The Bulmershe Bulletin – Issue 79
11th September 2026
Dear Parents and Carers,
This week marked the very first parade of our new Bulmershe Squadron Combined Cadet Force (CCF), with 44 of our students standing smartly on parade. After a long time in the planning, we have finally been granted permission to establish our own squadron, and I could not be prouder of how our young people stepped up.
What I love most about our setup is that the CCF is built directly into our daytime curriculum rather than just being an after-school option. This means the experience is open to everyone, regardless of home commitments or transport logistics. Our first intake comes from our Year 9 Leadership and Challenge group and Year 10 students who chose CCF as part of their GCSE Citizenship timetable.
The national research on school cadet forces highlights what many of us already know: it does wonders for building resilience, leadership skills and offers a real sense of belonging. I believe every young person deserves access to transformational opportunities, and our new CCF squadron reflects our commitment to developing confident and ambitious future leaders. We are looking forward to watching the squadron grow over the coming years.
As always, thank you for your ongoing support as we try out new ways to give your children the best possible experiences. I hope you all have a relaxing weekend ahead.
Amanda Woodfin
Headteacher/Pilot Officer
Don’t forget! School will be finishing early on Thursday 24th September, to allow staff and students to prepare for our Open Evening. Everyone will be offered a food break before school ends at 12:20pm. Buses will be organised to collect students at this time from Reception as normal.
Upcoming Events
8/9 – Year 7 Curriculum Evening – from 5pm in the Auditorium
15/9 – Year 9 Curriculum Evening – from 5pm in the Auditorium
17/9 – Year 11 Curriculum Evening – from 5pm in the Auditorium
24/9 – School Closes at 12:20pm to allow us to prepare for Open Evening
29/9 – Year 10 Curriculum Evening – from 5pm in the Auditorium
1/10 – Year 13 Curriculum Evening – from 5pm in the Auditorium
PARKING ON SITE
We encourage all students to try to take public transport, walk or cycle to school. Our on site carpark is for staff only. We have no dedicated area near the school for dropping off or picking up students by car, as the area at the front of reception is reserved for buses and disabled visitors only.
If you have to drive your child to/from school, please arrange to meet them in a safe place off-site. Please be respectful of our neighbours and do not park on yellow lines or block driveways.
Heathers Auditions Update
Putting yourself forward for a school show audition is always a bit nerve-wracking, so we want to say a huge well done to every student who stepped up for Heathers this week.
Our Drama, Music and Dance teams were delighted by the enthusiasm and bravery on display. Auditioning takes real guts, and whether students secured the exact role they hoped for or not, they conducted themselves brilliantly.
The successful cast members are holding their initial script read-through this evening and will take their scripts home to begin rehearsals next week. Specific rehearsal schedules are being issued over the coming days. Meanwhile, our technical theatre team has already launched, and we will be in touch with those students shortly to start preparing them for backstage roles.
Thank you to all parents and carers for supporting your children through a fast-paced start to the term. Further updates on performance dates and tickets will follow soon!
Extra-Curricular Clubs Return for the New Term
Our updated extra-curricular timetable is now live on the school website, with most activities starting from Monday 14th September (Gymnastics starts Monday 21st September).
Clubs play a vital role in school life. They give students space to develop new talents, build self-confidence and make friends across different year groups. Research consistently shows that taking part in extra-curricular activities boosts well-being and builds a strong sense of belonging, so our goal is for every student to attend at least one club each term.
To make attendance tracking simpler for staff and safer for students, we are updating how sign-ups work this year. Some activities will now require parental consent via Evolve before your child can participate.
Please keep an eye out for a separate message from Dr Harris, which will outline how EvolveClubs works and how to manage your child’s options for the term ahead.
Mental Health Matters
Starting the Conversation
Following World Suicide Prevention Day yesterday, we are continuing our focus on open conversations around mental health. This year’s theme, ‘Start the Conversation’, reminds us that supporting young people often begins with simple curiosity rather than making assumptions.
With so much of teenage life happening online, a great place to start is by asking gently about their digital world. What apps are they using? Who are they following, and what messages are shaping their sense of self-worth? Listening without judgement helps keep the door open so they know where to turn if things feel overwhelming.
