Weekly Parents' Newsletter

Dear families 

I hope you have had an enjoyable week.  Once a term the Heads and Chairs from all the Braunton schools meet at the Braunton Co-operative Learning Trust to look at the work, we can do to support all students in their educational journey from age 2-16.  With this being the first meeting of the term, we have looked at last year’s impact as well as agreeing areas to work on this year.   

During the discussions one of the biggest impacts we discussed was the new Smartphone policy.  It is early days, but I was able to report that we are already seeing a positive impact in school.  Phone confiscation has significantly dropped, we used to confiscate at least 10 phones a week under the old system, this half term we have only confiscated 20 smart phones over the first 7 weeks.  Low level behaviour and exclusion data is lower than this time last year; we have seen a reduction in students leaving lessons during the school day to visit the toilet.  General engagement in lessons has been higher with students reporting that just knowing they haven’t got their smartphone has helped their concentration levels.  We are seeing greater interaction between students at social times, and we have received lots of positive emails from members of the community about seeing students chatting on the way home rather than glued to their phone.   

Just as positively, we have seen a big reduction in the year 7 conflict that usually arises at the start of the year with students using WhatsApp groups.  We have also seen a reduction in high-level safeguarding alerts about students’ use of social media outside of school.  The general message about the harm social media and early phone access can cause appears to be making students more thoughtful and risk-aware when accessing this technology outside of school.   

We understand this was a big change for the community and one that has been difficult for some students and families to adapt to.  Everyone at the Academy would like to thank our families for their support with this policy as we are starting to see evidence that it is having a very positive impact on students' day to day schooling and hopefully their long-term wellbeing.  I will continue to update you further on this as the year progresses. 

Next week we have the privilege to be hosting the Tangle Theatre Company performing Julius Caesar; tickets are on sale online and on the night.  It is fantastic to be able to offer the local community this cultural opportunity, it would be great to see students and families attend. 

Best wishes, 

Mrs F Bowler, Principal

Whole School Messages

Catering Menu – Autumn Week B

This is a polite reminder that we are a nut free school. Please ensure your child does not bring nuts or food containing nuts as part of their lunch. Many thanks.

New This Week

Safeguarding Memo - Spy Dog/ Spy Pup/ Spy Cat books 

We have been made aware of a national safeguarding alert about the children's books 'Spy dog/Spy Pup' and 'Spy Cat' written by Andrew Cope. 

The books ask children to explore the associated website to find out more about characters. It appears the website (identified on the back or inside the book) has been compromised and takes users to a highly pornographic website with no age verification. 

We have checked our school library and have removed all copies of the books.  We are asking you as a precaution to please check if you have any of these books at home and to remove them from your child's access, until confirmation is received that this issue has been resolved.  

Parent and Community Engagement  

At the Braunton Youth Network meeting this week, a discussion around antisocial behaviour in the Braunton area was led by the police who reminded members of the community to report any concerns through the Crimestoppers website: 

Independent UK charity taking crime information anonymously | Crimestoppers 

We also had a discussion about the increase in Stage Coach bus prices and the requirement to use an app to purchase tickets. We have been in communication with our local MP Ian Roome and also Smartphone Free Braunton who are championing our concerns. 

Non-Uniform Day for JUST ONE Tree

Our school will be taking part in JUST ONE Tree Day on Friday 24th October.  

JUST ONE Tree is an award-winning non-profit organisation removing CO2 from the atmosphere and reversing biodiversity loss through global reforestation.  

Please bring your suggested donation of £1 to school on Friday 24th October. 

More information can be found at: https://www.justonetree.life/  

We look forward to counting the number of trees that our school community can plant! 

Full information on the website Non-Uniform Day - Friday 24th October 2025 - Braunton Academy - Aspire and Achieve

Julius Caesar

Only 9 days to go until Tangle TC bring their 'Julius Caesar' to the Braunton Academy Drama Hall!  

Can't wait that long? Here is a sneak peak of footage from the performance to whet your appetite https://youtu.be/cpHl8ALlvKo 

Book your tickets from the link here: https://beaford.org/events/juliuscaesar 

Looking forward to welcoming you to a dynamic and visceral performance of Shakespeare reimagined for our time! 

Contact with School

Please use the email contact list on our website (link below) to help you direct your enquiries to the correct members of staff.  

Specific Contact Options - Braunton Academy - Aspire and Achieve 

Head Lice 

There have been further cases of head lice around school. Please be vigilant and check your child's hair. Please seek treatment or heavily condition and comb regularly. Head lice and nits - NHS 

Airborne Viruses

As the colder months approach, we can expect to see increases in common airborne viruses. Illness is the biggest single reason for school absence; while some absences due to illness are unavoidable, many can be reduced through simple, proactive measures that minimise the spread of infections. Scientific evidence demonstrates that vaccination, disinfection (cleaning), handwashing, and ventilation can significantly reduce the transmission of infectious diseases.  

