Headteacher's Message
Welcome back to school and to the start of what is already shaping up to be a very busy and rewarding term. It has been lovely to see how quickly the children have settled back into their daily routines and learning, returning with such positive attitudes and enthusiasm. A special well done must go to our Reception and Rainbow classes, who moved into new classrooms and learning spaces at the start of term. They have taken this change in their stride and are already thriving in their new environments.
Although we are only a few weeks into the term, there has already been so much to celebrate. Year 3 enjoyed a fantastic trip to the Natural History Museum, where they represented the school superbly with exemplary behaviour and thoughtful, inquisitive questions during their workshops. Year 6 have also been out and about with the Bikeability team, developing their road safety skills and showing just how responsible and mature they are as members of our wider community.
There is still plenty more to look forward to in the weeks ahead, including Children’s Mental Health Week, Safer Internet Day and our celebrations for Lunar New Year. Please do keep an eye on the school website for details of upcoming events and important dates.
We will also be holding Parent Governor Elections very soon. This is a valuable opportunity for parents and carers to have their voice represented, contribute to school decisions and help shape the future direction of our school community. Further information can be found in the letter sent out earlier this term.
Attendance continues to be a key focus for us, and we know that strong attendance supports both learning and wellbeing. If your family is experiencing any difficulties and you feel we may be able to help, please do contact the school office to arrange a meeting. We are always keen to work in partnership with families to support our children in every way we can.
School Council
School Council are excited to get started in the new school year and build on the issues raised last term. Over the coming weeks, children will be working together within their year groups to explore ways to make playtimes safer, happier and more inclusive for everyone. A key focus this year will also be promoting road safety within our wider community. Year 6 have already made a great start, using the valuable knowledge and confidence gained from their recent Bikeability course to help shape our next steps.
A big thank you to Dr Bike, who visited at the start of term to assess and fix bikes, making sure they were safe and road-ready. This was especially valuable for our Year 6 pupils ahead of their Bikeability sessions, and a brilliant support for our wider school community.
Play
Playtimes continue to be an important part of the school day, giving children opportunities to relax, socialise and enjoy being active together. This term, we will be reflecting on how our play spaces are used and listening carefully to children’s ideas about what helps make playtimes fun.
Shared Learning
Year 3 Emerald Class enjoyed a visit to Year 6 Bronze for a fascinating presentation all about the heart last week! It was a joyful afternoon of sharing learning, asking questions and spending time together, with both classes really enjoying the chance to mix. Emerald Class are already looking forward to returning the favour later this term, when they will share their volcano learning with Bronze.
Parent Governor Election
Would you like to help shape the future of our school? We are currently seeking two parent governors to join our governing body. This is a valuable opportunity to have a voice in school decisions and support our community. We have extended the deadline for nominations and candidate statements to this Friday, 30th January 2026. Full details can be found here.
Forest School Volunteers
Forest School has been a valued part of life at Kelvin Grove for over 12 years, and we would love to welcome parent and carer volunteers to support our sessions. Volunteering enriches the children’s experiences and offers a rewarding opportunity to be part of their learning journey. If you can spare a couple of hours a week and would like to get involved, please see the letter from Mr Murray here for full details, and complete the Volunteer Application Form on the school website.
Year 3's Dino Dig!
Year 3 enjoyed a fantastic trip to the Natural History Museum, rounding off their learning from Stones and Bones with a hands-on dinosaur dig and the chance to see real fossils up close. The visit also launched their new topic, Shakes and Quakes, as children explored an earthquake simulation and learned more about the Earth’s core. Spotting the many animals hidden within the museum’s architecture was a particular highlight.
See more from their trips in the Class News below ⤵️
Swimming Gala Success
We are thrilled to celebrate two of our Year 5 pupils who recently competed in the Kent County Swimming Championships 2026. These galas bring together swimmers from clubs across the county to compete, and it is an incredible achievement for children to be selected.
