Newsletters

School Uniform Orders

Our uniform policy can be found on the Uniform page of our school website. Please ensure that you have placed your orders for compulsory uniform items (blazer and PE kit items) with our uniform supplier, SWI schoolwear, by 16th August to allow time for delivery before September.

SWI have a New Starter Hub resource on their website which you may find useful. It includes a digital sizing tool and FAQs about the ordering process.

A reminder that SWI are offering free delivery until 19th July on orders over £50 with code FREEDEL

 

Medical and Emergency Contact Information

To keep your son safe at school it is very important that we always have the most up-to-date medical information and emergency contact details. If there are any changes to addresses, phone numbers or email addresses over the Summer please do get in touch to let us know as soon as possible.

If your son has a care plan for any medical condition (e.g. asthma, allergies requiring an Epipen, serious and/or ongoing illnesses, etc.), please provide a copy for the school’s records. This should be emailed to our Safeguarding Officer, Miss Hayley Ward: hward@williamellis.camden.sch.uk .    

When your son starts school in September, you must hand necessary medications (such as asthma inhalers, Epipens and prescribed medications for ongoing conditions) in to the school office for use in an emergency and to be kept for use on school trips. 

 

Summer School

We hope you have already signed up for at least one day of Summer School if your son is in London between 25th-28th August. If not, it's not too late! Register via your Applicaa account or contact Mr Altmann by 21st August.

Summer School provides an opportunity for new students to familiarise themselves with the school site and get to know some members of staff and make new friends before the first day in September, all while taking part in a range of fun activities.

We ask for a contribution of £5 per day that your son attends Summer School to cover the costs of some of the activities and resources. This contribution can be made online via ParentPay or by card at the School Office when your son comes in for Summer School. 

 

Welcome and Information Event, Monday 14th September

We look forward to you joining us for this event to welcome our new Year 7 families, at 4.15pm on 14th September. This will be an opportunity to meet your son's Form Tutor and Head of House, find out more about the year ahead and to ask any questions arising from your son's first few days of secondary education. There will be an activity for any new Year 7 students attending, but we ask that younger siblings are not brought to this event unless unavoidable please.

 

Year 7 School Photographs, Wednesday 9th September

Students in Years 7 will have school photographs taken on Wednesday 9th September. There will be individual shots and House Group photos taken. These pictures can make a lovely keepsake for the future and will be available for families to purchase later in the term – families will be sent a sample image and further details of how to place an order with the school photographer.

It is important that we have a photograph on record of every student for safeguarding reasons - these photos will not be shared beyond the school.

Families will be reminded again of this date at the start of next term in order to ensure that students are in full uniform, with smiles at the ready, on that day!

 

Outdoor Learning Experience

Year 7 students will have their first taste of the Outdoor Learning programme in early October, with a day of fun activities on the Heath and around the local area. This will be during normal school hours. You'll be informed of the details for this day in September. 

 

Ski Trip 2027

The 2027 ski trip is confirmed to be going ahead and a small number of places are still available. If you haven't signed up but would like your son to go, please refer to earlier emails for details, or email Mr Fuller or Mr Altmann: sfuller@wiliamellis.camden.sch.uk / kaltmann@wiliamellis.camden.sch.uk

(Please note that neither will be able to answer any emails until after the summer break).

'From The Boys' Podcast Latest News

At the end of last month sixteen Year 10 students spent their work experience placement at Middlesex University, learning professional podcasting and media skills — from storytelling and narrative construction to recording and editing. The result is 'From the Boys': a podcast series giving voice to how a generation of young men are navigating identity, pressure, and masculinity in the city today.

The project has already reached a wide audience, featured on BBC London News and in the local press, and is generating interest from educators and researchers nationally and has received high-profile support from BBC presenter Amol Rajan, multi-platinum songwriter and producer Jay Weathers, thought leader and campaigner Dr Alex Blower, and North London youth worker Jely Kikamba.

Read more about this latest step towards the podcast's launch here.

The Podcast series is Launching on 22nd October, with a special event here at school that evening.

