Withernsea High School

We are pleased to invite you to the first Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Withernsea High School PTFA, which will be held at the school on Wednesday, 26th November 2025, at 4:00pm. On arrival, please sign in at the main reception. Light refreshments will be provided.

During the meeting, we will elect our PTFA Committee and agree on the adoption of our new Constitution, which will outline the rules and principles guiding the PTFA. Nominations for anyone wishing to stand as an Officer or Committee Member should be submitted in advance of the AGM. 

The meeting will also provide an opportunity for attendees to discuss upcoming events and fundraising opportunities. Among the projects identified for support during the group’s first meeting in October were the purchase of anaphylaxis kits and funding to support educational trips. The group also discussed providing additional support for the school’s breakfast club, as well as projects linked to key priorities in the School Improvement Plan, including attendance, literacy, and provision for students with special educational needs and disabilities.

The PTFA will play a vital role in supporting our school community, and we are keen to build an active group of parents, carers, and staff who can help shape future projects and events. Whether you would like to join the committee, volunteer occasionally, or simply come along to share ideas, your involvement will make a real difference.

We hope the group will bring lasting benefits for everyone involved. For parents, it offers a chance to form closer connections with the school and other families, while for staff it provides opportunities to work alongside students and the community on positive, enriching projects. 
If you would like more information about the AGM or about joining the PTFA, either as a general volunteer or as a committee member, please contact Kim Wallis (Admin Support Assistant) at wallisk@wscampus.net or on 01964 613133.

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, 26th November, and to working together to support our school community. 

A group of Year 11 students recently had the opportunity to explore the wide range of career options available within the construction industry at Foundations Live - a major business, trade and careers event.

Led by Hull-based construction and maintenance company Hobson & Porter and hosted by Bishop Burton College, the event brought together more than 70 exhibitors from across the construction supply chain. 

The exhibition featured practical demonstrations, interactive displays, and hands-on activities highlighting more than 180 career paths within the construction industry. Visitors also had access to apprenticeship and training advice, as well as networking opportunities with key industry professionals. 

Accompanying the students was school careers leader, Viki Foster, who said: “Foundations Live is a fantastic way to help our students understand the diversity of careers available in construction. Many young people tend to associate the industry with traditional roles such as bricklaying, joinery and plumbing, but this event really broadened their horizons. They spoke with professionals from areas including civil engineering, groundworks, architecture and specialist trades such as tile manufacturing. 

“The students particularly enjoyed the hands-on activities and made the most of every opportunity to talk directly with employers and training providers about their future pathways. They were a real credit to themselves and to the school. We are extremely grateful to Hobson & Porter, Bishop Burton College and everyone involved for another successful and worthwhile event."

ABOVE: Year 11 student Louis cements an interest in construction during a hands-on bricklaying demonstration. 

ABOVE: Brogan, Riley and Alfie try their hand at tiling at Foundations Live. 

Hundreds of aspiring professionals, school pupils and college students recently gathered at Hull’s Guildhall to attend the annual WiME (Women into Manufacturing and Engineering) careers fair - an inspirational event to showcase the diverse opportunities available to women in traditionally male-dominated industries across the Humber region and beyond.

Accompanying a group of 28 Year 9 students from Withernsea High School was careers leader, Viki Foster, who said: “The Women into Manufacturing and Engineering event is one of the highlights of our careers calendar and showcases the many roles and pathways, including apprenticeships and traineeships, that are available within a variety of sectors. 

“It is vital that we address gender stereotypes in job roles in order to help young people access careers they may not have otherwise considered. The event had a huge impact on the students, with post-event feedback showing that all who attended had changed their opinion for the better, with many now saying that they would consider a role within manufacturing or engineering. 

“Such events are essential in helping to provide students with access to employers, information about the labour market and progression routes through academic and vocational pathways. The company representatives were excellent role models and advocates for their industries and our students had a great time interacting with them and learning more about their roles and responsibilities.

“We would like to thank the organisers and employers for giving up their time to offer this opportunity to our students, who engaged well with the event and made the most of the opportunity afforded to them.” 

Myah, a Year 9 student who visited the careers fair, said: "I found the event very insightful and there was a lot going on. I really enjoyed speaking to the team at Sauce Software. I would like to be a graphic designer when I'm older and this event has really helped me understand the different opportunities that can help me get to that position.”

In addition to its core focus of manufacturing and engineering, the fair also promoted opportunities across a wide range of sectors including renewables, construction, digital, energy, transport, food, and healthcare, with more than 30 of the Humber’s leading employers in attendance. These included Ideal Heating, KCOM, Siemens Mobility, Smith+Nephew, Centrica Energy Storage, international engineering and construction firm Laing O'Rourke, and renewable energy company Ørsted.

We have received confirmation that the 311 (Easington/Welwick/Holmpton) bus will return to its normal route and timetable from Monday, 3rd November 2025.

