Sent to parents and carers of 20/03/26
Weekly Bulletin for Friday 20 March 2026
It has been gratifying to see how many of our young people have been awarded golden tickets for their positive contributions to lessons and the school day since we launched our new rewards programme last week. It has been in the hundreds for each year group, with many students receiving multiple tickets across the week. This is a new element to our rewards system and we are considering how we can reward even more students through the associated weekly prize draw as we move forward.
To build upon the significant improvements we have seen in behaviour around the academy this year, we have identified that there are some students whose behaviour could improve further in lessons. Some of these students have been issued detentions for their behaviour and then have avoided attending them. To improve this situation, we have introduced a new detentions system which has started this week, as per Mr Stronach’s communication and student assemblies from last week.
It is really important that we do work together to improve student behaviour. Where students receive a C3 sanction because learning is being disrupted, they must co-operate with on-call staff and go to a nearby shadow room, then attend the lunch detention they receive afterwards. Where students avoid lunch detentions they will escalate to after school detentions. If they refuse to attend, this will be considered defiance and students may be subject to being placed in seclusion or even being suspended.
There are some really exciting projects going on at the moment at Westbourne, including our collaboration with the BBC to create a podcast, and our new rugby clubs being introduced by Mr Masters, a former Westbourne student himself. Further details are below.
Congratulations are in order for our Year 10/11 boys’ basketball team who were crowned champions of Ipswich and South Suffolk on Friday last week, defeating teams from a range of local state and private schools to win the tournament!
Finally, I would like to wish Eid Mubarak to the members of our community who are celebrating Eid al-Fitr today.
EAL BBC Project at Westbourne Academy
For the last 3 weeks, twelve of our Key Stage 3 EAL students have had the opportunity to work with Jon Wright and Cad Taylor, two BBC Journalists, on a podcast project. The students have been developing their listening and presenting skills by working together to produce podcasts.
After getting to grips with the recording equipment in week 1, our students created some Westbourne Storytellers segments in the second session that focused on finding out more about each other’s likes, culture, language and food. It was fantastic to see their skills and confidence building in this session and, as a result of this, we invited three members of staff into our makeshift recording studio for the final session so that our intrepid reporters could try out their newfound interviewing skills on them. It was lovely to watch the students leading the discussions and asking some very pertinent questions to our special guests. Thanks to Mrs Berry, Mrs Sparrow and Mr Mason for giving up their time to join us.
Due to the brilliant work our students did as part of this project, Jon and Cad have invited them all to take part in a special visit to BBC Radio Suffolk on Tuesday 21 April 2026. As part of the visit, our students will have a guided tour of the BBC Radio Suffolk studios, gaining insight into how radio programmes are created and broadcast. They will also have the chance to take part in additional recording activities, building on the excellent work they have already produced in school.
Vice Principal, Marianne Woodhouse, is incredibly proud of the creativity, enthusiasm, and commitment shown by all twelve students throughout the course of this project, and she knows that they will make the most of this well-deserved. and very memorable, experience.
New Rewards System Update
As the second full week of our new rewards system draws to a close, it is amazing to see the Golden Tickets being issued and celebrated across the school. It is a real pleasure being able to celebrate the many positive contributions our students have contributed on a daily basis.
It has also been very exciting to see some of the Golden Ticket post boxes overflowing – so far, over 1,600 have been handed in across all year groups! In addition to this, we have also been able to give out prizes for the many Acts of Kindness that have been logged when our students have been kind to each other or kind to staff and also STAR cards that have been completed. It has been a great start!
Looking ahead to our next celebration of positive behaviour, our assemblies next week will be led by our Heads of Year. They will be recognising the many positive contributions students have made in tutor time. Awards will be going out for contributions to literacy, numeracy, Vote for Schools and Student of the Term. In addition to this, we will also be awarding a Head of Year termly award and a Principal termly award. Mr Arrow has the task of organising over 160 Easter treats ready to be handed out to award winners.
