As we reach the end of what has been a full, lively, and rewarding term, I want to take a moment to reflect on everything our community has achieved together. The final weeks have been especially positive, and it has been wonderful to see students engaging so enthusiastically with the opportunities available to them.

A particular highlight has been the trip to Valencia. We are incredibly grateful to the staff who have worked tirelessly to organise and accompany this visit. Trips of this scale take months of planning, and we deeply appreciate the commitment shown by the team. We hope our students are having a fantastic time, broadening their horizons, and creating memories that will stay with them long after they return.

This term also brings some changes to our staffing. We say goodbye to Mr Werritt, who has been a valued member of our team. Although he is stepping away from his full‑time role, we may still see him around the school from time to time supporting with cover lessons, which we are very pleased about.

At the same time, we are delighted to welcome two highly experienced colleagues. Miss Brown rejoins the English Department, bringing her strong subject knowledge and passion for literature, while Miss Belbin joins the Geography Department. Both bring a wealth of experience and knowledge, and we are very happy to have them as part of our staff team.

Looking ahead, we are busy preparing for a very special milestone: the 70th anniversary of Willingdon School. This is a significant moment in our history, and we want to celebrate it in a way that reflects the spirit, achievements, and community values of the school. We would love to hear from former students who may have ideas, memories, or offers of support. Our alumni have always played an important role in shaping the identity of Willingdon, and their involvement would mean a great deal. If you would like to contribute in any way, please contact me at talktous@willingdonschool.org.uk.

I would also like to extend a heartfelt thank‑you to our prefect team, who have shown maturity, leadership, and commitment throughout the year. They have been excellent role models for younger students and have contributed significantly to the smooth running of school life. As they hand over their responsibilities to our Year 10 students, we are confident that the new team will take on the role with the same sense of pride and responsibility.

Year 10 will also be sitting their mock exams shortly after we return, so while we hope they enjoy a well‑deserved break, we also encourage them to set aside some structured revision time to help them feel prepared and confident.

A reminder that school resumes on Monday, 13th April. Students should arrive by 8.25am so that we can begin promptly at 8.30am. Starting the term on time and ready to learn makes a real difference to the rhythm of the weeks ahead.

I would also like to address an important matter regarding parking around the school site. Recently, some of our neighbours have experienced unpleasant behaviour from a small number of parents during drop‑off and pick‑up times. This is not acceptable, and it does not reflect the values of our school community. Please ensure that you park safely, legally, and respectfully, and help us maintain positive relationships with those who live near the school. A little patience and courtesy go a long way.

As we head into the Easter break, I want to wish every member of our community a restful, enjoyable, and refreshing holiday. Thank you for your continued support, your kindness, and your commitment to making Willingdon a place we can all be proud of.

Best wishes,

Mrs May

Headteacher

Year 7 Literacy in Coaching Time: Developing the Reading Strategy of Reading Backwards and Forwards

This Wednesday’s session was all about going back over a text to clarify an idea or find a new piece of information. There has been some excellent work in the literacy booklets this term. Look out for some reward points coming to your coaching group.

Sparx Reader

Year 7 have averaged 95.5% completion rate on Sparx Reader to 100% SRP.  Sparx Reader homework has been set this week and is due on Monday 13^th April. This means students have three weeks to complete their usual week’s task! Let’s see if we can reach 100% completion rate. Setting aside a regular time to complete careful reading each week builds resilience and stamina. For those students looking for a challenge, the holidays are a great time to pick up points and earn a gold reader pass.  

Coming soon… in-person author visits!

We have two fantastic in-person author visits lined up for April and July. These are great opportunities to be inspired and learn more about the creative industries. More details to come in at the start of term 5. Keep an eye-out on ParentPay for opportunities to purchase books by the visiting authors. Check out the library for author visit clues!

https://empathylab.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2026-Read-for-Empathy-collection-guide-secondary.pdf

#inmyshoesWCS

Empathy Day will shortly be with us in June and we are looking forward to sharing some of the thoughtful, empathetic reviews KS3 students have added to our termly #inmyshoesWCS reading challenge. Looking for ways to read for empathy? Try these ideas:

pastoral-11@willingdonschool.org.uk

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

We had the privilege of watching the Drama students complete their assessed practical performances this week. On Monday after school, an external examiner joined us, along with parents and carers to see the students in action. The performances were simply outstanding and Miss McCarthy shared her praise for the students who now only have theoretical elements of the course to complete.

The BTEC Dance class choreographed and performed a 7 minute routine as part of their final assessment recently too. The students have spent the past two terms working together to select music, costume, props and appropriate technical skills to portray a message to their audience. The PE Dept are very proud of their maturity and hard work; both pieces were brilliant! Please see photos of the groups below.

pastoral-10@willingdonschool.org.uk

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

Well done to Year 10 for a very successful Term 4 at school.

