This week we began the process for the selection of our Head Students for 2026. It is always encouraging to see students step forward to take on leadership roles and represent the school with pride.

On Monday, potential student leaders took part in professional presentations, sharing good practice and continuing our focus on student confidence and leadership skills.

Students have been celebrating Careers Week all week, with departments offering a range of employer encounters and talks within their curriculum areas.  We were also delighted to welcome Sian Hepworth, our Enterprise Adviser and an Environment Manager from E.ON, who spent the day in school working closely with the Geography department. She also took part in the popular “What’s My Line?” event with Year 7 and Year 8 students, alongside a recently retired Detective Chief Superintendent and a Global Compliance Lead.  It was a fantastic opportunity for students to learn about a variety of career paths and to hear first-hand experiences from professionals working in different industries. 

On Wednesday, I also welcomed into school Mrs Lawson from Eastbourne College, who talked with high achieving Year 10 girls looking at STEM careers.

This week we celebrated World Book Day by noticing all the reading, concentrating and imagining that takes place in our school across all subject areas.  Last week Year 7 students had a real treat with a live online visit from author Fleur Hitchcock (Murder at Snowfall, Clifftoppers Adventure Series, Dear Scarlett), which linked really well into the careers theme of this week too.  Several students attended the Southern School Book Awards on Friday evening and we understand a thoroughly enjoyable evening was had by all.  We are so lucky to have reading and the library at the very heart of our school.  It also continues to provide a valuable space for reading, research and independent study.

On Tuesday evening we held the YONDR Parent Forum in person at 6pm, with 32 families attending. During the session we shared research behind the YONDR programme and the importance of giving young people a structured break from mobile phones during the school day. Evidence from schools using YONDR shows improvements in student focus, increased engagement in lessons, better face to face social interaction and a reduction in low level behaviour incidents linked to phone use. Many schools also report positive impacts on wellbeing, including reduced anxiety linked to social media and fewer distractions during learning time. Thank you to everyone who attended and contributed to the discussion. Your support and engagement are greatly appreciated.

On Wednesday, our Year 10 girls football team competed in the Cup Final and won! This is a fantastic achievement and we are very proud of their teamwork, commitment and determination.

Year 10 Parents Evening took place on Thursday. Thank you to all parents and carers who attended and met with staff to discuss progress and next steps. 

On Friday, Year 10 students took part in Head Student interviews. We were impressed by the maturity and confidence shown throughout the process.

Thank you to parents for working with us to improve attendance. We have seen a marked increase in attendance in Key Stage 3 and this improvement is very positive. We now need to sustain this momentum. Attendance in Years 10 and 11 still requires significant improvement.  Attendance is particularly important in Key Stage 4 as it directly impacts students’ outcomes, sustains positive peer and staff relationships, and supports emotional wellbeing during any examination period; mocks or actual exams.  

This week there have been over 70 students absent each day. It is not possible for staff to track and manage this level of missed learning on top of their existing responsibilities. We would like to remind parents that it is the child’s responsibility to catch up on missed learning. Students should speak directly to their teachers and take proactive steps to ensure they are up to date with their work.

We would also like to remind families about the Parent Charter agreement. Despite promoting this since September, we still have over 250 Parent Charters outstanding. We are keen to work in partnership with our parent body and would genuinely like to understand any reasons why these have not yet been signed. We recognise the importance of strong partnership between home and school and are committed to working with you in the best interests of your child.  Here is the link again;  Willingdon Community School - Parent Charter Agreement

Thank you for your continued support.

Best wishes,

Mrs May

Headteacher

World Book Day

This week we celebrated World Book Day by noticing all the reading, concentrating and imagining that takes place in our school across all subject areas. Find out more here.

pastoral-11@willingdonschool.org.uk

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

Another week has passed by and we are now 2 weeks into the term already! For the majority, they are really focussed, working hard and keen to work with staff to be in the best possible position heading into the summer exams.

