I would like to start this week's bulletin with a request for parents to support the school in relation to mobile phones. We have had a few incidents this week where students have had their phone confiscated as they were using their phone during the school day. In speaking with the students, the reason that they were on their phone was that they were responding to text messages/telephone calls from home. Whilst I appreciate that there are times when parents need to get messages to students during the day, I would ask that the school is contacted and our office staff will ensure that your child receives any message. We have a policy in school where students are permitted mobiles in school but that they must be switched off and kept in bags/blazers. I would like to remind parents that mobiles used by students during the school day will be confiscated. If a child's mobile is confiscated more than once in the year then the phone will only be returned to parents or another adult. I would appreciate parental support in this matter. Parents should also have received a letter this week regarding the closure of the school on Monday 7th July as a result of the Tour de France being routed through the Epping Forest area. The vast majority of primary and secondary schools in the area are having to take this step due to the impact that road closures and altered public transport services will have on the area. Our Year 8 football team lost 3-2 to Burnt Mill in the West Essex District Cup Final last night. The team have played superbly all season and, whilst they were pipped to the trophy, should be incredibly proud of the way they have represented the school throughout the year. The next meeting of the Parents' Forum takes place next Thursday (15th May 2014). The meeting starts at 6pm and will take place in the school library (please note the change of venuethe library is accessed by the Brook Road entrance to the school). We will be discussing the use of technology and social media and looking at ways in which parents can help keep their children safe on-line. I would like to extend an invitation to all parents to attend this meeting. The GCSE examination season started yesterday and our Year 11 students will be involved in a large number of examinations over the next 6 weeks. In speaking with a lot of students recently it is clear just how much revision and study our students have been undertaking and I am convinced that this will stand them in very good stead. Parents should be aware that some afternoon examinations will finish well beyond the end of the school day - please check your child's examination timetable for details. For some GCSE subject areas where the examination falls after the half term holiday, there will be a limited number of revision sessions taking place in the half term holiday and details of these will be published soon. I would like to wish everyone a good weekend. Paul Banks Headteacher
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