Weekly Parents' Newsletter
Dear Families
I hope you have had a good week and adjusted to the cold weather! I know for many of our families there has been added pressure at the start of the day with the disruption caused by the road works in the village, hopefully they will be completed quickly.
I would like to start with praise to our Year 11s who have been amazing over the past two weeks as they sit the full suite of Pre-Public Examinations (PPEs). The Exams Manager and invigilator team have fed back that the students have been exemplary throughout the process which bodes well for later this academic year. Their teachers are busy marking the exams and the raw grades and feedback will be delivered over the next couple of weeks. Students and families will find out their specific gradings at Year 11 Parents’ Evening on Thursday 11th December. I would like to thank all of the families for their support for the students, it is a practice run for you at home to see how your child needs to prepare and how they manage. Following this experience if you feel there is additional support that may be needed for your child, please contact school through the Year11Pastoral@braunton.academy email address.
This week has brought further sporting success. Both the Year 7 and Year 8 boys football teams have clinched the title of North Devon Champions this week and over the weekend our climbing team came second in the regional competition.
Two quick reminders for next week.
· On Wednesday 26th November we have the Class of 2025 students returning in the evening for Celebration Evening and to collect their official exams certificates. Doors open at 6.30 pm with refreshments, with the formal presentations starting at 7.00 pm.
· Friday is our annual occasional day. School is closed to all staff and students on Friday 28th November.
Finally, the Academy Trust has its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 9th December. Please find the links below to the agenda and invitation.
Have a lovely weekend.
Mrs F Bowler, Principal
Whole School Messages
Attendance: Late/Absent
Please ensure all absences, lates, appointments, etc. are recorded on ParentMail. Phone calls and messages will delay your child’s attendance being recorded accurately. Many thanks.
Thursday 4th December 4.00-5.00 pm SEND Parents Information Evening
Please join us if your child has an identified SEND need or if you wish to come to find out more. We will be specifically looking at signposting to support during the Christmas holidays and into the new year.
Health and Safety Notice – Hot Water Bottles
Students are not allowed to bring hot water bottles on site due to the potential risk of scalding. Any found will be confiscated and left at Reception for collection at the end of the day.
Borrowed Uniform
If your child has borrowed uniform from Pastoral, especially a tie, please check and return them promptly. We no longer have uniform for students to borrow, as a result of students not returning or collecting deposits.
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.
Catering Menu
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.
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
Head Lice
There have been further cases of head lice around school. Please be vigilant and check your child's hair. Please seek treatment or heavily condition and comb regularly.
Airborne Viruses
As the colder months approach, we can expect to see increases in common airborne viruses. Illness is the biggest single reason for school absence; while some absences due to illness are unavoidable, many can be reduced through simple, proactive measures that minimise the spread of infections. Scientific evidence demonstrates that vaccination, disinfection (cleaning), handwashing, and ventilation can significantly reduce the transmission of infectious diseases.
Please take time to read the two links below to help us reduce the number of student absences this winter:
Is my child too ill for school? - NHS
Top tips on how to keep your child healthy at school – The Education Hub
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.
Clubs and Activities
Year 11 DT GCSE Club every Tuesday in the DT ICT room until 4.30 pm
Homework Club All years, Monday - Thursday after school in the library 3.15-4.15pm. 4pm finish on Fridays. NO HOMEWORK CLUB NEXT FRIDAY AS SCHOOL IS CLOSED
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!)
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.
Bake Sale – Year 11 Prom Fundraising
Year 11 are holding a fundraising bake sale for their Prom next year on Tuesday 25th November. Please remember to bring in cash or a physical bank card to pay (min. £1 spend). If anyone would like to donate cakes (home baked or shop bought) please bring them to Reception by 9.00 am on Tuesday 25th November. We are a NUT FREE school.
Julius Caesar – Full Cast Rehearsal
Tuesday: Isaac Hall after school until 4.30 pm. This is to rehearse an in-school performance on Wednesday 10th December.
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
Wednesday –Lunch Time and Thursday - 3:15 - 4:15 - School Ensemble
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
Trips
Tottenham Hotspurs Football Experience – Saturday 14th March 2026 for Years 7-10. Please refer to this letter for full details.
The extended deadline for deposits is 9.00 am on Wednesday 3rd December.
Year 11 News
Message from Devon County Council – Outward Bound Adventure Opportunity
The Sir Francis Chichester Trust is offering FREE places on 14 and 19 day (Summit & Pinnacle) Outward Bound adventures for young people aged 16–22 living in Devon, (including Plymouth & Torbay). Courses run in July/August 2026 at Outward Bound centres in the Lake District, Wales, and Scotland. Application deadline: 20 January 2026.