We're delighted to invite you to join us for the official launch which will include a live discussion with the boys behind the podcast, an open conversation on young masculinity in Camden today and the chance to hear more about the William Ellis Trust's wider work. Click here to reserve a spot at this event.

Trust Director Will Durham says: “Projects like this are why the Trust exists. This is the Trust's Boyhood and Community priorities in action: sixteen boys given the tools, and the trust, to speak for themselves and add their voices to an important conversation. We're proud to have been involved with it from the start. We hope to see you at our launch event at the school on 22^nd October.”

To read more about this and the rest of the WES Trust's work you can read their latest newsletter here.

 

WildGen William Ellis Eco Club Update

Mr Mangham, Head of Year 12, and Year 10 parent Jane, who organised the project, write:

The first 6 weeks of summer term at Eco Club were filled with discovery. Students learnt all about soil microorganism, with the soil scientist Kelly Moss who came to visit our club at William Ellis School. We took soil samples from the school grounds and discovered its health by looking at it through lab microscopes. The samples surprisingly revealed it had low plastic content and had some of the beneficial organisms that help drive a thriving ecosystem beneath our feet. We will store and use this data to inform future works.

We had Rory from Heath Hands join us for a pond dipping session. The pond is full of life, from the impressive dragonfly larvae (likely southern Hawker), to Great Ramshorn snails, water woodlouse, daphnia, large red damselflies and frogs to name a few of the species we discovered on the day. Around the pond on our pond plants we found Buff tailed Bumblebees on the Marsh Marigold and common Carder Bee on the Ragged Robin flowers, all species that would not be there without our beautiful pond.

As newts were previously discovered in the pond, we created a smaller pond for our frogs in the second half of summer term. Frogs are happy for any water body to breed in, while newts prefer a more complex pond full of plants to lay their eggs, which they lay individually and wrap in a broad leaf. Newts will eat frog spawn so we hope the less fussy frogs can make use of the new pond away from hungry newts! 

We found so many wonderful coloured little beings, including red clover mite, candy striped spiders, crickets and lots of beetles, showing that the grasses are full of life.

 

Throughout the Summer we have seeded the wildflower meadow and we have also had a few bushcraft days, making food and stick pencils and wooden pencil holders.

Eco Club have also been back to the rewilding site in Kent where we have been helping to enhance a degraded, overgrazed, field by boosting the soil life and creating feeding stations for birds, the droppings of which should help with seeding and adding to biodiversity.

We also visited a farm in Peterborough to learn all about an alternative dairy farming system. All of the cows here live out their whole lives (up to 20 years) in natural family herds and all calves stay with their mothers and are naturally weaned. Here the cows are treated more like family pets than they would be on intensively managed dairy farms.

We all had a go at hand milking (and cuddling!!) It was a truly magical day. We learnt so much and the milk was delicious!

With special thanks to Sabzgaman Beski, who generously fund WildGen Eco Club.

 

Jack Petchey Award Winners' Trip to see Hamilton

Jacob and Novel in Year 10 each won £300 from the Jack Petchey Foundation this year to spend in school. They chose to spend their money on a trip to see the musical Hamilton with their close friends.

The group had a tumultuous tube ride in the 30oC weather but the musical itself was amazing.

Kobe, clearly an avid Hamilton listener, sang along angelically. Zeph was beside himself at John Lauren's death. Rabah, more interested in the football, streamed the England vs Ghana match during the interval, placating the Year 10s.

 

WES Fest

On Thursday 9th July we held our first ever festival - WES Fest! Students from Years 7-12 took part in musical and dramatic performances. We enjoyed bands, soloists, improvised drama pieces, monologues and a wonderful DJ set. Students did brilliantly, showing off exactly how much talent and dedication we have here at William Ellis! 

 

 

Important Changes to the Mobile Phone Policy

From September, the school's mobile phone policy will be strengthened to further support learning, wellbeing and positive behaviour, as we move to become a SMARTPHONE FREE SCHOOL.  Students in Years 7, 8, 9 AND 10 may only bring a basic "brick phone" to school, which does not have access to social media or internet-based apps. Any smartphone or smart device brought onto the school site by a student in these year groups will be confiscated.

