Welcome to the Welland Park Academy Half-Term Newsletter!

We are thrilled to introduce our brand-new half-termly newsletter — your window into the vibrant life of Welland Park Academy.

Whether you’re a prospective Year 6 family considering joining us next September, or a current parent keeping up with the latest achievements, we hope this gives you a real sense of what makes our school such an exceptional place to learn, grow and belong. If you want even more information check out our WPA Journey page.  

At Welland Park, our core values of Perseverance, Achievement, Respect and Kindness shine through in everything we do. This half term has been filled with remarkable successes — from academic excellence and sporting triumphs to creative showcases and community initiatives — all reflecting the spirit and determination of our students and staff.

We’re also excited to share that plans are well underway for an impressive £5.3 million development of our school site, which will further enhance our learning environments and facilities for the next generation of Welland Park students.

As you explore this newsletter, we hope you’ll be inspired by the energy, talent and care that define our community. The future at Welland Park Academy has never looked brighter — and we can’t wait to share it with you.

Building for the Future at Welland Park Academy

As many of you will know from the local press, we are delighted to have been granted over £5 million of investment to improve and expand our school site. This marks a hugely exciting chapter in Welland Park Academy’s journey — one that will benefit both our current students and generations to come.

Our ambitious development plans include the creation of a brand-new five-classroom block, a complete renovation and extension of our science facilities, and upgraded toilet areas across the site. These improvements will ensure that our students continue to learn in a modern, inspiring environment that supports excellence in every subject.

It truly is an exciting time to be part of the Welland Park community as we build the facilities of the future. Take a look below at the artist’s impression of what our new science block might look like — a glimpse of the bright future ahead for Welland Park Academy!

Find out how our new Year 7s have settled in... 

What we've been up to in lessons! 

Rex (Little Bowden)

Welland Park feels more grown up. I like that we get to move between lessons and get some fresh air. The lessons are more challenging, but in a good way. It’s not as scary as everyone said it would be. I like DT and PE because you get to be more active and move around more. I really enjoy the Maths lessons too.

Wil (Meadowdale)

My favourite thing is that you get to move between classes. I love CICT, we’ve been learning how to code computer games. It was easy to settle in; it didn’t take long at all.

Koren (Meadowdale)

I like the sport here, you get to be more active. I’ve already played football for the school. There are lots of opportunities to travel to different countries and places on trips. We’re going to the Harry Potter Studios very soon!

Charlotte (Ridgeway)

I’ve enjoyed making new friends. My favourite lesson so far has been Art, you get to learn new, cool stuff. I also like PE.

Heidi (Farndon Fields)

I’ve enjoyed meeting all the new people. I like changing classes between lessons and going to new rooms. My favourites so far have been Art and PE. I’m a netball player, so it’s great that I get to go to the club and have played for the school team.

Daisy (CofE)

I like Art, you get to do a lot more, and the teacher explains it really well. English is fun; it’s not all about writing. We’re reading a lot and get to visualise the stories with drawings. Secondary school is quite different, but it’s easy to settle in. The teachers really help you.

Hattie (Ridgeway)

In Design, we’ve been using computers. It’s been really good we get to use different apps to make magazine covers and edit pictures and posters. Welland Park is really nice and not too big. You’ll easily find your way around.

Sophia (St Joseph’s)

I’ve enjoyed learning new things in English, especially fairy tales. I like the Design lessons because you get to make phone holders in woodwork and do more art projects. Welland Park is really good, it’s not as scary. It’s easy to find your way around after the first few days.

Noah (St Josephs)

The teachers at Welland Park are really nice, and they always help and support you in lessons if you need it. I’ve really enjoyed representing the school in football, that’s been really good.

Parker (Foxton)

I like how kind all the teachers have been. They give you a second chance and know that it’s all new to you. I love PE and all the after-school sports. I went with the school team for a netball tournament, we came second and are through to the next round! Welland Park is nice. It’s only scary for one day, and then it’s brilliant.

Louis (Farndon Fields)

You get to do a lot more PE than in primary school. At Welland Park, you get training and get much better. I go to the football club. I enjoy Maths it’s a lot more interesting, harder, and challenging in a good way. The best thing is that you get to make new friends, and at lunchtime you can go out and hang around with them. If you get lost just ask an older student some Y11’s helped me in the first week.

Guest Speakers and Assemblies

It's been an exciting first half term at Welland Park for Personal Development with a number of speakers coming in to talk to both students and staff. In addition to assemblies about European Languages Day, the importance of Student Voice and leadership to name just a few, we also welcomed Ruebyn Ricardo who spoke to our Year 9 students. Ruebyn spoke eloquently about his challenges at school, life in the care system and the many hurdles he's overcome as a person of mixed heritage in Leicester. Despite a difficult upbringing, Ruebyn has gone on to become a successful Championship level football referee, showing anything is possible if you are determined enough. We were also privileged to welcome Dr Camille London-Miyo MBE NPQH from the Stephen Lawrence Research Centre, who spoke to staff about celebrating diversity and ensuring equity for everyone in the Welland Park family. An inspiring talk, which continues the close ties between our school and the SLRC which has included talks to students and visits to De Montfort University.

