On Wednesday morning, Alison Bennett MP, attended the Speaker's Christmas Card competition showcase, to show off the brilliant designs from the winners of her Christmas Card competition , including one of the winning entries from Jack at Woodlands Meed College. Alison said ‘Well done again to our winner and runners-up – I think Mr Speaker approved!’.
Congratulations Jack and all who took part in the competition.
On Wednesday 26th November, Owls Class visited Imberhorne School in East Grinstead to participate in their annual Inclusion Festival. During the festival, our students had the chance to engage in activities such as boccia and new age kurling, developing important skills including fine and gross motor control, teamwork, communication, cooperation, and decision-making.
All of our students performed exceptionally well, showing great enthusiasm and providing fantastic support to one another throughout the day. We were the only special school in attendance, and for some students, this was also their first time representing Woodlands Meed. Honestly, we could not be prouder of their achievements. Well done, Owls!
Approximately 230 people have attended events in Burgess Hill, Crawley and at individual schools, which aimed to promote positive messages about autism in schools and ensure that autistic perspectives are heard, understood, and acted upon across West Sussex.
The events were co-produced by student-led autism ambassador groups and centred around the theme ‘Calming the Chaos’. They offered wellbeing advice and resilience methods that autistic children and young people can use to self-regulate, or which can be used by neurotypical classmates to help those who are neurodivergent.
A highlights video featuring contributions from children and young people who attended, as well as education professionals, is available to watch on the West Sussex County Council YouTube channel.
WATCH: Highlights from ‘Calming the Chaos’
The roadshow events, held last month at The King’s Centre in Burgess Hill and The Charis Centre in Crawley, were part of the Autism In Schools project. This collaborative initiative between NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board and West Sussex County Council started in 2021 to improve the support for autistic children in mainstream schools.
Among the speakers were author and illustrator Eliza Fricker, and Dan Clark from MindJam, who demonstrated how gaming can be a powerful tool for young people to manage their emotions and navigate neurodivergence.
The events also welcomed representatives from the West Sussex Parent Carer Forum, who were on hand to answer questions and offer support to families.
Councillor Jacquie Russell, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Learning, said: “I’m delighted that autistic children and young people have been given a voice and an engaging platform to celebrate the very things that make them so unique.
“Events such as this are key to achieving Our Council Plan’s aim of helping everyone in West Sussex fulfil their potential. Supporting our neurodivergent pupils, along with their neurotypical peers, is crucial for teaching all students how to effectively help and understand one another.”
Dr Bikram Raychaudhuri, GP and NHS Sussex Clinical Director for Mental Health, said: “The roadshow events have been a wonderful celebration of the creativity, insight and resilience that autistic children and young people bring to our communities.
“Events like these, and the wider Autism in Schools work, show how powerful partnership can be. When education and health teams work together with families, we move beyond awareness to real inclusion. Focusing on strengths lays the foundations for wellbeing that last far beyond the school environment.”
Anyone interested in learning more about autism ambassador groups – or starting one – can contact Jane Crawford from the county council’s Autism and Social Communication Team at jane.crawford@westsussex.gov.uk
On Wednesday 19th November, River Class visited The Dolphin Leisure Centre in Haywards Heath to take part in the Mid Sussex Get Active event.
Alongside five other schools, including Warden Park, our students had the chance to explore a range of less traditional sports. These included dance, gymnastics, martial arts and, the clear favourite… skateboarding!
Many of the children described skateboarding as “scary but fun,” and they were lucky to receive coaching from skilled and enthusiastic instructors across all activities. The pupils learnt new skills, built confidence, and enjoyed themselves in a relaxed, non-competitive environment.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable experience for everyone and a wonderful opportunity for our students to try something new. Well done River Class, you did amazingly well!
Woodlands Alumni Patrick recieved an award for his outstanding contribution to the West Sussex, Brighton & Hove Careers Hub.
Patrick was visited at PVL Ltd in Burgess Hill, where he now works in paid employment, following a Supported Internship placement in his final year at Woodlands Meed College. He was presented with the award by Joe Smith from The Careers & Enterprise Company and David Hills from Woodlands Meed.
We are all incredibly proud of what Patrick has achieved during his supported internship year and his commitment to help other young people with SEND understand how Supported Internships
can help their journey into the workplace.
