The Bulmershe Bulletin – Issue 25
21st March 2025
Dear Parents and Carers,
This week, we’re celebrating a very special member of our school community – Buddy, our wonderful therapy dog, is turning four! It’s hard to believe he’s been brightening our days for that long, but time flies when you’re being given endless belly rubs and the occasional sneaky biscuit.
Buddy plays an important role at Bulmershe, and while he may think his main job is napping or sniffing out unattended snacks, he actually provides a huge amount of support to our students.
- In the morning, he leads his Reading Club, where students come together to chat about books (and where Buddy listens very attentively).
- He’s a great listener during Walk and Talk sessions, offering a calming presence for students speaking with mentors.
- He’s one of our greeters in SIGNAL, on hand to welcome students and visitors with a wagging tail.
- Most mornings, he can be found in reception welcoming students – ever hopeful for extra fuss.
- And most importantly, he simply makes everyone smile, whether it’s students having a tough day or staff in need of a little boost.
Buddy’s birthday is the perfect time to celebrate the amazing benefits of having a therapy dog in school. He helps reduce stress, encourages communication and creates a sense of calm. Happy birthday, Buddy!
Amanda Woodfin
Headteacher
Upcoming Events
26th Mar – SEND Drop in 3:15pm
26th Mar – Y11 families – Managing Exam Stress Workshop, 6pm, Auditorium – Book here
3rd April – Year 8 Parents’ Evening (online)
4th April – Term ends at 12:20pm
5th – 21st April – Easter Holidays
22nd April – Start of the summer term
Have Your Say!
We are always looking for ways to improve and grow – and your feedback plays a vital role in that process. Our Spring Pulse Survey is now open, giving you the opportunity to share your thoughts and experiences about school life.
Whether it’s what we’re doing well or areas where we can improve, your voice matters. This is your chance to help shape our school and ensure we continue to provide the best possible support for our students.
Please take a few moments to complete the survey here:
If you have any pressing concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s Head of Year directly.
Bulmershe Sixth Form – a popular choice!
We are delighted to share that our Bulmershe Sixth Form continues to grow in popularity, attracting students from across the local area. Our recent interview process has now concluded, with an incredible 472 students interviewed over just three weeks!
This year, we have offered 306 places, with a strong mix of internal and external students keen to join our Sixth Form community. So far, 207 students have already accepted their offers – a fantastic reflection of the high-quality teaching, support, and opportunities we provide.
Our Sixth Form team is now working on finalising option blocks and planning an exciting Summer Taster Day to help students experience life at the Bulmershe Sixth Form. We look forward to welcoming both our current Year 11s and new students in September!
EPQ: Independent learning in action
This week, our Year 12 students taking on their Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) have begun presenting their projects – and we couldn’t be prouder!
The EPQ is an opportunity for students to develop independent research skills, critical thinking and academic writing by completing a project on a topic of their choice. It’s a fantastic way to prepare for university and future careers, demonstrating self-motivation and resilience to future employers and colleges.
We’ve been incredibly impressed by the depth of knowledge and passion shown by our students. Their projects have evolved over time, and it’s been inspiring to see how confidently they’ve shared their findings. Presenting to an audience is never easy, but one student even took on questions from Mrs Woodfin and handled them brilliantly!
A huge well done to those who have already completed their presentations – Alfie S, Ishan R, Shruthi T and Anna W – for their hard work and confidence. We look forward to seeing more fantastic presentations in the coming weeks!
To find out more about the EPQ at Bulmershe, visit: the EPQ page on our website
Exploring Surrealism in Photography
Our Year 9 Photography students have been exploring Surrealism – an artistic movement that challenges reality and embraces the dreamlike and unexpected. Inspired by Man Ray, a pioneering surrealist photographer known for his experimental techniques, our Leadership and Challenge students have been creating striking images that play with light, shadow, and unusual compositions.
Meanwhile, students in our Photography and Media Club have been experimenting with DSLR cameras and long shutter speeds, producing some stunning light-trail and motion-blur effects. This club is open to all year groups and runs every Monday, after school in E4—a great opportunity for any budding photographers to develop their skills!
