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Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

As we come to the end of this term, I would like to thank all of you for your continued support. Your partnership makes an enormous difference to the life of our school, and we are very grateful for the encouragement you give both at home and at our events.

A particular highlight has to be ‘Annie’, quite simply one of the best musicals we have ever staged. With over 100 students involved, representing a wide range of ages, abilities and levels of need, it was a true celebration of inclusion and talent.  The performances were sensational. It was especially lovely to see lead roles taken not only by Year 11 students but also by Key Stage 3 pupils, demonstrating the depth of talent and confidence developing across the school.

Events like this build a powerful sense of belonging. When students work together towards a shared goal, rehearsing after school, supporting one another backstage, overcoming nerves and performing as a team, they experience what it means to be part of something bigger than themselves. That shared pride, teamwork and mutual encouragement strengthen friendships, develop resilience and create memories that stay with them long after the curtain falls. We are incredibly proud of every student who took part.

We would also like to wish our ski trip students and staff the very best of luck, and plenty of snow! We hope it is a fantastic experience for everyone involved.

Our thanks go to the Science department for organising the excellent Formula 1 trip. Opportunities like this bring learning to life and help students see the real-world application of what they study in the classroom.

A comment shared with me this morning particularly resonated.  A student expressed their appreciation for the amount our teachers are doing to support Year 11 students in the run-up to their exams. Staff are giving generously their time, and it is heartening that this is recognised.  We are equally grateful for the politeness, commitment and maturity our Year 11 students are showing in response.

As we approach the end of term, I would also like to update you on some staffing changes. Mr Koster will be leaving the Languages department, and we thank him for his contribution to the school and wish him every success in his next chapter. We are pleased to welcome back Miss Dupont from maternity leave, we know many students and colleagues will be delighted to see her return.

Miss Leonard will be retiring after more than 30 years of dedicated service to the school. She has given an enormous amount to the PE department over the years, supporting generations of students, running clubs and fixtures, and contributing hugely to the life of the school beyond the classroom. We thank her sincerely for her commitment and wish her a long and happy retirement.

Looking ahead to Easter, we are pleased to share that Miss Brown will be returning to the English department. We will also be welcoming a new Geography teacher to the team. Further information about these appointments will be shared soon.

Thank you again for your continued support. We look forward to another successful term ahead.

Best wishes,
Mrs May
Headteacher

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Miss Leonard is Retiring!

We are saddened to say goodbye to Miss Leonard who is retiring this term.

Miss Leonard has spent an incredible 31 years at Willingdon, starting her career in teaching with us back in 1994!   She started at Willingdon as a PE teacher, and then went on to develop the PE department when she was Head of Department.  She has been part of the Senior Leadership Team, and also led the International Students and the Duke of Edinburgh expeditions.  She has also led RSHE and Child Development.

We are aware there are many parents who have themselves attended Willingdon as a child and had Miss Leonard as either a teacher or even a tutor.  She has positively impacted so many generations.  The opportunities she has created for our student body within PE has been sensational and the staff development she has provided for many leaders now has been incredible.

We wish her the best of luck in her next adventures.  We are hoping she will be back at some point to do some cover, but we really hope she takes some time out first to enjoy her retirement.

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We’re pleased to let you know that the School Trips Calendar has now been added to the school website. This calendar will be updated as and when new trips are planned, helping parents and carers to look ahead and plan for upcoming opportunities throughout the year.

We are also excited to share the Term 4 Enrichment Clubs booklet is also available to view, through the same link. It includes a wide range of engaging activities for students to explore next term. We encourage families to take a look together to see which clubs spark their interest and perhaps even discover a new activity to try.

Please click here: https://willingdonschool.org.uk/learning/enrichment-programme

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https://www.justgiving.com/page/eileen-mccarthy-4

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If you haven't already, we would be grateful if you could take a few minutes to read and sign our Parents’ Charter, which sets out our Home-School Agreement.

To keep things simple (and to save our students carrying extra paperwork), we have made the form available electronically.

Our aim is for every family to complete this, and year teams will be in touch over the term to ensure we reach 100% returns.

