14 15 y6 into y7 booklet

1

Dear Families Welcome to Simon Balle. We now think of you as part of our very special community. This booklet is to help you prepare, as you start your journey as a Simon Balle student, which will take at least 5 if not 7 years.

There will be many exciting opportunities ahead. You may remember how we talk of ‘the Simon Balle Student experience’. We, as your school, you the parents and the child, need to commit to developing the skills, behaviours and attributes to ensure that successful learning takes place.

Our recent Ofsted inspection spoke very highly of ‘the exceptionally positive attitude to learning’ - we expect this from you too!.

‘Attendance is excellent because students are happy and value what the school has to offer’ – we want this for you too!

We are proud of our success and achievements in providing an excellent ‘all round’ education.

We believe it is through hard work and effort that every single student can succeed. Our values and vision drives all we do. Therefore this is an exciting time for all of us; as we send our older students out to become fully informed, confident, adaptable citizens and yet welcome you at the onset of your journey.

In order for us to get to know you, we arrange many transition activities. The educational research clearly shows that there can be anxiety as well as excitement around transition - concerns over new routines and systems (organisation change), questions over friendships (social transition) and worries about learning (academic transition). We work hard to address each area. Indeed, Ofsted made special reference to our transition programmes, judging them to be a strength of the school.

Here are some of the things our current Year 7 students and parents have said about Simon Balle School and our transition programme: 

The team-based nature of the activities was perfect for bringing the children out of their shells and getting them talking to each other. The way the children could check their scores on each activity against the charts was a good way of getting them motivated and talking. It was brilliant to see the older pupils as sports leaders.



The teacher made us feel welcome. I enjoyed the opportunity to work with my own child on an activity. I understand more about the learning at Simon Balle School.



The tasks had obviously been carefully considered; they were fun, well-pitched and nonjudgemental. The staff were enthusiastic, well-organised and showed a genuine love of the subjects.

We felt anxious in attending but were generally put at ease.



A very relaxed atmosphere, all the activities were fun and interesting. A great way to introduce my son to his new school environment,



Both activities were really enjoyable. It was good for the children to be in a secondary school enviroment and have some fun whilst doing the activity with the teachers.



Both myself and my daughter found all three of the evenings really enjoyable and interesting. We actually came home full of laughter about some of the activities we all had to join in with.

Transition can be daunting but in this booklet you will learn of our expectations, which will help you to prepare your child for the ‘big’ changes ahead. In addition we will be gathering information from all our primary schools and hosting a number of events for you to come along to well before September. Please do come to as many as you can, as this will help your child to settle quickly.

2

Also keep an eye on our website, (Parents – Y6 into Y7) as information for our new students will be added there.

Our transfer event (compulsory attendance for Year 6 students and their parents) is on Wednesday 9th July from 7pm. The actual ‘transfer’ day is on Thursday 10th July.

It is easy to call us a ‘holistic’ school but perhaps more difficult to define our ethos. This is about our values and vision; the fact that we see education in the ‘round’ as a deep preparation for life ahead. We value each individual for who they are and we work together to ensure they become the people they want to be. This includes academic achievement, behaviours and skills, together with understanding and strategies around healthy lifestyles, economic well-being and social development.

Eating well and making healthy choices are central to this philosophy. This includes our school meal service, our choice of provider on residential trips and how food is integral to our curriculum. We also place great emphasis upon physical and mental well-being. Every student takes an active part in physical education and we want them to find physical exercise both enjoyable and rewarding. Our annual sports day, house sports competitions and the Fun Run are key popular aspects of our calendar. Therefore promoting walking to school is one of our priorities. Most of our students now live in Hertford and the local footpaths and underpasses create safe routes to school. Indeed it is often quicker to walk rather than be driven. Some of our students choose to cycle; there are bike racks on site. We therefore ask all of our parents to consider this carefully, encouraging students to walk together or perhaps meet up with older students.

This booklet is designed to provide all the information you will need to prepare you and your child for the move to our secondary school. The pages at the front are for you to keep for your information. The forms at the back need to be completed and returned to the School Office. Please ensure this is done as soon as possible, and no later than Wednesday 7th May, so that we can enter your child’s details onto our database, order any supplies you may need before the start of term and book you onto courses that you might like to attend.

I look forward to getting to know both you and your child over the coming weeks and months.

Alison Saunders Headteacher

3

“A school uniform plays a valuable role in contributing to the ethos of a school and setting an appropriate tone. It instils pride; supports positive behaviour and discipline; identity, helps students to feel welcome; protects children from social pressures to dress in a particular way; nurtures cohesion and promotes good relationships.” (Department for Education) Uniform is important in our school. Recently we decided to change part of our school uniform as it was felt that the existing school skirt was no longer smart enough. From September 2014 girls in Years 7, 8, 10 and 11 will be wearing the tartan kilt or black school trousers. Indeed we expect all students to wear our uniform correctly every day both in school and on the way to and from school. We expect parents in every year group to check that their children wear the uniform correctly. Some of the expectations and rules will be different from primary school so can I urge you to read the following page remembering: We expect       

Regulation haircuts; no shaving, braiding or colour. Hair below shoulder length should be tied back during practical lessons for safety reasons.

Black leather shoes (polishable) – ideally with laces or a ‘bar’ No jewellery except one pair of small stud earrings and a watch Coats/jackets – not hoodies, sweaters. No visible large ‘writing’ For girls – no leggings; only black or white regulation socks A standard school bag – satchel or rucksack No make-up or nail varnish or ‘fake’ tattoos. Acrylic/gel nails are not allowed for safety reasons.

Stevensons, the uniform supplier will be available in the school dining hall from 15.30-20.00 so that you can buy your child’s school uniform and equipment.

4

We want students to be proud of their school and to wear correct uniform, including the school jumper or cardigan at all times. The uniform is simple, but smart. It helps students to identify with each other and with the local community. Our uniform supplier is: Stevensons (Open Monday to Saturday from 9.00am to 5.30pm) 133-135 Victoria Street, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL1 3XS Tel: 01727 853262 Fax: 01727 845123 Visa, Master Card, Switch and American Express are accepted.

Uniforms can be purchased either in the shop or by mail order.

All Year 7 students are expected to wear:       

Boys Long-sleeved white shirt Summer white short sleeved shirt with logo (worn during summer term and up to end of September without a school jumper) Black school trousers Maroon school tie with logo and house stripe V necked jumper with school badge (green for years 7-9, maroon for years 10-11) Sensible black shoes, capable of being polished Plain coloured coat or jacket (without logos)

      

Girls White ¾ sleeved fitted blouse or short-sleeved shirt Regulation black school trousers from Stevensons (no hipsters, rivets or fashion belts) OR Regulation tartan school kilt V necked jumper or cardigan with school badge (green for years 7-9, maroon for years 10-11) Sensible black shoes, capable of being polished (no fashion shoes or boots) Plain coloured coat or jacket (without logos)

Clothing for PE      



School white and black polo shirt with thin green piping (with school badge).

Reversible green/black rugby shirt Black shorts Plain black tracksuit trousers (optional) Green rugby socks Shin pads & gum shield (compulsory for some games lessons)

    

School white and black polo shirt with thin piping green (with school badge).

Black Skort with the option of black shorts.

Black fleece with school crest Plain black tracksuit trousers (optional) Green rugby socks Shin pads & gum shield (compulsory for some games lessons)

Students need trainers which are suitable for indoor PE. As an example they can be astro boots, tennis shoes, running trainers, etc. Before going into the gym the trainers must be cleaned if they have been on the Astroturf.

Students also need a pair of football/rugby boots. They can have either studs, be moulded or have blades.     

The following are not permitted Any extremes of hairstyle, colour or accessories e.g. large flowers, bows Coats or jackets with logos, denim, ‘hoodies’ or sweatshirts Jewellery, except for single stud earrings and watches Body or facial piercings Trainers—except at breaks or lunchtimes - students must change out of them for lessons.

Stevensons Uniform Sales will be held in the school dining room between 15.30-20.00 on: MONDAY 14TH JULY

5

Working with students and parents together before coming is an important part of our transition programme.

Please read below some of the activities on offer and sign up for as many as you would like.

Following our extremely popular and successful sessions last year in various subjects, we are once again able to offer a variety of practical activities where parents work alongside their children who are joining Simon Balle School in September. The sessions will run for 90 minutes and parents and students can sign up for just one evening or attend all four if they prefer. If a department is offering more than one session then this will follow the same format each time.

Sessions will be linked to the programmes students will follow in Year 7 and parents will be working on similar themes and developing those skills their own children will be exploring once they come to Simon Balle. It is an excellent way of students getting to know the school and for parents to understand the time constraints they work under. However parents really enjoy working alongside their children and meeting other new parents.

Places will be limited and we would like you to indicate your preferred dates and sessions on the form below (Monday 9th, Thursday 19th, Monday 23rd June and Tuesday 1st July – 6.30-8.00pm). We will try and accommodate you with your first preferences however if, as last year, the sessions prove so popular we may have to restrict parents to one session each to enable us to accommodate more parents. Please indicate your interests on the form at the end of this booklet. The subjects on offer will be Art, Drama, Food Technology, English, Geography, History, IT, Library and Independent Learning, Maths, Modern Foreign Languages (MFL), Music, PE and Science.

Moving on Club at Simon Balle is aimed at those students who would benefit from some extra assistance with transition from primary to secondary education. The Club is for any students who may find transition more trying or who are the only students transferring from their primary school. The students will be identified by their primary school and invited to attend. (Dates to be confirmed) The Club is usually held at the end of the school day for two sessions, in late June/early July, and gives the student a chance to familiarise themselves with the school and feel more at ease and confident about their move to Simon Balle.

This is the Welcome Evening where your child meets his or her new form tutor and parents learn about the school. We expect parents and new students to attend as important information is given out at the meeting.

6

A structured transition programme is in place to ensure a smooth move from primary to secondary school and feedback from previous years has found this to be extremely successful. All Year 6 students spend a full day at Simon Balle and every feeder primary school will receive a visit from a member of our staff.

The food served in our school canteen is incredibly popular and here at Simon Balle School we are totally committed to healthy eating. Students should bring between £2-4 to cover the cost of lunch (1.20pm) and a drink and snack for morning break (11am) or a packed lunch. They should also wear their primary school uniform.

AND IN SEPTEMBER…..

All students will be starting on Tuesday 2nd September at 8.40am. Students must arrive for school, in their uniforms, with writing equipment and sensible school bags. (PE kits will not be needed on the first day.)

