Sent to parents and carers on 06/06/2025
Weekly Bulletin for Friday 6 June 2025
Welcome back to Westbourne! We have seen a lot of changes introduced this week which some of your children have no doubt come home talking about. On Monday, all students in Years 7-10 attended an assembly in their new year groups in our main hall led by our new Vice Principal, Mr Stronach, and me. Together, we outlined our expectations for the term and our new systems to improve behaviour and student conduct.
These new systems were outlined in my letter dated 16 May which can be found on our website here:
https://www.westbourne.attrust.org.uk/proposed-changes-to-the-behaviour-system-from-2-june-2025/
We are pleased with how students have responded, completing work in the new “shadow rooms” if they are removed from a class, completing extensive work in seclusion if they are placed there for a day, and completing literacy tasks in after school detentions if they are removed from a lesson.
I would like to thank all parents and carers for your support in encouraging our students to follow instructions in school and connect with our expectations. It really makes a difference when we call you and you support us in front of your child.
In addition to welcoming Mr Stronach this week, it has been lovely to welcome back from maternity leave Miss Bird in English and Mrs Price in drama. Students in Years 8 and above will remember them from last year. They have spent the week reintroducing themselves to their classes and we are delighted to have them back.
This week’s hot chocolate winners are:
- Y7 – Maja Z / For always helping when needed with an exemplary attitude, having no negative points and 100% attendance
- Y8 – Lilia P / For being a fantastic student who’s always willing to help others
- Y9 – Mamtha M / For always being polite, courteous and respectful
- Y10 – Harrison H / For being consistently well behaved and being an excellent role model for our academy standards
Year 10 Careers Visit to Wolsey Theatre
On Wednesday 4 June, fourteen of our talented performing arts GCSE students travelled to the Wolsey Theatre to participate in a behind the scenes tour and workshop.
Students were treated to an extensive look at the inner workings of the theatre, offering an insight into the plethora of career opportunities available in the world of live performance; from front of house and office roles, to sound, lighting and costume.
The tour took them from the heady heights of the rafters of flying lights and scenery to the depths of ‘sub-stage’ to see the workings of trap doors and quick changes.
Inspired from the tour, students were then taken to the theatre’s impressive new NW2 building, where they were treated to a masterclass in the world of prosthetic make-up. Using professional products, the group were led through the process of creating scars and wounds on themselves to bring some realism to their performances. The workshop also gave them lessons in the use of everyday items to create some gory trompe-l’oeil in their own home.
Students thoroughly enjoyed the day, with one student commenting; “I learnt so much on the tour! I hadn’t realised how many people are involved in putting on one performance!” Another year 10 drama student said “I’d never thought of a career in make-up before! I think it would be a really exiting job”.
Thank you to the staff at the theatre for hosting us and also to the team at ‘Thomas Wolsey 550’, an innovative educational project funded by Suffolk County Council’s Ipswich Investment Fund. The project offers a multi-faceted educational programme for children aged 5-16 to benefit from hands-on, confidence boosting activities giving ‘real life’ insights into career paths into organisations across Ipswich.
Exam Timetable for Y11
Mr Hawkes sends out a daily exam update to all Year 11 students and their parents and carers. You can find a copy of the communication sent out on 3/05/25 here on our website. It gives a detailed summary of when Year 11 are expected in school for either their exams or revision sessions:
Year 11 Exams Update No 15 – Westbourne Academy
Progress Review Exams for Y10
Students in Year 10 are in the middle of taking PREs in certain subjects and they have each been given a printed exam timetable to take home. However, you can find a copy of the academy’s exams and assessment timetable here:
WA Exams & Assessment Timetable 2025 @ 4JUN25
New Pastoral Team Structure (Summer Term 2)
Over the half term, parents and carers were sent an introductory communication by their child/children’s new Head of Year. Contact details for the new Heads of Year and Assistant Heads of Year can be found here:
Head of Year 7 Mr T Perry tom.perry@attrust.org.uk
Assistant HoY7 Mr Z Elseidy zachery.elseidy@attrust.org.uk
Head of Year 8 Mr M Agate matthew.agate@attrust.org.uk
Assistant HoY8 Miss S McKnight-Shaw shaffron.mcknight-s@attrust.org.uk
Head of Year 9 Mr A Durrant aaron.durrant@attrust.org.uk
Assistant HoY9 Miss K Thomas-Astley kyia.thomas-astley@attrust.org.uk
Head of Year 10 Mr D Payne danny.payne@attrust.org.uk
Assistant HoY10 Mr K Carr (Wed/Thu/Fri) karl.carr@attrust.org.uk
The Head of Year for the new Year 7 students who are starting in September will be Miss C Farr catherine.farr@attrust.org.uk
Summer Fayre
After the success of the last year’s Christmas fayre, we are pleased to announce that we are holding a Summer Fayre on Saturday 5 July 2025 between 11:00 – 15:00. There will be lots of stalls, tombolas – including the return of our popular ‘Sweet Tooth Tombola’- a raffle, hot food and ice-cream.
We will also be hosting a football match on our 3G pitch. Entrance to the fayre will be through our staff carpark, which will be signposted on the day. Entry fee: Adults £1 & Children 50p
Enquiries to charlene.alcock@attrust.org.uk
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:
- 9 June – menu 2
- 16 June – menu 3
- 23 June – menu 1
Our new Catering Manager, Mr Salha, has introduced Sub Club on Tuesday and Thursday lunchtimes when students can choose their bread type and a range of fillings:
School Holiday Activities
Please open the PDF document below to find out about The Holiday Activity and Food Programme run by The Suffolk HAF Team. Activities on offer include sports, dance, cooking, arts and crafts and more.
This is a programme funded by the Department for Education to provide free access to activities for children aged 5 to 16 years who are eligible for Free School Meals over the spring, summer and winter holidays. Please contact HAFenquiries@suffolk.gov.uk for more details.
Suffolk HAF Activities Letter Summer 2025
Luke Chambers Kickstart Football Camps
A “free to all” series of football camps over the coming weeks are on offer to young people and and extended family members in the Whitton & Whitehouse area at Whitton Sports Centre. The dates are:
Wednesday 11 & 18th June – 4-6pm
Saturday 14 June – 11am-1pm
Appling 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:
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.
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 parents and carers can be found here on our website latest news page:
Cashless System – Westbourne Academy
Key Dates 2025
Tuesday 17 June ` – Y10 Geography field trip (10B & 10D)
Wednesday 18 June – Y11 Leavers Assembly 11:45 -13:00 in main hall
Wednesday 18 June – Y10 Food & Farming visit to Hollow Trees Farm
Thursday 19 June – Y8 In-Person Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00
Friday 20 June – Staff PD Day (school closed)
Monday 23 June – Y10 Geography field trip (10A & 10C)
Tuesday 24 June – Y10 post-16 taster day at Northgate 6th Form
Wednesday 25 June – Y10 post-16 taster day at SNC
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
Monday 7 – Friday 11 July – CCF Central Camp (Cumbria)
Thursday 3 July – Y7 In-Person Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00
Tuesday 8 July – Y10 post-16 taster day at Suffolk One
Thu 17 – Sat 19 July – Y10 History trip to Battlefields
Tuesday 22 July – Last day of 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
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
Lettings queries to wes-lettings@attrust.org.uk
Safeguarding queries to wes-safe@attrust.org.uk
SEND queries to: opal.degville@attrust.org.uk