The Bulmershe Bulletin – Issue 80
18th September 2026
Dear Parents and Carers,
As we settle into the term, I wanted to share a behind-the-scenes look at the priorities I have set for our teaching team this academic year. These focus areas will directly shape what your children experience in the classroom every day.
First, we remain completely committed to strong outcomes for every child. Regardless of where a student starts with us at age 11, we expect them to make excellent progress.
Second, inclusion sits at the heart of everything we do. School only works when children feel safe, supported and ready to learn. Good behaviour, clear boundaries and strong pastoral support are non-negotiable for us because every single child deserves to thrive here without distraction.
Third, we are focusing heavily on great teaching in every single room. Education moves fast but our core job remains simple: well-planned, evidence-informed lessons that adapt to the needs of the individual child.
Finally, we are looking long-term. From growing our Sixth Form to embracing new digital tools, we want to ensure Bulmershe remains a school our community is genuinely proud of.
Our core belief remains unchanged: different learners, different pathways, same ambition. Whether a student thrives in sciences, arts, or vocational routes, our job is to open doors for them.
Thank you as always for your continued support and for working alongside us. Have a wonderful weekend.
Amanda Woodfin
Headteacher
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 12 and 13 Curriculum Evening – Y12 5pm, Y13 6pm in the Auditorium – This is a change to what was previously advertised!
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.
Unlock Free Books via Our E-Platform
Did you know every student at Bulmershe has free access to thousands of digital e-books and audiobooks? Our E-Platform library is packed with titles that students can stream or read on a phone, tablet or computer screen.
Audiobooks are a fantastic option for reluctant readers or busy families, letting students listen on the go, while standard eBooks give them an entire library at their fingertips. Titles are automatically returned after two weeks, so there are never any late fees to worry about.
To get started, simply download the E-Platform app or visit the E-Platform Website. Click on “School Login” and type in Bulmershe. Your child’s username is their full school email address, and the initial password is either “Library1” or “library1” (they can change it once logged in).
Why not browse the collection with your child this weekend and pick out a title together? If you run into any login issues, Miss Marr in the library is always on hand to help.
Join Our Annual Careers Fair
We are pleased to announce that plans for our Annual Careers Fair are officially under way, taking place on Thursday, 19th November 2026.
This event gives our Year 9 to Year 13 students a glimpse into the world of work and we’re hoping parents and careers can help us. By sharing your own experience, you could help inspire a future apprentice, engineer, entrepreneur or industry leader while showing our young people the sheer variety of pathways open to them.
We are looking for local businesses, organisations and professionals from all sectors to host a stand in our school auditorium. Set-up begins at 11:30am, with students there between 12:20pm and 2:30pm.
If your company would like to join us and engage with our bright young people, please complete the Careers Fair Registration Form to secure a place.
Attendance Matters
Settling back into school routines
It has been a great to see our students return to school looking smart, rested and focused. Thank you to all our families for your support in getting everyone back into a steady rhythm after the long summer break. Excellent punctuality and high standards of uniform have set a lovely tone for the term.
As the weeks go on, keeping up these positive habits makes a tremendous difference. Encouraging your child to pack their bag, organise their uniform and check their timetable the night before gives them a great sense of ownership while keeping morning stress to a minimum.
It is also a good moment to review evening screen time routines. While phones and gaming are fun ways to unwind, switching off all screens at least an hour before bed helps secure the deep sleep needed for a successful day of learning. Thank you for working with us to keep these essential routines strong.
Celebrating Positive Choices
Our students continue to engage brilliantly with ClassCharts, tracking their daily achievements and working towards fantastic rewards.
Last academic year saw a staggering 1,067,994 achievement points awarded across the school, an increase of roughly 150,000 on the previous year. That worked out to an average of over 700 points per student! Over 4,300 physical rewards were handed out from our reward shop, with 14 students choosing to spend their points on a special breakfast or slice of cake with the Headteacher. Meanwhile, behaviour points dropped by roughly 9,000 across the year.
Parents can use the ClassCharts app as a wonderful conversation starter at home. Checking your child’s timetable, discussing their homework and asking about the achievement points they earned that day is a simple way to celebrate their everyday efforts together.
Drop Everything and Listen
Reading underpins success across every subject, which is why we run our Drop Everything and Listen (DEAL) programme during tutor time for Years 7–10.
For 20 minutes each week, students follow along with their own copy of a book while their tutor reads aloud. Listening to a fluent reader allows young people to hear correct pronunciation, grasp complex storylines and tackle ambitious vocabulary without the pressure of reading aloud or feeling tested.
We have carefully chosen a reading list for each year group that builds cultural knowledge and explores themes like identity, resilience and justice. Titles range from Percy Jackson in Year 7 to I Am Malala in Year 10.
All books are provided by us in school. A brilliant way to support at home is simply asking your child what happened in their DEAL story this week! You can read more about the programme on our Drop Everything and Listen Webpage
Hello from the Learning Support Team
A very warm welcome from all of us in the Learning Support Team at The Bulmershe School. Our goal is simple: to make sure every student feels safe, supported, understood and able to thrive. We know that every child is different, which is why we offer a range of support through our three provisions: Lighthouse, Beacon and Oasis.
Our team is led by Keeley Toms, SENDCo, alongside Beth Allen and Rachel Dunford, Deputy SENDCos, and Christine Raoult, SEND Manager, supported by our fantastic team of Learning Support Assistants.
And, of course, there’s Buddy, our much-loved school dog!
