Weekly Newsletter

Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you all for another great week. Sports Day was superb as ever with so many smiling faces and a real celebratory feel to it. A great chance for all to come together and thank you to Miss Jones, all in P.E as well as all the timekeepers, those entering the data for the scores, those measuring, supporting and ensuring all was in order, the music and comparing and all staff who made it such a great day. The P.E Faculty have lost their crown in the 4X100 metre relay to team pastoral! Truly shocking and work to be done.

I was spoken to after by the staff who work at the Sporting Village as well as all those who served food and drink on the day. They said they have never come across such polite and respectful children who all clearly look after each other and enjoy the school. Such positive feedback and I was filled with such pride for the rest of the day.

Yesterday saw many take part in our end of year trips that went far and wide, all very well received. A fantastic way to end the academic year and so much fun was had. Great work was undertaken by those on-site as well as we made sure all were working hard, with the occasional bit of fun thrown in.

I will be writing to you all the week before we return, just to have a few reminders of what is to come. Apologies in advance for disturbing your holidays.

During the school holidays, the safeguarding team only monitors their email address periodically. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999. For other serious or urgent issues, contact Essex children's services directly on 0345 603 7627 rather than waiting for a reply here.

Children and young people can contact Childline free and confidentially on 0800 1111.

Parents and carers can contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.

If a child or young person is struggling with their mental health, they can text YM to 85258 for free, 24/7 crisis support. Parents wanting advice can also contact the YoungMinds Parents Helpline on 0808 802 5544.

At this time of year we like to look back to go forward, key highlights are below of which there are many. Enjoy!

Our Top Five GCSE Pupils of our 2025 leavers.

Cory H ended his journey with us in Woodlands July 2025 and is now taking his A-levels at Eton College. Only twelve places are offer each year and for Cory to secure one of these is a testament to his character and a first for us here at Woodlands. We are all so incredibly proud of Cory.

Year 11 Careers Fair

Open Evening (Soon upon us again!)

School Tours

Year 10 Travel and Tourism Trip to Holiday Inn and Southend Airport

Code Breaking Club Visit to Bletchley Park

Year 11 Mock Interviews

Year 10 Work Experience Parent Information Evening

Year 11 Visit to Anglo European School Sixth Form

Year 9 Trip to Beecroft Museum, Southend

Year 7 Preparing for Success Evening

Talking Learning Event

Anti-Bullying Ambassadors Training

Year 10 Mock Interviews

Year 7 and 8 APT pupils visit to High House Production Park in Purfleet

Year 10 GCSE Art pupils visits to the National Portrait Gallery, London

Year 11 Preparing for Success and Excellence Evening

Ex-Year 11 Informal GCSE Certificate Collection

Year 11 Maths Inspiration Trip, Matilda Theatre, London

A group of Year 7-9 pupils watching Pinocchio, Shakespeare Globe Theatre, London

Year 7 Merry Mathsmas Event

Year 11 Triple Science Trip to Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford

Year 7 attending the BT Get Ready Workshop, London

Charity Christmas Concert, Eastgate Shopping Centre

Year 11 Rewards Trip, Hollywood Bowl

STEM Club working with Alpine F1 Team

Year 9 Future Forward Workshop

Year 10 Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge

Year 10 Hospitality and Catering Trip to Crondon Park Golf Club

Creative Arts Department Show Shrek Jnr

Years 7-10 Royal Academy Dance Workshop

Year 10 Food Stylist Workshop

Year 9 Netball and Football Tournament, Paris

Year 10 Geography Trip

STEM on Track Day

Germany Trip 2026

Trip to RHS Hyde Hall

STEM on Track National Finals

APT and Performing Arts Annual Performance at Feast and Fayre, Horndon on the Hill

London Trip

Annual Awards Evening

Our annual Sports Day was a fantastic celebration of teamwork, determination and school spirit. Pupils gave their all in a range of track and field events, demonstrating resilience, enthusiasm and excellent sportsmanship throughout the day. It was wonderful to see everyone cheering on their peers and supporting one another. Despite the hot weather, pupils demonstrated outstanding behaviour and attitudes throughout the day. Congratulations to all of our students for their outstanding effort and achievements!

A huge well done to the house winners:

Year 7 - Oxford

Year 8 - Bath

Year 9 - Bath

Year 10 - Bath

Overall - Bath

On Friday 10th July, eight of our Anti-Bullying Ambassadors stayed behind during Sports Day to help host the Stop the Hate Conference, organised by the Basildon Twinning Group.

Following the fantastic impression our pupils made at last year's conference, they were invited back to speak again this year and were also given the opportunity to help host the event.

Our ambassadors represented the school exceptionally well, speaking with confidence and maturity about their own experiences and sharing thoughtful ideas about how we can work together as a school and wider community to challenge prejudice and promote kindness, inclusion and the power of friendship.

Their speeches were incredibly well received, with members of the local community taking the time to congratulate and praise our pupils for their courage, compassion and inspiring messages. It was wonderful to see the positive impact they had on everyone in attendance.

The conference also provided a valuable opportunity for our pupils to develop their public speaking and presentation skills, while increasing their understanding of important issues affecting both our local community and the wider world.

