The Duchess of Sussex celebrates International Women’s Day at Robert Clack School!
“Oh my god, that’s Meghan! I’m actually going to meet Meghan!” This was one student’s reaction as the Duchess of Sussex surprised students at Robert Clack’s upper site on Friday 6th March ahead of International Women’s Day.
Excitement filled the air as Meghan got out of her car and was greeted by Ian Pittaway - Deputy Lieutenant for Barking and Dagenham and Co-chair of the Robert Clack Alumni Association. Many of the children were speechless, while others gasped as they set eyes on the Duchess who was stood before them. A few weeks earlier Ian had received an email asking if any local schools would like a visit from the Duchess. The theme of the event was International Women’s Day and, with Dagenham holding such an important place in the history of women’s rights following the Ford sewing machinists strike which was instrumental in passing the 1970 Equal Pay Act, Robert Clack were particularly keen to welcome such a special guest.
We were honoured to be selected and set about making plans for the day with the Duchess’s staff and security services. After being introduced to Head Teacher Russell Taylor and Senior Deputy Head Teacher Steve O’Brien, Meghan smiled broadly as she was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Year 7 students, Fiona A and Harvi S.
Meghan was then invited to the Information Centre where she was welcomed by Assistant Head Izzy Eames and her Year 9 students who were working on a project about female poets. The students had researched a variety of female poets, studied an unseen poem, and were busy creating their own poems using their research as inspiration. The Duchess was very interested in their work and offered encouraging words when students shared their poems with her and the group.
Meghan then met Assistant Head Emily Valentine and the Year 12 Debating Society. Robert Clack Debaters have rubbed shoulders with stars and politicians over the years - but never royalty! Miss Valentine shared her experiences of the day. She praised them for how articulate they were and that it was clear that the moral compasses they hold will enable them to become world leaders when they complete their education. A particular highlight of our time with the Duchess was when she was made an honourary member of the Debate Society and students Lily and Yesha presented her with her own debate jacket, she said that 'her husband would be very jealous'. It was an absolute honour for some of our Debate Society to meet such a warm, modern and personable member of the Royal Family. It was a day that we will never forget!”
“When Mr Taylor told me about the Royal Visit from the Duchess of Sussex there was no question about ensuring that our wonderful debaters got an opportunity to show off their skills, especially as the issues that the Duchess holds close to her heart are the same as those involved in the Debate Society. What struck me about the Duchess was that she was incredibly down to earth and keen to hear the views and aspirations of those taking part in the session. She remarked on the fact that they were able to discuss their future careers. One example was embarking on work in Gynaecology in the developing world, and how student Aeesha was able link science and debate effortlessly.
She recognised that our students have the ability to change the world using their voices and encouraged them to continue to have their voices heard. Debater, Aeesah A added, “The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, is an inspirational person not just to young people from ethnic minorities and females, but to the general population. I believe she has this influence because she has already accomplished so many great achievements in her life whilst overcoming many difficulties thrown her way. To have her join our Debate Society has made all of us more proud of being part of the Robert Clack Debate Society. Meeting the Duchess of Sussex has given me personally more confidence and assurance that my ability to speak out can make positive changes and help improve the lives of people for the better. Her joining of our Debate Society has helped solidify the fact that young people can make a change in the world that we live in and that the steps that we are taking to do this are being noticed by many people from all around the world.”
The Duchess made her final stop of the visit at the assembly hall where she was keen to take part in the Year 11 assembly which was themed around International Women’s Day. She was introduced to former student Miss Hasika Bhudia, teacher of mathematics and Head of Year 11, along with another honoured guest - former student Geraldine Dear, a retired Ford Machinist, who took part in the Equal Pay Strike. Students Rhyanna W and Renee P-D kick started the assembly by speaking eloquently about the global impact the female Dagenham Ford workers made on women’s rights. The first strike in 1968 was a trigger in passing the Equal Pay Act 1970. Geraldine was one of the ’13 rebels’ who took part in a further strike in 1984, in protest against the system that graded women as unskilled workers. Geraldine and her machinist colleagues went on strike for six weeks before Ford eventually agreed to their terms and they returned to work on an equal footing to the male skilled workers.
