Letter to Parents: Christmas 2024

Dear Parents & Carers,

 

As we break for Christmas, I wanted to write and thank you for your continued support over this last term and to share some information with you about uniform from September 2025.

We wanted to give you advance notice that, from September 2025, the non-box pleat skirt will no longer be included in our uniform bundle. Moving forward, all skirts worn as part of the uniform must meet the following requirements:

To support families and ensure students are able to comply with this change by September 2025, we will be issuing regular reminders about this policy in our communications. This will provide ample time to prepare for the transition and ensure that students have the correct uniform from September 2025. 

This change has been made to ensure a consistent and cost-effective approach to uniform while maintaining high standards. We believe that this adjustment will provide clarity and simplicity when selecting uniform items and will help reinforce a sense of pride and unity within our school.

Your children continue to show such incredible resilience and determination to succeed. There has been a huge culture shift in the academy and students are going above and beyond with their efforts in class and their attitudes towards each other with many students being rewarded for their Random Acts of Kindness. Our corridors during lesson time are silent and students are engaged in their learning and working hard on achieving the best outcomes.

You will have seen on our X (Twitter) page, @OutwoodShafton, that we continue to celebrate student success both in and out of school; our #ProudThursday posts are an absolute joy to see! 

There have been some incredible moments to celebrate since we came back in September and it has been an absolute joy to open up our academy doors to welcome in our community; most recently for our Senior Citizens Christmas Afternoon Tea and our Christmas Performance.  Our students are fantastic citizens and good people.

Year 7 students made a fabulous start to their secondary journey; they have engaged brilliantly with our ACE Programme and celebrations have taken place to recognise this.

Our Praising Stars celebrations have been held this week and it is fantastic to see the results of hard work and determination.  

Our Christmas dinner day and Christmas jumper day were as always festive and magical occasions bringing our whole school community together.

Moving forwards to the new year, all students will return to the academy on Monday 6 January 2025 at the normal time. Families are reminded that doors are open at 8:15 for form time and any student arriving after 8:25 are late and will be issued with a sanction.  As per DFE regulations any student arriving after 08:50 will not receive a morning attendance mark which will impact on their attendance figure and their outcomes as a result of missed learning.  Students with morning medical appointments should attend the academy to ensure they gain their morning mark. Good attendance links directly to your childs’ outcomes.

Many thanks for your ongoing support; I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a safe and peaceful Christmas. 

 

Yours faithfully,