As we come to the end of another successful academic year, I would like to thank our whole school community for your continued support. We are immensely proud of our Year 11 and Year 13 students for their commitment to their GCSE and A Level exams, and of our primary students for their great SATs results. School closes for the summer at 12:30 pm on Wednesday 22 July, with students returning in September as outlined below. Please also note that School 21 and Big Education will officially merge with Oasis Community Learning on 1 September. There will be no immediate changes for students, and the school uniform will remain the same. Finally, please read on for important updates, including the introduction of our new MCAS app which will replace Arbor as our platform for parental communication.
I wish you all a restful summer break.
With warm wishes,
Moray Dickson
Headteacher, School 21
School 21 calendar
| Date | Year group | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 1st July | Year 2 | Trip to Maritime Museum |
| Friday 3rd July | All | Inset Day – School closed |
| Monday 6th July | All | School open |
| Tuesday 14th July | Reception | Reception Graduation Lighthouse Gardens. 10am -2pm |
| Tuesday 14th JUly | – | First Give Final |
| Wednesday 15th July | New Reception | Teddy Bears Picnic and Story Time – New Reception |
| Thursday 16th July | Year 4 | Opera show 4pm – 5.30pm |
| Thursday16th July | Year 10 | Geography field trip to Whitstable |
| Friday 17th July | Year 5 | Olympic Park 11.30-3pm |
| Friday 17th July | Year 12 | Particle Physics Masterclass at Imperial College London |
| Monday 20th July | Primary | Sports Day 9.30 am – 3pm |
| Tuesday 21st July | Year 6 | Prom Celebration: A Morning at the Lighthouse Garden |
| Wednesday 22nd July | Year 6 | Graduation |
| Wednesday 22nd July | All | Students finish at 12.30pm |
| Wednesday 22nd July | All | School closes for for summer holidays at 12.30pm |
| Friday 4th September | Year 7 and Year 12 | Return to school |
| Monday 7th September | Years 1-6, 8-11, 13 | Return to School |
Our new Reception students will start on different days over the first week back. This information will be given directly to their parents and carers.
Congratulations to 7A, 7C and 8A for achieving the highest attendance!
Absence reporting
Call 020 8262 2121 or email [email protected] before 8:30 am if your child is unwell.
| Date | Details |
|---|---|
| Thursday 16th July 4PM | Y4 devising and performing their own operas. Two dramatic stories told through music on the themes of School and Family! |
| Sunday 5th July- Saturday 11th July | Music Tour to Austria |
What’s happening in S21 music this term?
This week saw an unbelievable achievement from our music team at School 21 when six teachers and 54 of our pupils participated in the Band Project musicathon, in the school hall. Beginning at 5pm on Friday 26th June, they performed and played music for 17 consecutive hours until 10am on Saturday 27th June. The event was to fundraise for the forthcoming music tour but also gave pupils the fantastic opportunity to practice, collaborate and achieve something amazing. An experience that they will remember forever! Thank you so much to all those who have already donated to this life- changing experience for our pupils. If anyone is able to donate to the fundraiser then please follow this link: https://pay.sumup.com/b2c/QUC18CMB
Friends of School21 Music – Will you be our friend?!
The music department at School21 fundraises throughout the year for a number of opportunities that go beyond the national curriculum expectations for music. This includes immersive, authentic and sustained instrumental learning through our unique Band Project programme, professionally supported musicals, international music tours and much more.
If you’d like to support us with our efforts and become the proud owner of our exclusive ‘friends of S21 music’ badge, please consider signing up to our scheme via the link below, and making a one off or annual contribution of £30 per year (or £50 for joint membership). We’ll keep you updated on our events & welcome you in for a special fundraising event later in the year, as well as name you on our website to thank you for your support. We also have an option for corporates/businesses who would like to support or sponsor us in a more substantial way.
More information here. Please spread far and wide so we can keep providing and expanding these fantastic opportunities for as many School21 students as possible! https://school21.org.uk/friends-of-the-music-department/
Year 10 Hospitality and Catering students successfully completed their mock practical assessment.. As part of their coursework, they planned, prepared, cooked, and presented one complex dish, demonstrating the skills and techniques they have developed throughout the course. We are proud of their hard work and commitment.
Our Food Ambassadors worked alongside our Head Chef in the Food Technology classroom to learn how to prepare healthy, nutritious salads. They made a fresh Greek salad in the class before preparing a Caesar salad that was served to students at lunchtime. The ambassadors also helped serve the salads and engaged with students, promoting the importance of including salads as part of a balanced, healthy diet. This hands-on experience allowed them to develop valuable food preparation skills while encouraging healthy eating across the school.
The Food Tech team hosted three special breakfast events this month to promote the importance of starting the day with a balanced breakfast that includes eggs, dairy, fruit, and vegetables. Students enjoyed a selection of delicious and nutritious options, including fresh fruit smoothies, wholemeal waffles with fruit, and tasty egg toasties. These breakfast events were a great way to encourage healthy eating while helping students begin their day feeling energised and ready to learn.
In addition, a healthy breakfast workshop was offered during coaching time, where a group of students learnt how to make nutritious energy balls as a convenient grab-and-go breakfast option. To reinforce these healthy eating messages, assemblies were delivered to students in Years 7–10, highlighting the importance of eating a healthy breakfast and the positive impact it has on wellbeing, concentration, and learning.