If you are ever worried about someone, small actions matter. Reaching out with a simple “How are you today?” can break a negative train of thought.
The Samaritans offer a brilliant short video on how to start these conversations on YouTube. Further support is also available via Mind and CALM. If you need to speak to us about your child, please contact our team directly through achapman@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk.
Social Media and Device Guidance
Following Mrs Woodfin’s message earlier this week, we want to remind families about the importance of maintaining open conversations around social media use. While platforms like WhatsApp offer great ways to stay in touch, group chats can sometimes lead to misunderstandings, unkind comments and friendship issues that spill over into the school day.
We encourage parents to monitor app usage, set clear boundaries around device access at bedtime, and remind children that anything shared digitally can easily be screenshotted and passed on. Parentkind offers a very useful guide to managing digital well-being via their Online Safety Toolkit.
It almost goes without saying, but please note that smart glasses, such as Meta glasses, are strictly forbidden on the school site at any time. These devices contain built-in cameras capable of recording video and photos without clear visual cues, presenting obvious privacy and safeguarding concerns within a school environment.
Thank you for your continued support in helping our students build healthy, respectful digital habits.
Safeguarding Alert: Signal Messenger
Our safeguarding team would like to bring a specific messaging app to parents’ attention following concerns raised by local schools regarding Signal Messenger.
While marketed as a secure platform, Signal features several functions that pose significant online safety risks for young people. Messages can be set to disappear within five seconds, making it almost impossible to document instances of cyberbullying or harassment. Additionally, its end-to-end encryption means content cannot be monitored by safety filters, school networks or parents.
The app also permits unmoderated group chats of up to 1,000 people, where strangers can add children simply by knowing their mobile number. Because there is zero content moderation, students can easily be exposed to inappropriate media.
We strongly advise checking your child’s phone to see if this app is installed. You can read a detailed safety breakdown for parents on the Internet Matters Guide to Signal.
Understanding Our Learning Support Umbrella
There’s been some changes to our Learning Support recently, so we wanted to highlight the three distinct centres we have now to ensure every student receives the right environment and guidance for their individual needs.
OASIS is our mainstream Learning Support hub. It provides tailored intervention, study support and day-to-day guidance for students with special educational needs, helping them overcome barriers to learning across the standard school curriculum.
BEACON is our specialised resource base for students with cognition and learning needs who hold an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Placements here are determined by Wokingham Borough Council. Students spend half their timetable in mainstream lessons and half in the base, accessing a personalised curriculum matched to their learning levels.
LIGHTHOUSE offers targeted support for students experiencing Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA). Providing a calm, structured setting for up to eight students at a time, it helps young people rebuild their confidence and safely transition back into full classroom learning.
Library Update
With Year 7 library inductions now underway, it feels like the perfect moment to remind all families about our fantastic library facilities.
The library is open every day before school, at break, at lunch and after school. Every student automatically holds a free library account, giving them access to thousands of popular fiction titles, non-fiction books and study guides. It is a warm, welcoming space where students can complete homework on our computers, read quietly, or take part in board games, chess, LEGO and crafts.
For students who want to take on a bit of extra responsibility, we also run a popular student librarian programme where they can help manage stock and support younger readers. Applications to be a Student Librarian need to be in by 28th September, and interviews will start from 13th October.
Whether your child needs a quiet place to revise or simply wants a comfortable spot to sit with a good book at lunchtime, our library door is always open.
Supporting the Humanitarian Crisis in Nepal
Many families will be aware of the catastrophic flooding and landslides that recently struck Nepal following a massive glacier collapse in the Himalayas. Whole communities have been devastated, including dozens of schools, leaving thousands of families without homes or basic supplies.
For the large Nepali community here in Reading and Wokingham, this is a deeply personal crisis, with many local families waiting anxiously for news from friends and relatives.
Nepal has contributed almost nothing to global emissions, yet its communities are facing the brunt of this extreme weather event. As a school community, our thoughts are with everyone affected by these heartbreaking events.
