Information Handbook
Introduction This booklet provides information to assist you when filling out forms on the Parent Portal.
Please note that you must fill in all relevant forms by Friday 22 May 2020
Biometric Registration and Use of Biometric Information The School uses biometric information for cashless catering and electronic pupil registration. Both systems use the latest biometric technology to scan the thumb of your son and generate a unique code that will identify him when he places his thumb on a scanner at the catering revaluation pay point, the catering tills or at selected pupil registration points around the School. Please note no image of the thumb print is reproduced or held by the School and neither can one be reproduced from the code. Further details on the use of this technology, consent to register your son and details of how to activate your on-line ParentPayŽ account for cashless catering can be found on the Parent Portal. Biometric registration for cashless catering and electronic pupil registration will take place during Induction Day. The School’s Biometric Information Policy can be found on the School website under information/School Policies/Biometric Information.
Important Medical and Contact Information Please complete the Medical Questionnaire, on the Parent Portal by Friday 22 May 2020 with all relevant information, including dates. If you have any queries the School Nurse will be pleased to assist you. In order to best support and care for your sons, it is imperative that we have accurate and up-todate information on our School system. This would include anything that might affect them in lessons such as hearing difficulties or colour blindness. You can view the medical information that the School holds for your son on the Parent Portal. Please check this site to ensure that we hold the most up-to-date information on your son’s medical condition and any medication he has been prescribed. If you wish to make any changes, please do so on the Portal. Relevant information will be shared with appropriate staff if essential to your son’s wellbeing. If your son develops any contagious disease (chicken pox, measles etc.) please inform the school as soon as possible. If your son is unwell, eg has a raised temperature, has episodes of diarrhoea or vomiting, please ensure that you wait 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped before he returns to School.
Dispensing Prescription Medication If your son requires any prescription medicine to be taken at School, please fill in the form on the Parent Portal and print or email it to us on PrePrepOffice@habsboys.org.uk. Either you or your son should bring it to the School Office along with the medication to be dispensed in its original labelled bottle. The School Office will keep a supply of Calpol and Piriton, for emergency purposes only. Should your son need Calpol or Piriton and we have your consent on file (the separate School Medical Questionnaire which is available to complete on the Parent Portal), the School Secretary will telephone you to inform you that your son has been given the correct dosage.
AAI (Adrenaline Auto Injector) If your son has been prescribed an AAI, please ensure he has all the required medication in School with him and that it is in date. Should your son require an AAI or Asthma Inhaler at School, please ensure that they are named and taken into the School Office where they will be stored safely. We require one to be kept in the School Office and the other in your son’s classroom, so please ensure you send two AAIs into School. It is your responsibility to update these as necessary. Your son will not be able to attend any trips or off-site activities without his two AAIs and any other required medication.
Sickness at School If your son is feeling unwell, he will be sent to the School Office. His teacher, in conjunction with the First Aider, will decide if you need to be contacted and whether you need to collect your son and take him home to recover. Our qualified First Aiders at the Pre-Prep are Miss Edwards, Mrs Barber, Mrs Pieri and Mrs Elliott. The School nurses and doctor at the Senior School are: Gill McGrath Martina McGrath Senior School Nurse School Nurse
Dr Nicolas Small School Doctor
Music Instrumental Lessons If you would like your son to learn to play a musical instrument or continue to develop on an instrument he already plays, please complete the relevant forms on the Parent Portal by Friday 18 May 2018. Of the 1,430 boys in the School, more than 600 are learning to play musical instruments of all types. With a music staff of 25, the School is able to offer tuition in piano, organ, acoustic guitar, voice and every orchestral instrument, including percussion. The proportion of instrumentalists in the School is very high and the Headmaster and music staff are keen that this tradition should be maintained. The lessons are, for the most part, given in School time but are rotated week by week so that a boy does not miss the same lesson on every occasion. Instrumental lessons (approximately 10 lessons per term of 30 minutes each) are organised in two ways: i)
Group Lessons
As a general rule, beginners on orchestral instruments are advised to learn in small groups. The tuition fee for group lessons next year will be ÂŁ145 per term. ii)
Individual Lessons
Boys who already have some experience of playing instruments are advised to have individual lessons and the tuition fee for next year will be ÂŁ225 per term. For obvious reasons, all piano and organ pupils, whether beginners or not, have to take individual lessons and all potential pianists must have an instrument at home for practice. Organ lessons can be given only to boys who have reached a good standard on the piano.
Instruments The School has a pool of instruments for hire at a charge of ÂŁ35 per term but competition is strong for the limited number we possess and therefore most boys buy their own. If you are going to purchase an instrument please seek the advice of the music staff.
