Headteacher's Newsletter
July 2021
We have finally made it to the end of the most turbulent year I can remember in education. I am exceptionally proud of the way everyone in our community has coped over the course of this year, particularly the resilience shown by our student and staff body and the rest of our school community in what will, for many, have been the most challenging time in their school careers. As the picture says below, the dark clouds of this year will move on and I'm sure better times are ahead for all of us. Undoubtedly there will be some bumps in the road but your support this year has helped us navigate unchartered territory and meant that we could continue to provide our students with a safe place where students can thrive, whether online or physically in the school building.
There is some important information I need to provide you all in preparation for the next academic year so I will get straight to it without delay, but just want to once again thank everyone reading this newsletter for the contributions they have made in getting us to the end of this school year and hope that we can focus purely on our core business of educating our students from September.
Important Uniform Reminders For September
Year 11 Uniform
Coats
Please also note that students are not permitted to wear a coat in place of a blazer.
School Shoes
Any student who wears incorrect footwear will be required to wear the school's shoes, and failure to do so will result in them being isolated from lessons until they are wearing the correct footwear.
Please use the school holidays to ensure your children have the correct uniform for their first day in September as outlined in our uniform policy, linked below.
The School Day for September
All Year groups, except Year 13, will be required to attend school at 08:35 ready for Form Time each day. If they are not in Form at 08:35 they will be late and will receive a detention. Year 13 are required to be in school at 08:35 every Wednesday for assembly but can arrive at the start of their first lesson the rest of the week.
Year 7 and 8 students will finish school 10 minutes later than all other year groups, leaving school at 3:15pm. Our Year 7 students will also end their Period 4 lesson 10 minutes early to give them more time for lunch.
Please note, this is a provisional timetable based on current Government advice. It is very possible that the changing landscape nationally may lead to changes in our timetable in September. However, the start and end of school times will remain the same as outlined above.
The Start of Term - September 2021
The outline to the start of term can be seen below:
Thursday 2nd September
Year 7's come into school for a lateral flow test and biometric thumbprint and then return home.
Friday 3rd September
Year 7 Students arrive at school for 08:35 and go to the main hall for an assembly.
Year 12 Students arrive at school at 09:45 and go to the main hall for an assembly.
Monday 6th September
Year 7-11 Students arrive at school for 08:35 Form time
Please note - Year 7 students will have their photographs taken during Period 1
Year 12 Students arrive at 09:45 - go to the Hall for photographs, lessons to follow.
Year 13 students arrive at 09:25 and go to the main hall for an assembly
NB. Year 7 students will receive their second lateral flow test on Tuesday 7th September while in school.
Testing and Self Isolation
It remains very important that students and staff continue to test at home, twice a week. From September we will continue to provide test kits, but if you find you do not have sufficient supply to cover the summer holiday period, test kits can be ordered online or collected locally. More information is available here.
One in three people who test positive for Covid-19 do not have symptoms and so regular asymptomatic testing continues to be a vital part of our response to managing the virus. This new testing approach is designed to minimise the spread of Covid-19 and support more learners to remain in face-to-face education, which is our top priority.
Goodbye to Staff
It is with sadness that we say goodbye to a number of members of staff at the end of this term. I would like to thank the following staff for their contribution to the school, some over a very long period of time. They will all be sorely missed, but we wish them all the very best of luck for the future.
Miss Coggins, Teacher of Media
Mrs Minister, Head of Dance
Mr Ahmed, Teacher of Maths
Mr Westwood, Teacher of Maths
Miss Mirza, LSA
Miss Akande, LSA
Mr Bell, Head of Drama and Music
Miss El Heis, Teacher of English
Mrs Jenkins, HoH and Teacher of PE
Mr Calver, Teacher of Geography
Mrs Tibbott, Art Technician
Our New School Ambassador Team
The field was exceptionally strong this year and I am so proud of the way the students presented themselves and the difference they want to make to the lives of other students at our school.