Please take time to read the two links below to help us reduce the number of student absences this winter: 

Is my child too ill for school? - NHS 

Top tips on how to keep your child healthy at school – The Education Hub 

Messages for Students During the School Day 

Any messages for students that are requested during the school day need to be shared with Reception no later than 3.00 pm on that day.  

Please remember messages to students during the school day should only be required to be delivered in rare/emergency circumstances.  

Lost Property 

Any lost property that has not been claimed by the end of each half term will be either disposed of or donated to charity. Please label all children’s belongings and encourage them to check lost property for anything they may have misplaced. 

Clubs and Activities

KS4 Sophrology Club – Supporting Exams Wellbeing

As exam pressures continue to rise, many parents are understandably concerned about how their children cope; not just academically, but emotionally. At our school, we are proud to introduce a new initiative aimed at supporting students’ mental wellbeing and enhancing their exam preparation: the KS4 Sophrology Club. Tuesdays after school in Room 40 with Mrs Duthuit. Full details on the website.

Year 11 DT GCSE Club every Tuesday in the DT ICT room until 4.30 pm 

Homework Club All years, every day after school in the library 3.15-4.15pm 

Julius Caesar Rehearsals

Week A – Thursday after school until 4.30 pm.  

Week B – Tuesday after school until 4.30 pm. 

German Music Club Every Thursday lunchtime in room 43, bring your packed lunch and let’s listen to and study German songs together! Open to all year groups (and staff!) 

French Pen Friend Club Every Friday lunchtime in room 43, bring your packed lunch and let’s write letters in French to send to two French schools and get a pen-pal friendship going! Open to all year groups. 

Creative Writing Club After school (15:30-16:30) in the Library. A great opportunity to explore all forms of creative writing with like-minded people from across the school. Limited spaces. All years welcome. Please see Miss Reed (Room 66) to sign up!  

Music Clubs - Please see Mr Thomas at break or lunch to sign up 

Tuesdays - Lunch Time - Choir Rehearsals 

Thursday - Lunch Time - Music Club

Thursday - 3:15 - 4:15 - School Orchestra  

Friday - Lunch Time - Jazz Band

PE and Sports Clubs 

Students playing Football on the AGP at lunchtimes must wear their shin pads with trainers or football boots. They do not need to wear PE kit.

Rugby

Year 7 & 8 – Wednesday after school until 4.15 pm 

Year 9 & 10 – Tuesday after school until 4.15 pm 

Please find a link below to the PE page of the website where you will find the updated fixtures list for this year (near the bottom of the page).   

Physical Education - Braunton Academy - Aspire and Achieve

Year 11 News

Careers Information Round Up

University of Plymouth Architecture Webinar 

The University of Plymouth are hosting an Architecture webinar with Unifrog on Monday 20th October from 17.30 - 19.15.  The session explores how architecture can become a tool for social and environmental change.  They will look at how design can respond to climate challenges, support communities and challenge the status quo. Follow the link below for further information and to book a place.   

Architecture taster: can building design be a political act?: Unifrog Event 

November Pre-Public Examinations (PPEs) 

A reminder that all students will have received their timetables for the upcoming PPE exams that are taking place in November. Please support with revision at home. The PowerPoint from ‘Countdown to GCSEs Evening’ was shared in the newsletter on the 19th September. 

Amazing Apprenticeships 

Below is a link to the latest Choices Magazine – a parents and careers guide to apprenticeships 

Resources - Amazing Apprenticeships     

Webinars & Workshops - Amazing Apprenticeships

Year 10 News

Work Experience 

The work experience programme for this academic year has been launched this week.  All students will have received a letter, addressed to their parent/guardian, giving instructions on how the scheme works.  Please follow the link below to our Work Experience webpage for all the information you need.  All student Work Experience placements need to have been entered onto the Unifrog platform by Thursday 2nd April 2026.   

Charter Vets Work Experience Opportunity 

If your child is interested in work experience within the veterinary industry, please follow the link below to our work experience webpage.  Charter Vets are offering work experience to our students and further details, and an application form, can be found on this page.  Please note, completed application forms must be returned to Mrs Martin, in the main school reception, by Friday 12th December 2025.   

Work Experience - Braunton Academy - Aspire and Achieve 

Work Experience Opportunity

If your child is interested in a career in healthcare, the NHS Foundation Trust are offering work experience at NDDH from Monday 6th July – Friday 10th July 2026. This is in addition to the school’s Work Experience Week. 