We believe that working together with families makes the biggest difference, so please get in touch if you have any questions, worries or simply want to talk. We’re always happy to listen: oasisoffice@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk
Here’s to a happy and successful year of learning, growing and working together!
Learning Support – Talk to us Tuesdays
Sometimes it helps to have a quick chat. Whether you have a question, want to share something that’s happening at home, or simply need some advice, our Talk to Us Tuesdays are a chance to pop in and speak with our Learning Support Team.
Every Tuesday, between 9:30am and 4:30pm, parents and carers are welcome to come along for an informal conversation. There’s no need to book — just sign in at Reception and a member of the team will come and meet you.
You may want to chat about your child’s support, raise a concern, share an update, celebrate a success, or explore ways we can work together to support your child.
No question is too small, and no conversation is a bother. We’re here to listen and help. We look forward to seeing you on a Tuesday!
Bulmershe Pride Network
We want to share information about the Bulmershe Pride Network, which continues to offer a valuable and inclusive space for our students. The network is open to all members of the LGBTQ+ community and any students who wish to be active allies. It provides an opportunity for pupils and staff to meet, chat and build community while having a voice about life at the school.
The network meets every Tuesday after school from 3:00pm to 4:00pm, usually in the Sixth Form Café. We encourage you to share the below dates and activities with your child if you feel they would be interested in joining this supportive group.
Upcoming sessions include:
- 22nd September: Pride Biscuits
- 29th September: Making Fidgets
- 6th October: Who we are
- 13th October: Murdle
- 20th October: Rock Painting
The network provides a great way for students to build friendships and proactively show support for their peers.
New Chess Club
We are pleased to introduce a new Lunchtime Chess Club this term for our Year 9 and Year 10 students.
Running in room C2 from 1:25pm to 1:50pm, the club meets on Tuesdays in Week A and Mondays in Week B. Whether your child is an experienced player or has never picked up a knight before, all abilities are welcome to take part in some friendly competition.
To ensure everyone gets time at a board, places are strictly limited to 16 students (8 pairs). Interested students should pop along to register directly with Mrs Senthilkumar in C2 as soon as possible, as places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Please do encourage your child to get involved if chess sounds like something they would enjoy.
Reading Mini Marathon
We love seeing our students stay active outside the classroom, and the upcoming Reading Mini Marathon is a wonderful opportunity for them to get involved in a community event.
Jake M in Year 8 is already signed up to run in March 2027, and we would love to see a big contingent of Bulmershe students joining him on the start line. Beyond the fantastic sense of personal achievement, entering gives our school a much higher chance of winning a prize, with awards up for grabs for the top three performing schools overall.
Whether your child is a keen runner or just wants to challenge themselves to complete the distance alongside their friends, the marathon is a fun day out for everyone.
Head over to the Reading Half Marathon Website to read the full details and register your child’s place. Do let your Head of Year know if your child signs up so we can cheer them on!
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 Layla H, Kayden H, Sonny A and Alice M to join me for a celebratory cup of hot chocolate on Friday 25th September 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 Out
The Languages depart would like to give a huge congratulations to James H in Y12 on achieving a grade 9 in both French and Spanish GCSE this summer. He is continuing with both at A-Level.
Mrs Coombes would like to shout out to Year 13s Shyla S, Hasan K and Felix S for their great start to Year 13 and their contributions to History lessons.
Ms Dance would like to give a shout out to Finley M in Year 8 for absolutely smashing last week so positively.
Ms Jigounova would like to say thank you to Delphi G, Isla T and James P for giving well-thought through opinions when discussion the ways we make moral decisions in RS last week.
Parent Shout Out
Congratulations to Archie D in Year 10 for winning a Silver Medal in the U18 category at the British Wake Surfing category in Ullswater last weekend. It is a huge achievement and we are incredibly proud!
Cucina Main Meals – w/c 21st September
What’s On
M4 Motorway Closure between Junctions 10 and 11
The M4 will close in both directions between Junction 10 (Winnersh) and Junction 11 (Reading) from 9pm on Friday 18 September to 6am on Monday 21 September. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks is installing new high-voltage overhead cables. Signed diversions will run via the A329(M) and B3270, and local traffic is expected to increase. Drivers should allow extra travel time. Click here to find out more.
Live Comedy Night at Dinton Activity Centre
Dinton Activity Centre is hosting a stand-up comedy evening on Friday 16 October. The event features performances by Paul Thorne, Kevin Daniel and Emanuel O. Doors and the bar open at 6:30pm, with acts starting at 7:30pm. The event is strictly for ages 18 and over, and tickets cost £16. Click here to book.
Wokingham Arts Trail Weekend
The annual Wokingham Arts Trail takes place across local venues on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September. Visitors can view works by local artists across media including painting, ceramics, textiles, printmaking and jewellery. Entry to most participating venues and open studios is free. Click here to find out more.
Arts Festival at The Rising Sun Arts Centre
The Rising Sun Arts Centre hosts “That’s Revolting”, a three-day arts festival featuring work by over ten Reading-based artists. The event includes an exhibition premiere on Friday evening, live art and musical performances on Saturday, and an artists’ market with creative activities on Sunday afternoon. Click here to find out more.
Reading Vegan Festival in Town Centre
The annual Reading Vegan Festival takes place in Reading town centre on Saturday 19 September from 11am. The outdoor event includes stalls selling food, homeware and gifts, alongside scheduled talks and family entertainment. Entry is open to the public. Click here to find out more.
