Sent to parents and carers on 30/01/2026
Weekly Bulletin for Friday 30 January 2026
On Thursday this week, we hosted out fifth parent/carer forum of the year. I was able to update attendees on the progress the school has made in key areas since our Ofsted inspection back in June. I have summarised the most recent impact data below. It is certainly very pleasing and shows the progress we have made this year:
- Suspensions are down 33% when comparing autumn term 2025 vs. 2024
- The number of C3 lessons removals is from down 70% autumn term 2025 vs. 2024
- P3, P5 lesson removal spikes have flattened since we introduced line-ups (Sept 2025)
- Year 7 bubble: suspensions down 69% in Year 7 autumn term 2025 vs. 2024
- Year 7 bubble: C3 lessons removed for Y7 down 77% autumn term 2025 vs. 2024 (they are the best behaved Year 7 we have had)
- Attendance is up 0.6% in autumn term 2025 vs. 2024
- Internal truancy: 92% reduction from half term 1 to start of half term 3
- C3 walking out of lessons: down 69% at the start of half term 3 vs. half term 2
- Phones: the number of students who refuse to hand in their phone is down 74% at the start of half term 3 vs. term 1
Flash Attendance Award
Attendance to school is so vitally important – if students are not here with us, they are not able to learn. We want to make sure students are rewarded for turning up every day. In assemblies this week, Mr Smith explained about the Fab Fifteen Attendance Challenge that starts on Monday 2 February and lasts until 27 February. Half term is nearly upon us, we only have ‘ten more get ups’ to do before the end of Half Term 3.
Every single student who completes the 15 days of the ‘Triple F’ Attendance Challenge will be rewarded with a can of fizzy drink and a doughnut on Friday 6 March. The soundtrack to the event (within reason) will also chosen by students too. Every student who has 100% attendance to school for that period will receive the flash reward.
Not only that, everyone who completes it, will also be entered into a prize draw to win a gift voucher. The live draw will happen during the event in the Food Hall. Good luck to all our students in smashing the challenge.
Parking on Marlow Road
We have been asked by members of the local community, who live on Marlow Road, to please reminder parents and carers to not park their vehicle across any driveway access. If you need to collect your child from school, park a little further away and let them know where they can find you. We appreciate it can be extremely busy along Marlow Road, at the end of the school day, for car drivers, delivery drivers and pedestrians.
Buy Your Tickets for Shrek the Musical
Tickets for our academy production of Shrek the Musical are now on sale at a cost of £8 per person. They can be purchased online through Ticketsource:
www.ticketsource.co.uk/westbourne-academy-att
The show is on over three nights after February half term: Wednesday 25, Thursday 26 and Friday 27 February 2026. Start time 19:00. Raffle and refreshments will be on offer during the interval. All are welcome for what looks to be a hugely enjoyable and entertaining production.
Valentine Roses & Chocolate Raffle in Aid of Shrek
Tickets for our Valentines Chocolate Raffle go on sale in tutor time next week in aid of production costs for Shrek. Please bring exact change: 20p for one ticket, 50p for a strip of 5 tickets or £1 for three strips (15 tickets). The drawer will be held on 12 February.
From Monday 2 February, for delivery in school on Friday 13 February, students can show someone they care by sending a paper rose to their Valentine, a secret crush, a friend or a member of staff or someone in their family. Cost £2 per rose with a secret note with the name of the person you would like to receive it and Cupid will do the rest. All proceeds in aid of the academy’s production of Shrek.
Year 7 Basketball Champions!
On Tuesday,the Year 7 boys had a basketball tournament at Inspire Suffolk. They won the whole tournament, beating Kesgrave HS in the final! Please join us in congratulating them on their fantastic achievement.
Year 9 History Trip to The Hold Archives
On Wednesday 28 January, a group of Year 9 students attended the launch event of the Dora Love Prize at The Hold Archives in Ipswich.
The Dora Love Prize, named after Holocaust survivor and educator Dora Rabinowitz Love, is an annual school prize informed by the Holocaust. It gives secondary school students the opportunity to learn about the Holocaust in a way that encourages them to have the confidence to make positive changes in the world around them.