School Shop Dear Parents I would like to take this opportunity to send you a personal welcome and introduction to The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School Shop. Our School Shop is situated in the Medburn Sports Centre on the Elstree site. We carry the full range of school uniform and sportswear required by your son except for black school shoes and white trainers and we stock a comprehensive selection of competitively priced stationery. Under normal circumstances items may be purchased via our website (www.habsboys.org.uk) and we operate an ‘Approval System’ whereby items of clothing, i.e. uniform, sports kit including footwear (not stationery or accessories) over £10 can be taken home and paid for the following day. Goods taken ‘on approval’ which are not suitable must be returned within five working days. Please note returned goods must be in their original wrapping, unsoiled and accompanied by the invoice. Goods taken on approval which are retained by parents should be paid for by cash, debit card or cheque made payable to “The Haberdashers’ Aske’s School Shop Ltd” accompanied by the invoice. We would appreciate your full co-operation regarding approvals. The Coronavirus has clearly affected the shop’s normal operation and it remains closed until the Government’s restrictions are eased and enabling us to: be open 08:30 – 11:50 and 12:35 - 16:00 during term time; offer hourly outfitting appointments; and an appointment system during School holidays. The latter avoids long waits, makes shopping more comfortable for you and the staff can give you their undivided attention. We will be in touch regarding when the shop and its website will be able to re-open. Yours sincerely
Michael Lewis Director of Operations
Pre-Preparatory School Uniform List We expect boys to take a real pride in their appearance and to be smartly dressed on all occasions.
School Uniforms • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Polo shirt – sky blue with Habs crest Blazer – navy with sky blue trim and Habs crest Jumper – navy with Habs crest Trousers – charcoal (winter term) Shorts – charcoal (summer term) Socks – banded (summer term) Socks – charcoal (winter term) Coat – navy with Habs crest Lightweight waterproof Mac Art overall - navy Scarf - navy fleece Hat and gloves - knitted School cap - navy with Habs crest Baseball cap – sky blue with Habs crest
Physical Education • • • • • • • • • • •
PE t-shirt – white with Habs crest PE shorts – white with Habs crest PE socks – white Swimming trunks – navy Swim hat - light blue Base layer - navy Football shorts – navy/sky with Habs crest Football shirt – navy/sky with Habs crest Football socks – navy/sky hooped Football boots – Velcro/moulded sole Tracksuit navy with Habs crest Gum shield (Your son can be fitted with an OPRO gumshield but we
Accessories • • •
Book bag – navy with Habs crest Drawstring bag – navy with Habs crest Name tapes sew on.
PLEASE ENSURE ALL ITEMS ARE CLEARLY NAMED Boys are only permitted to wear charcoal grey trousers and NOT light grey/grey
Individual Needs The School’s Individual Needs Policy aims to ensure that each boy at Haberdashers’ enjoys personal and academic success. We hope to achieve this by sustaining a close partnership with parents and offering access to relevant support as your son progresses through the School. The Head of Academic Support co-ordinates a team consisting of the specialist teacher, and senior academic and pastoral staff. Support can occur at various levels in School life e.g. through the Form Tutor, Housemaster and Deputy Housemaster, subject teachers, study support sessions and learning skills programmes. The School’s Individual Needs policy is available on the School website. At this point of entry, it is important for all staff to be aware of any identified specific learning need (e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD, hypermobility, visual and hearing impairments’) relating to your son.
If applicable, please complete the online Individual Needs Information form on the Parent Portal by Friday 22 May 2020
Admissions Questionnaire (only applicable for new parents joining at 5+) Dear Parents, As the 2020 admissions for 5+ entry are finalised, it is very helpful to us to analyse our procedures and improve as and where necessary. At Haberdashers’ we are eager to include within any review, all parties who are involved in our admissions procedure. We would be grateful if you would be able to spare a few moments of your time in order to complete the questionnaire, which can be found here, by Friday 22 May 2020 I should stress that there is no obligation for you to do this but that you may be able to help us improve the service we give to parents in future years. All returned questionnaires will, of course, remain confidential. Thank you for your time. Yours sincerely,
Keren Pollock Director of Admissions and Marketing
School Policies All our school policies are updated regularly and are available to read on the school website by clicking here. You may request any of the information in hard copy by contacting the School.
The Chairman of the Aske Board is Mr Simon Cartmell OBE, the Chairman of the Boys’ School Committee is Mrs Margot Chaundler. Both can be contacted at the address of our Trustees, The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers: Haberdashers’ Hall 18 West Smithfield London EC1A 9HQ Tel. 020 7246 9988
Term Dates (all dates have been agreed and synchronised with the Girls’ School) 2020 Summer term begins Bank Holiday Half term holiday Summer term ends Autumn term begins Half term begins Autumn term ends 2021 Spring term begins Half term holiday Spring term ends Summer term begins Bank Holiday Half term holiday Summer term ends Autumn term begins Half term holiday Autumn term ends 2022 Spring term begins
Wednesday 22 April Friday 8 May Monday 25 – Friday 29 May Wednesday 8 July (11.45am) Monday 7 September Monday 19 – Friday 30 October Thursday 17 December (11.45am) Monday 11 January Monday 15 – Friday 19 February Friday 26 March (11.45am) Thursday 15 April Monday 3 May Monday 31 May – Friday 4 June Thursday 8 July (11.45am) Thursday 9 September Monday 18 – Friday 29 October Thursday 16 December (11.45am) Monday 10 January
Boys’ School - Dates to Note Induction Day for new entrants (11+ and 13+) 7+/13+ Examinations 11+ Examinations Prep School and Pre-Prep School closed
Friday 4 September 2020 Thursday 7 January 2021 Friday 8 January 2021 Monday 18 January 2021
Staff Training Days Summer term 2020 Autumn term 2020 Spring term 2021 Summer term 2021
Friday 22 May 2020 Monday 1 June 2020 Thursday 3 September 2020 Friday 4 September 2020 Monday 22 February 2021 Friday 28 May 2021 Monday 7 June 2021
School Values
Join Habs Online...