Year 13 student Olivia C then made a heartfelt speech about her own experiences as a woman and reflected on where she thought life would take her. Olivia said, “This visit is certainly one I will remember, as the crucial celebration of women and female empowerment was recognised by a leading female figure in public British consciousness. As I am from a borough with issues surrounding gender equality and the empowerment of young people, I think that Meghan Markle recognising our area and our school as an important centre of change for gender in our society and the role and status of women is incredibly powerful.”
The ‘Citizen of The Week’ award was then presented to student Charlotte Fleisher by Meghan. A very excited Charlotte said, “It was amazing to see Meghan in school. I couldn’t believe it when she congratulated me for receiving my award and shook my hand. This memory will stay with me forever!” The Duchess then addressed the assembly, urging the boys in particular, to value and appreciate the women in their lives whilst setting an example to other men who may not see things in the same way. “You have mothers, sisters, girlfriends, and friends in your lives. Protect them, make sure they are feeling valued and safe. Let’s just rally together to make sure International Women’s Day is something that is not just for one day but frankly feels like every day of the year.”
She then went ‘off the cuff’ and asked for a male volunteer from the audience.Aker O was the lucky student to be chosen! Aker approached the stage to rapturous applause and cheers from his peers and, shaking Meghan’s hand, he said the words, “She really is beautiful innit!” which has become his tag line and gone viral on social media! Aker received a big hug from the giggling Duchess who was clearly amused by his reaction before speaking with confidence about his views on women’s rights. A very proud Miss Bhudia said “All in all, the speeches from our pupils filled us with nothing but pride on this special day. The voice from today’s women of Dagenham was held strong and we have every faith in them to keep the fight for equality alive through the generations to come. Well done to everyone who was involved and I am sure this will be a day nobody will forget!"
This was certainly a day that will be etched in the minds of all staff and students at Robert Clack for many years to come. The atmosphere around the school was electric. Here are a few quotes from some of the students: “I never expected to have such an honour of meeting a royal, but there I was at Robert Clack School meeting one of the most special and important people today” Fabio Petraru “We were all waiting at our tables and then we saw Meghan Markle through a window the teachers forgot to cover! I was honestly so excited because I was getting this once in a lifetime opportunity” Ula Lapinskaite “It was amazing. We were all screaming and crying in excitement. Seeing Meghan Markle inspired me to try harder and be the best me I can be” Popina Brennan
Head Teacher Russell Taylor reflected on the day saying, “The visit of The Duchess of Sussex was a truly great moment in the history of Robert Clack School. As I listened to the wonderful speeches given by Renee, Rhyanna, and Olivia during the assembly, I found myself feeling overcome with emotion. All I could think was: this is what Robert Clack School is about. This visit wasn’t about one individual; it was about us, all of us, working together as one for the benefit of all. I’m sure you have seen the media coverage of Meghan’s visit and I’m sure, like me, you cannot fail to have noticed the look of shock, exuberance, and unadulterated joy on our pupils’ faces. Meghan told our pupils - girls and boys - that they matter, that they have a voice and that they should use it. What a powerful message!
And the response on social media has been nothing short of extraordinary, with so many people from all over the world commenting on our “amazing” pupils. I feel exceptionally proud and privileged to be a part of our community; I hope they all do too.”
A huge thank you to everyone involved in the visit, especially our staff and wonderful students. Special mentions to our VIPs, Ian Pittaway, Geraldine Dear, the Mayor of Barking and Dagenham, Peter Chand and his wife Ginger, Chief Executive of LBBD, Chris Naylor, and Leader of the Council, Darren Rodwell. It was certainly a memorable day for us all!
