Sent to parents and carers on 27/03/26
Weekly Bulletin for Friday 27 March 2026
As we approach the end of a hectic and relatively short half term, the pace of change at Westbourne remains rapid. This week, as part of our partnership with Ely College, a regional improvement for standards and excellence (RISE) behaviour and attendance hub, senior staff have been working closely with their counterparts to develop our improvement plans to build on the progress we have made this term after Easter.
Key priorities for after Easter include:
- locating staff wellbeing at the heart of our improvement journey
- improving learning through more consistent quality first teaching
- building upon gains in behaviour with further improvements in in-lesson behaviour and behaviour around the academy
- broadening the scope of attendance systems to have significant positive impact on key students’ attendance during the next half term
To support our rapid improvement during half term 5, we will be closing at 1.20pm (the end of period 4) on Wednesday 15 April. This will free up additional professional development time with staff to concentrate on how we can improve the quality of teaching at Westbourne for the immediate future. Parents/carers of vulnerable students should contact their year team or Mrs Clarke in the first instance if they have concerns about their children leaving site before 3pm.
On Tuesday afternoon this week, we ran a successful lockdown and evacuation drill. It goes without saying why these sorts of practices have now become an essential part of normal school life. I was pleased with how quickly our students responded to my instructions once they were gathered at the All WeatherArea behind S block.
I was delighted to congratulate our Year 9 tutors, students and pastoral team on Thursday morning, for the recent improvements we have seen in the attendance of the students we are working with on this important element of school success. This pilot project ran over the past two weeks and has seen improvements in almost all students who were being supported. Our intention is to replicate this process more widely after Easter to hopefully see the same improvements across the whole school.
On Monday, we heard the news that the government has decided to transfer Westbourne to a new trust. This process is still in its very early stages, I will write to you all with further information once it becomes available.
On Thursday, I was delighted to pop into a Year 7 science masterclass, as they were learning about rocket propulsion from visitors from the UK Space Agency by launching their recently made rockets hundreds of metres into the sky. Apologies to residents on Castle Road and Shrubland Avenue if you could see them over the hedges!
Assemblies this week have struck a very positive note with a wide range of students receiving awards from their Heads of Year. It has been wonderful to see the various certificates and Easter Eggs being handed out to some of our most successful young people.
Over the Easter break a number of our Year 11 students will be coming in to attend revision classes offered by our GCSE teachers, as we march ever closer to their first exams in May. Their hard work will be paid off in the summer when they open their results!
I would like to finish by wishing everyone a peaceful, restful break over the Easter holidays, and we very much look forward to welcoming everyone back in April. We will start term with a set of assemblies across tutor time, period 1 and period 2, which will be led by Mr Stronach and me.
U15 Boys County Cup Win
The U15 boys played out a battling 2-2 draw in the quarter finals away at Debenham High School on Monday. After going 2-0 up, Debenham then brought the scores back level to 2-2. This meant that penalties now decided the fate…to which Westbourne were victorious! The boys showed great teamwork and togetherness, into the semi-finals they go, well done boys!
Playground Micro Festival: Saturday 28 March
On Saturday 28 March, we are running a community family event in conjunction with Eastern Angles in Westgate Ward. This is a free event for all the family from 10:00 – 16:00 at the Eastern Angles Arts Centre.
On the day, you can enjoy a tasty, free big breakfast to start your day followed by a Dance & Movement workshop, Special FX make up & face painting workshop and various Arts & Crafts. There will be Lawn Games – Giant Jenga & Giant Chess – as well as Children’s Book Bag Giveaways.
There will be sign-ups stations for ITFC Kicks Soccer Sessions at Westbourne as well as consultation stations for members of the local community to share what they want from Maple Park activities. To help address fly tipping in the area, there will be a Recycling Workshop taking place, where families can build robots out of rubbish.
