We would like to extend a huge thank you to our dedicated staff who have organised some incredible trips and experiences for our students this week.

Our GCSE students enjoyed a fantastic visit to the Tate London Gallery, which provided valuable inspiration and insight to support their studies. At the same time, our Robotics Club represented the school by entering yet another competition, we are extremely proud of their continued enthusiasm, teamwork and commitment. Thank you to the parents who have written in about their child's positive experience on these wonderful trips.

We have also had the Dare to Dream team in this week working with our Year 9 and 10 cohort and we are very grateful for Mrs Borrell and Mrs Rooney for arranging these opportunities for our students.

We held the final of our Staff Traitors on Wednesday where we showed the final to each year group and I was delighted that Amanda from the recent series of The Traitors was able to come along and support Willingdon. She was an absolute delight, and gave us so much time and came completely for free to support our project. She spent time with our students and staff and we have now raised over £730 for the NSPCC! So thank your much for donating!

We would also like to thank Adam’s Light founder, Lauren, who joined us on Monday evening to speak with parents and staff members about the sensitive and deeply moving experience of losing her son. She shared thoughtful, practical advice on how we can better support the mental health and wellbeing of our young people, and we are very grateful for her openness and guidance. She will also doing some work with our Year 10s students over the next few months.

Looking ahead, our annual ski trip departs on Thursday. We wish all students and staff travelling the very best of luck, safe journeys, and plenty of snow!

We have our SEND Coffee Morning on Monday where you can come meet the SEND team and more parent tours are scheduled on Wednesday morning, please complete the google forms if you would like to attend any of these events.

Finally, we are hoping for more sunshine next week. We recognise that wet break times have been challenging for everyone, and we appreciate your continued understanding and support.

Thank you, as always, for being such a supportive school community.

Kind regards,

Mrs May

Headteacher

Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who has donated to my chosen charity, the NSPCC, for Willingdon Traitors, it has been amazing seeing all the students so invested! It has been so much fun to be part of!

Thank you to all the students who have attended this week and joined us to watch The Traitors final!

As we head into our final week of term, it is important that students are attending every day. 

I have also noticed a rise in students arriving late to school. Just a reminder that students need to be on site and ready to learn by 8:30am.

Being late, especially during coaching time, means students are missing important information and updates for their year group. Consistent punctuality helps students start the day calmly, stay organised, and fully engage in their learning.

Let’s finish the term strong with great attendance and punctuality!

Mrs Holden 

Video Message from Mrs Holden

https://youtu.be/FGtCCc_ufRo

Healthwatch East Sussex want your help to make sure health and care services work well for everyone.

They want to hear from people aged 21 or younger about their experiences of using nicotine pouches.

Sometimes called ‘snus’, nicotine pouches don't contain tobacco. They are slim, soft packets filled with nicotine, flavouring, and plant-based material placed under the lip that release nicotine.

We have been asked to share this survey with our students, parents, and carers. Survey Link Closing date: 22 March 2026

Year 7 Sparx Reader:

82% of Year 7 students completed their Sparx Reader homework by Monday morning. Reward points are added for students who complete on time. As Stormzy has said, reading is a ‘superpower’. Parents can help students develop this power, by reminding them to complete their weekly careful reading. After interventions last week, 97% of Year 7 students had completed to 100% SRP.

Year 9 Poetry by Heart

Participants received their certificates this week.  Selected students will go through to the regional round at Gildredge House in March and the Eastbourne Literature Festival in September . See  https://poetrybyheart.org.uk/ Congratulations to all involved.

The next tour is being held on Wednesday! Click here

pastoral-11@willingdonschool.org.uk

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

Following our Year 11 Parents’ Evening last week, we wanted to share a really positive update. We’ve seen a very focused week of lessons from the majority of students, with many clearly taking on board the feedback they received, beginning to set targets for the final few months, and responding well to the guidance and expectations of their teachers. It’s been great to see.

We are continuing to run our Grade Up Intervention programme, with staff generously giving up their time during the school day, after school and on Saturdays. These sessions provide valuable opportunities for students to gain extra support, ask questions and continue developing their skills as we move closer to the summer exams. Please see below for the Grade Up Intervention timetable that will run next week and into Term 4:

pastoral-10@willingdonschool.org.uk

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

We have had a successful week at school, with many events taking place. Year 10 students enjoyed the final episode of our school Traitors, which was shown in the hall on Wednesday.

Students taking part in the Dare to Dream Project spent time on Tuesday working with Jack “The Lad” Hayes and his team. They thoroughly enjoyed the wide range of activities during the sessions, as well as the opportunity to spend further time with their mentors. Students are already looking forward to their next session.

cjohnson@willingdonschool.org.uk

pastoral-9@willingdonschool.org.uk

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

A huge congratulations to our Year 9 boys, who finished 1st place in the athletics competition, an outstanding achievement and a fantastic display of teamwork and determination. Well done as well to our Year 9 girls for securing 2nd place in the athletics competition; a brilliant effort to be proud of.

