Sent to parents and carers on 14/03/25

Weekly Bulletin for Friday 14/03/2025

Thank you to all parents and carers who attended last night’s Year 9 parents’ evening, an important opportunity to find out more about how well they are doing in their current subjects before we start the options process with them in the near future.

 

British Science Week 2025

Thank you to teacher of Science, Mr McLean, who delivered House assemblies during STEM week this week. Students heard how changing and adapting plays a big part in science and how examples can be found in every area of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). Students were asked to think about how the perception of scientists is changing from that of a ‘stereotypical scientist’ and that human behaviour is beginning to change how we consume the world’s resources to reduce the impact on climate change.

UK STEM Week is run by the British Science Association, a registered charity founded in 1831. The ‘Smashing Stereotypes’ campaign is back for its 6th year and celebrates the diverse people, careers and the trailblazers in the STEM sectors. The BSA works with partners across the UK to help improve peoples’ experiences of science in education. They work to inspire young people from all backgrounds and show them that STEM is open to all.

 

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 / 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.

Attendance Matters – “Attend today, achieve tomorrow” 

“Education is your passport to the future, and good attendance is the stamp that gets you there.”

Attendance Focus for w/c: 03/03/25

  • academy attendance across Years 7-11 for the year to date is 87.7%
  • academy attendance across Years 7-11 last week was 88.5%
  • 732 students across the academy had 100% attendance to school last week
  • the best House attendance was Nightingale with 89.9%
  • the best year group attendance was Year 7 with 90.5%
  • the best tutor group for attendance was HL1 with 95%
  • 616 students did not receive a single late mark last week and had 100% punctuality to lessons
  • the best House for punctuality to school and lessons was Churchill House
  • the best year group for punctuality to school and lessons was Year 11
  • the best House for 100% attendance and 100% punctuality last week was Churchill, with 88 students achieving this impressive feat
  • 116 students currently have 100% attendance to school this academic year

Praise & Reward Update

  • 890 students received positive points during last week in their lessons for exemplary behaviour or attendance
  • 17, 260 positive points were awarded to students during last week

 

Easter Holiday Activities – Ipswich Fit

Ipswich Fit Easter Holiday Camps Schools Easter 2025

 

Apprenticeships Post-16

Is your child considering an apprenticeship as their next step? Choices magazine is the ultimate parent and carer guide to apprenticeships and technical education. It is completely free of charge and you can find this month’s edition here: amapps.uk/parent-magazine

You can also sign up to receive it each month, direct to your inbox: amapps.uk/choices

Amazing Apprenticeships’ Parent and Carer zone is also a great place to explore apprenticeships and technical education: amazingapprenticeships.com/zones/parent/

 

 

 

Get into Teaching Events!

If you are interested in getting into teaching then come along to the Get Into Teaching West Midlands Event on 24 March. The Academy Transformation Trust’s Initial Teacher Training programme, delivered in partnership with Ambition Institute, is designed to equip you with the practical classroom skills and definitive knowledge you need to take off in your teaching career.

Applications for the 2025-26 Initial Teacher Training programme are now open! If you have any questions for us before you start your application, email institute@attrust.org.uk and they will be happy to help.

If you want to know more about Initial Teacher Training, then join in with the ATTI webinar on Monday 17 March. You can book here:

https://outlook.office365.com/book/ATTInstitute1@attrust.org.uk/s/DvrnzpXNXkCHJL6jsU-Yew2

Full details, registration and application information can be found on the ATT website here:  https://www.academytransformationtrust.co.uk/institute/initial-teacher-training/

 

Food Hall Menus

The menus on offer for the next three weeks in our Food Hall next week can be found here: Catering & Food Hall – Westbourne Academy:

  • wc 17 March – menu 1
  • wc 24 March = menu 2
  • wc 31 March – menu 3

 

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 that the app.

To view your child’s report letters, you will need to have signed-up to MCAS.

A copy of the email and instructions sent to parents and carers can be found here on our website latest news page:

Cashless System – Westbourne Academy

 

Key Dates 2025

Friday 28 March                      – Staff PD Day (school is closed)

Monday 31 March                  – WA Community Hub 3.15-4.30pm

Thursday 3 April                      – Y10 In-Person Parent/Carer Evening 4-7pm

Friday 4 April                           – Y9 MENACWY+DTP vaccinations

Friday 4 April                           – Y11 friendship & year group photos (Lunch & Period 5)

Tuesday 22 April                     – 1st day of Summer Term 1

Thursday 24 April                    – Y9 Pathway Evening 6-7.45pm (details to follow)

Thursday 19 June                    – Y8 In-Person Parent/Carer Evening 4-7pm

Friday 20 June                         – Staff PD Day (school closed)

Wed 25 & Thu 26 June            – Year 6 Transition Days for pupils offered a school place for Sep 2025

Friday 27 June                         – Y11 Prom at All Manor of Events Henley

Thursday 3 July                       – Y7 In-Person Parent/Carer Evening 4-7pm

 

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 

MCAS, online payments and data information queries to: wes-data@attrust.org.uk

SEND queries to: opal.degville@attrust.org.uk