Dear parents and carers,
As we enter the busy final weeks of the academic year, our calendar is filled with exciting opportunities, celebrations and achievements. From the successful completion of examinations to upcoming music concerts, educational visits and farm trips, our students continue to flourish, develop new skills and find their voice.
Thank you for your continued support in helping to make our school community a vibrant and positive place to learn and grow.
A kind reminder that school will be closed on Friday 3rd July for a staff training day.
With warm wishes,
Moray Dickson
Headteacher, School 21
School 21 calendar
| Date | Year group | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 1st -5th June | Multiple year groups |
GCSE / A-LEVEL exams |
| Wednesday 3th – 10th June | Primary | Book Fair |
| Monday 8th – 12th June | Multiple year groups | GCSE/A-LEVEL exams Y4 MTC/ Y1 PSC/ Y7, 8, 9 Assessments in-class |
| Monday 15th – 19th June | Multiple year groups | GCSE and A Level exams |
| Monday 15th – 26th June | Year 5 | Swimming lessons |
| Monday 15th June | Year 6 | Honeybee visit to Mudchute Farm |
| Wednesday 17th June | Primary | Spectacular Science Day |
| Thursday 18th June | Year 6 | West Ham Park |
| Monday 22nd – 29th June | Year 10/12 | Mocks assessments |
| Monday 22nd June | Year 2 | Trip to the Barbican Centre |
| Monday 22nd June | Year 13 | End of Year trip |
| Tuesday 23rd June | Year 7 | History Immersive: English Civil War Day |
| Wednesday 24th June | Year 3 | Trip to Harmonise London concert @ Barbican Centre |
| Friday 26th June 2-4 pm | Y5/6 + Y7-9 scholars | Band Project Gala Concert |
| Friday 26th June | Year 11 | Prom 17:00 – 22:00 |
| Monday 29th June – 2nd July | Primary / 7C/ Year 10/12 | Primary Assessments Week/ 7C away for Bertha Earth/ Year 10/12 mocks assessments |
| Monday 29th June | Year 6 | Transition to Year 7 |
| Wednesday 1st July | Year 2 | Trip to Maritime Museum |
| Friday 3rd July | All | Inset Day – School closed |
| Monday 6th July | All | School open |
Congratulations to Sapphire and Jade class for achieving the highest attendance!
| Date | Details |
|---|---|
| Friday 26th June 2-4 pm | Band Project Gala Concert (Y5/6 + Y7-9 scholars) |
| Friday 26th June 6-7.30 pm | Community Ceilidh Dance (£5 per person or £10 family ticket) This is a live community music event with Mrs Woolfenden’s folk band. Learn some simple dances together and have lots of fun whilst raising funds for our school music department (refreshments on sale) – MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW ON ARBOR! |
| 24hr Musicathon Fundraiser- 10am, Friday 26th June – 10am Saturday 27th June (tour students) | We’ll be making music for 24 hrs solid, staying overnight in school with our fantastic music tour students. You can donate here to help us raise the final £5000 for our tour to Austria! https://pay.sumup.com/b2c/QUC18CMB (add ref S21Musicathon) |
| Thursday 16th July | 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 |
We want to take 50 talented students on our international music tour this July, but we still need to raise £10,000 by April. You can make a difference!
Ways to help with funding
- Donate raffle prizes – vouchers, gift cards or gifts for our fundraising draw.
- Sponsor a student – £775 covers one child’s place on the tour.
- Sponsor tour hoodies/t-shirts – £2,000, with your logo travelling across Europe.
- Become a Friend of S21 Music – individual £30/year, corporate £1,500/year, with updates, badges and event invitations: Sign up here
- Spread the word – share this message with friends, local organisations or anyone who might help.
If you can help or have fundraising ideas, please email [email protected]. Every contribution brings these students closer to this incredible opportunity. Thank you!
What’s happening in S21 music this term?
