Sent to parents & carers on 9/10/26
Weekly Bulletin for Friday 9 October 2026
As I write this on Thursday evening, we are in the midst of our first parent/carer evening of the year, for Year 11. On the evening, we provided all students with revision guides to support them in preparing for their upcoming mock exams (PREs). We know that the most successful former students have achieved great outcomes through further private study outside of the school day. Modern neuroscience has discovered that traditional methods of revising – a quiet room (without a mobile phone in it), making notes from a paper resource onto a paper revision card or mind map/spider diagram – are still the most effective in helping to commit complicated facts to long term memory. Students are most successful where the academy works hand-in-hand with their parents/carers to ensure they are well supported in preparing for their exams and so it was pleasing to welcome so many parents and carers to the academy.
As we reach the end of the sixth week of a term that seems to be speeding by, I thought it would be worth taking a moment to reflect on the progress we have made since September.
We have seen a significant improvement in the way our students are wearing their uniform. Westbourne students are now wearing their uniform with pride and they do look very smart. I appreciate that not everyone agreed with the move to school shoes but I am very grateful to those parents, carers and students who have supported the move. As a result, we now have a whole school community where our students are genuinely the smartest of any school I have worked in and we are very proud of them for achieving this.
Behaviour in and around lessons continues to be calm, orderly and productive. Students are routinely expected to enter lessons calmly, with the right equipment to do the lesson. Where students need help, year teams are making sure they are provided with the equipment and uniform items they need to ensure they can thrive each day.
Three times a day, our year teams are working hard to gather each year group into tutor group line-ups so they can return to lessons in a calm and orderly way.
During lessons we expect students to enter calmly and in silence, and to continue to have the equipment they need for the lesson, and to work in silence for most of the lesson. Feedback from staff, students and visitors is that much more work is being achieved in lessons than it was, even last year where we had seen significant improvements upon the year before.
Overall, this is positive progress. Things feel like they continue to move in the right direction. Thank you for your ongoing support of the school.
What a fantastic team effort at our Year 6 Open Evening!
Over 100 students volunteered to help on the evening, supporting visitors as tour guides or showcasing the exciting opportunities available across our subject areas.
We have received so many complimentary comments from visitors about how welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable our students were. They truly embodied our academy values and made a lasting impression on prospective students and their families.
Mrs Woodhouse is looking forward to meeting with all those who helped this week to thank them personally for their contribution and for being such wonderful ambassadors for our academy. Their efforts made us all incredibly proud.
Parent/Carer Forum: 13 October 2026 at 18:00
The first forum for this academy year, which will focus on the recent Ofsted monitoring inspection and our academy improvement plans for 2026-27, will take place in the main hall on Tuesday 13 October starting at 18:00. To give us an idea of the numbers expected, please fill out our MS Form here:
Registration for Parent/Carer Forum: Tue 13 October 2026 – Fill out form
School Shop
The school shop is reopening in the window next to the Central Admin office which is by the entry/exit doors to B Block. Students will be able to collect items that have been bought through My Child At School, including calculators, pencil cases and ties and collect from the school shop window. This is open before school, at morning break and at lunchtime.
We do not accept cash in school and only items that have been bought through MCAS can be collected by students.
Digital Youth Club
Our pupils have been invited to help develop a well-being app that is being used by Suffolk County Council and other schools in the area. The idea is a Digital Youth Club making Social Media a positive space. The wellbeing sessions will take place after school on a Wednesday in the WIC (room S6). Food and drink will be provided and the first session is on Wednesday 21 October.
Attached is link to a more detailed brief about the project and below is a summary:
ICM X Kamelion Digital Inclusion Info For Parents & Carers
Kamelion is a youth development platform, built in Suffolk, that supports young people’s wellbeing, confidence and personal growth as they navigate the big decisions and changes in their lives.
Over 8 relaxed, practical sessions, students will explore real-life topics including their wellbeing, goals, health and future. Along the way, they will:
- have their voice heard and help shape a platform for young people
- build confidence in sharing their ideas and experiences
- develop their digital skills and confidence
- spend time with peers in a relaxed, supportive setting
Meet the Tutor Evening
Parents and carers of students in Years 7 to 10 received a separate email earlier today about the above event taking place in school on Thursday 22 October between 16:00-19:00. A copy of the instructions on how to book an appointment can be found here on our website news page:
Years 7 to 10 Meet the Tutor Evening – Westbourne Academy
Heads of Year & Assistant Heads of Year for 2026-2027
We are pleased to confirm the Heads of Year and Assistant Heads of Year for September are as follows:
Year Group Head of Year Assistant Head of Year
New Year 7 Mr D Payne Ms L Robbie
Year 7 into 8 Mr J McLean Mrs G Rockell
Year 8 into 9 Mr C Compton Mr M Masters
Year 9 into 10 Mr M Agate New Appointment tbc
Year 10 into 11 Miss S Bird Miss K Thomas-Astley Mon-Tue-Wed AM
Mrs A Fulcher Wed PM-Thu-Fri
To communicate with your child’s year team, please email wes-office@attrust.org.uk in the first instance and staff will come back to you as soon as they are able to do so.
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.
You can contact the attendance team direct on 01473 466145 or by email wes-attendance@attrust.org.uk
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 2026-2027
Mon 12 October – Flu Vaccines Y7-8-9
Mon 19 – Fri 23 Oct – Y11 PRE-Week P1-4 in Sports Hall
Thu 22 October – Y7-10 Meet the Tutor Evening 16:00-19:00
Mon 26 – Fri 30 Oct – Half Term Holiday
Mon 2 – Fri 6 Nov – Y11 PRE-Week P1-4 in Sports Hall
Friday 27 November – Staff PD Day (school closed)
Mon 30 November – Flu Vaccines Y10-11
Fri 4 December – Flu Vaccines (Mop-ups)
Thu 10 December – Y8 Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00
Wed 16 December – Y8 HPV Vaccines
Fri 18 December – Last Day of Term / Early Close
Mon 4 January – Staff PD Day (school closed)
Tue 5 January – 1st day of Spring Term
Thu 14 January – Y11 Parent/Carer Evening No 2 16:00-19:00
Thu 4 February – Y10 Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00
Mon 8 – Fri 12 Feb – Y11 PRE-Week p1-4 in Sports Hall
Mon 15 – Fri 19 Feb – Half Term Holiday
Thu 25 February – Y9 Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00
Fri 5 March – Y9 MENACWY+DTP Vaccines
Thu 25 March – Y11 Year Group Photo P5
Fri 26 Mar – Fri 9 April – Easter Holiday
Thu 15 April – Y9 Pathway Evening 16:00-18:30
Wed 5 May – Y11 Summer Exam Series starts
Mon 31 May – Fri 4 June – Half Term Holiday
Fri 18 June – Y11 Leavers Assembly 14:15
Wed 23 June – Y6 Transition Day No 1
Thursday 24 June – Y6 Transition Day No 2
Friday 25 June – Staff PD Day (school closed)
Friday 25 June – Year 11 Prom
Thu 1st July – Y7 Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00
Thu 8 – Sat 10 July – Y10 History Trip/Battlefields
Wed 21 July – Last Day of Term / Early Close
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