Across Years 7-11, any mobile device that is seen, heard or used during the school day will be confiscated. In addition, any confiscated smartphone will only be returned when a parent or appropriate adult, such as a grandparent or carer, attends school to collect it.

The confiscation period is as follows: 

1^st confiscation - 1 day - a parent or appropriate adult, such as a grandparent or carer, attends school the following day to collect it.

Any subsequent confiscation - 5 school days (this may include a weekend) a parent or appropriate adult attends school, five school days after it has been confiscated, to collect it.

Parents/Carers will always be notified by email when a smartphone has been confiscated.

The policy also continues to prohibit the use or wearing of headphones, earbuds or similar devices during the school day. These changes are designed to reduce distractions, promote positive social interaction, and ensure that students remain focused on learning and fully engaged in school life.

 

Key Stage 3 Camps at the Mill

Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 have been to the Mill for their Camp trips this term.

Year 9 Camp marked the end of Key Stage 3 and their transition into GCSE study at the end of May.

Students spent two nights at The Mill and two at Etherley Farm, taking part in a range of activities including team building, problem solving, creativity challenges, and low ropes at The Mill.

A highlight of the trip was the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze training expedition. Over two days, students navigated and walked 13km through the Surrey Hills in small groups, carrying everything they needed and cooking and preparing all their own food. It was a genuine test of teamwork, resilience, and self-reliance.

The trip was a memorable rite of passage for the year group, sending them into their GCSE years with confidence, new friendships strengthened, and a real sense of what they are capable of.

Year 7 were next to go to the Mill in early June for their two-night camp; the foundation of their outdoor learning over the next 2 years. 

Finally Year 8 attended a 3-night camp earlier this month, building on the skills they began learning in Year 7. Their trip was packed with activities on site at The Mill and at Sayer's Croft, a local activity centre.

William Ellis camp weeks at The Mill are always about giving students new experiences that build their independence and resilience, that enable them to demonstrate responsibility for themselves and each other and build stronger relationships with staff and their peers, with a different rhythm and set of routines to being in school.

'From The English Corridor' Magazine

Ms Damms, Head of English, writes:

The English Department have recently published the fourth edition of their 'From The English Corridor' Magazine.

This is a collection of creative and reflective writing that showcases what students have been doing in their English lessons this year. 

Read and download the magazine in full here:

English Department Magazine Spring-Summer 2026

We hope you enjoy it.

 

Performing Arts Opportunities

Ms Hughes, Head of Music & Drama, writes:

Drama visits to the Institute of Education

In June some of our keenest Year 7 actors visited UCL’s Institute of Education to take part in drama workshops with student teachers. They watched performances which invited students up on their feet to contribute to the work. One performance featured our own student teacher, Ms Carpenter.

The boys performed thoughtfully and with confidence. Well done!

Year 10 students also got the chance to experience an interactive drama performance as they were part of the student teachers’ schools tour.

I was so impressed with how the Year 10s threw themselves into the performance. The actors told me they were the liveliest and most enthusiastic audience they’d had!

 

Year 9 Drama Events - 'A Winters Tale' Performance and Technical Skills Trip

Ms Hughes also writes:

On Friday 3rd July, Year 9 students watched Shakespeare’s ‘A Winter’s Tale’, performed by RADA acting and technical students. The students watched in awe! They also asked some thoughtful questions in a Q&A at the end.

I hope to forge further links with RADA to show students pathways to careers in the arts.

Last week Year 9 Drama students had the opportunity to take part in a technical skills workshops at the Criterion Theatre in the West End. They learn all about lighting, sound, stagecraft (set, props and costume) and stage management.

The students worked in groups to produce versions of scenes from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, incorporating all disciplines. Students were excellent - with some particularly relishing being able to direct professional actors in their vision!

