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!
As part of Year 9 PSHE this year, representatives from Project Guardian as part of Transport for London delivered sessions about Safety on Public Transport to all Year 9 pupils across the three sites. Pupils were given clear information about how to keep themselves and others safe, including how to report an incident as well as what pupils should do if they need support. Year 9 pupils were actively engaged throughout each session and made very valuable contributions towards the various discussions surrounding safety on public transport. The representatives from Transport for London were very impressed with the maturity shown by our pupils and the excellent behaviour displayed on each site. They not only provided our pupils with very important information, but also provided pupils with the tools to keep themselves and others safe on public transport. We look forward to booking the sessions again next year.
A massive congratulations to Elijah A , who has officially signed for Queens Park Rangers Football Club. This is a fantastic achievement and a very proud moment, and we wish Elijah every success in this exciting next chapter of his football journey!
An unforgettable NFL experience at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. What an incredible opportunity for our pupils! As the No. 2 ranked NFL Flag team in the UK , our pupils were recently given the fantastic opportunity to attend an NFL game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — and what made the experience even more special was that it was their first ever live NFL game! On Sunday 4th October, the pupils travelled to London to watch the Indianapolis Colts take on the Washington Commanders in front of a packed crowd at the spectacular Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Having worked so hard on the NFL Flag field and established themselves as one of the leading teams in the country, receiving free tickets to an NFL game was a fantastic reward and a brilliant way for the pupils to see the sport they love being played at the highest level. For many of the pupils, stepping into the stadium was an experience in itself. The atmosphere, the noise of the crowd, the music, the entertainment and the sheer scale of an NFL game made it a day they are unlikely to forget. The excitement continued once the game got underway, as the pupils were able to watch professional NFL players up close and see many of the skills, tactics and techniques that they have been developing through their own NFL Flag sessions. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to experience the speed, intensity and atmosphere of American Football at the highest level. The Colts went on to defeat the Commanders 30–13, but for our pupils, the final score was almost secondary. The real highlight was being there, experiencing their first live NFL game together and seeing the sport they enjoy brought to life on such a huge stage. The trip was a fantastic celebration of the pupils' achievements and a memorable experience that they will hopefully look back on for many years to come. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this opportunity possible. Experiences like this not only inspire our pupils to continue developing as players, but also show them where their passion for NFL Flag could potentially take them in the future. No. 2 in the UK, first NFL game, and one unforgettable day!
On Monday 12th October several of our Year 9 students attended the annual School’s Day at New Scientist Live at the Excel in London. At the event they got to see the Ministry of Science Live where they learned about vortexes, saw a fire hurricane and tried their best to get Mr Skeels on stage (luckily the hosts saw how terrified he looked and didn’t choose him!) Students also attended a talk titled ‘Are we alone in the Universe’ where they heard about all the amazing planets outside of our solar system and saw some evidence of life on Mars! Along with this, they toured the expo area, meeting industry professionals and scientists. They were able to enter a giant helicopter, watch robots walking around the zones, and got their hands on a few freebies as well (including some water bottles and T-shirt!) Our students behaved brilliantly on the day and represented Robert Clack with pride. Coming back, they reported on the success of the day and their renewed interest in Science! Well done to all who attended!
In June, our GCSE Geography students enjoyed an excellent trip to Walton-on-the-Naze. The purpose of the trip was to investigate whether the sea defences at Walton were effective at preventing erosion and flooding. Although we had some problems with being able to complete all our fieldwork with high tides some days, the students were still able to collect enough data. The weather was hot with a ferocious heatwave, closing the school early, but it we enjoyed refreshing sea breezes in Walton. During September, the same students attended the trip to Stratford, where they were investigating the regeneration of Stratford and seeing if this improved people's quality of life. The students were fantastic during this trip and were able to speak to members of the public, along with collecting some great fieldwork. This will really help them with their exams in June. The students' behaviour was excellent throughout the trips. They listened well and followed instructions carefully and were a credit to the school.'
Twelve pupils from Years 3, 4 and 5 proudly represented Robert Clack Primary at the Borough Cross Country Event, demonstrating outstanding determination, resilience and sportsmanship throughout the day. Our children were a credit to the school, with their behaviour described as exceptional from start to finish. They encouraged one another, showed great respect to competitors from other schools and represented Robert Clack with pride. There were some fantastic individual achievements. In the Year 5 boys' race, Leo produced an outstanding performance to finish in 2nd place , securing a well-deserved silver medal . In the Year 3 girls' race, Tanvi ran brilliantly to take 1st place , earning an impressive gold medal . While not everyone came home with a medal, every member of the team gave their very best effort and should be incredibly proud of their achievements. Taking part in a borough-wide competition requires courage, commitment and perseverance, and all twelve children demonstrated these qualities in abundance. Well done to all of our runners for representing the school so positively and for being excellent role models both on and off the course. We are very proud of you all!
