The Bulmershe Bulletin – Issue 21
14th February 2025
Dear Parents and Carers,
As we come to the end of this half term, we have a milestone to celebrate—our first anniversary as part of the Corvus Learning Trust! Over the past year, we’ve had fantastic opportunities to collaborate with other schools in the Trust, strengthening teaching and learning across all subjects. Our staff have taken part in subject networking groups, shared best practice, and engaged in over ten subject and area reviews—all of which help us continue to drive standards for our students. We were also delighted to welcome the CEO of Corvus for a two-day visit, where he was incredibly impressed with our students and the culture of our school.
At Bulmershe, we are also proud of the strong partnership between school and home. Your support makes a huge difference, ensuring our students get the very best from their education. It’s wonderful to see the vast majority of students wearing their uniform with pride and arriving prepared for learning – thank you for helping them get off to the best possible start each day.
We are also thrilled that our attendance remains in the top 25% nationally – an achievement we should all celebrate! Every day in school counts, so please continue encouraging good attendance and punctuality. If your child is struggling to arrive on time, our pastoral team is here to support.
By working together as a school, a community, and now as part of the Corvus family, we are ensuring that every Bulmershe student can thrive. Thank you for your continued support!
Have a nice Half Term – we looking forward to welcoming students back on Monday 24th February – which will be a Week B
Amanda Woodfin
Headteacher
Upcoming Events
w/c 17th Feb – Half Term
Wed 26th Feb – Year 8 “Hooked” presentation
Wed 26th Feb – SEND Drop In
4-6th Mar – GCSE Drama Exams
5th Mar – Sonia Leong – Manga author visit
6th Mar – World Book Day
7-14th Mar – British Science Week
Moving from sQuid to Iris +Pay
As detailed by Mr Coniam in his letter to families yesterday, our current payment provider, sQuid, will be ceasing operations in the UK from 14th March 2025. This means we’ll be moving to a new cashless payment system – and we’ve been working hard to ensure a smooth transition.
After careful consideration, we’re pleased to confirm that IRIS +Pay will be replacing sQuid for all school payments, including the canteen and trips. IRIS already supports our tills and school finance systems, so this change should be seamless.
Over the next two weeks, you’ll receive an invite from IRIS +Pay to set up your account. In the meantime, please continue using sQuid as usual. We’re still finalising some details, so we’ll share more information and answer any questions after half term.
Thank you for your patience.
National Apprenticeship Week Round Up
This week in our school assemblies, we shone a spotlight on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths), sharing our vision for STEM at Bulmershe and highlighting some of the exciting projects taking place in school. It was also National Apprenticeship Week, and we welcomed apprentices from local companies who joined us virtually to talk about their experiences. Their insights helped students answer our Tutor Time Apprenticeship Quiz and, more importantly, gave them a real-world perspective on different career pathways.
Congratulations to the Tutor Group 11XU who won the quiz, but congratulations to all students who participated. The judges were impressed by the high standards of entries and your understanding of the importance of apprenticeships and the positive impact they make to people, businesses and the wider economy.
The assemblies and activities are an important part of inspiring students to think about their future careers, whether in STEM industries or through vocational training. They provide hands-on learning experiences and help students see the real-world applications of what they study in the classroom. By hearing directly from professionals, students gain a better understanding of diverse career options, the skills employers look for, and the exciting opportunities that apprenticeships can offer.
At Bulmershe, we are committed to preparing our students for success in all pathways—university, apprenticeships, and the world of work. Encouraging curiosity, critical thinking and problem-solving is at the heart of what we do, and we look forward to seeing where these conversations take our students in the future!
Examples of Teaching and Learning
Our Year 12 A-level Biology students recently performed dissections on locusts and fish heads to explore and compare the gas exchange structures in different organisms. This hands-on activity is part of their curriculum, which includes studying the respiratory systems of mammals, insects and fish. Earlier in the term, they examined sheep’s lungs, and now they have added locusts and fish gills to their knowledge base.
These practical lessons help students understand complex biological concepts and prepare them for their exams. They dissected the structures and observed them under the microscope, gaining valuable insights into how different organisms breathe.
While we love sharing our students’ learning experiences, please be aware that the accompanying locust dissection image might not be suitable for viewing during mealtimes!
Year 8 Get a Taste of French Grammar!
Our Year 8 French students have been having fun with food this term—through language. As part of their grammar lessons, they’ve been learning about the partitive article (used when talking about ‘some’ or ‘any’ of something). To put their skills to the test, they took on a musical challenge, listening to the lively French song Les Cornichons and filling in the missing food words with the correct grammar.
Not only was this a great way to reinforce their learning, but it also gave them a taste of French culture. Want to hear the song for yourself? You can listen to it here: Les Cornichons.
Thank you Tatiana P for sharing your work with us.
Can you help our Y13 Psychologists?
Our Year 13 Psychology students are conducting personal investigations as part of their A-Level course, and they need your help! Your input is invaluable in supporting their research. If you have a few moments, please take part by answering the questions in the link below. All responses are completely anonymous and will only be used for their coursework. Thank you for helping our students with this important part of their studies.
Library News
Happy Valentine’s Day from the Bulmershe School Library. Thank you to the creative students who helped make decorations!
World Book Day
This year World Book Day is on Thursday 6th March! There will be lots going on, with more details to follow after half term. Please note: students are to come to school in their usual school uniform on this day. If they wish to dress up as a book character, they may bring a costume in their bag and change into it after school – then they can head to the library for a fancy dress celebration!
Competition News
The new Bulmershe Dance Team has been working hard this term, perfecting three routines for their upcoming competition in the first week back after half-term. Their dedication and teamwork have really shone through, and we’re proud of all the effort they’ve put in. We wish them the best of luck—keep an eye out for updates after the break!
