Newsletter December 2015

Aspire Achieve AdvanceINSIDE THIS EDITION: • AWARDS EVENING • ANTI BULLYING WEEK • CAREERS • E-SAFETY

L-R: Mr Hawkes, Mr Archer & Mr Agate

WESTBOURNE RADIOAfter an 18 month wait, we were delighted to discover that our funding bid towards the cost of purchasing and installing a school radio system was successful. Thank you to the North West Ipswich Big Local Trust for helping to make this possible.I look forward to seeing how this exciting project develops over the coming months. Students and staff will be involved in various ways and it is hoped thateventually we will have some outside broadcasts in and around thelocal area.

THE RETURN OF RUGBYAs part of the lead up and legacy of the Rugby World Cup 2015, England Rugby began an initiative to bring the sport to 750 state schools by 2019. As a keen England rugby fan, I am pleased that Westbourne Academy is one of the schools that signed up to the programme. Students will benefit from coaching delivery within curriculum and extra-curriclar sessions as well as partnership with Ipswich RFC. In September, a group of students were selected to design their very own Canterbury rugby kit. At the end of November, we won our first rugby tournament against Northgate HS. We have not had a strong tradition of rugby at the academy for quite a few years and I am delighted that we have started a year 7 and 8 squad. Drew Fautley (pictured with Y7 & Y8) from the RFU is making a sterling contribution towards the squad’s development.

CHARITABLE CAUSESWith the implementation of the House system, we have changed the way in which we support charitable causes. Instead of non-uniform days which seem to have a detrimental effect on student attendance, we have sought more inventive, creative ways of raising money. In September, Houses were challenged to hold a bake sale one lunchtime and £162.33 was raised for Macmillan Cancer Research. Churchill put on a magnificent display of cakes and raised the most money. Thank you to those parents, students and staff who made the effort to bake or buy cakes. There was a huge array on offer and the throng in the main hall can only be likened to Billingsgate market. Well done to everyone who was awarded ‘Best Cake’ - they tasted as good as they looked. Ramsey House had three winning cakes and Nightingale two.

For one week in November, the academy supported BBC Children in Need and raised £664 in the process. Students and staff organised a Churchill Café in the LRC, Splat the Teacher (pictured), a sponsored silence and various mini-competitions such as Guess the Baby and a Question of Sport. The most money was raised by Churchill House but the most lucrative activity was the sponsored silence; thank you to Miss Mills for thinking that one up! Further fundraising work continued after half term, with each House debating and choosing a cause to sponsor in December. On the last day of term, the academy is supporting TextSanta with a Christmas Jumper Day.

At October half term, the decision was made to ban handheld electronic devices and accessories from being used by students whilst on academy premises. We appreciate that smart technology

can be a useful part of everyday life but for an increasing number of students, it was clearly becoming a barrier to their learning.

The purpose of this decision has been taken on board by the student community at large and the academy is a far more pleasant environment as a result. Lessons are no longer disrupted by pinging, ringing phones and there is greater social engagement at break times. It is pleasing to see how much more our young people are taking the time to talk to the friends standing in front of them, rather than texting others who aren’t even there.

Thank you to those parents who have been called to collect their child’s devices from school. Your support and understanding of what we are trying to achieve is very much appreciated.

Our ban on handheld electronic devices also extends to the wearing or use of Smart watches in school. These are now rising in popularity and parents and students should be aware that being in possession of a Smart watch in an examination will lead to immediate disqualification.

Mr G TrottPrincipal

A M e s s Ag e f ro M t h e P r i n c i PA l

INVESTmENT & REpAIRSOver the summer break, a new covered seating area was installed outside the Food Hall. This is something that students had asked for when we asked them about what sort of new facilities they would like for break times. A series of covered seating islands were also installed in the playgrounds and it is great to see them being used. By the end of March 2016, repairs to roofing on B block, C block, S block and the DT classrooms will also be completed, making them water-tight and better insulated for students and staff who are working there.

Early in October, we held our annual Open Evening for prospective year 6 pupils and their families who are looking at secondary schools for next September. The evening was a tremendous success and all of the students who acted as guides and helpers did a brilliant job, executing their responsibilities with maturity, enthusiasm and pride. The feedback we received about the academy and the guides in particular was very complimentary.

As a token of our appreciation, the senior leadership team extended an invitation to the student guides to join them for a cup of tea and cake after school.

A huge amount of planning goes on behind the scenes in preparation for Open Evening but ultimately it is the positive attitude, conduct and involvement of our amazing young people which prospective parents and pupils take home with them. The student guides were excellent ambassadors for the academy, living up to our ethos in every sense. Hopefully they will continue to be an inspiration to our new year 7 students when they join us in September 2016.

Mrs M WoodhouseVice Principal

oPen eVening

Seasonal ReminderBad Weather The closure of Westbourne Academy under severeweather conditions follows a precise procedure. In a time of severe weather (flood, fog, snow, high winds etc) we will update our website with regular information as to whether the school is closed. The decision is normally made around 7.30am each day. The Local Authority also has a website dedicated to providing information on any school closures, and this can be found at

http://schoolclosures.suffolk.gov.uk Announcements will also be given on local radio stations; please listen to the following radio stations from 07:00hrs for any announcement of closure. • BBC Radio Suffolk 103.9 FM• Town 102 102 FM We also use a text messaging service whereby we normally text parents to keep them informed of any unplanned closures or changes to the academy day. If you have changed your mobile number recently, please make sure we have been informed so that your child’s record may be updated.

Ian AldousYear 11 Young Referee AwardCongratulations to year 11 student, Ian Aldous, who was presented with the British Judo Association’s Young Referee of the Year ‘Silver Award’ at a gala evening in Nottingham in November.

The BJA Annual Awards recognise the outstanding achievements of the volunteers who work to promote judo nationwide, and include awards for senior and junior referees, coaches, volunteers and judo players.

