Weekly Parents' Newsletter

10 Oct 25

Dear families, 

Welcome to this week's edition of the newsletter.  It was lovely to invite the Year 11 families back into school this week for the Post 16 information evening. College and sixth form providers from all over the area came here to discuss post 16 pathways with our students. The event was well attended and was a great opportunity for families to discuss the wide range of options at this crucial stage.

Year 10 and Year 11 parents please make sure you look at the careers notices in the newsletter this week as there are number of events going on, and options for Year 10 work experience being announced. 
 
Have a lovely weekend, 

Mrs F Bowler, Principal

Whole School Messages

Catering Menu – Autumn Week A
This is a polite reminder that we are a nut free school. Please ensure your child does not bring nuts or food containing nuts as part of their lunch. Many thanks.

News This Week

Julius Caesar Has Become a Tyrant
Cassius sees the threat. Brutus is torn by loyalty. Together, they conspire to kill Caesar. 
 
When Cassius and Brutus murder Caesar in full public view on the Ides of March, they think they have heralded a new political age.  
  
Instead, chaos erupts, and civil war begins.  
 
Braunton Academy in conjunction with Beaford Arts will host Tangle Theatre Company's thrilling physical theatre reimagining of Shakespeare's timeless tragedy in the Drama Hall on Wednesday 22nd October 2025, doors open at 6.45pm. 
 
Tickets available online through Beaford Arts or through the link below: 

Beaford - Julius Caesar

We can't wait! See you there! 

Tottenham Hotspurs Football Experience – Saturday 31st January and Sunday 1st February 2026 – Residential
We are excited to offer students in Years 7-10 an opportunity to participate in the Tottenham Hotspur Football Experience, a unique two-day trip on Saturday 31st January and Sunday 1st February 2026. This trip will provide students with an unforgettable chance to watch Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester City in the Premier League plus a Championship fixture/stadium tour.  Full information is on our website. 

Trips

Safeguarding Memo- Private Tutoring 
Staff are given weekly guides from DCC on various aspects of safeguarding. This week the guide is around Private Tutoring which we thought would be beneficial to share with parents too. Please follow the link below for more information. 
No.61 Private tutoring - Support for schools and settings 

Contact with School
Please use the email contact list on our website (link below) to help you direct your enquiries to the correct members of staff.  
Specific Contact Options - Braunton Academy - Aspire and Achieve 

Messages for Students During the School Day
Any messages for students that are requested during the school day need to be shared with Reception no later than 3.00 pm on that day.  
 
Please remember messages to students during the school day should only be required to be delivered in rare/emergency circumstances.  

Lost Property
Any lost property that has not been claimed by the end of each half term will be either disposed of or donated to charity. Please label all children’s belongings and encourage them to check lost property for anything they may have misplaced.

The Freedom Centre Harvest Food Collection 
It has been great seeing students (mostly from Year 7) bringing in food for the Freedom Centre Harvest Collection for local families who are struggling. I have a box of Quality Street for the tutor group who donate the greatest number of items. We welcome donations by Wednesday 15th October to be dropped into Mrs Woodhead’s office where there is a sheet to sign in your items for you tutor group! Please see attached list of suitable items. Many thanks! 

Clubs and Activities

New: KS4 Sophrology Club – Supporting Exams Wellbeing
As exam pressures continue to rise, many parents are understandably concerned about how their children cope; not just academically, but emotionally. At our school, we are proud to introduce a new initiative aimed at supporting students’ mental wellbeing and enhancing their exam preparation: the KS4 Sophrology Club. Tuesdays after school in Room 40 with Mrs Duthuit. Full details on the website.

Supporting Exam Wellbeing: KS4 Sophrology Club

Year 11 DT GCSE Club every Tuesday in the DT ICT room until 4.30 pm 

Reverse Poetry Competition  
In honour of National Poetry Day this month, the English Department have launched a Reverse Poetry Competition. Your challenge is to write a reverse poem, the more elaborate the better, illustrate it and to hand it in to Miss Reed in Room 66 for a chance of winning prizes! See the stanza structure below if you’re not sure where to start! Full details on the website.

Reverse Poetry Competition

Homework Club All years, every day after school in the library 3.15-4.15pm 

Julius Caesar Rehearsals
Week A – Thursday after school until 4.30 pm.  
Week B – Tuesday after school until 4.30 pm. 

German Music Club Every Thursday lunchtime in room 43, bring your packed lunch and let’s listen to and study German songs together! Open to all year groups (and staff!) 

French Pen Friend Club Every Friday lunchtime in room 43, bring your packed lunch and let’s write letters in French to send to two French schools and get a pen-pal friendship going! Open to all year groups. 