Work Experience - Braunton Academy - Aspire and Achieve Full details are on the website.

University of Plymouth Architecture Webinar 

The University of Plymouth are hosting an Architecture webinar with Unifrog on Monday 20th October from 17.30 - 19.15.  The session explores how architecture can become a tool for social and environmental change.  They will look at how design can respond to climate challenges, support communities and challenge the status quo. Follow the link below for further information and to book a place.   

Architecture taster: can building design be a political act?: Unifrog Event 

Year 9 News

Changes to Assessment in KS3 (Year 9)  

Dear Parents and Carers 

I am writing to explain how students will be assessed now in KS3 at Braunton Academy. It has changed from last year.  Students are assessed at three points throughout the year with information reported to parents. Information will be provided in relation to Expected Standards in Knowledge and Skills, Engagement in Learning, Presentation & Organisation and Homework & Independent Learning. This information will come home on an MTA (Mid-Term Assessment) as normal. 

Key Stage 3 ASSESSMENT AGAINST EXPECTED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS 

Throughout Key Stage 3 students study a broad curriculum, consisting of 14 subjects. These subjects provide our students with the essential knowledge and skills enabling them to fulfil our motto of ‘Aspire and Achieve’. This will prepare our students for the next phase of their education and future life. 

Teachers will use their professional judgement to reflect on how secure the students are in relation to the knowledge and skills that they have been taught within the curriculum, at that point. We then report a holistic professional judgement using ‘Expected Standards’ language. We hope that this will improve clarity, make it easier to understand whilst also aligning with language used at Primary School. 

Most students will tend to follow a consistent pathway as they move through Key Stage 3 – in other words, a student ‘Working at Expected Standard’ in Year 7 will typically also be ‘Working at Expected Standard’ in Year 8, and again in Year 9. This would still mean they are making progress as they encounter more content with increasing demands. 

How we will Assess in Key Stage 3  

TARGET SETTING 

At The Academy, we are committed to ensuring that every student reaches their full potential. As part of this, we set clear and ambitious targets for all students to be ‘Working at the expected standard’ in each of their subjects. Our targets are designed to support steady progress and build on the foundations laid in primary school.  

For some students, particularly those who performed strongly in their Key Stage 2 SATs, we set a higher target of ‘Working at greater depth’ to reflect their prior attainment and to continue challenging them appropriately. We are aspirational for all our students and believe that with the right support and encouragement, every child can thrive and succeed. 

The ‘Expected standards’ in each subject will be available soon on the website. 

If you have any questions about assessment or your young person’s recent MTA, please contact the Head of Year. 

You may also wish to visit our Assessment page on the website here, which explains what Mid Term Assessment Reports (MTAs) will look like. 

Assessment - Braunton Academy - Aspire and Achieve 

Regards

Mr G Twohig. Vice Principal 

Accessing Sparx Reader from home 

If you’re struggling to access Sparx Reader from home, please see our new video guide on how to access and log in to Sparx through the school website.  It also has some handy tips on how to make reading on a screen more accessible by adjusting the font sizes, screen colour and using the reader guide.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hw7GRvEBY8 

If you ever need to come back to the link, it can be found on the English section of the school website under ‘Useful Links’ 

https://www.braunton.academy/curriculum/english  

Year 8 News

Changes to Assessment in KS3 (Year 8)  

Dear Parents and Carers 

I am writing to explain how students will be assessed now in KS3 at Braunton Academy. It has changed from last year.  Students are assessed at three points throughout the year with information reported to parents. Information will be provided in relation to Expected Standards in Knowledge and Skills, Engagement in Learning, Presentation & Organisation and Homework & Independent Learning. This information will come home on an MTA (Mid-Term Assessment) as normal. 

Key Stage 3 ASSESSMENT AGAINST EXPECTED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS 

Throughout Key Stage 3 students study a broad curriculum, consisting of 14 subjects. These subjects provide our students with the essential knowledge and skills enabling them to fulfil our motto of ‘Aspire and Achieve’. This will prepare our students for the next phase of their education and future life. 

Teachers will use their professional judgement to reflect on how secure the students are in relation to the knowledge and skills that they have been taught within the curriculum, at that point. We then report a holistic professional judgement using ‘Expected Standards’ language. We hope that this will improve clarity, make it easier to understand whilst also aligning with language used at Primary School. 

Most students will tend to follow a consistent pathway as they move through Key Stage 3 – in other words, a student ‘Working at Expected Standard’ in Year 7 will typically also be ‘Working at Expected Standard’ in Year 8, and again in Year 9. This would still mean they are making progress as they encounter more content with increasing demands. 

