Sent to parents & carers on 26/09/25
Weekly Bulletin for Friday 26 September 2025
Recent articles in the press seem to have led to concerns about the possibility of Westbourne closing. Can I please reassure you that there are no plans for this to happen at all. The recent termination warning letter did ask for a meeting to be set up between Academy Transformation Trust and the Department for Education by today, but that was to discuss our plans for rapidly improving our school and is routine following an Ofsted inspection similar to the one we received in June. I am sorry for any distress this may have caused to you and your families.
Our next parent/carer forum will take place on Wednesday 22 October AT 16:15. I will be able to outline the progress we have made on our plans to improve Westbourne as rapidly as possible to interested parents and carers then. Please look out for the MS Form where you can register your attendance in the parent bullet sent out the week beforehand.
Year 6 Open Evening: 2 October 2025
A reminder that all students will be dismissed at the earlier time of 13:20 on Thursday 2 October to allow our staff and estates team to prepare. You can find a copy of the communication here on our website:
Year 6 Open Evening & Early Close: Thursday 2 October 2025 – Westbourne Academy
SEND Coffee Morning: Wed 8 October 2025
You are invited to come and meet the SEND team and SENDIASS on Wednesday 8 October from 9:00- 10:30. There is no need to book. Just turn-up at Reception at 9:00. There will be a presentation at 9:30 where you can find out how we are helping students succeed with Adaptive Practice in the classroom.
Enquiries may be sent to our SENDCO: willow.piper@attrust.org.uk
Nasal Flu Vaccinations
Earlier this week, parents and carers received a separate communication about giving or declining consent for nasal flu vaccinations on 6 and 13 October. A copy of the information can be found here on our website:
Flu Vaccination for Years 7 to 11 – Westbourne Academy
Home Learning
Assistance with home learning apps such as Satchel One and Seneca can be found here on our website.
Home Learning – Westbourne Academy
Click on the text below to go to the student Sharepoint folder to view all online learning platforms as well as their user log in and password credentials:
Student Sharepoint/Online Learning
If students have any queries about the work, they should email their usual class teacher in the first instance, using their school email account. If they do not have their teacher’s email addresses, please email us on WES-Office@attrust.org.uk and it will be sent on.
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.
WA Community Hub
Monday 29 September is the date set for the next event, all welcome from 15:15-16:15. Queries may be sent to opal.degville@attrust.org.uk. The dates for this year’s Community Hub events are now released and can be found here on our website:
WA Community Hub Diary Dates for 2025-2026 – Westbourne Academy
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:
The Department for Education (DfE) has updated the Free School Meals (FSM) guidance to confirm that all households in receipt of Universal Credit will be entitled to receive FSM from the start of the 2026/2027 school year. They have also extended transitional protections until the end of the 2025/2026 school year.
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 that the app. A copy of the email and instructions sent to new Year 7 parents and carers can be found here on our website latest news page:
Cashless System – Westbourne Academy
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:
Catering & Food Hall – Westbourne Academy
Norwich City Football Club Training Session
Please see below for details of an exciting opportunity for male footballers in school Years 7, 8 and 9 to attend a free trial training session at one of their player development centres in the Suffolk area with the view to gaining a place with them. Players on their programmes pay a small fee to take part in the programme but receive the following benefits:
- Take part in weekly training sessions delivered by UEFA qualified coaches, they pride themselves on sessions being both educational and enjoyable for their players
- Train with highly talented players to develop skills and tactical understanding
- The opportunity to progress within the club’s development pathway
- Full training kit
- The opportunity to travel on residential training trips.
- Take part in fixtures against other development programmes
Please see full details below of the session and how to book your place.
Whitton Sports & Community Centre, Whitton Church Lane IP1 6LW
Monday 13 October 2025 – 6:30-8.00pm: U12, U13, U14
Booking Link: https://www.abler.io/shop/ncfcfd/suffolks/product/Q2x1YlNlcnZpY2U6NDczNjk=?
Key Dates 2025-26
Monday 29 September – 15:15-16:00 WA Community Hub
Thursday 2 October – 16:00-18:30 Year 6 Open Evening (early close at 13:20)
Monday 6 October – Y7-8-9 nasal flu vaccinations
Wednesday 8 October – 9:00-10:30 SEND Coffee Morning
Monday 13 October – Y10-11 nasal flu vaccinations
Wednesday 15 October – EAL Parent/Carer Hub 9:00-14:00 (info to follow)
Thursday 16 October – Year 11 Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00 (info to follow)
Thursday 16 October – Year 11 Success Fayre 18:00-20:00 (info to follow)
Wednesday 22 October – Parent/Carer Forum 16:15-17:00 (registration form to follow)
Monday 27 – Friday 31 Oct – Half term holiday
Monday 3 November – Staff PD day (school is closed)
Wednesday 26 November – Parent/Carer Forum 16:15-17:00 (registration form to follow)
Monday 15 December – Nasal flu vaccination mop-ups
Wednesday 17 December – Parent/Carer Forum 16:15-17:00 (registration form to follow)
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