The Bulmershe Bulletin – Issue 43
26th September 2025
Dear Parents and Carers,
I wanted to start this week’s newsletter by celebrating the dedication and enthusiasm of our students.
This week Miss Marr, our Librarian, and I had the privilege of interviewing candidates for our student Library Assistants team. Our library is so loved that 38 students applied for the position! The half-hour group interviews were a fantastic experience. Existing student librarian assistants: Shalom and Alex (Year 11) Rebecca (Year 10) Emma and Nistha (Year 9) asked the questions. Every student was confident, clear and eloquent and they had some genuinely brilliant ideas for the library. When the new recruits are officially appointed next week, they will join the 35 returning librarian assistants to create an amazing team of 73 students.
This week, I also had the pleasure of meeting the Year 7 students who completed my Headteacher’s Challenge over the summer. As part of their transition activity booklet, they spent time over the holidays getting creative. We met in the library and got through gallons of hot chocolate while reviewing their work. I was shown their drafted CVs, playlists that encapsulated their first day of school and incredible photos of imagined school days brought to life using Lego or other toys. It was such a pleasure to review their work and meet such a lovely enthusiastic and engaging group of children.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Amanda Woodfin
Headteacher
Upcoming Events
Tue 30th Sept – Year 10 Curriculum Evening in the Auditorium
Tue 30th Sept – Duke of Edinburgh Celebration in the Auditorium from 6pm (invite only)
Tues 30th Sept – Year 10 Art & Design Trip to Kew Gardens
Thu 2nd Oct – Year 13 Curriculum Evening in the Auditorium
Tue 7th Oct – Year 7 STEM Trip to Thorpe Park
Tue 7th Oct – Year 12 Curriculum Evening in the Auditorium
Tue 14th Oct – Year 8 Curriculum Evening in the Auditorium
w/c 20th Oct – Year 11 Exam Week
Another successful Open Evening
Beautiful blue skies helped make our Open Evening a successful one yesterday, when we welcomed over 800 people to tour the school to see if it is right for their family.
The success of the evening was down to the huge team effort from our students and staff. We were delighted to see so many Year 5 and 6 children getting stuck into departmental activities, from roasting marshmallows and solving maths problems to a whole variety of science experiments and PE challenges.
Our staff were thrilled by the lovely feedback received, including this comment: “All the pupils I spoke to were a credit to the school and the staff looked relaxed and happy. I was impressed with all that I saw… no wonder you have a waiting list!”
A huge thank you goes to our student tour guides and departmental helpers who came back for the evening. They worked incredibly hard answering questions. As one student commented at the end of the night, having lost their voice: “Don’t worry – I only used it up on good words about the school!”
A special thank you also goes to our speakers, Phoebe and Aaron (Year 7) and Head Students Reeshan and Caitlin (Year 13), who gave such inspiring speeches.
Timekeeping Matters
As highlighted by Berkshire employers below, timekeeping is the most valued skill in young people entering the workplace. While many students are keen to learn, a recent survey showed that a lack of punctuality is a key concern for those hiring school leavers.
Employers see excellent timekeeping: arriving on time meeting deadlines and managing commitments well as the clearest sign of reliability and professionalism. It helps young people build trust respect and confidence. By encouraging punctuality at home you are helping your child develop a habit that is essential for future success. Supporting them now will strengthen their success at school and give them a real advantage when they move into apprenticeships further education or employment.
This simple habit will prepare them for the future. Please remember that all students should be through the gate and ready to start tutor by 8:30am every morning.
Personal Development: Developing Self Awareness
At Bulmershe, we see personal development as a fundamental part of our academic and pastoral work. Our goal is to help every student become a good local, national and global citizen who develops strong character and resilience. Our Personal Development programme is designed each term to provide valuable learning opportunities tailored to your child’s stage of education.
This week we want to share how our Year 7 students have been focusing on Self Awareness to help them build positive relationships and settle smoothly into secondary school life.
You can support your child’s growth by encouraging them to attend an after school club every week or to challenge their inner critic when they doubt themselves. It is also helpful to encourage them to take responsibility for forgetting their PE kit or homework and to accept the consequences. Most importantly, always encourage your child to do the best they can.
To see the full parents’ guide on Self Awareness and more tips for supporting your child’s growth please click below:
Post-16 options
As our Year 11 students begin to focus on their GCSEs, it is also time to think seriously about their next steps at the end of the school year.
The Bulmershe Sixth Form is an environment where students gain independence through self-directed study and reduced hours while still receiving the familiar personalised support they need to succeed. We offer a broad range of subjects including A-levels, vocational Level 3 courses and the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). We are delighted to announce that our Sixth Form Open Evening will be held on Thursday 6 November at 5:15pm.