We are incredibly proud of all the children for the wonderful start they have made to their journey in Reception. The children have settled into school life extremely well and have embraced new routines with confidence and enthusiasm. This term, Reception have worked hard to follow the Robert Clack values and rules, showing kindness, respect, responsibility and a positive attitude to learning. It has been lovely to see them demonstrating excellent behaviour, caring for one another and taking pride in being part of our school community. In the classroom, we have already seen great progress. The children have begun learning their letter sounds and are becoming more confident in recognising and forming letters correctly. Their effort and determination in all learning areas is fantastic! One of the most special parts of this term has been watching new friendships blossom. The children have enjoyed getting to know one another through play, collaborative activities and shared learning experiences. They have shown great teamwork, kindness and compassion as they learn to work and play together. Thank you for your continued support throughout the children's first term at school. We are delighted with how well they have settled and look forward to seeing their confidence, learning and friendships continue to grow throughout the year. Well done, Reception!
English This half term, Year 5 have been enjoying the exciting class text Arthur and the Golden Rope. Through drama activities, the children have brought key scenes and characters to life, helping them develop a deeper understanding of the story. They have also used the book as inspiration for their own writing, producing detailed sets of instructions on how to catch Fenrir (the evil wolf) and imaginative diary entries from Arthur's perspective. Science In Science, the children have been exploring materials and their properties through a range of practical investigations. Acting as building surveyors, they examined different materials and objects around the school to determine if they were fit for purpose. They also investigated the viscosity of various liquids, carrying out experiments and recording their findings like real scientists. Computing As part of our exciting Mars Rover topic, Year 5 have been learning how binary code is used to transfer information across vast distances in space. The children explored how data is sent from Mars back to Earth and discovered how computers use binary code to communicate and process information. Art In Art, the children have been developing their mark-making and line-drawing skills by studying the work of different artists, such as Charlie Mackesy and Elizabeth Catlett. Using these techniques as inspiration, they created their own printed designs using polystyrene, experimenting with patterns, texture and creative compositions to produce some fantastic artwork. History In History, Year 5 have been learning about the Vikings as traders, settlers and raiders. The children took part in an exciting trading game to understand how Vikings exchanged goods and built trade networks across Europe. They have also explored a range of primary and secondary sources, developing their historical enquiry skills and using evidence to learn more about Viking life and the impact they had on Britain.
In The Nest , we have been having lots of fun working in small groups and on our own to develop our part-whole model skills in maths. We have been using practical resources to help us understand how two parts can be combined to make a whole. We have also enjoyed reading stories, acting them out and building sentences using colourful semantics. Bucket time is always a favourite, helping us to develop our attention and listening skills while taking part in a range of fun fine and gross motor activities. In The Treehouse , we have been busy developing our fine and gross motor skills through mark-making activities and exploring different construction materials. We are working hard on our communication skills, using our communication boards to make choices and requests. We have also been practising our attention and listening skills during turn-taking games and group activities. One of our favourite parts of the day is imaginative play, where we love exploring our role-play kitchen and shop areas with our friends.
It has been a real pleasure getting to know your children as they settle into Year 1 routines – they are all absolutely wonderful and amazing! We would also like to take this opportunity to thank parents and carers for your continued support in helping your child at home to learn. Please continue reading with your child at least three times a week or ideally every day if you can. It is this valuable home-school partnership that ensures academic success and it is much appreciated! Thank you! What we have been learning Our topic this half term has been ‘Remarkable Me’, and we have been developing children’s knowledge and understanding of the human body. Children have been introduced to the concept of five senses that help them to find out about the world around them and link those senses to particular parts of the body. We really enjoyed exploring taste, touch, smell, sound and sight. For example, as part of our scientific learning, we had a food tasting event to understand the difference between bitter, sweet, sour and salty foods and classify those food groups. We also went on a learning walk outside to see, smell and touch everyday plant life. Finally, as part of our science unit, we explored touching a range of everyday materials to sort items into categories such as ‘soft’, ‘smooth’ or ‘hard’. In History, we have been developing our understanding of what the ‘past’ means. In Art, children have enjoyed learning about lines and shading. Our shared reading has been very enjoyable, and children particularly loved gaining a deeper understanding of the story ‘Where the Wild Things Are’. In Maths, children have been developing their counting and addition skills and writing numbers to ten and beyond. Finally, children have been working very hard in their writing and have produced some lovely work, including a List Poem and a character description. We have also been challenging ourselves to use upper and lower case letters correctly in our writing. Upcoming Learning Next half term, our topic will be ‘Winter News’, which explores the season of winter. In Science, we begin by looking at winter and its impact on British wildlife. We will explore how some animals and insects adapt to the cold, while others hibernate or migrate. In PSHE, our ‘Winter News’ topic will look at how to take care of our health by discovering which foods boost wellbeing in the winter months. Winter is also a time for reflection; just as wildlife experiences a scarcity of food, so do many humans. We will be discussing simple things we can do to help those in need. Finally, winter is the season that heralds the joys of Christmas. In RE, we will be learning about the story of Christmas and engaging in a range of festive activities, including getting ready for our Christmas Concert! As part of our Learning Wonders, we will also look at the festivals of Diwali and Bonfire Night. In English, children will learn to write short, well-constructed sentences, which they will then develop into longer sentences using varied sentence openers and descriptive vocabulary. In Maths, we will be focusing on subtraction, number bonds, and 2D and 3D shapes. It is going to be an amazing new half term and we cannot wait to see you all again!