Ian has been doing judo since year 5 with Hollesley Judo Club and is now at 13th Mon level (blue belt). He was Hollesley’s Club Judoka (judo player) of the Year in 2013 and took up refereeing less than two years ago.

Ian with his trophy and Hollesley Judo Club coaches Sandra North and Julie Joliffe

BJA 2015 award winners(Ian 3rd from left, 2nd row back)

Earlier this year he was a junior referee at the London Youth Games at Crystal Palace and has refereed at area events at Thetford and Cambridge and local club events at Tunstall and Saxmundham. He has recently achieved his First Steps to Coaching award and hopes to develop his judo further in years to come.

BJA website at http://www.britishjudo.org.uk/

Hollesley Judo Club website at http://www.hollesleyjudo.org.uk/

‘Who you are tomorrow begins with what you do today’Tim Fargo

BT Award for Outstanding performanceKiera Devereux & Tabitha Biggs – DTJada Bartlett – ICT

BT Award for Best Young ScientistsKalib Muller & Luke Richardson

Sean Hedges Quinn Award for ArtEllie Horton

WH Smith Award for Outstanding performance in EnglishNicole Hamilton-Steel

B&Q Award for mathsLuke Richardson

Lord Bambridge-Kiddy Award for Significant Sporting progressJanae Duporte-Clarke

It was a pleasure to formally congratulate and present lapel badges to our newly appointed Prefects, House Captains, Vice Captains, Sports Captains and Vice Sports Captains. They are a valuable addition to the academy’s student voice and I know that the four Heads of House are very appreciative of their support and assistance already this term.My thanks to those students who so ably entertained us during the evening with their singing, musical performances and drama monologues. Their musicality, confidence and poise was inspirational. I would also like to thank those parents, governors and colleagues who took the time to come along to share in this heartening and thoroughly enjoyable event.

As well as BT, Asda, B&Q and WH Smith, my thanks also to the Dorriety family, Sean Hedges Quinn, Linda and Simon Hardcastle, Lord Bambridge-Kiddy and Bramford Road Methodist Church for their support in rewarding the high achievements and efforts of our students.

Mr G TrottPrincipal

A host of other special awards were made to the following students in recognition of their achievements:

Behaviour for Learning AwardsEllie Barker, Jodie Coe, Matthew Bradford & Ayesha Begum

Best Linguist AwardsJessica Brett – FrenchJade Archer –Spanish

most Improved Reader AwardsOwen Andrews & Shannon MacSephney

Governor’s Award for KS3 progressIsabella Fox

Head of Year AwardsDanielle Chappel, Chantella Burton, Pacey Laughlin & Roberto Sandu

Exemplary Attendance AwardHannah Baker

Hardcastle Award for the most promising Young musicianAbbie Aleksic

ASDA Award for Achievement in HumanitiesConner Bilner

2015Awards Ceremony

On Thursday 24th September, we hosted our 2015 Awards Ceremony for the academic year ending July 2015. This evening was an important celebration of student achievement and effort across a wide range of subjects and academy activities. From individual work in lessons; to contributions in sports teams; from community participation to musical excellence. The students were rewarded for their thorough preparation, their commitment to hard work and for their perseverance.

The Sue Dorriety AwardMason Ripper

The Trust Transformational progress AwardTaylor Warner

Bramford Road methodist Church Award for Service to the School CommunityEllie Horton, Elle Scott, Erin Van Tankeren& Taylor Warner

As a community, we are very proud of the achievements we celebrated and I know that the young people who received an award are building secure foundations for the future. In total, 217 awards were presented in recognition of progress, attainment, attendance and behaviour for learning.

As Principal of the academy, I was particularly pleased to present the 2015 Principal’s Awards to Erin Jackaman, Jessica Brett, Jade Archer and Megan Brett.

Anti-Bullying Week takes part across the UK in mid-November each year. We recognise that as an academy community with around 1200 students and staff, it is a great opportunity to stop bullying and change lives. We all know that wherever there are people – we find bullying. The best schools are not the ones that say ‘we have no bullying here’ but the schools that acknowledge it happens and are not afraid to do something about it.

Anti-Bullying Week

In assembly, students learned that bullying is defined as the repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. Bullying happens to people of all ages. It can happen at school, in the workplace or at home.

As part of our focus and support of this important issue, students watched a short, moving and informative video during House assemblies. The movie featured ‘then and now’ photos and comments from an array of famous people from stage, screen, sport and politics who were bullied as children. In spite of the bullying they suffered growing up, they overcame it, realised they were not alone and went on to enjoy successful and rewarding lives living in the public eye. They never gave up. The video certainly struck a chord in the hearts and minds of many members of staff. We after all were children too once upon a time and there were quite a few staff who suddenly seemed to have something in their eye when the lights went on afterwards.

Throughout the week students were also invited to visit the Learning Resource Centre at lunchtimes where they could show their support for the #MakeaNoise campaign by writing an Anti-Bulling Week speech bubble of their own. Here is a selection of some of the inspirational messages and thoughts they came up with. My thanks to all those students and staff for their involvement.

Mrs C CookAssistant Principal & DesignatedSafeguarding Lead

#makeaNoise About Bullying

AttendAnce MAttersmy name is mrs mason and I recently joined the academy as the new Attendance Officer in place of mr Agate who is now Assistant Head of Nightingale House. As a previous student of Westbourne, I am very excited about my new role and I look forward to meeting with many of you and your families in the future.

I am passionate about the value of a good education and strongly believe that regular and consistent attendance is the best way to help our students reach their full potential in their GCSEs, in further education and in their future careers. Coming to school every day, on time, in full uniform and with the correct equipment is a discipline we teach which will empower our students to be successful in all aspects of their future lives.