They will then spend time in their form groups, have a welcome assembly and get to familiarise themselves with the school. Lockers, smartcards and book covers will be issued during the day.

The aim of these two sessions is for parents to learn what it is like being a Year 7 student now, particularly for those who having a child at secondary school is a new experience.  

Session One: Monday 8th September – An introduction to learning for Year 7 parents; subjects, timetable and lessons Session Two: Tuesday 7th October - The wider curriculum; health, food, clubs and supporting your child’s learning.

These are held early in September and details will be confirmed at the beginning of the Autumn Term.

Following the extremely successful Open Morning last year and with the large number of families wanting to visit the School, we will hold the Open Morning once again on Saturday 27th September from 8.30am12.30pm.

This is one of the most important events of our school year where every member of the school, staff and students alike, get involved showing prospective parents and their children the school and the type of work we do here. We expect students to attend to act as guides, helpers in the classrooms or as musicians performing to parents in the hall and around the school site. We would therefore ask you to ensure your child keeps that morning free to help represent the school.

7

You are warmly welcome to any of these events DATE

EVENT

Monday 9th, Thursday 19th, Monday 23rd June and Tuesday 1st July – 6.30-8.00pm Dates to be confirmed

Transition Activities

Tuesday 8th July – 19.00

Thursday 10th July – 08.40-15.25

Summer Concert, Broxbourne Civic Centre All new parents warmly welcome Y6 into Y7 Student and Parents’ Evening at Simon Balle Year 6 Transition Day at Simon Balle

Monday 14th July – 15.30-20.00

Stevensons Uniform Sale

Tuesday 2nd September

First Day for ALL Students and School Photographs Open Morning for Prospective Parents

Wednesday 9th July – 19.00

Saturday 27th September – 8.30-12.30

Moving On Club*

Monday 8th September Tuesday 7th October

‘Moving to Secondary School’ Evening

March 2015

Year 7 Parents’ Evening

Tuesday 5th – Friday 8th May 2015

Osmington Bay Residential Trip

(*Students are invited to attend these sessions by the School)

8

AUTUMN TERM 2014 Monday 1st September to Friday 19th December INSET 1: INSET 2: Occasional Days: Half Term:

Monday 1st September Monday 29th September Thursday and Friday 27th and 28th November Monday 27th – 31st October inclusive

All Year Groups start school on Tuesday 2nd September 2014

SPRING TERM 2015 Monday 5th January to Thursday 2nd April INSET 3: Half Term:

Monday 5th January Monday 16th – 20th February inclusive

SUMMER TERM 2015 Monday 20th April to Wednesday 22nd July Bank Holiday: INSET 4: INSET 5: Half Term:

Monday 4th May Tuesday 5th May Friday 3rd July Monday 25th – 29th May inclusive

9

We have a clear vision – all students will be set challenging academic and personal targets and given the support and encouragement to succeed. An outstanding educational experience is the greatest gift that we can give our young people who will be the leaders of future generations. As the world is rapidly changing we need to ensure that all our of students go out into the globally competitive world with the skills, attributes and behaviours for twenty-first century living.

A good education will help to give your child the best possible start in life. Children need to go to school regularly and be punctual to make the most of their educational opportunities and you, as parents or carers, have a vital role to play in making this happen.

All parents of children aged 5-16 who are on a school roll must, by law, make sure their child goes to school both regularly and punctually. This means you have a duty to make sure your child is in school when they should be and that they arrive at school in time for morning registration. The register shows whether the student is present, engaged in educational activity, off-site, or absent.

Our target attendance for 2014/15 is 96.3%; in fact this year some Year 7 forms achieved 100% for their first term. We expect the majority of our students to achieve this unless there are specific circumstances which impact on their ability to do so. Attendance is monitored on a daily basis and weekly meetings are held with Heads of Year in order to discuss the progress of each year group, form groups or individual students. If necessary we will meet with parents and students about their attendance offering support and intervention as required. Occasionally students will be put on report to aid their attendance.

Please could all parents familiarise themselves with our “What is good attendance” leaflet.

Arriving on Time It is important that students arrive at school on time and we encourage all students to wear a watch! This helps them learn good time-keeping and reduces the chance of classroom disruption.

If your child does arrive late, for Health and Safety and educational reasons, they MUST sign the ‘Students Signing Book’ at the school office giving the reason for their lateness.

If your child needs to leave school before the end of the school day they must sign out using the ‘Students Signing Book’ and show evidence as to the reason for leaving early, e.g. medical appointment card or letter from parents confirming the time of the appointment. These records are invaluable in the event of an incident such as a fire. However, parents are encouraged to make these appointments out of school hours.

We want your child to be in school, unless they are very ill. Please send them in – we can always contact you if they deteriorate. Unlike some primary schools we do not usually insist on the 48hour clearance rule.

Absences If your child is absent from school for any reason it is very important you telephone us on 01992 410400 and leave a message on the Absence Answerphone giving your child’s name, form and reason for absence – please do not just say ‘unwell’. You can also send an e-mail to admin@simonballe.herts.sch.uk giving your child’s name, form, reason for absence and a contact daytime telephone number. You may also get a telephone call from the Absence Co-ordinator as we carry out a spot check and call a number of parents each day. If we do not hear from you concerning your child’s absence, it will initially be registered as unauthorised and we are obliged to investigate why. By law only the School can approve absences; it is for 10

the School to judge whether the explanation given by parents is satisfactory justification for the absence.

Authorised absence is where School has either given approval in advance for a pupil to be out of school, or has accepted an explanation offered afterwards. All other absences are recorded as unauthorised.

Holidays We positively discourage parents from organising family holidays or long weekends during term time. It is well known that if students miss school their education suffers. Indeed there is a close correlation between high exam grades and high attendance. From 1st September 2013 a government change to the Pupil Registration Education Amendment 2013 states Headteachers may not grant leave of absence during term time. Therefore alongside this policy we will not be able to authorise or approve holidays in term time.

Applications for extenuating circumstances, for example weddings and funerals, will be considered. If applying for extenuating circumstances parents should complete the Leave of Absence form available from the school office. For all other requests parents should write a letter to the Headteacher stating the reason for the absence request, and why this should be considered ‘exceptional’ i.e. one off request. The Headteacher will consider the student’s previous attendance history, the age of the student and the stage of their education, the time of year (particularly in respect of assessments and exams) and the nature for the absence. Requests for leave of absence must be made prior to booking the absence giving at least two weeks’ notice. If permission is not sought leave will be unauthorised - this is a similar situation to many of our primary schools.

Leave of absence will not normally be granted for students in Year 11, Year 12 or Year 13 and students who would be taking internally or externally set exams at that time. Parents of Year 9, 10 and 11 students will also need to be mindful of GCSE coursework deadlines and examination work which are taken throughout the year.

The school wishes to discourage requests for leave of absence for a series of “long weekends” during a year; because of the nature of the secondary school timetable, such absences can be damaging to progress in subjects whose lessons happen to fall on Fridays or Mondays.

The school also wishes to discourage requests for leave of absence for students who have already missed a significant amount of school for other reasons during the current year.

To and From School A student’s journey to school is recognised as having an impact on the student’s safety, on their health and personal development and on today’s environment. Simon Balle School has a Travel Plan which examines what could be done to reduce car travel and to encourage and increase in sustainable modes of travel such as walking, cycling and public transport. Our plan is there to help: 

Reduce traffic congestion and pollution in and around the school



Improve road safety skills



Improve the health and fitness of students and staff



Establish safer walking and cycling routes to school



Enhance relations with the local community

We expect all parents, students and staff to actively support our travel plan. Students should behave appropriately when travelling to and from school.

If you have to travel to school by car you must use the one way system and only drop off/pick up in the fenced car park and do not use the visitor spaces. No cars should come onto the school site before 3.10 pm.

If you need to visit the school during the day you must park in the visitor spaces only and NOT DRIVE UP TO THE MAIN OFFICE as this area is a playground and thoroughfare for the students.

Visitors who do drive up to the school office will be asked to move their cars.

11

Context Ofsted recognised our distinct and nurturing ethos at Simon Balle. Students were seen to be responsible, courteous and polite in the classroom and around the school. Behaviour data also shows that incidents are low and patterns of re-occurrence are rare.

Reward System Our rewards system is designed to recognise the talents, progress and achievements of all the students in our community.

Aim of the Reward System  To motivate and nurture students to achieve the best possible grades.  To reward and praise students in a wide variety of disciplines.  To promote SMSC (Spiritual Moral Social Cultural).  To allow students to gain rewards within a structure to show a hierarchy.  To monitor for consistency and analyse groups and trends. This may lead to further intervention.  To link into our academic achievement software Go4Schools.  To revitalise the house system for the benefit of the students.  To promote the excellent work of Simon Balle to all our stakeholders.  To identify students who are potential Senior Student Leadership Team (SSLT) members.

System (Please read in conjunction with the rewards pyramid)  The system runs from Year 7-13.  Each level within the pyramid is progressive culminating in the academic ceremony.  All teachers will give out (+1) when the student hits the criteria.  Rewards will be logged on Go4Schools and parents will be able to access this information.  There are many different rewards to enable it to be multi-faceted and inclusive. For example – postcards, Departmental Roll of Honour, Headteacher’s Commendation, Governors’ Award (Community Award) and finally the Academic Ceremony.  Behaviour points will count against rewards in the total.  Running alongside the pyramid is the certificates – Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum Club and Diamond League.  To achieve the certificates students would need to achieve: Type Bronze Silver Gold Platinum Club Diamond League  

Signed by Head of Year Department Head Head Governors Ceremony

KS3 50 90 120 160 200

KS4 30 60 90 130 180

KS5 25 45 60 100 150

If a student gets to platinum he/she will get extra privileges e.g. lunch pass, football for astro turf etc.

Academic Ceremony – each student to receive 2 tickets (calculations are for 500 to attend). Subjects to hand out books and academic and achievement prizes.

House System Promotion  Noticeboard for houses.  Senior Student Leadership Team assigned to lead houses and designated members of staff.  Assemblies run for house teams – vertical assemblies.

12

   





Form groups known by the house and not the teacher. Badges to identify them across the school.

Potential stripes for sport/music – half stripe for KS3 and full stripe for KS4.

All staff, including support staff, assigned a house.

Department house competitions strategically mapped across the academic year. All subjects to participate. Examples may include – volcanoes, spelling bee, handwriting, Maths challenge, essay writing, sports, music, drama, art, ICT, debating, language competition, enterprise or design. One point to house for entering and 5 points for winning.

