Newsletters

Autumn Term - 6th November 2026

Welcome to our latest news update, including.............

Parents' Evening for Year 7

A reminder that Year 7 families will have their first Parents' Evening on Thursday 3rd December. Families will receive full details next week, but in the meantime please ensure that you have an active MCAS account to be able to schedule your meetings with your son's teachers.

If you do not already regularly use MCAS, please click on the following link to set up your account: https://www.mychildatschool.com/MCAS/MCSForgottenLogin  (you will need to use the email address to which this newsletter has been sent).

If you need support in setting up an account or if you have queries about an existing account, guidance can be found here: https://docs.bromcom.com/article-categories/for-parents/ . You can also contact us via info@williamellis.camden.sch.uk

The full schedule for Parents Evenings this year is as follows:

Keeping children safe in sport - resources for parents from the NSPCC

We at William Ellis, along with all colleagues in Camden's education and children's services, want all children and young people to enjoy taking part in sport and recognise that parents have a key role to play in that. In the run-up to National Safeguarding Week (9 to 13 November), please see below some helpful and accessible resources from the NSPCC:

NSPCC - Keeping your child safe in sport web page 

Families can be assured that here at school rigorous safeguarding practices are in place for for all extra-curricular clubs and activities. Families wanting to find out more are welcome to contact................

Remembrance and RBL's Poppy Appeal

Tuesday, 11th November, marks Armistice Day - the end of fighting in World War One in 1918. This occasion will be marked in school with assemblies through the week touching on themes of remembrance, respect and courage, and with a 2 minute silence on Armistice Day itself.

Poppies are available from the school office for students who wish to donate to the work of the Royal British Legion in supporting veterans of conflict. We request a minimum donation of 30p per poppy from students, though any more than that would be gratefully received by RBL.

Bayeux Tapestry Trips

Our school has been very fortunate to have had three opportunities for students to visit the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at the British Museum recently. All of our Year 11 History students have had the opportunity to see first-hand this important artefact and resource for the Norman England component of their GCSE, and this week 30 Year 7 students viewed the tapestry as part of an ekphrastic poetry project.

Staff from across the school also had an opportunity to visit the exhibition during half term, and were struck by the impressive scale of the tapestry, the fine embroidery work, the vivid colours and the condition overall of a delicate item that is almost a thousand years old.

The British Museum has numerous resources related to the Bayeux Tapestry on their website, including an online tour that can be studied scene-by-scene in detail, or through a short 'highlights' guide.

Eco Club Report

Jane, Director of WildGen and Year 11 Parent, writes:

What a fantastic start Eco Club has had to the new school year. We have been busy pond clearing, and cutting back vegetation for the winter, and creating a bug hotel - not only a place for bugs to live, but crowned with amazing hand-crafted pieces of art.

The boys worked hard as a team planning and building this incredible dragonfly sculpture, which adds a lovely feature to the school grounds and a future place to look at all the bugs that will make it their home!

The group also had a fantastic and productive trip to WildGens rewilding site in Kent. Here we learnt all about Kent's heritage fruit trees and planned out our up-and-coming mini orchard, thinking about position, orientation and type of hole to dig. We were so impressed as the boys worked incredibly hard in the baking sun prepping the ground for the trees, which will arrive on our next trip this month. This was no easy feat, digging the parched ground and adding compost to the clay soil; this will add microorganisms and minerals to help the young trees grow. We also constructed some wooden log piles in the field to add some structural diversity for insects and fungi to colonise, all vitally needed for healthy habitats.

With special thanks to Sabzgaman Beski Charity for funding all these projects.

Eco Club members have said:

"This is great. I'm keeping fit and learning new skills!"

"I'm so happy to be creating an orchard."

"I've really enjoyed designing and making a bug hotel. I think it looks great."

Year 10 Art Trip to Tate Modern

Ms Madsen writes:

On Thursday this week, the Year 10 Art class went to visit the Tate Modern art gallery to see the exhibition Frida: the making of an icon.

The group are working on a theme of identity in their project and study the work of Frida Kahlo so it was a brilliant opportunity for them to see her work in real life. The exhibition covered the work of other artists and the impact of her work on culture, including themes of gender, religion, disability and racism. Students asked many insightful questions as they sought to understand the work on display.

The art department are very grateful to WESPA who agreed to fund the cost of the tickets for our students.

Brandon Centre ADHD and Love & Limits parent groups for January 2027

These groups are designed to support parents and carers navigating the complexities of raising adolescents. The online programmes offer a safe, collaborative space for parents who wish to work on managing boundaries with their adolescent children.

