Information for Parents and Students

Information for Parents and Students September 2012 Dear Parents/Carers The partnership between school and home is the key to the future success of your child. We always look forward to new students joining us but we want the partnership to be as productive as possible. For most students this will be their last school before they go on to college or into employment. This brief guide should answer most questions you may have at this time.

We provide a positive and a supportive environment so that children can develop individual skills and talents.

We have high expectations of all students and expect them to work hard, take a pride in their appearance and behave responsibly at all times. Almost all those who come to Fakenham do make good progress and enjoy school. We hope that everyone will wish to take advantage of the wide range of sports and extracurricular activities on offer.

We are fortunate to have a staff with the same commitment to their work that we expect from students. Both teaching and support staff alike are talented, caring and dedicated. Teachers will set high standards in all areas of school life. This includes homework, which we hope you will check regularly together with any messages written in the student’s planner.

The third element in this new partnership is the parent or carer. When we see things in a similar way children have the best possible foundation for progress at school. Your support in routine matters is very much appreciated. Please make sure your child arrives on time and dressed in line with the school uniform code.

Please keep absences to an absolute minimum. Our expected uniform is quite traditional. If you have any doubts regarding the suitability of an item of uniform you are advised to contact School before purchasing.

We hope you will want to be involved in school life yourself. Please join the Friends of Fakenham High School, attend school events such as plays and concerts and watch sporting fixtures in which your child is involved.

There will be occasions when we fail to get something right. It is always better to try to resolve problems sooner rather than later. The teachers with the most detailed knowledge about a student are the Form Tutor and Head of House. Please contact them at any time you or your child has a concern and a meeting will be arranged.

You will always be made welcome in school but please ring first on 01328 862545 to arrange a convenient time. We have enjoyed the active support of parents for many years and we aim to maintain this. I look forward to meeting you.

Yours sincerely

Matthew Parr-Burman Headteacher

Vertical Tutoring and Houses From September 2011 we set up a new system of tutoring. This means that students register with a tutor group that has students of all year groups [7-11] in it. The four Houses are:

House

Colour

Head of House

Jupiter

Green

Mr Strong

Mars

Red

Mr Moxon

Neptune

Blue

Miss Johnson

Saturn

Yellow

Ms Jenkins

Home and School Links You can contact the School by placing a note in the Student Planner, by letter which can be left at Reception, by telephone 01328 862545 or by e-mail office@fakenhamhigh.norfolk.sch.uk Reception opens at 8.15 am and there is a 24 hour automated telephone system for absences etc. If you wish to visit the School please go to Reception. It is unlikely that you will be able to speak with a member of staff immediately as they may be teaching. Please do not visit on the off chance as you may have a long wait.

Your first point of contact is your child's Form Tutor who sees them on a daily basis. However you may also speak with the Pastoral Manager (Miss Alexander). For items specific to subjects it might be more relevant to contact the Subject Teacher or the Head of Department.

As the School will contact you by telephone, letter, e-mail or text messaging, please keep us up to date with your home address, home, work and mobile telephone numbers and emergency contact numbers by obtaining the relevant form from Reception.

All students are issued with a Planner which they carry at all times and in it they write homework and reminders of day-to-day activities. This is also where teaching staff enter merit marks and comments concerning problems or information. Parents are asked to check and sign the planner weekly to acknowledge progress and that homework has been completed. This is also where you write requests such as dental appointments and respond to teachers comments or requests. There are also pages in the Planner for you to record absences and book appointment for Parents’ Evening.

Transport There is an excellent system of school transport, administered by the Norfolk Passenger Transport Unit but we encourage students to come to School on foot or by bicycle and a secure enclosure is provided.  Buses: Norfolk County Council provide free or concessionary transport to and from School for those students who live in the catchment area. For details on matters relating to transport, please contact the Passenger Transport Unit on 0344 800 8003.  Bicycles: Students who bring bicycles to School must leave them, padlocked, in the area provided. The School accepts no responsibility for bicycles which should be marked with the owner’s postcode.  Motorcycles: Students may bring motorcycles to School provided they have gained permission by completing the relevant form obtainable from their Head of House. Students who bring motorcycles onto the School site do so entirely at their own risk.  Pedestrians: Walkers should enter the site by the pedestrian entrance between the School and the Sports Centre or by the pedestrians gate next the bus waiting area.

The School Day Students should not be on site before 8.15 am as the Housekeepers are still working. Students are to be in School by 08.55 am and go straight to Registration or Assembly.