To help families explore all available options we are continuously updating our Post-16 Options page on the school website with open day dates and information from local colleges and other sixth forms across the Autumn term. We encourage you and your child to visit this page regularly to keep up with all the dates and opportunities available. Our goal is to ensure every student finds the right pathway to achieve their ambitions.
European Day of Languages
Today, Friday 26 September, students marked the annual European Day of Languages (EDoL). This day is celebrated across Europe to promote linguistic diversity and raise awareness about the lifelong value of learning a new language.
To mark the occasion, students took part in a fun inter-form competition. They were tested on their language skills in a whole-school quiz with winners to be announced soon. The winning students will earn a delicious breakfast for themselves and three friends.
Staff also joined in the celebrations by greeting their classes in a variety of languages throughout the day, showcasing the rich variety of languages spoken and taught within our school community. We believe strongly that learning a language is vital for opening doors and exploring new cultures.
Financial Support for Sixth Form
The Post-16 Bursary Fund is designed to help students with the cost of staying in education at the Sixth Form. This valuable financial support is available to students who need help with costs like travel to and from school, funding for school trips, expenses for university or apprenticeship open days, and essential books and equipment.
There are two main types of funding: a Vulnerable Bursary and a Discretionary Bursary for students whose household income meets specific criteria, such as those entitled to free school meals.
The deadline for applications is fast approaching on Friday 24 October 2025. Please visit Post-16 Bursary page on our website now to find out if your child is eligible and to submit the application form. We encourage all families to apply before the deadline if they feel they may qualify for this support.
Year 11 Takes to the River Pang
Last week the Geography department completed a successful four-day field trip with approximately 150 Year 11 students to Rushall Farm. This essential fieldwork is a fundamental and practical part of the Geography GCSE course.
Students put on waders and entered the River Pang at three different locations to carry out essential data collection . This hands-on experience saw them collecting primary data by measuring the river’s width its velocity and the size of the bedload. This practical work helps bring the classroom theory to life.
By collecting and analysing this data the students are building the crucial skills they need for their upcoming summer exams. They will specifically be tested on their ability to discuss the methodology and findings of these trips in their Paper 3 exam. The Geography Department were incredibly proud of the students’ enthusiasm collaboration and professionalism throughout this vital stage of their GCSE learning.
Year 7 STEM Trip to Thorpe Park
Our lucky Year 7 students will soon be attending an exciting STEM event at Thorpe Park on 7 October 2025.
This trip has been secured to offer students opportunities and experiences designed to enhance their education. The day will be packed with educational and fun workshops covering Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths. This will provide students with first-hand experience of the curriculum subject matter that is difficult to replicate in a normal classroom environment.
For families with children attending, you may want to watch this short video reporting from a previous Thorpe Park STEM event to help students know what to expect and prepare for the day.
Spotlight on Safety
Online Safety Alert: Protecting Your Child from Fraud
Students are increasingly a prime target for fraudsters and cyber criminals whether they are gaming shopping or looking for part-time work. We have summarised the key advice from Thames Valley Action Fraud to help your child stay secure and protect their personal and financial information.
Key Steps to Protect Accounts
- Strong Passwords: Use unique, strong passwords for every online account and enable 2-step verification (2SV) for maximum security.
- Watch for Job Scams: Fraudsters target students with fake job adverts. A genuine employer will never ask for money to hire them. Encourage your child to research all companies thoroughly.
- Pay Safely: Avoid paying by bank transfer and use a credit card for online purchases where possible. Your child should never feel pressured into quick payments.
What to Do If You Are Targeted
If your child loses money or shares financial information they must contact their bank immediately. Report all fraud to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk.
You can also report suspicious messages for free:
- Suspicious emails: Forward to report@phishing.gov.uk.
- Suspicious texts or scam calls: Forward to 7726.
Staying Safe near Railway Tracks
Network Rail and Learn Live have asked to share an urgent and vital safety message about the dangers of the railway tracks with our community. Over 20 million people across the UK have already watched these safety videos, which have significantly helped to reduce the number of incidents in local areas.
They urge all families to watch the short, under 15-minute safety video at home with their children to reinforce three crucial messages:
- Being on the railway tracks is extremely dangerous.
- Trains can run at any time of day or night, even when they are not shown on timetables or station displays.
- On the Wessex and South Western Railway network, trains are powered by a ‘third rail’ which carries 750V of electricity. This rail is always live, even when no trains are running.
You can view the safety video using the link below.
Link to Safety Video
(To access the free video quickly, please enter the email address railsafety@learnliveuk.com into the “I am registered” field when prompted)
Taking 15 minutes to watch this video can help save lives and provide important safety information to young people.
