Sent to parents and carers on 25/09/26

 

Weekly Bulletin for Friday 25 September 2026

 

Assemblies this week have been led by Mr Arrow and have focussed on student voice, the Academy Council, rewards and recognition programmes at Westbourne and the proposals for a new House system for internal competitions.  This is a very important aspect of the academy that we are keen to develop further, as the overwhelming majority of our students follow all of our rules and routines every day and deserve to be recognised for this.

This week I attended Suffolk County Council’s Belonging and Inclusion Conference at Trinity Park.  It was helpful in exploring how we can further develop our collaboration with colleagues at County this year for the benefit of students who may be struggling to thrive.

Mr Mason and I met with the Pride in Place community outreach group on Wednesday evening and we will be leading a youth “hackathon” on Monday next week to gather the views of our students on how Whitehouse could be improved for the local community moving forwards.  We are keen to engage with the wider community on this issue and will be sharing details of how parents/carers/grandparents/relatives and neighbours of Westbourne students can share their views on this important community venture as the project moves forward.

 

Parent/Carer Forum

The first forum for this academy year, which will focus on the recent Ofsted monitoring inspection and our academy improvement plans for 2026-27, will take place in the main hall on Tuesday 13 October starting at 18:00. To give us an idea of the numbers expected, please fill out our MS Form here:

Registration for Parent/Carer Forum: Tue 13 October 2026 – Fill out form

 

 

Student Survey

On Thursday, we sent a survey to all our students inviting them to share their views on school meals. Please remind your child to login to their school email account to complete the survey by 16 October 2026.

 

 

Relaunching Our House System

We are excited to be relaunching our House System, bringing even more opportunities for pupils to get involved, represent their House and celebrate everything that makes school life special. Through friendly competition, teamwork and a wide range of activities, we want every pupil to feel a strong sense of belonging and pride in being part of their House.

Earlier this week, students, staff as well as parents and carers were invited to have their say of the short list of themes for our new House system. Parents and carers can find a copy of the communication and voting form here on our website news page:

Relaunching Our House System – Westbourne Academy

 

 

Uniform and Personal Presentation

We would like to thank you for your continued support following our recent strong focus on school uniform and personal presentation.  We have been really pleased to see the positive impact this has had.  The children look fantastic, and being smart, prepared and appropriately dressed helps to create the right mindset for learning.

Please continue to support us by ensuring that all students arrive at school in full school uniform every day. You can a copy of our Uniform & Expectations flyer here:

WA-Uniform-Standards-September-26.pdf

 

Our 5-Point Uniform Guidance

Students should wear:

  • Black shoes
  • Grey trousers
  • Blue shirt
  • Appropriate school tie
  • School blazer
  • School jumper – optional

In addition, please ensure that students follow our expectations regarding:

  • Jewellery – only permitted items should be worn.
  • Hair – hair should be neat, tidy and in line with school expectations.
  • Yondr pouch – students must have their Yondr pouch with them and follow the school’s procedures for storing their mobile phone.
  • School bag – students should bring an appropriate school bag containing the equipment they need for learning.

No Mobile Phones

We are a no-phone school.  Mobile phones should not be used or visible during the school day.  Students must follow our Yondr procedures and ensure their phone is secured in their pouch when they arrive.

Thank you once again for your support in maintaining high standards.  When we work together, we help our students to take pride in themselves, their school and their learning.

 

School Photos

Last Friday, students had their photograph taken in school and they were given a named QR card to take home. This allows parents/carers to view their photo and purchase copies if they wish to do so.  If your child had their photo taken but mislaid their QR card, please email wes-office@attrust.org.uk and a copy can be emailed to you.

Any orders will be delivered free to school and should be available for collection by students after October half term.

If your child was absent on 18 September or has joined the academy since then, there will be a mop-up session on the morning of Tuesday 26 January 2027.

 

Student Data Check Sheets

Last week, all students in all year groups should have been given a named, printed data check sheet in tutor time. Students have been asked to take these sheets home so that parents/carers can review the information held about their child on our academy systems.