This week, we have seen a very positive improvement in Year 10 attendance each day, and we hope this continues into Term 5. Strong attendance will be especially important as students prepare for their upcoming mock examinations which commence the first week back in Term 5.

A key focus this week during assembly and coaching time has been preparation for the Year 10 mock exams. The assembly was led by Mr Gordon and Mr Dubas-Fisher, who shared important information and guidelines for the exams, alongside motivational support and practical preparation strategies.

Throughout coaching sessions this week, students have also been introduced to a range of effective revision techniques, as well as strategies to help them manage their time in the lead-up to their exams.

cjohnson@willingdonschool.org.uk

pastoral-9@willingdonschool.org.uk

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

As we come to the end of another busy and successful term, I wanted to take a moment to congratulate our Year 9 students on all of their hard work and achievements. It has been a fantastic term, and I have been consistently impressed with the effort, resilience and positive attitude shown across the year group.

On Wednesday, we had the pleasure of welcoming a truly inspirational Year 11 student from Gildredge House, who spoke to our students about his responsibilities as a young carer. It was a powerful and moving assembly, and I was incredibly proud of the way our Year 9 students conducted themselves. They showed a great level of respect, empathy and maturity throughout.

On Thursday morning, both Year 8 and Year 9 students enjoyed a well-earned reward event in the hall, taking part in a film morning complete with popcorn while watching Despicable Me. This was part of our “Good Egg” Easter Challenge, which required students to maintain at least 95% attendance across the whole of Term 4, alongside achieving no more than 10 behaviour points. I am delighted to share that 144 Year 9 students (approximately 61% of the year group) met this challenge, a tremendous achievement and something they should be very proud of. An extra special mention must go to the 42 students who achieved 100% attendance and zero behaviour points across the entire term. This is an outstanding accomplishment and reflects exceptional commitment, attitude and consistency.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support, it plays such an important role in the success of our students.

Wishing you and your families a restful and enjoyable Easter break. We very much look forward to welcoming students back in April for the start of the new term.

The Year 9 Team

pastoral-8@willingdonschool.org.uk

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

I would like to start by saying what a fantastic end to the spring term it has been for our Year 8 students.

Last week, Mr Scowen and I held a “thank you” assembly for the year group, where we shared how proud and impressed we are with the maturity and commitment shown by all students. We also extended our thanks to the coaching teams, whose dedication to the wellbeing and development of Year 8 students continues to make a real difference.

It has been particularly pleasing to see how the year group is maturing and preparing well for the next stages of their education, including their GCSE options in the future. Attendance has been excellent, remaining above 95% in the final week of term, which is a fantastic achievement. It is always great to see students in school, engaged in their learning and working hard.

Whilst I have been in Valencia, Miss Turner has carried out a number of learning walks and has reported very positively on how well students are performing in lessons. We have also recognised and rewarded students who have excelled in both attendance and achievement points this term. These students enjoyed a rewards video on Thursday morning, along with treats, and some of our top performers were additionally recognised with special rewards. Well done to all those who consistently make the right choices, we are very proud of you.

I would also like to thank the coaching groups who have been involved in charity work recently, particularly those who contributed to the bake sale. This was a great success, and it was wonderful to see students supporting such worthwhile causes and helping others.

It has truly been a fantastic end to the term. I would like to take this opportunity to say how impressed I have been with the 30 Year 8 students who have been on the Valencia trip. They have conducted themselves with great maturity, embraced new experiences, immersed themselves in a different culture, and represented the school exceptionally well.

Wishing you all a relaxing and restful Easter holiday.

The Year 8 Team

pmuller@willingdonschool.org.uk

pastoral-7@willingdonschool.org.uk

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

Throughout this term , our Year 7s have been working really hard on not getting any behaviour points, and being in school every day so they qualify for our Easter Attendance and Behaviour Challenge. Today we had over 70 

students successfully achieve this, winning lots of chocolate eggs!  Well done to all involved!

With the 2 week holiday looming fast, and perhaps more spare time for our Year 7s to be on their phones, please can we take this opportunity to remind parents to monitor carefully your child's phone and in particular the photos they have taken or are using when making TikToks etc. Unfortunately, we have had several issues this term where students have taken or used other peoples photos without permission, and re-posted them on other platforms. We have spoken to the year group about this, but please can we ask for increased vigilance from parents to help ensure students are not putting themselves in a position where a sanction might be issued for something they have posted.

Can we please also ask during the holidays that uniform / shoes etc be checked for size, and maybe items replaced, if necessary, and pencil cases replenished. 

Finally, we would like to wish you all a fantastic Easter Break. We hope it's a fun and restful one, and we look forward to seeing our Year 7s back for Term 5!