Shingai had a phenomenal day, winning three gold medals in his strongest events; the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke, all with personal best times. He also achieved Kent qualifying times in the 50m and 100m, placing him in the top 10 U10 boys in Kent, and even came home with two well-earned rubber ducks for finishing first in his heats!
At the same gala, Maria delivered an incredible performance, qualifying for seven county championship events. She reached the 50m breaststroke final, competing up an age group, and finished an impressive 4th in the 11 & under girls category, swimming a brilliant personal best.
A huge celebration of dedication, talent and success for both swimmers!
Wicked Art Competition
We had a range of brilliantly, thoughtful entries for the Wicked For Good Competition, thank you to all the children who entered! Into Film will contact any winners directly.
Art Competitions 2026
It’s always wonderful to see the creativity of our KG community and we are excited to once again be taking part in several art competitions.
🎨 Royal Academy Young Artists 2026
Open to children aged 4+ (Nursery – Year 6), this national competition celebrates creativity in all forms. Children are invited to submit up to 3 original pieces of art which could be showcased in an online exhibition or in person at the prestigious Royal Academy of Arts! The deadline for entries is Monday 2nd March. More information can be found in the individual letter sent home. 
🏛️ Fourth Plinth Schools Awards 2026
Open to school children aged 5 and up (Reception – Year 6), this exciting competition invites pupils to share their ideas inspired by London and the Fourth Plinth in Trafalgar Square. Entries can be in all art forms, including drawing, painting, sculpture, collage and digital designs, and must be handed into school by Friday 20th March. Please see the letter sent out for full details.
If any children would like help or support with their entries please speak with Miss Gibbs.
Communication Reminder
We would like to remind all parents and carers of the correct channels for communication, particularly regarding pupil absence or when sharing concerns or messages for teaching staff.
All emails should be sent to the school office via the main admin inbox: admin@kelvingrove.lewisham.sch.uk
This ensures your message is seen promptly and directed to the appropriate member of staff without delay. This is especially important if you are trying to reach your child’s class teacher, as it allows us to ensure a timely and appropriate response. The admin email should also be used if you would like to contact Mr Hyde, or Mr Clark.
Please note that any year group email addresses provided in curriculum letters are for home learning purposes only and are not monitored for general enquiries or absence reporting.
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.
Attendance Reminder
A reminder if your child is absent, please let us know before 9:30am either by completing the online form or calling the school office.
Absence Form
If your child is absent for more than one day, please contact us each day, unless it is part of a long-term illness already discussed with school.
Please note that holidays during term time cannot be authorised.
If you need to request an exceptional absence, please submit the form and arrange to meet with Mr Hyde to discuss it:
Exceptional Absence Request Form
Thank you for helping us support strong attendance, it really does make a difference.
Highlights from Class
Year 3 Natural History Museum Trip
Year 3 had an amazing day at the Natural History Museum, exploring fossils and dinosaurs and taking part in a Dino Dig workshop, where they uncovered
Year 6 Bikeability
Some of our Year 6 pupils took part in Bikeability this week, refreshing their cycling skills and learning how to ride safely and confidently on the
Year 2 Maths Magic!
Year 2 have been exploring equal groups and early multiplication this week! We’ve been using practical equipment to sort objects and proving that 7 + 7
Year 5 Djembe Drumming
Year 5 have jumped into the new year with energy, continuing their Djembe drumming lessons and developing rhythm, teamwork and performance skills.
Receptions New Start
Reception have had a wonderful start to the new year, settling brilliantly into their new classrooms and routines. In Maths, they’ve been counting in crates, exploring
Nursery Settling Back In
Nursery have settled back into school beautifully, enjoying being together again and exploring their learning through play. The children have been independently exploring mark making and
Year 3 Science: Rocks, Soil & more Fossils!
