This Summer 1 term, Reception have been learning all about Transport. The children have thoroughly enjoyed exploring different types of vehicles and how people and goods travel in different ways. As part of our creative learning, the children used collage techniques to design and make their own transport vehicles, as well as contributing to a range of transport-themed projects for our classroom displays.
In Literacy, we have shared and explored a variety of transport-related stories, including Runaway Train by Benedict Blathwayt and Duck in the Truck by Jez Alborough. The children have shown fantastic progress in both their reading and writing this term, and we are incredibly proud to see so many children moving up to new reading levels and growing in confidence as writers.
This term, the children also enjoyed a wonderful trip to Eastbrookend Discovery Centre, where they took part in a variety of outdoor learning activities. These included nature bingo, exploring the environment, and searching for different minibeasts. The children demonstrated excellent curiosity, teamwork, and enthusiasm throughout the visit.
In Maths, the children have been learning about sharing into groups, doubles, odd and even numbers, shape composition, and volume and capacity. They have enjoyed exploring these concepts through practical activities, games, and hands-on learning opportunities.
To end the term, the children will be taking part in exciting Bee Day activities, including a special spelling bee challenge. We are looking forward to celebrating all of the children’s hard work and achievements this term.
PGL Netball Tour 2026 During the 24th–26th April, 17 students from Years 8 and 9 represented Robert Clack School at the PGL Netball Tournament, competing against schools from across the country. Alongside the tournament, students also had the opportunity to take part in a range of exciting activities including axe throwing, rock climbing, giant swing, archery and the leap of faith. The Year 8 team performed brilliantly, winning 3 out of their 6 matches and narrowly missing out on a place in the semi-finals. The Year 9 team worked incredibly hard throughout the competition, showing determination and resilience right to the very end. Their efforts paid off as they won the final 3–2 against Sandon Wood, becoming PGL Netball Tournament Champions 2026. All of the girls were a pleasure to take away, remaining professional, well behaved and consistently upholding the values of Robert Clack School throughout the trip. Massive congratulations to the Year 9 girls on being crowned PGL Netball Tournament Winners 2026 — a fantastic achievement and one the school is extremely proud of. Miss Robbins & Miss Shelley
At the end of last term, form 7D received letters from their pen pals at Bluebells Academy in Kenya. They then spent form time writing and designing postcards to send back. Students shared their favourite things, showed off their drawing skills and asked their pen pals questions about their lives in Kenya. We are excited to get their replies!
As a reward for their hard work, dedication, and commitment throughout the year, members of Art Club enjoyed a fantastic trip to the Science Museum. The students represented the school exceptionally well, displaying exemplary behaviour, politeness, and maturity throughout the visit. They engaged enthusiastically with the interactive exhibits, explored the fascinating galleries with curiosity, and showed genuine interest in the links between science, creativity, and innovation. Staff at the museum commented positively on the students’ conduct and respectful attitude, making the trip an enjoyable experience for everyone involved. The visit was a well-deserved reward for a wonderful year of effort and achievement within the Art Club, and we are incredibly proud of all the students who attended.
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This term, Year 3 have been learning about the local area and how land is used. They have looked at maps of Dagenham from 1830 to the present to see how it has changed over time. In science, the children have continued to learn about plants, more specifically their life cycles and the way they reproduce using pollinators. In art, the children have been designing and building abstract 3D sculptures using recyclable materials, with a specific focus on the use of positive and negative space. Year 3 have been using the book 'The Great Kapok Tree' to help understand the effects of deforestation in the rainforests around the world. They composed a balanced argument to inform readers about the pros and cons, as well as a PowerPoint presentation packed with information about the Amazon rainforest and its inhabitants.