Cups for the winning house.

Form rooms – House Captain, Sports Captain, Council representatives, House and form totals.

We set clear boundaries and have high expectations for behaviour. We do not tolerate any bullying or rudeness (recognised as a strength in student and parent feedback). A range of sanctions are used, as appropriate, for any incident which may occur. These range from a short lunchtime detention which can be given on the same day without notice to being permanently excluded.

If a student receives an after school detention they, and their parents will be notified by email of the time and date of the detention. Occasionally students will receive isolation detentions, community service, evening detentions or a Saturday detention. Although not a legal requirement we do endeavour to give parents a 13

minimum of twenty four hours’ notice. If students fail to turn up to a sanction it will result in further intervention. For serious breaches of discipline students may be given a fixed term exclusion or, in extreme cases, be permanently excluded.

Our philosophy is that students need to take responsibility for their actions and the classroom climate must be conducive to learning. We endeavour for our students to grow up as rounded citizens with a holistic education prepared for the outside world.

Bullying is: ‘Behaviour by an individual or group usually repeated over time, that intentionally hurts another individual or group either physically or emotionally’.

Incidents may involve: • Physical Assault.

• Damage to property • Bullying • Harassment • Verbal abuse • Insults • Offensive graffiti or messages Bullying can be:  Emotional  Physical  Racist  Sexual  Homophobic  Verbal  Cyber

being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting (e.g. hiding books, threatening gestures) pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence racial taunts, graffiti, gestures unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments abusive comments of behaviour focussing on the issue of sexuality name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing all areas of internet ,such as email & internet chat room misuse threats by text messaging & calls misuse of associated technology , i.e. camera &video facilities

If you feel that you are being bullied  Remember that it is not your fault. Nobody deserves to be bullied.  Try to stay in a friendly group.  Try to be confident even if you do not feel it and remember walking away is not cowardly.  If you are worried or frightened you can speak to someone that to trust.  Keeps a diary recording what happened, when, where and with whom.

Who you should tell:  Your form tutor  Your Head of Year  A member of staff you feel happy to talk to, or feel you can trust.  Your parent, carer or anyone at home.  Your friend  In an emergency tell the nearest adult.

14

Students’ opinions play a central role in the decisions of our school. Our restructured student voice system has received County recognition and achieved some notable successes:     

Designing and introducing a summer shirt and new style of skirt Helping to adapt the menu in the school canteen Having a key voice in major school decisions and staff appointments Feedback on teaching and learning in the school Developing House Competitions and House Captain elections

We aim to provide opportunities for all students to develop skills which will enable them to actively engage in the local and global communities, to do this we will...      

Provide realistic and supportive contexts for students to be able to take their ideas forward Create opportunities so that students can work with a broad range of people, including those older and younger than themselves, both within school and the local community Develop situations whereby students can act as ambassadors for the school Provide realistic responsibilities which have clearly defined outcomes Welcome students as a driver for improving learning Enable students to reflect upon their own learning, their skills as an individual, a member of the team and within their leadership role

Students are invited to get involved in many ways including:  Standing to be form group representatives on the Year Council  Standing to be year group representatives on the School Parliament  Becoming a Senior Student Leader  Voting in elections  Leading or joining a range of clubs, societies and events identified and set up by, and designed for, students. This year students have led such activities as house and charity events, developed our Journalism Society and played an important part in developing teaching and learning across the school.  ‘Speakers Corner’ held every Friday in the library is an innovative opportunity for students to develop their oracy and presentation skills to a live audience. Students from Year 7 to Year 13 have taken part and made this a popular and fascinating insight into the wide range of interests of our students.

Further to this we support our students who wish to put themselves forward to represent their peers at a County level, which has led to one of our students sitting on the National Youth Council and being well represented on the Hertford Youth Town Council.

When your child joins Simon Balle School you will be able to access information about their achievement, behaviour and attendance online as well as viewing reports when these are issued.

After 2nd September you will have access to the system and be able to set-up your account using the email address you give us when you complete the New Student Information Sheet later in this booklet. Each parent can login individually if we have both email addresses.

To logon to the system you need to visit the website at www.go4schools.com. You need to click on the Parent button on the top right of the screen. A logon screen will appear and you might want to add this 15

address to your favourites. The first time you logon you need to go to the ‘First Time User’ section of the page, enter your email address and click the ‘Send me a Password’ button. A password will be generated and sent to your email address. Using this information on the logon screen will give access. You can change the password using the ‘My Settings’ tab near the top of the page. Help information is available on the site and you can also contact the School for advice using the email address: reports@simonballe.herts.sch.uk. Guidance can also be found on the parent guidance section of the school website.

Initially there will be little information on the site, but this will increase as the year progresses.

LEGAL GIVEN NAMES – Please note that as reports are formal documents we use the legal given name of your child, although this may not be the name used at home or in school.

At Simon Balle School we understand the responsibility to educate our students on eSafety issues, teaching them the appropriate behaviours and critical thinking skills to enable them to remain both safe and legal when using the internet and related technologies, in and beyond the context of the classroom. The technologies we are referring to are – Websites Email and instant message Blogs and wikis Video broadcasting Gaming Video and web functionality

Learning platforms and virtual learning environments Chat rooms and social networking Podcasting Music downloading Mobile/smart phones with texts Other web devices with web functionality

We are very proud of our network and hope students will enjoy using it. There are three large ICT suites and other PCs and wireless laptops are available around the school for students during lessons. In addition to formal ICT lessons students are able to use PCs at lunchtime in the library and at the homework club.

Students will be issued with a unique network account and password, a school email account and will be asked to agree online to the Acceptable User Agreement, a copy of which is below for your information.

The purpose of email is to improve communication between staff and students. Staff can email work to a class which can be returned electronically and homework is set on showmyhomework. We also use email in conjunction with InTouch to keep parents and students fully informed – we strongly advise you to sign up for this. We take eSafety very seriously and know that the accounts offer a high degree of protection and sent emails are traceable and blocks inappropriate and offensive words.

The internet is now such an integral part of children’s lives and opens up so many educational and social opportunities, giving them quite literally a world of information and experiences. As you would protect your child in the real world online safety skills are just as important. If your child understands the risks and can make sensible and informed choices online, they can get the most from the internet and stay safe whilst doing so, particularly from those people who might seek them out to harm them. To protect your child it is important to understand the internet and what the risks are. A useful site to visit for further information is www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/. eSafety is a growing concern and we encourage parents to ensure children use all forms of communication technology correctly. The school will investigate and take action against any improper use. In fact in one of our workshops for Year 7 parents in September we will discuss how you as parents can ensure your child is safe on the internet at home.

If you have any concerns please do not hesitate to contact the Network Manager (network@simonballe.herts.sch.uk) or by ringing the school. A copy of the school eSafety Policy is available in the school office.

16

               

I will only use the ICT systems in school, including the internet, email, digital video, mobile technologies etc. for school purposes.

I will not download or install software on school technologies.

I will only log onto the school network/learning platform with my own user name and password.

I will follow the schools ICT security system and not reveal my passwords to anyone and change them regularly.

I will only use my school email address.

I will make sure all ICT communications with students, teachers and others is responsible and sensible.

I will be responsible for my behaviour when using the internet. This includes resources I access and the language I use.

I will not deliberately browse, download, upload or forward material that could be considered offensive or illegal. If I accidently come across any such material I will report it immediately to my teacher.

Images of students and/or staff will only be taken, stored and used for school purposes in line with school policy and will not be distributed outside the school network without the permission of the School Manager.

I will not give out any personal information such as name, phone number or address. I will not arrange to meet someone unless this is part of a school project approved by my teacher.

I will ensure that my online activity, both in school and outside school, will not cause my school, the staff, students or others distress or bring disrepute.

I will respect the privacy and ownership of others’ work online at all times.

I will not attempt to bypass the internet filtering system.

I understand that all my use of the internet and other related technologies can be monitored and logged and can be made available to my teachers.

I understand that if I exceed my allocated number of printer credits I will be required to purchase more from the Network Office.

I understand these rules are designed to keep me safe and that if they are not followed school sanctions will be applied and my parent/carer may be contacted.

ICT, including the internet, email and mobile technologies etc. has become an important part of learning in our school. We expect all children to be safe and responsible when using any ICT technology. Please read and discuss these eSafety rules with your child. If you have any concerns or would like some further explanation please contact the School Manager.

If any student violates these provisions, access to the Network and/or internet will be denied and the student will be subject to disciplinary action.

Additional action may be taken by the school in line with existing policy regarding school behaviour. For serious violations exclusion may be imposed. Where appropriate police may be involved or other legal action may be taken.

You will need a sensible school bag or rucksack capable of holding A4 folders – small handbags/fashion bags are not suitable.

All students should have a supply of pens (including black and red biros), pencils, ruler, rubber, pencil sharpener, highlighter pens. Pencils and colours (including felt pens) to use both in class and at home - drawing pencils HB, 2B, 4B & 6B; coloured pencils - a range of 24 colours is most useful; pastels; glue and scissors. For Maths students should have a geometry set and a 17

scientific calculator and compass. If you are unsure which one to purchase, please speak to a member of the Maths Department at the beginning of term. ************* It is recommended students have the books shown below and they will be available for purchase from our bookseller, Brenda Parkhouse, when Stevensons visit the school on Monday 14th July. Payment for the books can be made by cheques or cash only. An order form will be available at the Parents’ Meeting to order over the Summer Holidays if you prefer. Brenda will be donating a number of free books to the School Library according to how many books are sold. Thank you for supporting our Library in this way.

Oxford Learner’s French Dictionary

£8.00

Collins School Dictionary

£6.00

Collins School Thesaurus

£6.00

Therefore all three titles above for £20.00 – available to purchase on the 14th July ************* The following are available from the School using the order form at the end of this booklet Book Covers – students are strongly recommended to have them as they will protect their books and keep them in a presentable condition. They cost £5.00 for a set of 8 and will be given out in registration on the first day of school.

Art sketchbook (£2.50) for your work. This can be ordered using the enclosed form and collected during the first art lesson.

We have a number of lockers available for students in Years 7-11. These are situated around the school and where possible are near the student’s form room but this is not always possible.

If you would like to order a locker, please complete the form at the end of this booklet and return it to the school as soon as possible with full payment. The cost will be £35; this is for 5 years whilst the student is in Years 7-11 and includes a deposit of £10 which will be returned to you when the student hands back their locker key at the end of Year 11. Pre-ordered lockers will be allocated during the first week of term.