We enter another busy week next week with the Food Tech NEA2 exams taking place on Monday-Thursday and wish all of the students involved the best of luck for those. On Friday, the PE Moderation of practical sports also takes place at school. We hope the GCSE PE students perform well too, contributing towards their final results.

We are also keen to see students continue to work independently, whether that is through Grade Up sessions, completing coursework and/or homework tasks, as well as daily revision. All of the research shows us that those students engaging in more independent work, have a greater chance of achieving higher outcomes in their exams. Therefore, in these final months before the GCSE exams, Year 11 homework is more important than ever. If students miss 2 or more homework deadlines within the same week, they will be expected to attend the Study Hall on the following week. This will take place in school from 3-4pm on Monday/Wednesday/Thursday, giving students the opportunity to work independently.

English Focus

Your child needs to complete at least two pages of English homework in their pink book every week. Your child has a GCSE English revision schedule on Edulink with three tasks each week; this covers all the most important knowledge to prepare them for their English GCSEs. They need to bring this pink book to school every Monday so their English teacher can check their homework and make sure they are on track for revision.

How can you help?

• Ask to see your child’s pink homework book.

• Test them on their quotes.

• Remind them to complete their homework.

  
  

Maths Focus

The best way to improve your Maths is by completing your Sparx Maths homework each week. All homework counts as revision as it get students to keep practicing their problem areas and working efficiently.

Parents, please check that students are completing to 100% or 60 minutes. Students making a start before the weekend are more successful as they have more time to get support with any tricky questions. 

We also still subscribe to Method Maths where you can get instant feedback and a running grade on GCSE papers. If you need login details, please contact your Maths teacher.

For any further Maths revision support please go to

https://padlet.com/willingdoncommunityschool/maths-revision-zone-gnnis73ojwgkt1bu

We are in the process of coordinating a Revision Timetable in school during the Easter Holidays. Once confirmed, this will be shared with students and parents/carers. The school will be open on Monday 30^th March – Thursday 2^nd April and Tuesday 7^th April – Friday 10^th April. Further details of specific timings and subjects on offer will be shared in due course.

We want to thank parents/carers for their continued support as we progress throughout the term. We hope you enjoy the weekend when it arrives.

The Year 11 Team

pastoral-10@willingdonschool.org.uk

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

Well done to Year 10 for a really positive and productive week at school. It has been a particularly busy week with our Year 10 Positive Progress Evening, guest speaker opportunities, off site trips and a range of sports fixtures.

As part of National Careers Week, Year 10 students have been completing careers tasks during coaching time to further develop their knowledge and understanding of post-16 options and the timeline for the next steps in their career pathways. This is an important stage in helping students begin to consider their future goals and the opportunities available to them.

Students also attended an assembly this week led by Sian Hepworth, Environmental Manager from EON. This was a fantastic opportunity for students to learn more about the variety of career pathways available and to hear first-hand about working within the energy and environmental sector.

cjohnson@willingdonschool.org.uk

pastoral-9@willingdonschool.org.uk

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

Year 9 have had a really positive half term so far and it has been great to see such strong engagement across the year group. A special congratulations goes to 9CFR, who have once again won the attendance award. This is a fantastic achievement and shows real commitment from the whole tutor group.

It has also been encouraging to see improvements in attendance across the entire year group. On two occasions recently, Year 9 attendance reached 95%, which is a great milestone. Being in school every day makes a huge difference to learning, progress and confidence, and we are very proud of the effort students are making to be present and ready to learn.

This week has also been Careers Week, and during coaching time students have been focusing on their future aspirations and dream careers. They have explored the different pathways available to help them achieve these goals, including routes such as university, apprenticeships and other training opportunities, helping them to start thinking about the steps they can take now to reach their ambitions.

A special well done also goes to Myah W, Jacob B, Alice F, Isabella B and Phoenix B, who were recognised this week for their exceptional behaviour and enjoyed a well-deserved treat with the Year 9 team. It is fantastic to see students modelling such positive attitudes and behaviour around the school.

