Dear Parents
As we draw the academic year to a close, I wanted to take a moment to celebrate and share a small insight into the vibrancy of school life at WHS. From my perspective It has been a remarkable year filled with many achievements and unforgettable experiences.
In recent weeks, our students have been exceptionally busy. Our foreign trips returned from visits to Spain and France, providing cultural enrichment and invaluable experiences.
Our geography students explored the landscapes of Yorkshire, while our performing arts contingent dazzled in London. Year 9 students excelled in their practice Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions, showcasing resilience and teamwork. Additionally, our Innovate Competition Team achieved a stunning victory for the third consecutive year, a testament to their creativity and hard work.
We are immensely proud of Mrs Croucher, who won the Pride of Cumbria Education Award, highlighting the dedication and commitment of our outstanding staff at WHS.
This half-term has been particularly emotional as we bid farewell to some of our Year 11 and Year 13 students who are officially leaving the school. The Year 11 Prom and Sports Awards Ball were memorable occasions, with students trading their school uniforms for spectacular outfits, celebrating their achievements in style.
This term, we also welcomed our new Year 7 students, who got a taste of life at WHS and will be joining us officially in September.
At the other end of the transition spectrum, our future Year 12 students experienced life in the Sixth Form during the Step Up to Sixth Form Week, while our current Year 12 students embarked on work experience, gaining valuable insights into the world of work.
Our international collaboration grew stronger as we welcomed visitors from Taiwan and signed a partnership agreement with our linked school. We look forward to our own students visiting Taiwan in 2025.
The Sustainability Fair was a resounding success, thanks to the support of our local community.
The “Be the Best You Can Be” week was packed with challenges and adventures, and our rock band students truly shone with their performances at the Source venue. Armed Forces Week captivated our students, while a mock election provided a practical lesson in democracy. Our Young Firefighters proudly completed their course, passing out in front of the regional Chief Fire Officer and their parents.
Year 10 students successfully tackled their first set of mock exams, demonstrating their academic prowess.
Auction assemblies added excitement to our calendar, with students eagerly bidding their hard-earned house points.
Our achievement assemblies were a highlight, where we welcomed parents to witness the talent, respect, responsibility and resilience of our students.
A musical highlight of the year was the Summer Concert, where eight local primary schools joined our choir, orchestra, and rock bands. The exceptional performances were a testament to the outstanding talent of our students and the dedication of our staff, who go above and beyond to provide these opportunities.
We concluded the year with Character Development Day and House Day – two days filled with fun and memorable moments as we prepared for the summer break.
At WHS, we believe in working hard and playing hard, and this year we have certainly achieved both.
As we celebrate the end of this academic year, we also bid farewell to several members of our WHS staff who are moving on to new adventures. Their dedication, passion and hard work have left a lasting mark on our school community. They will be greatly missed, and we wish them all the best in their future endeavours. Their legacy at WHS will continue to inspire both students and colleagues for years to come.
Please join me in saying farewell and thank you to:
Mrs Swan – Thank you for everything over your 23 years at WHS, leaving a lasting legacy in the Sixth Form.
Mrs Harris – Thank you for your contribution to the languages department and the wider school community with your extra-curricular involvement.
Mrs Cocker, Mrs Allgrove and Mrs Baum – Thank you for supporting our students in such a caring and positive way as they leave the learning provision department.
Mr Johnstone – Thank you for joining WHS a year ago and being a real team player in computing and supporting our students in such an exceptional way.
Ms Adzo – Thank you for your contribution to languages in the school and we wish you the best of luck with the next stage of your career.
Miss Kelertaite – Thank you for your contribution to the maths department and we wish you the best of luck in the next stage of your career
Mr Mothersdale – Thank you for more than four years back in school after officially retiring in 2020!
I would also like to finish by saying thank you for the large number of positive comments we have recently received from our parent body. Our staff have been truly touched by such sentiments. Please do not underestimate how much your emails, phone calls or quick comments are valued and appreciated.
As we look forward to the new academic year, we anticipate new and exciting challenges and opportunities. We remain committed to continually improving the educational experience for all our young people.
I will write again before we return in September with more detail about our return to school. I wish all our students and their families a happy and healthy summer break and I look forward to standing on the door in September to welcome all our students back for another great year at WHS.
Yours faithfully
Kath Pigdon, Headteacher