We invite you to encourage young people to apply. These life-changing expeditions help young people transition into sixth form, further education, or work. Participants build confidence, teamwork, and resilience - skills that change lives and stand out on personal statements and CVs. They’ll meet peers from around the world and discover what they’re truly capable of. One young person who attended in 2025 said: “This experience showed me that I’m capable of far more than I ever believed and has inspired me to take on new challenges in life.”
Applicants need to enjoy and have some experience of outdoor challenges and wouldn’t normally have the opportunity of such an adventure and the positive benefits it can bring.
Shortlisted applicants must be able to attend interviews in Exeter on 26 or 27 February 2026. Application forms and more information are available at: Sir Francis Chichester Trust | The Outward Bound Trust
The Sir Francis Chichester Trust will meet the full course fee (around £2000 /person) for successful applicants.
Travel:
**Successful applicants will be responsible for arranging and paying for their own transport between Devon and the Outward Bound centre of their choice, as well as travel insurance. However, if transport costs are prohibitive then we will look at additional support if possible. Bus transfers from stations near to Outward Bound centres are available.
This is a rare and exciting opportunity for young people who love the outdoors and are ready to grow. If you know someone who fits the bill, please encourage them to apply—and feel free to get in touch with any questions.
Sent on behalf of The Sir Francis Chichester Trust
Further information at: Sir Francis Chichester Trust | The Outward Bound Trust or email the Trust Manager: info@chichestertrust.org.uk
Careers Round Up
Please follow the link below to the November Petroc Newsletter for year11 students.
Year 10 News
Year 10 netball matches Tuesday 25th November at Braunton vs Pilton. Names on the notice board outside the girls’ changing rooms. Finish approx 4.30 pm
Year 10 students will bring home their Autumn Mid Term Assessment Report (MTA) on Wednesday 26th November.
No netball club due to matches.
Work Experience
The work experience programme for this academic year has been launched. All students will have received a letter, addressed to their parent/carer, giving instructions on how the scheme works. Please follow the link below to our Work Experience webpage for all the information you need. All student Work Experience placements need to have been entered onto the Unifrog platform by Thursday 2nd April 2026.
Work Experience - Braunton Academy - Aspire and Achieve
NHS Work Experience
We have received information from the NHS Foundation Trust regarding work experience at North Devon District Hospital, Barnstaple. The work experience week will run from Monday 6th July – Friday 10th July 2026.
If your child is interested in a career in healthcare, please ask them to email their completed form to Karen Haste at karen.haste@nhs.net by Friday 28th November. The application form can be found on the Work Experience page of our website. Please follow the link above this letter to get to the Work Experience page. Karen would prefer to receive the application in a PDF format. If you need your application to be scanned and sent, please speak to Mrs Martin in the Academy Reception who will do this for you.
As this programme is always oversubscribed the forms will be shortlisted, so please take time and complete all of the application form before submitting it. Interviews are scheduled to take place in the week commencing the 12th January 2026 but the exact date and time will be sent out nearer the time.
Please note that this opportunity is in addition to the Academy’s work experience week in May. Students who are successful in obtaining a placement with the NHS will also need to find a work experience placement for the week of 24th – 28th May 2026.
If you need any advice on completing the application form, or any questions about this work experience, please ask your son/daughter to see me or email me at aparsons@braunton.academy
Year 9 News
Year 9 Assessment Exams – Thursday 15th to Monday 19th January 2026
We would like to inform you that Year 9 assessment exams will take place during the second week back after the Christmas break, from Thursday 15th to Monday 19th January. These assessments are an important opportunity for students to demonstrate their progress and prepare for the demands of GCSEs.
For English, Maths, Science, Geography, History, and Languages, exams will be held in the Sports Hall under formal conditions to give students valuable experience of the environment they will encounter during their real GCSE exams. This practice helps build confidence and familiarity with the process.
Subject teachers will provide revision lists to support preparation, and we strongly encourage families to help students plan and complete their revision at home. Your support in creating a calm, focused environment and checking in on their progress can make a significant difference. We will be providing students with their exam timetables soon, so please encourage your children to plan their revision and study timetable.
Thank you for your continued support in helping our students achieve their best.
No netball club Thursday 27th November due to matches for years 9&10
Year 9 netball matches Tuesday 25th November at Braunton vs Pilton. Names on the notice board outside the girls’ changing rooms. Finish approx 4.30 pm.
Year 9 County Netball Tournament in Exeter, Monday 24th November. Leave school at 8.00 am, please bring warm clothes and plenty to eat and drink. Netball dresses will be worn to play in but must be handed back on Monday.
Year 8 News
No Netball club Tuesday 25th November due to matches for years 9 and 10.
Year 8 Netball matches Thursday 27th November at Braunton vs Pilton. Names on the notice board outside the girls’ changing rooms. Finish approx 4.30 pm
Year 7 News
No Netball club Tuesday 25th November due to matches for years 9 and 10.
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