Students also enjoyed the recent Year 9 trip to see Dear England, which was a fantastic opportunity to experience live theatre and link learning to the wider world. The trip was a great success and students represented the school brilliantly throughout. Aaryan W, who took part in the visit had this to say 'Despite not being a football fan, I found the trip enjoyable'. The main character is Gareth Southgate and the play opens with his famous missed penalty. However, the main theme of the play is not about failure but the routes it takes to success. It shows that football is not just about the physicality but that football is about teamwork and trusting yourself in moments of pressure. You can almost turn the physicality into ambition/brute force but that the most important thing is mental health and being kind to others as well as yourself.

We continue with The “Good Egg” Challenge! An exciting opportunity for any student in the year group. The criteria is simple - 

• 95% or higher attendance across Term 4

• Fewer than 10 behaviour points per student

  
  

For each student who achieves both targets, there will be a special reward event at the end of term  (more details coming soon!).

This challenge is about:

• Showing up consistently

• Making positive choices

• Supporting each other

Finally, congratulations to the Year 9 football team, who have progressed to the Eastbourne Cup Final. This is a fantastic achievement and reflects the hard work, teamwork and dedication shown by the players.

Well done to all of Year 9 for a strong and positive week, keep it up! 

The Year 9 Team

pastoral-8@willingdonschool.org.uk

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

I would like to start by saying that we have had another very positive week with our Year 8 students. Attendance has been outstanding, with every day this week above 95%. A big thank you for the continued support from home and the concerted effort from so many of our students to improve their attendance.

We are continuing to place a strong focus on uniform, and once again Year 8 are setting the standard across the school. It is always a pleasure to walk around tutor groups and see the excellent relationships that coaches have built with their groups. Students appear comfortable, focused and engaged during coaching time, which is exactly what we want to see. Building these positive relationships is incredibly important as it helps us support students effectively whenever they need it most.

Lessons this week have again been excellent, with very positive behaviour across the year group. Walking around classrooms and seeing students demonstrating our personal excellence values is always something that makes us proud. Miss Turner and I have shared this pride with the year group during assembly, reminding them how impressed we are with their attitude and the way they represent Year 8.

It is also fantastic to see so many students achieving success outside of school. We would love to celebrate these achievements with the year group, so please do share any successes your children have outside of school. You can email the year team at pastoral-8@willingdonschool.org.uk so we can recognise and celebrate their wider talents and activities.

Congratulations to 8EMC, who achieved the highest attendance this week with an impressive 97%. As a reward, the tutor group will receive biscuits.

Our Top Performers of the Week are:

•  Isaac K

• Thomas L

• Jude T

• Simma V

• Freya Lee S

Well done for the fantastic number of achievement points you have earned. Chocolate treats will be coming your way!

Earlier this week, students took part in a brilliant “What’s Your Line?” careers activity. Professionals visited the school and spoke to the students about their careers and different pathways into employment. Students prepared key questions and worked as a year group to interview the guests about their roles and experiences. There were some excellent questions asked, and the visitors commented on how impressed they were with the students’ engagement, curiosity and confidence when discussing different careers. A huge well done to all involved.

On Wednesday, we also hosted a mixed badminton inter school competition. Our students represented the school extremely well. Although we did not take the overall win, the team performed brilliantly and won several games convincingly. We were very proud of the effort, teamwork and sportsmanship shown throughout the event.

With the weather hopefully improving, we wish you all a wonderful weekend.

The Year 8 Team

pmuller@willingdonschool.org.uk

pastoral-7@willingdonschool.org.uk

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

This week was National Careers week, and a huge well done needs to be given to Year 7 for shining at Tuesday’s What’s My Line? event!

With an Environment Manager from E.ON, a Global Compliance Lead from Coopervision, and a recently retired Detective Chief Superintendent on the panel, students jumped straight in with brilliant questions and real enthusiasm.

