Newsletter, 24th June 2024

Good morning,

I hope that you and your family are well and enjoying the opportunity to finally take advantage of some beautiful summer weather. There is much to report here at Westfield as we approach the final weeks of the academic year.

Year 11 Exams

Thank you and well done to our awesome Year 11 students who showed such amazing resilience during their GCSE exams, which are now complete. The final exams took place on Wednesday, and our Year 11s can now look forward to a long, enjoyable summer break before collecting their results in August. The conduct of our students was exemplary throughout the exam season, and they had evidently put in lots of study which meant that they emerged from exams feeling confident that they had done themselves justice. We look forward to seeing our Year 11s at the prom in July and again in August on results day. 

Year 10 Exams & Work Experience

As our Year 11 students are beginning to relax after the most intense few weeks of their educational journey so far, our Year 10 students are gearing up for an important and exciting end to term. Year 10s have already begun sitting their summer mock exams and have mirrored the exemplary conduct of our exiting Year 11s. Following mock exams, Year 10 students will have the opportunity to attend two college taster days before undertaking eight days of work experience with a local employer. Thank you to our careers team in school for supporting our Year 10 students to arrange a wide range of exciting work experience opportunities. There is still time for the very small group of Year 10s without a placement to secure one - students can speak to Mr Davies for support. 

Educational Visits

As is traditional in the summer term, many of our students are enjoying the opportunity to engage in learning outside the classroom through a range of exciting trips and visits. For example, our Duke of Edinburgh Award students have faced the challenge of their expeditions; a group of Year 7 students enjoyed a trip to the Big Bang Science exhibition in Birmingham; and on Thursday a group of students in Year 9 will enjoy a trip to London with our history and geography departments, including visits to the Imperial War Museum, Kew Gardens and a Hindu temple. 

Year 6 Welcome Evening

It was a pleasure to welcome Year 6 students to Westfield for their welcome evenings on Wednesday and Thursday evenings as they continue their journey towards becoming Year 7 students at Westfield in September. We were faced by a few grumpy faces on Thursday evening as children and their families missed parts of England's match with Denmark to attend the event. In hindsight, I am sure the children enjoyed the opportunity to meet their new form group rather than watching England's underwhelming performance in Germany! We look forward to welcoming back our incoming students for their transition days in July. 

Rugby Opportunity

On 24^th - 26^th July a rugby summer camp will take place on our playing fields at Westfield led by Mosborough Rugby Club and the Matt Ratana Rugby Foundation. The camp will welcome boys and girls aged 8 - 16 for coaching with elite international rugby coaches. See the attached flier for more details - and please contact Mr Francis in school for more information. 

Safeguarding Newsletter

Our Inclusion Manager, Mrs Hague, has put together an important newsletter to support families to keep their children safe over the summer break. Covering important topics such as mental health, vaping, sextortion and open water safety, the newsletter is attached to this message and also available on our website. 

Leadership Handover

This will be my final newsletter as Head of Westfield School. As of next week I will be spending most of my time at the school I am joining in September and your new Headteacher, Gaynor Jones, will be based at Westfield working with the team to plan for next year. Thank you to all of our families, students and staff for your continuous support over the past seven years. Westfield is a special place and serves a special community, and I have been privileged to be part of it. I have every confidence that the school will continue to grow and improve under Mrs Jones' leadership and with the ongoing support of the community. I look forward to seeing some of you before I leave at our Celebration Evening, at the Year 11 prom and on GCSE results day in August. 

Take care,

Joe Birkbeck

Head of Westfield School