If you feel able to support the emergency relief effort, aid agencies are working on the ground to provide food, clean water, medical care and emergency shelter. You can make a direct donation to the humanitarian response through the Embassy of Nepal Relief Fund. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps bring comfort to those who have lost so much.
UCAS Final Push: Free Webinar for Year 13 families
To support Year 13 families through the upcoming university application deadline, Parent Guide to Education is offering a free online webinar titled UCAS Final Push: Crafting a Great Personal Statement and Choosing the Right University.
The session takes place on Weds 16th Sept at 7:00pm and is hosted by Paul Hughes, a former sixth-form tutor with over twenty years of UCAS experience. The presentation will cover practical structures for writing personal statements, how admissions tutors evaluate applications, and advice on how parents can guide their child without doing the work for them. A live question-and-answer session will follow. A replay link will also be made available to everyone who registers.
You can book your free place on the Parent Guide to Education Registration Page.
Year 10 Scholars Graduate at Reading University
Earlier this term, 22 of our Year 10 students celebrated completing the University of Reading Scholars Programme with a formal graduation ceremony at the university’s Great Hall.
This fully funded scheme gives select students a taste of higher education over several months. Supported by academic mentors, our group attended university-style lectures, explored campus life and completed their own independent research projects. University lecturers even visited Bulmershe to offer guidance on research ethics, academic writing and referencing.
Every single one of our students completed their project and represented the school with distinction. Several gained individual recognition for exceptional work, including Mikayla G for Best Research Question on evolving beauty standards, Reece T for Best Argument on nuclear energy, and Ayomide A for Best Critical Writing on medical ethics. Victoria A received a Highly Commended award, while Zoe C and Leah A earned Excellent Participation awards.
It was a wonderful opportunity to tailor learning for these students, and we are immensely proud of their dedication.
[Reminder] Tone & Poise Dance Competition
We are excited to announce that students in Years 7, 8 and 9 have the opportunity to represent The Bulmershe School at the Tone & Poise Dance Competition at the Oakwood Centre in Woodley.
This year we will be creating a dynamic Jazz/Musical Theatre piece, with places for up to 40 students. Successful applicants will join a dedicated Preparation Day on Wednesday 16th December, followed by rehearsals in January ahead of the main event on Friday 5th February 2027.
No prior dance experience is required; we are simply looking for energy, commitment and great teamwork. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, with sign-ups closing on Friday 16th October 2026.
If your child would like to take part, please ask them to complete the Tone & Poise Entry Form to express their interest.
Sixth Form and College Open Events for Year 11
It’s time for year 11 families to be thinking about and applying for Post 16 places. The Bulmershe Sixth Form Open Evening will be held on Thursday 12th November from 17:45. We hope to see many of you there.
Other local open events are as follows:
Henley College – 24th September
Reading College – 10th October/11th November
Bracknell and Wokingham College – 14th October/14th November
The Forest School Sixth form – 13th October
BCA – 3rd October/14th October
Maiden Erlegh – 1st October
Reading Girls School – 15th October
Reading Boys School 25th November
The Piggott – 19th November
(Other colleges/sixth forms have not yet published their dates)
For students living in Wokingham – more information can be found on their Elevate Me page, for those living in Reading here’s the Elevate Brighter Futures link
Post-16 Options Webinars with Activate Learning
For our Year 10 and Year 11 families beginning to think about what comes after secondary school, Activate Learning is hosting two online webinars this month.
These practical sessions are designed to give parents and carers a clear guide to post-16 pathways. The team will talk through available courses, entry requirements, application deadlines and how to make the most of upcoming open events. The sessions take place on Wednesday 23 September and Monday 28 September, from 6:00 pm to 6:45 pm.
You can reserve a place for either date via the event pages on Eventbrite:
Register for 23 September
Register for 28 September.
Career Insight Days for Students Aged 15-18
For students aged 15 to 18 who are considering their future career options, InvestIN has launched its latest series of one-day career experiences.
These Insight Days offer practical exposure to different industries, giving young people the chance to try hands-on tasks, speak with working professionals, and gain valuable experience to feature on future university or job applications. It is a straightforward way for students to explore potential career paths before committing to further study.
The sessions run on Sundays throughout November and are held either in person at University College London (UCL) or online.