To ensure these sessions are as accessible and inclusive as possible for parents or those with younger children, they are hosted entirely online. Here are the core details:

Format: Online via Microsoft Teams
Duration: 6-week programme
Session Length: 90 minutes per session
Timing: Both morning and evening options available to fit different schedules

Dates and exact times for Love and Limits Groups: Monday 4^th January 2027 from 6-7:30pm or Wednesday 13^th January 2027 from 10-11:30am

Dates and exact times for ADHD Groups: Friday 8^th January 2027 from10-11:30am or Monday 11^th January 2027 from 10-11:30am
Group Size: Small, supportive cohorts of 10 to 15 parents to foster safety and connection.

The sessions are for parents/carers only.

In-person session for parents and carers of children with SEND

Camden Council’s SEND and Inclusion Service and Service Design Team are hosting a session for parents and carers at the Crowndale Centre, 218 Eversholt Street, NW1 1BD on Monday 16 November, 10.30am to 12noon.

The Government is introducing changes to SEND support, including a programme called Experts at Hand, which is a programme to strengthen inclusive practice across early years, primary, secondary and post-16 settings.

The Council wants to hear directly from parents and carers about their experiences, what support they feel would make a difference in schools and what they would like us to consider as we plan for these changes in Camden.

The session is open to all Camden parents and carers of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. Children and young people do not need to have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan for their families to attend. We also welcome families whose children receive SEN Support at school or who may have additional needs that are not yet formally identified.

The session is taking place on Monday 16 November, 10.30am to 12noon at the Crowndale Centre, 218 Eversholt Street, NW1 1BD. Parents and carers can register via this online form by Thursday 12 November. If you have any questions, please email send.engagement@camden.gov.uk.

Night at the Vet College – Wednesday 11th November, 4–9pm

The Royal Veterinary College’s latest free event returns after school, and is a chance for students and families to try veterinary skills and lab activities, hear mini-lectures on RVC science and see anatomy demonstrations, with staff and students showing them behind the scenes. RVC is a on Royal College Street, 10-minute walk from King’s Cross or Camden Town. This session is free, but booking is essential: book a place at Night at the Vet College.

Black History Season continues in Camden

Discover an inspiring programme of film, author talks, music, workshops, history walks and much more!

Highlights include:

• Free events at the new Museum of Youth Culture – every Tuesday, 4pm to 7pm, 51 St Pancras Way, London NW1 0PU. This is a new space for 13 to 17-year-olds to enjoy DJing, photography, arts & crafts, movie nights, poetry, table football, table tennis, board games, free snacks and more!

Free author event - Jessica Wilson: Black Love – on Wednesday 11 November, 4pm to 5.30pm, at Swiss Cottage Library, 88 Avenue Road, NW3 3HA. Award-winning author Jessica Wilson explores Black Love, identity, family and community through storytelling and creative activities. Suitable for children aged seven and above.

Camden Youth Theatre – free drama sessions for 13 to 19 year-olds

Camden Youth Theatre (CYT) is a free weekly youth theatre programme for young people aged 13 to 19 who live or go to school in Camden, run in partnership by Camden People's Theatre and New Diorama Theatre. The sessions offer a fun, welcoming and creative space for young people to build confidence, make friends, develop performance skills and work together to create their own original theatre productions. No previous theatre experience is needed - new members always welcome. It takes place at Camden People's Theatre, 58–60 Hampstead Road, NW1 2PY on Tuesdays, 5.30pm to 8pm, including a free dinner from 5.30pm). There is no charge – it’s all completely free! If you are interested in joining, please email cyt@cptheatre.co.uk.

Highgate Haven Youth Hub hosts Camden Winter Games

Highgate Haven Youth Hub is hosting the Camden Winter Games to bring young people together through sport, wellbeing and activities, offering opportunities to try something new, build confidence and connect with others beyond their usual youth provision.

The free sessions are happening on Tuesdays 17 November, 24 November and 1 December, from 4pm to 6.30pm, at Highgate Haven Youth Club, Highgate Newtown Community Centre, 30 Bertram Street, N19 5DQ. Age range: 11 to 16 years.

Activities include basketball, girls’ pilates, Mini HYROX, glow-in-the-dark dodgeball, a gym session for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities, smoothie-making, and fit lights.

Young people from Highgate Haven’s AQA photography project will also be involved as the Games Media Team, helping to capture photographs and short video clips where consent has been given.

Sign up via this online form. 

Yours faithfully,

Izzy Jones

Headteacher