In cheerleading news, Brooke D, Mya E, Mya S, Paige R and Anya J attended the Cheer City Cheerleading Championships last weekend in Nottingham with their cheerleading team, Kick Twist Cheerleading.
We are extremely delighted to inform you that the team came 1st – We are so proud!
Year 9 – Vaccine Consent
Year 9 parents – please keep your eye out for an email from the school regarding the upcoming the Year 9 Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio and Meningitis vaccinations that are happening after half term. This will have information on how to give consent for your child to be vaccinated. Please contact reception@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk if you do not receive it.
Keep Safe over Half Term
Keeping our young people safe—both online and in the real world—is a priority for us at Bulmershe. Wokingham Council’s Keep Safe in Wokingham campaign is running throughout February, offering free workshops and online sessions packed with practical safety tips for children and parents. Find out more here: Keep Safe in Wokingham
With half term coming up, it’s a great time to remind your child how to stay safe and what to do in an emergency. If you or your child experience anything concerning—whether online or in person—you can report it to the school, Thames Valley Police (by calling 101 or online at Thames Valley Police), or another trusted adult.
A key event to look out for is the NSPCC Online Safety for Parents and Carers session on Monday 17th February at 6pm – an essential guide to helping children navigate the digital world safely.
Household Support Funds
If you’re struggling with the cost of food, bills, or other essentials this winter, support is available through Wokingham Borough’s Household Support Fund which has more than £500,000 available to help local families.
Eligible households can receive:
- £15 per child, per week during the school holidays for those on free school meals
- £120 one-off grant for pensioners, carers, and disabled people
- £60 one-off grant for all other households
If you received a Household Support Grant between April and September 2024, you don’t need to reapply—your next payment will be made automatically. Find out more and apply here: Wokingham Household Support Fund
[Reminder] Year 10 WEX Feedback
As shared last week, we would really appreciate it if Year 10 families could take a moment and share their feedback on our Work Experience process. Thank you to those who have already completed the form.
Cucina Main Meals – w/c 24th February
HOT CHOCOLATE INVITATIONS
I like to welcome deserving students to my office to share a cup of hot chocolate with me on a Friday during registration. These students are nominated by staff who have been impressed by progress, achievement or attitude.
This week, I would like to invite Mia K, Brooke P, Saba A, Tayleigh M and Aakanksha Y, all in year 10, to join me for a celebratory cup of hot chocolate on Friday 28th February at 8:35am.
Shout Outs
On a Friday we like to shine a spotlight on those who deserve a thank you or have done well over the past week. If you would like to nominate your child, or a member of staff, please use our nomination email address: HeadsPA@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk.
Student Shout Outs
Miss Parker would like to say Well Done to the following tutor groups who have now completed their first draft CVs: 10XB, 10YB, 10XU, 10YU and 10XL– an excellent effort from everyone, well done!
Ms Eveleigh would like to give a shout out to Joseph C: Thank you for your amazing work in year 7 dance (part of the Year 7 enrichment programme). It was lovely to see that you have a really great rapport with the students, and you were not afraid to get stuck in and show some of your own moves, modelling to the kids that we ALL can dance and have fun with it!
Miss James would like to thank Aaira, Ayomide, Bernice, Grace, Solly, Victoria and Michelle from Year 9 who were fantastic helpers at this year’s Year 5 Woodley Schools Bake Off event!
Mr Allen would like to say a big congratulations to all the students who completed the Intermediate maths Challenge two weeks ago! The results are in and certificates will be distributed to students soon! A MASSIVE well done to the following students who achieved Gold Award: Alex J, Kyra M, Mu’Adh P, Ayomide A-I, Berk C, Spandana P, Peter M, Isabelle C, Yusif E, Manvir V, Amrita B and Sanjana R K. Congratulations everyone!
Miss Heath would like to give a shout out to her 8x/En2 class for great work when preparing for their speaking and listening assessment, as well as their presentations. You all worked fantastically and really tried your hardest. She also wants to thank you for just being a great class to have every week.
Staff Shout Outs
Mr Whearity would like to thank Mrs Ambrose for the proactive way she led Year 9 during his absence. He would also like to give a shout out to Mr Noye – he is very grateful for his support every day.
A big thank you to our families from #teamOASIS for your donations of Lego and Knex. We have been overwhelmed by your generosity and have a well-stocked OASIS centre for our students to use. Thank you again.
Parent Shout Out
I’d like to give a shout out to Mr Whearity for his positive attitude towards my daughter. He’s made her feel more comfortable during her assessments and has demonstrated how he can modify lesson to accommodate individuals. He’s a real credit to the Bulmershe Team.
What’s On
Apprenticeship Information Event for Parents and Young People
Designed to help parents and young people learn more about apprenticeship opportunities and hosted in collaboration with the Apprenticeship Service and the ASK (Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge) programme, this informal session will offer valuable insights into apprenticeships, how they compare to university, and what local opportunities are currently available.
Event Details:
📅 Date: 28th February
📍 Location: South Reading Community Hub
🕞 Time: 3:30pm – 5:00pm
What to Expect:
- 3:30pm – Apprenticeship Talk: Learn more about how apprenticeships work and the benefits they offer.
- 4:30pm – Apprentice Insight: Hear from a current apprentice in Berkshire about their experience and how it compares to university.
- 4:45pm – Q&A and Live Vacancies: Ask questions and explore real apprenticeship opportunities.
- 5:00pm – Event Ends
This is a great chance for families to explore alternative post-16 and post-18 pathways. Refreshments will be provided, and everyone is welcome to attend. For more information about the ASK programme, visit: https://www.careersandenterprise.co.uk/the-ask-programme/