Use Of Lockers - Conditions Please note the use of a locker is a privilege and students are expected to take responsibility for their lockers and observe the following:        

Students may access lockers either before school, during morning break or during lunchtime.

Lockers must not be overloaded and must be kept clean and tidy.

Locker keys must be kept safe and secure.

The School Office must be informed of any changes so that school records are kept up to date i.e. if you no longer require one.

The school cannot take any responsibility for the things that are put in lockers. All personal items must be covered by household insurance.

If you forget your locker key, the School Office may be able to open it for you in an emergency. Please note that lockers can only be opened in the presence of the locker owner.

If you lose your locker key, a replacement can be ordered (cost £5.50) via the school office.

All lockers must be emptied during the last week of school in July. Lockers will be checked by staff during the Summer Holidays and any contents thrown away.

18

New Year 7 students frequently misplace their belongings. This is a large school and it is very easy to forget where you last left something. Therefore please ensure ALL equipment and clothing is clearly labelled.

  



Please do not bring any of the following into school: chewing gum, cigarettes, alcohol, illegal substances or offensive weapons.

Expensive items such as mobile phones, jewellery etc. are not covered by the school insurance and should not be brought into school; parents must use their own household insurance if personal items are lost or damaged.

We recognise students may need to bring in a mobile phone/digital device if they travel on public transport and/or are engaged in extra-curricular activities as it is useful if there are changes or difficulties. Equally, sometimes a mobile digital device is useful in a lesson to enhance learning. If a student does bring these into school parents must accept that:  As above the School will not be held responsible for any loss or damage.  A mobile/digital device will be confiscated if it is misused; this includes being  Heard or seen for any reason in a lesson (unless sanctioned by the teacher)  Taken into an examination.  Used to take unsolicited images (still or moving) of anyone  Used in a way which disrupts teaching and learning, or damages the school’s reputation.  If it is confiscated for any misuse it will be held in the school office until the confiscation period is up.

Please do not bring in cash – in particular to spend on shopping before and after school.

The vision for the Library to be at the heart of the School has been realised since its remodelling a few years ago. Not only do students and staff come straight through reception and into the modern learning space but all Key Stages use it regularly for independent study, homework and reading.

Our Library supports teaching and learning throughout the School and has invested heavily in trustworthy, online subscriptions, available 24/7, covering up to date Non-Fiction. There are a number of zones in this space which allow different break out groups to work simultaneously on different projects. Our large Fiction zone is continuously utilised by Y7 and Y8 students for their Accelerated Reader programme.

This computerised scheme with online quizzes is now embedded in the curriculum and the Library works closely with the English Department to improve literacy and encourage a passion for books in all their formats.

The annual Book Week each Autumn Term focuses on reading and writing skills and is run in conjunction with local booksellers. Over the week all students hear a published author and take part in book related competitions etc. In addition we run the ever popular ‘Speaker’s Corner’ or weekly lunchtime talks given by students and staff who are passionate about their hobbies, travels etc. Both of these events featured in the School’s recent OFSTED report and were highly praised. We continue to reach out to our local primary schools and build on our relationship with the British Library.

19

All students may use the Library before and after school as well as during Break and Lunch times. We are normally open 08.00-17.00 Monday to Friday and all Y7 students receive a Library Induction in September.

If you have any queries please ask our trained Library staff, ably assisted by a team of Student Librarians.

We look forward to welcoming you soon.

Welcome to Simon Balle Music Department. Ours is a vibrant department renowned for the quality of our music and ensembles. All students are seen as part of our musical family. Here, anyone can learn a musical instrument and can start at any time. There are certain conditions attached to having instrumental lessons – please see the application form. We offer lessons on many instruments, including piano, jazz piano, voice (singing), keyboard, drums, electric, bass or acoustic guitar, trombone, trumpet, ‘cello, violin, viola, double bass, bassoon, flute, saxophone, clarinet and oboe.

All Simon Balle musicians, whether they learn an instrument in school or not, are expected to take part in at least one of our ensembles – it is part of learning the instrument! A full list of all our ensembles can be viewed on our website at www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk. If you learn an instrument out of school please complete the application form even if you will not be having lessons in school so that we can include you in one of our ensembles.

Our ensembles are an important part of the music curriculum and help foster commitment and hard work in the musicians. We have high expectations and are pleased that our students respond to our expectations!

If you would like your son/daughter to learn an instrument at Simon Balle…..

Complete, sign and return the enclosed application form as soon as possible (making particular note of the contract details on the back) – DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY AS YOU WILL RECEIVE AN INVOICE ONCE YOUR CHILD HAS STARTED LESSONS. Your application will be dealt with and the Music Administrator will contact you before the end of the Summer Term. Lessons are rotated throughout the time the teacher is in school, so the same school lesson is not missed each week. If asking for guitar lessons, please state electric or acoustic.

If you have any questions, music@simonballe.herts.sch.uk.

Mark Taylor, Director of Music

please

contact

the

Music

Department

via

email

at

Homework Students in Y7 will be issued with their own planner. The planner is an important document. It should be kept safely and brought to school each day. A copy of the timetable will be emailed to students and parents through the ‘InTouch’ system we use and they should copy this into the planner. We operate a two week timetable and students must check which week we are in as this will determine which equipment to bring and what homework to expect.

Each student is expected to do homework and a weekly timetable will be set. The details of homework set must be recorded in the planner. It is also set on ‘showmyhomework’ with a link on the school website, along with resources or other details. Parents can also access this. Parents in Y7 are asked to sign the planner each week having checked homework has been completed. Form tutors will monitor planners regularly. Getting homework completed on time and spending the right time on work often proves to be one of the biggest challenges to Year 7 students. It is parents’ responsibility to support their child with homework. Please ensure that:

20

     

You send out a clear message that homework must be completed and to a high standard.

Students realise they should take a pride in their work.

If a student cannot do the work, help them to sort this out. Check showmyhomework as resources and guidance will be included. They may need further clarification from the teacher before the deadline. Staff can be emailed (surnameinitial@simonballe.herts.sch.uk).

You help your children to organise homework. Each night ask them what they have and how and when they will do it.

You support us if a Study Support session (Wednesday 3.30-4.30) is given for missing homework.

Check your child’s planner so you know what they are doing and ask to see their work. This provides an excellent way of you encouraging your child in their learning.

We expect all parents to promote this.

In order to provide additional support in school we run a homework club for students. This will take place at lunchtimes. Please look out for notices informing you where this will be. The school library is also open from 8am to 5pm every day, with access to ICT and other learning resources. A supervised study session also takes place on Wednesdays 3.30-4.30, with ICT access and a teacher available to help.

Homework may take many forms. Typical tasks may include writing, research, investigation, design, posters or learning by heart. Learning in different subjects happens in different ways; a short task, designed to take around fifteen minutes or less, may be to learn some vocabulary or a key idea for a test. A regular homework task is designed to take around half an hour of sustained effort. An extended task may be designed to be completed over a period of several weeks with different skills and sections to work on. We avoid setting ‘overnight’ homework tasks as we know these do not encourage students to plan and manage their time effectively. If you find your child is suffering from ‘overload’ or an imbalance of subjects, please let us know via email or the planner and we can help. As a rough guide, your child should be receiving homework in two or three subjects per night, with no more than half an hour’s worth of work for each subject. Homework may be important that is required for the next lesson.

Break and Lunch Times All students must remain on the school site during all break times. Food can be purchased at both morning and lunch times.

Aside from lunch, we have lots of other things going on at lunch times and after school, including homework, language, drama, chess, scrabble, sports and music clubs.

Cycles Parents must ensure cycles brought to school are roadworthy and legal e.g. fitted with adequate lights and brakes at both the front and back of the bike. Cycles may be left in the cycle racks and should be locked securely however they MUST NOT be ridden on the school grounds. We would strongly advise all students to wear a safety helmet and have passed the cycling proficiency test; however we leave this to the discretion of parents and carers as they are ultimately responsible for the safety of their children when travelling to and from school.

We keep parents informed of what is happening at Simon Balle and the Headteacher produces an information letter called ‘newSBytes’ approximately twice a term as well as a blog both available on the school website. If parents are not able to access this they can request a paper copy of newSBytes’ from the school office. We also send out letters through our database system via email called InTouch. Please clearly complete your email address on the Student Information Sheet at the end of this booklet.

21

There are a number of opportunities for you, as parents, to come into school to review your child’s work and progress including a Parent’s Evening and an annual report. In addition we welcome you to a wealth of events ranging from concerts, plays, musicals, information and celebration evenings.

You are always welcome in school. If you have any queries or wish to share information with us, do contact us. Equally if we have any praise or concerns about your child, we will contact you. We see this as an important partnership.

We have an active and very supportive Parents’ Staff Association (The PSA) of which all parents are automatically members. We encourage you to join in their activities as they raise considerable funds for the school.

Our Website is an important tool for us to communicate with you. We see it as the ‘window’ for our community to look at what we are doing, which is why for most of the information you do not need a password etc. Please check this regularly to catch up on what is happening – news from clubs, lessons and other events is continually updated.

As a school we communicate with parents as frequently as possible so that everyone is kept informed.

However sending written information home can be rather ‘hit and miss’ with letters often going missing on the way! We are also increasingly aware of the environmental impact of the amount of paper we use.

As a result we use an email system called InTouch which links with our school database and enables us to send home information including Newsletters, Detention letters, Parents’ Evening letters, some trip information, student timetables and student exam timetables. We have found the results of using this service have been very successful, particularly notifying families about any disruption caused by snow or the occasional strike action, and hope that you will receive information from the school in a more reliable and efficient manner, and that you will no longer need to trawl through the contents of your children’s school bags Our school messages will be sent from the email address 9194067@capita-intouch.co.uk.. Please make sure you add this address to your email address book (or approved sender list) in order to prevent messages being blocked by your SPAM/JUNK filters. Please also check your JUNK/SPAM folder regularly in case messages go there.

Simon Balle School lets you make online payments using your credit and/or debit card using a very secure internet gateway called ParentPay and you are able to pay for items such as school trips, music lessons, revision guides and school dinners. Very quickly you will realise the advantage of this payment method and how easy it is to use ParentPay. Your child will no longer have to carry money and you have the choice of making payments whenever you want making all money transactions much safer.

At the Parents Evening in July you will be issued with a personal username and password which will give you access to your individual family account in ParentPay (however you will not be able to activate this account until your child starts in September). To use the system, you click on www.parentpay.com and enter your details. You will be able to choose a new username and password once you have logged on for the first time.

