Newsletters

Spring Term - 25th April 2025

Welcome to our latest news update, including a look ahead to summer term exams, Year 9 moving into GCSE study, information from Camden about vaccinations and family support activities outside school, and opportunities for music and dance beyond the curriculum! 

Some of you are already picking up on news items through our new Instagram account - www.instagram.com/williamellisschool/ - do take a look and follow us if you haven't already!

Year 11 arrangements for this half term

I am starting this newsletter by writing about the arrangements for Year 11 students during the exam period, as there have been some questions about it from students and families.

In line with DfE guidance, Year 11 students will continue to attend lessons until May half term. Expectations are that students should attend at normal times in full school uniform. Students will attend all exams as per their individual exam timetable. 

When there are no exams, students will attend normal lessons focused on revision for that subject, or, in some cases, general revision as directed by the teacher. 

Any absence in this period needs to be authorised in the normal way, by contacting the attendance office on the morning of an absence or the day before, if it is known in advance.

We have a legal responsibility to ensure that students are accounted for and to follow up on absences during the exam season. We also know that, generally, students benefit from the structure and certainty of knowing where they need to be and when in between exams.

If an afternoon exam finishes before 3:10pm, students will be dismissed from the exam room.

On Friday 23rd May, all students will sit an English exam at 9.00am. Students will be dismissed after this exam.  

After the half-term break, from Monday 2nd June until Thursday 19th June, students will only attend school for the exams set out in their individual exam timetable. Students need to be in school 30 minutes before the start time of the exam so that they can ensure they are ready to start writing when the exam begins.

Other key Year 11 dates are:

• Wednesday 25th June: Yr 11 Presentation Evening for students and families 
• Friday 27th June: LaSWAP Taster Day 
• Thursday 21st August: Results Day   

It’s great to be able to share the conversations boys want to have about positive masculinity, and who they choose as role models. 

Here is the link to the programme - it starts 21 minutes in

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0029hwp

Year 11 Green Futures Career Event

Last month some Y11 students attended aGreen Futures Event in the Aga Khan Centre, Kings Cross. The event focused on careers in renewable energy, environmental policy, sustainable design and logistics, active travel, conservation, air quality monitoring, the electrification of the grid, and much more.

Students asked some pressing questions to a tyre manufacturer who promised to make your car more efficient. They also listened intently during lectures and workshops.

Year 9 summer term: transition to Key Stage 4

After the May holiday, Year 9 students will start their Key Stage 4 work and move to their Year 10 subjects. The next four weeks are a really important time for them to build a strong base for doing well. It's a good idea now to help them get organised and prepare for their Year 9 assessments, starting 6th May, and camp in the week beginning 19th May. This will help them feel ready for what's coming.

Here are some ways you can help:

• Ensure that they come to school every day: Every day at school really matters! Going to school regularly helps students keep up with their learning and feel part of things with their friends.
• Make the most of the weather: Use the longer evenings to go outside, get some fresh air, and do some exercise. This is good for their mind and helps them feel motivated.
• Support learning at home: Encourage your child to use the helpful things the school provides, like Sparx Maths, and our library, which is open every day for quiet studying or reading. 
• Celebrate the little wins: Take time to praise your child when they try hard, make progress, and are willing to try new things. This could be joining a new club, working on a tricky topic, or getting better at being organised. Use the MCAS app to check the praise they have received at school and do celebrate that at home, too!

HPV vaccine to protect Year 8 children against HPV related cancers

The HPV vaccine helps protect against human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause a number of cancers. Research shows that over time the HPV vaccine will help save thousands of lives in the UK. One dose of the HPV vaccine is recommended for all children in Year 8, and Vaccination UK will be delivering these vaccines to year 8 boys at William Ellis on Friday 23rd May. 

Completing your child’s consent form

Year 8 families should have received an email from Vaccination UK with a link  to complete an online consent form for your child to have the HPV vaccine at school.

You can also access the consent form at this link: https://ncl.schoolvaccination.uk/hpv/2024/camden

If you do not complete the consent form, on the day of the vaccinations your child will be brought to the vaccination area and Vaccination UK will phone you to seek consent for the vaccination against HPV. This makes the process a lot longer so please complete the consent form online as soon as you can.

If your child misses their HPV vaccine at school, they can have the vaccine for free at a local catch-up clinic – you can find dates and locations at www.schoolvaccination.uk/catch-up-camden

To give the best protection Year 8 is the recommended age for the HPV vaccine to be given. For more information on the HPV vaccine visit www.nhs.uk/vaccinations/hpv-vaccine/

For translated information on the HPV vaccine in 33 languages please visit www.gov.uk/government/publications/hpv-vaccine-vaccination-guide-leaflet

If you have any questions about the vaccine or completing your child’s consent form, please contact Vaccination UK at camden@v-uk.co.uk or 020 4603 3495.