Thank you for working with us to support your child’s learning and our school community

Willingdon Community School Parent Charter Agreement

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Invitation to Parents:

Invitation to join our AI Policy Parent Focus Group on Thursday, 26th March at 9am

Dear Parents and Carers,

We would like to invite you to take part in an upcoming Parent Focus Group focused on the future of AI use in our school community.  As we review and update our AI policy, we believe it is essential to include the voices, experiences, and expertise of our families.

We are particularly keen to hear from parents who have an interest in artificial intelligence, whether personally, professionally, or through your business. Your insights will help us shape a thoughtful, responsible, and forward‑looking approach to AI that supports our students’ learning, wellbeing, and digital literacy.

The forum will be an opportunity to:

Explore how AI is currently used in education

Discuss opportunities and concerns around AI for young people

Share perspectives from home and industry

Contribute to the development of our updated AI policy

We hope you will join us in this collaborative conversation and help us build a policy that reflects the values and aspirations of our whole community.

If you would like to attend, please complete this google form: Parent Focus Group - AI - Thursday, 26th March 9-10am

Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Best wishes,

Mrs May

Headteacher

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Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

We’ve noticed attendance dipped a little in the last week of term, and we hope everyone enjoys a good rest over the half‑term break so students can return feeling refreshed and ready for the spring term. We’ve also seen more medical appointments happening during the school day recently. If you’re able to arrange these outside school hours, we’d really appreciate it, though we completely understand this isn’t always possible for families.

Wishing all our students and families a relaxing, restorative break, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back with lots of energy and positivity for the term ahead!

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Want to get involved? You  can get involved in the National Year of Reading by sharing your reading ideas and questions here.

Year 7 Sparx Reader:

Sparx Reader is an effective way to improve careful reading: a skill needed for all subject areas. Sparx Reader homework was set on Monday of Term 3 Week 6 and is due on the first Monday back after half-term. This gave students a week of school time to complete and the option of reading over half-term to earn Sparx Reader Gold Stars!  Sparx Reader updates parents every Saturday on student progress.

Year 8 and 9  Students: Senior National Reading Quiz

Well done to the Year 8 and 9 students who formed our first ever team in this National Reading competition against 25 other schools in the South-East of England. They worked hard and showed a wide range of reading knowledge (graphic novels, classics, YA). Certificates are on the way! We are starting to form our team for next year to get in some training. Look out for notices next term.

Year 7 Literacy in Coaching Time: Developing Reading Strategy I Say, You Say

This Wednesday’s session was on the developing the reading strategy of I say, You say. Well done to students in 7ZKE, who have some consistently, fantastic work in their Term 3 Literacy booklets.

National Literacy Trust Survey

KS3 will continue to take part in February during school time. Our results will feed into national findings that help to influence how we build literacy skills in the UK.

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Parent/Carer Survey

Thank you to everyone who has taken part in our previous surveys. Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us.

We truly value your input in our parental surveys and the insight it provides into our school community.

The survey can be accessed using either the link below or the QR code and will be open from the 13th February until midday on Thursday 26th February.

https://participate.schoolsurveys.com/oH3T1D8pQkilpX5r

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Please click the link below to book your tour! Click here

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tcain@willingdonschool.org.uk

pastoral-11@willingdonschool.org.uk

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

What a great final week of term it has been for our Year 11 students!

A huge well done to everyone involved in the Annie performance. It was fantastic to see so many of our students taking part, both on stage and behind the scenes. From the performers to the backstage crew, lighting and sound teams, the effort, confidence and teamwork on display were something to be very proud of.

We also say bon voyage to those students heading off on the ski trip. We wish them a safe journey and an amazing week on the slopes. It promises to be a fantastic experience and we look forward to hearing all about it when they return.

We are also delighted to welcome back Miss Dupont from maternity leave to the coaching team. I know she is very much looking forward to working with the students again during this important stage of the year.

As we look ahead to Term 4, attendance becomes more important than ever. These final few weeks in the run up to exams are crucial, and attending as much as possible, and being punctual each day, really does make a difference. Every lesson counts, and we want students to maximise all the opportunities available to them as they prepare for their exams.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. We are incredibly proud of the maturity and commitment Year 11 have shown this term, and we are excited to see them finish the year strongly.

The Year 11 Team

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lgordon@willingdonschool.org.uk

pastoral-10@willingdonschool.org.uk

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

It has been a successful final week of term at school for Year 10, with students demonstrating excellent focus and commitment to their learning during the week. During this week’s lesson walkthroughs, students were extremely focused and fully engaged in learning topics as they preparing for their upcoming mock examinations, which begin on Monday, 13th April.