We are delighted to congratulate the nine students who have been accepted onto the prestigious Imperial College London STEM Potential Programme. This is a fantastic achievement, especially considering that we had 22 applications; having nine students accepted is absolutely incredible. The STEM Potential Programme is a highly competitive initiative designed to support and inspire talented students with a passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Through the programme, students will take part in a range of enriching activities, including academic workshops, mentoring, campus visits, and insight into university life at Imperial College London. This opportunity will allow our students to develop their subject knowledge, build confidence, and gain a deeper understanding of future pathways in STEM fields. We are extremely proud of their success and look forward to seeing them thrive throughout the programme.
This year’s British Science Week was a huge success across all three sites, with students and staff taking part in a wide range of exciting activities designed to celebrate curiosity, creativity and scientific thinking. Throughout the week, students enjoyed a variety of lunchtime and after-school science sessions, including practical challenges, STEM activities, and investigations led by members of the science department. Activities ranged from making hand creams and exploring melting points to engineering challenges such as windmill blade design and marble runs, giving students the chance to experience science in a fun and hands-on way. One of the highlights of the week was the arrival of our baby chicks, which hatched live in the science labs. Students (and teachers!) visited the chicks during break and lunch, and for the first time ever we live streamed the chicks hatching on the Robert Clack website – it was brilliant to hear how many students were tuning in at home, making this a memorable experience for everyone involved. We also had the science department’s resident pet turtles, Phineas and Ferb, take part in a race – Phineas won despite his small size! This year’s British Science Week poster competition was also a great success, where over 70 students created thoughtful and creative posters exploring the theme of a positive childhood. The quality of entries was outstanding, with students combining scientific ideas, creativity and personal reflection to produce some truly impressive work. Finalists’ posters showed excellent effort, originality and attention to detail, and it was great to see so many students engaging with the theme. Across Lymington, Gosfield and Green Lane, the enthusiasm shown by students was fantastic, and it was great to see so many taking part in activities beyond the classroom. Events like these highlight how science can be creative and enjoyable for everyone. A big thank you to all staff who helped organise activities, run sessions and support students throughout the week — and well done to all students who took part and made British Science Week 2026 such a success!
This week, our school production of Aladdin lit up the stage with two fantastic evening performances on Tuesday and Wednesday. Students from across year groups came together to deliver a vibrant, energetic, and thoroughly entertaining show that showcased not only their musical talents, but also their dedication and teamwork. From the colourful costumes and creative staging to the confident acting and lively musical numbers, the production was a true celebration of the performing arts. Our cast brought the well-loved characters to life with humour and charm, while the ensemble numbers filled the stage with energy and excitement. A huge congratulations goes to all of the students involved—both on stage and behind the scenes—for their hard work and commitment over many weeks of rehearsals. Their efforts truly paid off, and they should be incredibly proud of what they achieved. We would also like to thank staff and families for their continued support, as well as everyone who attended the performances. Your encouragement helped make the shows such a memorable success. Well done to everyone involved in making Aladdin such a magical experience!
