4 April 2025 - Letter to Parents

Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope that you had a great week. We have had a really fun one, with our Year 9 residential trip to Morfa bay taking place over the first three days. We believe, strongly, in the benefits of residential trips and the Morfa bay trip proved this with students trying new activities, pushing themselves, demonstrating resilience and having a great time in the process. Wonderful weather and a great location definitely helped. In the meantime, our week started with the celebration of Eid and has ended with the always wonderful Culture Day today.

Attendance 

A reminder that school reopens on Tuesday 22nd April at the usual time of 8.20am for all students. Please remember that if a student arrives late to school, they receive a ‘U’ attendance code, as per national guidance, which means that their overall % attendance is affected even if they’re in for the rest of the day. Students arriving late, therefore, won’t be able to achieve 100% attendance even if they are in school every day because lateness is classed as absence, following the Department for Education rules. Every minute matters, so please ensure that your child arrives on time every day and doesn’t miss out on vital opportunities for reading, or even the chance to participate in the many clubs we have on offer at Orchard.

Attendance and punctuality winners:

Year 7 - Wisely

Year 8 - Wisely

Year 9 – Wisely

Year 10 – Dorchester

Year 11 – D2

 Attendance and punctuality are the first steps to success

House Competitions

On the first week back after the holidays, the House Cup winners for each year group will be announced in assemblies. In addition, student vs teacher House events will run every Friday on a week A for Terms 5 and 6. We are really excited to see who wins!

Year 11 – Exam Season Information

With just 13 school days to go before the first whole cohort exam on 12th May, we want to remind you of some important key information to help you get your child through exam season. You have had an e-mail with the exam timetable, key dates and revision dates. Your child has been given their individual timetable and seating plans but if you require an electronic copy please contact sbevan@orchard.tila.school

Parent/Carer Voice

Our Trust, Trust in Learning Academies, would like your feedback. Please could you complete the survey at the link here no later than 12th May 2025. We really valued your kindness and constructive feedback in the recent Ofsted Parent View survey, and would appreciate you taking 5 minutes to complete this for us over the next few weeks: Trust in Learning Academies - Parent/Carer Survey

Safeguarding in the Holidays

As we start the Easter break today, we wanted to remind you of where you and your child can get support as the school will be closed from 7th April till 22nd April. Pupils come back at the usual time of 8.20am (please make sure they’re not late after a sleepy two weeks off!) on Tuesday 22nd April as Monday 21st April is a Bank Holiday.

Please use these services:

- 999 in an emergency

- 101 for non-urgent contact with emergency services

- 111 for non-urgent health matters

- Call the Samaritans – 116123

- Off the Record (www.otrbristol.org.uk) - mental health services

- Brook (www.brook.org.uk) - sexual health services

- Call ‘Mind’ on 03001233393 – mental health charity

- Call Childline on 08001111

Whisper reports will be picked up by staff on the return to school after a school holiday and should not be used for any urgent safeguarding matters nor to resolve community matters; please contact the appropriate service as above and keep us informed of any issues when school re-opens after the holidays.

Uniform on Return to School

Uniform is an important part of Orchard School identity and community. It is important that students wear the correct uniform including a blazer and correct footwear. We are proud of who we are and our school identity and part of this is shown in what we wear and of course in how we conduct ourselves. Please refer to the school website regarding correct uniform and if there is an issue, please contact your Head of Year or Pastoral Manager for support.

Lost Property

We always have a rise in lost property at the end of every term. Please can we ask that, over the Easter break, you check that all of your children’s personal belongings and uniform are clearly marked so that we can return items back to them if they are left behind.

A reminder of the lost property process:

    - All found items are handed into student reception. Unmarked items are photographed and placed onto Tutor Notices for the students to recognise and claim.

    - All unclaimed items are donated to charity shops or upcycled at the end of the term. All unclaimed PE Kit and/or school uniform is washed and placed in our preloved uniform store.

Extra-Curricular Clubs – Term 5

Here’s a reminder of the many brilliant clubs that are running in Term 5. Don’t forget to remind your child to get stuck in! Joining clubs is a great way to improve mental health and physical wellbeing and allows children to make new friends whilst discovering new hobbies.

 Clubs and Enrichment (Curriculum menu tab)

Community Events

The Ardagh on Horfield Common is running a daily Easter egg trail from 7th- 19th April.

Lockleaze Sports Centre is also hosting an Easter egg hunt on 18th April, 12pm- 3pm.

Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust is running their Art & Nature for Wellbeing course again. See the flyer above for more details.

We have attached a flyer from All -Aboard Water Sports showing their Easter holiday offering. They have a wide range of water sports activities to offer everyone, including people with disabilities and additional needs.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Tuesday 22nd April following the break. Please take care in the meantime.

Kind regards,

Mel Sweet, Headteacher