Our guests couldn’t praise them enough, highlighting how engaged, polite, and impressive they were throughout. A fantastic showcase of curiosity and confidence!

Well done also to our 5 students who won ‘Treats with the Team’ this week: Awstin G, Blake F, Violet Q, Saida Z, Oliver D for getting the highest amount of achievement points out of the year group last week.

Finally, a reminder that  with the slightly warmer weather we are having, jumpers cannot be worn on their own, they have to be under a blazer. If students are too hot, they have to remove the jumper and just wear their shirt and blazer.

Please note that we have noted an increase in students drawing on themselves.  Students are reminded that this is not acceptable and will result in this being logged on the behaviour system. 

As always many thanks for your continued support.

The Year 7 Team

Underwired Musical Theatre Club Registration form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfv_xq6y4XL8RGjsRmJyI6RBJC-rvdrpJRMES2spQfCW_pxFQ/viewform

Commencing Monday 9th March - complete the form and just turn up

I am organising a Year 7 trip to Hampton Court Palace on Friday 24^th April. The cost of the trip will be £35.43, which includes coach travel and all admission fees. We will be leaving at 8am on this day and return at approximately 4.30pm.

During the course of the day, students will be able to explore the palace including Henry VIII's kitchens and apartments, King William III's apartments and the palace gardens. Students should also have a chance to get lost in the garden maze (weather permitting)

This trip will support and develop student understanding of the Tudor period which they are currently studying in class.  Students will need to bring a packed lunch and a drink on the day and they may wish to bring a small amount of money for the gift shop. They will need to wear PE Kit and weather appropriate clothing and footwear.

If you would like your child to attend this trip, please make your payment on ParentPay from Thursday 12^th March at approximately 3pm, which will guarantee your child’s place.  Please note there are a limited number of places available, so this will be on a first come, first served basis.

You are welcome to email me with any questions but please do note my working days are Monday, Tuesday and Friday.

Yours faithfully,

Miss Hughes

Co- Head of History

lhughes@willingdonschool.org.uk

National Careers Service website
Prospects website
Careerpilot website
Careerometer website
UCAS calculator

Current Year 10 students will begin applying for their Post-16 destinations in Autumn 2026.  Applications for sixth form, college & apprenticeships take place throughout the academic year. Below is the projected timeline for 2026-2027:

Ongoing support (Year 10 & Year 11)           

All students are offered a one-to-one or small group interview with a qualified Level 6 Careers Adviser. Appointments can be booked via: srooney@willingdonschool.org.uk

These meetings can help students:

• Explore career ideas

• Discuss sixth form, college and apprenticeship routes

• Make informed decisions

Spring & Summer 2026 (Preparation Phase)

12 March 2026

• Careers Fair – Eastbourne Sports Park (90 spaces available)

 May - June 2026

• In-school Post-16 Event with college, sixth form and university representatives

 June 2026

• Personal statement guidance in English lessons and coaching time

• Year 10 Mock Interview Workshop

 June – July 2026

• Taster days at local colleges and sixth forms

• Personal statements completed during coaching time

• Personal details and statements uploaded to Careers East Sussex (college application website) by the end of Term 6

 July 2026

• Year 10 one-to-one employer mock interview

Autumn Term 2026 (Application Phase – Year 11)

1 October 2026

• Sixth form and college courses for 2027–2028 entry published on Careers East Sussex

 October – November 2026

• Open days and evenings at local colleges and sixth forms

 1 October – 4 December 2026

• College applications completed (in school and at home)

 4 December 2026

• Internal deadline for all college applications

 December 2026

• Year 11 one-to-one employer mock interview

Spring & Summer 2027 (Offers & Decisions)