Students should now be actively revising across all subjects to ensure they are fully prepared for their mock exams. This is an important opportunity for them to practice exam techniques, identify areas for improvement, and build confidence ahead of the summer term. We encourage you to support your child in creating a structured revision timetable to help them prepare effectively for their exams.

There have been some particular highlights this week. In Design and Technology, students have been developing and creating prototypes for their current project, demonstrating creativity, technical skill and thoughtful design processes. In Music, students showcased impressive subject knowledge and understanding reading and interpreting music confidently and responding to questioning at a Grade 8 level which is a fantastic achievement. Well done to all in the class.

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During coaching time this week, students have also been developing their knowledge and understanding on internet safety as part of Internet Safety Week 2026. Lesson tasks have promoted thoughtful discussion between students about online risks, digital responsibility, and how to keep themselves safe online. It has been encouraging to see students engaging maturely with this important topic and reflecting on how they can make safe and informed choices in the digital world.

We are also looking forward to our Year 10 Positive Progress Evening when we return after half term. This will be a valuable opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and next steps as they move through this important stage of their education. Please see the details for the event below.

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Year 10 Positive Progress Evening – Thursday 5th March

We would like to invite you to our Year 10 Positive Progress Evening on Thursday 5th March, from 3:15pm to 6:15pm. This evening provides an important opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, wellbeing, and experiences so far this year. It is also a valuable chance to strengthen the partnership between home and school in supporting your child’s personal and academic development.

Appointments will be available to book via Edulink One from Thursday 12th February at 6:00pm. A short guide on how to make a booking can be found here: https://youtu.be/d99kiS3BLWw?si=CNtu7xAZRtHRpmFM

Please note that all bookings must be made through Edulink One, not Arbor. At present, Edulink One remains our main parent portal until such time as Arbor provides similar features within their parent app. If you have forgotten your Edulink login details, you can reset your password by clicking ‘Forgotten Password’ at the login screen.

If you require further technical assistance with Edulink, please contact our IT support team by email at help@willingdonschool.org.uk or by phone on 01323 481100 between 8:00am and 4:00pm. We strongly encourage all parents and carers to attend, as these meetings will help ensure your child receives the very best support, both at school and at home. Parking will be available on the school playground.

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Well done to 10AME reaching the top of the leaderboard this week and winning the Sparx Maths homework competition, 65% of the coaching group achieving 100% with their Maths homework, we hope you enjoy your biscuit reward!

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Meet the Team

It was a pleasure to spend time catching up with the three students that were attended ‘Treats with the Team’ this week. The students were rewarded with a hot chocolate and a chocolate bar to celebrate their focus and ambition they consistently demonstrated towards their learning at school.

Thank you for your ongoing support this term and we wish all students a restful half term break.

Year 10 Team

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Year 10 – Adam’s Light Workshop

In Term 4, we will be welcoming Lauren Carvalho from Adam’s Light to deliver a workshop to Year 10 students during their RSHE lesson, focusing on suicide prevention.

We recognise that this is a sensitive and potentially upsetting topic. However, it is also an important opportunity to provide students with age-appropriate education, awareness, and information about support services, helping to promote prevention and wellbeing.

If you have any concerns or would prefer that your child does not attend this workshop, please contact us at gstables@willingdonschool.org.uk .

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Mr Keast and Ms Johnson - Joint Head of Year 9

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lkeast@willingdonschool.org.uk

cjohnson@willingdonschool.org.uk

pastoral-9@willingdonschool.org.uk

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

Congratulations to 9CFR and 9TST who are the winners of this term’s Coaching Group Challenge! As a reward for their fantastic effort and teamwork, both groups will be enjoying a special movie event, well done to everyone involved.

Next term, we’re excited to launch the Good Egg Challenge, which will be open to all students in the year group. This is a great opportunity for everyone to get involved and make a positive contribution. Further details will be shared soon, watch this space!

As part of their STEM programme, Year 9 students recently spent an inspiring day at Williams F1. They took part in hands-on workshops and enjoyed a tour exploring the evolution of Formula 1 vehicles. Students discovered how science, technology, engineering and mathematics combine to power a winning team, gaining a real insight into the innovation and teamwork behind elite motorsport.