Creative Writing Club After school (15:30-16:30) in the Library. A great opportunity to explore all forms of creative writing with like-minded people from across the school. Limited spaces. All years welcome. Please see Miss Reed (Room 66) to sign up!  

Music Clubs - Please see Mr Thomas at break or lunch to sign up 
Tuesdays - Lunch Time - Choir Rehearsals 
Thursday - Lunch Time - Music Club
Thursday - 3:15 - 4:15 - School Orchestra  
Friday - Lunch Time - Jazz Band

PE and Sports Clubs 
Students playing Football on the AGP at lunchtimes must wear their shin pads with trainers or football boots. They do not need to wear PE kit.

Rugby
Year 7 & 8 – Wednesday after school until 4.15 pm 
Year 9 & 10 – Tuesday after school until 4.15 pm 
 
Please find a link below to the PE page of the website where you will find the updated fixtures list for this year (near the bottom of the page).   
Physical Education - Braunton Academy - Aspire and Achieve

Year 11 News

Careers Information Round Up
University of Plymouth Architecture Webinar 
The University of Plymouth are hosting an Architecture webinar with Unifrog on Monday 20th October from 17.30 - 19.15.  The session explores how architecture can become a tool for social and environmental change.  They will look at how design can respond to climate challenges, support communities and challenge the status quo. Follow the link below for further information and to book a place.  

 
 Architecture taster: can building design be a political act?: Unifrog Event 

West Buckland Sixth Form Open Evening 
Please follow the link below to our Careers page where you will find details of the upcoming West Buckland School Open Evening taking place on Wednesday 15th October.   

Careers - Braunton Academy - Aspire and Achieve 

Kingsley School are holding their Sixth Form Open Evening on Thursday 16th October from 6.30 pm - 8.30 pm.  Please follow the link below to book a place.    

Open Days at Kingsley Devon | Discover Our School 
 
Petroc 
Petroc have their latest Open Event on Wednesday 15th October from 5pm – 8pm.  Please contact Petroc direct for further information.   

Careers - Braunton Academy - Aspire and Achieve 
 
Amazing Apprenticeships 

Below is a link to the latest Choices Magazine – a parents and careers guide to apprenticeships .

Resources - Amazing Apprenticeships 

Webinars & Workshops - Amazing Apprenticeships

Year 10 News

NHS Work Experience Opportunity
If your child is interested in a career in healthcare, the NHS Foundation Trust are offering work experience at NDDH from Monday 6th July – Friday 10th July 2026. This is in addition to the school’s Work Experience Week. Full details are on the website.

Work Experience - Braunton Academy - Aspire and Achieve 

University of Plymouth Architecture Webinar 
The University of Plymouth are hosting an Architecture webinar with Unifrog on Monday 20th October from 17.30 - 19.15.  The session explores how architecture can become a tool for social and environmental change.  They will look at how design can respond to climate challenges, support communities and challenge the status quo. Follow the link below for further information and to book a place.   

Architecture taster: can building design be a political act?: Unifrog Event 

Year 9 News

Accessing Sparx Reader from home 
If you’re struggling to access Sparx Reader from home, please see our new video guide on how to access and log in to Sparx through the school website.  It also has some handy tips on how to make reading on a screen more accessible by adjusting the font sizes, screen colour and using the reader guide.  

 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hw7GRvEBY8 

If you ever need to come back to the link, it can be found on the English section of the school website under ‘Useful Links’ 

https://www.braunton.academy/curriculum/english  

Year 8 News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hw7GRvEBY8 

If you ever need to come back to the link, it can be found on the English section of the school website under ‘Useful Links’ 

https://www.braunton.academy/curriculum/english  

Netball
Tuesday 14th October - Year 8 netball matches at Park return 5.40 
No netball club  

Cyberfirst- National Competition Offered to Year 8 Girls Only 
Tackle challenges from cryptography and logic to artificial intelligence and networking for the chance to be crowned cyber security champions. Every year we enter one or more team of 4 girls maximum. You have a week to complete as many challenges as possible. See Mrs Duthuit for details. 

Year 7 News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hw7GRvEBY8 

If you ever need to come back to the link, it can be found on the English section of the school website under ‘Useful Links’ 

https://www.braunton.academy/curriculum/english  

Year 7 DT Robot club starts Thursday 9th October in the DT ICT room. All students who have expressed an interest please attend this first session as a taster. Bring your packed lunch. We will start at 1.05 pm. 

No Year 7 netball club on Tuesday 14th October due to the older years having matches. 