As the year progresses, we are committed to ensuring we recognise the positive behaviours our students demonstrate on a lesson by lesson basis. We would also be really interested in hearing from our families of any successes our students have achieved outside of our school community so we can celebrate this as well. Please do get in touch with Mr Arrow via email to let us know: chris.arrow@attrust.org.uk
New ePlatform Digital Library
Our school is committed to providing students with unique learning opportunities, which is why we are pleased to reminder you about ePlatform, a digital library for students that provides free access to eBooks and Audiobooks.
The benefits of ePlatform Digital Libraries:
With ePlatform, your child has 24/7 access to eBooks for free. This is a wonderful extension of our physical school library and allows titles to be checked out at home, over the weekend or during school breaks without worrying about losing or accruing late fees because they automatically return at the end of the loan period.
Students of all ages can benefit from ePlatform’s reading and comprehension tools. A service like this can benefit struggling or reluctant readers, learning-challenged students, second-language learners, as well as gifted readers alike.
- Unique reader customisation with Settings Wizard, across all devices
- Introduce students to books above their reading level
- Help busy kids find time to read
- Professionally curated collection with age restrictions set by school staff
- Increase vocabulary and improve pronunciation and comprehension
- User friendly for all types of readers & listeners (e.g. reluctant, dyslexic)
How does it work?
Ensure your child has the ePlatform app, which can be downloaded for free from the Apple Store, Google Play Store or visit westbourneacademy.eplatform.co to begin. Students need to use their school username and password to access the platform. For assistance with this, please ask them to speak to their form tutor or their computing teacher.
Planned Lockdown Drill: Tuesday 24 March
Earlier today, parents and carers received a separate email with information about the planned lockdown drill that is happening in school next Tuesday. You can find a copy of the communication sent by email here on our website news page:
Planned Lockdown Drill: Tuesday 24 March Period 5 – Westbourne Academy
Parent/Carer Forum: Wednesday 25 March
Our next parent/carer forum takes place on Wednesday 25 March 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 25 March 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
Year 10 Parent/Carer Evening: Thursday 26 March 2026
Parents and carers were sent a separate email earlier today with instructions on how to book appointments to meet their child’s teachers on Thursday 26 May 2026 between 16:00-19:00. A copy of the communication can be found here on our website news page:
Year 10 Parent/Carer Evening – Westbourne Academy
Year 11 Photos: Friday 27 March
At lunchtime on Friday 27 March, Kittle Photography will be in the Girls Gym to take friendship group photos of Year 11 students. During lesson 5, all classes will be taken to have individual photos taken for the Class of 2026 Leavers photo. Students will be given a named QR card to take home allowing them as well as their parents/carers to view and purchase any photos. Order will be delivered to school after Easter and distributed before their Leavers Assembly during lesson 5 on Tuesday 16 June. There will be no opportunity to take photos of any absent Year 11 students on Friday 27 March.
Year 8 HPV Vaccinations: Friday 27 March
During lessons 1 to 5 on Friday 27 March, the NHS vaccination team will be in school. Each Year 8 class will be taken to the Library by their class teacher when it is their turn. The HPV vaccination will be given to any boy or girl in Year 8 who has prior parental consent. All communication about this vaccination has been sent direct to parents and carers from the vaccination team, the school are not involved in that regard.
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 wes-office@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
Attitudes to Reading Survey
Thank you to all the students who completed the recent ‘Attitudes to Reading’ survey. Their answers have given us lots of information on how to improve reading at Westbourne going forwards.
One of the questions asked students to ‘name any books that they would like to read that the school library did not already have’. We took those answers and have already bought some of the most popular books for students to enjoy. Students can look out for the books in the picture on the library shelves soon!
Whitton Times Easter 2026
We have been asked to share the Easter edition of the Whitton Times with our wider academy community. You can find a copy here:
ITFC Soccer School: 10 April 2024
ITFC are hosting a soccer school at Westbourne for 6 – 12 year olds on 10 April. This is free for those students who are eligible for Free School Meals.