If you have any concerns regarding ParentPay, please contact the Finance Office.

22

Purchases in the school canteen can only be made via a smartcard. When a student starts at School they are issued with a smartcard which can be credited either by our ParentPay system, by paying a cheque (payable to Simon Balle School) or by bringing in cash and topping up the card at either break or lunch times, however for security reasons we prefer either ParentPay or cheques. Students can use a maximum of £6 a day. A card in credit is a useful stand-by for a student who usually brings a packed lunch. The till operator will inform students when their credit is low, but students should keep a close eye on their own spending. If students lose their smartcard or it is damaged a charge of £3.50 will be made for the new one.

If a card is lost it is hotlisted as soon as it is reported to the Catering Manager. The card is then unusable and any credit is transferred to the replacement, which is available immediately. Any queries regarding smartcards should be made to the Catering Manager.

School lunches are popular at Simon Balle and the majority of students from all years like to use the canteen. The range of food is both attractive and healthy. Each day a choice of two hot meals are available, one meat and one vegetarian. All are cooked on the premises and include such choices as chicken pie, a roast dinner, sausages and mash, curry, spaghetti bolognese, lasagne for meat eaters. Vegetarians enjoy tacos, lasagne, casseroles and quiches. A pudding is also available – cheesecakes, crumbles, sponge puddings and tarts. Currently the cost of the entire meal is £2.15 but this will increase in September. Equally popular is the daily pasta and sauce, jacket potatoes with fillings, panninis, soup and sandwiches and the cold service available via the Coffee Shop where students can buy sandwiches, cakes and biscuits. At break students can also buy hot and cold savouries.

The eating area is bright, comfortable and modern, providing a pleasant environment where students eat and socialise. We would encourage as many students as possible to eat there and buy a school lunch.

The Pupil Premium is a government initiative designed to target resources on those pupils deemed to be from a disadvantaged background. Specifically, the Pupil Premium money is provided for     

those pupils who have been on Free School Meals (FSM) at any point over the past 6 years (Ever6), those children who have a parent in the armed services, those children who have been looked after continuously for at least 6 months (CLA), those children who were adopted from care, or who left care under a Special Guardianship Order on or after 30th December 2005, those children who left care under a Residence Order on or after 14th October 1991.

Neither the government nor any government agencies have dictated how the Pupil Premium money should be spent, but what is clear is that the money should be used to promote strategies which narrow the attainment gap between the highest and lowest achieving pupils.

If your child is eligible for Free School Meals you will need to complete the necessary paperwork as detailed below.

If you think your child qualifies for Pupil Premium under any of the other categories above please indicate as appropriate on the Student Information Sheet and also contact Mrs Salter in the School Office. Evidence will need to be provided.

We run a week long Summer School for all Pupil Premium children who will join us in Year 7. This year it will run from 18th-22nd August. We will be contacting eligible students shortly.

23

Parents in receipt of the following allowances can register for free school meals for their children at school.

Free School Meal registration will entitle you to subsidies for certain trips and visits and may also entitle you to free music lessons. The responsibility for both application and renewal rests with the parents. To request further information call 0300 123 4043 or alternatively apply on line at www.hertsdirect.org click on the link “How can we help.” In all cases proof of benefit is required.         

Income Support Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance Income-related Employment and Support Allowance Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 The Guaranteed element of State Pension Credit Child Tax Credit, if not in receipt of Working Tax Credit and taxable income does not exceed £16,190 Working Tax Credit ‘run-on’ – the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit Universal Credit Students can also register for Free School Meals if they get any of these benefits themselves

Please note that we operate a cashless school meal system, so other students will not know who receives Free School Meals.

Teachers and school staff have a duty to protect children from child abuse. The safety and welfare of the child is of paramount importance and includes protecting children from physical, emotional or sexual abuse or neglect. All school staff are trained in child protection and a register is kept. Mr Brown is the Designated Person for Child Protection and Miss Traynor is his Deputy.

Staff have successfully received accredited training in safer recruitment procedures. The school operates a recruitment process which aims to:   

Attract the best possible applicants to vacancies Deter prospective applicants who are unsuitable for work with children or young people Identify and reject applicants who are unsuitable for work with children and young people

Simon Balle School is committed to safeguarding children and young people. All post holders are subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS check – previously CRB).

All visitors to the school, including parents, must report to reception, based in the school office, sign in and wear a badge. This is just one aspect of safeguarding and we strive to introduce enhancements all the time.

24

Parking on the school site is limited and we would ask that parents coming to school by car use the one way system and only park in the fenced car park and do not use the visitor spaces for dropping off or picking up students at the start or the end of the school day.

If you need to visit the school during the day you must park in the visitor spaces and not drive up to the main office between 8.30am and 4pm as this is the playground and thoroughfare for students. This is a very busy area, the safety of our students is paramount and we are concerned about Health and Safety. Please adhere to all the signs when you enter the school grounds.

Special consideration is given to disabled badge holders and parking is available in front of the main school reception.

‘Closing the school may be the right decision where the judgement is that students or staff face significant risk of serious injury in school or travelling to school. But remember that every lesson counts and consider whether it is reasonably practical to keep open.’ (DCSF) ‘Unless specifically told otherwise, staff will be expected to use their best endeavours to attend work without putting themselves or others at risk. When the police and motoring organisations, such as the AA, recommend that motorists undertake only essential journeys this is considered to include travel to work and school.’ (HCC) The Headteacher, School Manager and Premises staff assess the situation in terms of health and safety.

We also consult with other local schools. If conditions pose a significant risk, the school will close. There is a robust system for notifying families which includes – School website (www.simonballe.herts.sch.uk) InTouch (please complete your email details on the Student Information Sheet at the back of this booklet) Herts Direct (www.hertsdirect.org) If a substantial amount of snow falls during the day senior staff may decide that the school day should be shortened so that staff and students can leave the site in order to get home in the daylight. School day times may alter – open later, have a shortened lunch and leave earlier.

When we remain open risk assessments will be undertaken to ensure the health and safety of staff, students and all site users. Our premises staff have formulated an action plan which includes clearing and gritting paths and walkways.

There are a number of options which may be adopted, in the case of severe weather, to ensure continuity in teaching and learning for example –   

The school is closed and all students will be given work using ICT, the work will be sent to staff for marking.

School is open but there is a reduced number of staff. Classes may be reorganised with priority being given to exam classes For students not on site e-learning may be used. In advance departments will prepare work which can be delivered virtually.

The decision to close the school is complicated and not taken lightly. Hopefully the above will show some of the strategies which will be used in the event of snow but we sincerely wish that there will be no snow this winter.

25

At Simon Balle School we have a clear vision to provide the very best learning experience for all of our students. We have much to celebrate; our academic standards are high, students tell us they are very happy at school and many parents are keen to recommend the school to others.

Every day so much is happening which is worthy of note from subject lessons, trips and activities, to clubs and fixtures. Our website tries to capture and share this; it is our window for the outside world and images* of this great school are crucial if we are to publicise, communicate and celebrate our life in school.

What sort of images/photos do we take?

We only take positive images and these are closely vetted. We take pictures of what is happening in lessons which usually comprises of a group or class image. House plays and House sports, concerts, sports champions, guest visitors and activity trips all provide other opportunities for us to capture the learning and personal development that takes place at our school.

How do we use these images/photos?

We use them for displays within school. Visitors always praise us for our stimulating learning environment and the students themselves feedback just how much they enjoy looking at the range of activities which take place. The Y7 trip board is perhaps one of our most visited displays. This celebration of events can increasingly be seen on the website and occasionally we manage to get an article in a local newspaper.

In addition, we use images of students taking part in activities for promotional and publicity purposes. Most schools have a paper or e-prospectus, which contain images of students. Increasingly short podcasts are also being used.

We know that most parents are happy with schools taking images and using them in this way. We are always very careful in what we take, how we use it and how we label photos. The school has guidelines, user agreements and policies to ensure we fulfil our Data Protection and E-safety. If you are happy with the above statements you do not need to take any further action.

However, we understand that a small number of parents may not want their child to have their image taken or used in this way. For those parents we therefore ask, if you do have concerns, to opt out by signing the contract at the end of this booklet. *Images may be photographic or filmed

We, Simon Balle School, are a data controller for the purposes of the Data Protection Act. We collect information from you and may receive information about you from your previous school and the Learning Records Service. We hold this personal data and use it to:    

Support your teaching and learning; Monitor and report on your progress; Provide appropriate pastoral care, and Assess how well your school is doing.

Information about you that we hold includes your contact details, national curriculum assessment results, attendance information1 and personal characteristics such as your ethnic group, any special educational

26

needs you may have and relevant medical information. If you are enrolling for post 14 qualifications the Learning Records Service will give us your unique learner number (ULN) and may also give us details about your learning or qualifications.

Once you are aged 13 or over, we are required by law to pass on certain information to providers of youth support services in your area. This is the local authority support service for young people aged 13 to 19 in England. We must provide the names and addresses of you and your parent(s), and any further information relevant to the support services’ role.

However, if you are over 16, you (or your parent(s)) can ask that no information beyond names, addresses and your date of birth be passed to the support service. This right transfers to you on your 16th birthday.

Please tell Mrs Salter, Database Manager, if you wish to opt out of this arrangement. For more information about young people’s services, please go to the National Careers Service page at https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/aboutus/Pages/default.aspx Some of the information you supply will be used by the Skills Funding Agency to fulfil its statutory functions, issue/verify your Unique Learner Number (ULN) and update/check your Personal Learning Record. The Skills Funding Agency may share your ULN and Personal Learning Record with other education related organisations, such as your careers service, school, college, university, Government Departments and public bodies responsible for funding your education. Further details of how your information is processed and shared can be found here. http://www.learningrecordsservice.org.uk/NR/rdonlyres/30EE21D9-0C384A67-85D9-923C052F2999/0/PN02PrivacyNoticesstudentsandlearnersversion13aug2012.pdf Other Institutions involved in collaborative delivery. Where secondary schools are involved in collaborative delivery with other schools / colleges and learning providers, pupil information may also be shared to aid the preparation of learning plans and use of data to achieve the objectives identified above.

We will not give information about you to anyone without your consent unless the law and our policies allow us to.

We are required by law to pass some of your information to the Local Authority and the Department for Education (DfE) and, in turn, this will be available for the use of the LA. If you want to see a copy of the information we hold and share about you then please contact Mrs Salter.

