Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been a brilliant (and short!) week at Bulmershe and I wanted to dedicate my introduction to celebrating a special event that took place on Tuesday.

I was immensely pleased to witness the final performance of the CultureMix Arts mentoring programme a group of our Year 9 boys have been involved in. This project, which focused on steel pan music and celebrating identity, perfectly encapsulated the kind of opportunities we strive to offer our students.

For ten weeks, these boys committed to learning a completely new skill and participating in group mentoring sessions. On Tuesday, they took to the auditorium stage as their newly formed band, PanDem, and performed in front of all of their Year 9 peers. The shift in their confidence from the beginning of the term to that final moment was evident and made all staff watching very proud.

It takes courage to step out of your comfort zone and try something new, especially in front of a large audience. Hearing the students talk about gaining confidence, making new friendships and learning practical project management skills makes me so hopeful for their futures. Bulmershe believes that forming well-rounded young people requires us to look beyond the academic curriculum and provide unique pathways for growth.

I want to extend my thanks to CultureMix Arts and Reading Council for designing and funding this fantastic programme. It is a wonderful example of how external partnerships help us inspire and support our young people to achieve great things. I look forward to bringing more such opportunities to Bulmershe.

Amanda Woodfin
Headteacher

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Upcoming Events

2nd – 4th Dec – Addams Family production
8th & 9th Dec – Y9 and Y10 Big Sister Project (in School)
10th & 11th Dec – Y8 Health Reach Careers Workshop (in School)
10th Dec – Whole School Christmas Lunch
12th & 13th Dec – Lille Christmas Market Trip
16th Dec – Whole School Flu Vaccinations – CONSENT HERE (code BK110062)
18th Dec – Christmas Jumper Day (if students wish)
18th Dec – Last day of term! School closes at 12:20pm
19th Dec – 6th Jan – Christmas Holidays

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Notices:

Bulmershe Mock Parliamentary Debate – to be held in H11 on Wednesday 10^th December. Chaired by Mr Allger and Year 11 Student William. All students are welcome. Three debate topics will be circulated next week.

Wokingham Youth Council Elections – The application window for is now open. It is only open to Year 10 and year 11 students who need to email Mr Allger (Head of Politics) with an expression of interest by 1^st December 2025. The successful candidate will go forward as a nominee to the Wokingham Youth Council elections. 

School Production Reminder
Please remind children to collect any purchased tickets from the school shop before your performance day. Also, please note that the production is a cashless event. Finally, all general enquiries regarding the production should be directed to admin@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

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Behind the Scenes: Year 9 CultureMix Programme

The recent CultureMix performance was the culmination of ten weeks of dedicated work by seven Year 9 boys. This mentoring programme, run in partnership with CultureMix Arts in Reading, was designed to support, inspire and instil a strong sense of belonging through creative activity.

The core of the programme involved learning to play the steel pans, but the curriculum extended far beyond music. Students gained valuable life skills and project management experience, including learning how to schedule a project and manage a simple budget. They also participated in group mentoring sessions focused on celebrating their heritage and understanding cultural identity.

The feedback from the boys highlighted the personal growth achieved over the ten weeks:

• Josh: “I’ve learnt new skills of how to set up a project. It was a good experience and if you ever get the chance to do it I recommend you take it.”
• Dwayne: “I went out of my comfort zone and became closer with my peers.”
• Kayden: “When I first came I thought I’d just be learning to play the steel pans, I didn’t realise we would all be given different roles and preparing for a show – it’s been mad!”

Miss Marr, who accompanied the students, said she enjoyed watching their confidence grow and was impressed with how quickly the boys picked up the complex skill of playing the steel pans. This project was a wonderful way for the students to make new friends and develop future-ready skills.

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STEM Club Innovation: 3D-Printed Keyrings

Our Year 7 STEM Club students have been working on a special project linked to the upcoming school musical production, The Addams Family.

