Good afternoon,

I hope that you and your family are well and that you have enjoyed a very happy and restful Christmas. I know from speaking to our students that many families have exciting things planned for the new year, with visits from family and trips abroad planned for some.

Return to School – Tuesday 9^th January 2024

We look forward to welcoming all our students back to school by the usual time of 08.30 AM on Tuesday 9^th January. Monday 8^th January is an INSET day with school only open for staff training on this day.

Year 11 Parents’ Evening

We are excited to welcome Year 11 students and their families into school on Thursday 11^th January for our Year 11 Parents’ Evening. This will be a crucial opportunity for families to discuss the outcomes of last term’s mock exams and to plan revision for exams to come. Thank you to those families who have already booked their appointments. Booking remains open.

Year 7 Readers Trip

Well done to the group of Year 7 students who enjoyed a reading-themed trip last week. Each student had the opportunity to purchase a new book of their choice and then share these with each other over drinks and treats, before visiting Peaks library where they took part in a 'book personality quiz' and then explored the books and services offered at their local library. They were excited and engaged with reading, sharing opinions and recommendations with each other, with Ms Kay and Ms Pinder, and even with the librarian at Peaks. Members of the public remarked on the politeness of our students and how brilliantly they represented our school.

Year 11 Rewards Trip

Students in Year 11 with the best ATL scores/the highest number of stamps enjoyed a Christmas-themed rewards trip last week. The students visited Hollywood Bowl before taking in a Christmas market. All our students have a chance of a place on next term’s rewards trips by achieving excellent ATL scores and earning lots of stamps from their teachers.

Sporting Round-Up

Our fantastic sports teams continued to be active right up to the Christmas break. On Monday 18^th December a group of twelve girls from Key Stage 3 went to participate at the EIS in a futsal tournament organised by Sheffield United and the Premier League Inspires programme. Each school had two teams - both Westfield teams played exceptionally well, with Westfield B finishing in third place overall. Well done, everyone!

Our Year 11 Sports Studies group went to GoApe last Wednesday to take part in the high ropes course. Mr Hurt reports that the day was great and the attitude and resilience of the students to take part and overcome some of their fears was amazing to see.

Our Year 9 boys took part in Westfield’s first ever basketball fixture on Thursday 21^st December. Whilst the team were defeated in two games, their opponents were from much more established teams. The boys enjoyed the experience and are looking forward to keeping improving.

Year 10 Exams

A reminder to Year 10 students and their families that Year 10 Mock Exams begin on Monday 22^nd January. Each Year 10 student will receive a personalised exam timetable, and we will work with our Year 10 students in the run-up to exams to ensure that their first experience of formal exams is a positive one, teaching them the conduct that is expected and supporting them to learn the routines that must be followed. The mocks will be followed by Year 10 Parents’ Evening on February 22^nd, which will provide an opportunity to receive valuable feedback on the progress Year 10 students are making in their examined courses.

Safe Use of Our Car Park

Please can families who use our school car park to drop-off and collect students from school pay careful attention to the one-way system that is in place. We have recently seen cars entering the car park through our exit gate, creating a high risk of an accident. Drivers of these vehicles are advised that insurance would not be valid should they cause an accident by entering the car park via the exit gate. In addition, please be aware that cars should travel no faster than 5 MPH in the car park for the safety of our students and other drivers.

Wind Damage

Thank you to all our students and their families for their co-operation and understanding on the morning of Thursday 21^st December when wind damage to the roof on our English wing meant we had to use alternative entrances to school and temporarily close our car park. High winds cause aluminium flashing to come loose. As ever, our students responded with great maturity and our premises team worked with contractors to make the roof safe by 10.00 AM.

With many thanks for your excellent support. Happy New Year!

Joe Birkbeck

Head of Westfield School