Year 2 have continued to impress us with their enthusiasm, creativity and determination across the curriculum this half term. In Art, the children explored the theme of maps and journeys, using their imagination and knowledge of familiar places to create detailed 3D maps. They carefully selected and combined a range of materials to add texture, structure and colour to their work, producing fantastic final pieces that showcased both creativity and excellent craftsmanship. The children also designed and created their own printing tiles to represent familiar journeys, experimenting with pattern, shape and printing techniques to produce repeated designs inspired by routes and places that are meaningful to them. In Computing, the children have developed a wide range of valuable word processing skills and have grown in confidence when using technology independently. They explored how to change the presentation of text by experimenting with different fonts and styles, including bold and italics, to improve the appearance of their work. The children also practised important keyboard shortcuts such as copy and paste and learned how to insert and position images within documents. To link with our Literacy learning, the children published their writing based on Diary of a Killer Cat in a digital format, combining their creativity with their growing computing skills to create polished and professional pieces of work. We are incredibly proud of the effort, focus and creativity the children have shown throughout their learning.
In Year One, our topic this term was ‘All Things Grow’. We began our topic by going on a nature investigation walk, playing close attention to all things growing in the natural environment. We then planted some sunflower seeds. Children were amazed at how quickly the sunflower seeds grew! In Science, we looked at different parts of a plant and the life cycle of a plant. We wrote up our findings and made a lovely display of all the things we have learnt about plants. Children also had the most amazing fun cutting and squeezing oranges to make orange juice and then drinking it! To celebrate the end of our topic we all really enjoyed making a fruit cocktail and eating it in the sunshine! Year One think plants are amazing! On other news, it has been wonderful to see how your children have grown in confidence over the year, trying new things, making new friends and thriving in all aspects of school life! Upcoming Learning Our topic next term is ‘Wild World’ and we will be learning all about the magnificent creatures that live in the ocean and on land. We will also be learning about how we can take care of animals and have a better understanding of why it is important to keep our oceans free from pollution. We will look at animals through a study of five continents, exploring their natural habitats. In English, we will be reading a range of books around the theme of animals. In Maths, we will be counting forwards and backward to 100 and learning about money.
A group of 28 Year 12 students have been working extremely hard on a university style assignment. They had the privilege to work with Shifa Hamdule, a first year Developmental Neurosciences PhD student at UCL. Looking at the challenging topic of "Sleep Apnoea, Stroke and Survival: Understanding the Hidden Relationship." Another group worked with Dr Leslie Newsome. The students tackled the question of "Are children important? The History of Childhood." The students had their assignments graded with many scoring in the honour's standard of a 1st class or 2:1 classification. We would not have this opportunity without the support from the Alumni Association who helped fund this for the Sixth Form students. This will help boost their applications when it comes to applying for university and help prepare them for similar work they may be doing in the future with the skills they have gained.
The Year 12 art girls completed a mural for Grafton primary schools SEND department last week. The students worker hard over several months going on their free time to complete a stunning underwater scene. The art technician at upper Mel Berry was also an integral part of the completion this piece and deserves a shout out too. We are all very proud that our students use their talents to better their community and represent Robert Clack so well. Well done.
Dr Kajal Ruparell (class of 2015) met with Glen, a Year 12 student, to offer advice about applying to study Medicine. Glen had lots of questions about the application process and university experience. Dr Ruparell explained that universities are looking for well-rounded individuals who can demonstrate empathy and resilience. She also spoke about how students from state schools can sometimes face stigma when applying for Medicine and that university can feel very different from the supportive, community-based environment at Clack, which can come as a culture shock. Dr Ruparell advised that Glen’s main priority at present should be focusing on his academic studies to ensure he achieves the grades required for entry into Medicine. She also recommended gaining relevant experience through volunteering in a care home or hospital setting. Glen was Head Boy in Year 11 and has been heavily involved in the School Council throughout his time at Clack. He has also supported younger students through the school’s peer mentoring programme. Dr Ruparell encouraged him to reflect on the skills and experiences he has gained from these roles and to include them in his application. She also discussed the importance of resilience, explaining that setbacks are inevitable and that the key is to learn from them, overcome challenges, and move forward positively. Going forward, Dr Ruparell has kindly offered to mentor Glen throughout the application process, which we are extremely grateful for. They will meet again before the summer holidays to continue discussing his progress and next steps. We would like to thank Dr Ruparell for her generous offer of time, guidance, and support.