Sent to parents and carers on 5/12/25
Weekly Bulletin for Friday 5 December 2025
On Thursday 4 December, we were fortunate enough to receive a visit from a representative from Sizewell C Power Up. On the day, two classes of Year 8 students took part in a session on coding. During the session, students learned how to code and move a Sphero Bolt robot autonomously using an iPad as a controller. Students were set the challenge of creating the code that would successfully move their robots around challenge mazes.
In addition to working as part of a team and developing their own resilience, students learned about the technological applications of science, were able to test hypotheses, make measurements, and begin to understand the impact of STEM subjects on everyday life.
During its production, at its peak, Sizewell C is projected to employ approximately 8000 people, with at least 500 of these allocated to people from the Ipswich area. It was a great opportunity for our students to learn about careers in STEM and develop employability skills ready for when they enter the job market after leaving Westbourne.
Christmas Fayre
A reminder that our Christmas Fayre takes place on Saturday in the main hall.
Christmas Lunch on 18 December 2025
We have re-opened the Christmas Lunch sign-up form until 4pm on Monday 8 December. If your child still wants the two-course festive lunch on offer, please sign them up here: Christmas Lunch – Thursday 18 December 2025 – Fill out form
There is no need to sign up again if you have already done so.
Homework Club
From Monday 8 December, Homework Club will resume in the LRC/Library after school from 15:00 -16:00. This will run on Mondays and Tuesdays with Mr Opukah and on Thursdays and Fridays with Mr Ojukwu. Students can use the computers as well as get help logging into academy learning platforms if they have forgotten their usernames or passwords.
Donations Welcome for Gardening Club
Mrs Ellis, who runs our Thrive gardening club, would like to reach out to anybody who may have unwanted, unused but usable items that they wish to donate to the school. The sort of things she has on her wish list are:
- packets of seeds
- old hanging baskets or cold metal or plastic colanders we can turn into hanging baskets
- old unused non-cracked/broken ceramic plant pots of all sizes (smaller ones would be great for making bee hotels
- large rectangular planters for growing vegetables like carrots
- wooden spoons (small and large) and plastic water bottles like 500ml and 2 litre size – to make bird feeders
- old Wellies for turning into plant pots
For anybody who may be feeling especially generous this Christmas, Mrs Ellis has an Amazon wish list which you can find here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2FJRC6KQE7MWY?ref_=wl_share
Items for the gardening club may be dropped off at school, week days in term time between 8:00-15:45 Monday to Thursday and 8:00-15:15 on Fridays. You may contact Mrs Ellis directly on 01473 466122 or by email: joanne.ellis@attrust.org.uk
Year 11 Progression Interviews: 9 December 2025
Earlier this week, parents, carers and Year 11 students were informed about the individual progression interviews taking place on 9 December in the LRC with members of the senior management team. Every student will be assigned a 5-minute appointment and this will be communicated in school to Year 11 students in advance. The interviews are designed to support Year 11 students with their post-16 applications for college, sixth form or apprenticeships and offer them extra guidance where it is needed. Any queries may be sent to: danny.payne@attrust.org.uk
Nasal Flu Vaccination Mop-ups: 15 December 2025
Monday 15 December is the date when students in all years have an opportunity to get the nasal flu vaccine if they missed it in October. Students with parental consent will be collected from class by a member of staff. Please ensure your child knows beforehand if you have given consent for them to have the vaccination. A copy of the email sent to parents and carers with instructions on how to give consent online can be found here on our website:
Flu Vaccination for Years 7 to 11 – Westbourne Academy
Any queries about the vaccine or giving/declining consent should be made direct to Vaccination UK on 01449 701430 or by email to suffolk@v-uk.co.uk. Their online form does not always work properly for some devices.
Year 11 Rewards Trip to Lakeside: 17 December 2025
On Monday, parents and carers of Year 11 students who are eligible for the above rewards trip to Lakeside shopping centre were sent an invitation and a separate consent email from Evolve. A second bus has been booked so there are more spaces available now. Any students not attending the trip will need to attend school as normal on 17 December. Any queries may be sent to: anna.fulcher@attrust.org.uk
Parent/Carer Forum: Wed 17 December
Our next parent/carer forum takes place on Wednesday 17 December at 16:15. To give us an idea of the numbers expected, please register your attendance on our online MS Form here:
Registration for Parent/Carer Forum: Wed 17 Dec 2025 – Fill out form
Entry is via main Reception at 16:15. Staff will meet you on arrival and take you through to the main hall.
Last Day of Term: 19 December 2025
We will be emailing you separately with regards to the last day of term. All students will be dismissed at the earlier time if 13:15 and a whole school virtual assembly will take place during period 4 in tutor bases. There will be no lunchtime service and students will need to buy food and drink at morning break instead.
First Day of Term: 6 January 2026
All students return for the first day of the spring term on Tuesday 6 January at the usual time. It is customary for us to hold year group assemblies during tutor time and periods 1 and 2.
Job Vacancies
We have the following support staff vacancies at the moment which we are seeking to fill as soon as possible. You can find details on our website here: Vacancies – Westbourne Academy
- Teaching Assistant x1
- Design & Technology Technician x1
- Cleaning Operative x1
- Lettings Assistant x1
- Community Inclusion Worker x1
Blank Page Holiday Activities Christmas 2025
Blank Page workshops are free for young people eligible for Free School Meals (FSM). There are also a limited number of places per workshop priced at £15 each for young people that are not eligible for FSM. This includes lunch, drinks and snacks. There will be 19 winter workshops running from 22 December 2025 – 2 January 2026 in the following libraries: Bury St Edmunds, Chantry, Gainsborough, Great Cornard, Ipswich County Library, Lowestoft, Sudbury, Stoke, and Stowmarket.
The workshops will include a wide range of creative activities which can provide young people with new skills, a chance to increase their confidence and make new friends. The workshops are run by local artists and include:
- Typography T-shirt with Sarah Nkugwa from AMPP Studio.
- Mosaic Decoration with EJArt Ceramics.
- Character Illustration with Dex Legon.
- Upcycled Collage and Decoupage with Clare Sams.
For full details and to book workshops, please visit the s The Blank Page Project – Suffolk Community Libraries (suffolkcommunitylibraries.co.uk) or Suffolk Community Libraries – Eequ (eequ.org).
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.
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:
Catering & Food Hall – Westbourne Academy
Key Dates 2025-26
Saturday 6 December – Christmas Fayre 11:00-15:00 in the main hall
Monday 15 December – Flu vaccination mop-ups
Wednesday 17 December – Parent/Carer Forum 16:15-17:00
Thursday 18 December – Christmas Lunch (see email sent 14/11/25)
Friday 19 December – Last day of the autumn term with early close at 13:20
Monday 5 January – Staff PD Day (school is closed)
Tuesday 6 January – First day back for all students
Monday 12 January – Y9 MENACWY+DTP vaccinations (info to follow)
Thursday 15 January – Y11 Parent/Carer Evening No 2 16:00-19:00
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