How we will Assess in Key Stage 3  

TARGET SETTING 

At The Academy, we are committed to ensuring that every student reaches their full potential. As part of this, we set clear and ambitious targets for all students to be ‘Working at the expected standard’ in each of their subjects. Our targets are designed to support steady progress and build on the foundations laid in primary school.  

For some students, particularly those who performed strongly in their Key Stage 2 SATs, we set a higher target of ‘Working at greater depth’ to reflect their prior attainment and to continue challenging them appropriately. We are aspirational for all our students and believe that with the right support and encouragement, every child can thrive and succeed. 

The ‘Expected standards’ in each subject will be available soon on the website. 

If you have any questions about assessment or your young person’s recent MTA, please contact the Head of Year. 

You may also wish to visit our Assessment page on the website here, which explains what Mid Term Assessment Reports (MTAs) will look like. 

Assessment - Braunton Academy - Aspire and Achieve 

Regards

Mr G Twohig. Vice Principal 

Accessing Sparx Reader from home 

If you’re struggling to access Sparx Reader from home, please see our new video guide on how to access and log in to Sparx through the school website.  It also has some handy tips on how to make reading on a screen more accessible by adjusting the font sizes, screen colour and using the reader guide.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hw7GRvEBY8 

If you ever need to come back to the link, it can be found on the English section of the school website under ‘Useful Links’ 

https://www.braunton.academy/curriculum/english  

Cyberfirst- National Competition Offered to Year 8 Girls Only 

Tackle challenges from cryptography and logic to artificial intelligence and networking for the chance to be crowned cyber security champions. Every year we enter one or more team of 4 girls maximum. You have a week to complete as many challenges as possible. See Mrs Duthuit for details. 

Year 7 News

Year 7 Boys Football Match 

When: Thursday 23rd October 

Kick Off: 4.00pm approximately 

Where: Braunton Academy 3G 

Opponents: South Molton Community College 

Changes to Assessment in KS3 (Year 7)  

Dear Parents and Carers 

I am writing to explain how students will be assessed now in KS3 at Braunton Academy. It has changed from last year.  Students are assessed at three points throughout the year with information reported to parents. Information will be provided in relation to Expected Standards in Knowledge and Skills, Engagement in Learning, Presentation & Organisation and Homework & Independent Learning. This information will come home on an MTA (Mid-Term Assessment) as normal. 

Key Stage 3 ASSESSMENT AGAINST EXPECTED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS 

Throughout Key Stage 3 students study a broad curriculum, consisting of 14 subjects. These subjects provide our students with the essential knowledge and skills enabling them to fulfil our motto of ‘Aspire and Achieve’. This will prepare our students for the next phase of their education and future life. 

Teachers will use their professional judgement to reflect on how secure the students are in relation to the knowledge and skills that they have been taught within the curriculum, at that point. We then report a holistic professional judgement using ‘Expected Standards’ language. We hope that this will improve clarity, make it easier to understand whilst also aligning with language used at Primary School. 

Most students will tend to follow a consistent pathway as they move through Key Stage 3 – in other words, a student ‘Working at Expected Standard’ in Year 7 will typically also be ‘Working at Expected Standard’ in Year 8, and again in Year 9. This would still mean they are making progress as they encounter more content with increasing demands. 

How we will Assess in Key Stage 3  

TARGET SETTING 

At The Academy, we are committed to ensuring that every student reaches their full potential. As part of this, we set clear and ambitious targets for all students to be ‘Working at the expected standard’ in each of their subjects. Our targets are designed to support steady progress and build on the foundations laid in primary school.  

For some students, particularly those who performed strongly in their Key Stage 2 SATs, we set a higher target of ‘Working at greater depth’ to reflect their prior attainment and to continue challenging them appropriately. We are aspirational for all our students and believe that with the right support and encouragement, every child can thrive and succeed. 

The ‘Expected standards’ in each subject will be available soon on the website. 

If you have any questions about assessment or your young person’s recent MTA, please contact the Head of Year. 

You may also wish to visit our Assessment page on the website here, which explains what Mid Term Assessment Reports (MTAs) will look like. 

Assessment - Braunton Academy - Aspire and Achieve 

Regards

Mr G Twohig. Vice Principal 

Accessing Sparx Reader from home 

If you’re struggling to access Sparx Reader from home, please see our new video guide on how to access and log in to Sparx through the school website.  It also has some handy tips on how to make reading on a screen more accessible by adjusting the font sizes, screen colour and using the reader guide.   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hw7GRvEBY8 

If you ever need to come back to the link, it can be found on the English section of the school website under ‘Useful Links’ 

https://www.braunton.academy/curriculum/english  

Year 7 DT Robot club starts Thursday 9th October in the DT ICT room. All students who have expressed an interest please attend this first session as a taster. Bring your packed lunch. We will start at 1.05 pm.