The commitment Patrick has shown to the programme and the
incredible support of the team at PVL UK Ltd has made this a fantastic showcase of how Supported Internships can lead to positive outcomes for all involved.
We couldn’t be prouder of the effort and determination our students show every day at Woodlands Meed. We celebrate all aspects of progress for everyone, whatever that looks like.
Last term two students sat GCSE exams in English language, maths and science. Students were graded in all their exams, with one student gaining a grade 4 in English language.
Year 11 students took entry level qualifications in English, Maths, Science and Digital Functional Skills – all achieved their predicted grades or above.
KS5 students took examinations in Functional Skills English and Maths. There was a high pass rate and students who left Woodlands Meed were all able to go on to further education courses of their choice.
We are so proud of the dedication and determination of our students and the efforts and progress they made in all aspects of their learning journey at Woodlands Meed. Congratulations to all!
Woodlands Meed students entered Alison Bennett MP’s Christmas Card competition this year. Alison received 141 entries and the cards were judges by Alison and local artist, Kate Harries. It was a very difficult job that took the judges much deliberation to choose the winners, runners up and highly commended entries.
We are very excited that one of our talented student’s entries was chosen as a runner up and their card will be used by Alison to send to local organisations and individuals that she has met over the past year. Alison liked Jack’s entry as it was brightly coloured and features a festive snow globe.
One of our other entrants, Megan, received a ‘Highly Commended’ and will receive a certificate from Alison.
Well done to everyone who took part in Alison’s Christmas Card Competition this year, there were so many beautiful works of art - you made Alison and Kate’s job in choosing cards very difficult!
The Barclays Mobile Roadshow came to Woodlands Meed College this week to talk to us about looking after our money and how to stay safe from online frauds and scams.
We heard from a local Branch Manager and met the Barclays Roadshow Team who told us lots of useful information about how banks can help you look after your money with help with budgeting, saving and keeping safe.
The Roadshow Team visited our Inspire Cafe and enjoyed a Student Barista made Coffee at break time too.
Thank you Barclays for coming to visit and bringing the Roadshow to College.
On Friday 27th June, students from Mountain and Lake classes, along with a group from our college site, enjoyed a fantastic trip to The Central Sussex Cricket Ground in Hove for Schools’ Day 2025 to watch England Under 21s take on India Under 21s.
After travelling by train, the group arrived to find the ground bursting with energy. With over 80 schools in attendance, the atmosphere was electric; lots of upbeat music with lots of dancing in the stands, as everyone soak up each moment of the lively occasion.
The match itself was fast-paced and exciting, with England reaching 126-6 before we sadly had to leave. While we didn’t stay to see the final result, the students thoroughly enjoyed watching high-level cricket and getting a feel for the game.
But it wasn’t just the sport that made the day special. The music and crowd added to the carnival-like experience, and for students like Deven, that stood out most: “I really liked the music!”
It was a brilliant day full of smiles, cheers, and shared experiences. A huge thank you goes to all the staff at Sussex Cricket for inviting us and for hosting such a brilliant event. Thank you to the WM staff who helped make the trip possible, and finally, thank you to our students, whose enthusiasm and excellent behaviour made us so proud! Thank you for fully embracing the occasion and bringing so much energy and fun to the day!
We were truly blessed with the weather as Sports Week 2025 got underway at Woodlands Meed, bringing three unforgettable days of energy, laughter, and achievement. Each phase of the school took to the field to celebrate sport in their own unique way—showcasing determination, joy, and a powerful sense of community.
Day One – Key Stage Three Shine in the Sunshine
On Monday, it was the turn of our Key Stage Three students to kick things off. Burgess Hill Academy was filled with excitement as pupils competed in a variety of events, including the high jump, sprint, archery, and JOLF. Traditional favourites like the egg and spoon race, sack race, and the always-popular dressing-up relay brought plenty of fun and laughter.
Inclusive events like the wheelchair races and wheelchair football drew huge cheers and showed the true spirit of Woodlands Meed, where everyone is encouraged and supported to participate.
Families and friends joined in, adding to the celebratory atmosphere, and the brilliant coffee van on-site kept everyone well-fuelled with delicious drinks and food.
Students weren’t just competing for personal bests—they were also earning valuable points for their houses, creating a real buzz of friendly competition and school pride. It was a tightly contested battle for the house points, with every race and event making a difference. After a morning full of determination, cheering, and effort, it was the Red Team who emerged victorious, narrowly edging out the green and blue teams by the tightest of margins.
