Weekly Bulletin for Friday 17 July 2026
As we come to the end of another long term, we have our usual collection of highlights as the school community came together for Sports Day on Monday, and over 400 students qualified for the attendance rewards BBQ on Wednesday. Year 10s have been raising money for their Year 11 Prom by selling ice-poles and Year 7 organised a bake sale in aid of our gardening club, who maintain the quad area outside the main hall, which many parents/carers will be familiar with from parents’ evenings and which all students walk past on a daily basis.
I had thought we were off the hook for Ofsted this week but apparently that was not the case! The report should come through to us in September and it is expected that it will be published sometime in October. For now I will share the comments the inspectors made about your children, our students: “delightful”, “polite and respectful”, “I think they’re great”. From experienced Ofsted inspectors who are experienced school leaders, this was high (and deserved) praise, aligning with how we feel about them.
PMG Schoolwear are offering a 10% discount on Westbourne uniform between 20 and 25 July on blazers, jumpers, ties and PE kit as well as shirts and blouses. This applies instore or online.
I would like to finish by wishing you all a safe and peaceful summer holiday break. I hope you get to spend time doing things you enjoy with people you love. We will write separately about the arrangements for the start of term.
Y11 v Staff Charity Football Match
Yesterday, Westbourne hosted an epic showdown between our staff and returning Year 11 students. The energy was electric, the intensity was unmatched, and the game kept everyone on the edge of their seats – ending in a dramatic 5-4 victory for the Staff team!
A massive thank you to all the fantastic spectators who came out to support. Thanks to your incredible generosity, we raised a brilliant £166 for EACH (East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices).
Well played to everyone involved, and thank you for supporting such a wonderful cause!
Cadet News
This term, we were delighted to take 27 of our cadets to Altcar Training Camp in Liverpool for our annual summer camp. Throughout the week, cadets challenged themselves with an exciting programme of activities including water sports, range days, archery, paintball, platoon attacks, a disco, and a thrilling final-day competition featuring a wide variety of team challenges.
The camp provided countless opportunities for personal development, teamwork, and resilience, and our cadets represented the school exceptionally well. They made us incredibly proud, and many unforgettable memories were created along the way.
To round off another fantastic year of CCF, we celebrated with our annual awards assembly in true cadet style. The fun and interactive event recognised the dedication, commitment, and resilience shown by our cadets throughout the year. We were delighted to promote a number of cadets to higher ranks in recognition of their hard work, as well as present special awards to those who have gone above and beyond.
It was also wonderful to welcome our new Year 8 cadets, giving them the opportunity to experience the celebration and begin looking forward to the exciting journey that lies ahead in the Westbourne CCF.
Ipswich Town FC Donation: Oral Hygiene
As our students leave today, they will each be offered a toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste to take home, thanks to a donation from Ipswich Town Football Club.
Heads of Year & Assistant Heads of Year for 2026-2027
We are pleased to confirm the Heads of Year and Assistant Heads of Year for September are as follows:
Year Group Head of Year Assistant Head of Year
New Year 7 Mr D Payne Ms L Robbie
Year 7 into 8 Mr J McLean Mrs G Rockell
Year 8 into 9 Mr C Compton Mr M Masters
Year 9 into 10 Mr M Agate Ms S McKnight-Shaw
Year 10 into 11 Miss S Bird Miss K Thomas-Astley
First Day of the Autumn Term
Tuesday 1st and Wednesday 2nd September are staff training days, and the academy is closed. We will communicate our plans for the start of term by separate email and a copy will be posted on our website news page.
Footwear Expectations from September
Please follow the link below to read more information about our footwear expectations for students from September. Previously, trainers such as Nike Air Force Ones were allowed to be worn but following a review, they will no longer be acceptable for school.
The following features are NOT permitted, regardless of brand:
- Visible logos, ticks, stripes or branding in any colour
- White soles, coloured soles, or contrasting trims
- Reflective panels or decorative features
- Sports shoe styling or trainer soles
- Contrasting stitching, including yellow stitching
If you are unsure whether a particular pair of shoes meets our expectations, please take a photo and send it to wes-office@attrust.org.uk marked for the attention of Mrs C Clarke.