Breakfast Club Information
Free for all students Monday to Friday! Enjoy warm bagels, cereals, milk, butter, jam, and now warm baked beans, porridge and fresh fruit. Start your day full and happy!
- Where to sign in: Main Reception
- Start time: 7:45 AM (except Wednesday – 8:00 AM)
Please do not bring children before the start time, as there will be no adults to supervise.
Thank you for helping us keep all children safe.
| Monday | 7.45am – 8:10am |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 7.45am – 8:10am |
| Wednesday | 8:00am – 8:20am |
| Thursday | 7.45am – 8:10am |
| Friday | 7.45am – 8:10am |
- Healthy break snacks – Fruit and vegetables only
- Healthy school lunch 2 weeks menu
- Healthy packed lunches – recommended wholegrain, fruit/veg, protein, dairy and water.
Healthy packed lunch DfE and Healthy Snack Swaps
Healthy Packed Lunches Please see the DFE Guidance and School Food Standards on packed lunches in school.
1. A DfE-aligned lunchbox should include one portion from each of these four categories every day: Starchy Foods (Energy): One or more portions of bread, rolls, wraps, pasta, or rice. Aim for wholegrain varieties for extra fibre. Fruit & Vegetables (Vitamins): At least one portion of fruit and one portion of vegetables. Try to include different colours throughout the week to provide a range of nutrients. Protein (Growth): One portion of meat, fish (aim for oily fish once every three weeks), eggs, or beans. Dairy (Bones): One portion of food containing milk or dairy (e.g., lower-fat yoghurt or cheese).
2. Healthy Snack Swaps: The DfE restricts snacks high in fat, salt, and sugar. To follow these standards: Avoid: Confectionery, chocolate bars, and crisps. Instead, provide: Fresh or dried fruit and vegetables, (with no added salt, sugar, or fat).
Safety Note: Always cut small, round foods like grapes and cherry tomatoes lengthways to prevent choking 3. Smart Sips: Permitted Drinks Water is the best and default drink.
Chinese club
Discover Mandarin & Cantonese! (Mondays): £45 per term. More information: [email protected]
After school care, run by Premier Education
For more information, please contact [email protected]
No clubs the last week of school.
Primary Sports Day: Monday 20th July 2026
Moving from Arbor to MCAS app, from Monday 6th July
From Monday 6th July, we will no longer be using Arbor. All communications with parents will now be on the MyChildAtSchool (MCAS) app, which is powered by Bromcom.
All parents and carers will need to download this new app as school reports will be shared through this.
Once the system handover is complete and Bromcom has safely processed your contact details, you will receive an email over that weekend containing your unique login details and activation instructions (including a code). Please check your email inbox (and your spam/junk folder) over that weekend so you are ready to log in.
What you need to do now
- Clear outstanding balances in Arbor: We kindly request that all outstanding balances on Arbor (such as dinner money, trips, or clubs) are paid off as soon as possible.
- Download the new MyChildAtSchool app onto your smartphone or tablet. It is free and available via both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. (You can also access it via a web browser on a computer if you prefer).
Thank you for your patience and co-operation during this transition. If you do not receive your login details by the morning of Monday 6th July, or if you require any technical support, please contact the school office on [email protected]
Brilliant news on our primary playground!
After a two year mentoring journey we had our final assessment with Outdoor Play And Learning (OPAL) in June and were delighted to be awarded an OPAL Gold Award. This means that School21 is now in the top 2-4% of UK schools for the quality of play that we offer. This includes varied play environments, active and inclusive plays and staff training. We are determined to continue improving play for all our primary pupils.
Reception
In the past few weeks we have learned about different habitats and animals that live there. We read Monkey Puzzle and Boo! A Fishy Mystery. We made sea animals out of playdough and funny faces whilst exploring shells. In Ruby Class, our class "dog" named Derrick went missing and we made signs which helped him be returned.
SEND
Within Speech and Language Therapy Intervention, our students have enjoyed bringing Monkey Puzzle to life through sensory props, puppets, language boards and adult-modelled communication. They explored the story by touching, listening, looking and joining in with their own comments and ideas. We then extended the learning through an art activity, supporting creativity, expression and communication in a fun and meaningful way.
Year 7 Civil War workshop
Year 7 took part in an interactive Civil War workshop exploring the Battle of Naseby and the English Civil War led by the Naseby Recreation Trust. Through handling replica artefacts, examining historical evidence and participating in hands-on activities, students investigated the experiences of soldiers and the significance of the battle. Despite the exceptionally hot weather, they showed outstanding curiosity, enthusiasm and participation throughout both sessions, asking thoughtful questions and representing the school brilliantly.
Year 10 work experience 2026: a huge success
Our Year 10 students enjoyed a highly successful Work Experience Week, with 98% securing an external placement across a wide range of industries, including healthcare, engineering, education, business, technology and the creative sector. The week gave students valuable first-hand experience of the workplace, helping them develop employability skills, build confidence and explore future career pathways. Employers praised our students for their professionalism, enthusiasm and maturity, highlighting the positive impression they made. We are extremely grateful to all the employers and organisations who supported our students by providing such meaningful opportunities, helping to make this year's programme a tremendous success.
For the next academic year, the newsletter will be shared every half term.
For any queries regarding the school newsletter, please contact Sofia Flores at [email protected].
