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.
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.
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.
Ex-pupil Yasin spoke to Year 9 students about his journey from school to his current role in construction. He talked students through the choices he made along the way, including the GCSE Options he selected and the A Levels he studied, explaining how these helped shape his future pathway. Interested in construction from an early stage, Yasin also took part in the Construction Youth Trust programme during Sixth Form. Although he was initially unsure exactly what he wanted to do, and had received university offers, he decided to accept a five-year degree apprenticeship with The Hill Group. He is now working on a variety of projects, including a development in Dagenham. Yasin encouraged students to remember that early decisions do not tie you down permanently, and that it is possible to change direction and explore different pathways as your interests develop. Thank you to Yasin, for giving up his time to speak with our students.
On Saturday 25 th April, our primary school pupils became role models by participating in the London Mini Marathon 2026. The students, ranging from Years 1 to 4, ran a one-mile race; the last mile of the London Marathon. All students in attendance ran extremely well, showing their dedication and making the most of this fantastic opportunity; so much so that they beat the teachers in the race! Everyone received a medal at the end as a memento, much to the students' delight!
We were delighted to welcome former pupil Ayomide Sadare, a Structural Engineer at Curtins , to speak with our Year 9 students at Lymington Fields about his journey into engineering and what a career in the industry really looks like. Ayo shared his educational pathway, from studying French, History, Music and Food at GCSE, to Maths, Physics and Chemistry at A-Level, before completing both his Civil Engineering degree and Master’s at University of Bristol. Students were fascinated to learn about the difference between Civil and Structural Engineering, with Ayo explaining how his role focuses on designing safe buildings and collaborating closely with architects and contractors across a wide range of projects — from community developments and new builds to skyscrapers. He also gave students an insight into the day-to-day reality of the role, from carrying out site inspections and regulatory checks to using industry software such as AutoCAD and TEDDS for analysis and design. Sharing his screen helped bring the technical side of engineering to life for our pupils. Students asked some excellent questions, including: 🔹 Do employers look more at GCSEs or A-Levels during interviews? 🔹 What is the hardest type of engineering? 🔹 What hobbies or clubs can help prepare you for a career in engineering? Ayo highlighted the importance of using qualifications as stepping stones throughout your journey, while also developing wider skills such as communication, teamwork and confidence collaborating with different people. He encouraged students to challenge themselves socially, build computing knowledge, and develop skills in coding and Excel to strengthen future applications. A huge thank you to Ayo for giving our students such valuable insight and inspiration into the world of engineering.
The Geography department are delighted to share some exciting news from this year’s Polar Network Antarctica Day Competition. Three of our students' flag were submitted to take part in this inspiring international initiative, celebrating creativity, science, and global collaboration. As part of the competition, students were invited to design flags representing their ideas about Antarctica, its environment, and its importance to our planet. We are incredibly proud to announce that all three of our students’ entries were photographed in Antarctica (at Cappe Geddes, near Signy Research Station) by Laura Wilkie Johnson, a PhD student. The pictures were taken aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough. Seeing our students’ work represented in such a remote and important part of the world is a remarkable achievement and a testament to their creativity and enthusiasm. This opportunity has helped highlight the importance of polar research and environmental awareness, while also allowing our students to feel connected to real-world scientific exploration. We warmly congratulate our three participants: Lara 8GD, James 8LB and Maya 8LC for their fantastic contributions and for representing our school on a global stage. We look forward to seeing even more students get involved in future opportunities like this.
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!