If you require more information about how the Local Authority (LA) and/or DfE store and use your information, then please go to the following websites: http://www.hertsdirect.org/services/edlearn/privsch/ and http://www.education.gov.uk/researchandstatistics/datatdatam/b00212337/datause If you are unable to access these websites, please contact the LA or DfE as follows:  Data Protection Team, Information Governance Unit, Room C1, County Hall, Pegs Lane, Hertford, SG13, email: dataprotection@hertscc.gov.uk  Public Communications Unit, Department for Education, Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London SW1) 3BT, Telephone: 0370 000 2288  Website: www.education.gov.uk email: http://www.education.gov.uk/help/contactus

27

STUDENT INFORMATION SHEET

What is homework?

Homework is any work or activity which you are asked to do outside lesson time, either on your own or with your parents/carers.

Why do you get homework?

The main reasons are:  you learn how to plan and organise work;  it helps you learn how to work on your own, and to think and try things out for yourself;  it helps you learn how to use time effectively and to meet deadlines;  it gives you the chance to practise what you have done in class, or to learn things you will use in the next lesson;  it encourages you to use resources that can be found outside school;  it involves people outside school in your work: parents and others can work with the school and help you make progress in your learning;  you learn more! Research shows that doing homework regularly adds an extra year’s worth of learning to your education.

Homework is set in line with the published homework timetable. If you have not been set homework for some reason (e.g. the teacher was away), this does not mean that there is no work to do. You must take responsibility for your own learning and progress by spending time reading round the subject. Check your emails regularly as teachers may send you extra resources and reminders.

Here are some ideas to help you do your homework successfully: Before you do your homework:  Make sure you know what you are meant to be doing and why you are doing it.  Write down the details clearly in your planner. Homework is also set on showmyhomework which has a link from the school website. Both you and your parents can access it and you will have access to resources and links you need.  If you think you are going to struggle to do the work set, talk to your teacher about it or ask for help at the Homework Club. Every Wednesday 3.30-4.30pm we run ‘Study Support’, where you can work with a teacher to help you and access ICT for your homework.  If you have a number of things to do, ask yourself which is important to do first, second and so on, and plan your time carefully. Teachers should not set you homework to do for the next day; you will have a few days so you can spread things out evenly.  You might get short learning homeworks for a test, a task that will take about half an hour, or longer projects. A guide to how long your homework should take will also be included.  Choose a suitable time and, if possible, make sure you have all the books and equipment you need when you sit down to work.  Try to work somewhere where you will not be disturbed or distracted. Remember the library is open from 8am to 5pm every day, if working at home is tricky or you do not have internet access.

While doing your homework:  If your work is taking a long time, give yourself a short break, and go back to it with a fresh mind.  If it is taking much longer than was intended, stop at a suitable point and get your parent/carer to write a short note in your planner explaining why you could not complete the work.  Take pride in all your work! Do not do the bare minimum in the shortest possible time!

28

After doing your homework:  Check it!  Hand it in on time!

Every day:  Check the exercise books you have used during the day, stick in any loose sheets and finish off any underlining, dates, titles etc. whilst the lessons are fresh in your mind.

Every Weekend:  Check your planner. Get a parent to sign it. Make a list of anything you need to bring for each day during the coming week (e.g. work to hand in, PE kit, musical instruments, ingredients, library books).

Homework Tips:  Plan your time to make sure you are not rushing homework the night before it is due in.  Stick the homework timetable on the fridge so you are always reminded of what you should be doing!  If you forget or are unable to do your homework tell the teacher, before the lesson if possible, or bring a note.  Use the school Homework Club at lunchtimes or Study Support on a Wednesday after school.  Take regular breaks so your mind stays fresh.  If you do not understand the task set ask the teacher and check on showmyhomework. You can also email your teachers.  Write your homework in your planner clearly.  Check you have completed homework needed for the next day before going to bed.  Ask a parent to sign your planner each week.  Pack your school bag the night before going to bed. Only bring what you need for the next day.  Use the library to find the resources you need. It’s open from 8am to 5pm every day and someone will help you if you need it.

At School  Make sure you get to lessons on time.  Try to put your hand up when a question is asked, REMEMBER do not call out.  Do not talk in class unless you are told by a teacher to discuss things.  Do not answer the teachers back with cheeky remarks.  Stick to the left-hand side of the corridors as a result you will not get squashed.  Make sure you are wearing the correct uniform at all times.  Do not use bad language at any time.  Be well behaved at all times.  Try your hardest.  Aim high – remember you are here to learn.

Making Friends  Smile, be pleasant and say ‘hi’ to people.  Make the first move. Join in school and lunch time activities.  Ask questions so people know you are interested in them.  Be a good listener.  Be positive – do not moan.  Do not be bossy and show off.  Do not bug people – if they do not want to be friends move onto someone else.

29

 

Do not expect everyone to be like you.

Watch out for ‘friends’ who try to get you to do things you know are wrong.

Finding Your Way  Do not worry if you get lost. You will not be the only one.  Do not be afraid to ask for directions.  You will soon get used to the school layout and different teachers.

Lunch and Break Times  If you forget your smartcard, do not worry. Speak to your form tutor or someone in the canteen: they will help you.  Find out what you can do at break and lunch times. You are not allowed to leave the school site, but there is the library, homework and other clubs and practices for sport and other events during the year.

Practical Tips  Regularly check your email account and showmyhomework.  Keep your money, keys and other valuables in a safe place. In a big school where you are moving around a lot of things can easily get lost, or very occasionally stolen.  Make sure your name is on everything: clothes, kit, bags, calculators, books, so if you do lose something it will find its way back to you.  Get a school bag big enough to get everything in but comfortable to carry. A separate bag for PE kit is a good idea.  Always pack your school bag the night before. Check your timetable to make sure you have the correct books and equipment and kit. What homework is there to hand in?  Buy the plastic exercise book covers from school. These will protect your work and the different colours will help avoid confusion.  Do not take more than you need, especially money. The more you have, the more you have to worry about and the more you have to lose.

30

You are late?

Go to Student Reception and sign in the Students Signing Book and then go straight to your lesson.

You are sick and cannot come into school?

Get your parent to telephone the school informing us why you will not be in. A message can be left on the school absence answerphone giving name, form, reason for absence and when you expect to be back in school.

Please do not just say ‘unwell’.

Your parent can also send an email to admin@simonballe.herts.sch.uk You feel ill during the school day?

Ask your teacher if you can go to the School Office for advice. Where necessary a parent/guardian will be contacted and asked to collect you from school. You will not be able to make your own way home. You MUST NOT contact your parents yourselves on your mobile phone.

You need to bring medication into school?

Ask your parents to give you a letter explaining what and when it needs to be taken and give the medicine to the School Office. Go back to the School Office at the agreed time.

You have forgotten something?

Get your parent to bring it into school and leave it with the School Office (at Student Reception) in a bag with your name and form on it. It is up to you, the student, to go to Student Reception to collect it.

You forget your homework or cannot do it?

See your class teacher before the lesson and explain the circumstances.

You cannot do PE lessons?

Bring a note from home explaining why. If there is a sustained injury you will need to get a doctor’s note.

31

ADVICE TO PARENTS Moving to secondary school can sometimes be as daunting for parents as for students. At Simon Balle we genuinely value our relationships with parents and you will have lots of opportunities over the years to learn how to help us to help your child make the most of their opportunities. But here to begin with are some tips on how to make the move successfully. Do come along to every session offered by the School to find out about how you can help and work with us.

Preparing Your Child For School  Your child may be feeling very insecure about the move so give them lots of reassurance.  Establish a routine before school starts, and check they are sleeping and eating well.  Before term starts review with your child what they do well and where they might have difficulties, so that they become focussed and realistic.  Find out about fun activities outside of school such as sports, scouts, guides, drama; these help children to develop new skills and relationships, and to put school life into perspective.  Be sure that you are both clear about the practical issues such as uniform, kit, equipment needed, lockers, times etc.  Help them choose and buy a suitable bag. Various forms of shoulder bag are popular now, and they are easier to carry: they could be carrying a considerable weight around!  Check about transport to and from school. A dummy run beforehand is often useful.  Make sure that everything is marked…especially uniform and all kit, including bags.  Go into the School website regularly so they are used to doing this.

Forming Friendships  Reassure them that students come from many different primary schools and a wide area both in Hertford and outside and that some students will not know anybody when they start.  Explain to them that worthwhile friendships take time and effort, and that sometimes they just do not work out.  Tell them that they are welcome to invite friends over. This will make school seem less distant.  Try not to pass your anxieties onto your child; they will have enough of their own. Be relaxed and supportive…though this may not be easy if they are wound up like a top!

When They Start  Ask about their day.  Become familiar with the expected use of the planner immediately.  If they have difficulty finishing homework, inform the teacher via their planner.  Read again the advice in other sections of this booklet.  Expect them to be very tired: there is a lot to take in during the first few weeks.  If you feel there is a problem that goes beyond initial nerves, contact the school: this early contact should be with the form tutor or head of year.  Encourage them to join in with the extra-curricular activities.  Attend extra-curricular events: sports fixtures, plays, music concerts, Parent Staff Association functions.  Keep in contact with the school; do not let worries build up.  Makes lists of what equipment is needed on each day according to their timetable. Put the list onto a prominent surface e.g. fridge door.  Make sure they know the names of all their teachers.

32

Student’s Legal Surname and Legal Forename

Preferred Surname Preferred Forename Student’s Home Address Ethnicity First Language

Home Language Medical Information Contact Details

Email address for InTouch

Relationship Absent Parent

It is vital that names entered here are those stated on the student’s birth certificate. They are used for external examination purposes, throughout their years at school. Students must be registered under the names which appear on the birth certificate, unless evidence is produced that their name has been legally changed by adoption, certificate of deed poll, etc. If the name has been changed please attach a copy of the necessary evidence.

Please let us know the preferred surname by which you wish your child to be known whilst at Simon Balle if different from their Legal Surname Please let us know the preferred forename by which you wish your child to be known whilst at Simon Balle if different from their Legal Forename, i.e. shortened version This is the address your child normally lives at during term time.

Please note, this is about your family origin/heritage, NOT about nationality.

Please specify as appropriate.

A first language other than English should be recorded where a child was exposed to the language during early development and continues to be exposed to this language in the home or in the community.

Please specify the main language spoken at home.

Please give brief details and complete the Student Health Questionnaire later in the booklet with full details.

Please give details of all persons who have parental responsibility and anyone else you wish to be contacted in an emergency. Please give full telephone numbers and place the contacts in the order you wish them to be contacted in an emergency.