December 2026 – February 2027

• Students invited to sixth form and college interviews

 February – March 2027

• Students begin receiving offers

March – Aug 2027

• Students accept or decline course offers

May – June 2027

• Apprenticeship vacancies advertised online

September 2027

Most college/sixth form applications close (limited late/clearance opportunities may remain)

Apprenticeships

Students can search and apply for apprenticeships through the government website:
🔗 https://www.apprenticeships.gov.uk/

• Apprenticeship and traineeship applications run throughout the academic year

• Students must be 16 and have completed full-time education before starting

• Apprenticeships have a more detailed application process than sixth form or college

• Students are responsible for securing their own placement/employer

• Competition can be high, so early research is encouraged

How Parents Can Help

• Attend open evenings and parent forums

• Discuss career interests regularly at home

• Encourage early completion of personal statements

• Support preparation for interviews

• Help monitor application deadline

Last week, Year 7 students had a real treat with a live online visit from author Fleur Hitchcock (Murder at Snowfall, Clifftoppers Adventure Series, Dear Scarlett). Fleur explained where she gets her ideas for characters, settings and the need for red herrings that lead the reader astray to keep them interested. Students were able to ask questions about the writing process and Fleur shared how her dyslexia means she often begins planning her ideas with sketches, that merge into sections, which are then typed, crossed out and re-worked after editor feedback. It was so inspiring to glimpse an insight into this career and all the roles that go into making a gripping read. Check out our video for more details.

Year 7 Literacy in Coaching Time: Developing Reading Strategy Definitions in Context

This Wednesday’s session was on the developing the reading strategy of definitions in context. Find out more about literacy in coaching time in this video.  

 Our library: Read, Study, Take-Part

Our school library is a vibrant community. Find out more about how we study, read and take part in a range of competitions in this video. 

#WCS26 Challenge:

Looking for reading for enjoyment ideas? Why not try a new read from the Willingdon26 Challenge? You can also head to the library for your World Book Day token and to take part in our World Book Day competitions. See here for about how we read at Willingdon.  

We would also like to wish our Year 10 boys football team the very best of luck in their U15 Eastbourne Schools Cup Final next week, which will take place on Tuesday 10th March.

Well done to 10ARA coaching group for winning the Sparx Maths homework competition for the 2^nd week in a row with 10PHI and 10GEL close behind in 2^nd and 3^rd place!

65% of the coaching group achieving 100% with their Maths homework, the coaching group win the biscuit reward again this week!

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

The Year 10 Team

Invitation to Join Our AI Policy Parent Focus Group on Thursday, 26^th 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.

Warm regards,

Mrs May

Headteacher

This week, we have continued to see strong attendance across the school, which is fantastic. However, we are repeatedly noticing an increasing number of students arriving late in the mornings.

All students are expected to be in their coaching time by 08:30. To ensure they are ready to start their day on time, we recommend that students arrive at school by 08:25.

Any student who arrives late is required to attend a same‑day break‑time detention to make up the minutes they have missed. Failure to attend this detention will result in it being carried over to the next day. Should a student fail to attend again, they will then be issued an after‑school detention.

Thank you for your continued support in helping us maintain high standards and good routines for all students.

If you think your child qualifies as a Young Carer and that the school is not aware of this please let us know via your Pastoral teams.

YEAR 9 – IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM AND HOLOCAUST EDUCATION SESSION

Monday 20^th 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 20^th 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, 16^th 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. 

The NSPCC’s guidance on children, mobile phones and online safety is a useful resource for parents of both younger and older children. It addresses one of the most common questions asked: when is a child ready for a phone, and how can families manage the risks? This guide offers balanced, practical advice on readiness, boundary-setting, parental controls, and ongoing conversations about safe and responsible use.

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/children-phones-online-safety/

For information - Family Advice Line

If you have a concern that is impacting your family life – such as parenting, SEND, mental health, debt, and more. We’re here to help you find the right place to get support. Call the Family Advice Line on 01323 464655 Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm or Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm.

Visit Family Hubs Advice Line.

Please see a poster for signposting.

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