confidence. She also highlighted the importance of key skills such as communication, organisation and initiative, as well as exploring different routes into legal careers. Students found her talk inspiring and relatable, with one commenting, “Elona was so relatable – it was really interesting.” Thank you, Elona, for giving back and inspiring the next generation.

Year 8 Legoland Trip

By npower • May 22, 2026
Our pupils recently enjoyed an exciting and enriching trip to LEGOLAND Windsor Resort as part of their involvement in Lego Club. Throughout the visit, the pupils represented the school exceptionally well, demonstrating exemplary behaviour, enthusiasm, and maturity at all times. A special thank you goes to Mr Van Gelder and Miss Day for accompanying the trip and supporting the pupils throughout the day. Their dedication and encouragement played a significant role in making the experience both memorable and enjoyable for everyone involved. During the visit, pupils also participated in the engaging ‘LEGO, Camera, Action!’ workshop, where they collaborated creatively in teams to produce their own LEGO film. This hands-on experience allowed pupils to develop their imagination, communication, teamwork, and storytelling skills in a fun and inspiring environment. Congratulations to all the pupils involved for being outstanding ambassadors for the school and for embracing every opportunity with such positivity and enthusiasm.  Miss A Yasin (Head of Year 8)

PGL Grosvenor Hall Trip

By npower • May 22, 2026
Our Year 7 and Year 8 pupils had an exciting and adventurous trip to PGL Grosvenor Hall last term. 105 pupils from all three sites, stayed at Grosvenor Hall for 2 nights in March, where they participated in a range of challenging activities, including abseiling, rock climbing, fencing and raft building. Throughout the trip, their behaviour was outstanding, and they truly embodied the values of our school, acting as excellent ambassadors. All pupils had a fantastic time, showing incredible bravery and determination when it came to overcoming their fears. With every obstacle faced, pupils showed resilience and perseverance, a great example of our school values. Pupils continued to support one another, cheering each other on and offering encouragement at every step. This trip is always a fantastic trip where pupils truly use this opportunity to build positive relationships, resilience to difficult situations, and excellent teamwork skills. We couldn’t be prouder of the outstanding behaviour of our Year 7’s and Year 8’s. A massive thank you to the 10 members of staff that gave up their time for the trip and offered their support throughout.

Game Set Maths

By npower • May 22, 2026
Dr Niki Kalaydzhieva , a lecturer at UCL specialising in pure maths, conducted a Game, SET, Maths workshop, where pupils learned how to play a game called SET. This game enhances pupils' understanding of finite geometry, modular arithmetic and projective geometry through an interactive problem-solving card game. Here is a video of the game: ( How to Play Set (Math Card Game)  It was fantastic to see students engaged by the workshop and interacting with each other to master the card game.