The transfer to Vertical Tutoring (VT) last summer and the friendly competition between the 4 Houses will help ensure that the whole school moves forward to where we all want to be. The day to day support and mentoring that students receive from staff and their peers has already shown enormous impact on attendance and punctuality.

As parents are now hopefully aware, the Principal Tutor and Associate Tutor are the initial points of contact for parents who need to discuss any concerns their child has at school. Tutors will monitor student attendance, progress and attainment as well as their behaviour for learning and general well-being.

Attendance overviewIn September, our students had a tremendous start to the new academic year with regards to attendance. After the first term, overall school attendance climbed to 94.7%, only slightly under our 95% target. I understand that genuine illness cannot be helped and this figure showed a real improvement on previous years. It is a step in the right direction and one which we must continue in earnest.

Attendance often takes a tumble over the winter months as illness and infection levels increase but I am keen to minimise the impact on our overall figures. To be an outstanding school, we must have outstanding attendance which means we must consistently achieve over 95% across the school.

how You can helpWhen your child says they feel unwell, ask yourself ‘Would I have a day off work for this?’. If the answer is no then you should be encouraging your child to come to school. If your child continues to feel unwell in school they should report to Student Services where the situation will be assessed. You will be contacted should your child need to come home.

Finally, if you would like to discuss any aspect of your child’s school attendance, absence or punctuality then please contact me on 01473 466 145 thank you.

Mrs T Mason Attendance Officer

LanguagesWeekSeptember saw an exciting and action packed Languages Week. Amongst other events, Jasmine Bilner, created the winning MFL logo (pictured below) and Nightingale house won the European Day of Languages Quiz with an impressive 139 correct answers. Year 8 took part in ‘Westbourne does Spanglovision’, in which each class learnt a song entirely in Spanish, which was filmed and then judged by year 7 students. The year 8s worked very hard to learn their songs and things became very competitive (especially between the teachers).

Mrs E KerrisonMFL Team Leader

Extra-curricularClubsThe autumn term has seen the launch of a range of extra-curricular opportunities for students studying a Modern Foreign Language. KS3 students have had the opportunity to complete The Languages Challenge, in which they complete a range of activities worth different points and are awarded certificates accordingly. A group of year 8 students are completing The Language Leader Award with Mrs Kerrison and, later this year will be delivering some French lessons to our partner primary schools. These students will also be invited to be our Language Ambassadors upon completion of this award. If you study MFL at KS3 and are not taking part in one of our extra-curricular activities and would like to, then please see Mr Eccles-Williams or Mrs Kerrison as soon as possible.

Languages

• If your child needs to have time off due to illness could you please contact the school as early as possible, preferably before 08.30hrs, on 01473 466 145 every day that your child is absent.

• If your child has a pre-booked appointment eg orthodontist, hospital, could you please bring a copy of the appointment card/ letter to the school prior to the appointment day.

• If your child needs to leave early or arrives late due to a last minute appointment could you please provide a letter to explain the period of absence and to avoid your child incurring a late detention after school.

On Saturday 10th October, 35 excited (and noisy) students from years 9, 10 and 11 gathered just before 5am to set off for France. After a short delay in the tunnel we were off to Boulogne.

Our first stop was at ‘Le Pain Show’ where students had an opportunity to play pool and enjoy a lunch of ‘Croque Monsieur et frites’. It was then off for a walk in the old part of Boulogne where students visited cafes, walked along the old city walls and visited small shops, where an interesting array of products were purchased.

We visited a sweet factory where Mr Hawkes, Kiera Devereux and Nicole Andrews demonstrated sweet making and the year 9 girls decided that sweet making would be the career for them. It was then off to the town centre where a street fair was in full swing. Highlights included the year 9s engaging in a game of street chess with the locals and Mr Eccles-Williams using some ‘interesting’ French during a ‘slight’ disagreement about how the game should be played with the owner of the stall. It was great for the year 9s to see ‘real French’ in action.

We then departed for a visit to McDo, I don’t think the staff were expecting 35 teenagers to all queue and order at once. Finally, a visit to a ‘hypermarché’ where an awful lot of very smelly cheese and sweets were purchased. After a long wait at passport control, many of the students ran out of steam and slept for much of the journey home. We eventually arrived back at 11pm, some 18 hours after departing the academy.

My thanks to Mr Eccles-Williams, Mr Hawkes and Mrs McKane for their enthusiasm, good company and support during the trip. The students were all brilliant ambassadors for the academy and next year’s trip is already pencilled in for Saturday 15th October 2016

Mr E KerrisonTeam Leader MFL

catalonia, spainThe first Spanish trip will take place from the 17th-21st April 2016, taking 30 year 8 students to Catalonia in north-east Spain. It is a joint Languages/Geography trip and students will be accompanied by mrs Button, mr Eccles-Williams and mr Hawkes.

We will be staying in a 3 star hotel just outside Barcelona and it promises a packed itinerary including a Geography study day entitled ‘Crowded Coastline’ and a further Geography day at the Garrotxa National Park. A third day will be spent in Barcelona where the students will have the opportunity to practise their Spanish and sample its many cultural and artistic delights, including a visit to Gaudi’s masterpiece La Sagrada Familia and his Parc Guell, also a visit to Poble Espanyol and a Tour of the Nou Camp stadium and entry to Barcelona FC’s museum. We will be thoroughly exhausted by the time we fly home!

salamanca, spainThe second trip to Spain involves 10 students from years 9 and 10 as well as mr Neill and myself. This a 5 day trip from 10th to 15th July 2016 to visit the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage city of Salamanca, in the north east of the country. This will be a real immersion experience for the students as they will be staying with local families and attending language school during the mornings - we expect them to come back speaking lots of Spanish! They will also have the chance to tour the city and take part in evening cultural activities such as dancing, traditional sevillanas, salsa dancing, trying tapas and chocolate con churros. Finally they will visit the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid before they fly home.

Mrs G ButtonMFL Teacher

at Westbourne!

