Weekly Bulletin for Friday 17 April 2026
It has been as pleasing as always to welcome students back to school as we begin the summer term. Mr Stronach and I led re-set assemblies with each year group on Monday, where I outlined the progress we have made this year and congratulated them on their contributions to improved behaviour. In particular, we told them about how well they have adapted to using their phone pouches as we became a phone free school last term, and reminded students of our normal expectations. Mr Stronach reinforced key messages from last term about our new routines and higher expectations around behaviour and conduct around the site. He also reiterated the importance of good conduct in lessons, as well as the need to attend detentions when they are set.
In our normal assembly slots this week I have also been speaking with Years 7-10 about the opportunities a good education can offer them and our priorities for continuing to improve the education Westbourne offers them this term, which are as follows:
- Locate staff wellbeing at the heart of our improvement journey
- Broaden the scope of systems to improve key students’ attendance during HT5
- Build upon behaviour gains with further improvements in lessons and around the academy
- Improve learning through more consistent quality first teaching
Year 11 are rapidly approaching their first public exams in May. I was delighted to see so many of them in school over Easter attending the revision sessions staff had laid on for them. Revision continues in school during the period 6 slots, in tutor time interventions and, of course, once the students have left us for the day and can fit in what they can in the evenings and weekends. It will all be worth it when they get their results in August!
On Tuesday this week I was pleased to receive the draft report from our recent Ofsted inspection. I will write to you separately about this once it is ready to be published, which we expect to be sometime in the next 7 – 10 days.
On Wednesday afternoon, following the early student finish, Mr Cole and Mrs Woodhouse led an extended training session for staff on improving learning through more consistent quality first teaching. During our recent Ofsted inspection it was clear that, whilst we have many strengths in teaching and learning, there remain some inconsistencies in practice across the school. The focus on Wednesday was to share good practice in adaptive teaching, including the following:
- building in processing time
- chunking and clarifying instructions
- using question, pause, name and pushing for how and why when questioning students
- referring to existing knowledge organisers to help students anchor key vocabulary and knowledge in each topic they study
- live marking students’ work during lessons, and expecting students to improve their work with their purple pens
- pre-teaching vocabulary to ensure students are able to understand challenging texts
- marking for literacy more widely
We are in the process of implementing a more thorough quality assurance process to allow us to continue to share good practice across the staff as we move further into this term.
Parent/Carer Forum: Wednesday 29 April
Our next parent/carer forum takes place on Wednesday 29 April at the later time of 18:00. During this meeting Mr Higgon will go through the progress we are continuing to make following our Ofsted visit 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 29 April 2026 – Fill out form
Entry is via main Reception at 18:00. Staff will meet you on arrival and take you through to the Main Hall.
The dates of future parent/carer forums are as follows and they will revert to the usual start time of 17:15:
- Wednesday 20 May
- Wednesday 17 June
Year 9 Pathway Evening
Parents, carers and Year 9 students are reminded of our Pathway Evening that takes place on Thursday 30 April between 16:00 – 18:00. A copy of the email sent on 10/04/26 can be found here on our website news page:
Year 9 Pathway Information for KS4 – Westbourne Academy
Next week, Year 9 students will have an assembly each morning when they will hear from a range of team leaders about what to expect from some of the new Key Stage 4 subjects they can choose and what they need to consider when making their Pathway choices.
Child Criminal Exploitation, Bystander Training: 30 April 2029
As part of our ongoing commitment to safeguarding and student well-being, students in Year 7 to 10 will take part in a training session in school on 30 April during one of their morning lessons. The session is called Child Criminal Exploitation, Bystander Training. It aims to educate students on the dangers of criminal exploitation and the importance of recognising and responding to concerning situations.
The session will be presented The Criminal Exploitation (CE) Hubs which are part of Suffolk County Council’s Youth Justice Service. They collaborate with key partners, voluntary groups, communities, children, and families to support, disrupt, protect, and empower individuals and communities at risk of Child Criminal Exploitation.
