Please see our Term 3 Newsletter below or alternatively click the following link to download - Term 3 Newsletter
Date 22/04/24
Dear Parents/Carers,
We hope you have had a safe and restful Easter break enjoying time with family and friends. We are excited to welcome back our pupils and hope they are ready for the new term. Term 3 is always a busy and important term as many of our pupils face a range of challenges particularly our Y6 and our KS4 pupils who will sit their SATS and GCSE exams and/or complete their BTEC qualifications. We do have lots of exciting activities and learning opportunities planned too including the introduction of our new super-size trampoline – thank-you to all those who have returned the permission slip for their child to use the apparatus (if you need another letter then please let the school office know).
Please find further information and reminders about any changes and upcoming events that will take place this term below:
Dates for your Diary
- GCSE exams start 29th May – 7th June; please see individual timetables sent from our exams officer including information regarding the rules and regulations that pupils must adhere to when sitting an exam
- SATs exams start 13th May – 16th May
- Y11 leavers trip, Thursday 27th June
- End of year reports to be sent home WB 8th July
- Whole school end of term rewards trip, Wednesday 17th July
- KS2 end of term celebration assembly, Thursday 18th July 1.30pm-2.30pm - parents and carers welcome to attend
- KS3 end of term celebration assembly, Friday 19th July 9.30am-10.30am – parents and carers welcome to attend
- KS4 end of term celebration assembly, Friday 19th July 12pm-12.30pm – parents and carers welcome to attend
- School will finish for Summer at the normal time of 1.15pm.
Behaviour Updates
As part of our positive relationships policy, and as evidence suggests time and time again, children respond better to praise and reward – at Willow Bank, our culture and ethos is driven on this understanding. We aim to identify and celebrate the positive behaviours as often as we can in order to instil a sense of self belief, positive role modelling and an effective attitude to learning however, this approach isn’t always effective, and it is important that pupils understand and follow the expectations of school. Recently, we have started to see a rising number in pupils refusing the occasional lessons, as you will agree our main priority and purpose is to educate your children. As such, as from Friday 26th April, we will be introducing Loss of Learning Detention
- Loss of Learning Detention
Loss of Learning Detention will take place every Friday 1.15pm-2pm for pupils who refuse lessons or do not work to their full potential. Pupils are required to stay after school to catch up on any work that they have missed. Please note, that pupils are offered a range of strategies and interventions to ensure they can access the learning or to prevent escalation or dysregulation and that Loss of Learning Detention is a consequence to a poor choice. If your child is required to attend a detention, then parents/carers will be informed via text. We expect parents/carer to arrange transport for their child however in extreme cases, school will arrange transport home. Further details about our positive relationships policy can be found on our website.
- Uniform
As part of creating an inclusive environment where we all belong to our Willow Bank community it is important that we follow our uniform expectations. Additionally, it is a key part of our health and safety policy. We expect pupils to wear dark trousers, a white polo top, black footwear, and our school jumper (we provide every new starter with a school jumper) – hats are not allowed. Further information regarding our uniform policy including where to purchase additional uniform can be found on our website.
- Form League Table
Last term we introduced a new rewards incentive, our Form League Table. This is a system that celebrates achievements from a range of areas including excellent examples of our Willow Bank Way. At the end of every half term the form with the most points will receive a reward – the children have really bought into this, and it’s created a sense of community (and friendly competition) across school… well done to KSEE who were the first form to top the league table. Please find our Willow Bank Way model below:
Finally, may we take this opportunity to thank you for you continued support in ensuring the healthy wellbeing and academic progress of your child – we appreciate it! We look forward to continuing to support and inspire your children’s thirst for learning to ensure the best possible outcomes for each and every member of our Willow Bank community.
If you have any questions or queries with any of the above changes then please do not hesitate to contact school.
Kind regards,
Kimberley Buck
Assistant Headteacher