Please write email addresses clearly, particularly when using underscore (_) or hyphen (-). Email contact is used for newsletters, detentions, students timetables and many other forms of communication Mother, Father, Stepmother, Stepfather, Guardian etc.

If a parent does not live in the family home please tick the absent parent box.

Please complete all the other forms in this booklet and return to the School Office by Wednesday 7th May enclosing any money as appropriate. Thank you

33

Please Read the Accompanying Notes BEFORE Completing The Form

STUDENT’S DETAILS:

Legal Surname*: ……………………………Legal Forename: …………………………. Middle Names: ……….…………

Preferred Surname*: ……………...……….. Preferred Forename: ……………………… Date of Birth: ……………………. *(If different please supply a copy of the appropriate document) Gender: …………… Ethnicity: …….…………...... First Language: ……………......... Home Language: …………….……..

Student’s Home Address: ….………………………………………..………………………………………………………………………………………..…… …………………………………………………………….Post Code: ………………….. Home : ……………………………..

PARENT DETAILS: Please give details of ALL persons who have parental responsibility and anyone else you wish to be contacted in an emergency. Place them in the order you wish them to be contacted in an emergency. If a parent does not live in the family home please tick the absent parent box.

PLEASE WRITE THE E-MAIL ADDRESS CLEARLY (particularly ‘-‘ and ‘_’)

PARENT/CARER (CONTACT 1)

Name: Relationship to child: Parental responsibility: Y/N Home Address (if different):

Absent Parent: Y/N:

Home : Work : Mobile : e-mail address for InTouch: CONTACT 2

Name: Relationship to child: Parental responsibility: Y/N Home Address (if different):

Absent Parent: Y/N:

Home : Work : Mobile : e-mail address for InTouch: CONTACT 3

Name: Relationship to child: Parental responsibility: Y/N Home Address (if different):

Absent Parent: Y/N:

Home : Work : Mobile : e-mail address for InTouch: Parents’ marital status (i.e. married/divorced/separated/single): ………………………………………………………………..

If parents are divorced/separated, who is the student’s legal guardian? ………………………………………………………

Is there a Court Order in operation with regard to the child? YES/NO

(PLEASE COPY SUCH DOCUMENT TO THE SCHOOL )

Is the student in care? YES/NO If YES, please give the name of the Care Authority and start date: ……………………

34

Is either parent in the Armed Services? YES/NO If YES please give details. ………………………………………………

Is the student currently in receipt of Free School Meals? YES/NO Has the student been in receipt of Free School Meals at any time in the last 6 years (your child may be eligible to receive help from Pupil Premium)? YES/NO If YES please give start and end dates ……………………………………

Which parent does the student live with? MOTHER/FATHER/BOTH/OTHER (Please specify)……………………………………..

If there are any family circumstances which you feel the school should be aware of please inform your child’s Head of Year Names of any brothers or sisters attending Simon Balle School ………………………..………………………………………

MEDICAL DETAILS:

Surgery Name: ……………………………………………….………………………………: ………………………..…………

Address: ………………………………………………………………………………… NHS Number: …………………………..

Medical Information and Special Dietary Requirements: ………………...……………………………………………………… ……………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...

TRANSPORT DETAILS:

Please tick how your child usually travels to school. If more than one mode of travel is used, the longest element of the journey by distance should be recorded, e.g. a student travelling 5 miles by car and then walking 1 mile should tick Car/Van. Please Tick One Box Only

Walk

Train

Cycle*

Car or Van

Taxi

Public Service Bus

Car Share (with a child/children from a different household)

Other

*Please attach cycling proficiency certificate & parental permission letter

EDUCATION DETAILS:

Previous Primary School: ……………………………………….………………………………: ………………………….……

Address: …………..………………..…………………………………………………………………..……………………..……...

Has your child been excluded from another school? (If YES, please give details) ………………...……..………….………

If not Primary to Secondary, what is the reason for transfer? …………………………..…………..…………………………..

I undertake to co-operate with the school in ensuring that my child attends school, wears the correct uniform and observes the school rules.

Parent/Carer ………………………………………………………………………… Date: ………………………………………

PLEASE RETURN TO THE SCHOOL OFFICE BY WEDNESDAY 7TH MAY 2014

35

Student Name :……………………………………………………………………………………………..……(please print) Our ethnic background describes how we think of ourselves. This may be based on many things, including, for example, our skin colour, language, culture, ancestry or family history. Ethnic background is not the same as nationality or country of birth.

The DFE recommends that those with parental responsibility decide the ethnic background for students. The Information Commissioner (formerly the Data Protection Registrar) recommends that young people aged over 11 years old have the opportunity to decide their own ethnic identity.

Parents, or those with parental responsibility, are asked to support or advise those children aged over 11 in making this decision, wherever necessary. Students aged 16 or over can make this decision for themselves.

Please study the list below and tick one box only to indicate the ethnic background of the student named above. Please also tick whether the form was filled in by a parent or the student. (a) White British Irish Traveller from Irish heritage Gypsy Roma Any other White background Italian Turkish

(b) Mixed White and Black Caribbean White and Black African White and Asian Any other mixed background (d) Black or Black British Caribbean African Any other Black background

(c) Asian or Asian British Indian Pakistani Bangladeshi Any other Asian background

(f) Any Other Ethnic Group

(e) Chinese I do not wish an ethnic background to be recorded This information was provided by: Parent

Student

Please return the completed form to the School Office by Wednesday 7th May 2014 Any information you provide will be used solely to compile statistics on the school careers and experiences of students from different ethnic backgrounds, to help ensure that all students have the opportunity to fulfil their potential. These statistics will not allow individual students to be identified. From time to time the information will be passed onto the Local Education authority and the Department for Education to contribute to local and national statistics.

36

A first language other than English should be recorded where a child was exposed to the language during early development and continues to be exposed to this language in the home or in the community.

If a child was exposed to more than one language (which may include English) during early development the language other than English should be recorded, irrespective of the child's proficiency in English.

In the case of an older student who is no longer exposed to the first language in the home, and who now uses only another language, the student or parent can determine which language should be recorded.

Tick one Box only  English

Afrikaans Akan/Twi-Fante Albanian/Shiqip Amharic Arabic Armenian Bengali (Sylheti) Bengali (Any other) Bosnian Bulgarian Caribbean Creole English Caribbean Creole French Chaga Chinese (Cantonese) Chinese (Hakka) Chinese (Mandarin/Putonghua) Chinese (Any other) Chichewa/Nyanja Croatian Czech Danish Dutch/Flemish Estonian Filipino Finnish French Gaelic/Irish German Greek (Cyprus) Greek (Any other) Gujarati Hausa  Hebrew                                

 Do not wish First Language to be recorded (Refused)                                 

Hindi Hungarian Igbo Icelandic Italian (Sicilian) Italian (Any other) Japanese Kannada Kashmiri Katchi Kikuyu/Gikuyu Kinyarwanda Kirundi Konkani Korean Kurdish Latvian Lingala Lithuanian Luo(Kenya/Tanzania) Marathi Malayalam Malay/Indonesian Ndebele Nepali Pahsto/Pakhto Pahari(Pakistan) Panjabi (Gurmukhi) Panjabi (Mirpuri) Panjabi (Any other) Dari Persian Persian/Farsi (Any other) Polish

                               

Portuguese (Brazil) Portuguese (Any other) Romanian Romany/English Romanes Russian Serbian Shona Sindhi Sinhala Slovak Slovenian Somali Sotho / Sesotho Spanish Sundanese Swahili / Kiswahili Swedish Tagalog Tamil Telugu Thai Tigrinya Traveller Irish / Shelta Turkish Ukrainian Urdu Vietnamese Welsh/Cymraeg Wolof Xhosa Yoruba Zulu

Other Language:…………………………………………………….Please complete if language is not included in the list above Student Name:……………………………………………………………………………………..Class/Form…………………………………

This information was provided by: Parent  Student 

(Any information you provide will be used solely to compile statistics on the school careers and experiences of pupils from different ethnic backgrounds, to help ensure that all pupils have the opportunity to fulfil their potential. These statistics will not allow individual students to be identified. From time to time the information will be passed on to the Local Authority and the Department for Education to contribute to local and national statistics. The information will also be passed on to future schools to save it having to be asked for again).

Please return the completed form to the School Office by Wednesday 7 th May 2014 37

Please sign and date the form below if you are happy for your child, a) To take part in school trips and other activities that take place off school premises; and b) To be given first aid or urgent medical treatment during any school trip or activity.

Please note the following important information before signing this form: 

 

The trips and activities covered by this consent include; o all visits (including residential trips) which take place during the holidays or a weekend o adventure activities at any time o off-site sporting fixtures outside the school day, o day trips/visits.

The school will send you information about each trip or activity before it takes place.

You can, if you wish, tell the school that you do not want your child to take part in any particular school trip or activity.

Written parental consent will not be requested from you for the majority of off-site activities offered by the school – for example, year-group visits to local amenities – as such activities are part of the school’s curriculum and usually take place during the normal school day.

Please complete the medical information section below (if applicable) and sign and date this form if you agree to the above.

MEDICAL INFORMATION Details of any medical condition that my child, suffers from and any medication my child should take during off-site visits: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Student’s Name:…………………………………………………….. Form (if known): ……………….

Signed (Parent/Carer): …………………………………………….………………………………………

Parent/Carer’s Name: ……………………………………………………………………………………...

Date: ………………………………………………….

Please return the completed form to the School Office by Wednesday 7th May 2014

38

39

Please return this form to the School Office by Wednesday 7th May 2014 STUDENT NAME: ____________________________________________________________ National Health Number: ______________________________________________________ Name and address of Doctor: __________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________

IMMUNISATION: Which of the following has your child received?

Tetanus/Diphtheria/Polio ___________________ Whooping Cough ________________ Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) _____________ Pre-school Booster _______________ Rubella ________________________________ Meningitis C _____________________ Other (e.g. BCG) _________________________ DETAILS OF ILLNESSES: Has your child ever had any serious injury, illness or operation, or attended any hospital (if so, please give details)? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________

DOES YOUR CHILD SUFFER FROM ANY OF THE PROBLEMS BELOW/OVERLEAF? 1.

Vision problems (Please state, e.g. Colour vision/glasses)

_______________________________________

2.

Ear/hearing Problems

_______________________________________

3.

Dental

_______________________________________

4.

Severe Headaches/Migraines

_______________________________________

5.

Allergies

_______________________________________

6.

Asthma

_______________________________________

7.

Hayfever

_______________________________________

8.