LatinArrives

We now have seven students in year 8 who have started learning Latin following a successful bid for funding which enabled us to secure the resources to deliver this opportunity. This creates our first cohort of ‘triple linguists’ (Spanish, French and Latin). As a group, we are looking forward to learning the language, exploring cross-curricular links and, hopefully, going on some trips to deepen our learning.

Trips, Trips& More Trips

Boulogne

Languages

Writing for PurposeAs part of their learning, year 7 students have been studying poetry written by Douglas Wright, and producing their own poetry, in Spanish in his style. The work they have produced is excellent. Mr Neill has managed to email the poet, who is currently living in Argentina (much to the students’ delight). Douglas Wright has kindly agreed to answer questions our year 7 students have and to give feedback on the poems they have written. Being able to have a real conversation with the poet has been a great way to engage and enthuse the students.

Care Careers Suffolk is the information gateway to everything you need to know about careers in care. They are part of the Suffolk Brokerage, a not-for-profit organisation which supports individuals who would like to work in the care sector and need help and advice to access employment and apprenticeship opportunities. They work with employers across the sector, including learning disabilities and elderly care so they can support you to find an apprenticeship in the area of care you are most interested in. They can organise a work trial before you start an apprenticeship to make sure it is the right choice for you as well as support you throughout your training. If you consider yourself to be caring, respectful and reliable and are interested in finding out more about the different job roles and apprenticeships in your area, then please contact their Project Manager Emma White onemma@carecareerssuffolk.co.uk or visit their website to see what some of their apprentices have to say at www.carecareerssuffolk.co.uk

careerscareers

John Michael Training Academy

John Michael Training Academy has been producing talented young hairdressers for the past 20 years. The staff’s commitment to excellence is paramount to the academy’s success.Every apprentice that walks through the academy’s doors on day one, with no experience of hairdressing, will leave at the end of their training, with not only their hairdressing NVQ levels 2-3, but also commercially ready to work as a graduate stylist in any high street salon.

Hairdressing is one of the most rewarding careers in the world; hairdressers are officially the happiest people on the planet when it comes to job satisfaction.

Training hairdressers of the future is our passion.

www.johnmichaelhairdressingacademy.com

UCS Ipswich are hosting their next Family Awareness Day on Saturday 27th February 2016.Students in Years 7, 8 and 9 and their parents/carers are invited along to their Ipswich campus to find out more about studying a degree at university. We understand that higher education seems a long way off but, as we are sure you are aware, the choices made at school may affect the choices available at age 16 and 18.

This is a free event, which runs from 11.30am – 3.00pm and a fantastic opportunity to learn more about university and to meet with current UCS students. During the event students will take part in a fun programme of activities, while parents learn more about the benefits of higher education and student finance.

A tour of the campus and a free buffet lunch will be provided for all attendees. Students and parents can find further information and book a place via this link: http://www.ucs.ac.uk/fad. For further information students and parents can email UCS Ipswich direct at: schools@ucs.ac.uk

Family Awareness Day

BBC MAke It DIgItAl CAMpAIgnfrom next term, the BBc in association with Microsoft and its other partners, will be sending free BBc Micro Bit devices to all year 7 students as part of a UK-wide ‘Make it digital’ initiative.

The UK is facing a significant skills shortage with 1.4 million digital professionals needed over the next five years. The Make it Digital campaign will put digital creativity in the spotlight like never before. As with BBC Micro which helped Britain get to grips with the first wave of personal computers in the 1980s, the Make it Digital initiative aims to inspire audiences young and old, through world-class TV, radio and online content. The aim of this initiative is to give all students starting in key stage 3 computer science a simple device which enables them to use fundamental coding to build their digital skills, discover their creative potential and take their first steps. At Westbourne Academy, we hope to be using these devices to teach students early in the New Year.

With the UK having a long line of strong digital pioneers and innovators such as Alan Turing, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, Ada Lovelace and Sir Clive Sinclair, may be Westbourne Academy will set somebody on their way to becoming a world-class digital professional.

Interestingly, research into the career paths of those under 29 years of age who work in digital reveals that digital professionals reach senior positions more quickly than those working in non-digital industries.

Mr J BurrowsICT, Computer Science and Creative iMedia Team Leader

During June 2015, students and staff were carefully grouped into one of four Houses. The name and identify of the Houses were suggested and voted for by students. They are Churchill, Ennis, Nightingale and Ramsey, named after the legendary England and Ipswich manager Sir Alfred Ernest ‘Alf’ Ramsey.

Each House comprises 13 tutor groups with 20 students in each, spread across all years. Each House has a Head of House and Assistant Head of House, a House Captain and Vice-Captain, Sports Captain and Vice Sports Captain. This term we have appointed House Prefects, Form Ambassadors and just recently, ICT Ambassadors to add to our existing cohort of EAL Ambassadors. Each House comes together once a week for an assembly in the main hall.

Our aim is to improve learning and learning outcomes; improve learning relationships between staff and students; and improve learning behaviour and attitude.

As a community of over 1200 individuals, we want to see more care and kindness for one another. Older students are trained to be leaders and mentors of younger students, creating positive cross-age relationships not only in tutor time but at other times. With smaller tutor groups and two adults, there is more time to reflect and get to know our young people as individuals.

Key to helping our students reach their full potential is effective two-way communication between students, parents and staff. Tutors will be mentoring their students providing support and advice to ensure that academic progress is made and our students fulfil or exceed their potential. Tutors who know and have an interest in the welfare and progress of students as they grow up, will be the main point of contact for parents.

By the end of the autumn term, tutors will have held parent-tutor meetings with all students in the academy who are in years 7, 10, and 11. Mentoring meetings between students and tutors will have been held in school with those in years 9 and 8.

