On Monday 21st September, Year 7 pupils across all three sites attended a theatre production that addressed an important health topic for young people. The Arc Theatre's Not So Sweet – Vaping Awareness and Healthy Options brought the dangers of vaping to life in a way that textbooks simply can't. Designed specifically for Year 7, the production didn't just lecture our pupils about risks and addiction – it sparked genuine conversations about peer pressure, critical thinking, and knowing when to ask for help. The production team were genuinely impressed by what they saw at Robert Clack. Our Year 7s didn't just sit quietly – they engaged. They asked thoughtful questions, they contributed to lively discussions, and most importantly, they listened. Many expressed that they now have a much clearer understanding of: The genuine dangers of vaping How addiction works Why making informed choices matters Where to turn if they need support This session forms part of our comprehensive PSHE Education programme, which helps equip our young people with the knowledge and resilience they need to navigate the challenges they'll face both in and beyond school.  Well done to Year 7 for their excellent engagement and mature approach to this important topic.

Year 12s took their first art and photography trip this year, heading up London. Students walked Embankment learning about the architecture and history before heading to the Royal Collage of Surgeons' Hunterian Museum. Students photographed both dry and wet preserved specimens for their coursework on Memento Mori to capture how glass distorts light.

The Year 5 boys' and girls' teams made history this half term by taking part in the Primary School's first-ever competitive football matches. Mr Connolly and Ms Gladden accompanied the children to Goals Dagenham to play against St Vincent's. While neither team achieved the result they had hoped for, with both matches ending in defeat, staff and parents were extremely impressed by the perseverance and determination shown throughout. All of the children demonstrated outstanding respect, teamwork and fair play during their matches.  In the girls' game, the team did not have the luxury of any substitutes and therefore played the entire match without a break. They worked tirelessly throughout, creating several opportunities but were unable to find the back of the net. The boys scored three excellent goals, even taking a 1-0 lead at one stage, and produced some exciting attacking football throughout the game. The boys have three more group matches to play before Christmas and have been taking part in weekly training sessions with Mr Connolly. The girls will have a number of friendly fixtures organised later in the year to help build their confidence and gain further match experience. Once these are arranged, Mr McConkey and Ms Gladden will support them with their training. We hope that next half term will bring our first victories for both the girls' and boys' teams!

We are incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated and supportive alumni community. Once again, our former pupils played a vital role in helping our students gain valuable workplace experience, securing high-quality placements for 14 Year 12 students across a range of industries. Three students completed placements at King's College Hospital, thanks to former pupil Karandeep Sahota. Opportunities in medicine are notoriously difficult to secure, making these placements particularly valuable. Reflecting on the experience, Ore (Year 12) said: "On 3 July, I attended a life-changing hospital work experience placement. It was an exciting opportunity that provided a real insight into the world of healthcare. From shadowing doctors and observing their interactions with the wider healthcare team to seeing multidisciplinary teams working together, I felt privileged to be part of such a professional environment. The experience strengthened my ambition to pursue a career in medicine and confirmed that this is the field where I see my future." We extend our sincere thanks to Karandeep and his colleagues at King's College Hospital for their generosity and support. The insurance and real estate sectors also proved popular, with students undertaking placements at Tokio Kiln Marine Insurance, Intact Insurance, Kadans, and Bellrock. We are grateful to former pupils Anish Vara, George Hilliard, Charlton Omo-Edoh, and Katie Nelson for making these opportunities possible. Jessie (Year 12) reflected on her placement in the real estate sector: "My work experience provided an invaluable insight into the real estate industry and the wide range of career opportunities available within the sector. Throughout the week, I developed a greater understanding of the different roles and professions involved and gained a clearer perspective on potential future career pathways." Four students were also placed at Shell thanks to former pupil Gary Cohen. Shahriyah (Year 12) said: "The work experience with Shell was a fantastic opportunity which allowed me and the other students to gain an insight into working life in central London, while also learning how technology is utilised within the industry. We explored core principles of artificial intelligence and took part in a prompt engineering and 'vibe coding' workshop. The placement also included talks from apprentices and graduates who shared their experiences and provided valuable career advice. It was a privilege to be part of such an inspiring and informative week." Finally, through our partnership with Future First, three students participated in an exceptional programme with public affairs and communications consultancy DRD Partnership. The experience included a visit to Parliament, a day at leading law firm Mishcon de Reya, and a final day at the Royal Courts of Justice. Reflecting on the programme, Syeda (Year 12) said: "One of my favourite parts of the programme was the session with Mishcon de Reya LLP. I found myself completely immersed in the tasks and discussions, and speaking with a group of inspirational women working within the firm reinforced my interest in pursuing a career in law." These opportunities highlight the tremendous impact that our alumni community continues to have on current students. By sharing their time, expertise, and professional networks, our former pupils are helping to inspire the next generation and provide invaluable insights into a wide range of career paths. We are extremely grateful for their continued support. 