Its first pick up will be in Welwick at 8.00am, following by Weeton (8.03am), Skeffling (8.05am), Easington Square (8.10am), Out Newton (8.16am), Holmpton (8.21am), arriving at WHS at 8.35am.   

The afternoon service will depart school at 3.20pm, calling at Holmpton (3.34pm), Out Newton (3.41pm), Easington Square (3.47pm), Skeffling (3.52pm), Weeton (3.54pm) and Welwick (3.57pm)

Our apologies once again for the recent disruption to this service.

WHS

To celebrate this year’s National Poetry Day, a group of Key Stage 3 students took part in a powerful and inspiring live-streamed poetry workshop hosted by the British Library and led by multi-award-winning author and playwright Manjeet Mann.

The virtual masterclass was designed to “turn up the volume” on poetry in the classroom, with students exploring the themes of voice, empowerment, and self-expression through verse. 
Manjeet, known for her acclaimed verse novels Run Rebel, The Crossing, and her newly released Roar, guided students through a series of creative exercises that encouraged them to write boldly and unapologetically about their experiences.

Roar, which served as the workshop’s inspiration, is partly influenced by the real-life story of Sampat Pal and the Pink Sari Gang – a group of Indian women activists fighting for justice. This theme of standing up and speaking out resonated strongly with the students, who embraced the opportunity to explore their own voices through poetry.

The session was coordinated by teacher of English, Michaela Barker. Reflecting on the impact of the event, Michaela said: “Manjeet Mann was really inspiring and filled her presentation with so many encouraging and positive ideas about being brave and using your voice. It was amazing to watch the students take it all in and use it as inspiration for their writing. They conducted themselves in an outstanding way, and I’m so proud of the work they produced. I hope this is the first of many similar events.”

The event was held in the school library, where a dedicated group of Year 7, 8, and 9 students gathered to take part. Helen Graham, Head of English, added: “Celebrating the power of words and language is a valuable experience for our students and vital for them to find confidence in their own voice. A huge thank you to Mrs Barker for organising the event.”

At the end of the session, students were invited to share their work online using the hashtag #ThisIsHowIRoar, with several choosing to continue writing and submitting their poems after the livestream ended.

Feedback from the participants showed just how meaningful the experience had been, with Year 9 student Teegan saying: “I enjoyed every bit of it and hope more events like this are held in the future. I was the first person to sign up and I would 100 per cent do it again. A few of my close friends also enjoyed it and would also do it again. You can have your say and make it louder than any ROAR!”

Annabel, also in Year 9, appreciated the creative freedom the session provided: “I loved how you could just write your ideas down and then start to shape it into a poem.”, while fellow Year 9 student Layla described it as “a fun way to write down the ideas in your head.”

Year 7 students at Withernsea High School have been taught essential lifesaving skills as part of the twelfth annual Restart a Heart Day.

Held each year on or around 16th October, the Restart a Heart initiative aims to improve the UK’s cardiac arrest survival rate by teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use a defibrillator.

Withernsea High’s training event was led by Ann Bell, the school’s senior science technician and a coastal rescue officer with HM Coastguard. She was joined by Kelly Cook, Robert Brigham and John Ireland, all volunteers from His Majesty’s Coastguard, along with Sean Bell from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

Ann said: “I was extremely impressed with our Year 7 students. They were enthusiastic, fully engaged, and eager to learn throughout each session. I would encourage them to go home and share what they have learned with their parents and carers so that the knowledge can reach even further. 

“Hopefully, the students will never need to use this skill, but we hope that if they were ever faced with a situation where it was needed, they would feel confident in knowing what steps to take to help someone.

“With 80 per cent of cardiac arrests occurring at home, and research showing that half of all adults in the UK do not know what to do when faced with CPR, these young people could actually know more than the adults around them. By sharing their skills, they have the potential to save even more lives.” 

Supporting the students was the head of year, Zoie Wiseman, who added: “Ann and her team of volunteers did an amazing job. Learning CPR is such an important skill and our students approached the day with real maturity and enthusiasm. They worked well together and this event provided another valuable group activity in their first term at secondary school, helping to build confidence, strengthen friendships and develop essential life skills. I am extremely proud of them.”   

Preliminary data from the University of Warwick shows that Yorkshire Ambulance Service clinicians successfully restarted 762 hearts in 2024. Initiatives such as Restart a Heart are vital to increase this number, as immediate action from bystanders can make the difference between life and death.

Every year in the UK, more than 30,000 people suffer a cardiac arrest outside hospital, with 80 per cent of these incidents occurring at home. Fewer than one in ten survive. These figures highlight the urgent need for wider CPR knowledge, as anyone could find themselves needing to save the life of a friend, family member, or neighbour.

This year, more than 800 off-duty ambulance staff and community volunteers visited 180 secondary schools across Yorkshire, providing CPR training to over 40,000 students in just seven hours – marking the highest number of young people trained in a single day to date. 
A new ten-minute training video, created in partnership with Leeds-based digital learning specialists Dynamic, supported the sessions and helped equip learners with the confidence to act in a real-life medical emergency.