Music Taster Sessions

At the start of this month Year 7 and 8 students took part in music taster sessions - a chance for them to try out the different instrument and musical disciplines offered here at WES. Students took part in hands-on sessions in piano, guitar, drums, DJing, brass, strings, woodwind and musical production. They were brilliant! All had a go at something they’d not tried before.

Year 9 Chemistry Trip to KCL

Ms Rowland, Science Teacher, writes:

Last month Year 9 Triple Science Pupils visited the King's College London chemistry teaching laboratories.

In the first session, they got to use the same equipment as undergraduate chemistry students to extract caffeine from tea, coffee and diet coke. First, they added ethyl ethanoate to their drink. The caffeine preferentially dissolves in the ethyl ethanoate (organic layer) over the water (aqueous layer). The pupils then used a separatory funnel to separate the organic layer and aqueous layer, utilising fume hoods to release the excess gases. When their organic layer was isolated, they dried it using magnesium sulfate. They filtered out the magnesium sulfate, then attached their round bottomed flasks to a rotary evaporator which uses negative pressure to evaporate off the ethyl ethanoate. This left them with pure caffeine crystals, which they weighed.

In the second session, they created a hypothesis as to the order of caffeine concentration of eight common place drinks. They then used UV/Vis Spectrometers to analyse the caffeine concentration. The caffeine absorbs characteristic wavelengths of ultra violet and visible light which can be detected and converted into concentration data. Everyone was shocked that prime hydration has no caffeine! Several groups had the same score for their hypotheses, so as a tie breaker, pupils estimated the molecular mass of caffeine under time pressure. Three groups attempted to use the periodic table, but it was team 67, with their guess of 167 that came the closest to the Mr of 194.

Thank you to the pupils, Mr Harris, Mr Sales and the KCL chemistry outreach team for making this trip possible!

 

Year 12 Maths trip to LSE

Ms Goryczka, Maths Teacher, writes:

On Monday the 13th of June our Year 12 class went to the London School of Economics and Political Sciences (LSE) for a lecture on game theory and a university tour.

They learnt about different application of maths and how it can help to solve real-life problems, like the modelling of congestion and therefore building infrastructure. The lecturer linked it to real-life examples where game theory helped to solve such problems.

Afterwards, there was a short introduction about life at LSE and application processes. A student ambassador took the group through the campus showing off its facilities and reporting on what it is like to study at a competitive university like LSE.

Intermediate International School Award 

Ms Rodgers, Head of MFL, writes:

We are very pleased to share the news that our school has been awarded Intermediate level of the British Council’s prestigious International School Award. This recognition is a testament to the dedication and excellence demonstrated by the MFL team and wider school community in pursuing international education highlighting the benefits of learning from across the globe.

Shannon West, Head of UK Schools for the British Council, said:

"William Ellis School’s international work has earned the school well-deserved recognition with the British Council International School Award - Intermediate Certificate.

 

We are proud and delighted to work with this great school. Many thanks to everyone for all their commitment to developing international work and sharing excellent classroom practice and resources. This is enriching education for its pupils, and their excellent collaborative projects with partner schools overseas are bringing the world into their classrooms. International work is key support for developing skills young people need to be globally aware citizens of the future.

 

Embedding an international ethos across a school can lead to International School Award Accreditation, the highest award level. Schools looking to join this supportive and engaging global network should contact us at the British Council.”

 

The Award is now available worldwide in countries such as Greece, India, and Nigeria. Over 6000 International School Awards have been presented to successful schools in the UK since the scheme began in 1999.'

 

The International School Award encourages and supports schools to develop:

 

• An international ethos embedded throughout the school
• A whole school approach to international work
• Collaborative curriculum-based work with international partner schools
• Year-round international activity
• Involvement of the wider community

 

German Exchange Day

Ms Rodgers also writes:

On Thursday 11^th June, 18 students from Marianne-Weber Gymnasium in Lemgo, Germany, came to visit our school and spend time getting to know our Year 8 & Year 10 German learners (their English text book features William Ellis School!)

  

 

Prior to the visit, Year 10 students communicated by old fashioned letter writing techniques, and then got to meet their pen-pal in person!