Year 3 launched their new Science topic, Rocks, Soil and Fossils, by observing and describing different rocks using magnifying glasses. They then carried out fair tests
Year 1 Animal Workshop
Year 1 had an amazing time during their live animal workshop this week, meeting a fascinating range of creatures including a tarantula, snakes, toads, an owl
Year 3 Fossils Workshop
As part of their Science topic, Year 3 explored real fossils, including an ammonite, mammoth tooth, megalodon tooth and even a coprolite (fossilised dinosaur poo!). They
Year 2 Fact from Fiction!
Year 2 have become wolf experts in English this week! We have been learning to distinguish between fact and fiction by looking at how wolves are
Year 5 Botanical Experts!
In science this week, Year 5 became botanical experts as they explored the fascinating world of plant reproduction. To see exactly how a plant creates new
Welcome 2026!
We had a magical welcome back to school this year! ❄️✨ We loved watching the snow fall and Year 1 had great fun playing together in
Letters sent home
Royal Academy of Arts Young Artists’ Summer Show 2026
The Fourth Plinth Schools Award 2026
Nethercott – Nethercott Media Consent
Nethercott Final Reminders
Year 4 Times Tables Workshop Thursday 5th February 2026
Parking near Kelvin Grove
Year 4 Class Swimming Lessons
🎬KG Circle Movie Time sessions are back! 🍿
KG Parent Governor Election 2025
Reception Newsletter 9-1-2026
Relationships and Health Education (RSHE) Curriculum update
Year 2 Curriculum Letter Spring 1 2026
Year 6 Curriculum Letter Spring 1 2026
Year 5 Curriculum Letter Spring 1 2026
Year 3 Curriculum Letter Spring 1 2026
Year 1 Curriculum Letter Spring 1 2026
Year 4 Curriculum Letter – Spring 1
Nursery Curriculum Letter Spring 1 2026
Governors' and Friends News
The Governors
Welcome back to the new term. I hope you and your families had a restful break and are ready for what promises to be a busy and exciting term ahead.
We are looking to strengthen our governing body by welcoming two new parent governors. This is a rewarding opportunity to play an active role in helping shape and improve our school, working alongside staff and fellow governors to support the best outcomes for all our children.
To allow more parents the chance to take part, we have extended the deadline for nominations and candidate statements to this Friday, 30th January. Voting will then open next week. 
If you have ever considered getting more involved in school life, I would strongly encourage you to put yourself forward. No previous experience is required; just enthusiasm, commitment, and a desire to make a positive difference. Please see the letter sent out previously for more information here.
If you would like more information or have any questions about the role, please do not hesitate to contact us here: governors@kelvingrove.lewisham.sch.uk
The KG Circle
We hope you all had a brilliant break and have had a productive start to 2026.
We thank all those who attended Movie Time – we had over 120 children from Reception to Year 6 attend. Movie Times to date have raised over £700 for the KG Circle, so a brilliant fundraiser but also a problem solver with childcare whilst Extra Curricular clubs haven’t started yet. Keep a look out as we will arrange some more for the start of the Summer Term.
Our next fundraiser will be to support the Year 5 Nethercott Farm trip and will be a Bake Sale on Friday 5th February in the main playground after school. Please come and support Year 5 as they will be running the Bake Sale with a little help from us, the KG Circle. As always home made or shop brought cakes and sweet treats would be greatly appreciated and can be brought to the school office. Please ensure no nuts are included in any items (this includes Nutella spread or kinder buenos). 
Do you have a child under five? Have you visited the KG Family Mornings yet? You should! They are free sessions which include a hot drink and toast. A friendly warm space with good company and lots of toys. Come and join us in the Kelvin Grove Children’s Centre from 9.00am – 11.00am every Thursday. (Just opposite the nursery).
Please remember to use easyfundraising EVERY time you shop online. Over 8,000 retailers will donate to Kelvin Grove Charitable Trust for FREE when you use easyfundraising to shop with them, so you can support us no matter what you’re buying! If you haven’t signed up yet, it’s easy and completely FREE. Please sign up and help us raise more at the link here!
