Former Robert Clack student Muhammad Taha Tariq, who left the school in 2022, recently joined a virtual meeting with one of our current students to share his experiences of studying in the United States. Following his time at Robert Clack, Taha successfully secured a place at the prestigious Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, through support from The Sutton Trust. The charity helps high-achieving students from lower-income backgrounds access leading universities in both the UK and the US. One of our current students, Juelcia, is currently progressing through the Sutton Trust application process. To support her journey, Mrs Monk arranged a Teams meeting between Juelcia and Taha, giving her the opportunity to hear first-hand about the application process and life as a student in America. During the conversation, Taha shared valuable advice about applying through The Sutton Trust, as well as insights into his experiences at Dartmouth College. He also spoke fondly about his time at Robert Clack and reminisced about local favourites, including King's Chicken Shop on Whalebone Lane, bringing back happy memories from his school days. The meeting provided Juelcia with encouragement and practical guidance as she continues her own application journey. It was a wonderful example of how former students can inspire and support the next generation of Robert Clack learners. A huge thank you to Taha for giving up his time, sharing his experiences so openly, and supporting Juelcia as she takes her next steps towards this exciting opportunity. We wish both students every success in their future endeavours. 

On Friday 3rd July, our Year 9 students celebrated the successful completion of the Visions and Voices programme with a special graduation ceremony at the National Gallery in London. Over the past three years, our students have taken part in this unique research partnership between the National Gallery and Oracy Cambridge, University of Cambridge, developing their confidence in speaking, listening and presenting through discussions inspired by works of art. The project has encouraged students to think critically, express their ideas with confidence and collaborate effectively with others. The graduation ceremony was a fantastic celebration of everything our students have achieved. Throughout the evening, students proudly showcased the work they have developed during the programme, sharing thoughtful presentations and demonstrating the impressive oracy skills they have built over the past three years.  Each student received a graduation certificate, along with a Visions and Voices tie and badge, recognising their commitment, enthusiasm and outstanding participation in the project. Our students were a real credit to themselves, their families and Robert Clack School. They represented the school with maturity, confidence and professionalism throughout the evening, and we are incredibly proud of their achievements. We would like to thank the National Gallery and Oracy Cambridge for providing such an inspiring opportunity. The Visions and Voices programme has had a lasting impact on our students, equipping them with valuable communication skills that will support them throughout their education and beyond. Congratulations to all of our Year 9 graduates on this fantastic achievement!

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.