08 April 2022 - Letter to Parents

April 2022

Dear Parents and Carers

I hope you have had a good week. We have reached the end of a long term, and it’s
great to see more staff back in and a full school again! Our Year 9s had a wonderful
residential to PGL, and we hope the activities they took part in, as well as the experience
of being away from home with friends and school staff, is one that will stay in their
memories for a long time.

Headteacher’s Awards

I had the joy of congratulating a few students from each year group for gaining
Headteachers’ Awards. These are awarded once a term, for Exceptional Student
Leadership, Home Learning or Contribution to an out of school activity. I am always
incredibly proud of our children for being nominated. When children gain certificates,
awards and commendations at school, they are demonstrating fantastic attitudes as
young people in society, and leaders of the future. Year 10s are currently applying to be
Prefects, with interviews next term, and we hope those gaining Headteachers’ Awards
would look to apply when their turn comes.

Covid Reminder

A reminder of the updated guidance from 1 April 2022:
• Adults with the symptoms of a respiratory infection, and who have a high
temperature or feel unwell, should try to stay at home and avoid contact with
other people until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and they no
longer have a high temperature.

• Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should
stay at home and avoid contact with other people. They can go back to school,
college or childcare when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are
well enough to attend.

• Adults with a positive Covid-19 test result should try to stay at home and avoid
contact with other people for five days. For children and young people aged 18
and under, the advice is three days.

• Schools are being asked not to hand out any test kits to staff, pupils, or students unless
advised by your local health protection team, local authority or director of public
health.

Uniform and Equipment

A reminder that we are expecting perfect uniform and equipment after the holidays.
Please note that jumpers are only worn under blazers when the weather is really cold.
Now the weather is warming up, there is no need for jumpers, just blazers. Year 11 students
will be permitted to wear their Leavers Hoodies over school uniform instead of a blazer.

Our Pastoral Team would also like to remind parents that nose piercings are not part of
school uniform. We are aware that over lockdown a number of students decided to get
their nose pierced, which were then covered by face masks. Now that face masks are
no longer being worn by the majority of students, the studs are more obvious. Students
need to take them out before coming in to school.

After the holidays children who arrive without school uniform or equipment will be sent
home to change unless there has been an emergency and parents/carers have
contacted their child’s Pastoral Manager or added a note in their child’s planner.

We have been asked for reminders of equipment. All children must bring to school each
day:

- A rucksack, pencil case, planner and calculator

- Pencil cases should include: 2 blue or black pens, a red pen, ruler, pencil, rubber,

- For maths/science, students also need a protractor and set of compasses with mini
pencil

- The scientific calculator is the Casio FX-83GT /85GT PLUS or Casio FX-83GTX / 85GTX ,
which retails at around £11.99. Again, the Hardship Fund can provide help with this if
needed.

Back in School

Year 11 students have been invited for study time, additional tutoring and exam
preparation over the first 4 days of the holiday. We know they will appreciate the
teachers who are going in to help them maximise their GCSE results.

We look forward to seeing all students back in school on Monday 25th April at 8.20am.

In the meantime, I wish you all a lovely break.

Ramadan Mubarak to our Muslim community, and Happy Easter to our Christian
community!

With best wishes

Julia Hinchliffe, Headteacher