There are lots of ways to get involved in school life – whether that’s helping with KG Circle events, gardening, forest school, reading or even becoming a school governor. If you are interested in any of the above, please reach out to the school office.
Sam, Emily, Kerrin, Mariam, Sara, Anita, Rebecca and Einat
Join our Facebook Page or contact us pta@kelvingrove.lewisham.sch.uk
Community News
Kids Support Tree
If you are in need of any upcycled uniform, please fill out the form below using the link here. We will get back to you regarding your request as soon as possible.
We are currently accepting donations of the following items:
Red School Jumpers/Cardigans (branded or non-branded)
Grey Trousers
Grey Shorts
Grey/ Gingham Dresses
PE Kits (Plain White T-shirts, Black or Grey Jogging Bottoms)
Please leave any donations with the School Office. Thank You!
#KST #GIVEBACK 
Catbytes Digital Community!
All at sea in the digital world? Tangled up in the world wide web? Broken down on the hard shoulder of the information superhighway?
Catbytes Digital Community are here to help! Every Monday from 10.00am to 12.00pm (noon), we’ll have a table set aside for a drop-in clinic with a friendly expert. Whether you’re trying to complete an online form or use your personal devices, struggling with a website or confused about app permissions, come on by and we’ll take a look.
No need to book a space, no charge – just turn up with your problem and any devices you might need help with. You can access the internet through the library computers if necessary.
Phone 02083144702
Email info@catbytes.community
Sydenham Library
210 Sydenham Rd, London SE26 5SE
Rhyme Time Forest Hill Library
For information and booking (if applicable) follow this link Crystal Palace Market
A weekly market open every Sunday in Crystal Palace Park, you’ll find a range of the best traders in SE London!
Seasonal fruit and veg. Organic farm butchers. Fresh fish. Locally baked bread. Small batch cakes and biscuits. Cheeses. Farm made pies. Charcuterie. Olives. Pasta. SAUCES. VEGAN CHEESES. Biltong. KIMCHI. Raw honey. BONE BROTH. Olive Oils. Natural wines. Craft beer.
AWARD WINNING STREET FOOD
Open every Sunday from 10.00am – 3.00pm.
Stay up to date through our online channels
Where: Crystal Palace Park
Thicket Rd, London SE19 2GA
Family Craft Saturdays at Horniman
Join Horniman Museum’s volunteer team on Saturday afternoons for family craft activities inspired by the Museum’s collections. Learn about some of the 350,000 objects in the Horniman’s collections, and discover more about music, nature, wildlife, and the world around us.
Get stuck into some crafts and have fun with Horniman’s wonderful volunteers at these free, drop-in sessions.
When: Saturdays
Time: 2.00pm- 4.00pm (last entry 3:30pm)
Tickets: Free
Please note there will be no Family Craft Saturdays on 31st January 2026.
Perfect for children aged 3 and above. (Children must be accompanied by an adult).
🪸7th February 2026
February marks the end of the coral spawning season here at the Horniman. Join us to learn about the corals behind the scenes and collage your own coral landscape.
🐙 14th February 🦑
Celebrate the opening of our new exhibition ‘Voyage to the Deep – Underwater Adventures’ by making a fun paper plate squid inspired by creatures of the depths.
💮Lunar New Year 21st February 🏮
Celebrate Lunar New Year by making a lantern.
🏵️28th February
Join us to make your own daffodil as they start to appear in our Gardens.
🌺7th and 14th March 2026 🐝
Celebrate Women’s History Month and create a mini botanical painting inspired by pioneer Anna Atkins, an artist and botanist whose work features in our Library Collections.
🏷️21st and 28th March
Celebrate Women’s History Month and create a badge inspired by the Egyptian women in our !كل العيون عليها / All Eyes on Her! display.
