Newsletters

NEWS AT WES - 13th December 2024

{item_alt_tag}

Autumn Term -13th December 2024

Welcome to our penultimate newsletter before Christmas - the snow isn't quite on the trees but the days are shorter! There are details below about our Winter Reading Challenge, available for the whole family to get involved in, and also upcoming events next week and into January.

There is also a WESPA update, reflecting on a great Winter Entertainment event on Tuesday and a thank you and congratulations to all involved.

{item_alt_tag}

Full attendance and punctuality at school continue to be important right up to the last day of term, and particularly, of course, for students sitting mock examinations. Students with 100% attendance and punctuality will be recognised in end of term assemblies for their resilience and commitment to their learning.

 Congratulations to 10L, 9B, 9L, 8L and 7F who all have the best overall attendance this term. 

On Friday 20th December, students will be dismissed between 12:15 and 12:35 - food will be available for them from the canteen as they leave.


The first day of school for students in January is Tuesday 7th. They are expected at school with all their equipment and in full uniform for 8:30. This will be Week A. It is very important for their progress and wellbeing that all students are in good routines when they return to school. This means, including for the weekend before:

  • Good sleep routines - in bed early, and not sleeping in too late
  • Eating a healthy diet, with fruit and vegetables
  • Some activity and fresh air each day
  • Limited screen time, especially late and night or in their bedrooms

Year 9 and 11 Parents' Evenings

Year 11s have now completed some of their mock exams, which continue into next week. Students will receive feedback on their papers when they return in January, and grades will be shared at Year 11 Parents' Evening on 30th January. Booking for this will open after we return to school in 2025.

Mock results for Year 11 students will inform intervention planning for the Spring Term and through to exams. We will be planning intensive revision sessions during February half term and the Easter holidays, as well as making sure that students have access to online resources.

Parents' Evening for Year 9 students takes place on Thursday 16th January. Families received details of this event earlier this week and booking will open via your MCAS account on Tuesday, 17th December.

LaSWAP Sports Education and Training Programme for 16 to 19-year-olds 

Applications for all students going into the LaSWAP 6th form are supported through tutorial time in school, and more information can be found at www.lawswap.camden.sch.uk

The Sports Education and Training Programme is an amazing opportunity for young people aged 16 to 19 who want to pursue careers in sport and physical activity. The programme means students can achieve accredited qualifications in activity leadership, sports coaching and sports development. Many students go on to paid employment as sports coaches, play workers, fitness instructors and teaching assistants. The programme can also lead to a university place on coaching or teaching-related courses. The programme is run in partnership with LaSWAP Sixth Form, where applications are open until 14 February 2025. If you require any further information or would like a informal discussion and a tour of our campus, please email Lee.Davis@camden.gov.uk or Sophie.Fogarty2@camden.gov.uk.

Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Opportunities with Arup and GSK - student webinar on Wednesday December 18th 

STEAM partner Arup - a leading engineering and sustainable design firm - is gearing up for apprenticeship recruitment for September 2025 start dates and is hosting a careers webinar on December 18th at 5:30pm. Their Early Careers team will be on hand to give guidance on applications. This is a fantastic chance for students and their parents/carers to explore the apprenticeship opportunities available – click on this link to register Careers | ARUP . GSK (GlaxoSmithKline Plc) is offering a range of exciting apprenticeships in: Data Science, Lab Science, Engineering, and Supply Chain Management across various locations.

Our Ofsted 'Good Provider' Status

If you have friends or family living in local boroughs with a son currently in Years 4 or 5, please encourage them to have a look at our recent Ofsted report, the headlines from which can be found in last month's News at WES Special, which can be viewed here.

{item_alt_tag}
{item_alt_tag}

WES Reading for Pleasure and Winter Challenge!

At William Ellis, we encourage all students to read for pleasure.

To support this, we provide a digital library to all students via Eplatform where they can choose from a vast variety of books to borrow under the eBook or Audiobook option which will then be available under the Loans tab for students to listen or read for 2 weeks. Students can:

  • choose a book to read for pleasure from a variety of suggested reading lists and genres,
  • choose books to study from, add notes to the eBooks while reading and then download them later to help study and revise,
  • change the font size, page colour etc to suit reading needs.