In coaching time this week, as part of our internet awareness focus, students have been reflecting on how they use technology in their daily lives. In particular, they have been discussing the benefits and potential risks of artificial intelligence, exploring how AI can be a powerful tool for learning when used responsibly, while also understanding the importance of critical thinking, online safety and digital integrity.

A huge congratulations to Sonny-Ray, who achieved an outstanding personal best of 14.73 metres in the shot put, earning a bronze medal at the Under 15 England Indoor Championships in Sheffield. This is an incredible achievement at national level, we are very proud of you!

We would also like to recognise the fantastic effort of our Year 9 students who reached the final stage of Poetry By Heart. Reaching the finals is a significant accomplishment and reflects the dedication and talent within the year group.

Well done to all of our students for representing Year 9 so positively!

Finally, as we approach half term, we know that everyone is feeling tired and ready for a well-earned break. However, attendance this week has been a particular concern, at times falling as low as 86%. Of course, students should not be in school when they are genuinely unwell, but building resilience and maintaining strong attendance is crucial, especially as we move closer to GCSE courses and the increased expectations of Key Stage 4. Every lesson counts, and being present makes a real difference to progress and confidence.

The Year 9 Team

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Last week, one of our very talented student athletes got a PB in the Shot Put of 14.73 and ended with a bronze medal at the England Athletics U15 National Indoor Championships 2026 in Sheffield.

Congratulations, what an achievement! We are very proud to have you at Willingdon.

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YEAR 9 – IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM AND HOLOCAUST EDUCATION SESSION

Monday 20th April 2026 7.00am – 5.30pm

Dear Parent/Carer

We are arranging a trip for Year 9 students to visit the Imperial War Museum in London. As part of the trip, students will have time to explore the displays which include exhibitions on World War One, World War Two and Peace and Security 1945 to 2014.  This is a fantastic opportunity to support and enhance your child’s knowledge of 20th century History and for them to engage with historical artifacts from photographs and letters to a Spitfire and a T34 tank. During the day the students will also engage with museum staff who will run an education session focussed on the Holocaust, students will then have an opportunity to visit the Holocaust gallery.

The coaches will be leaving from school promptly at 7.15am, so students will need to arrive and register with staff in the canteen at 7.00am.  Please consider how your child will get to school, as the coaches have to leave Willingdon before the school buses arrive.

We anticipate arriving back at school at approximately 5.30pm.  Students are expected to wear their school PE kit so that they are easily identifiable and so that they have comfortable walking shoes for the museum.  A packed lunch will be required.  If your child is entitled to free school meals, please indicate this when you make your payment on ParentPay and this can be collected before we depart.

If your child suffers with travel sickness that requires medication not currently held in school, they will need to take the medicine before they travel in the morning and you will need to provide the medication in a named box, to be administered by a member of staff, before we travel back.  If medication is required, please indicate this when you make your payment on ParentPay.  Students with asthma should carry their inhalers with them.

We have 44 places on the trip.  The cost for the whole trip is £40.50, which covers all travel and venue costs.  To confirm your child’s place on the trip, would you kindly pay via ParentPay. The payment will secure your child’s place on the coach and the trip will operate on a first come first served basis.  ParentPay will open on Monday, 16th February at approximately 3pm.

If you have any questions or queries please contact Ms Hardwick jhardwick@willingdonschool.org.uk or Mrs Hughes lhughes@willingdonschool.org.uk.

Poor behaviour/low attendance will not be tolerated at Willingdon Community School. Therefore, we reserve the right to cancel a student’s participation in a trip if behaviour /attendance does not reach our expected high standards.

Please ensure all medical information held on Arbor is up to date before the trip date.

Kind regards,

The History department

Willingdon Community School.

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aroche@willingdonschool.org.uk

pastoral-8@willingdonschool.org.uk

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

As we complete the final week of the new term in 2026, I would like to say how proud I am of the continued effort that our Year 8 students are putting into school life. Not only are they excelling within the classroom, but they are also achieving highly in many areas beyond school. They continue to demonstrate our school values of ambition, respect, courtesy, honesty and compassion, and Miss Turner and I are very proud to be part of their journey.

