Newsletter, 22nd April 2023

Good afternoon,

I hope that you and your family are well. We have had a very busy first week of our summer term and look forward to further excitement in the coming weeks.

Ofsted Inspection

Thank you to the many parents/carers and students who completed surveys this week during our Ofsted inspection, which took place on Wednesday and Thursday of last week. Feedback from these surveys was very positive overall. We cannot share the outcome of the inspection until the official report is published. Needless to say, the inspection was very thorough – each of the inspectors who visited us are very experienced – and we will use the feedback we have been given to keep working hard to improve our school.

Duke of Edinburgh Award

It was fantastic to see so many students engaging in training for Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions on Thursday of this week. Those students involved took part in various training activities, including map reading and learning how to put up their tents. Our students really enjoyed the training and are now looking forward to the expeditions in May and June.

Year 10 Work Experience

Well done to our Year 10 students who have been proactive in seeking work experience placements meaning virtually all our Year 10s will begin a two-week placement with an employer on Monday morning. Good luck, Year 10 – we hope you learn a lot from the experience and use it to build confidence and resilience.

Year 10 English Literature Mock Exam

Well done to the many Year 10 students who sat a difficult mock exam in English literature this week as they prepare for their GCSE English literature exam in May. Over half of our Year 10 students will complete the qualification this year, and we have every confidence that they will be very successful.

Key Stage 4 Rewards Trip

Well done to our students in Year 10 and 11 who attended Wednesday’s trip to the cinema as a reward for their Attitudes to Learning. Many of our students regularly achieve excellent ATL scores. Those invited on the trip were those with the best or most improved scores. Thank you to Ms Bowler and Ms Palethorpe for organising the trip.

NEU Strikes

Strikes by colleagues in the National Education Union will again impact on our ability to be able to fully open on Thursday 27^th April and Tuesday 2^nd May.

Thursday 27^th April

• School will be open for only for students in Year 11 and for a selection of students in Year 9 who have exams for their photography course. Planned art exams and speaking exams for French and Spanish GCSE students will take place as scheduled on this day. We will contact parents/carers of Year 11 students and Year 9 photography students with specific details.
• Our planned Year 7 parents’ evening cannot go ahead on this date. We will contact parents/carers of Year 7 students with a revised date.

Tuesday 2^nd May

• School will be open only for students in Year 11. Planned art exams and speaking exams for French and Spanish GCSE students will take place as scheduled on this day. We will contact parents/carers of Year 11 students and Year 9 photography students with specific details.

With many thanks for your continued excellent support.

Joe Birkbeck

Head of Westfield School