Students have been developing their creativity, problem-solving and technical skills by learning how to design and 3D-print Addams Family–themed keyrings. This hands-on activity has provided an opportunity for them to engage directly with modern manufacturing technology.

Students showing the prototypes of the keyrings. Final versions will be much smaller and pocket sized!

To continue supporting these hands-on STEM opportunities, the students are now fundraising for their own 3D printer for the club. The keyrings will be available to purchase for £3.50 each. They will make brilliant mementos for those students involved in the show and lovely gifts for family and friends, and every contribution will directly help inspire future STEM projects at the school.

If you would like to pre-order one of these unique keyrings and support our young learners’ passion for innovation, please complete the following form: https://forms.gle/m9kr8XLDaaes3Gvr8.

We hope to have all the keyrings made by the new year. Thank you for your support.

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Festive Fun Run for Years 7, 8, and 9

We are pleased to announce the return of the annual Festive Fun Run for all students in Years 7, 8, and 9 during the final week of this term. This event combines a cross-country challenge with festive cheer.

During one of their scheduled PE lessons that week, students will be encouraged to take on two laps of the school field. They are invited to dress in their most creative attire to enter a competition for the best-dressed runner, or they may wear a simple Christmas jumper. Students should still bring their full PE kit as everyone is expected to participate in the run, dressed Christmassy or not!

The event is a charity fundraiser, and we kindly ask all participating pupils to bring a small food donation to be collected at the start of their PE lesson. All donations will go directly to the Woodley Food Bank to support our local community.

Prizes will also be awarded to the top three boys and girls in each year group. Please look out for the exact date of your child’s run, which will be posted on ClassCharts.

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Update – Dyslexia Screening at Bulmershe School

Thank you to over the 600 families who have supported their children in completing the Dyslexia screener at home! We hope the activity was helpful and gave students a positive start to the process.

Our in-school screening will begin next week, starting with Years 7 and 8. Students will leave their timetabled lesson at their allocated time to complete the screening in OASIS. Appointment times will be shared with students at the beginning of the week so they know exactly when to attend.

Once every student has taken part, we will compile the information and share the screening results with families after the Christmas break.

If you have any questions or would like further clarification, please feel free to get in touch: Ktoms@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk

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Tellmi’s 24-Day Christmas Wellbeing Challenge

One of the best ways for young people to manage their wellbeing is by sharing how they feel. We are excited to partner with Tellmi to offer students additional support for their mental wellbeing. Tellmi is a multi-award-winning mental health service, available FREE to young people aged 11 and older. It’s a safe, moderated app where students can share their feelings and receive support from peers and professionals every day, including evenings and Christmas Day.

Tellmi is launching a 24-Day Christmas Wellbeing Challenge. This challenge aims to help young people feel better, connect in a safe environment and celebrate the season positively. Each day features a small task designed to enhance wellbeing, promote kindness, and encourage reflection.

Students can participate by downloading the Tellmi app and accessing the challenge in the Directory section.

Learn more about Tellmi by reading their Parent FAQ’s: https://www.tellmi.help/parents

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Access Arrangements

The school’s SENDCO, Mrs Toms, will be writing to students in Years 11 and 13 next week to confirm their Access Arrangements for the upcoming mock exams in January.

OASIS is carefully ensuring that all necessary arrangements – such as extra time or use of a reader – are in place to support students’ confidence and success during the examination period. Confirmation of Access Arrangements will also be sent to Year 10 students who are sitting the Statistics exam in January, ensuring they are fully prepared.

Parents are reminded that after 1st December, these arrangements cannot be changed or updated. The window for assessing any additional students for Access Arrangements will also have closed by this date.

The SEND team appreciates the ongoing support and partnership of families in making sure every student has the best possible opportunity to approach their exams with confidence.

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Feedback on Youth Future Focus Survey

We have been asked by Wokingham Borough Council’s SEND department to share feedback with our families regarding a recent local initiative.

Last year, the Council ran the Youth Future Focus survey, which gathered opinions from young people aged 11 to 18 across the borough. The survey covered important topics such as safety, local activities, support for independence, volunteering, and mental health and wellbeing.

