Deputy Head of Year 9
Head of Year 9
Assistant Deputy Head of Year 9
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
We are pleased to offer a wide range of extra-curricular activities at lunchtime and after school. These include various musical and sporting opportunities, as well as activities such as Board Games Club, Interact & Charity Fundraising activities and Robotics clubs amongst others. Further details are available on our Extra-Curricular Page.
EVERYDAY EQUIPMENT & ELECTRONIC DEVICES
To assist staff, we ask parents to ensure that each child brings basic writing equipment to school including a black pen, pencil, eraser and ruler. Some departments have their own clothing or equipment requirements of which pupils will be informed as and when necessary.
Mobile phones/electronic devices are a distraction to the learning process and are not required during school time. In Years 9 to 11 inclusive, these devices must not be used in school. Any mobile phone/electronic device in plain sight will be confiscated and only returned to the appropriate parent/guardian who will need to collect it from the school office. Any mobile phone or other device that is brought into school is entirely at the risk of the student. The school will not be responsible for any loss or damage to the device.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
It is recognised that some parents may suffer severe financial hardship if they have to pay the full price of school uniform. Some local Trusts give assistance when it is needed. Parents should contact the Year Head in confidence if they are in need of financial assistance and they will be given advice about these Trusts. Additionally, parents are reminded that the right to a free school meal, even where the meal is not taken, is often the criteria used for access to other financial support, eg school uniform. With regard to the matter of school activities which may be charged for, parents can view the school’s Charging and Remissions Policy on our website.
REWARDS, SANCTIONS, DISCIPLINE & BEHAVIOUR
We currently have a very successful and popular House Points system which helps to motivate pupils to do their best. Awards are also regularly made to students in assemblies. This emphasis on positive achievement is an important part of school life, and together with our approach to discipline, enables pupils to express themselves fully as young people within a controlled and supportive environment without creating a repressive atmosphere. However, it is our belief that firmly applied sanctions are an important part of school life enabling us to set and maintain the very high standards of behaviour which we expect and which visitors to the school often comment upon.
The school expects a high standard of behaviour and application to work by all its students and welcomes as much parental involvement as possible with staff to achieve this. The school’s Pupil Discipline Policy can be viewed on the Statutory Information page of our website and further information regarding our expectations with regard to students’ behaviour will be sent out during the summer.
LOCKERS
Students will have access to a school locker. Only school padlocks can be used on school lockers and these will be provided by the school upon receipt of a £10 refundable deposit.
LUNCHTIME ARRANGEMENTS
At lunchtime, students should stay at school and buy food from Henry’s, our café, or eat a packed lunch.
Except in extraordinary circumstances, and by arrangement with the Head of Year, pupils should not go home or elsewhere for a meal off the school site. Food in Henry’s is prepared on site by a professional catering firm and a wide range of hot and cold items are available. A cashless payment system operates, please see our School Meals page for more information.
FREE SCHOOL MEALS
If you are in receipt of Universal Credit provided you have an annual net earned income not exceeding £7,400 (£616.67 per month), Income Support, or an Income Based Job Seekers Allowance, or Employment and Support Allowance – Income related, or support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, or in receipt of the Guarantee element of State Pension Credit, or Child Tax Credit (provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income that does not exceed £16,190 as assessed by HMRC, you should be entitled to claim a free school meal on behalf of your child/children. Free School Meals are provided for a four week period immediately after the parent/guardian stops qualifying for Working Tax Credit. If you believe that you are entitled to claim then you will need to fill in the application form which accompanies the Admissions Form sent with your welcome letter, and return the form to Mrs Jennings in the School Office who will then send the Free School Meals form to the Local Authority on your behalf. If you need further advice please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Jennings at the school. Entitled students are currently credited with up to £2.35 daily.
SCHOOL DAY TIMINGS
9:05am: Tutor Period / Assembly
9:25am: Period 1
10:25am: Period 2
11:30am: Break
11:45am: Period 3
12:45pm: Lunch
1:30pm: Period 4
2:30pm: Period 5
3:35pm: End of School
3:40pm: Buses leave promptly
BUS TRANSPORT
Pupils up to the age of 16 who live in the school’s designated catchment area and live more than three miles from school can obtain a bus pass which entitles them to free transport to and from school. Applications need to be made online via Worcester County Council’s website www.worcestershire.gov.uk following the Buses link to School and College Transport.
See our School Transport page for more information
CYCLING TO SCHOOL
Travel to school by bicycle is encouraged but bicycles must be left only in the designated areas and all non-fixed, detachable accessories should be removed for security reasons. The School cannot accept responsibility for the loss of, or damage to, bicycles. Pupils are strongly advised to wear a properly fitting safety helmet and cyclists to school are advised to wear a luminous safety armband. Pupils must have lights on their bicycles if they intend to cycle in the dark or twilight.
TRANSPORT BY CAR
There is restricted access to the school and at peak times there are at least 15 school buses dropping children off in the morning and picking them up again in the evening. Parents using any part of Victoria Avenue or the other nearby side roads to drop children off in the morning and to pick them up in the evening cause serious problems for the bus drivers and for the school. On occasions the congestion caused by parents parking in the street or the school car park poses a major problem with traffic jammed and unable to move all the way back to the main road.
Parents who drop their children off by car at peak times at the start and end of the day are therefore asked to park and arrange pick-ups/drop-offs well away from Victoria Avenue (including the end of the road and the junction with Greenhill) and the surrounding streets.
UNIFORM
We are very proud of our school uniform and parents are asked to support us in ensuring that pupils adhere strictly to the uniform code. To enable us to reinforce and maintain these high standards it may be necessary on rare occasions to use appropriate sanctions. Parents are reminded that all items of clothing should be clearly marked with the owner’s name.
We believe that it is in the best interests of both the school and the local community which it serves to require all our pupils to wear proper school uniform and present themselves smartly. We are grateful for the support of our parents and of the pupils themselves in achieving high standards of dress and appearance both in and out of school.
For more information on our uniform and where you can purchase school uniform, please see our Uniform Page.
MUSIC LESSONS
If you are interested in private music lessons, please see the following two letters for more information.