If your child is interested in attending, you can find full details on available careers and register for a place directly on the InvestIN website.
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 Out
Miss Nath would like to give a shout out to her new Tutor Group 7YL for making a fantastic start at Bulmershe School. They are proving themselves to be kind, hardworking and happy already!
Mrs Woodfin and Mr Chandler would like to give a shout out to Kevin R in Year 9 – they have been very impressed with his start back to school.
Mr Chandler would also like to congratulate the following students who are leading the way with achievement points in Year 9; Piper, Toby, Brooke, Aadya, Ema, Harry N, Kayan, Claudia, Audrey and Isaac O’B.
Miss Adams would like to give a shout out to Millie M from 7XL. She supported a student who has recently injured her wrist by writing details on her book and completing her worksheet. This was all without being asked to do so! Millie has only been at the school for just over a week and is already representing the school values so well!
Miss Eveleigh would like to thank Esme O’B for all of her support in helping younger students throughout the auditions this week.
Mr Hood would like to thank his Year 11 Drama classes for returning to school and hitting the ground running with all of their coursework. They are driven to do well and this is brilliant to see.
Miss O’Reilly would like to say well done to Samuel O in Year 7 who gave some amazing answers in response to the question ‘Why is RS an important subject to study?’ and asked some insightful questions as well. A great start to your learning in RS.
Mrs Edwards would like to shout out Hiba and Charlie in her Y11 class for excellent poetry presentations
Mrs Garrard would like to say well done to all Year 13 geographers, for making a great start to the year getting straight into the coursework!
Cucina Main Meals – w/c 14th September
What’s On
Play Sports Juniors Netball Academy
Play Sports Juniors is launching a netball academy at Braywick Leisure Centre in Maidenhead. Sessions run on Sundays starting in September, with groups structured by school age from Reception to Year 7. The first taster session is free for all attendees, and all equipment is provided. Click here to find out more.
Wokingham Children’s Book Festival
Wokingham Town Council and local libraries are hosting the Wokingham Children’s Book Festival on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th October. The weekend features talks, storytelling sessions and workshops with authors including Cressida Cowell, Holly Webb and A.F. Harrold. Tickets cost £3 per seat. Click here to find out more.
Citizens Advice Library Sessions
Citizens Advice advisers are holding regular drop-in sessions at libraries across the borough to offer free advice and support. Sessions take place at Lower Earley (first Monday), Twyford (second Tuesday), Spencers Wood (third Thursday) and Finchampstead (fourth Friday).
Down At The Abbey Festival
The Down At The Abbey music festival returns to Reading Abbey Ruins on Friday 11th and Saturday 12th September. The event features live performances from local, national and international musicians across two days. Click here to book.
Bookface: Chapter 17
The Rising Sun Arts Centre is hosting Bookface: Chapter 17 on Saturday 12th September from 11:00 am. The event features stalls selling handmade zines, altered books and independent publications, alongside poetry readings and bookmaking activities. Click here to find out more.
Medieval Jousting Weekend
Dinton Pastures Country Park is hosting a Medieval Jousting Weekend on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September. Activities include live jousting displays, birds of prey demonstrations, archery, axe throwing, food stalls and traditional crafts.
Heritage Open Days
The Heritage Open Days scheme runs this weekend in Reading, offering access to historical locations, guided walks and talks across the local area. Participating venues include Caversham Court Gardens, the Rising Sun Arts Centre and St Luke’s Church. Click here to find out more.
Thames Valley Police Open Day
Thames Valley Police is hosting a free summer Open Day on Saturday 19th September at its Sulhamstead training centre (RG7 4DX). The event runs from 10:00am to 4:00pm, with last entry at 3:30pm. Activities include Mounted and Dog Section demonstrations, investigative challenges with the Major Crime team, and historical exhibits at the force museum. Click here to find out more.
Berkshire Junior Chess Association Tournament
The first BJCA chess tournament of the 2026–27 season takes place on Sunday 13th September at Nine Mile Ride Primary School. The event is open to players under 18 of all abilities. Entry costs £11.50 if booked by 10:00pm on Friday 11th September, with late entry available until Saturday evening. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Click here to book.