Café Verve opens for breakfast at 8.30 am Registration/Assembly 08.55 – 09.15 Lesson 1 09.15 – 10.15 Lesson 2 10.15 – 11.15 Break 11.15 – 11.35 Café Verve opens during break for snacks Lesson 3 11.35 – 12.35 Lesson 4 12.35 – 13.35 Lunch/Lesson 5 13.35 – 14.25 Café Verve opens for lunches and snacks Lesson 6 14.25 – 15.25 All students should remain on site during lunchtime, unless you request that they return home. Hot and cold lunches and snacks are provided in the Café Verve. Students bringing packed lunches may either eat them in the Café Verve or at the picnic tables around the School.

Supervision is provided by Midday Supervisors and Duty Staff. Free meals are available to children whose parents are in receipt of certain Social Security benefits.

There are many clubs, inter-form and sporting activities arranged each day. Please see the Clubs, Activities and Group Leaflet. Quiet areas and IT facilities are available before and after School, at break and lunchtime.

Paying for lunches It is recommended that lunches are paid for by parents through Wisepay which removes the need for students’ to bring money into School. For more information about Cashless Catering (Vericool) and on-line payments (Wisepay) please visit the school website. www.fakenhamhigh.norfolk.sch.uk

The Home School Agreement Parents and students are asked to sign an agreement which is also signed by the Headteacher. This forms the basis of a contract between you and us.

Parents are responsible for reimbursing the School for any examination fees incurred when a child does not attend a GCSE or similar exam, or complete coursework.

Assessment and Reporting Reports are issued throughout the year as appropriate to the year group. They may contain information on attendance, homework, effort, course descriptions for the subject areas, citizenship, attainment, progress and the recommended next steps. If a report shows that your child is under-achieving the Form Tutor and Head of House will arrange appropriate help and support. There is a parents’ meeting for each year group when you will be able to discuss progress with subject teachers. If there are any concerns at other times, please contact your child’s Form Tutor or Head of House.

Collective Worship

Dress Code & Required Equipment

Assemblies are held on a rota basis.

They are led by the Headteacher, Head of House, and other Senior Staff and visitors.

Items of uniform with the Fakenham School logo can be obtained from Birds of Dereham and T’s Graffiti Ltd of Fakenham. All items should be marked clearly with your child’s name. Unnamed items of Lost Property will only be held at Reception for two weeks, after this it will be disposed of.

Homework Homework is set for all students in accordance with their homework timetable.

Students should note their homework carefully in their Planner. Please encourage them to undertake this essential follow up to classwork. If any homework takes much longer than the allotted time please contact the Subject Teacher.

Illness & Medicines The school does not have a staffed Medical Room but there are trained First Aiders on site.

Students who feel unwell should report to Reception and, if thought appropriate, parents will be contacted. If a student is well enough to come to School we will assume they are well enough to participate in PE. If this is not the case, please make a note in your child’s Planner.

It is the policy of the School not to give any medication to students. If it is essential that prescribed medication is given during the school day, a consent form must be obtained from Reception and the medication will be held at Reception. All prescribed medication must be in its original packaging with the student’s name and the dosage required. For ongoing medical conditions we will require a Care Plan to be completed.

For all students

House Colour Specific

Plain white school shirt

Tie - in House colours Jumper - black with House logo

Black trousers/knee length skirt Style and length must be suitable for School use. No denim, canvas or cord trousers or skirts may be worn, nor are jean styles acceptable.

Jupiter Green

Mars Red

Neptune Blue

Saturn Yellow

Coats/jackets These should be showerproof. Denim, leather, cult wear and items with explicit artwork are not suitable for School.

Hooded tops are not allowed in School.

Hair and Make up Conventional, tidy and natural in colour and appearance. Sculpted and shaved styles are not allowed. Long hair will need to be tied back for Science, PE and Technology work. Make up and painted nails are not allowed in Years 7, Black shoes 8 and 9. In Years 10 and 11 discreet Formal style, no trainers. make up is allowed, but not painted Plain grey, black or natural colour socks nails. or tights.

Jewellery Sky and red PE polo shirt. Suppliers One small stud per ear lobe (no other have girl’s fit and boy’s fit. piercing allowed), one finger ring and one fine neck chain is the only jewellery Sky and red long sleeved PE Rugby allowed. A watch may be worn. All shirt. jewellery must be removed for PE Black plain PE shorts. lessons.

PE footwear Other items Trainers with non-marking soles.

A strong weatherproof bag for folders Plimsolls and pumps are not and books, pencil case with good acceptable. supply of pencils, pens, etc.

A Swimwear Swimming trunks for boys and one piece swimsuit for girls A black PE jacket with small PE logo is also available from suppliers.

calculator can be purchased from the Maths Department.

Hooded sweatshirts are not allowed in any form.