Queries may be sent to Mr Mason at matthew.mason@attrust.org.uk. More information can be found here on their website but you can just turn-up on the day ie there is no need to book a ticket:
PLAYGROUND – Eastern Angles Theatre Company
ITFC Kicks Soccer: 10 April 2026
For students who are not FSM eligible, parents and carers can book a place on the following link to ITFC:
Ipswich Town Foundation | Soccer Schools
Parent/Carer Forum: Wednesday 29 April
Our next parent/carer forum takes place on Wednesday 29 April at 17:15. During this meeting Mr Higgon will go through the progress we are continuing to make following our Ofsted visit 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 29 April 2026 – Fill out form
Entry is via main Reception at 17:15. Staff will meet you on arrival and take you through to the Main Hall.
The dates of future parent/carer forums for 2026 are as follows:
- Wednesday 29 April
- Wednesday 20 May
- Wednesday 17 June
Free Child Mental Health Workshops for Parents/Carers
Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Psychology in Schools team would like to share details of their upcoming workshops for parents and carers. These can be booked for free on their Eventbrite page. Workshops include:
– Understanding and Supporting Your Child with Self-Harm (Wed 29 April)
– Tools for Managing Worry and Uncertainty in Young People (Thu 30 April)
– Supporting Your Child to Manage Their Big Feelings (Mon 18 May)
– Understanding the Adolescent Brain (Tue 19 May)
– Supporting Your Child with Bereavement (Mon 22 June)
– Supporting Your Child with Anxiety ((Tue 23 June)
– Managing Changes and Transitions as We Enter the Summer Holidays (Wed 8 July)
Information on all their workshops, past and present, as well as workshop recordings, can be found on their website: https://buff.ly/tYizS1Y
Uniform Expectations
As we approach the Easter break, we would like to thank you for your continued support and take this opportunity to share a few important reminders.Please ensure that your child attends school in full and correct uniform each day. We ask that you support us by completing a simple 5-point check before they leave home:
1) Black, waterproof shoes
2) Grey trousers
3) Shirt tucked in with tie worn correctly
4) School jumper
5) School blazer
Maintaining high standards of uniform helps promote a positive and focused learning environment.
Safeguarding Over the Easter Break
With the holidays approaching, we encourage you to talk with your child about staying safe. This includes:
- Online safety – reminding them to use social media responsibly, avoid sharing personal information, and report anything that makes them feel uncomfortable.
- Out and about – knowing where they are, who they are with, and how to contact you if needed.
- General wellbeing – making safe choices and looking out for themselves and others.
If your child is worried about anything, they can use the SHARP system to report concerns and seek support.
Additional reminders:
- Encourage safe use of devices and appropriate screen time.
- Remind pupils about road safety and being aware when out independently.
- Ensure they know emergency contact details.
- Reinforce the importance of speaking to a trusted adult if something doesn’t feel right.
Thank you for your ongoing support in helping us keep all students safe, happy, and ready to learn.
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 27 April
- Monday 1st June
- Monday 29 June
- Monday 13 July
Easter Holiday Closure & May Day Bank Holiday
The academy will close for the Easter holiday between Monday 30 March and Friday 10 April. This means the last of day of the spring term is Friday 27 March and students will be dismissed at the normal time of 15:00.
The first day of the summer term is Monday 13 April and all students will return at the normal time of 8:15 for 8:30 tutor time.
Monday 4 May is a UK bank holiday and the academy will be closed to staff and students for one day. Tuesday 5 May is a normal school day.
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 30 March – 1st day of Easter holiday
Monday 13 April – 1st day of summer term for students
Wednesday 15 April – Students dismissed at 13:20
Monday 27 April – WA Community Hub 15:15-16:00
Wednesday 29 April – Parent/Carer Forum 17:15-18:00
Thursday 30 April – Year 9 Pathway Evening 16:00-18:00 (info to follow)
Monday 4 May – Bank Holiday UK (school closed)
Wednesday 20 May – Parent/Carer Forum 17:15-18:00
Monday 25 – Friday 29 May – Half term week (school is closed)
Monday 1st June – WA Community Hub 15:15-16:00
Thursday 11 June – Y7 Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00 (info to follow)
Wednesday 17 June – Parent/Carer Forum 17:15-18:00
Friday 26 June – Staff PD Day (closed to students)
Friday 10 July – Y11 Prom (All Manor of Events 19:00-10:45)
Monday 13 July – WA Community Hub 15:15-16:00
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