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.

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)

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.

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.