Well done to Year 9 for a very successful roll call on Monday, with only 5 out of 239 students not in the correct uniform.

This is a fantastic result and shows real pride in our school standards.

During coaching time, students have been reflecting on their behaviour and attendance data and working with their coaches to set SMART targets to support their progress moving forward. This mature and focused approach is helping students take real ownership of their development.

Special recognition goes to 9CFR, who are still in the lead for the upcoming attendance and reward points prize next week. Keep it up, consistency really does pay off! On top of that, 9CFR also came 1st for Sparx Maths this week, showing excellent commitment to learning.

Congratulations also go to the following students for their individual achievements and efforts, George C, Holly M,  Takuma T, Hayden H and Evie M. 

As we move into the final part of the term, we kindly encourage families to prioritise attendance wherever possible. Regular, everyday attendance helps children stay connected to learning, friendships, and routines, and even small absences can have an impact. We understand that families face different challenges and appreciate the efforts you make to support your child being in school each day. Together, we can help ensure every child finishes the term feeling confident and supported.

Finally, the year group is very excited that our Head of Year’s dog has officially been appointed as a school dog after successfully passing his temperament test last week. We hope students remember that exciting as this is, they will have to share! 

A big well done to everyone, let’s keep the momentum going Year 9!

The Year 9 Team

pastoral-8@willingdonschool.org.uk

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you once again for your continued support throughout this term. We are all looking forward to the well deserved half-term break ahead. Hopefully, with longer days and improving weather on the horizon, this will help to further boost students’ morale as we move into the next half of the term.

During my learning walks with Miss Turner, it has been fantastic to see Year 8 students consistently demonstrating our personal values. There has been a strong sense of compassion and courtesy shown by students, especially following last week’s assembly where the Holocaust was the focus. Students have been thoughtful in their reflections and have asked insightful questions, showing a genuinely curious and respectful approach to learning about past events.

Attendance this week has been very positive, reaching 95%. This is particularly pleasing given that there are still many coughs and colds circulating, so thank you for your continued support in ensuring strong attendance.

We have also celebrated several student successes this week. On Friday, three students enjoyed a hot chocolate with their teacher in recognition of fantastic achievement across the school.

Congratulations to:

Eleanor H

Jack P

Lily P

Our winning tutor group for attendance last week was 8EMC, achieving an impressive 93.7%. Well done to all students involved. Your biscuits will be arriving on Monday.

In addition, the following students were recognised as top achievers, each earning over 30 achievement points and receiving a chocolate bar:

Ralph A

Josh F

Shelton H

Calista S

Phoebe S

Suki L

Cody S

Ellen H

Tochi O

Well done to all of you. Please continue the excellent effort.

Further congratulations go to our Year 8 boys' and girls' teams following their success in the local inter-school athletics competition, where they finished in first place.

We also had a group of students represent the school at the Young Engineers Challenge at Eastbourne Town Hall through our robotics club. Working in small teams alongside students from other local schools, they tackled a series of LEGO engineering challenges before designing, building, and coding a robot capable of deploying a bridge to cross a gap. After an exciting day of competition, the team finished as runners-up, gaining valuable experience and confidence ahead of next year’s event. Reflecting on the day, one student commented that they learned how big problems can be broken down into smaller ones, and that teamwork is key to solving them. Well done to all Year 8 students who took part.

See photos from these events below.

A reminder that next week we have our performance of Annie Junior. Tickets are available to purchase online via ParentPay, and we would love to see as many parents, carers and students attending as possible.

Please note that Escape Club, which normally runs on Wednesdays after school from 3:00–4:30pm in the dining hall, will not take place next week due to the school production. The club will resume after half term.

Year 8 Homework Club continues to run on Mondays and Thursdays after school in IT2 from 3:00–4:00pm.

Finally, as the weather remains poor, please ensure students are coming to school with suitable outdoor jackets. We are keen to avoid students becoming unwell due to inadequate clothing. We have also noticed an increase in students forgetting essential equipment, please could you ensure that students bring a school bag and a fully stocked pencil case each day, including pens, pencils, rulers, rubbers and any other required equipment.

Wishing you all a restful weekend, and we look forward to a positive final week before our well-deserved half-term break.

The Year 8 Team

pmuller@willingdonschool.org.uk

pastoral-7@willingdonschool.org.uk

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

Congratulations to the following students for being nominated for treats with the team this week: Sofie B 7SPA, James R-M 7ZKE, Wren D 7CPH, Seb H-W 7ZKE and Lola K 7SPA.

This week also has seen finale to the Traitors that staff have been filming this term. Year 7 were invited to watch during P4 on Wednesday, where they were joined by special guest Amanda from the most recent BBC series of The Traitors. All the students absolutely loved it, and as a school we have successfully raised over £730 for the NSPCC. Mrs Holden from attendance was the successful winner, as the last remaining Traitor.

With one week to go, please can we maintain our excellent attendance, as we have been consistently the highest year group in the school this term

The Year 7 Team

The East Sussex Health Protection Team is gathering parent feedback to better understand experiences with childhood vaccinations. These views will help us improve information, access, and support for families across the county.