This week, I would particularly like to recognise the outstanding efforts of many of our Year 8 students in the school production of Annie Jr. After weeks of dedicated rehearsals, their hard work culminated in magnificent performances on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, alongside several daytime performances for younger students and visiting Year 6 pupils from Willingdon Primary School. A huge congratulations to everyone involved, we are extremely proud of what they achieved.

We also had a number of Year 8 students working alongside Year 9 students this week, researching careers where speaking another language would be a significant advantage. It is important that students begin to explore apprenticeship pathways and future career opportunities, and to understand how language skills can benefit their future prospects.

Next term, we will be continuing our careers focus with the What’s Your Line? programme, where guest speakers from a range of professions will be visiting the school to talk to students about future opportunities. It is never too early for students to begin thinking ahead, particularly as they start to consider the courses they may wish to follow at GCSE. This programme provides valuable insight into the wide range of pathways available to them.

Earlier in the week, Year 8 students took part in the Senior National Reading Championships. We are incredibly proud of the teamwork and knowledge they demonstrated throughout the competition.

A special mention goes to:

Finn W

Isla C

Myla C

who were invited to have hot chocolate with the Headteacher in recognition of their outstanding effort and performance throughout the week.

Congratulations also to:

Sheldon H

Samuel G

Mia LB

Sophia V

Bobby H

They received chocolate treats in recognition of their excellent work.

Well done to 8EMC for excellent attendance this week hitting 98%

On Tuesday, Miss Turner also had the pleasure of attending the Buzz Active activities at Bushy Wood, where students took part in a range of outdoor, team building exercises. It was wonderful to see our Year 8 students challenging themselves, stepping outside their comfort zones and excelling in everything they did. Well done to all involved. We are very proud of you.

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As we finish the term, I would once again like to thank all parents and guardians for your continued support. We hope you all have a restful break, and we look forward to welcoming students back at the end of February.

The Year 8 Team

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Mrs Naylor & Mrs Muller - Joint Head of Year 7

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lnaylor@willingdonschool.org.uk

pmuller@willingdonschool.org.uk

pastoral-7@willingdonschool.org.uk

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

As a team we cannot believe this is the final week in Term 3, where are the weeks going? It certainly has been a bleak , wet term, however this has not got our students down with the vast majority still throwing themselves 100% in to school life and performing to the best of their ability in all lessons.

This week has seen our school’s production of Annie being performed on 2 evenings. It was an outstanding production involving many of our Year 7’s both on stage and behind the scenes. The rest of the year group were lucky enough to be given the opportunity to watch it during lessons this Wednesday as a special treat. Massive congratulations to Mrs McCarthy and all those involved in this amazing performance.

This week also sees Mr Koster leave Willingdon and we wish him well in his next chapter. Unfortunately Mr Koster has not been able to be in school for a number of weeks, and I know his coaching group have really missed him and will be sad to hear he is not returning after the half term. However, he is being replaced by Miss Jefferies, a newly appointed English teacher, who has already completed some of her teacher training  with us as part of her university course. As a newly qualified teacher, I know she is really excited to be taking on 7RKO as their coach, and we look forward to welcoming her as part of the Year 7 team!

Finally, we would like to wish you all a restful week next week, the Year 7s certainly deserve the break! Please can you have a quick uniform and pencil case check over the week to ensure all is in good order and fully stocked ready to start Term 4.

Happy Half term

The Year 7 Team

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REMINDER – NOW LIVE ON PARENTPAY

Dear Parent/Carer,

Re: Year 10 Careers Fair – Thursday 12th March

On Thursday 12th March, Year 10 students will have the opportunity to attend a careers fair at Eastbourne Sports Park. The event will allow students to speak with a wide range of further and higher education providers, training organisations, and local businesses. This trip has been kindly arranged by Ratton School and is free of charge.

Students will travel to Eastbourne Sports Park by coach for a one-hour session during the school day and will return before the end of the school day. A selection of the organisations attending the fair is listed below.

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There are 90 spaces available, which will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Although the trip is free, we ask that you still book a place via ParentPay, where the cost will be set to £0. Bookings will be available on ParentPay from Tuesday 10th February at approximately 9:00am.

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours faithfully,

Sarah Rooney

Careers Adviser

srooney@willingdonschool.org.uk

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