A group of parents meet weekly for six 1.5 -2-hour sessions with qualified mental health professionals who have experience in working with young people and their families.

Sessions cover:
• Underlying reasons for behavioural difficulties
• Button-pushing and learning how to remain calm and in control when being provoked by a teenager
• Using rules and behaviour contracts to set clear boundaries for teenage behaviour
• Using rewards and consequences to help stop extreme behaviour such as threats and acts of violence, truancy
• Guidance and strategies for managing teenager’s use of mobile phones, laptops, PCs, Play Station etc.
• Strategies to restore love and a positive relationship between parent and teenager while remaining firm and sticking to rules and boundaries.
updated

The programme takes place in the evenings or mornings and runs several times a year either online or face to face.

To find out more information about the programme and upcoming groups please
email: familyservice@brandoncentre.org.uk

Self-referrals or professional referrals are accepted and can be made by calling
07939 833 069 Mon-Thurs, or 020 7267 4792 Ext 401 on Fridays or emailing
familyservice@brandoncentre.org.uk
 

STEAM Year 12 Work Experience Week  – applications now open

Applications are open for Camden's STEAM Work Experience Week ,7-11 July 2025! This year a record 454 high-quality placements are on offer, connecting students with leading employers across STEAM sectors including Google, UCL and Astra Zeneca. For the first time, new employers in legal, medicine, and health sectors will join the line-up, giving students even broader career insights. 

 Places are expected to be oversubscribed, so priority will be given to students eligible for pupil premium, care-experienced, or with SEND. For details on participating employers and the outstanding opportunities for Camden students, please see: Unlock Exciting School Work Experience Opportunities! Don’t miss out!

The closing date for applications is 6 May 2025.

Camden’s Children’s Services rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted 

We are thrilled to share that Camden Council’s Children’s Services have been rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted, placing Camden as one of the best performers in the country for a second time. This highlights the hard work, dedication, and passion of colleagues across the partnership, including schools. The inspection assessed the service across four key areas, all of which received an 'outstanding' rating, including the newly introduced focus on the "experiences and progress of care leavers”. This positive outcome reflects the hard work of staff across the council, and our brilliant partners – including the support of the school community. Thank you for your ongoing commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of Camden students and for ensuring that our schools remain a place of excellence. You can read the full report on the Ofsted website.

Moving On to Secondary School Event – bookings now open 

Parents or carers of children in primary school Years 4 and 5, can come along to the Camden Moving On to Secondary School Event on Thursday 5 June 2025. This free event provides a great opportunity to receive advice on how to apply for a Year 7 place for September 2026 from the Camden Admissions Team.

Download a leaflet for more information and click here to book a slot.

Help Camden to improve their Families website 

Camden Council are making their Families website easier to use and need your help.  Camden parents and carers are invited to take part in a short online test to show how they use the site. Click here to take part. Please complete it as soon as possible as it’s only available for a limited time. Your feedback really matters!

Centre for Advance Training (CAT) - admission workshops 

Applications to join CAT in September 2025 are open. Admission workshops are being held on 10 and 17 May at The Place, King’s Cross. CAT exists to nurture and inspire future generations of world class dancers, choreographers and dance practitioners. Young people can join the programme at any time from ages 11 to 18.

Grants are available - CAT is generously funded by the Department for Education Music and Dance Scheme. This means the programme can be fully or partially funded through grants that are awarded based on household income.

Click here to sign up to the admission workshops.

Bengali Marketplace Event

icandance Open Day 

Find out what makes icandance an award-winning charity by visiting their open days on Saturday the 17th May from 2:30pm to 5pm @ Fitzjohn's Primary School, 86A Fitzjohn's Ave, London NW3 6NP.

"Hear the inspiring stories of disabled young people and learn how our innovative, creative techniques empower all to thrive. We’ve been an established charity for 20 years, supporting over 300 disabled children & young people each week. We’re proud of the unique work we do and we want to share it by offering you the opportunity to: 

• Watch performances
• Join a dance session
• Meet our team and dancers and hear their stories 
• Be part of our welcoming community
• Enjoy tea and cake!

This is a free-flowing day where you can drop in and out of the various experiences available. Friends, family and colleagues are welcome." 

Please sign up using the Eventbrite link:

icandance Open Day Tickets, Sat, May 17, 2025 at 2:30 PM | Eventbrite

Yours faithfully,

Izzy Jones

Headteacher