Headteacher's Newsletter

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we begin the final half term of this academic year, I want to take a moment to celebrate the power of partnership with you, our parents and carers. Whether you're supporting a child through GCSEs or A Levels, or helping a Key Stage 3 pupil prepare for end-of-year tests, you play a vital role in our shared success.

One of our core values at West Hatch is listening to our community. That’s why, back in November, I invited your honest feedback on what we’re doing well and where we can do better. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who responded.

You told us you wanted a firmer stance on mobile phones - and we’ve acted. Our mobile phone ban comes into effect this week: a significant cultural shift designed to support student focus and wellbeing. Thank you for supporting us on this important change.

In the survey, many of you wanted more opportunities for face-to-face contact with teachers. This year we’ve introduced SEND coffee mornings, piloted ‘Open Classroom’ events for Year 7 (with Year 8 to follow shortly), and will launch a new ‘Meet the Teacher’ event for Year 11 families in September. Our goal is to increase meaningful contact throughout the year, rather than relying solely on a single Parent’s Evening. We also plan to streamline communication via the Edulink App from September, creating a smoother, more user-friendly experience for families.

You also asked for more diverse and inclusive food options. In response, we’ve refreshed our canteen offer to include halal meals, street food-style grab-and-go choices, and a range of multicultural menus. As a result, we have seen a 30% increase in food sales. We remain committed to providing high-quality, affordable food for all students.

In response to your feedback, we’ve continued to strengthen mental health provision too. Our Mental Health Support Team has delivered targeted assemblies, one-to-one sessions, and we’re launching a new Emotional Literacy Support (ELSA) programme this autumn.

In response to concerns around fairness in our behaviour systems, we’ve introduced a new points-based approach this academic year, which is already reducing detentions and promoting positive choices.

We continue to invest in our buildings and site. We are embarking on a 3-year programme to upgrade student toilets, starting this summer.

We are still on a journey—there’s always more to do—but I hope you can see how your voice continues to shape the school we are building together. Thank you, as always, for your support, encouragement and partnership.

Warmest wishes,
Mrs Victoria Schaefer
Headteacher

We’re incredibly proud of how well our students have been approaching their external exams this term. Whether it’s GCSEs, A Levels, or BTECs, students have shown maturity, focus, and resilience. Staff have been full of praise for their conduct, and we are hopeful that their efforts will be reflected in excellent outcomes this summer.

Our Year 9 students are also sitting their GCSE Statistics exams this half term —an ambitious move that forms part of our wider strategy to stretch and challenge students earlier in their school journey. This early entry supports their confidence and exam readiness, and we’re already seeing how this approach is contributing to stronger outcomes in Key Stage 4.

Our Year 11 and Year 13 leavers events took place last term and were a great success. The students enjoyed a BBQ, music, ice cream van and Leavers Assembly, where the students were keen to find out who had been voted for the different awards! They were then clapped off with a guard of honour by staff and students.

Our Target Team students were invited back to the Olympic pool in Stratford by Panathlon Challenge. They competed against other Essex schools that had previously scored highest in their heats.

Our students were proud to represent West Hatch and were shocked at how big the swimming pool was! They worked well as a team and cheered each other on when they completed their races! This was a really great experience for our students and they all received a medal.

A group of our KS3 Target Team students took part in a football tournament, where they competed in various 5 aside games. We had one U13’s team and two U16s team. Eight schools took part including West Hatch. They should all be so proud of their behaviour and compassion they showed to their teammates, cheering the other teams on when they were playing.

The final event of last half term took place at Debden Park High School. Panathlon Challenge provided a day of alternative sports for our students. This included floor basketball, 10 pin bowling, shoot into the goal & a cricket scoring challenge.

Each team needed to gain the greatest number of points for each game with the scores at the end of the sessions being added together to find the overall winners. Our students had a wonderful day and had set their eyes on some of the medals on offer! After a full morning of sports and competing against 8 other teams, West Hatch were crowned with silver medals and a trophy! Their fantastic teamwork proves if you have the support of others and the perseverance to try your best then great things are achievable!

Some of our Year 8 students visited Bletchley Park last term. They took part in a guided tour where they learned about the history of Bletchley Park throughout WW2 and how Maths and Computer Science were used in communications and code breaking throughout the war. Our students also had the opportunity to explore the site, including the mansion and code breaking huts. They took part in a personal cyber security workshop where they learnt about modern day encryption technology around passwords and about staying safe online.

Congratulations to Kiran who entered the Young Writers competition. His poem has been selected for publication in a book showcasing poems called Poetry Escape - War of Words. You can read his poem below;

This Is My Island

A ray touches the ocean

The emerald leaves sway

With no commotion

This is the way

This is my island

The trees sprout

There are tall, sandy dunes

Without a doubt

There is the full moon

This is my island

Here is one of the most glorious sunsets I have ever seen

Monkeys swing tree to tree

The ivy is green

What a pleasant sight to see

This is my island

There is a cave

What could be in there?

Are you brave?

Could it be a bear?

Waves crash against the shore

It's raining

Still no bore

Yet no complaints

This is my island.

Congratulations to Alizée who became a fully enrolled Air Cadet at 241 Wanstead & Woodford Squadron Royal Air Cadets. Having undertaken an intensive training syllabus, spanning the past 6 months, she successfully passed her initial recruit training course and was formally invited to join one of the main flights on Squadron. Alizée was also given the opportunity to represent her Squadron for the first time in uniform at the VE Day 80th Anniversary Remembrance Parade which took place at Wanstead War Memorial in May.

Parent Evenings (online and by appointment)

Thursday 5th June - Yr.10

Thursday 12th June - Yr.12

Thursday 26th June - Yr.7

Other Events

Tuesday 24th June - Awards Evening (invite only)

Sunday 29th June - Yr.13 Prom at Woolston Manor

Tuesday 1st July and Wednesday 2nd July - Summer Solstice Event (tickets will be on parentpay)

Thursday 3rd July - Yr.11 Prom at the Prince Regent

Wednesday 9th July - Sports Awards Evening (invite only)

Friday 11th July - Yr.7 Graduation ceremony start at 1.30pm (Early finish at 12.30pm for the rest of the school)

Tuesday 15th July -West Hatch Rocks (tickets will be on parentpay)

Tuesday 22nd July break up for the Summer - students dismissed at 1.30pm

As we approach the end of term, there’s still so much to look forward to. We’re excited to celebrate our wonderful Year 7 students at their Graduation Day on 11th July—a chance to reflect on all they’ve achieved in their first year with us. We also have Sports Day, our Sports Awards Evening, and the ever-popular Rewards Trips for Years 7–9, recognising students’ hard work and contribution throughout the year.

Year 10 students will be heading out on work experience, gaining valuable insights into the world beyond the classroom, while we look forward to welcoming our newest students during our Year 7 Induction events—an important moment as they begin their West Hatch journey.

Thank you again for your continued support. It promises to be an action-packed and celebratory end to the academic year!