Weekly Parents' Newsletter

Dear Families 

It has been another busy week in school, both staff and students are still suffering with winter bugs which again is impacting this week on the amount of cover in school. We apologise for any impact this has had on our response times to parents. 

Sporting congratulations this week goes to the Year 10, 9, 8 and 7 netball teams who were involved in tournaments and won every single game.  Also, the Year 7 and 10 girls’ football team played in a tournament this week, both teams came first in their age groups.  

Year 11 students have been receiving feedback on their PPEs, and we look forward to seeing all Year 11 families on Thursday next week for Parents Evening. Please bring your child with you as the feedback from teachers will be valuable for them to hear as well as their parents. GCSEs are fully underway in the Performing Arts with Music and Drama students completing their practical assessments over the next two weeks.  

A final reminder the school AGM is on Tuesday next week.  The agenda and invite letter are available on the links here:

AGM Invite

AGM Agenda 09.12.25

Have a lovely weekend. 

Mrs F Bowler, Principal

Whole School Messages

Braunton Academy: Embracing AI for Excellence in Teaching 

At Braunton Academy, we are committed to delivering the highest quality teaching and learning experiences for our students. To achieve this, we are embracing the incredible potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education. 

AI offers exciting opportunities to enhance classroom practice and provide tailored support for every learner. For students who need additional help, AI can act as a powerful tool—offering personalized resources, adaptive feedback, and innovative ways to engage with learning. 

To ensure we make the most of this technology, we’ve launched an AI Working Party made up of staff from across the school. This team will explore and trial practical ways AI can support teaching, streamline workload, and enrich student learning.

We’re also proud to announce that we’ve started using TeachMateAI, a platform designed specifically for schools.

TeachMateAI empowers educators with tools to plan lessons, create resources, and develop strategies that save time while improving quality. 

This is just the beginning of our AI journey, and we’re excited about the possibilities ahead. By embracing innovation, we aim to ensure every student at Braunton Academy thrives. 

Reminder Key Uniform Expectations (Summary) 

• School Bag: Strong and sturdy.
• Jumpers: Maroon or grey with the Braunton Academy logo.
• Blazers: Years 10 & 11 must wear a black blazer with logo. Jumpers may also be worn underneath but not instead of blazers.
• Shirts & Ties: Formal white shirt with house-colour striped tie. 
• Bottoms: Plain black trousers, shorts, or skirt (no jeans, chinos, cargo styles). Skirts must be mid-thigh length or longer. 
• Footwear: Plain black trainers or shoes (boots not permitted). PE trainers must be separate from school shoes.
• Accessories: Hijabs (if worn) must be plain black or cream. Jewellery limited to one watch (not smart) and one small stud per ear.
• Outerwear: Zip-up jackets may be worn to school in bad weather but not instead of jumpers/blazers. Hoodies are not permitted.
• Appearance: Extreme hairstyles, unnatural colours, acrylic nails, false eyelashes, and heavy make-up are not allowed. 
   

PE Kit Reminder 

Braunton Academy is proud of its sporting excellence. Students must wear the correct PE kit: 

• Burgundy polo/T-shirt with logo.
• Plain black shorts/leggings/tracksuit bottoms.
• White socks
• Burgundy Football socks
• Suitable sports trainers (different from school shoes).
• Football boots for AGP sessions.
• Sport specific equipment when needed (Shin pads and gum shields)
• Optional: Academy ¼ zip training top. 
   

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. 

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. 

Messages for Students During the School Day 

Please remember messages to students during the school day should only be required to be delivered in rare/emergency circumstances and must be received as early as possible, but no later than 3pm. 

Please communicate after school arrangements prior to your child leaving home in the morning. If you feel regular communication of this nature is needed e.g. about changing arrangements, please consider providing a non-smart phone for your child to aid such communication after school. 

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.

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

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 

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 

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

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

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.

Sophrology Club - Follow this link for details

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

Competitions

Rotary Club Young Writer Competition 

We have established a link with the Rotary Club in Braunton who have agreed to judge entries from Braunton Academy for the Rotary Club Young Writer competition. This is a competition organised in heats, starting the with local heat before progressing to regional and national stages.  The theme of the competition is ‘Happiness in Nature’ and entrants are tasked with writing a piece of prose (fiction or non-fiction; max. 500 words) or a poem (max. 40 lines) with a link to the theme.  Deadline for entries is Friday 12th December to Miss Reed in Rm 66. Entries can be handwritten or typed, no images. All work must be original. 

Please come and see Miss Reed for information regarding entry paperwork.

Year 11 News

Year 11 Parents’ Evening will take place on Thursday 11th December. You will be able to book your appointments online using SchoolCloud - Braunton Academy from Monday 1st December from 6.00 pm onwards. 