Members of our wider school community are encouraged to learn CPR by watching the new training video at https://restartaheart.yas.nhs.uk/get-involved/cpr-training-resources/ or on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMiV_xoUcWA

A group of Design Technology students from Withernsea High School gained first-hand experience of the manufacturing industry during a day of workplace visits and practical activities, organised to mark this year’s National Manufacturing Day.

Their itinerary included tours of Willerby Ltd, one of the UK’s largest manufacturers of holiday homes, and Siemens Mobility in Goole, home to a multi-million-pound train production centre. The visits placed the students at the heart of each site’s production processes, from the detailed assembly of caravans to the construction of new Tube trains destined for the London Underground. 

Alongside observing production processes, the students also experienced the practical application of workplace safety. This was achieved through safety briefings and the provision of personal protective equipment at each site, helping them to understand the importance of health and safety measures in a manufacturing environment. This reinforced their experiences in Design Technology lessons, which emphasise the importance of following proper safety protocols when working with tools, machinery and equipment.

Further insight into the world of manufacturing was provided at the Aura Innovation Centre, Hessle - the group’s third and final destination of the day. A presentation on career pathways was accompanied by workshops and practical activities led by representatives from the Work-wise Foundation, which encouraged teamwork and competition.

During a team-building exercise, Withernsea’s students placed third out of eleven schools in a challenge that involved passing each person through three differently sized ropes in the fastest time. A further challenge required groups to use trigonometry to measure the height of a building. Meanwhile, a site tour afforded students the opportunity to explore the centre’s workshops and specialist equipment used for designing and developing bespoke prototypes for manufacturing, fabrication and electronic applications.

Leading the trip was Kelly Hopewell, teacher of DT, who said: “It was a great day. Our students demonstrated genuine interest and enthusiasm throughout the day’s activities, with many expressing a desire to return for future events. The experience equipped them with careers knowledge, life skills and a practical insight into the manufacturing industry.

“At Willerby Ltd, our students observed the entire production process, from the construction of the caravan shell to the installation of plumbing, electrics, windows, and carpeting. The staff were very welcoming and explained each stage in detail, answering students’ questions and providing valuable insight into careers in manufacturing. The students particularly enjoyed seeing the craftsmanship involved and touring some of the more high-end caravans.

“Our next stop was Siemens in Goole, where students saw how London Underground trains are manufactured. The visit focused on computer-aided design and manufacturing, with much of the process managed by advanced machinery and digital systems. It was a fascinating contrast to the more hands-on, manual production work they had seen during the building of caravans. This gave the students a broad perspective on the variety of skills and technologies used in modern manufacturing.”

Viki Foster, school careers leader, added: “The trip gave our students a well-rounded experience of the workplace, combining observation and practical engagement with career insights and skill development. It highlighted the importance of safety, innovation, and teamwork in modern manufacturing, while the hands-on activities at the Aura Centre encouraged collaboration, critical thinking and creative problem-solving – all of which are key employability skills. 

“Workplace visits are an essential component of the Gatsby Benchmarks, which state that every learner should have first-hand, meaningful experiences of workplaces to support their exploration of career opportunities and expand their networks. In this context, a meaningful experience is defined as one that allows learners to explore what it is like to work in a particular environment, the skills valued in that setting and what it takes to be successful.”

The Gatsby Benchmarks are an evidence-based framework for careers guidance, comprising eight standards that schools and colleges use to develop their careers programmes.

The day’s activities were organised by the Work-wise Foundation, an employer-led charity supporting young people as they prepare for the world of work, and Make UK – an organisation that champions growth and innovation in the manufacturing and engineering sectors. The visits formed part of the partnership’s second annual schools’ roadshow – an initiative that aims to break down barriers, dispel myths and show young people how rewarding a future in this sector can be.

It forms part of a wider programme of initiatives by the foundation, including its annual ‘Get up to speed with STEM’ event at the Magna Science Adventure Centre and ‘North Star’ event at Gulliver’s Valley, Rotherham, both of which aim to inspire young people to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).

The schools’ event also coincided with the recent National Manufacturing Day. Launched in 2022 and held annually on the final Thursday of September, the event celebrates manufacturing and its sub-sectors, including automotive, food and drink, aerospace, defence, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries.

It encourages manufacturers across the UK to open their doors and welcome members of the public into their factories for a behind-the-scenes look. It also provides a platform for employers to engage with school leavers, graduates, and those looking to reskill, promoting the range of job opportunities, apprenticeships and future careers available within the sector.

ABOVE: Willerby Ltd on Hedon Road were one of the manufacturing businesses who opened their doors to high school students as part of this year’s National Manufacturing Day. The students were given a tour of the site and each received a goodie bag. 

ABOVE: During a team-building exercise at Hessle’s Aura Innovation Centre, Withernsea’s students placed third out of eleven schools in a challenge that involved passing each person through three differently sized ropes in the fastest time. [Photo Credit: Withernsea High School]