Robert Clack School was delighted to welcome its first ever cohort of primary children on Friday (10th September).
Following years of planning and preparation, the School’s first Reception class walked through the gates of the school with beaming smiles on Friday afternoon looking exceptionally smart in their uniform. Headteacher, Russell Taylor, Chair of Governors, Gary Jarrett, and School Business Manager, Emily Lines, were very excited to meet the children.
Together with their parents, the children made their way through the well-equipped outdoor learning area to their new classroom base. Vicky Barrett, the Early Years Lead teacher, and Mina Mistry, Reception teacher, organised an exciting ‘stay and play’ induction session, in which the children had the opportunity to explore their learning environment, meet their new classmates and play together. Lisa Newton and Jo Gibson (teaching assistants) supported the children during the session. Parents were able to join in with their children and talk to school staff – and each other – about the year ahead. The atmosphere was extremely positive.
At the end of the afternoon, the Headteacher officially welcomed the children and their parents to Robert Clack School. He spoke about his wish for the children to spend the next fourteen years as Robert Clack pupils and his ambition for them to grow into happy and successful adults. Russell also spoke about the importance of community and working together and assured parents of the school’s unrelenting commitment to this.
On their way out, the children were given a welcome gift, which included drawing materials and a Robert Clack School biscuit. A number of parents took photographs of their children standing beside the welcome banner as a lasting memento to mark the occasion.
Everyone is really looking forward to the year ahead.
On Tuesday 18 th March our Jack Petchey recipients were recognised for their outstanding achievements. It was an excellent evening, celebrated with families and colleagues, with truly deserving award winners. The following students received awards Frankie (Year 9) Neriah (Faith) (Year 10) Daniel (Year 9) Jayden (Year 10) Anousha (Year 13) Rayanna (Year 13) Miriam (Year 9) Our Leadership Award recipient Julie Deacon. Julie has worked at Robert Clack for 30 years. She is a highly experienced and respected colleague who is incredibly valued. Julie has a strong affinity with the school and values and was commended for the outstanding leadership she has demonstrated, as well as the exceptional relationships she has fostered. She is an excellent member of staff who models great practice, setting high standards and supporting those around her to achieve excellent outcomes. Well done to all!
Miss Whatmore, Mr Lutes and Mr McBride are excited to share some fantastic news about our Year 9 students who were involved in the JP Morgan final competition that took place Thursday 13 March. Sixteen of our students participated in this prestigious event, competing against 22 other teams from schools across London. The challenge focused on tackling important issues surrounding water, air, or food waste. The competition was scored out of 200 points: 100 for the presentation and 100 for the work done throughout the program, which began in October. Both of our teams performed exceptionally well, and their hard work made us incredibly proud to represent Robert Clack. Team Optimum, consisting of Safa, Milena, Kezia, Zoe, Domas, Roland, Malakia, and Jordan, made it to the top 3 and had the opportunity to present their ideas in front of all the JP Morgan mentors and other participating schools. They finished in second place and were awarded the prize for the best innovative idea. We are so proud of both teams and all their efforts, and they truly embodied the Robert Clack ethos.
On Thursday, March 6th, Robert Clack School's Year 12 Assembly was honoured to welcome back Jamie Mason (Class of 2008) and his colleague Lubeto Kalwa from the Brixton Finishing School . Jamie, an Agency Account Director at Clear Channel UK , has been a steadfast supporter of our Entrepreneur Academy. He has also generously returned to speak at our Year 9 Assemblies, providing valuable insights into the Options process. The Brixton Finishing School is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to partnering with the creative industries to recruit diverse talent. Their mission is to break down barriers and create pathways to careers in marketing, advertising, and communications, making these fields accessible to individuals from all backgrounds. Both Jamie and Lubeto shared their personal journeys from school to their current roles. Lubeto, who briefly attended Robert Clack and was part of the Rugby Academy, emphasised that the advertising industry offers opportunities for various skills, interests, and passions. They both spoke enthusiastically about their careers, stating that "whatever your skills, interests, or passions are, the industry has a job for you." We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Jamie and Lubeto for returning to Robert Clack School to inspire and guide our students. Their commitment to fostering diversity and supporting the next generation is truly commendable. They will be back next week to engage with our Year 13 students, and we eagerly anticipate their continued contributions.
Robert Clack was one of only two schools invited to a special educational careers event at Drapers Hall Palace in the City of London called The Franklyn lecture in the presence of Masters of Livery companies, Leading educators and VIP'S, CEO'S of London's leading businesses and Sir Martyn Oliver the Head of OFSTED. Yasin Weyli and Katerina Ivanova in Year 13 accompanied Mr Hamill Careers Director and were truly outstanding ambassadors of Robert Clack School by the way they conducted themselves with the 200 plus VIP guests, demonstrating outstanding confident communication skills during the two-hour drinks/food reception which followed the main lecture given by Professor Sir Anthony Finkelstein Senior President of London Universities. All guests had spoken highly of our school and were extremely complimentary regarding the professional engagement of Yasin and Katerina in year 13 during the two hour reception. During the reception Richard Evans Director of Executive Search London's leading professional recruitment company extended an invitation for Mr Hamill to bring a larger party of sixth form students to another major VIP event at The Drapers Hall Palace in MAY 2025 to engage with CEO employers which will be a great professional careers opportunity for our students to extend future Work Experience opportunities via this networking social event with leading employers.
