The Bulmershe Bulletin – Issue 37
4th July 2025
Dear Parents and Carers,
It feels as if we blinked and suddenly it was time to say goodbye to Year 11. This morning, we held their final celebration assembly, and I had the pleasure of offering them my farewell in person.
It’s hard to believe that this year group joined us in the middle of the Covid era, navigating masks, bubbles and remote learning. They have shown incredible resilience, humour and strength in these uncertain years, growing into the warm, kind and determined group of young people we saw in front of us today. We will really miss them.
Thankfully, many will be returning to us in September as part of our Sixth Form, and I look forward to seeing how they continue to grow and lead the school community. For those heading off to colleges, apprenticeships and new adventures, I have no doubt you will carry forward everything you’ve learned here at Bulmershe.
I left them with three reminders for the journey ahead:
1. Remember that you have had a great education – use it wisely and become the best version of yourself.
2. Travel! There is more to life than Reading and Woodley Precinct – go out and discover the world.
3. Always, always be kind.
It is a bittersweet moment to say goodbye, but we know they are ready for whatever comes next. It’s been a joy to see them grow, and they leave knowing Bulmershe will always be here cheering them on.
To our Year 11s: keep moving forward, keep learning, keep being kind, and remember that you are more capable than you realise.
Amanda Woodfin
Headteacher
Upcoming Events
Tues 8th July – Bulmershe Summer Showcase
Tues 8th July – Year 8 HPV Immunisations – please give consent here
Weds 9th July – INSET – School closed
Fri 11th July – Sports Day – Please come to school in PE Kit
Fri 18th July – Culture Day
18th – 21st July – Duke of Edinburgh Gold Expedition
Mon 21st July – Headteacher’s Awards from 5:30pm
Tues 22nd July – Last day of term – school closes at 12:20pm
24th and 25th July – Summer School for new year 7s
Weds 3rd Sept – First day of school for Year 7 and Year 12
Thurs 4th Sept – First day of term for all other years
Reminder – INSET Day on Wednesday 9th July. School will be closed to all students
Year 11 Student Awards
A huge well done to all our Year 11s who were nominated by their peers for this year’s Leavers’ Assembly Awards – and thank you to everyone for taking it in such good humour!
With big cheers and plenty of laughter, some of the certificates awarded included:
🏆 Most likely to Headline at Reading Festival – Arthur
🏆 Most likely to be given their own Reality TV Show – Shifa
🏆 Most likely to become a teacher at Bulmershe – Sam W
🏆 Most likely to become Prime Minister – Alex L
🏆 Most likely to make a million – Peter M
🏆 Most likely to win a Nobel Peace Prize – Rosie & Yoyo
🏆 Most likely to survive a Zombie Apocalypse – Noah M
Well done to all nominees, winners and the entire year group.
Teacher Awards 2025: As Voted By Year 11!
It wouldn’t be a Leavers’ Assembly without the hotly contested Year 11 Teacher Awards, and this morning’s ceremony was no exception!
Congratulations to some of this year’s winners:
⭐ Most Inspirational Teacher – Mr Whearity
⭐ Teacher Who Goes Above and Beyond – Mr Hussain
⭐ Most Cheerful Teacher – Mr Hood
⭐ Best Dressed Teacher – Ms Pereira
⭐ Funniest Teacher – Mr Mooney
Bye Bye Bye
A huge thank you to the Year 11 team for treating our leavers to a brilliant (and hilarious) send-off this morning!
To the glorious sound of Mrs Cousins and Mr Jones singing NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye”, Year 11 were treated to a special video where staff and students performed a tongue-in-cheek satire of life at Bulmershe.
The video was accompanied by an energetic dance routine by the Year 11 tutor team, and followed by a year group performance of Natasha Bedingfield’s Unwritten, led by Mrs Sharp.
We hope Year 11 enjoyed this treat as much as staff enjoyed creating it for you. It was the perfect way to say goodbye and celebrate everything you’ve brought to Bulmershe.
Year 11 Offer Holder Day
We were delighted to recently welcome our Year 11s and prospective students from other schools to our Sixth Form Offer Holder Day, giving them a real taste of life at Bulmershe Sixth Form.
The day began with a welcome from Mr Lord and Mr Scott, who shared the many opportunities and the supportive community that make Bulmershe Sixth Form special. Students then explored taster lessons across A Level and BTEC courses, experiencing our engaging teaching and gaining valuable insight into subjects they may study next year.
Throughout the day, students enjoyed exploring the Sixth Form Centre, relaxing in the café, and getting a feel for the independent study spaces. Informative stalls highlighted the many enrichment opportunities available, including the EPQ, Duke of Edinburgh Award, Oxbridge and Russell Group support and Peer Mentoring.