I could not be prouder of the way our Anti-Bullying Ambassadors conducted themselves throughout the day and in the weeks leading up to the conference. They were a credit to themselves and our school, and played an important role in making the event such a success. Their enthusiasm, professionalism and commitment to promoting respect and inclusion truly embodied our school values.

Thank you to all parents and carers for your support over the last academic year and our final as Woodlands School. As a PE Department, we proudly share the sporting successes over the last academic year, please click on the link below.

On Monday, Aspirations Faculty took 15 pupils on a well-deserved trip to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour; The Making of Harry Potter.

Throughout the day, pupils were a real credit to the school, demonstrating excellent behaviour, enthusiasm, and engagement as they explored the iconic sets, props, and behind the scenes magic of the Harry Potter films.

As you can see from the photos, everyone had an amazing time. It was fantastic to see pupils so engaged, asking questions, and enjoying this memorable experience together.

On Wednesday 64 of our Artistic Performance Team pupils ventured into the heart of the West End to see the amazing production of the classic musical, Oliver!

Pupils were treated to an amazing show full of fantastic performances, amazing sets, lighting and costumes, and of course enjoyed the world famous songs throughout the musical. Pupils have worked hard this year on many projects and shows, so seeing Oliver was a nice way for the pupils to end the academic year.

With a young cast in the show it also gave the pupils the aspiration to continue to purse a career within the creative arts.

Thank you to the production team and the Gielgud theatre for such a fantastic performance.

The following pupils have achieved the highest ePrasie points for the Summer Term:-

Year 7

Eric G 437 points

Isabella A 290 points

Harrison A 288 points

Year 8

Eric H 373 points

Sofia L B 357 points

Aroush L'M 261 points

Year 9

Harvey S 426 points

Andrew P 303 points

Troy Mc 269 points

Year 10

Salet B 335 points

Sara S 270 points

Theo B 260 points

The following pupils have achieved the highest ePraise points for the year:-

Year 7

Chloe M 1737 points

Eric G 1704 points

Isabella A 1535 points

Year 8

Maisy 2289 points

Eric H 2270 points

Sofia L B 2260 points

Year 9

Harvey S 7128 points

Yusra Z 3778 points

Charlie C 3237 points

Year 10

Sara S 6730 points

Freddie Mc 5462

Salet B F 5522

House results for the year:-

Year 7

Durham 1961 points

Cambridge 1411 points

Oxford 888 points

Loughborough 519 points

Bath 400 points

St Andrews 203 points

Year 8

Durham 18479

St Andrews 15944

Bath 15825

Oxford 15423

Cambridge 15278

Loughborough 14651

Year 9

Cambridge 13094

Oxford 12370

Loughboro0gh 11365

Bath 10966

Durham 10677

St Andrews

Year 10

Bath 13089

Cambridge 11902

Durham 11857

Oxford 10977

St Andrews 10915

Loughborough 10265

The overall House results for the year are as follows:-

Bath 349,132 points

Cambridge 347,604 points

Durham 355,621 points

Loughborough 318,219 points

Oxford 342,472 points

St Andrews 343,371 points

Congratulations to all pupils for your efforts across the curriculum, extra-curricular clubs and pupil leadership roles.

Thursday 3rd September

Non-student day

Friday 4th September

Non-student day

Monday 7th September

Start of term for Year 7 and Year 11 students only

Tuesday 8th September

Start of term for all students

Thursday 10th September

School photo day

Thursday 17th September

Year 11 Careers Fair

Our last newsletter as Woodlands School. I have not really had a moment to take that in as yet, but I will. People’s relationship with our school goes back much further than mine. I have only been here twelve years, many of you as parents and carers came to Woodlands yourselves, and many grandparents too. Huge changes over the years, from it being a separate boys and girls school, to once having a sixth form, to the old buildings to our new one with new uniform and new name of Harris Academy Kingswood – HAKW.

As a historian I am very fond of looking at the past, but I am a great believer in looking back to go forward. Learning from the past can only help propel us ever further onward. For us to continue on our journey we will embrace whatever comes next. Change is good. We will however still be us at heart.

I shared with staff at our INSET on Friday 3rd July that the name may change but who we are doesn’t and won’t. We here have all dedicated huge time and effort to our pupils. All of us have signed up to something greater than ourselves. We have all chosen to work here. All of us have a real sense of purpose that connects us all. There is no reward for putting the hours in (sadly) it’s about how effective those hours are. We all believe in what we are trying to do here. If not, why are we here?

I don’t believe in luck, for me it’s a cop out. But I firmly believe that all associated with our school could not wish for a better group of people to be educating your, our youngsters. You will have your own opinions, I am not everyone’s cup of tea and am told this on a weekly basis, and many also tell me how useless and uncaring some of my staff are. Well, all are entitled to their opinions and I respect each and every one. You just happen to be wrong if you feel that my staff and I don’t care and could all be so much better. As ever these voices and opinions are the minority, but it still hurts. I am grateful for the overwhelming majority who back us and are supportive of what we are trying to do.

We will always look to improve and we never sit still or relax in any way shape or form. Our job is never done and I am proud to be part of what we are doing and what comes next. I am so grateful to be working with the next generation who are so full of life, eager, caring, hardworking and will all go on to change the world for the better. If they believe they can and put the work in. Thank you to the overwhelming majority of you who back us, I know you are there and we are honoured to serve.

Best wishes,

David Wright

Head Teacher