Location: Education Centre – near the entrance
Horniman Museum and Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ
Horniman Octonauts
The Octonauts crew need your help on some mini-missions throughout the Museum. As an Octocadet you will search for shells, mimic musical instruments and design your own underwater vehicle. Along the way you will also discover some fun Octofacts, before collecting a ‘mission complete’ sticker from HQ. Then head outside to the Sound Garden for a bonus adventure. Octocadets, let’s do this!
Pick up a free Octonauts: Adventure at the Horniman trail from the Ticket Desk, or inside the Voyage to the Deep – Underwater Adventures exhibition.
Horniman Market
Located on the Bandstand Terrace, you will find stalls selling seasonal fruit and vegetables, artisan bread and cheese, organic meat and delicious street food.
Alongside food stalls, you’ll find body care, clothing, jewellery, design and craft; most are locally produced, ethical and many use environmentally friendly materials, natural and organic ingredients.
Join us on 30th November for a seasonal special edition of the Horniman Market! Stock up on Christmas presents and treat yourself to some seasonal foods.
The last market of 2025 will take place on 21st December. We will return in 2026 on 11th January.
Open every Sunday from 10.00am – 3.00pm.
Second-hand Sundays will return in 2026!
Discover a hidden treasure at Second-hand Sundays. From vinyl to clothes, toys to homewares, there’s something for everyone.
Second-hand Sundays take place alongside our Sunday Market.
Where: Horniman Gardens
Horniman Museum and Gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ
Family Design Challenge - Young V&A
Family Design Challenge is an opportunity for the whole family with children 3-14 years old to get hands-on and creative with a variety of materials. Run every second Saturday in Open Studio in the Design Gallery, please see below for dates and themes. Sessions are timed drop-in and last approximately 30mins, please note last entry is around 3.30pm.
Days and Time: Open every weekend other Saturday 12.00pm – 4.00pm.
Location: Open Studio, Design Gallery
Young V&A, Cambridge Heath Road
Bethnal Green, London, E2 9PA
Price: Free
See more information online here
Family Events at Tate
Tate Modern
Uniqlo Tate Playmake Studio, The Joy of Not Knowing
Come and discover the unknown inspired by joyful artworks in Tate’s collection.
Let your imagination run wild with a variety of hands-on activities for the whole family, all using recycled materials sourced right from within our galleries. You’ll be encouraged to imagine and explore magical futures by creating props and costumes made from sensory, re-purposed materials. There’s something for everyone!
Perfect for artists of all ages, including our tiniest creators aged 5 and under.
Under 5s
On Wednesdays, we offer special activities just for them featuring themed storybooks, sensory exploration and more. Using everyday materials and objects we’ll explore new ways of seeing the world and create fresh, joyful perspectives.
Please note that you may be asked to queue at busy times.
See the webpage for more details.
Days and Time: Every weekend and Fridays
All the family: Saturday – Sunday at 10.30am – 6.00pm (Last entry 45 minutes before event finishes.)
Price: Free
Tate Britain
Play Studio
Play Studio Under 5’s Pop-up
Try on a cape, climb through a tunnel and play peekaboo using artist-designed play items, in this mid-week Play Studio Pop-up for under 5s.
This pop-up was designed in collaboration with India Harvey.
23rd May 2025 at 10.30am–5.00pm
POSE by Harold Offeh at the Play Studio
Dress-up, move and play with different ways of expressing yourself through performance, music and making in our creative learning space for children, young people and families.
Inspired by the ways artists portray themselves and others, Play Studio: POSE by Harold Offeh invites you to react to artwork at Tate Britain in your own way, while discovering something new about yourself in the process.
Make something together inspired by the stories you’ve encountered in the galleries, or relax with under 5s next to the sand trays, collections of objects and books.
Visit the Play Studio page for full details
Days and Time: Open every weekend and Fridays during term-time from 10.00am – 5.00pm.
Location: Learning Gallery. Entry via Manton or Millbank Entrance
Price: Free