The Council received an excellent response, with over 2,000 young people completing the survey. We encourage parents to discuss the below with their children, as it reflects the voice of young people in our borough and shows the impact of their input on local services.

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[Reminder] Boot Donations

Mr Hird would like to extend his thanks to the parents who have generously donated boots to our PE department. It is wonderful to see such a strong and supportive school community, always willing to help one another. With the boys currently taking part in rugby rotations, your contributions have made a meaningful difference – especially for pupils who may otherwise struggle to access this resource. 

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[Reminder] Can you help support Woodley Food Bank

Our student-led environment and sustainability club, Geo-Leaders (who meet every Wednesday), are organising a community collection drive to support the Woodley Food Bank. They are collecting tinned and dried goods to deliver to the food bank at South Lake Crescent before we break up for the Christmas holidays.

We are asking families, if you are able, to donate items to help local families in need this festive season. Your child can bring donated items into school next week and add them to one of the various collection boxes.

Collection boxes will be placed in the Library, Geography and Student Reception starting Tuesday. The final day for donating food is Friday 12th December.

The Geo-Leaders are specifically requesting the following items:

Thank you in advance for your generosity and for supporting the Geo-Leaders in this important community effort!

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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 Lauren J, Matthew B, Alex T, Isabelle H and Glenn Keith in year 11 to join me for a celebratory cup of hot chocolate on Friday 5th Dec 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 Marr would like to give a big shout out to Joseph, Kayden, Caleb, Dwayne, De’Onte, Simon and Joshua for their amazing steel pan performance. The boys have worked extremely hard over the last ten weeks to learn the instrument and organise the show. Well done!

Staff Shout Outs

Mrs Dhar would like to thank our LSAs Mrs Sriram and Mrs Kalidindi for supporting students during computing lessons. They go above and beyond to help students learn.

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Cucina Main Meals – w/c 1st December

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What’s On

Woodley Christmas Lights Switch on

On Saturday 29th November, Woodley Town Centre will light up at 4.30pm with an evening of music from the Woodley Concert Band and the Sainsbury Singers. Local children and Woodley Town Mayor, Councillor David Bragg, will switch on the lights, followed by a festive carol service from Churches Together. There’ll be free mulled wine and mince pies courtesy of Woodley & Earley Lions.

Woodley Winter Extravaganza

Woodley takes centre stage on Sunday 7 December from 10am to 3pm with the Woodley Winter Extravaganza. The town centre transforms for a full day of celebration, with over 60 stalls, all-day entertainment on the Centre Stage, street performers, fairground rides for all ages, and the ever-popular barrel organ.

Virtual Work Experience at Thales

Thales is a global technology leader that builds and delivers digital and “deep tech” solutions, such as connectivity, Big Data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and quantum technology.

Their Thales Virtual Work Experience program allows students to gain valuable insight into the world of a major global technology company at their own pace. The program is self-paced and can be completed any time and any day that suits the student’s schedule. It is open to all students aged 13 and over.

Key features of the virtual experience include:

• A behind-the-scenes look at the work and innovation at Thales.
• Over seven hours of in-depth content.
• A certificate of completion upon finishing the course.

Visit Santa’s grotto and enjoy crafting session at Dinton Activity Centre

Families are invited to visit Santa’s Grotto at Dinton Activity Centre on selected Saturdays and Sundays from 6 to 21 December. This experience includes a 5-minute visit with Santa, where each child will receive a gift. Before meeting Santa, children can enjoy a Christmas crafting session with cookies and hot chocolate. Families should arrive 30 minutes prior to their grotto time for the crafting activity.

Key Details: Photography: Parents are welcome to bring a camera or phone to take their own photos with Santa. Dates: Saturday and Sunday, 6–7 December, 13–14 December, and 20–21 December. Cost: Tickets are £16 per child. Booking: Only children require a ticket; parents do not need to book. Up to four children (one family) can visit Santa per slot.

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