Parent partnership continues to improve and parents feel more involved with their child’s education as a result. Older students support younger ones with home learning, reading or friendship issues. House Captains, Sports Captains and Prefects now lead parts of the school, liaising with Heads of House and other subject leaders.

This is a change that we are already seeing reap benefits. As it grows, being a vertical tutoring academy will help us on our journey towards academy improvement and becoming a ‘‘good and eventually an outstanding school”.

Mr R HawkesAssistant Principal

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Mayor’s At Home ReceptionOn a lovely summer’s evening in July, the mayor of Ipswich, Councillor Glen Chisholm and his Consort, Clinton Chisholm hosted their first At Home reception at Westbourne Academy. Over 250 local dignitaries attended and a group of 30+ students ambassadors were invited to assist and support the mayor’s team of stewards on the night.

In September, the students were all invited to the Mayor’s Parlour so that he could express his thanks in person. Tea was served and the students had an opportunity to question the Mayor about his role. As well as the more obvious questions, like what are your duties, how much are you paid etc, there were also other classics such as when was the new Primark’s store due to open its doors?

We then moved to the Mayor’s private quarters where students had an opportunity to try on some of the Mayor’s official formal attire and sign the visitor’s book. The students were an absolute credit to the academy and I would like to thank all involved for are very memorable and civilised afternoon.

Mr A SmithDrama Team Leader

5 Make a positive footprint: We hear a lot about the negative footprints left behind online. The best way to keep your online reputation in check is to use your time online to get creative and create a positive footprint.

For example why not write a blog to promote all the great things you are doing, fundraise for a charity using an online sponsorship page or create a video to teach others something new.

Professional ReputationWhat is my online reputation?Your online reputation is the perception, estimation and opinion that is formed when you are encountered online. This could be when someone visits your social networking profile, but could also be when anyone reads a comment you posted on another profile. It could also be when someone sees your online photo albums or an image with you in it, indeed any instance or reference of you that either you posted or someone else did - what your digital footprint says about you.Your online reputation will be formed through:• Posts by you• Posts by others but about you or linked to you• Posts by others pretending to be you

Who does it affect?Everyone! Obviously it applies to those who post online, however as other people could be posting information about you, you don’t even have to have been on the internet before to have an online reputation! A recent survey conducted by AVG concluded that 23% of unborn children already have a digital footprint.

Why is online reputation important?Many businesses and celebrities value their online identity and reputation and go to extraordinary lengths to protect it, in many cases taking legal action.Your reputation should be important to you as it is a tool that others could and will use to make decisions about you. Clearly this could have a dramatic effect on your personal and professional lives, especially if your digital footprint is poor. Would you like a potential partner or employer to decide whether to see you or not purely based on your digital footprint? What does your profile picture or avatar say about you?

How is your online reputation different?Remember that the internet never forgets - when you post something online it will always be there.

Create a positive digital footprint onlineYour digital footprint is the mark that you leave behind when using the internet and can shape your online reputation. Your digital footprints are made up of the content you create, post and share; as well as the content that others post, and share, with you and about you.

To help you manage and maintain your online reputation, the UK Safer Internet Centre have devised a simple 5-point checklist:

1 Search yourself online: Do you know what is online about you? Do a simple web search of your name and see what you can find.

If you find something you aren’t happy with, take the necessary steps to get that content removed. Remember if your Facebook or Twitter pages appear you can change this by adjusting your privacy settings.

2 Check privacy settings: Make sure you know what information you are sharing on the websites you use, in particular on social networking sites. Most social networking sites have privacy settings to help you manage the content you share and who you share it with; you can decide if you want your posts to be shared with your online friends and followers only or with the public. Keep in mind that your friend’s content and their settings can also affect your digital footprint.

3 Think before you post: Before you post that funny picture of your friend, or make that joke about someone on Twitter, ask yourself do you want everyone to see it; friends, family, grandparents, future employers? Would you be happy for others to post that type of content about you? You should be proud of everything you post online, remember once it is online it could potentially be there forever!

4 Deactivate and delete: When you stop using a social networking profile or website, its a good idea to deactivate or delete your account. This will mean the content is no longer live and should not be searchable online; it will also remove the risk of these accounts being hacked without you knowing.

esafety

Radicalisation and the InternetThe internet brings marvellous opportunities to children and young people with the ability to learn new skills and visit websites which engage and enrich their lives. However, the internet also brings dangers such as online predators who will try and contact children through websites and software applications (‘Apps’).

More recently, there has been an increase in groups and individuals trying to approach young people to recruit them for political or religious ideas. This is known as online radicalisation and can be described as;

“The actions of an individual or group who use the internet and digital technology to groom a young person into following their extremist ideas.”There have been cases in the news over the past year of groups like Islamic State (ISIS) using the internet and social media to recruit young people to fight in the conflict in Syria. In addition, there are examples of right wing groups such as Britain First and the English Defence League using Facebook and Twitter to engage with internet users.

As a parent and carer, you need to be aware of the dangers of your child being targeted by online extremists. Here is some information to support you with the issue of online radicalisation.

PREVENTThis is the government strategy to target terrorist groups in the UK and abroad. The main focus is to prevent repeats of terrorist acts such as the devastating attacks that killed 52 people in London on the 7th July 2005. There are four strands to the strategy:

• Pursue – to stop terrorist attacks • Prevent – to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism • Protect – to strengthen our protection against a terrorist attack • Prepare – to mitigate the impact of terrorist attacks

Since 1st July, schools now have a legal duty to safeguard children from radicalisation. Staff are being trained to ensure that they know the signs and report any information to the designated safeguarding lead.

Parental / Carer SupportHere are some suggestions to support your child with the threat of online extremism:

Filter What They Can View Schools and home broadband connections all have settings that can block out extremist sites. Your internet service provider e.g. BT, Sky, Virgin all have tools which can minimise the ability to access specific sites. Mobile phone providers also have similar services which mean that they limit access to sites. However, it is important that your child can talk to you, if they come across information that they find disturbing or controversial. You can then support them with evaluating ideas or issues that are discussed on the internet.