Year 3 Songbook Project
Do you have a song that’s been handed down in your family – perhaps something sung as a lullaby, or a song that gets everyone joining in? Year 3 will be sharing special songs to add to our School 21 Songbook – these can be in any language, and simple is good as we’ll be trying to learn them. Can you record someone in your family singing the song during the holidays?
Write an Opera
Our Year 4 students are starting a project to write their own operas as a class. They have already chosen a theme and started creating a story. The performances will be in July, so watch this space!
We would love some help with costumes, set and lighting, and fundraising. If you’re interested in collaborating (through time, expertise, materials, or sponsorship), please email [email protected].
Y5 Band Project
Our Year 5 have been excited to choose and discover which instruments they will be playing in their class band. They have all started their whole-class lessons and will be beginning lessons with their tutors after half-term. They’re especially excited to take their instruments home and practise regularly, building confidence, improving technique and getting even better with every session.
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/
School21 is participating in the fully funded Nourish programme, offered by Newham Council in partnership with School Food Matters and the University of Birmingham. This programme provides the school with:
- Free support from School Food Matters and the Food Strategy Team to develop a new school food policy
- Free food-themed engagement sessions for students, staff, and parents
- Bespoke advice and guidance tailored to the specific needs of the school
Yumna Ansari, Project Officer, is working closely with the school to develop a whole-school approach to food.
One of the key aims of the project is to improve both the quality and uptake of breakfast at the breakfast club, as well as increase the availability and appeal of salads during lunchtime for secondary school students.
Two excellent training sessions were delivered to our Food Ambassadors, empowering them to take on student leadership roles and actively promote healthy eating across the school.
As part of this initiative, the Food Ambassadors helped launch a ‘Breakfast Special’ campaign by offering samples of healthy breakfast options, including fruit-based bites and smoothies. This initiative aimed to highlight the importance of incorporating fruits and yogurt into a balanced breakfast.
Year 11 Hospitality and Catering students have successfully completed their practical assessment and coursework submissions!
Our Food Ambassadors have been attending on a weekly rotation every Wednesday to support the opening of the tuck shop, providing the school community with a range of tasty snacks at breaktime.
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.
Please note that fizzy drinks are not allowed, and children should not share their food with friends. Thank you for your support.
Chinese Club: Discover Mandarin & Cantonese! (Wednesdays): £50. More information: [email protected]
Volleyball club is on every Wednesday lunchtime from 12.45pm for girls in years 7-11. See Miss Thorpe if you have any questions.
Absence reportin
Call 020 8262 2121 or email [email protected] before 8:30 am if your child is unwell.
Hands-on, immersive learning
Year 12 Psychology students recently visited the Freud Museum, the former home of Sigmund Freud. During the trip, students attended an engaging talk exploring Freud’s theories and legacy, before touring the house and seeing original artefacts including Freud’s famous psychoanalytic couch. Students also had the opportunity to try out a replica couch themselves, bringing their classroom learning to life in a memorable and interactive way.
Our Year 2 students have been on a fantastic adventure this term looking at the vibrant culture and bustling city life of Mumbai. After exploring the country, the children transitioned from Geography to Art, discovering the beautiful world of traditional Indian patterns and the intricate technique of block printing. Putting their knowledge and incredible creativity to the test, each student designed and hand-printed their very own custom tote bag!
Wednesday 17th March 3-6PM Nurture Academy Hair Hub bookings
https://booking.setmore.com/scheduleappointment/2fd2e657-e0c2-46ee-9a7c-d73bf02fc84d/session/1008bc90-06b9-4f11-b8e8-5a0008bca39e – Booking for Haircuts
https://booking.setmore.com/scheduleappointment/2fd2e657-e0c2-46ee-9a7c-d73bf02fc84d/session/8a7bdd5a-57d1-4b3e-8014-34547f6e6669 – Booking Hairstyling
https://booking.setmore.com/scheduleappointment/2fd2e657-e0c2-46ee-9a7c-d73bf02fc84d/session/d4d1ab82-e2a0-4c03-993e-6c70f5832df9 – Booking – Learn to Braid
For any queries regarding the school newsletter, please contact Sofia Flores at [email protected].