This summer, pupils at Robert Clack made history by becoming both the school's largest-ever cohort to sit public examinations – 525 in total – and its most successful cohort by achieving the school's best-ever GCSE results! Rosie who achieved a range of top grades commented: “ Thank you Robert Clack for aiding me in going in to achieve me target of becoming a Vet ”. Outcomes improved in every key performance indicator and are well-above the national average . 55% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in both English and Maths (compared to the national average of around 45%). 75% of all entries were graded 4 or above (compared to the national average of 67%) and 26.2% were grade 7 or above (compared to the national average of 22%). Two pupils achieved all grade 9s and one pupil achieved the highest result in the country in GCSE Biology! Aila who achieved grade 9s in every subject will be studying Maths, Biology, Chemistry and Psychology in Sixth Form aspiring to study Medicine in the future. Overall, 36 pupils were awarded grades 7 to 9 in every subject which they studied, and 24 pupils achieved an average point score of 8 or above. These results are even more satisfying given that Robert Clack educates the largest Year 11 cohort of any school in the country! Russell Taylor, Executive Headteacher, said: “ I am absolutely delighted that our pupils’ results this summer have further accelerated the impressive upward trajectory established in recent years, despite the considerable growth of the school since 2020. Successfully managing such significant expansion while delivering consistent and substantial improvements in outcomes is no small feat, making these achievements all the more remarkable. I would like to commend our pupils and staff for their hard work, dedication and resilience. I also want to express my gratitude to our parents and our Governing Board for their unwavering commitment to supporting our young people and helping them to fulfil their potential. ”

Robert Clack pupils have achieved fantastic results in A Level, Vocational and Tech Level qualifications. As a result, approximately 130 pupils will be taking up places to study at university in September. High numbers of students will be going to study a wide range of degree courses at universities across the country including Aerospace Engineering, Computer Science, Economics, Engineering, English, History, Law, Mathematics, Pharmacy, Physics, and Psychology. We are delighted to report that 4 pupils have secured places to study Medicine at top universities such as Imperial College and King’s College, London, 1 pupil has secured a place to study Veterinary Medicine and 5 pupils have secured places to study Law. Over 30 pupils have also secured places at Russell Group Universities with a large number of pupils choosing to study at top London universities such as Imperial College, KCL, and Queen Mary. We are also pleased that pupils have chosen to study at elite universities further afield such as Warwick, Nottingham, Southampton and York. 

Alongside the trips to China last academic year, our school was delighted to once again welcome students from The New Oriental School in China as part of our exciting Summer exchange programme. Pupils from across the Robert Clack sites took part in a wide range of engaging activities with their Chinese buddies. These included app design, creating fusion maps and cities, baking traditional rock cakes, and participating in a variety of sporting activities such as basketball, badminton, and rounders. Our pupils thoroughly enjoyed the experience and embraced the opportunity to learn about a different culture while making new friends. Some of our pupils said: "It was really interesting learning about Chinese culture and working together on the activities. I made friends I'll never forget." "My favourite part was baking rock cakes and playing sports together. It was so much fun!" "I loved getting to know the students from China. Even though we speak different languages, we found lots of ways to communicate and work as a team." "Now I am looking forward to the China trip in October even more." A huge well done to all of our pupils for their outstanding behaviour throughout the programme. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to the staff who helped make the visit such a memorable success. The exchange provided a fantastic opportunity for cultural learning, new friendships, and unforgettable experiences that our pupils will cherish for years to come. 

We are delighted to celebrate the achievements of the students who took part in the Geographical Association's Geography Model Making Competition. The competition showcased an outstanding level of creativity, geographical knowledge, and dedication, and we are incredibly proud of all who participated. Whilst we eagerly await the results of our submissions to the Geographical Association, we are keen to take this opportunity to recognise and celebrate the hard work, commitment, and enthusiasm shown by these students. Their achievements are a testament to the passion for Geography that continues to thrive within our school community. A special congratulations goes to our winning students: Green Lane Winner: Michael A (Year 7) Michael said: "My model is a depiction of the threat of climate change on animal habitats, where melting glaciers in mountains can result in flooding of rivers and the destruction of animal habitats." 

Students at the Gosfield and Green Lane sites have enjoyed taking part in our Year 7 & 8 Food Club, where they created a variety of delicious sweet and savoury dishes while developing their practical cooking skills.  Throughout the sessions, they learnt a range of food preparation techniques, practised safe kitchen skills, and gained confidence in following recipes independently. The club provided a fantastic opportunity for students to be creative, work together, and explore new flavours and ingredients. It was wonderful to see their confidence grow as they proudly prepared and presented their dishes. Food Club has been a great way for students to develop valuable life skills while having fun and celebrating their achievements in the kitchen.