The Year 7 Team

Year 9 - Big Futures Show – Tuesday 28^th April 2026

I am writing to inform you of an exciting opportunity for our Year 9 students.

The Big Futures Show is a careers event which is organised by the Eastbourne Education Business Partnership and comprises of approximately 80 stands representing local companies, colleges, and sixth forms.

Your child has the opportunity to attend this event, which offers valuable insight into future pathways. Students will be able to meet representatives from prospective colleges & sixth forms and take part in interactive sessions led by visiting companies.

The date for the show is Tuesday, 28^th April and is being hosted at Eastbourne Sports Park, Cross Levels Way, BN21 2UF. We will travel there by coach for a slot, from 9.30-11.00am, then return to school for the remainder of the day.

There are 45 spaces available, and it is therefore on a first come first served basis. We kindly request that each student pays a contribution of £10.70, payable via ParentPay, to cover the entrance fee and transport costs. This will be live in ParentPay at 9a.m, on Monday 30^th March.

If you would like your child to attend, but require support with payment, please do contact me on the below email address.

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

Yours faithfully,

Sarah Rooney

Careers Adviser

srooney@willingdonschool.org.uk

We are pleased to inform you that we are now able to offer the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award to our Year 9 students.  The Duke of Edinburgh is a highly regarded award that recognises the commitment that young people dedicate to all sorts of activities outside of their regular school life.  The award comprises four sections and students need to complete all sections to achieve the Bronze Award. 

1. Skills/ 2. Physical / 3. Volunteering/ 4. Expedition

The total cost of the Bronze Award is £321.50 (based on a minimum cohort of 20 students) which covers the cost of enrolment and the expedition.  The initial enrolment payment of £96.50 needs to be paid on ParentPay by Monday, 13^th April 2026.  This deposit payment is non-refundable and will secure the outdoor provider that is facilitating the expedition taking place in June 2026.   Three further instalments are due as below though you are quite welcome to pay in full at any time.  If you should need to discuss additional instalments, or if you believe that your child may be entitled to some funding support if they are Pupil Premium registered, for example, please email lcollins@willingdonschool.org.uk

·         Deposit £96.50 –                  13/04/2026

·         1^st instalment £75.00 –            30/04/2026

·         2^nd instalment £75.00 –           15/05/2026

·         3^rd instalment £75.00 –            01/06/2026

Duke of Edinburgh enrichment club will be held on Thursdays every week in G2 from 3-4pm.  During this time, they will be fully supported through the completion of the DofE portal and receive further information on what evidence to use and how to upload it.

The expedition phase of the award is two days hiking different routes and camping overnight at Blackland Farm.  Students will not be able to complete the expedition phase of this course if any overdue payments are outstanding.   Once the deposit is received, a google form will be sent out to collect the relevant permissions for each student.

Arrangements for the Expedition: Monday 1^st - Tuesday 2^nd June 2026

·         8.30am - parents/carers drop their child off at Blackland Farm

·         9.00am – start of the 2-day expedition phase, led by staff at Blackland Farm then overnight camping.

·         4.00pm, Tuesday 2^nd June – students to be collected from Blackland Farm by parents/carers.  Students will only be allowed to leave the site once all their kit is returned and checked off, followed by a debrief with their assessor.

For further information on the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award and to ensure that you are aware of the level of commitment for your child, please visit https://www.dofe.org/

If you have any queries or questions, please email lcollins@willingdonschool.org.uk.  Students are welcome to drop in with any questions to G2 any lunchtime.

Mrs L Collins

D of E Co-ordinator

We’re planning some fun, hands-on cooking classes for children at Willingdon Secondary School and would love to hear from you!

If you’re interested in a place for your child(ren), please email kavi@cookstars.co.uk to let us know.

Once we have an idea of numbers, we’ll be in touch with full details and booking information.

Spaces are limited to just 15 children and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis – so don’t miss out!

We plan to start this club on Tuesday after school from

3pm – 4pm after the Easter break.

We request that all students intending to attend for any session, complete the following form to register their interest so that we are aware of approximate numbers that need accommodating for: https://forms.gle/Leuq5fjWQ6bFvFuN6

We wish all students and parents/carers an enjoyable Easter break. Hopefully one full of a good balance of revision and preparation for the GCSE Exams, along with the chance to rest and recharge energy levels for the term ahead.

Thank you as always for your continued support.

The Year 11 Team

Finally, students have two weeks until their Year 10 mock exams begin on April 13th, we would appreciate your support in encouraging your child to prepare effectively and be revising for their exams.

Easter Holiday Revision

To support Year 10 preparing for their exams, we are opening IT2 during the Easter holidays for Year 10 to use for independent study and exam preparation. During the first week of the holidays Monday- Thursday 9-11am and the second week Tuesday-Friday 9-11am. If your child would like to come into school and use IT2 which will be supervised by staff to get support and use a computer, please complete the linked google form

https://forms.gle/PzRtg9DhW2DnRz99A

Key information for Year 10 Mock Exams

- 8.30am exams, students to go straight to coaching time where they will be called down to exam, a coaching group at a time.