The feedback from the day was overwhelmingly positive, with students feeling more confident and excited about their next steps. Many spoke about the welcoming atmosphere, the professionalism of staff, and the impressive range of subjects and activities on offer.
We look forward to welcoming this next cohort and helping them thrive both academically and personally in our vibrant sixth form community.
Year 7 Spanish fortune tellers
One of the grammatical concepts Year 7 Spanish students have been covering this term is modal verbs. In order to practise and embed this, students made Fortune Tellers! These consisted of asking questions to go out somewhere and then making up excuses to turn them down, e.g. “Do you want to come to the bowling alley?”, “No I can’t, I have to wash my hair!”
Students were very kind in helping each other to make their fortune tellers and used their creations to practise the language. Well done!
Scholastic Book Fair Arrives Next Week!
We’re excited to let families know that the Scholastic Book Fair will be in our library from Thursday 10th July to Monday 14th July.
The fair is a brilliant opportunity for students to pick up new books at lower prices than usual, with a wide range of titles to inspire every reader. Students can visit during break, lunch and after school to browse and buy.
Please note we will not be accepting cash payments. Students can pay by card, or they can complete a “wish list” form to bring home so parents can pay online using a QR code.
Every book purchased helps the school earn “cashback” to spend on new books for our school library, so your support makes a big difference.
Find out more about the Scholastic Book Fair here:
https://bookfairs.scholastic.co.uk/
Winner of the STEM Careers Book Cover
We are delighted to share that students have submitted an incredible 52 designs for our STEM Careers E-Book cover, making it no easy task to pick a winner from so many creative and thoughtful entries.
A huge thank you to our judging team, Mrs Trenwith and Mr Davis, for carefully reviewing each design. We’re excited to announce that the winning cover has been designed by one of our talented Year 12 students, Isra, who has also signed up to join the editorial team – congratulations!
At Bulmershe, we are passionate about project-based learning because it encourages creativity, ownership, and critical thinking – all essential skills for lifelong learning. This project has given students the opportunity to explore real-world STEM applications while creating something valuable for their peers and the wider community.
The finished e-book, titled 240 STEM Careers, will provide a comprehensive guide to diverse and inspiring opportunities within STEM, helping students understand the exciting paths available and encouraging them to begin reflecting on their own aspirations.
We look forward to sharing the finished book with our school community soon!
[Reminder] Sports Day – 11th July
A quick reminder that Sports Day is this Friday, 11 July and we are looking forward to a day of fun, teamwork and celebrating Bulmershe’s sporting spirit.
All students will take part in at least one track or field event and a team game with their form. Please ensure your child arrives in Bulmershe PE kit, wearing sun cream and bringing a refillable water bottle. Sun hats are welcome as students will be outside all day.
We expect to finish at 2:15pm, and students will be allowed to leave at this time. School buses will be available for the early finish.
[Reminder] Culture Day – 18th July
A quick reminder that Friday 18th July is our Culture Day, celebrating the rich diversity of our Bulmershe community.
Food: Students are invited to bring in their favourite dish to share with others. Food should be dropped off at the canteen, along with a list of ingredients. Please note there is a risk of cross-contamination, so students with allergies should avoid tasting.
Clothing: Students can wear clothes that represent their culture, such as traditional outfits, sports kits, cadet uniforms, or flag colours. Outfits must be appropriate for school. A £1 contribution for wearing own clothes can be paid via IRIS Parentmail.
Workshops: We are excited to welcome back Sumeet for a Bollywood dance workshop, alongside a Japanese Taiko drumming session. Both workshops cost £3, payable on Parentmail, with sign-ups available via links on your child’s Google Classroom.
Students will also enjoy a steel pan performance at lunch, a cultural artefacts display in the library, and a photobooth to capture the day.
Thank you for supporting this celebration of our community’s diversity. We look forward to a joyful Culture Day together!
Cucina Main Meals – w/c 7th July
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 Goddard: Well done to the year 12 Geography students for being brilliant on their field trip this week.
Staff Shout Outs
The Transition Team would like to thank Mrs Warner for running an Art Therapy Club as part of our Primary Enrichment. Each week Mrs Warner welcomed Year 4 children into our school to create artwork using flowers and plants from the school garden.
Parent Shout Outs
Congratulations to Lily in Year 9 for being recognised by the Guiding County Commissioner and President and awarded the Girlguiding Royal Berkshire County Thanks Badge. This award is usually reserved for adult volunteers who have given extra service but the County team thought Lily made a worthy recipient this year.
What’s On