Any changes to contact names, phone numbers, home address, email etc should be written on the sheet and given to your child to give back to their form tutor by 25 September.  It is essential for school to parent communication that we hold up to date contact details for parents and carers and other named emergency contacts.

Please ensure that we have three up-to-date emergency contact numbers on our records so that we can use them to get in touch if needed.  This helps us to ensure that we can contact someone promptly in the event of an emergency or if we are unable to reach the primary contact.  If there are no changes needed, please write that on your child’s data sheet and ask them to return it to their form tutor in tutor time.

If there is anything that parents/carers need to update us that relates to safeguarding matters, please email wes-safe@attrust.org.uk.

 

Year 11 Parent/Carer Evening: 8 October 2026

Parents and carers of Year 11 students were sent a separate email this week, explaining how to book appointments to meet with their child’s teachers on Thursday 8 October between 16:00-19:00. A copy of the communication can be found here:

Year 11 Parent/Carer Evening: Thursday 8 October 2026 – Westbourne Academy

 

 

Meet the Tutor Evening: 22 October 2026

We will be inviting parents and carers of students in Years 7 to 10 to come and meet their child’s tutors in school on the above date. As and when the appointment booking system is activated which should be week commencing 12 October, you will receive a separate email about this event and now to book appointments between 16:00-19:00.

 

 

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                       New Appointment tbc

Year 10 into 11                              Miss S Bird                       Miss K Thomas-Astley Mon-Tue-Wed AM

Mrs A Fulcher Wed PM-Thu-Fri

 

To communicate with your child’s year team, please email wes-office@attrust.org.uk in the first instance and staff will come back to you as soon as they are able to do so.

 

 

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:

https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/children-families-and-learning/schools/school-meals-uniforms-and-trips/apply-for-free-school-meals

 

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 2026-2027

Thu 1st October                             – Y6 Open Evening 16:00 – 18:30 & early close at 13:20

Thu 8 October                                – Y11 Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00

Mon 12 October                           – Flu Vaccines

Mon 19 – Fri 23 Oct                    – Y11 PRE Week P1-4 in Sports Hall

Thu 22 October                             – Y7-10 Meet the Tutor Evening 16:00-19:00

Mon 26 – Fri 30 Oct                    – Half Term Holiday

Mon 2 – Fri 6 Nov                          – Y11 PRE Week P1-4 in Sports Hall

Friday 27 November                  – Staff PD Day (school closed)

Mon 30 November                      – Flu Vaccines

Fri 4 December                             – Flu Vaccines (Mop-ups)

Thu 10 December                        – Y8 Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00

Wed 16 December                      – Y8 HPV Vaccines

Fri 18 December                           – Last Day of Term / Early Close

Mon 4 January                               – Staff PD Day (school closed)

Tue 5 January                                 – 1st day of Spring Term

Thu 14 January                              – Y11 Parent/Carer Evening No 2 16:00-19:00

Thu 4 February                               – Y7 Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00

Mon 8 – Fri 12 Feb                       – Y11 PRE Week p1-4 in Sports Hall

Mon 15 – Fri 19 Feb                     – Half Term Holiday

Thu 25 February                            – Y9 Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00

Fri 5 March                                      – Y9 MENACWY+DTP Vaccines

Thu 25 March                                 – Y11 Year Group Photo P5

Fri 26 Mar – Fri 9 April                – Easter Holiday

Thu 15 April                                     – Y9 Pathway Evening 16:00-18:30

Wed 5 May                                       – Y11 Summer Exam Series starts

Mon 31 May – Fri 4 June           – Half Term Holiday

Fri 18 June                                        – Y11 Leavers Assembly 14:15

Wed 23 June                                   – Y6 Transition Day No 1

Thursday 24 June                         – Y6 Transition Day No 2

Friday 25 June                                – Staff PD Day (school closed)

Friday 25 June                                – Year 11 Prom

Thu 1st July                                        – Y10 Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00

Thu 8 – Sat 10 July                        – Y10 History Trip/Battlefields

Wed 21 July                                     – Last Day of Term / Early Close

 

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