Letter to Parents: 27 October 2023

Dear Parents and Carers, 

I am writing to thank you for your support during our first half term of the academic year. 

Students received their first Praising Stars© reports yesterday and any reports not collected will be posted home. You will have seen on Twitter that we have had a very busy week in the academy, celebrating student success, Praising Stars© events, our Honours launch and the election of our new Student Voice Prime Minister.

I would like your support in ensuring that our students, your children, wear our uniform correctly. We are spending a significant amount of time each day checking uniform, making sure that our policy is being up-held and ensuring that our students look as smart as possible. In particular, we would like your support in ensuring that skirts are worn appropriately and are not rolled over or under at the waistband or tied with an elastic band or bobble at the back; skirts must be a minimum of 18 inches in length.  I would like to take this opportunity to remind you that jewellery is not permitted to be worn, the only item of jewellery that may be worn is a wristwatch or Medic Alert item. 

We endeavour to support students as much as possible with uniform loans however, we are now in a situation whereby we will need to contact home for uniform to be corrected. We are, unfortunately, not in a position where we can purchase new loan stock. I also need to inform you that the cost of replacement ties has increased to £6.50 and we can no longer routinely loan these to students. I would be grateful if you could promptly return any items of uniform that have been borrowed.

Your support is important and incredibly valued as we continue to drive standards and raise our expectations for your children. 

As part of our Positive Discipline for Learning and Life Policy we aim to ensure that students reach the top of the pyramid because of the good choices that they make. One of our key areas of focus is for students to Be Responsible. We aim to ensure that every young person who attends our academy is fully prepared for their future and the expectations that will be upon them when they leave secondary education. 

One of our Basics for Learning is the need for students to ‘come to school fully equipped for learning’. 

It is essential that students also have their own basic equipment (pen, pencil, ruler, pencil case). Students can purchase an additional pencil case, with equipment, for £1 using their iPay account and pencil cases can be collected from Reception when payment has been made.  All students must carry a suitably sized bag (one that can fit at least an A4 folder into it) and a planner. Planners must be kept clean and free from graffiti.  Students must bring their planner, equipment and bag with them each day as a minimum expectation. We will issue C4 detentions where a student does not have the basic equipment with them because we want to ensure we are teaching our students about the importance of being responsible. For KS4 students Y10 and Y11, it would be appreciated if your child could bring their own scientific calculator to use in lessons.

We hope that students make the most of the Halloween season, taking the time to have fun and relax but remembering to be safe, responsible, respectful and kind. These are the characteristics that we see in our students every day.

We look forward to welcoming all students back into the academy on Monday 6 November 2023.

I am incredibly appreciative of your continued support.

Yours faithfully,