Between the 6th and 8th of March, 24 Year 10 students took part in an exciting residential trip to PGL Bawdsey Manor in Suffolk. Over the three days, students challenged themselves with a wide range of adventurous activities including climbing, Jacob’s Ladder, the challenge course, archery, aeroball, the giant swing and zip lining. The trip provided plenty of opportunities for students to step outside their comfort zones, build confidence and support one another as they tackled each activity. One of the highlights of the weekend was the silent disco on the Saturday night, where students danced the night away and enjoyed a well-earned evening of fun after a busy day of activities. A special thank you goes to Mr Cook, who generously gave up time on his Friday and Sunday to help drop off and collect some of the students from Suffolk. Trips like this create memories that students will cherish for years to come. The residential was not only about physical activity and adventure, but also about building friendships, developing independence and creating shared experiences that make school life so special. Miss Robbins
On the 11th of March, our year 7 rugby girls competed in the Essex 7s tournament, putting in fantastic performances throughout the day. Both the A and B teams showed great determination, teamwork and resilience against strong opposition from across the county. The highlight of the tournament was an outstanding performance from the A team, who went on to win the entire competition and secure the Essex 7s title. Their attacking play, defensive effort and teamwork were exceptional, making it a well-deserved victory and a proud moment for the school. The B team also performed brilliantly, showing great spirit and continuing to improve with every match. Their effort and commitment contributed to a very successful day for the whole squad. Special recognition goes to our “Women of Steel” — Cheriah, Khadijat, Lateefat, Anjola, Nathaya, Amelia and Kelsey — whose hard work, determination and positive attitude helped drive the teams forward throughout the tournament. Overall, it was a fantastic day of rugby and a great achievement for everyone involved. Congratulations to all the players who represented the school so well and brought home the Essex title. Miss Robbins
As part of the Into Film Spring Film Festival we took a group of students from the KS5 CTEC Media Studies classes, KS3 Film Club and KS3 BBC Young Reports Club to see Goat at The Vue Cinema in Dagenham. Goat is an underdog story packed to the rim with the same vivid colours and graphics that you would find in Spider Man: Into the Spider-Verse. The story follows a billy goat named Will, a young goat who is a bit down on his luck, who follows his mum's wishes to 'dream big' to become a player in the much-loved basketball team 'The Thorns'. However, things are never that easy, and Will has to overcome prejudice from those who think they are better than him from other teams in the league and even his own team mates. However, through perseverance, friendship and team work, Will eventually proves to everyone why he is the true GOAT! Everyone had lots of fun experiencing everything that comes with going to the cinema, including a healthy dose of popcorn and combo deals! Thank you to Mrs Fox, Mr Roberts and Mr Carter for helping on the day. Mrs Crowther-Green and the Film and Media Department
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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
It has been an incredible half-term for Year 2, filled with both literary wonder and scientific discovery. We kicked off our celebrations with World Book Day , where the children immersed themselves in the fantastic work of their favorite authors, sharing stories and exploring the magic of character and plot. The excitement continued with a spectacular visit from the Science Dome , which transported us from the classroom to the lunar surface. Inside the immersive dome, we learned all about the historic moon landing and its global significance, sparking a wave of curiosity about space travel and the bravery of the Apollo astronauts. From the pages of our favorite books to the craters of the moon, the pupils have shown a wonderful enthusiasm for learning that is clear to see in these photographs.
We have been very busy in Year 4 this term! We have been very busy learning all about rivers and the water cycle in our Geography lessons. This knowledge was put to good use in our English lessons where the children wrote some fantastic poems about rivers and the power of water. The children been able to take inspiration from the poems of Valerie Bloom and used metaphors and similes to describe rivers. At the end of last term, we had a visit from a team from Billingsgate Fish Market. The children had the opportunity to find out more about various types of fish from the experts. They particularly enjoyed the opportunity to handle the fish they even got the chance to try some of the fish themselves! On 5th March, we celebrated World Book Day and the children came into school dressed as their favourite book characters. It was wonderful to see the children in their different costumes, from Harry Potter and Maleficent to Dorothy and Where’s Wally! We even had some children taking inspiration from our History topics as they came dressed as Roman soldiers and Egyptian pharaohs. It was a joyful celebration of reading and we hope the children enjoyed it as much as we did! To celebrate reading even further and all of the wonderful women who look after us, we invited mums, sisters and other female relatives into school to read some of the children’s favourite books with them. The children really enjoyed listening to stories being read to them and they also had the chance to read to our special visitors! This term, the children have had the opportunity to take part in swimming lessons at Becontree Leisure Centre. I am so proud of how much progress the children have made with their swimming skills. Not only have they had fun learning to swim but they have also shown bravery, resilience, courage and growing confidence in the water. It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm in the swimming pool each week. I hope the children are able to continue their swimming lessons in their free time! Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to sharing more updates with you next term.