During the day, students took part in a range of history, art and drama workshops. These sessions explored themes such as emotional responses to discrimination, the experiences of non-Jewish victims of Nazi persecution and the role of ‘ordinary people’ in committing crimes. Students were also encouraged to reflect on how their personal passion can be used to make a positive difference in the world.
In the afternoon, students heard from Chris Shaw, a second-generation Holocaust survivor and took part in a thoughtful question-and-answer session.
Following the launch event, students will use their learning to support the wider school community by developing a campaign at Westbourne that challenges prejudice and promotes positive change.
History teacher, Miss Ellis, said the students represented the school extremely well and engaged thoughtfully with the sensitive and important topics explored throughout the day.
Year 11 Countdown: The Last 100 Days
Earlier today, parents and carers of Year 11 students received a separate email from Mr Hawkes about the steps we are taking to support students for their last 100 days of secondary education and to ensure they reach their next chapter on their journey. This includes Period 6 lessons after school, revision sessions at half term and Easter as well as optional online tutoring. A copy of the communication can be found here on our website news page:
Year 11 Countdown: The Last 100 Days – Westbourne Academy
Parent/Carer Forum: Wednesday 25 February
Our next parent/carer forum takes place on Wednesday 25 February at the later time of 17:15. During this meeting Mr Higgon will go through the progress we are continuing to make following our Ofsted inspection in June and answer any questions parents/carers may have about our ongoing efforts to improve the school.
To give us an idea of the numbers expected, please register your attendance on our online MS Form here:
Registration for Parent/Carer Forum: Wed 25 February 2026 – Fill out form
Entry is via main Reception at 16:15. Staff will meet you on arrival and take you through to the Food Hall. The Main Hall will be preparing for Shrek the Musical’s opening night at 19:00.
The dates of future parent/carer forums for 2026 are as follows:
- Wednesday 25 March
- Wednesday 29 April
- Wednesday 20 May
- Wednesday 17 June
SENDIASS Sessions for Parents and Carers
Booking is open for a relaxed online session for parents and carers, hosted by SENDIASS.
The presentation will be delivered by specialist teachers from the Speech, Language and Communication Service which lies within Suffolk’s Communication and Interaction service.
Understanding Children and Young People’s Behaviour as a Communication Need
25 February 2026 (10 – 11:30am)
Register for session
Helpline: 01473 265210
Email: enquiries@suffolksendiass.co.uk
Text: ADVICE4ME to 87007
Job Vacancies
We are currently seeking to appoint a SENDCO, a Teaching Assistant, a Cleaning Operative and to increase our pool of Exam Invigilators. Full details including job specifications, rates of pay and hours of work can be found on our website vacancy page here:
Vacancies – Westbourne Academy
WA Community Hub Events 2026
The dates of community hub events for 2026 are as follows, all are welcome between 15:15-16:00:
- Monday 23 February
- Monday 23 March
- Monday 27 April
- Monday 1st June
- Monday 29 June
- Monday 13 July
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 and new menus will be introduced after half term:
Catering & Food Hall – Westbourne Academy
Key Dates 2025-26
Monday 16 – Friday 20 Feb – Half term week
Monday 23 February – WA Community Hub 15:15-16:00
Wednesday 25 February – Parent/Carer Forum at 17:15
Wednesday 25 February – Shrek the Musical 19:00
Thursday 26 February – Shrek the Musical 19:00
Friday 27 February – – Shrek the Musical 19:00
Thursday 5 March – Y9 Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00 (info to follow)
Thursday 26 March – Y10 Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00 (info to follow)
Friday 27 March – Y8 HPV Vaccinations (info to follow)
Monday 30 March – 1st day of Easter holiday
Monday 13 April – 1st day of summer term for students
Thursday 30 April – Year 9 Pathway Evening 16:00-18:00 (info to follow)
Monday 4 May – Bank Holiday UK (school closed)
Monday 25 – Friday 29 May – Half term week
Thursday 11 June – Y7 Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00 (info to follow)
Friday 10 July – Y11 Prom (All Manor of Events 19:00-10:45)
Friday 26 June – Staff PD Day (closed to students)
Friday 17 July – Last day of the summer term
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