Welcome Back Term 1 2026/27
Welcome Back to Winterstoke Hundred Academy
September 2026
Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope that you and your family have enjoyed a restful and enjoyable summer break.
We are very much looking forward to welcoming students back to Winterstoke Hundred Academy for the start of another exciting academic year. September always brings a sense of optimism and opportunity, and we are eager to begin what promises to be another successful year for our students and school community.
Arrangements for the Start of Term
Students will return to school on Monday 7 September 2026.
To support a calm and well-organised start to the year, we will welcome students at staggered times:
- Year 7, 11 and 12: 8:35am
- Years 8, 9, 10 and 13: 9:50am
Changes to the School Day
This year we are making two important adjustments designed to enhance learning and provide greater consistency across the school.
Tutor Time at the Start of the Day
Tutor time for all students will now take place at the beginning of the school day. This change will help ensure every student starts the day positively, receives key information promptly, and benefits from a consistent daily routine before lessons begin.
Changes to Lesson Structure at Key Stage 3
Across Years 7 to 9, students will experience a revised timetable structure that includes a mixture of single and double lessons. This approach allows departments greater flexibility in designing high-quality learning experiences and will enable students to engage more deeply with practical work, extended tasks and collaborative activities where appropriate.
Students are able to access their timetable on the My Child at School (MCAS) app from today.
Toilets
Following updated government guidance, we have made changes to our toilet provision, with facilities now organised into designated boys’ and girls’ areas. As an inclusive school, we remain committed to ensuring that all students feel safe, valued and respected. Alongside these arrangements, we will continue to provide appropriate alternative facilities and personalised support where required, recognising that some students may have individual needs that require additional consideration.
Attendance Matters
Excellent attendance remains one of the strongest predictors of student success.
The first week of term is especially important, as teachers establish routines, expectations and begin key curriculum content. Missing even a small amount of learning at the start of the year can make it more difficult for students to settle quickly and make strong progress.
We ask all families to support us by ensuring students are in school every day, on time and ready to learn.
Reporting an Absence
If your child is unable to attend school, please notify the academy as early as possible on the day of absence and provide a reason for their absence. Our attendance team will continue to work closely with families where attendance concerns arise and will follow the academy’s attendance procedures to ensure every child receives the support they need.
We thank parents and carers for their continued partnership in helping us maintain high attendance standards.
Mobile Phones and Personal Devices
We would also like to remind families of our expectations regarding mobile phones.
In line with national guidance and our commitment to creating calm, focused learning environments, mobile phones should not be seen, heard or used during the school day.
Students should keep phones switched off and out of sight throughout the school day. We ask parents and carers to support us in reinforcing these expectations, which help minimise distractions and maximise learning time. Mobile phones and devices will be confiscated and only parents and carers will be able to collect them.
School Catering Update
We are pleased to announce that Innovate will be providing our catering service from September.
Innovate has extensive experience working with schools and shares our commitment to providing healthy, nutritious and appealing meal options for students.
For the time being, the payment system will remain unchanged, and families should continue to use ParentPay as normal for catering purchases. We will communicate any future changes well in advance.
Thank you for your continued support of Winterstoke Hundred Academy. We look forward to welcoming students back and working together throughout the year ahead.
Yours faithfully,
Mr Randle,
Principal,
Winterstoke Hundred Academy