Head Student Team

The start of the new academic year hailed the selection of a new Head Student Team in Year 10 of Roni, Ava and Elionna. Roni is keen to introduce more competitions across school with the creation of 'mathletes' to take part in STEM competitions, whilst Ava is going to introduce a student 'shout out' scheme, to celebrate student achievement. Elionna wants to increase the number of events to celebrate diversity and create a silent study space for Key Stage 4 students. The Year 10s join our Year 11 Head Student Team of Finn, Hugh and Christopher, who have already had a huge impact on the school. We look forward to them continuing to champion student voice along with the broader Student Voice Leadership Group, which has representatives from across school.

Extra Curricular

There is a huge range of extra curricular activities available to students at Welland Park. In addition to a wide variety of sporting clubs and teams, we also have a broad selection of wellbeing and social clubs:

Wellbeing

Breakfast Club
The Cube Wellbeing Support Club
Wellbeing Ambassadors Drop In
Year 9 and 10 Wellbeing Drop in 
 

Performing Arts

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory School Production
Drama Club
KS3 Woodwind and String Ensemble
 

Social and curriculum based clubs

Debate Club
7 for 7 Book Club
Creative Writing Club
KS3 Spanish Club
LGBTQI and Ally Club
Maths Club
Warhammer Club
Young Enterprise Business Club
Dungeons and Dragons Club
Student Voice Leadership Group

Sports clubs

Girls Basketball
Boys Basketball 
Girls Badminton 
Boys Badminton 
Boys Football 
Mixed Football sessions at lunchtimes for all year groups
Girls Hockey 
Girls Netball 
Boys Rugby 
Mixed Table Tennis sessions for all year groups

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Exciting school trips at Welland Park Academy

At Welland Park Academy, we are proud of the wealth of one-day excursions and residential trips we offer all year groups to complement students' in-school learning. These opportunities play an integral part in promoting curiosity, reflection and independence, whilst developing important life skills for life beyond Welland Park Academy. Here are the trips for 2025-26.

• Harry Potter Year 7 Trip

• Opal Coast - France

• Rhineland - Germany

• Ski trip to France 

• Space Centre

• German Exchange

• Berlin Trip

• Iceland Fieldtrip

• Tower of London/Houses of Parliament

• Cadburys World

• Rosslyn Park - Rugby

• Condover Hall – Netball

Another amazing set of GCSE Results! 

Welland Park Academy GCSE Results

We are delighted to share that students at Welland Park Academy have improved further on their 5th placed ranking in Leicestershire, rising to third in the county for their GCSEs.

In 2024, 64.2% of students achieved Grade 5 or above in both English and Maths, placing the academy within the top five schools countywide for this key performance measure. We are thrilled to announce today that this figure has risen to 65.7% for our students in 2025, placing us now third overall in Leicestershire. 

This measure is particularly significant, as strong passes in English and Maths act as a passport to the best post-16 education and training providers, opening doors to a wide range of A Level and vocational opportunities. Students from Welland Park Academy progress to over 20 different post-16 destinations, chosen to suit their individual strengths and ambitions.

We hope these outstanding achievements offer reassurance to our prospective families. Our supportive ethos and enriching curriculum, filled with trips and wider experiences, enable our students to achieve excellent academic outcomes alongside exceptional personal development.

Overall performance at end of key stage 4 in 2025 - all pupils

Source: https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/

 Well-being and Charity Events

Here at Welland Park, we feel that it is important to look out and to support charities that support young people – from Children in Need to Save the Children and Comic Relief. 

Our team of Student Well-being Ambassadors champion events by creating promotional posters, holding fundraising events through the year and offer drop in lunchtimes for fellow students.

This term we fundraised with a splash of yellow in support of YoungMinds mental health Charity. We were delighted to have raised over £1000. Staff and students took part in a non-uniform day and many donned a splash of yellow. Hello Yellow takes place annually on World Mental Health Day. By taking part, we are making sure that young people don’t feel alone in their mental health. The most important way we can look after ourselves is by talking about our feelings. 

Kindness, one of our core values is at the heart of all we do at Welland Park Academy.

PE triumphs across the year!

We are incredible proud of the number of sports and extracurricular opportunities our PE team offer; from rugby, football, netball and hockey to basketball, cricket and athletics. Competing in local and national competitions we are proud to be extremely successful in all fields.