ITFC Premier League Kick Start Sessions
Free sessions for 8 – 18 year olds are running at various high schools in Ipswich including at Westbourne on Thursday evenings:
- School Years 4-7 at 5pm-6pm
- School Years 8-11 at 6pm-7pm
- Click on the following link –> Ipswich Town Foundation | Soccer Schools
- Click ‘BOOK’ on the relevant age group session
- Complete the registration steps
- Scan the QR code
New Afterschool Co-Curricular Rugby Club
We are excited to share that our new Inclusion Mentor, Mr Masters, is launching new rugby opportunities for our students after Easter. Training Sessions will be as follows:
- Year 7 & 8 Boys: Mondays after school
- All Years – Girls: Fridays after school
- Start Time: 15:05
- Finish Time: 16:10
- Meeting Point: Westbourne Inclusion Centre (WIC) which can be found at far end of the food hall corridor
No experience is needed and all students are welcome, whether they have played before or are completely new to the sport. The sessions will focus on building confidence, learning new skills, and having fun.
Before joining Westbourne, Mr Masters coached full-time with Northampton Saints and also played in their academy system where he still helps out part time. He also had trials for England U16s and, as a former Westbourne student himself, he is really looking forward to giving our students opportunities that he would have loved at their age.
For more information, you can contact Mr Masters by email: wes-office@attrust.org.uk
Uniform
Thank you for your continued support in ensuring that your child with us to uphold our school standards, including wearing full school uniform every day. Your partnership makes a real difference.
We are currently placing a particular focus on correct uniform, especially school ties and ensuring that black trousers, black leggings, or fashion trousers are not worn in place of the approved uniform.
We understand that, on occasion, unforeseen circumstances may mean an item of uniform is temporarily missing. If this happens, please ensure your son/daughter comes into school with a note from a parent/carer explaining the situation.
Thank you again for your ongoing support.
Road Safety/Personal Safety
As an academy, we would like to ask our parents, carers and children to be mindful of being safe, at all times. It is crucial to teach your children road safety basics. Remind them why they should not run across the road, talk to them about how to identify safe places to cross and reinforce the importance of road safety.
Encourage teenagers to keep a sense of awareness. Young people should be discouraged from wearing headphones and should not be concentrating on their phones whilst walking to and from school. Being pre-occupied and distracted will only make them more vulnerable, both to being mugged or hit by a vehicle.
As any parent knows, it can sometimes be difficult to get a teenager to part from their mobile phone. Whether they are talking to friends or listening to music, they can be distracted. As a result, they are less aware of dangers in their surroundings such as other people or traffic.
If your teenager insists on wearing their earphones, encourage them to opt for the ear bud types and ideally only use on one side. Often teenagers walk in packs and are chatting and simply not paying attention. Sadly, it is often on these occasions that accidents can occur.
If your child travels on their own, encourage them to take the safest routes and to avoid dark shortcuts. Encourage them to walk confidently, even if they don’t feel it, especially in the dark. Help them work out strategies for dealing with difficult situations so they know what to do in an emergency. For example:
- Shouting for help if someone approaches them in an aggressive manner.
- Use the iPhone function (press off button 5 times) to alert police if unable to dial.
- For non-iPhone users, call 999 and press 55 if in danger and unable to speak.
If you have any concerns and would like to speak to a member of the safeguarding team, please use the contact details below.
Email: wes-safe@attrust.org.uk
Belonging Together in Suffolk for SEND families
Suffolk County Council and partners will be holding three events for parents, carers and children and young people with SEND.
Join them for free teas, coffees, cakes, stalls and the opportunity to speak with a variety of organisations around SEND in the community. The dates of the events will be:
- 22 April 2026 (1 – 6pm) The Mix Stowmarket
- 29 April 2026 (1 – 6pm The Battery, Lowestoft
- 6 May 2026 (12 – 5pm) Kesgrave Community Centre
Please keep an eye on the Suffolk Local Offer website for updates and booking information.
Belonging Together in Suffolk for SEND families flyer
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 March
- Monday 27 April
- Monday 1st June
- Monday 29 June
- Monday 13 July
Easter Holiday Closure & May Day Bank Holiday
The academy will closed 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 23 March – WA Community Hub 15:15-16:00
Wednesday 25 March – Parent/Carer Forum 17:15-18:00
Thursday 26 March – Y10 Parent/Carer Evening 16:00-19:00 (info to follow)
Friday 27 March – Y8 HPV Vaccinations
Friday 27 March – Year 11 photos Period 5 & lunchtime
Monday 30 March – 1st day of Easter holiday
Monday 13 April – 1st day of summer term for students
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