- 11.25am exams, students line up on playground in rows matching their seat row in the sports hall.

- Students line up quietly, and in silence when and are silent when entering the sports hall until they leave.

- Students needed to be on time to start, line up ready at 8:30am and 11.25am.

- Students to have all equipment out of bag ready to go;

1.      Clear see-though pencil case

2.     Black pen to write with

3.     Calculator (when needed with case removed)

4.     Clear water bottles with sports lid no logos

-  Students to place bags on floor in taped off area before going into exam hall.

- Mobile phones must be turned off in the bottom of their bags along with watches.

- When not in an exam, students will attend their normal timetabled lessons.

The Year 10 Team

Year 10 Taster Days

We are pleased to share details regarding the upcoming Year 10 college and sixth form taster days taking place in June and July. These visits allow students to spend a day at a post‑16 provider and explore potential subjects that they may be interested in studying after Year 11.

Students may select one taster day and book using the links in the chart below.

Once you have selected a taster day, please register via Edulink to confirm that your child will be attending and therefore absent from school on that date.

There will be further opportunities later in the year to attend college open evenings with your child. We will share details in the community bulletin and on our social media channels once they are available.

Please note that Willingdon Community School does not provide transport for taster days and students will need to make their own way to and from the college.

If you have any questions, or would like information about a college not listed above, please contact me on 01323 485254 ext 281 or email.

srooney@willingdonschool.org.uk.

Best wishes,

Sarah Rooney

Careers Adviser

Plumpton College

Y10 Plumpton College Taster Day - 29th June

Y10 Plumpton College Taster Day - 6th July

DV8 Sussex Y10 Taster Event - DV8 Sussex

Bexhill Y10 Taster Day - Bexhill College

BACA Y10 Taster Day - BACA

As we move into the Easter break, we want to take a moment to celebrate the fantastic attendance we’ve seen throughout Term 4. Consistent attendance plays such an important role in helping our students learn, achieve, and feel confident in school, and it’s wonderful to see so many pupils showing such commitment.

Thank you to all our students, families, and staff for working together to keep attendance strong. Your dedication truly makes a difference.

Wishing everyone a safe, healthy, and happy Easter break. 🐣🌼

We look forward to welcoming students back refreshed and ready for Term 5.

Dear Parents and Carers,

Following student, parent and staff voice, we have worked with Stagecoach to review the bus timetable for taking children home.

As a result, the timetable has been adjusted so that it now aligns more closely with the end of our school day. We hope this will make pick up more efficient for the many students who travel home by bus.

With buses arriving closer to the end of the school day, students should spend less time waiting on site. This will also reduce the need for staff to organise and supervise long queues while children wait for their buses, helping the process run more smoothly and safely for everyone.

See the updated bus timetable below for your reference.

Thank you for your continued support.

Mrs E May
Headteacher

After the Easter holidays, we will be welcoming two new members of teaching staff. As a result, some timetable changes will take place, affecting a small number of students. These changes may include a different teacher, a change of classroom, or in a few cases, a different lesson time.

All updates have now been made on our system and will be visible on student timetables via Edulink when the date is moved forward.

To support students in identifying these changes, a new printed timetable will be issued to all students during coaching time on the first day back after the Easter holidays.

Dear Parents and Carers

As we come to the Easter break, teachers have noticed that some students don’t have all the equipment that they had at the beginning of the year: pens have run out or gone missing.

Please can you check your child’s pencil case and replace any items that are lost or that have run out.

Please see the list of items below that your child needs for school. If your child has all the right equipment for every lesson, they will be able to start working straight away and will be confident to complete all tasks.

If you find it hard to buy these items because of financial difficulties, please talk to your child’s coach or head of year. They can help you.

Ms H Arnold

Associate Assistant Headteacher

Over the Easter holidays, please take some time to look through the Activity Day booklet (attached to this email) with your child and discuss which trip they would be most interested in attending. There’s a great range of options on offer, so we encourage everyone to explore the choices carefully. Please do also note the cost and method of transport for each trip, and be mindful that all trips / activities may be subject to change.

All trips and activities will go live on ParentPay on Friday 1st May 2026, giving students time to consider their options and continue building their reward points. Those with the highest reward points may earn themselves a free or discounted trip, so it’s a great opportunity to make the most of their efforts over the past academic year.

We look forward to another successful Activity Day!

(You can also view the Activity booklet by visiting our website https://willingdonschool.org.uk/key-information/our-letters)

https://participate.schoolsurveys.com/3Ox8aTtI7msU02gH

This survey will close on Monday 6th April.