Celebrating our own Martial Arts Champion!
We are thrilled to celebrate the incredible achievement of Mikey in Year 10, who recently represented Team England at the World Martial Arts Committee (WMAC) World Championships.
Mikey has dedicated countless hours to training with his club, Nemesis Martial Art and Fitness, and his hard work and determination paid off spectacularly. We are incredibly proud to share that he brought home two Gold medals and one Bronze medal from the competition!
Mikey is already preparing for his next major challenge: the WKU World Championship in Germany during the Autumn half-term. Please join us in congratulating Mikey on his success and wishing him the very best as he continues his training!
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 Garrard: I would like to shout out to all the year 11 geographers. We had 6 very successful day trips over the last two weeks with them. They represented the school fantastically, and worked well together. We had compliments on their behaviour from members of the public in Reading and from all the Rushall farm staff. Well done to all who attended!
Mrs Senthilkumar: I would like to shout out to Krishna K (Y10) for his excellent attitude towards learning and consistently solving challenging problems with excellence in programming.
Miss Pooler: Please can I give a big shout out to Ollie, Daniel, Mason, Chloe, Francesca and Keira in Y9, Violet, Maisie and Paige in Y10, and Tom and Joe in Y13 for all their help with the Bushcraft/DofE at open evening.
Miss Ilott: I would like to shout out Emma W and Thomas C in Y10 for helping me with freshening up the display board in E7. They gave up two hours of their after-school time and it is very much appreciated; we are really proud!
Shout Out to the Year 10 Netball Team! What a fantastic start to the league! In their first two games, the team showed amazing teamwork and determination, securing a strong win 8–2 and only narrowly missing the second game by just 3 goals. Such a strong opening performance, and with plenty more games ahead, the future looks bright for this squad. Well done, Year 10, keep up the energy and fight!
Shout Out to the Year 11 and Sixth Form Netball Teams! Well done to all three teams who competed in the tournament this week. With lots of games played, every team showed fantastic netball skills, strong game play and great sportsmanship throughout. A special mention goes to the Sixth Form team, who finished the tournament undefeated: an incredible achievement. Congratulations to everyone involved!
Shout Out to the Year 11 GCSE PE Cohort! On Monday, the Year 11 GCSE PE students travelled to Palmer Park to take part in their athletics moderation. They were fantastic throughout the day, showing real effort, determination and commitment in every event. The group gave their all and represented themselves brilliantly.
Staff Shout Outs
Everyone at Bulmershe would like to give a shout out to our incredible site team Mr Gardiner and Mr Mullan. They work so hard, all year round, but especially when we’re preparing for Open Evening. No matter how many requests come their way, they are always cheerful and go about school putting a smile on everyone else’s faces.
Cucina Main Meals – w/c 29th September
What’s On
Reading Athletic Club
Reading Athletic Club offers students a fantastic opportunity to train with qualified coaches and take part in a variety of competitions. The club has opportunities for all ages and abilities, starting from Year 5.
Membership and Training
Full membership is available for athletes aged 11 and older and includes a competition vest. Annual membership fees vary by age, with a reduced fee for those under 18. They also offer a hardship scheme to ensure that all students can take part.
Training sessions are held at Palmer Park Stadium on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30pm to 8pm, and on Sundays from 10am to 12pm. For younger athletes (Year 7 and under), sessions are held on Fridays from 5:15pm to 6:15pm and Sundays from 9am to 10am. If your child is interested in joining, they can find more information on the Reading Athletic Club website.
10% off Wild Days
Parents looking for activities for their children during the October half-term may be interested in the Wild Days Activity Club. The club runs at the Activity Centre at Dinton Pastures Country Park from 27 to 31 October.
Designed for children aged eight to 14 years old, the sessions offer young adventurers a chance to explore sports on both land and water.
Each session is priced at £54. An early bird discount of 10% is available until 12 October by entering the code WILDEARLY10. The club also offers optional wrap-around care and lunch options. Families can find more information and booking by clicking the button below:
Oktoberfest in Wokingham
Sit & Sip Wokingham is bringing back its popular Oktoberfest celebration in Peach Place.
The free event is taking place tomorrow, Saturday 27 September, running from 12 noon until midnight with live music until 10pm. You can enjoy the sounds of a live Oompah band from 3pm to 6pm, followed by local band Bang Out of Order from 7:30pm to 10pm. Food stalls from Grilko, Hamlet, Bombay Story and Knead will also be on offer, all as part of the town centre’s regeneration.
For more details on this community event, please visit the Sit & Sip Wokingham website