The survey is completely anonymous and takes just 3–5 minutes to complete. Please share with your parents to help us shape services that support children’s health and wellbeing.

Vaccination Accessibility Survey – Fill in form

Please support her with this cause. 

https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/ollies-giving-page-27106858

Children with Cancer - World Cancer Day https://mailchi.mp/childrenwithcancerfund/november-e-newsletter-10338315?e=42c98e22bc

Once again, lunchtime excitement was immense as students gathered in the hall for the much-anticipated ending. Congratulations to Mrs Holden and Mr Fuller, who made it to the final two, with Mrs Holden winning the series undiscovered as a Traitor!

The total raised so far for the NSPCC London & South East is £731.08, Mrs Holden’s charity of choice.

Not only did we have an absolute blast creating The Traitors, raising money for charity, and seeing just how invested the students became (including enthusiastically quizzing staff on whether they were a Traitor or a Faithful!), but we were also treated to the most wonderful surprise guest for our final show, Amanda Collier@itsmeamandacollier
Amanda appeared on the most recent series of The Traitors and very kindly agreed to come into school to surprise our students and staff. She was incredibly generous with her time, speaking to students, writing messages, signing autographs, and posing for many, many photos. Amanda has also agreed to return to talk about her career in the police and being a woman in leadership within the police force. Thank you once again, Amanda - it was such a treat, and we look forward to welcoming you back to school soon.

Student voice feedback shows that many students would love to see more events like this in the future. We’ll be looking to plan another whole-community charity fundraiser… although we may need a little rest first!
A huge thank you to our incredible Media and Marketing Manager for putting the episodes together, all the staff who took part, and a special shout-out to Mr Fuller — and, of course, enormous luck to Mrs Holden ever being trusted again! 

This Wednesday’s session was on the reading strategy of I say, You say and how saying words out loud can help to improve reading fluency.  A great way to listen to words is through audio books and podcasts. Click the survey at the top to let us know any good listens.

Senior National Reading Quiz Our team has been getting ready for the regional round of the quiz on Wednesday 11 February. We’ll let you know how we do.

National Literacy Trust Survey

KS3 will be taking 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.

Thank you for your email – and wow, that is such an amazing sum! 😁

We give our thanks and appreciation to you and all the staff who organised it, and your students/their families who kindly got involved and raised a fantastic amount of funds. That money will go a long way in supporting and giving wonderful gifts and memories to the children supported by Children with Cancer Fund.

It has been a pleasure to visit lessons this week and see the excellent work students are producing. There was great engagement across all subjects this week, with high-quality work evident in students’ books. A particular highlight was watching Year 10 Food Tech students cook the pasta they had made themselves and finishing their carbonara dishes, a fantastic example of practical skill development in the subject. Well done to all the students visited this week.

We would like to remind parents and carers that our Year 10 Positive Progress Evening will take place on Thursday 5th March. We would like parents and carers for every student in the year group to attend, this is an opportunity to receive feedback on your child’s progress and discuss targets and support for them as they continue their journey through Year 10.

Appointment bookings will go live on Edulink on Friday 12th February.

Well done to 10DLE for getting back to the top of the leaderboard this week and winning the Sparx Maths homework competition, 64% of the coaching group achieving 100% with their Maths homework, we hope you enjoy your biscuit reward!

Well done to the three students that attended ‘Treats with the Team’ this week. The students were rewarded with a hot chocolate and a chocolate bar to celebrate the high number reward points that they achieved last week. It was a pleasure to spend time catching up with them and discuss their preparation for the mock exams in April, work experience and their career aspirations.

Thank you for your ongoing support, we look forward to a successful last week of term at  school for your child.

The Year 10 Team

Re: Year 10 Careers Fair – Thursday 12^th March

On Thursday 12^th 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.

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

Yours faithfully,

Sarah Rooney

Careers Adviser

srooney@willingdonschool.org.uk

In consultation with Year 11 teachers, we are very aware of the importance of independent learning and homework. For some students, this can be challenging and, at times, a barrier to success. To further support students, we are introducing a Year 11 Study Hall. Staff have raised concerns about the level of independent study taking place for a small number of students. As a result, students who miss two or more homework deadlines in a single week will be required to attend compulsory Study Hall sessions the following week. These sessions will run from 3:00–4:00pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Parents and carers will be contacted on the Friday of the previous week to confirm that attendance is expected. This supportive measure is designed to ensure students have time and guidance to complete independent work before leaving the school site, and that staff are confident meaningful work has been completed. We hope this will further support students’ progress as we approach the final exams.

Looking ahead, we are excited for the final school week, with the production of Annie taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday. We also have a number of Year 11 students heading off on the school ski trip, which departs on Thursday afternoon. We wish them a safe, enjoyable and memorable experience.

As always, thank you for your continued support. We wish you all a happy and restful weekend when it arrives.

The Year 11 Team