Year 11 students will bring home their Autumn Term MTA also on Thursday 11th December, this will have their PPE results on as well as their usual MTA information. 

Year 11 Raffle  

 Please look out for an email regarding the Year 11 Prom Raffle which is launching in the next few days. Tickets will be £1 each available via ParentMail.

Careers Round Up 

Exeter Maths School 

The deadline for Year 12 applications to Exeter Maths School for next September is fast approaching. 

Students should apply by the end of Sunday 7th December to ensure they are invited to sit the Entrance Test on Saturday 24th January, and receive test practice material before the end of term. 

A reminder of some of the fantastic benefits of applying to Exeter Maths School: 

• Maths and Further Maths for all students, with Physics or Computer Science for their third A Level
• The option to choose a fourth subject with them, or with their neighbours at Exeter College
• An extended curriculum, learning the research and independent study skills students need at university
• Monday to Friday boarding for students who live further away, including a generous boarding bursary scheme that means some students only pay food contributions
• Support for students entitled to Free School Meals throughout the process, including travel bursaries to support attendance at admissions events, additional test practice material with a one-to-one feedback session in early January, and mock interviews
• Exam access arrangements honoured throughout the selection process 
   

Students can start their applications at ems.applicaa.com, and find out more about Exeter Maths School, curriculum and admissions process at exetermathematicsschool.ac.uk. 

Any questions can be sent to admissions@exeterms.ac.uk. 

NHS Diagnostic Careers Event 

For this academic year, the Peninsula Imaging and Pathology Networks, with Healthcare Sciences, are pleased to announce their diagnostic careers event for students aged 14+ and their parents, (and anyone else who’s interested), at the South Cloisters, University of Exeter on Saturday 24th January 2026, 9am- 12pm and 1pm - 4pm.  

These events showcase the incredible professions that make up radiography, pathology, and healthcare sciences, as well as the career progression opportunities available within the south west. At the start of each session, there will be a welcome seminar to open the event, followed by stall exhibits, and a chance to chat with professionals from across the specialisms. Next steps teams will also be on hand to provide information about entry pathways into these careers. 

It's free to attend but places must be booked for each attendee by scanning the relevant QR code on the poster on our Careers Page (link below), or following one of the links: 

Morning ticket: https://app.tickettailor.com/events/nhs36/1654610  

Afternoon tickets: https://app.tickettailor.com/events/nhs36/1654710  

Careers - Braunton Academy - Aspire and Achieve 

Additionally, all upcoming events can be found on their website:  Discover Diagnostics careers events | Peninsula Diagnostic Network 

Year 11 Parents’ Evening will take place on Thursday 11th December. You will be able to book your appointments online using SchoolCloud - Braunton Academy from Monday 1st December from 6pm onwards. 

Year 11 students will bring home their Autumn Term MTA also on Thursday 11th December, this will have their PPE results on as well as their usual MTA information. 

Year 10 News

Work Experience 

Please can we remind students/parents to start thinking about where students would like to go for their work experience placement starting on Monday 18th May 2026.  The deadline to get the placement details entered onto Unifrog is Thursday 2nd April 2026.  For all the information you need, please visit the Work Experience page of the website – link below.  If your child needs help with finding a placement, please ask them to speak to Mr Parsons or Mrs Martin.   

Work Experience - Braunton Academy - Aspire and Achieve 

NHS Diagnostic Careers Event 

For this academic year, the Peninsula Imaging and Pathology Networks, with Healthcare Sciences, are pleased to announce their diagnostic careers event for students aged 14+ and their parents, (and anyone else who’s interested), at the South Cloisters, University of Exeter on Saturday 24th January 2026, 9am- 12pm and 1pm - 4pm.  

These events showcase the incredible professions that make up radiography, pathology, and healthcare sciences, as well as the career progression opportunities available within the south west. At the start of each session, there will be a welcome seminar to open the event, followed by stall exhibits, and a chance to chat with professionals from across the specialisms. Next steps teams will also be on hand to provide information about entry pathways into these careers. 

It's free to attend but places must be booked for each attendee by scanning the relevant QR code on the poster on our Careers Page (link below), or following one of the links: 

Morning ticket: https://app.tickettailor.com/events/nhs36/1654610  

Afternoon tickets: https://app.tickettailor.com/events/nhs36/1654710  

Careers - Braunton Academy - Aspire and Achieve 

Additionally, all upcoming events can be found on their website:  Discover Diagnostics careers events | Peninsula Diagnostic Network 

No Netball Club Thursday 11th December due to Year 11 Parents’ Evening.  

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 11th December due to Year 11 Parents’ Evening. 

Year 8 News

Nothing this week.

Year 7 News

Nothing this week.