Yesterday, Year 11 students from all three Robert Clack sites had the privilege of hearing from Laurand Krasniqi , a former student who is now a second-year medical student at King’s College, London. Laurand, who graduated from Robert Clack in 2021, shared his journey into the world of Medicine and offered valuable advice to those aspiring to follow in his footsteps. During his presentation, Laurand spoke candidly about the challenges and rewards of pursuing a career in Medicine, emphasising the importance of starting early and preparing for the rigorous academic journey ahead. He also highlighted common pitfalls to watch out for along the way, giving students a realistic and practical perspective on what it takes to succeed in this field. The session was interactive, with many students engaging actively by asking thoughtful and insightful questions. Laurand’s personal experience and guidance resonated with everyone in the room, leaving them feeling inspired and motivated to pursue their own dreams in Medicine. A big thank you to Laurand for taking the time to give back to the Robert Clack community and for inspiring the next generation of doctors. Thank you!
This January, students escaped the grey London skies for a different type of gloom as HEATS students from years 8-11 headed to Holland Park’s Design Museum to experience The World of Tim Burton exhibition. Despite challenges with public transport, students remained good-humoured and patient, and still had the energy to enjoy the gallery in a building which itself is a piece of art. “The World of Tim Burton” capitalised on our work with stop motion animation earlier in the year. Students experimented with this form of film making and learned about how Burton used it in his films. It was fascinating to see some of the props and costumes from these movies in real life, along with his sketches, early shorts, and models he used. Throughout the trip, students’ behaviour and engagement was exemplary. They were polite, enthusiastic, and good company all day. It was wonderful to see them representing our school so well. We were so lucky to have been supported by the school for this excursion and look forward to our next HEATS trip! Meanwhile, back at Lymington fields, students have been participating in a print-making workshop by our very own English teacher and HEATS champion, Mrs Fox. Members learned how to design their own patterns and images, impress them onto foam templates, then roll over them with ink to create the stunning pieces pictured here.
' We believe every young person has a story to tell and the capacity to tell it.' A small group of RCS students were selected to take part in the Write Back programme. Write Back is a superb opportunity for students to grow in confidence with their creative writing and be able to express themselves. We asked our students: What did Write Back do for you? What were the benefits for your academic progress? Would you recommend it to younger students? Rubaiya Write Back was the core reason of me being more confident in myself as well as developing public speaking and literature skills. This is an amazing opportunity for those who are eager to write but don't know where to start or to boost their self-confidence. In Write Back, we worked as a team rather than just individuals to write our stories, making it as great socialising opportunity so I would definitely recommend it to younger pupils at Robert Clack. Zainab Writeback was an interesting experience which included socialising with different people and connecting using games. It was a unique weekly event that was fun with friends and meeting and engaging with various individuals. Sumaiya Write- Back is an exciting and unique experience, and I truly enjoyed it. Each session we get to talk about ideas for soon-to-be-published stories and is also a great opportunity to socialise and have fun. What I thought might feel stressful was actually quite the opposite; it was very welcoming. Hafsa I enjoyed and loved my experience at Write Back as it helped me express my creativity. Write Back is all about sharing, soon to be published, story ideas with others free of judgement. I am glad to have had the opportunity where I could socialise with others, through games and sweets, and improve my own writing.
After a break of 5 years, we are delighted to be participating in the Jack Petchey Count on Us Maths Challenge again. Our first sessions have commenced with a probability game called Hedgehog, and a very large dice! We are confident that our students will excel and I look forward to updating you as they progress through the different rounds against schools across London. Maybe they will even make it to the Grand Final at City Hall!
Cricket Leaders Our Cricket Leaders had their first event of the year in January at Becontree Leisure Centre. This event saw 9 Primary Schools and over 150 students attend. They set up and delivered cricket based activities as well as umpired the 3 T’s tournament at the end. Before Christmas, our young leaders completed 3 after school sessions that were a part of a cricket course for them to gain their Young Leaders Award and I am proud to say they have all passed and achieved this! Our leaders have more events coming up this year, including umpiring Dynamos Cricket for SEND students that will help them progress to the London Youth Games; umpiring the borough Dynamo cricket tournament as well as the county finals that will be held at the County Cloud. These students have gone above and beyond to gain confidence, professionalism and general understanding of rules surrounding games. It has been incredible to see these girls speak in front of not only students but teachers, adapt their activities to the needs of the students and remain enthusiastic throughout. Well done! Miss Robbins
Year 12 Visit to Clear Channel UK – Business Studies On 23rd January, students from our Sixth Form Entrepreneur Academy had the incredible opportunity to visit the offices of Clear Channel UK, hosted by former pupil Jamie Mason. The session was an action-packed experience that covered key aspects of advertising, sales, and the significance of Out-Of-Home (OOH) advertising. One of the highlights of the day was working on a real advertising brief from KFC, which students pitched back with enthusiasm and creativity. They also participated in speed networking, engaging with professionals from various departments and gaining insight into the diverse roles within Clear Channel UK—truly meeting the ‘People Behind the Posters.’ At the beginning of the session, Jamie’s fellow host, Jordan Smith, posed a thought-provoking question: Who would consider a role in this industry? Only a few hands were raised. By the end of the session, they bravely asked the same question again. This time, every single hand went up. This powerful moment underscored the impact of real-world industry exposure and how experiences like these can shape students’ education and future career aspirations. Student Reflections: FA, Year 12: “Overall, the day was insightful and provided a range of opportunities for us at Robert Clack Business Academy. My classmates and I had multiple chances to speak with professionals across different roles in the industry. The day concluded with a fantastic opportunity to work in groups and create an advertising prompt.” KU, Year 12: “I had the privilege of visiting the Clear Channel headquarters, where I gained valuable insights into the crucial role advertising plays in shaping our daily lives. This experience deepened my understanding of how strategic marketing influences consumer behaviour and brand visibility on a large scale.” A huge thank you to Jamie Mason and his colleagues at Clear Channel UK, as well as the Brixton Finishing School, for hosting such an inspiring and educational session. It was an invaluable experience that left a lasting impression on our students, equipping them with knowledge and aspirations for the future.