Make Them Judge Internet ContentThere is a vast array of information on the internet and it is important that young people know that many groups will use it to spread propaganda about their views and opinions. Schools are focussed on making learners critical thinkers and at home, you should look at ways to help your child evaluate an internet site. Sites such as ‘Whois.net’ (https://www.whois.net/) enable users to look at who has set up an internet site and assess whether the creators have a particular bias.

Different Types of ExtremismIt is useful to note that there are different types of extremist behaviour on the internet. Much of the focus recently has been on religious and political radicalisation through Islamic State and the Far Right. However, young people can be radicalised in other ways including self-harm websites and pro-ana (anorexic) sites. It is important to monitor your child’s behaviour and, if they have issues around self-esteem and emotional well-being, then visit a health professional.

Challenge NarrativesAs young people progress through their teenage years, they will develop their opinions and ideas. Many develop political ideas based on views that they have of the world and issues that concern them. There is nothing wrong with this, but if you feel that your son or daughter is becoming excessive with their views, it might be that they are engaged with others promoting extremist ideology. The important role for a parent is not to panic and to talk to the school or others in the community.

Social Networking - Privacy SettingsSites such as Facebook and Twitter are common ways for extremists to target young people. By making contact with them, they can easily brainwash vulnerable users by linking to other sites which support their biased views. It is important that parents and carers discuss issues around privacy settings on social networking sites. Many individuals that target young people using grooming techniques and it is important that settings are enabled to reduce easy contact. Further information on using privacy settings on social network accounts can be found at Internet Matters (http://www.internetmatters.org/)

Report ExtremismIf you come across extremist material on the internet, you can report it to a dedicated government website (https://www.gov.uk/report-terrorism). This can include articles or speeches promoting terrorism or information to help individuals or groups commit acts of terror. All reports to the site are treated anonymously.

British ValuesMany groups will set out to try and divide communities and alter the views of children and young people by highlighting disunion. Britain is a very cohesive society and schools now educate students about the five important principles of:

• Democracy• Rule of law• Tolerance of those from different faiths• Individual liberty• Mutual respect

ChannelIf a young person is being radicalised through the internet or by other means, the government has a scheme called ‘Channel’ which supports them in a variety of ways to disengage with their extremist views. The programme offers the individual alternative activities and provides them with a mentor to help them channel their energies in different ways.

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We must remember that the internet provides many opportunities to support people and communities. In many ways it reflects society and whilst the majority of people use technology and the web for positive reasons, there will be those that use it for criminal purposes.

Whilst parents and carers may not be as ‘tech savvy’ as their children, it is important that they talk to them about their digital lives, so that they can share any worries or concerns.

Useful Links(CEOP) Think U Know: https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/Prevent Tragedies: http://www.preventtragedies.co.uk/Get Safe Online: https://www.getsafeonline.org/

GlossaryOnline radicalisation – method of using websites and social media to encourage an individual or group to adopt extremist political, social or religious viewsSocial media – websites and applications that enable users to create and share or to participate in social networkingChannel - multi-agency approach to identify and provide support to individuals who are at risk of being drawn into terrorism.pREVENT- government strategy to target terrorist groups in the UK and broad

DigitalEtiquetteIn October’s edition of the Digital Parenting Guide from Vodafone there are 11 rules for the mobile generation. You can read the full article online under the News page of our academy website: www.westbourne.attrust.org.uk/News/Digital-Parenting-advice/

These include: • Don’t overshare• Think before you post• It is a good idea to pay more attention to the people that you are with than to your devices• Don’t say anything online that you would not say face to face.

Thanks to the Suffolk County music Service, The Royal philharmonic Orchestra visited Westbourne Academy again in September to host another exciting workshop with our students in years 7 and 8 as well as pupils from Whitehouse primary School.

To coincide with October 2015 being the 50th anniversary of the Bond movies, the theme of the workshop was the music and soundtracks of James Bond. At the end of the day students had an opportunity to perform a piece of music that they had composed. Students said that ‘they found it really enjoyable and found the orchestra musicians very helpful and friendly’.

Mrs R TinklerTeam Leader for Music

RpO Workshop007 James Bond

Does your child have a part-time job?If so, they must have a Work permit, this includes Year 11s who have had their 16th birthday. Suffolk Bye-Laws say that children cannot get any job until they are 13. Without a permit a child is working illegally and is therefore not covered by the Employer’s Liability Insurance. A child working for a family member’s business, including their parents, requires a permit.

The hours compulsory school-age children can work are regulated by Suffolk County Council Bye-Laws. No child shall start work before 7am or after 7pm on any day of the week. School children can work a maximum of 12 hours a week in term time (2 hours a day). The number of permissible hours increases for 14, 15 and 16 year olds.

If your child has below average school attendance or poor punctuality then a Work Permit will not be issued or could be withdrawn.

To find out more please go towww.suffolk.gov.uk/childemployment

Welcome Reverend BrueckWe welcome to our community the Revd Jutta Brueck, Priest-in-Charge of St. Thomas Church (CofE) on Bramford Lane. Jutta moved to Ipswich from a church in Cambridge in October. She is German and came to the UK in 1988. Jutta looks forward to getting to know the community and we are delighted that she has agreed to host House assemblies on a regular basis.

LondonArt Trip In early November, 64 students from years 9 and 10 joined us for an exciting trip to London to visit the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Natural History Museum.

After an informative coach journey where students spotted many London attractions and heard random and interesting facts from a very knowledgeable driver, we arrived at the V&A Museum. Students had an opportunity to explore the gallery in small groups and then spent a couple of hours taking in the culture and atmosphere of the gallery.