Raising Awareness of Epilepsy in Assemblies
This week in assemblies, Mrs Edwards has been raising awareness of epilepsy, a neurological condition that can cause seizures, including loss of consciousness or convulsions. Epilepsy is far more common than many people realise, affecting 63,000 children under 18 in the UK – including some members of our own school community.
At Bulmershe, we want all students to recognise the signs of a seizure so they can respond calmly and supportively. Students learned that if someone has a seizure, they should: stay calm, offer reassurance, cushion the person’s head with a jumper or blazer, and call for help immediately.
Supporting a young Addington artist
The Bulmershe Art Department is pleased to be working alongside Addington School to support one of their students in achieving a GCSE in Art – the first at Addington in several years. This partnership has helped strengthen the link between our two schools, and we hope to build on it in the future.
Currently, our collaboration is staff-led, but we are exploring ways for students to support and create together. This summer, the Addington student will visit Bulmershe to use our facilities and gain inspiration from our students’ work and artistic styles.
The Addington student has been producing incredible digital art, using Procreate on their iPad. Their work is heavily influenced by video game art and dystopian themes, with a strong focus on character design. We look forward to developing this partnership further and can’t wait to see how their work progresses!
[Reminder] Open Mic Night – Calling All Musicians!
We’re inviting students from all year groups to take the stage—whether you’re a soloist, part of a band, a singer, or an instrumentalist. It’s a great chance to perform in front of friends and family in a fun and supportive environment.
Auditions: Wednesday 26th March at 3pm in MU2 – bring the song you want to perform!
Need to practise? Join our band workshops on Wednesdays from 3pm–4pm in the Music department.
Tickets to watch the show are now available in IRIS!
If you plan on attending please complete this Google Form first, then pay for tickets through IRIS ParentMail.
Do join us to watch all our talented performers.
Cucina Main Meals – w/c 24th March
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 Marcel D, Ronnie C, Mikiael K, Charlie K, Kovid M, Oscar N, Sam W, Emerald K, Fran H, Amiti F-M, Amrita B and Sophie L all in year 11, to join me in the Library for a celebratory cup of hot chocolate on Friday 28th March 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
Mrs Senthilkumar would like to shout out Adam K in Y13 for his Distinction grade in the IT ( Unit 2- Global Information System) exam.
Mr Allen would like to give a big shout out to Alex J, Kyra M, Mu’adh P, Ayomide A, Berk C and Sapanda P in Year 9, and Y11 students Peter M and Yusif E who qualified for the next round of the UKMT Intermediate Maths Challenge Grey and Pink Kangaroos. Well done for completing the next round – we’re all rooting for you!
Staff Shout Outs
Mr Whearity would like to thank Miss Harris for her organisational mastery in preparation for the Year 9 Options Evening. Well done to Mrs Sharp for getting a round of applause halfway through the presentation, and a shout out to Miss Skelton for organising all of the Options Interviews. We hope that all families who attended found the evening useful and that students are feeling confident about their GCSE options. You can view the Options Presentation and Booklet on our Year 9 Options webpage
Parent Shout Out
A huge thank you to Mr Scott for his kindness and willingness to help with my car troubles at the school gate. Your generosity set a fantastic example of helpfulness for my child to see!
What’s On
Help to make your local area better
Come join the Wokingham-wide Annual Litter Pick on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 March. No previous experience is needed and it is a great opportunity to improve the local environment and spread awareness of keeping the borough tidy.
The litter picking events are taking place at various locations across the borough. Visit the WBC website to find out how to contact your local organiser if you are interested.
Twyford Spring Show
The Twyford & Ruscombe Spring Show is taking place on Saturday 22 March at Loddon Hall in Twyford. The show is open from 2pm and entry is only £1, while children go free.
There will be lots of different exhibits, including flowers and floral art, baked goods, art, photography, handicrafts and children’s classes.
Mother’s Day Fair
JL Events will be hosting a Mother’s Day Fair at California Country Park in Finchampstead on Sunday 30 March, from 10am to 3pm.
There will be a variety of activities to help you create memories, including family photography mini shoots, free mini pamper treatments, craft stalls and entertainment for children. There is no need to book – just drop in. Admission is free.