Headteacher's Newsletter

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we step into the second half of the Spring Term, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on a busy and productive few months at West Hatch and to thank you for your ongoing support and engagement with the school.

We have been delighted to welcome so many of you into school for key events, including the Open Classroom for Year 7 and our Parent Voice meeting. It was wonderful to meet so many of you! Your contributions and feedback are invaluable in ensuring that we continue to provide the best possible experience for all our students. A particular focus this term has been our Parent Mobile Phone Consultation, and we greatly appreciate your input. We are now in the process of pupil consultation and aim to finalise and share a formal policy just after Easter.

At the beginning of this term, our Year 11 and Year 13 students will be sitting their PPEs, an important milestone in their academic journey. We wish them the very best of luck in their exams.

West Hatch is also proud to be hosting the annual "Youth Makes Music" event on behalf of the Rotary Club of Roding on Friday 14th March. Six schools will be performing: Avon House, Chigwell, Davenant, Stagecoach Chigwell, West Hatch, and Woodford Green Preparatory. This promises to be a fantastic celebration of musical talent. Additionally, our much-anticipated Dance Show will take place this term—one of the highlights of our performing arts productions, showcasing the dedication and talent of our students. Buy your tickets soon to avoid disappointment!

We hope you have had an opportunity to look at our DPR progress reporting site the link is below.

DPR - West Hatch High School

This outlines ten key objectives that your child must master this academic year, with a RAG (red, amber, green) rating to indicate their progress. This tool is designed to support purposeful discussions at home and help fill any gaps through homework and additional study. We are looking to put many more resources on DPR this year to help support you.

We were pleased to host our Governors for a visit day on February 3rd, where they had the chance to observe the school in action. Their feedback was overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the strength of our leadership and our shared commitment to continuous improvement. They observed 39 different teachers, interviewed 44 members of staff, and listened to 82 students. These insights help us to reflect and continually improve as we strive for ambition and excellence in the quality of education here at West Hatch.

A real highlight of the half-term was our Love Lounge performances, where students showcased their incredible talents. The event was a huge success, filled with standout performances that demonstrated both confidence and creativity. It was inspiring to see our students flourish in such a supportive environment. In total, 33 Year 7s, 28 Year 8s, 40 Year 9s, 16 Year 10s, 10 Year 11s, one Year 12, and one Year 13 participated—phenomenal! Some pictures below of the event.

Beyond the classroom, our students have continued to extend their learning through educational visits. Our Year 8 students visited the Imperial War Museum, gaining a deeper understanding of history, while our Sixth Form students had the opportunity to visit the Houses of Parliament, enhancing their knowledge of politics and democracy. You can read more details about this trip below. These experiences are vital in helping our students develop not just academically but also personally, equipping them with a broader perspective of the world around them.

The Year 12 Government and Politics students attended both Parliament and the Supreme Court where they were given a guided tour and opportunities to debate and argue for causes that mattered to them. They were able to witness a House of Commons debate on domestic violence laws and then given a workshop where they created their own mini manifestos and presented them excellently. Students also met their local MP, Neil Hudson, who carried out an informative and thoughtful Q&A with them. The trip was an opportunity to see some of the key aspects of their A level course come to life.

We are a group of friendly, dedicated parents working together to enhance your child’s school experience. Whether it’s organising fun events, fundraising for extra resources, or supporting school initiatives, our goal is to create the best possible environment for all students; currently we consist of just Year 7 parents but would love to get to know you all better and leverage some of your experience so please do get in contact if you’d like to join us.

We’d love for you to get involved—whether that’s lending a hand at events, sharing ideas, or simply staying informed about what we do. Together, we can make a real difference! Stay connected and be part of the journey; to register your interest please email: friendsofwesthatchhighschool@gmail.com

Please keep your eyes peeled for our termly newsletter and join us for our next meeting which is scheduled to be on Thursday 3rd April in the school library.

*Student Competition Time*

WIN a Free Lunch Pass for the Week and get 25 House Points!!!!

Friends of West Hatch currently do not have a logo for their newly formed association and would like ALL students to showcase their talent!! The winning design will be featured on all future PTA communication and at events. If your child is interested then please ask them to submit their designs to: - friendsofwesthatchhighschool@gmail.com by Friday 21st March and the lucky winner will be announced in the next newsletter after the Easter holidays.

Once again I urge all parents and carers to drive and park responsibly outside our school grounds.

Please do not block driveways or park on pavements, as this obstructs pedestrians. Also do not park on the grass verge as there are clear signs saying no parking permitted and the verge area is becoming very muddy.

Parent and carers should also refrain from parking across Cedar Park as the residents need the entrance clear for entry and exit at all times. Finally parents should not be using Chigwell Nursery as a pick up or drop off point. The Nursery have advised that they will have staff manning the gate to prevent parents from driving onsite for this purpose.

Events

Wednesday 19th March and 20th March - Dance Show (ticket event)

Thursday 27th March - Year 8 Parents Evening (online by appointment)

Closures and early/late starts

Wednesday 12th March - early finish for marking of PPEs - students dismissed at 12.30pm

Friday 4th April - break up for Easter - students dismissed at 1.30pm

Easter Break

Monday 7th April -Monday 21st April - students return on Tuesday 22nd April.

As we enter this term, teacher recruitment is in full swing. This is a crucial time for securing the best educators for our students. We will be posting adverts on social media—please share our posts to help raise our profile and attract talented teachers in this highly competitive recruitment climate. Your engagement plays a crucial role in shaping our school community, and we remain dedicated to listening, responding, and working collaboratively to support our young people.

Thank you for your continued support.

Warm regards,
Mrs. Victoria Schaefer
Headteacher
West Hatch High School