Skin Problems

_______________________________________

9.

Heart Problems

_______________________________________

10.

Urine Infections

_______________________________________

11.

Bowel Problems

_______________________________________

12.

Eating/Dieting Problems

_______________________________________ 40

13.

Fits or Convulsions

_______________________________________

14.

Emotional/Anxiety or Depression

_______________________________________

15.

Problems with muscles/bones/joints

_______________________________________

16.

Family changes (including bereavements/separation)

____________________________

Has your child ever had a serious allergic reaction to anything? __________________________________________________________________________ Does your child take any regular medication (including inhaler)? Please specify __________________________________________________________________________

Has your child had frequent absences from school in the past year? __________________________________________________________________________

Is your child happy with school life? _____________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ Is there anything specific we need to know about your child’s health? __________________________________________________________________________

Signature: (Parent/Guardian) __________________________ Date: ___________________

41

Please complete this form and return it to the School Office by Wednesday 7th May 2014 Student’s Name …………………………………..……………………….(please print) 

I enclose cheque/cash* for £35 for a school locker for the above named student to use in years 7-11 in accordance with the conditions previously detailed in the booklet

Parent/guardian signature: …………………………………………………………

Date:……………

Print Name: …………………………………………………………………………………………………… ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Please complete this form and return it to the School Office by Wednesday 7th May 2014 Student’s Name……………………………………………………………(please print) I would like to order the following: 

I enclose cheque/cash* for 1 sketchbook @ £2.50 £………………………… ----------------------------------------------------------------------

Please complete this form and return it to the School Office by Wednesday 7th May 2014 Student’s Name………………………………………………………………(please print) I would like to order the following: 

I enclose cheque/cash* for 1 set of 8 book covers @ £5.00 per pack £……………………

*Please delete as appropriate (Please make cheques payable to Simon Balle School – one cheque can be written for all the above items)

42

43

Following our extremely popular and successful sessions last year in various subjects, we are once again able to offer a variety of practical activities where parents work alongside their children who are joining Simon Balle School in September. The sessions will run for 90 minutes and parents and students can sign up for just one evening or attend all four if they prefer. If a department is offering more than one session then this will follow the same format each time.

Sessions will be linked to the programmes students will follow in Year 7 and parents will be working on similar themes and developing those skills their own children will be exploring once they come to Simon Balle. It is an excellent way of students getting to know the school and for parents to understand the time constraints they work under. However parents really enjoy working alongside their children and meeting other new parents.

Places will be limited and we would like you to indicate your preferred dates and sessions on the form below (Monday 9th, Thursday 19th, Monday 23rd June and Tuesday 1st July – 6.30-8.00pm).We will try and accommodate you with your first preferences however if, as last year, the sessions prove so popular we may have to restrict parents to one session each to enable us to accommodate more parents. Please indicate on the form below by writing which subject you would like in the corresponding box. The available subjects are Art, Drama, Food Technology, English, Geography, History, IT, Library and Independent Learning, Maths, Modern Foreign Languages (MFL), Music, PE and Science.

If you are interested in taking part in this free course, please complete the attached form and send it to the school office by Wednesday 7th May 2013 as places are limited. PLEASE SUPPLY AN EMAIL ADDRESS AS YOU WILL BE EMAILED TO CONFIRM YOUR PLACE ON THE COURSE BY FRIDAY 23rd MAY 2014 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please return this form to the School Office by Wednesday 7th May 2014 Parent Name: ………………………………………………. Signature:…………………………………….

Student Name: …............................................................. Date: ……………………………………......

EXAMPLE – for 9th June Monday 9th June

1st Choice Subject IT

2nd Choice Subject PE

3rd Choice Subject FOOD

4th Choice Subject ART

5th Choice Subject

ART, FOOD, IT, PE

Thursday 19th June FOOD, DRAMA, GEOGRAPHY, MUSIC, SCIENCE

Monday 23rd June ENGLISH, FOOD, IT, LIBRARY , MATHS

Tuesday 1st July ENGLISH, FOOD, HISTORY, MATHS, MFL

Contact email address……………………………..………………………………………………………………………….

PLEASE PRINT EMAIL ADDRESS CLEARLY 44

45

Please print Name of Student...................................................................................................................

Name of Parent(s) .................................................................................................................

Address ................................................................................................................................. .............................................................................. Post Code .................................

Home Tel No ........................................................................................................................

Daytime Contact No ..............................................................................................................

E-mail………………………………………………………………………………………………...

Primary School………………………….........................................................................

Student’s mobile phone number: …………………………………………………………………

I wish my child to receive tuition in .................................................................................(instrument) (Please fill out separate forms if lessons in more than one instrument are required) * I am prepared to pay for (current prices – may alter in September 2014)

  

Individual Tuition

(½ hour weekly)

= £191.00 for 11 lessons

Individual Tuition

(20 minutes weekly)

= £132.15 for 11 lessons

I am eligible for Remission of Fees (Income support/family credit) and have telephoned the Call Centre at Stevenage on 0300 1234048 and confirm that my application is being processed. Please be aware that lessons cannot commence until the Remission of Fees has been confirmed.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY – YOU WILL BE SENT AN INVOICE (It may not be possible to allocate your child to the preferred option but we will try to meet your requests.) * Status of Student  My child is a complete beginner in this instrument.

  

My child has been learning this instrument for ......................(current teacher)…………………

My child has already passed grade ....................... in this instrument.

My child is also having lessons in ....................... (other instrument(s)).

* Instrument  My child has an instrument of his/her own.



We are willing to rent an instrument - please send details of rental schemes (does not apply to guitars)



We are interested in purchasing and would like some advice. (* Please tick the appropriate boxes.)

46

Cont./........

UNDERTAKING I understand and accept the following conditions: 1. That any instrument used by my child will carry a label with his/her name and address inside the case AND some readily identifiable EXTERNAL mark - a logo sticker or similar - since many instrument cases look alike and mistakes are sometimes made in collecting them.

Most instruments carry an identification number - this should be noted in case of loss.

2. *That I must give at least eleven lessons’ written notice of an intention to discontinue lessons at the end of the term. I am still liable for payment for this notice period, even if lessons are not attended.

3. That I will pay tuition fees (and examination fees, if and when entries are made) by the deadlines specified. (Any delay causes unacceptable extra work in the school office.)

4. That a termly bill will be for 11 lessons and that if, for any reason, this number of lessons is not offered, then the following (Summer Term) bill will be adjusted accordingly.

5. That attendance at instrumental lessons is primarily the student's responsibility and that credit will not be allowed for lessons lost by student's non-appearance at the times designated.

6. Only lessons missed by reason of a teacher's absence or a school-sponsored event (examinations, trips, etc.) will be credited, unless the teacher makes arrangements for an alternative lesson time.

Signed: (Parent) ................................................................................................. Date: ......................

Parent’s Name (Please Print) ……………………………………………………………………………...

Seen by Director of Music Signed by teacher Date lessons commenced (date and number out of 33) and time of first lesson. * PLEASE NOTE THE NOTICE PERIOD IS 11 LESSONS

47

ONLY COMPLETE IF YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR CHILD TO HAVE THEIR PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN I do not want my child to have their image/photograph taken.

This means that they will take responsibility themselves by:  removing themselves when images/photos are taken at any school events e.g.: House plays, House sport sporting events music concerts trips lessons clubs etc. 

informing the teacher that they are unable to have their image/photo taken as this will affect how students are grouped, want to celebrate sports and musical events etc.

Name of child………………………………………………………………………

Parent signature …………………………………………………………………..

Parent name (print) ………………………………………………………………

Date …………………………………………………………………………………..

48

49

A Registered Charity “Raising money to benefit all our students” As a parent or guardian of a child at our school, you are automatically a member of the Parent Staff Association.

Our aim is to raise money to provide facilities and equipment which benefit all the students at Simon Balle. Our big vision is to modernise as many of the ‘commonly’ used areas of the school ensuring that 1950s buildings are bright and fit for 21st Century education. Recently we have pledged money to help refurbish the school library, lecture theatre and most recently, the Main Hall. The Hall is one of the busiest areas and is used as a meeting place, PE classroom, examination centre, theatre & concert hall all in one. These common areas are used daily by all students and therefore every single child benefits from our work. This year we are switching our focus to replace one of the aging school mini buses with a new one complete with wheelchair access.

We raise money through a busy programme of activities throughout the school year which includes events such as our Christmas auction, quiz nights, annual fun run and organising refreshments for school concerts. For further information on all our activities please visit our website at www.simonballepsa.org.uk.

Interested in getting involved in some way?

Being part of the team which organises and runs PSA events and activities can be great fun – and you give as much or as little time as you wish. Our Annual General Meeting takes place early in the autumn term, and this is a good time to find out more about what we do. It is also when we elect the PSA Committee, agree the focus of the forthcoming year’s fund raising and discuss ideas for future events.

In the meantime, return the form below to the school office and a member of the PSA Committee will get in touch with you.

We are looking forward to hearing from you. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please complete this form and return it to the School Office by Wednesday 7th May 2014 I am interested in finding out more about how I might get involved in PSA fundraising.

Name: ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Telephone Number: …………………………………………… Student’s Form: .…………(if known) e-mail address: ……………………………………………………………………………………………

50

51

Careers education and work experience gives students the opportunity to sample adult working life, develop key/core skills and gain first-hand knowledge of a particular work situation and associated job activities. It forms one part of our commitment to preparing our students for the world of work.

Many of our lessons also develop the key skills/awareness necessary, this can be viewed on our school website.

Simon Balle and Hertfordshire Careers Service Ltd (HCS) liaise with companies to identify suitable placements.

YEAR 12 STUDENTS We see careers education and work experience as an important part of our student’s development whilst they are on the threshold of choosing a suitable degree course and potential career. We encourage students to be aware of the demands of their chosen field and to plan for these. Work Experience is seen as a necessity when applying for courses such as medicine, nursing, law, teacher training, pharmacy, veterinary science, business, media and more and can be used when making a UCAS application.

We are always seeking new placements and if you feel your company may be able to offer a placement to a student or would like to find out more information, please return the slip below and a member of staff will contact you.

Please return to the School Office by Wednesday 7th May 2014 My company may be interested in offering a Careers Education and Work Experience Placement.

Name: ……………………………… Company Name: ……………………………………………………

Address: ……….………………………………………………………………………………………………

Contact Telephone Number: …………………….…………………………………………………………. e-mail address: ……………………………………………………………………………………………….

(Student’s Name and Current Form: ……………………………..……………..…………………………)

52