Sent to parents and carers on 17/10/25
Weekly Bulletin for Friday 17 October 2025
On Thursday evening, we welcomed Year 11 families to our first Parent/Carers Evening of the year and our Year 11 Success Fayre. Students were able to discuss post-16 choices with local providers and collect essential revision materials and resources. Turnout was strong and it was really positive to be able to discuss how we can work together to ensure our Year 11s achieve their potential when they reach the end of their five years with us.
This week’s assemblies have focussed on the impact mobile phones have had on our society and how schools that have introduced phone pouches (which prevent young people from using them during the school day) have seen significant improvements in student wellbeing, behaviour and academic achievement. For further details please see my communication below which was sent out on Monday:
Yondr Program for Schools – Westbourne Academy
On Tuesday, we welcomed the first visit of our Academy Improvement Board. This has been put in place to provide a regular, objective evaluation of the academy’s progress since our Ofsted inspection in June. The board will dedicate one full day to the academy each half term, observing lessons and engaging with staff, leaders and students. Subsequently, they will produce a report detailing progress and outlining the next steps. The members of the Board are Mr Robinson, the former head of Stoke High School and current deputy CEO of Sapientia Trust, Mr D’Cunha, current Principal of Chantry Academy and Mrs Berwick, SEND Lead for Inspiration Trust.
On Wednesday, our English as an Additional Language (EAL) team welcomed a number of local families to Westbourne. They hosted a range of meetings to help support their children in making the most of the school and connecting with our community.
Finally, I would like to invite any parents or carers who would like to hear more about the progress we are making against our Post-Ofsted Action Plan to our next parent/carer forum which is scheduled to take place on 22 October.
Parent/Carer Forum: Wednesday 22 October
Our next parent/carer forum will be held on the above date starting at 16:15-17:00. To give us an idea of numbers, please register your attendance on our MS Form here:
https://forms.office.com/e/Jcvh2hy0yh
Active Suffolk Survey Years 8, 9 & 11
As part of their work supporting Children and Young People, Active Suffolk are responsible for administering Sport England’s Active Lives Survey for Children & Young People in Suffolk. Westbourne Academy has been sampled to take part this term.
This link contains information about what the survey is and how to take part: Active Lives Children and Young People Survey, Year 7-11 Key stages 3-4
Over the next week, students in Years 8, 9 and 11 will find the survey on Satchel One as a home learning task. Parents and carers of students in Years 8, 9 or 11 are also invited to take part using one of the appropriate links below:
Year 8 https://ipsos.uk/DHAWZGP
Year 9 https://ipsos.uk/KAGWZZL
Year 11 https://ipsos.uk/ALUWZEZ
Westbourne Community Hub: Monday 20 October
Our next Westbourne Community Hub event takes place on Monday 20 October 2025 between 15:15 – 16:00. Entry is through the main entrance doors to Reception. Bags of non-perishable food items and feminine hygiene products are available in exchange for a £3 donation (exact change please).
Contact: opal@degville@attrust.org.uk
Nasal Flu Vaccination Mop-ups
Monday 15 December is the date when students in all years have an opportunity to get the nasal flu vaccine if they missed it in October. Students with parental consent will be collected from class by a member of staff. Please ensure your child knows beforehand if you have given consent for them to have the vaccination. A copy of the email sent to parents and carers with instructions on how to give consent online can be found here on our website:
Flu Vaccination for Years 7 to 11 – Westbourne Academy
Any queries about the vaccine or giving/declining consent should be made direct to Vaccination UK on 01449 701430 or by email to suffolk@v-uk.co.uk. Their online form does not always work properly for some devices.
SENDIASS sessions for Parents and Carers
Booking is open for the SENDIASS Annual Reviews of Education, Health and Care (EHC) plans webinar. This webinar was co-produced with parents and carers and practitioners are also welcome to register. The session includes explaining the purpose and process of an annual review and how parents and their children are involved.
4 November 2025 (6pm – 7:30pm) – Register for session
Helpline: 01473 265210
Email: enquiries@suffolksendiass.co.uk
Text: ADVICE4ME to 87007
Suffolk SENDIASS website
Student Absence
Please ensure if your child is absent from the academy, that you have notified the attendance office at the earliest opportunity on each day they are not going to be in school, in order to prevent the automated text messages being sent or absence calls being made to parents/carers – these commence from 8.35am each day.
The ways in which you can contact the academy to inform us of student absence can be found on our website here.
Applying for Free School Meals
You can apply for free school meals online direct with Suffolk County Council. You will get an immediate response and confirmation email after you have completed your application. You will not be able to apply over the phone because you need to provide an email address, password and sign the declaration stating that you have parental responsibility. Follow the link below which will take you to the SCC website:
Contact: freeschoolmeals@suffolk.gov.uk
MyChildAtSchool (MCAS)
If you have not yet registered, please do so at your earliest convenience to ensure you have access to all the academy’s communications and services. We recommend that parents and carers use the website version of MCAS rather than the app as the website offers greater functionality than the app. A copy of the self-sign-up instructions can be found here:
Cashless System – Westbourne Academy
NOTE: If you have MCAS, then you won’t receive SMS messages from school so please remember to turn on notifications on your device because any messages will go through MCAS.
Food Hall Menus
The new menu on offer at break and lunch in our Food Hall can be found here on our website. The menus rotate every three weeks:
Catering & Food Hall – Westbourne Academy
Year 8 Parent/Carer Evening: Thursday 6 November
The online appointment booking system is now open for the above event. A copy of the instructions sent to parents and carers today can be found here on our website news page:
Year 8 Parent Evening: Thursday 6 November 2025 – Westbourne Academy
Key Dates 2025-26
Monday 20 October – WA Community Hub 15:15-16:15
Wednesday 22 October – Parent/Carer Forum 16:15-17:00
Monday 27 – Friday 31 Oct – Half term holiday
Monday 3 November – Staff PD Day (school is closed)
Thursday 6 November – Year 8 Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00 (
Wednesday 26 November – Parent/Carer Forum 16:15-17:00 (registration form to follow)
Monday 15 December – Flu vaccination mop-ups
Wednesday 17 December – Parent/Carer Forum 16:15-17:00 (registration form to follow)
Friday 19 December – Last day of the autumn term with early close at 13:20
Monday 5 January – Staff PD Day (school is closed)
Tuesday 6 January – First day back for all students
Monday 12 January – Y9 MENACWY+DTP vaccinations (info to follow)
Thursday 15 January – Y11 Parent/Carer Evening No 2 16:00-19:00
You can view our academy events calendar, together with term dates and PD days, on our website here:
Academy Calendar and Term Dates – Westbourne Academy
Kind regards
Mr M Higgon
Principal
Academy vision: Westbourne is an inclusive academy. We support all students, regardless of starting point, to achieve their potential and develop the skills necessary for employment and life.
Academy values: Be Safe, Be Thoughtful, Be Accountable and Be Respectful.
General queries to: wes-office@attrust.org.uk or 01473 742315
Attendance or Absence queries to: wes-attendance@attrust.org.uk
Exam queries to: anna.fulcher@attrust.org.uk
Lettings queries to wes-lettings@attrust.org.uk
MCAS, online payments and data information queries to: wes-data@attrust.org.uk
Safeguarding queries to wes-safe@attrust.org.uk
SEND queries to: willow.piper@attrust.org.uk