Congratulations to our new Senior Ambassadors and their Deputies, I have every confidence you will all make a significant contribution next year:
Senior Ambassador
Senior Ambassador
Senior Ambassador
Deputy School Ambassador
Deputy School Ambassador
Deputy School Ambassador
Our New Pastoral Team
Heads of Year
Mr Blain – Year 7
Mr Nicholls – Year 8
Mrs Sharma – Year 9
Ms Harman – Year 10
Mr Orton – Year 11
Mr Windsor - Sixth Form
Pastoral Team
Mr Davis - Behaviour Manager
Mrs Mustafa - Attendance Officer
Mrs Titus - KS4 Pastoral Manager
Ms Bolashodun - KS3 Pastoral Manager
Mrs Kahlon - Seclusion Coordinator
Mr Cleere - School Counsellor
House Team
Mr Limon - Director of Houses
Miss Huggins – Head of Austen
Mr Vanhoutteghem - Head of Brunel
Miss Duck - Head of Fiennes
Miss Young - Head of Newton
Mr McGarr - Head of Roddick
From September please contact your child's Form Tutor, Head of Year or Pastoral Manager with any concerns rather than their new Head of House who will we focussing on rewards and the recognition of our students.
Important Dates for the Start of Term
Friday 3rd September - Year 7 and 12 only in school
Monday 6th September - All Years in School (Year 7 and 12 have photographs)
Tuesday 7th September - Year 7 onsite second lateral flow testing
Thursday 9th September - Year 7 Information Evening and meet the Tutor
Wednesday 15th September - Year 12 meet and greet evening
Wednesday 22nd September - INSET Day - school closed to students
Thursday 23rd September - Year 10 Information Evening
Tuesday 28th September - Year 11 Information Evening
Thursday 30th September - School closes at 1:15pm for Open Evening (Year 7 entry 2022)
Virtual Summer Concert
Please take the time to click on the link below and listen to the performances from our students.
A big thank you to all those that took part, the Music Department for making it possible and Mr Vincent for all his work behind the scenes.
Form Rewards
Donations to the Food Bank
Simbiyat Sikiru
We would like to congratulate Year 13 student Simbiyat Sikiru on being crowned English Schools Athletics Senior Girls Hammer Throw Champion 2021; an outstanding feat for her and our school. The highly prestigious Championships were held at Trafford AC, Manchester on Friday 9th July and saw the countries best young athletes compete for the coveted medals. Simbi was competing for Essex County for just the second time having come 4th and narrowly missing out on a medal in 2019. Having travelled 5 hours by National Express coach due to the covid pandemic and lack of Essex Team bus this year, Simbi battled against adversity and managed a winning throw of 49.81cm, winning the gold medal by a marginal 1cm. She told us: ‘I still cannot believe this has happened and feel like it’s all a dream. I would like to thank all the West Hatch staff for supporting me and my coaches at Woodford Green & Essex Ladies AC.’ Simbi, also an Essex County rugby player, is hoping to attend University next year and is excited about the future opportunities this may bring. A huge well done from all of us at West Hatch Simbi and we hope that we'll be seeing you at the Paris Olympics in 2024!
Our Students' Achievements
Beatrice Katz (Yr. 7)
Beatrice roller skated a total of 5km to raise money for Parkinsons UK. She raised a total of £1200! Well done Beatrice, that is fantastic.
Billy Humphreys (Yr. 7)
Skye Morley (Yr.10)
Dylan Kotecha (Yr. 8)
Kyan Patel (Yr. 7)
Kyan plays the drums outside school and is learning to play at Loughton music school. He narrowly missed out on a distinction by 3 marks. He is now working on his Grade 2. Keep up the great work Kyan.
Scarlett Rood-Morris (Yr. 9)
Erin Sands (Yr. 7)
Erin held a community charity bake sale as part of a homework project for PSHE . She managed to raise £188 for Guide Dogs For The Blind. Well done Erin.
Martina Dainauskaite (Yr.7)
Martina took part in a dance competiton over the weekend and was judged by the stars. She won First Place in both Ballroom and Latin! Well done Martina.
Mustafa Sahin (Yr.12)
Mustafa has been helping out the local NHS vaccine centre by admitting patients, taking their temperatures and checking their health after they have had the vaccine. Great work Mustafa.
And Finally
September will, I hope, bring a fresh start for us all with students able to mix and benefit from the whole school space, the building work finally finished after three and a half years and an ever increasing student body.
I want to once again thank all of our staff on behalf of each of our families; under tremendous pressure, worry for their own safety and a constantly moving landscape they have rolled with the punches and consistently gone out of their way to put your children's needs first.
I am exceptionally proud to be the Head of this wonderful institution and I look forward to watching our students blossom once again when we start back in September.
Thank you once again for your kind words and support this year. Have a wonderful summer and most of all stay safe and well.