Gum shields and shin guards are recommended strongly for competitive contact sports. In Art, Technology and Science protective items are provided but students can purchase their own goggles from the Science Department.

The School cannot take responsibility for valuable items which are brought to school. Whilst we understand that parents may want their child to carry a mobile telephone, they interfere with students’ learning. The use of mobile phones during the School day is not permitted and they must be switched off. We cannot take responsibility for their loss or theft. Illegal items will be confiscated and returned to parents on receipt of a stamped addressed envelope or destroyed as appropriate.

Clothing Grant forms are available from Reception for children whose parents are in receipt of certain Social Security benefits.

Lockers These may be hired on an annual basis. Please obtain an application form from Reception.

Damage to School Property You are responsible for reimbursing the School for any damage caused by your child. The School has a £200 excess for which you are liable, however parents may find that their home contents policy may cover such eventualities.

Behaviour & Attendance We expect all of our students to have high standards of behaviour, to be smartly dressed in school uniform and to follow the rules necessary for the smooth running of the School. Our expectations are set out in the form of our Seven Golden Rules, a Code of Conduct which is displayed in every room in the School and are reflected in a system of rewards and sanctions.

Where poor behaviour occurs we seek to involve and inform parents and report cards may be used to modify this. Punishments may involve detentions or withdrawal from lessons to work under supervision. More serious misbehaviour may lead to fixed term or permanent exclusion from School.

Parents have the responsibility to make sure that their children attend school regularly and punctually and are asked not to take their children on holidays during term-time. Other than in exceptional circumstances, such as illness or bereavement, absence from the School will be unauthorised. If the School does not authorise an absence from School it will be recorded as truancy.

We always follow up absences, initially by telephone call from our Attendance Officer.

Please help us to monitor reasons for absence by providing a written note as soon as your child returns to school, even if you have previously notified us by telephone.

Educational Visits Educational Visits: Throughout the year there is a wide range of educational visits to galleries, theatres, historical monuments, sports stadia, scientific exhibitions and university lectures. Almost all curriculum areas take the opportunity to enhance their programmes of study in some way by educational visits. Increasing numbers of students participate in the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme.

Curriculum Enrichment Week (CEW): A highlight of the school year is CEW at the end of the summer term when all students in Years 7-9 spend a week on activities outside the normal curriculum. Many of these give the opportunity for residential, outdoor or adventurous expeditions including outdoor pursuits in Europe. Year 10 undertake a Work Experience placement whilst Year 12 students have a work-related activity which could involve a trip to one of the major cities of Europe or North America.

We want all students to take part in visits and we can often offer help with the cost to ensure that nobody misses out for financial reasons.

Please contact the Visit Leader if you feel we might be able to help. All enquiries are dealt with in confidence.

Parking Beginning and end of school day: Parents and carers should not enter the school grounds to drop off or collect students at the beginning and end of the school day. Parking is available on Field Lane, behind the bus waiting area.

During the day: Parents may enter the school grounds during the day to collect students who are unwell or have an appointment. Please park in the main car park and make your way to Reception. You will be asked to sign our record book to show that you are taking your child out of school. If you have an appointment with a member of staff please park in the main car park and report to Reception. You will be asked to sign the Visitors’ book. If you have arrived by car you also will need to enter your vehicle details.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) The SEND Team supports a range of special educational needs including physical disabilities, learning difficulties and emotional/ behavioural needs. Most students are supported in-class to enable full access to the curriculum, but may be withdrawn from lessons to develop specific skills such as spelling or reading.

We work closely with partner primary schools to ensure a smooth transition to High School and, where entry to the School is later than Year 7, students may be assessed to gain a clearer picture of their needs.

Parents are informed about the needs and progress of children with special needs through Individual Education Plans (IEPs), which are reviewed twice a year. All students with statements of special education needs have an annual review in line with statutory requirements which parents are encouraged to attend.

Data Protection Act The School uses a Management Information System computer database. All details of children including addresses, emergency contacts, photographs, medical, timetables, academic and pastoral information are contained in this centralised system.

Departments also keep their own Departmental records on the progress of students. Parents may view these records if they wish.

Policies These may be acquired by contacting the School or viewing on the website. By sending your child to Fakenham High School you are agreeing to be bound by these policies.

Friends of Fakenham High School & College A committed group of parents and staff make up The Friends of Fakenham High School and College. The Friends meet regularly to plan a programme of social and fund-raising events.

The Friends enable us to provide additional resources beyond those funded by the School’s own budget. Past contributions have supported the provision of a school mini-bus, scientific and ICT equipment, library resources, stage curtains, display boards, a school TV system and outdoor canopies.