Afterwards we took a short walk to the Natural History Museum. Students were able to spend the rest of the day sketching, capturing photos and experiencing the wonderful history, inspirational design and incredible creativity of the museum. For year 10 students the day provided an excellent opportunity to develop their current ‘Discovery’ project while some of our more able year 9 artists were also given a taste of themes that they could study at the GCSE level next year.

Students were very enthusiastic about the day and were a real credit to the academy.

mrs C RocheTeacher of Art

History Battlefields TripIn July, thirty-five students and four members of staff spent three days in Belgium and France visiting the cemeteries and battlefields of the First World War.

At the end of the war, poppies were the only plants to grow on the barren battlefields in Northern France and Flanders. In 1921, The Royal British Legion adopted the poppy as the symbol for the Poppy Appeal, in aid of those serving in the British Armed Forces. Its significance was brought to the public’s attention in John McCrae’s poem In Flanders Fields. McCrae was a Canadian military surgeon who wrote the poem whilst serving in Ypres in 1915.

A wreath was laid in memory of those who fell from the Suffolk Regiment at the Last Post Ceremony in Ypres. We visited the underground tunnels in Arras which were used to launch a surprise attack in 1917 and then the students had time to sample some local culture by exploring a French supermarket.

Having spent an afternoon on the Somme, going over the top, we then went to the Thiepval Memorial which was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and built between 1928 and 1932. The monument is 44.2 metres high and designed as a series of arches in the general form of a pyramid. Around the base of each arch are white bands of Portland stone which are inscribed with more than 72,000 names of those who died at the Somme. They have no known grave. Behind the memorial is a combined cemetery containing the graves of 600 British and French soldiers.

The following day, Mrs Potter took a party into Paris to visit the Eiffel Tower (where a marriage proposal was witnessed) whilst the rest of the group went to Disneyland Paris.

As always, our young people were great ambassadors for the academy and my colleagues and I enjoyed their company very much indeed.

ms p WalterTeacher of History

In October, sixty GCSE History students from year 10 spent a day at the Imperial War Museum Duxford to attend a seminar on the tactics used during the Vietnam War between 1955 and 1975. This experience enhanced student studies on Vietcong tactics which is a compulsory coursework question.

Imperial War Museum

We listened to a talk on the experiences of American soldiers fighting the Vietcong and then we had an opportunity to try on the uniforms worn by both the GIs and the VC. We were also able to handle the extremely heavy weapons and communication equipment that they carried and used in combat.

We learned that in spite of their advanced technology and weaponry, the Americans still lost the war in Vietnam. We then had time to explore the different parts of the museum, went on Concorde and saw Spitfires and Hurricanes from the Second World War.

All in all, it was a very enjoyable day and a worthwhile experience for our students.

ms p WalterTeacher of History

www.triplep.net

Helping Mums and Dads meet the challenges of raising children

Carole Williams, Senior Parenting Officer07921 941620 or 01473 433438 orAli Cuckow, Family Support WorkerSpringfield School07710 365988

Springfield Primary GroupBramford Road Church, 270 Bramford Road, Ipswich, IP1 4AY

Date: Tuesday 26th January 2016

Positive Mums Parenting ProgrammeTriple P

WHAT IS TRIPLE P ?This is part of the Triple P set of support for parents. Triple P is a worldwide, evidenced-based programme, with over 25 year’s experience, designed by the University of Queensland. See website; www.triplep.net

HOW LONG DOES THE PROGRAMME LAST?This is an 8-week course although three weeks are telephone calls so you only attend for 5 weeks. It is for parents and carers of young people in primary school. We aim to support parents early in making changes to help their children and prevent problems later on.

HOW WILL THE PROGRAMME HELP?In the course we look at influences on children’s behaviour; developing and maintaining good relationships; encouraging behaviours you want to see more of; helping young people learn the skills they need as they mature. We also present effective ways to help your child learn self-control and make good decisions and help you form a plan to manage behaviour. The strategies have been shown to be effective in managing many common problems. As parents, you are given the choice to decide what and how you want to use these ideas in your family. Individual knowledge and experience of your child is respected.

WILL I HAVE TO SHARE IN THE GROUP? Courses can be very supportive for parents; however there is no need to talk about personal experiences to take part in the group.

WHO CAN ATTEND?All mums and dads, carers and grandparents are also encouraged to attend.

WHAT DATE IS THE COURSE?The course starts on Tuesday 26th January 2016 at Bramford Road Church.

HOW DO I GET THERESpringfield Triple P will be located at Bramford Road Church, 270 Bramford Road, Ipswich IP1 4A. There is car parking in the nearby area and a frequent bus service to and from Ipswich town centre. Places may be booked and if you would like more information please contact:

It is now quicker and easier to apply for Free School Meals. For the majority of claimants you will no longer need to send proof of your benefits with the application form. Suffolk County Council will check your eligibility against the Government’s benefits database and, as long as you are in receipt of a qualifying benefit, the provision of Free School Meals will commence.

Your child will get a tasty, nutritious meal every day, you will save time and money on making lunches and the academy will receive invaluable Pupil Premium funding for every student registered. Visit the Parents page on our website to obtain more details and information in other language options. An application form is available from our Main Reception or from Student Services.

SCHOOLmEALSFREE

Who’s In ChArgeA group for parents of violent or beyond control children 8-18 years.This is a structured nine week program using group exercises, discussion, facilitator input and handouts to take parents through an experiential process of attitude and behaviour change. Topics covered include: causes of abusive or beyond-control behaviour (deconstructing some of the common myths and simplistic explanations); how much influence parents really have; feelings of entitlement in children; what is abuse?; what is “power” within families and why does acting irresponsibly give people power?