Thank you for your support in maintaining high standards of presentation and uniform across the school community.
Free Mental Health Workshops
These free virtual workshops (Zoom) are designed to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. The workshops are 60-75 minutes long. To find out more and book a place on a workshop or visit:
Details on the range of workshops on offer in the autumn term can be found here:
MH Social Media Flyer Parent Workshops
Free Neurodivergence Workshops
The Psychology in Schools Team at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is pleased to share our live online parent/carer childhood neurodivergence workshop programme for the Autumn term (September – December).
We would also like to highlight our remaining childhood neurodivergence workshop for the summer term. This is as follows and can be found on the Suffolk Local Offer page.
- Supporting Planning, Organising and Remembering – Monday 17 August 2026, 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Our free online workshops are designed for parents and carers of children on the neurodevelopmental (ND) pathway in Suffolk and for anyone else interested in learning more, and focus on the topics families have told us are most helpful.
You can:
- Book places on upcoming live workshops using the flyer booking links or this link: Neurodivergence online parent/carer workshops – Suffolk SEND Local Offer.
- Watch recordings and access slides and resources from previous childhood neurodivergence workshops via the same page.
If you register for any of the childhood neurodivergence workshops, you will automatically receive the recording, slides and resources, even if you are not able to attend live. Please feel free to share the link with any other parents/carers who may find it helpful. Please feel free to share the link with any other parents/carers who may find it helpful.
Please note: the Psychology in Schools Team only delivers the Childhood Neurodivergence Parent Workshop Programme. We are not able to respond to questions about ND referrals or individual assessments, as these are managed by our Neurodevelopmental Pathway Teams.
Follow the link below for more details on the workshops on offer in the autumn term:
AutumnTerm Psychology In Schools Workshop Programme Sept Dec 2026
Family First Magazine
Schools in the UK have been asked to share the following with parents and carers:
Family First magazine is published quarterly and focuses on promoting the health and well-being of families living in the UK. As the UK’s largest and most widely distributed family publication, our main goal is to encourage children and their parents to lead more active lifestyles by participating in sports, exercising regularly, and adopting healthier eating habits. However, we believe that achieving these goals should be enjoyable and fun for the whole family.
Family First produce a Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter edition. Each issue of Family First includes dedicated sections such as The Great Outdoors, Sport4All, Get Cooking, Family Travel, Parenting Hacks plus much more. These features are designed to provide you and your family with the necessary resources and inspiration to lead a healthy and happy lifestyle. Regardless of whether you reside in a town or the countryside, Family First offers ideas and inspiration to help you and your family explore the great outdoors and make the most of nature in your own backyard, local park, or during a woodland walk.
At Family First, we firmly believe that sports should be accessible to everyone. With numerous sports to choose from, we are confident that there is a sport out there that your children will love. We collaborate with sporting governing bodies and providers to showcase a wide range of sports, including team sports like netball & hockey, individual sports like surfing, and inclusive sports like boccia.
If you are tired of preparing the same monotonous meals and wish to ensure that your children not only eat healthier but also enjoy nutritious food, Family First is here to assist you. Our Get Cooking section is filled with delicious and nutritious recipes, ideas to involve your children in the kitchen and informative articles from nutrition experts who delve into the psychology behind our eating habits.
Furthermore, each issue of Family First is packed with interesting and informative articles that aim to inspire and support families. Our content covers a wide range of topics, including pregnancy, babies and toddlers, education, online safety, children’s fashion, arts and crafts, family vacations, STEM activities that can be done at home, and much more.
Click on the link below to read the summer issue of the magazine:
Family First – Issue 3 2026 – Family First
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.
You can contact the attendance team direct on 01473 466145 or by email wes-attendance@attrust.org.uk
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 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 the October half term:
Catering & Food Hall – Westbourne Academy
Key Dates 2026
Tuesday 1st September – Staff PD Day (school closed)
Wednesday 2nd September – Staff PD Day (school closed
Thursday 3 September – 1st day of autumn term 2026 (separate email to follow)
Friday 18 September – Whole School Photos
Friday 27 November – Staff PD Day (school closed)
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