Criminal Exploitation, including County Lines activity, gang involvement, and other forms of coercion, is a growing concern among young people. The session is designed to help students:
- understand what Criminal Exploitation is and how it can affect individuals and communities
- recognise the signs that someone may be at risk
- learn about the Bystander Effect and the role they can play in keeping themselves and others safe
- develop confidence in seeking support or reporting concerns
- the session will be age-appropriate and delivered in a sensitive manner by trained professionals
If you would like further information or wish to discuss this initiative, please do not hesitate to contact our Community Inclusion Coordinator, Mr Mason at school (matthew.mason@attrust.org.uk). Thank you for your continued support in keeping our young people safe.
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 27 April
- Monday 1st June
- Monday 29 June
- Monday 13 July
Belonging Together in Suffolk for SEND Families
Suffolk County Council and partners will be holding three events for parents, carers and children and young people with SEND. Join them for free teas, coffees, cakes, stalls and the opportunity to speak with a variety of organisations around SEND in the community.
The dates of the events will be:
• 22 April 2026 (1 – 6pm) The Mix Stowmarket.
• 29 April 2026 (1 – 6pm The Battery, Lowestoft.
• 6 May 2026 (12 – 5pm) Kesgrave Community Centre.
To express your interest in attending these events, please complete this Belonging Together in Suffolk for SEND families – Register your Interest form.
Belonging Together in Suffolk for SEND families poster
NHS Psychology in Schools Workshops
Please see details of the upcoming free online parent/carer Mental Health workshops for the Summer Term.
All their upcoming workshops can be booked for free on our Eventbrite page. Information on all our workshops, past and present, as well as workshop recordings, can be found on their website.
MH Series Social Media Flyer PDF
Summer Term Psychology In Schools Workshop Programme April Aug 2026 1
Suffolk Parent Carer Forum
SPCF will be hosting a SEND Reforms Focus Group. This session is open to parents and carers of children and young people aged 0–25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Suffolk. During the session, SPCF will be gathering feedback on the proposed SEND reforms as part of the current consultation. This is an important opportunity for parents and carers to share thoughts and feelings with us so that family voices help shape our response.
Date: Thursday 30 April
Time: 10:30am
Location: Online via Microsoft Teams
To register, please email info@suffolkpcf.co.uk by midday on 29th April.
You can read more about the reforms via this link-
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/send-reform-putting-children-and-young-people-first
Suffolk Parent Carer Forum are also pleased to share that the Reasonable Adjustments information session has been rebooked. This session is open to parents and carers of children and young people aged 0–25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Suffolk.
Date: Thursday 7 May Time: 10:30am
Location: Online via Microsoft Teams
To register, please email info@suffolkpcf.co.uk by midday on 6th May.
SPOCF are excited to be hosting two Open Events in Suffolk. This is an opportunity to come along, chat with them and local professionals in person, meet support organisations and services. Refreshments are provided.
Date: Wednesday 13 May Time: 10am – 1pm
Location: Hadleigh United Reformed Church
Date: Wednesday 17 June Time: 10am – 1pm
Location: Stowmarket United Reformed Church
Suffolk Parent Carer Forum
Telephone 01473 760933
www.suffolkpcf.co.uk
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 27 April – WA Community Hub 15:15-16:00
Wednesday 29 April – Parent/Carer Forum 18:00-18:45
Thursday 30 April – Year 9 Pathway Evening 16:00-18:00 (info to follow)
Monday 4 May – Bank Holiday UK (school closed)
Wednesday 20 May – Parent/Carer Forum 17:15-18:00
Monday 25 – Friday 29 May – Half term week (school is closed)
Monday 1st June – WA Community Hub 15:15-16:00
Thursday 11 June – Y7 Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00 (info to follow)
Wednesday 17 June – Parent/Carer Forum 17:15-18:00
Friday 26 June – Staff PD Day (closed to students)
Friday 10 July – Y11 Prom (All Manor of Events 19:00-10:45)
Monday 13 July – WA Community Hub 15:15-16:00
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