Aims of the Group:

• Reduce parents’ feelings of isolation.• Challenge parents’ feelings of guilt.• Loosen deterministic thinking about causes (e.g. “he can’t help it because he has ADHD or he saw his father be violent”) it is always multi-causal• Create belief in possibility of change.• Clarify boundaries of what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour.• Examine strategies for creating meaningful and practical consequences for unacceptable behaviour.• Reinforce progress and provide emotional support while parents attempt to become more assertive• Explore anger, both children’s and parents’• Encourage assertiveness• Encourage self-care• Reduce parent’s feelings of depression and powerlessness by the end of the course.

parents are the solution, not the problem!

For more information contact Carole Williams,Senior Parenting Officer at Ipswich BoroughCouncil 07921 941 620. Starts 18th January 2016.

adult learning courses

Family Learning

English and Maths

Computers and Technology

Skills for Work

Health and Well-being

Keep up-to-date with what your kids are learning at school.

Get those qualifications you didn’t get at school.

Learn new computer skills to help begin or advance your career.

Gain the confidence and skills to enhance your employment choices.

Explore new skills and build your confidence in a friendly environment.

0300 456 2050 www.rflearn.co.uk

Need Careers Advice? Free careers advice for people aged 18+. Face to face, over the phone, or online.

Call 0845 603 1059 Calls are charged at your local rate. www.triplep.net

Positive Mums Parenting Programme

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westbourne_academy

DATES FOR YOURTERm DATES 2015/2016

Autumn Term Begins Wed 2nd September 2015 Ends Fri 18th December 2015

Autumn Half Term Begins Mon 26th October 2015Ends Fri 30th October 2015

Christmas Holiday Begins Mon 21st December 2015Ends Fri 1st January 2016

NOTE: Colour and size are for representational purposes only

www.price-buckland.co.uk Price & Buckland Ltd, Benneworth Close, Hucknall, Nottingham. NG15 6EL E: sales@price-buckland.co.uk T: 0115 964 0827 F: 0115 964 0769

Date: 27/03/2014Version: 3

Visualisation for Westbourne Academy

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UNIFORmSHOPOpening Times(term time)Monday - FridayStudents8:00 - 8:25 &10:30 - 10:50Parents8:30 - 9:30

Spring Term Begins Mon 4th January 2016Ends Thu 24th March 2016pD Day: mon 4th January 2016

Spring Half Term Begins Mon 15th February 2016Ends Fri 19th February 2016

Spring Break Begins Fri 25th March 2016Ends Fri 8th April 2016pD Day: Thu 24th march 2016

Churchill House: 01473 466 172Ms C Salter, Head of HouseMiss K Anderson, Assistant Head of House

Ramsey House: 01473 466 171Mr D Payne, Head of HouseMrs A Banks, Assistant Head of House

Ennis House: 01473 466 170Mr C Arrow, Head of HouseMrs Clarke, Assistant Head of House

Nightingale House: 01473 466 169Mrs C Blanch, Head of HouseMr M Agate, Assistant Head of House

Safeguarding: 01473 466 156 Senior Designated Lead (SDL)Mrs C Cook, Assistant Principal:

Summer TermpD Day: Thu 21st July 2016Begins Mon 11th April 2016Ends Thu 21st July 2016

Summer Half TermBegins Mon 30th May 2016 Ends Fri 3rd June 2016

January4th Staff PD Day (Non-pupil Day)5th Students return after the Christmas break8th Year 11 Progression Interviews

march3rd Year 11 Parent Consultation Evening24th Staff PD Day (Non-pupil Day)

April1st Year 10 Parent Consultation Evening

may5th Year 7 Parent Consultation Evening

June30th Year 6 Parent Evening

July15th Year 11 Prom (provisional date/venue tbc)20th Last day of term for students21st Staff Training Day (Non-Pupil Day)

Alternate Designated Lead (ADL)Mrs C Clarke, Assistant Head of House: 01473 466 170

Named Safeguarding Governor: Mrs L Johnson

Chair of Governors Dr R Impey: 01473 466 136

Attendance & AbsencePlease telephone us on 01473 466 145 before 8.30am each day, if your child is going to absent from school or is going to arrive late to school. Please state your child’s full name, form group and reason for absence/lateness.

Please remember to notify the Attendance team on 01473 466 145 in advance of any known, regular absences, ie medical/orthodontal appointments, which cannot be arranged outside of the school day (8.25am - 2.50pm)Remember that you can also email us atattendance@westbourne.attrust.org.uk

ATT Admissions policy 2017-18 UNDER CONSULTATION The Academy Transformation Trust is consulting on their common Admissions Policy for the academic year 2017/18. The consulting period runs for a period of 6 weeks from 1st November to 31st December 2015. The body text for the proposed 2017/18 Admissions Policy is unchanged since the 2016/17 Admissions Policy was adopted across all of the Trust’s academies in July 2015. On this basis and in accordance with the Schools Admissions Code 2014, a full consultation is not required this year. At Westbourne Academy, the proposal is to reduce the PAN for our year 7 intake from 260 to 200 with effect from September 2017 onwards.

ASDA Community Room Whitehouse Industrial Estate, Goddard Road, Ipswich IP1 5PD On arrival please come to Customer Services for directions to the Community Room.

For more information call Bernie StephensonParenting Co-ordinator South West Ipswichon 07718 100 891

WEST IpSWICHpARENTING HUB

pARENTING HUBTHURSDAY 7th JANUARY10:30am-12:00pm in ASDA COmmUNITY ROOm

It’s the place to meet! Every 1st Thursday of the month. Come along and make new friends in your area over a coffee. Mums, Dad, Grandparents and Carers all welcome!

ADHD & AUTISmGuest Speaker: ANNIE CLEMENTS Discusses the challenges faced by the young people themselves, and those who support them.

THE GOVERNING BODY NEED YOUR HELp! Could you make time to become an academy Governor and help us to improve the educational experience of your child and every other child in the academy?

If you are interested in finding out more please call us on 01473 46136 and we will be very pleased to tell you more about the important work we do. Please think about it. It is a very rewarding and essential voluntary role.

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