Sent to parents and carers on 06.02.2026
Weekly Bulletin for Friday 6 February 2026
This week we welcomed colleagues from Ely College, a Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence (RISE) Behaviour and Attendance Hub. Collaborating with Ely College is one strand of our strategy to improve behaviour and attendance over the next year. The most successful schools are outward facing and embrace such partnerships to learn from good practice elsewhere, and we are excited to be adding their support to our improvement journey. I will be able to explain more to parents and carers who are able to attend the next forum on Wed 25th February.
This week we have welcomed Mr Mason who has joined us as our Community Inclusion Worker. Mr Mason will be working with students and their families who need additional support to make the most of Westbourne and we are delighted that he has been able to join us, bringing a wealth of experience of helping the local community to the staff. We are also delighted to welcome Mr Ewing who has joined our DT department this week as our new technician.
Academy Expectations and Concerns re Vaping
On Thursday, parents and carers received a separate communication about our expectations and concerns surrounding vaping by students. You can find a copy of this email on our website new page here:
Expectations and Concerns Regarding Vaping – Westbourne Academy
Last Call for Y11 Prom Tickets
If anyone Year 11 students have not yet paid for their Prom ticket, please can you ensure that the full balance of £45 has been paid by the end of this month. The original deadline was 6th February, but we know that some people are still yet to pay. Therefore, the deadline has been extended until 1st March, to ensure that anybody who would like to go is able to do so.
If you have any questions about this, please do not hesitate to contact Vice Principal, Mrs Woodhouse: marianne.woodhouse@attrust.org.uk
Food Technology Lessons for Years 7 to 10
Please be aware that there are no Year 7 to 10 cookery lessons for the next three weeks due to Year 11 Hospitality & Catering exams taking place in C27/C28. Please tell your child not to bring ingredients or come into the food technology rooms whilst the exams are on. Practical lessons will start again Monday 9 March.
Mental Health Awareness Week
Next week we will be recognising Mental health Awareness Week, with this year’s theme being ‘This is My Place’. Our academy focus will be ‘Belonging – helping every young person to feel safe, valued and connected within the community’.
This week, students have been introduced to the theme during assemblies. We also relaunched our SWIM programme (Support With Individuals’ Mental Health). SWIM is our graduated, three-wave approach to supporting young people’s mental health and wellbeing.
Earlier today, a separate communication was sent to parents and carers from our safeguarding team, Mrs Clarke & Mrs Jacobs. You can find it here on our website news page:
Safeguarding Bulletin: Mental Health Awareness Week – Westbourne Academy
Acts of Kindness
We recently introduced a new incentive encouraging students to be kind at all times. Acts of kindness are recognised by staff and logged on our system and students are awarded positive points. From students being polite and well-mannered, to offering help to others, showing genuine care for their peers and staff.
It has been wonderful to witness these positive behaviours. These everyday acts of kindness play a vital role in creating a strong sense of belonging and truly reflect the values of our school community. Here are a selection of some of the acts of kindness we have seen this week:
- This student swiftly and maturely reported an incident that took place on the way to school. This supports our STAR values of being safe.
- This student helped another student complete their practical in science.
- This student held the door open at the end of lunch time whilst I supported another member of staff with an issue.
- This student donated unused ingredients to food tech.
- This student was being so kind to one of our new Year 7 students. It was really lovely to see them helping him at breaktime.
- This student showed politeness and responsibility, holding doors and planning ahead.
- This student was polite and opening doors for people, showing complete kindness and thoughtfulness whilst bringing a smile to my face.
- This student showed an act of kindness by clearing empty plates in the food hall that other students had left. She was not asked to do this but chose to do this of her own accord. Such helpful behaviour.
- This student is always helping me pack away and goes above and beyond.
Flash Attendance Award
Attendance to school is so vitally important – if students are not here with us, they are not able to learn. We want to make sure students are rewarded for turning up every day. In assemblies this week, Mr Smith explained about the Fab Fifteen Attendance Challenge that starts on Monday 2 February and lasts until 27 February. Half term is nearly upon us, we only have ten more get ups to do before the end of Half Term 3.
Every single student who completes the 15 days of the ‘Triple F’ Attendance Challenge will be rewarded with a can of fizzy drink and a doughnut on Friday 6 March. The soundtrack to the event (within reason) will also chosen by students too. Every student who has 100% attendance to school for that period will receive the flash reward.
Not only that, everyone who completes it, will also be entered into a prize draw to win a gift voucher. The live draw will happen during the event in the Food Hall. Good luck to all our students in smashing the challenge.
Tickets for Shrek the Musical!
Tickets for our academy production of Shrek the Musical are now on sale at a cost of £8 per person. They can be purchased online through Ticketsource: www.ticketsource.co.uk/westbourne-academy-att
The show is on over three nights after February half term: Wednesday 25, Thursday 26 and Friday 27 February 2026. Start time 19:00. Raffle and refreshments will be on offer during the interval. All are welcome for what looks to be a series of hugely enjoyable and entertaining performances.
Valentine Roses & Sweet Tombola in aid of Shrek
From Monday 2 February, for delivery in school on Friday 13 February, students can show someone they care by sending a paper rose to their Valentine, a secret crush, a friend or a member of staff or someone in their family. Cost £2 per rose with a secret note with the name of the person you would like to receive it. Cupid will do the rest! All proceeds are in aid of the academy’s production of Shrek.
Parent/Carer Forum: Wednesday 25 February
Our next parent/carer forum takes place on Wednesday 25 February at the later time of 17:15. During this meeting Mr Higgon will go through the progress we are continuing to make following our Ofsted inspection in June and answer any questions parents/carers may have about our ongoing efforts to improve the school. 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 25 February 2026 – Fill out form
Entry is via main Reception at 17:15. Staff will meet you on arrival and take you through to the Food Hall. The Main Hall will be preparing for Shrek the Musical’s opening night at 19:00.
The dates of future parent/carer forums for 2026 are as follows:
- Wednesday 25 March
- Wednesday 29 April
- Wednesday 20 May
- Wednesday 17 June
WA Community Hub Events 2026
The dates of community hub events for 2026 are as follows, all are welcome between 15:15-16:00:
- Monday 23 February
- Monday 23 March
- Monday 27 April
- Monday 1st June
- Monday 29 June
- Monday 13 July
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 and new menus will be introduced after half term:
Catering & Food Hall – Westbourne Academy
Key Dates 2025-26
Monday 16 – Friday 20 Feb – Half term week
Monday 23 February – WA Community Hub 15:15-16:00
Wednesday 25 February – Parent/Carer Forum at 17:15
Wednesday 25 February – Shrek the Musical 19:00
Thursday 26 February – Shrek the Musical 19:00
Friday 27 February – – Shrek the Musical 19:00
Thursday 5 March – Y9 Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00 (info to follow)
Thursday 26 March – Y10 Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00 (info to follow)
Friday 27 March – Y8 HPV Vaccinations (info to follow)
Monday 30 March – 1st day of Easter holiday
Monday 13 April – 1st day of summer term for students
Thursday 30 April – Year 9 Pathway Evening 16:00-18:00 (info to follow)
Monday 4 May – Bank Holiday UK (school closed)
Monday 25 – Friday 29 May – Half term week
Thursday 11 June – Y7 Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00 (info to follow)
Friday 10 July – Y11 Prom (All Manor of Events 19:00-10:45)
Friday 26 June – Staff PD Day (closed to students)
Friday 17 July – Last day of the summer 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
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