Shared with parents and carers on 31/10/25
Autumn Term 2/2025: Behaviour Routines & Expectations
As we reflect on the last half term, we have taken the opportunity to review our systems and identify areas where we can strengthen and refine our approach. Our aim is to continue building on the positive culture and strong sense of community that defines Westbourne Academy.
We wanted to let you know that we are tightening our behaviour routines to ensure that our high expectations are applied consistently across the school. This helps create a calm, respectful and focused environment where every student can thrive. It is important to emphasise that the vast majority of our students already meet these expectations every day. They behave impeccably, work hard and make us extremely proud. These refinements are simply to ensure that our standards remain clear to the minority of students who are not always making the correct choices.
To support this, we will be focusing on the following key areas:
Punctuality and Attendance
The school day begins promptly at 08:25 and punctuality is an important habit we want to embed in all our students. From this time onwards, any student arriving late will be escorted to the Sports Hall for the duration of tutor time. During this session, students will complete activities, and a lunchtime detention will be issued as a sanction for lateness.
We appreciate your support in helping students develop the important life skills of punctuality, accountability, and responsibility.
Line-Ups
We will continue to begin each school day with year group line-ups, as well as line-ups before Period 3 and Period 5, following break and lunch times. When carried out effectively, these routines ensure a calm and orderly transition into lessons, helping to reduce distractions and support a positive learning environment.
As the colder months approach, we encourage all students to wear school-appropriate coats suitable for the prevailing weather. We have alternative arrangements for wet weather days, but line-ups will continue to take place throughout the winter wherever possible.
Truancy from Lessons
A small number of students have been persistently failing to attend lessons while on site. If this applies to your child, we will contact you directly to discuss our actions and the support or sanctions in place. Please note that persistent refusal or defiance will not be tolerated, as it disrupts learning and undermines our shared expectations.
Persistent Defiance
Persistent defiance refers to repeated instances where a student deliberately refuses to follow reasonable instructions, comply with school expectations, or behave in a manner that allows effective teaching and learning to take place. This includes ongoing disruption, refusal to attend lessons, or failure to engage with sanctions or restorative measures.
Students who display persistent defiance will be subject to escalating sanctions in line with our Behaviour Policy. This may include time in our Internal Seclusion Room, fixed-term suspensions or, in serious cases, Permanent Exclusion. Our approach is always rooted in fairness and consistency. We work with parents and carers to address the underlying causes of defiant behaviour while maintaining clear boundaries and expectations.
Our Shared Commitment
We firmly believe that education is not just about academic success but also about developing respect, good manners, and the ability to make positive contributions to our community. By working together – staff, students, parents and carers – we can continue to inspire our young people to value their education and recognise the opportunities it creates. In doing so, we can uphold the standards that make Westbourne Academy a place of which we can all be proud.
Thank you for your ongoing support in helping us maintain high expectations and a positive school culture. My colleagues and I look forward to welcoming all our students back to school on Tuesday 4 November.
Kind regards
Mr K Stronach
Vice Principal
(Behaviour and Standards)
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