We had a ‘speed speaking’ style activity during p.2 & 4, a presentation for our Year 8 students by the German students about their school life in Germany, and a very friendly Germany v England handball game during p.3 (Lemgo is very famous for handball, they tell me) Despite this, England still won the mini match! We also had a mini game where students wanted to be in mixed teams with the German students, which was lovely, although the German teachers & myself then didn’t know who to cheer for!

It was such a positive experience for our students, making their language learning experience more authentic, and helping them forge international relationships. I’ve even heard on the Y10 grapevine that there is now a London/Lemgo WhatsApp group where they are all regularly communicating in ‘Germ-lish’!

 

Visit from school leaders from India

Ms Rodgers also writes:

On Monday 13^th July, we had two members of staff from Rishikul Vidyapeeth Alipur School in India coming to visit William Ellis School. The aim of the visit was to increase international links and learn about each other’s education systems.

 

They visited some lessons and spoke to small groups of students outside of lessons. Below is some feedback from them – they were very impressed with our WES boys!:

“Thank you so much for your warm welcome and for giving us the opportunity to visit William Ellis School. It was a pleasure meeting you and experiencing the school’s inspiring learning environment.

I truly enjoyed facilitating the British Council activities on “Leaders: Inspiring Others” and “Digital Balance.” The enthusiasm, creativity, and thoughtful participation of the students made the sessions both engaging and memorable. It was wonderful to see them collaborate, share ideas, and reflect on the qualities of responsible leadership and positive digital citizenship.

I sincerely appreciate your support, hospitality, and the time you took to make the visit such a success. I hope this is the beginning of a meaningful partnership between our schools, with many opportunities for future collaboration, cultural exchange, and shared learning.”

Year 10 'Cabinet of Curiosities' Project

Ms Madsen, Head of Art, Craft & Design, writes:

On the 11th of June, the Year 10 Art and Graphics classes visited Lauderdale House to attend the private view of the annual exhibition, which was a culmination of their work this year. The work was on display around the house and gardens as part of the Highgate Arts Festival.

The flyers for the exhibition were designed by our Graphics class and the work was all made in response to theme of 'cabinet of curiosities'.

The students have produce work in clay, print and bronze sculptures. Students were very excited to see this public exhibition of their work.

 

End of Year Art Show

The heatwave at the end of June unfortunately meant that the annual End of Year Art Show could not go ahead as a live event, but the department put together a visual guide to the exhibition of work by this year's exam students, which can be viewed here. 

 

Camden Art Biennale

Earlier this week I had the pleasure of visiting the Camden school’s art Biennale at UAL in Granary Square. The exhibition is on until 26th July and is open to the public. Our school has a significant amount of work in the exhibition.

If you walk up to Granary square from King's Cross station over the next two weeks, the first thing that you will see is artwork by William Ellis students! This is displayed on boards in the street where thousands of people will see it - one is near the 'birdcage' and the second one is outside a shop.

The full Biennale is on show at St Martins , University of the Arts London and features artwork from schools across Camden. William Ellis students and LaSWAP art students from William Ellis have made a significant contribution to the show. A large ceramic installation which was made by our Year 12 art A level class on the theme 'A seat, a table' is near the entrance. Students studied 'The last supper' by Leonardo da Vinci and considered how sharing a meal can reveal relationships and power structures. Many students chose food to suggest cultural influences or class divides, for example Oysters which are often very expensive but were originally very cheap in the UK.

The project was run in partnership with The Bomb Factory who supported students in making their ceramics with artist Noah. Students also took part in a writing workshop and produced an anthology which includes a written piece which goes with each artwork.

There is also work on show from Years 7, 8,10 and 12 in the portraits section, and there is a large Year 13 A level painting in the window galleries at the entrance to the show.

Congratulations go to Duke and Tao in Year 7, Elias and Riaz in Year 8, Colin and Sacha in Year 10, and Zoe, Scarlet and the whole Year 12 A Level Art Class.

The Biennale is on until the 26th of July and is full of fantastic artwork so we recommend that you go and visit over the first week of the summer holidays.