Withernsea High School

The inaugural Annual General Meeting of Withernsea High School’s newly established Parent, Teacher and Friends Association (PTFA) took place last Wednesday, 26th November. 

The meeting brought together parents, carers and staff to formalise the creation of the group and agree its initial direction. Attendees were welcomed and thanked for their support before the purpose of the AGM was outlined, including the adoption of the new Constitution and the election of committee officers.

During the meeting, the Constitution was reviewed and formally adopted, establishing the structure and operating principles that will guide the PTFA’s future work. Elections followed, resulting in the appointment of Mrs Jodie Allen as Chair, Mrs Kim Wallis as Vice Chair, Mrs Chele Daniel as Secretary and Mrs Joanne Willingham as Treasurer. All relevant paperwork was completed and signed by the new officers, and the committee agreed to begin the process of registering the PTFA as a charity to support future fundraising activity.

Members held a detailed discussion about upcoming fundraising opportunities, reflecting the group’s commitment to supporting both the school community and key development priorities. Further input will also be gathered through forthcoming meetings with the school’s Progress Team.

Funds raised through planned activities will contribute to projects identified earlier in the year, including the purchase of anaphylaxis kits, support for educational visits, additional resources for the school’s breakfast club and initiatives linked to attendance, literacy and provision for students with special educational needs and disabilities.

The date of the next PTFA meeting will be confirmed and shared in due course, with members encouraged to bring forward further ideas to support the group’s aims.

Enquiries about the PTFA, including expressions of interest in joining or volunteering, can be directed to Kim Wallis at wallisk@wscampus.net or by telephone on 01964 613133.

A select group of Year 8 students have explored a new approach to learning by completing a six-session programme designed to strengthen their study habits and learning skills.

The ‘Future Thinking’ initiative, delivered by the Humber Outreach Programme (HOP) in partnership with the University of Hull, has been created to help learners understand their own thought processes through a concept known as metacognition.

Across five in-school workshops, students developed key learning skills, including how to ask insightful questions, organise their thoughts, draw connections between ideas, link concepts, generate hypotheses, and review their work effectively. As support was gradually withdrawn, students were encouraged to take greater ownership of their learning.

The sixth and final session took place on the University of Hull campus, where the students put their learning into practice through a carousel of activities designed to test their independence and confidence. They demonstrated their ability to apply the strategies independently, using tools such as the problem-solving ‘lotus blossom’ technique and the ‘diamond nine’ prioritisation tool.

Overseeing the project was school careers leader Viki Foster who said: “At the start of the programme, many students did not know how they learned or how to organise their work. By the end, they had not only become aware of effective learning tools, but had also begun to use them regularly. This journey not only represents academic growth but increasing confidence and self-understanding.

“The skills fostered through this project, such as self-awareness, critical thinking, and self-directed learning, are exactly those valued by employers. As such, the programme supports not only academic success but also future employability. For our Year 8 students, this provides a timely foundation by giving them the chance to practise and refine these skills well before the pressures of GCSEs and future career-planning intensify in Year 9.”

While at the university, students were given a campus tour that offered a first-hand look at the world of higher education - an experience Viki considers essential for broadening horizons.

“Having the opportunity to visit a higher education setting at an early age helps take away some of the fear of the unknown. Such encounters are essential in shaping aspirations and may help students begin planning a path to follow in the future.” 

Year 8 student Poppy B said the campus tour was “amazing,” while Matilda felt the campus “seemed like a good place where people will focus on work”. Joseph added, “I really loved Hull University and I hope I am accepted when applying in a few years’ time.”

ABOVE: Sanna Saidy and Amy Rutter, outreach coordinators at HOP, with students from Withernsea High School during their sixth and final Future Thinking session at the University of Hull. 

ABOVE: The programme featured a series of activities designed to promote thinking. Pictured during one of the activity sessions are Year 8 students Caitlin and Ella.

ABOVE: The students’ visit to the University of Hull provided an opportunity for a campus tour and an early introduction to university life. The group enjoyed the views from the seventh-floor observatory of the Brynmor Jones Library and a look at the university’s Asylum nightclub.

Year 11 students preparing to make post-16 choices ahead of next summer’s GCSE exam period have been given an opportunity to explore apprenticeship pathways at the Hull and East Riding Apprenticeship Expo. 

Students learned about current and upcoming vacancies in a wide range of sectors, including engineering, construction, health, public services, digital, law, business and finance, hair and beauty, sport, hospitality, education, and the creative industries. Companies and organisations involved included BAE systems, Cranswick foods, Nestle, Swift Group, Yorkshire Water, Hull University Teaching Hospitals, and construction company Hobson & Porter.

Supported internships, offering workplace-based study programmes for young people aged 16-24 with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), were also promoted, highlighting the region’s commitment to inclusive pathways into employment. 

School careers leader Viki Foster said: “This is a crucial time for Year 11s who are considering their post-16 pathways. For many interested in apprenticeships, it was a chance to network and begin sowing the seeds for opportunities ahead of their exams in the summer. 

“The government expects schools to inform students about technical pathways, including apprenticeships, and the expo directly supports Gatsby Benchmarks 5 and 7, which encourage encounters with employers, and further and higher education as part of a national framework of best practice in careers education.

“Our students stepped out of their comfort zones to engage with representatives from different companies and education providers, and many said it opened up more possibilities for their future. There are lots of options for young people at this age and it’s about finding the one that suits them best.”

Around one fifth of the school’s Year 11 cohort signed up to attend the event, with Abi saying she “felt inspired to pursue a future in the Armed Forces” after speaking to representatives from the RAF, while Ellie found her conversations with staff at Bishop Burton College particularly valuable, as she hopes to continue her studies there from September 2026. 

Pre-event information distributed to students offered guidance on what to expect at the expo and encouraged them to approach employers confidently. It included advice on making a positive first impression and suggested conversation starters. The development of these skills is a cornerstone of the school’s careers programme, which includes mock interview sessions and communication and interview skills training.  

ABOVE: Year 11 student Kaitlin speaks to Ellie Walkington, project officer with the ERYC Education & Skills Partnership, who helps promote and manage the Log On Move On careers platform. 

ABOVE: Held at Bishop Burton College, the event welcomed representatives from over 50 companies and organisations. During the day, it was open exclusively to school and college students, followed by a session for the wider public in the evening. 

Following staff training days on Monday 1st and Tuesday 2nd September, students return on a staggered start for the new academic year.