Weekly Parents' Newsletter
Dear Families
It has been a bit of a wet and windy week but that hasn’t stopped the students being very successful in school. The Year 11s have had a brilliant week doing their PPE exams. The invigilators have fed back to me that their conduct during the exams has been brilliant, and they have been very impressed at how seriously the students have taken them and the amount of effort they have seen while they have sat them. One week down and one more to go! Thank you to all the Year 11 families for supporting the students so well at this pressurised time.
This week saw the culmination of months of hard work and dedication from our theatrical students in the school with Julius Caesar being performed at the Landmark Theatre as part of the nationwide Shakespeare Schools Festival. Yet again our director Mr Carroll and Assistant Director Mrs Halpin have created a masterpiece performance. The students were amazing. Thank you to everyone who attended.
It was an honour this week to participate in the annual remembrance service in the village. I was accompanied by our Principal Students who performed the readings and representatives from our Year 7 students. I would also like to thank one of our parents Mrs Legge who kindly offered to join us to play the last post.
This week the school was awarded ‘Plant Hero Status’ for the fundraising we have done over the past three years for the ‘Just One Tree’ charity. Thank you to Mrs Moy and the Eco Club for their work organising this every year.
Also, thank you to all the parents who attended the Parental Engagement meeting on Wednesday; it was great to have your on-going feedback on the changes we are making.
Have a lovely weekend.
Mrs F Bowler, Principal
Whole School Messages
Borrowed uniform
If your child has borrowed uniform from Pastoral, especially a tie, please check and return them promptly. We no longer have uniform for students to borrow, as a result of students not returning or collecting deposits.
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.
Catering Menu
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.
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.
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.
Clubs and Activities
Bake Sale – Year 11 Prom Fundraising
Year 11 are holding a fundraising bake sale for their Prom next year on Tuesday 25th November. Please remember to bring in cash or a physical bank card to pay (min. £1 spend). If anyone would like to donate cakes (home baked or shop bought) please bring them to Reception by 9.00 am on Tuesday 25th November. We are a NUT FREE school.
Competitions
Junior Volleyball Tournament
Fireball North Devon are hosting a junior volleyball tournament open to children from Year 3 through to Year 10. It is a perfect chance to get involved in your first ever event, no experience is necessary! The tournament is Saturday 15th November at West Buckland School from 12:30-5pm. It costs £5. We will put the children in teams of their age.
To register please go here:
https://club.spond.com/landing/courses/fireballnorthd/E78BCCB726F44DA695DA8C4C451A8380
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
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!)
Braunton Academy Climbing Club
Select Braunton Academy Climbing Club and your relevant time slot. Any questions please ask. Also, with this new system you can edit the booking yourself should you book the wrong the time slot (depending on spaces).
https://radventuresoutdoors.setmore.com
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
Trips
Tottenham Hotspurs Football Experience – Saturday 14th March 2026 for Years 7-10
Please refer to this letter for full details.
The deadline for deposits is 9.00 am on Wednesday 19th November.
Year 11 News
University of Bristol – Virtual Workshops
Please visit our Careers page for information about upcoming subject specific workshops taking place in November.
Careers - Braunton Academy - Aspire and Achieve
Christmas Raffle - Calling All Year 11 Parents/Carers
Year 11 are running a school-wide Christmas raffle this year to raise money towards their Prom. They are trying to raise funds to reduce the ticket price and make the event accessible for everyone.
But we need some exciting raffle prizes!
If you are able to donate any prizes/vouchers from companies you work for etc please could you let me know what you can pledge by emailing khayler@braunton.academy
Deadline for donations is Friday 21st November to allow us time to then sell the tickets via ParentMail before the end of term. The raffle will be drawn on Thursday 18th December at 1.30 pm.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Mrs Hayler, Finance Manager
Careers Round Up
We have received information from the University of Plymouth regarding two upcoming webinars. On Thursday 27th November there will be a webinar entitled ‘Biomedical Science Taster: How Scientists Diagnose Illnesses’ and on Tuesday 25th November there will be webinar entitled ‘AI and Cybersecurity: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly’.
Please follow the link below to our Careers webpage where you can access the link to find further information and to sign up for the webinars.
Careers - Braunton Academy - Aspire and Achieve
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.
Work Experience - Braunton Academy - Aspire and Achieve
Year 9 News
Nothing this week.
Year 8 News
Nothing this week.
Year 7 News
Nothing this week.
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