A huge thank you goes to the incredible Sports Leaders from Burgess Hill Academy, who ran the activity stations with professionalism, enthusiasm and humour. Thank you so much for your help.
Finally, congratulations to our Key Stage 3 students, whose enthusiasm and achievements continue to inspire us. We couldn’t be prouder of all that you’ve accomplished. Well done!
Day Two – Primary Pupils Prove They’re Sporting Superstars
Tuesday saw our Primary students take to the field with just as much energy and excitement. They took part in a carousel of jumping and throwing activities as well as a brilliant variety of races—including sprints, hurdles, obstacle courses, and of course, another outing for the dressing up race!
Like their older peers, our Primary pupils were also earning house points and, more importantly, were recognised for their teamwork and encouragement with medals being awarded to all students who showed great PRACTICE skills.
The spirit of inclusion was strong as every child took part and shone in their own way. A big congratulations to everyone in our Primary Department — we are so proud of all that you’ve achieved! This year, it was the Green Team who emerged victorious, closely followed by the Blue and Red Teams in an exciting and closely contested competition!
We were incredibly proud of our College Sports’ Leaders, who made the short trip across town to support the event.
They did an outstanding job of explaining and demonstrating activities, resetting stations, cheering on our younger pupils and even encouraging family and friends to ‘have a go’!
They were fantastic role models throughout and truly did us proud!
Day Three – A Fun-Filled Festival for Our Complex Needs Classes
Wednesday marked the final day of Sports Week with a fantastic Sports Day Festival for our younger pupils and those in our complex needs classes. Despite the scorching heat, the morning was packed with engaging, sensory-based activities that encouraged participation and celebrated every student. A wide range of activities ensured that there was something for everyone, including bubble-wrap races, table-top JOLF, boccia, water shooters, velcro targets, skittles, and a calming sensory space.
Every single student did amazingly well. The safe, secure, and supportive environment allowed them to explore the space and activities with confidence—some alongside their families, and others independently.
A huge thank you to BH Academy for once again generously allowing us to use their full 3G pitch. The space provided an excellent setting for our students to thrive and shine throughout the day!
A Final Reflection
Across all three Sports Days, the sense of achievement, support, and pure joy was impossible to miss. Our students were at the heart of everything—whether running, wheeling, jumping, throwing, dressing up, exploring, or dancing to music. Every individual gave their best, encouraged their peers, and showed us exactly what sport is really about: determination, teamwork, the courage to try, and pure unapologetic fun!
Sport Day at Woodlands Meed is a whole community effort; from the staff to the volunteers, to families and friends, to our own sports leaders and those from Burgess Hill Academy, to companies like Bang’s Food Truck who provided fantastic refreshments, and o3e who donated the sports’ chairs.
At Woodlands Meed, sport does more than break down barriers — it creates opportunities for every student to succeed by bringing people together and fostering belief in one another.
On Friday 6th May, River Class attended the inspiring DIScoverABILITY Day at the Central Sussex Cricket Ground in Hove. This annual event brings together schools from across the area to take part in a wide range of adapted sports and inclusive activities, offering a unique opportunity to explore what it means to overcome barriers through sport.
For our students, this was a particularly powerful experience. The event gave them the chance to not only enjoy new activities, but also to gain insight into how people with similar needs, as well as those with very different abilities, are able to access, participate in, and achieve in sport.
River Class approached every challenge with enthusiasm and determination. A stand-out moment involved a series of table activities completed while visually impaired, allowing students to experience tasks from a new perspective, sparking thoughtful conversations and building empathy.
Throughout the day, pupils tried their hand at a variety of inclusive sports - such as seated volleyball, goalball, and adapted cricket - highlighting that sport can and should be for everyone. The joy, pride, and sense of achievement on their faces said it all.
DIScoverABILITY Day not only promotes physical activity, but also opens minds. River Class were brilliant ambassadors for Woodlands Meed, showing fantastic teamwork, respect, and a willingness to challenge themselves.
A huge thank-you goes to the organisers, coaches, and volunteers who made the day so welcoming and memorable. We’re already counting down the days until next year!
In a world that too often focusses on limitations, this day was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when everyone is given the opportunity to succeed.
Congratulations River Class, we’re very proud of you!