Newsletter, 14th January 2022

Good afternoon,

I hope that you and your family are well. It has been another busy week in school with lots of messages to share and good news to report.

YEAR 9 OPTIONS AND PARENTS’ EVENING

Thank you to all the parents/carers of students in Year 9 who attended yesterday’s parents’ evening. It was brilliant to have so many parents/carers make appointments. I visited classrooms to speak to teachers between appointments and they were very positive about the opportunity to have such meaningful and positive conversations about learning. We look forward to receiving your feedback in the questionnaire that was sent out after the evening.

Earlier on Thursday our Year 9 students attended an assembly led by our Deputy Headteacher Mr Griffiths which detailed the Options process which is now underway with Year 9 students. Students will receive their Options booklets later this month, and at the same time we will launch on our website the updated videos made by staff to inform parents, carers and students about the various subjects on offer. We would strongly encourage parents/carers of Year 9 students to begin conversations now about which subjects your children may wish to choose to support them with their aspirations for the future.

YEAR 10 MOCK EXAMS

Well done to the Year 10 students who once more stayed after school this week to revise in preparation for their English Literature mock exam next week. English Literature is just one of the many exams that will take place over the course of the week. Mr Griffiths and Ms Campbell, our Exams Manager, met with Year 10 students this morning to explain expectations in exams to support all students to conduct themselves positively and sensibly, thereby giving themselves and others the best possible chance of exam success. Good luck, Year 10!

YEAR 11 FOOTBALL SUCCESS

Congratulations to our Year 11 boys football team who overcame a strong Ecclesfield team 7 – 1 in a ‘Clegg Shield’ fixture this week. Our excellent Year 11 team have a great chance of regaining the trophy that was last won by Westfield in 2018.

LIMELIGHT THEATRE COMPANY

Our new drama teacher, Ms Bradshaw, is keen for any interested students to join her new after-school ‘Limelight Theatre’ clubs. Any interested students should consult the posters that are displayed around school and speak to Ms Bradshaw, who is based in room 243.

VIGILANCE AROUND VAPING

We have become aware of an increasing number of young people using ‘Vapes’ that are specifically designed to look like highlighter pens and marketed to young people – the most common ones are of the ‘Elfbar’ brand. It is illegal for these items to be sold to people under the age of 18.

We know that this is an issue not only at Westfield but at other schools locally and nationally. Please have a conversation with your child about these products and please be vigilant to ensure your child is not in possession of these items. In line with our school policy, we may search any student we suspect to be in possession of a vape, or any other item they should not have in school. Any items found will be confiscated and disposed of, and students will be sanctioned. Thank you for your support with this.

SUPPORT WITH UNIFORM EXPECTATIONS

Thank you for continuing to support our school by sending your child to school in full uniform. Please be reminded that students should not wear hoodies or non-uniform jumpers under or instead of their blazers or Westfield school jumpers, and also that black jeans are not school uniform. We will ask for non-uniform items like hoodies to be removed at the school gate, or for items such as jeans to be changed at the ready room. We may confiscate items such as hoodies if they are worn in school.

With many thanks for your continued excellent support.

Joe Birkbeck

Head of Westfield School