This winter break, we are also running a WES Winter Reading Challenge. From exploring new wonders and meeting fantastical characters to discovering new genres like graphic novels and nonfiction titles, this winter reading challenge will be sure to interest readers of all ages.

Designed to be fun and engaging, these 25 challenges will motivate students to read as many books as possible during the winter break.

Participate in our winter reading challenge, feel all the feels this season and be in with a chance of winning a prize by returning your book log to Ms. Nunnery by 31st January 2025.

{item_alt_tag}

SEND Coffee Morning: 19th December

Camden Foodbank's Christmas Appeal

A reminder that our collection for the Camden Foodbank ends on Tuesday, 17th December.

If you are able, we would like you to please bring any items from the list below into the main office by ths date.  

 It would be wonderful to provide a bumper collection for them over the festive period and we thank you in advance for any contributions you can make. 

 

Holiday Activities and Food programme - winter 2024-25 

The Camden Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) winter programme runs from 23 December 2024 to 3 January 2025 and is open for children and young people aged 5 to 16 who live in Camden and are eligible for free school meals. The programme offers free, fun activities and nutritional education - from learning to making healthy meals, to creative activities, including photography, drama, arts and crafts, and sports such as football and basketball. A free hot meal is included as part of each day’s activities. The Camden HAF programme is co-ordinated by Young Camden Foundation on behalf of the Council, with funding from the Department for Education.

  • Find out more and book: haf.youngcamdenfoundation.org.uk
  • Watch: a short film about Camden's HAF Programme (Summer 2024)

Yours faithfully,

Izzy Jones

Headteacher


This Week's WESPA Round-Up:

Dear families,

What a joy it was to attend the Winter Concert earlier this week. A huge well done to all the boys who performed. For many, this was for the first time at WES. Thank you to the many parents who helped - running the bar, decorating the tables, helping with music and of course coming to the concert and creating such an inclusive, supportive and fun atmosphere. Together we raised £600 to spend on supporting the arts at school.

Thank you also to the staff who supported and made this concert possible on the day, in the build up and preparation and in the cracks. The success of Winter Entertainment is no accident and is a big team effort.

This year marked our head of music’s 10 year anniversary and also his last concert at WES. At the end we gave Ollie Singleton a gift and flowers and my fellow Trustee Alex Booij spoke.

Thank you, dearest Ollie, our wonderful William Ellis head of Music, mentor, choir master and friend, for radiating creativity, humanity, authenticity, and a profound capacity for genuine connection and love with everyone you teach and inspire. Through your artistry and music, you transcend borders, cultures, speaking to the soul in ways words often cannot. You foster empathy, understanding, and unity, reminding us of the beauty of our shared humanity.

In the face of war and aggression, grief and anxiety, loss and sadness, music becomes a universal language—a beacon of hope that inspires peace and reminds us of the possibility of a better world. Thank you for showing us that authentic and true creative expression is a powerful force for healing, bridging divisions, and inspiring change. Through your leadership at WES, you have proved that harmony is not just a musical concept but a pathway to unity and renewal.  Ollie, you will be terribly missed and you are leaving big boots to fill. 

Please come up and accept this small but perfectly formed token of gratitude.

All our love from WESPA.

The end of term is nearly upon us. Well done everybody new and old for getting stuck in. I've said it before, WES is a happy place. It is always a great pleasure to walk the corridors when I’m in school and witness first hand the enthusiasm and camaraderie our boys and their teachers bring to school each day.  We will share news of the last WESPA Wednesday this term on the groups and in the meantime, have a great weekend and, if you are doing any shopping, don’t forget to use easyfundraising! 

Best wishes

Al

Chair WESPA

Coming Up...

Year 11 Mock Exams
All Day
From 09 Dec until 20 Dec
09
December
Year 13 in-class assesments
All Day
From 16 Dec until 20 Dec
16
December
Exam Certificate Collection Event (time tbc)
4:00pm – 5:45pm
17
December
Year 12 Graphics October Gallery Project Trip
All Day
18
December
Last day of formal teaching for Sixth Form Students
All Day
19
December
SEND Coffee Morning for Year 7 families
9:00am – 10:30am
19
December
Last day of Autumn Term
All Day
20
December
Non-Uniform Day - £1 charity donation to take part
All Day
20
December
Early close for students
12:15pm – 12:45pm
20
December
Staff Professional Development Day - school closed to students
All Day
06
January