Parent/Carer Handbook 2014
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The City Academy, Hackney
Contents Pastoral care
Values and success What is special about The City Academy, Hackney? What are the academy’s values?
5 5
Teaching and learning What subjects are taught at the academy? How are students supported? How are students encouraged to be healthy? How can I support my child with their reading?
14 15 15
Expectations 6 7 9 9
Parental engagement How can I find out about my child’s progress? 11 12 How does the academy contact parents? 13 Who do I speak to if I have a complaint?
* Where the term ‘parent’ is used in this document, the academy recognises that this includes any adult who has legal responsibility for the child.
How are students encouraged to work hard? How does the academy challenge bullying? Why might some students be excluded?
What are the academy’s expectations and rules? 16 What happens if students do not meet the academy’s expectations and rules?
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Family - Academy contract
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Uniform What uniform must students wear? What items are not allowed?
20 21
Key dates and times What are the term dates? What times do lessons start?
22 22
Parent/Carer Handbook 2014
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A message from the Principal Working with parents, and presenting young people with common expectations at home and at the academy, is key to our success. This booklet is therefore an essential document in helping you understand our standards and approach, so we can ensure that your child gets the most out of the opportunities we provide. It is our aim to ensure that the local community gets the very best education for its young people – an education where traditional values go hand in hand with innovative and enjoyable learning. Although we only opened in September 2009 we have already created an outstanding academy with a strong culture of professionalism, hard work and achievement. Our Ofsted judgement from January 2012 judged us to be outstanding with assessment data indicating that standards have risen and that those students have reached standards which are well above average for their age. As you will see we have a broad-based core curriculum designed to help students achieve the highest personal and academic standards. Our Business and Financial Services specialisms are supported by our two excellent sponsors, KPMG and The City of London Corporation.
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These specialisms allow us to establish the professional attributes students need to be successful in the wider world of higher education and employment. In addition our awardwinning building offers a secure environment with exceptional facilities for learning. The academy is quickly becoming a recognised centre of excellence within the academies network. It is a school where we hold the very highest expectations of achievement and ensure that students demonstrate professional values of politeness, self-respect, and respect for others. It is, after all, the values that we instil in our young people which will ensure their success in the future. Mark Emmerson Principal
Staff, students and their parents and carers have all made a significant contribution to the academy’s vision and success. Ofsted 2012
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The City Academy, Hackney
Parent/Carer Handbook 2014
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Our mission, vision and values What is special about The Our mission: City Academy, Hackney? to develop highly qualified and skilled The City Academy, Hackney will offer all students an outstanding opportunity to learn and achieve in a purpose-built environment with access to the highest standards of teaching, support and challenge. Our specialism of Business and Financial Services encourages excellence and professionalism.
Values... Students at The City Academy, Hackney are valued and rewarded for hard work, politeness, self discipline, ambition, resilience, fairness and compassion. We foster in students a desire to learn throughout life, developing teamwork, leadership, problem solving skills and teach the value of difference in disability, gender, culture, race and sexual orientation.
... and success Our success is judged by excellence in examination results, standards of behaviour, sporting and creative achievement as well as commitment to our communities. We ask students if they enjoy learning and feel safe and happy at The City Academy, Hackney and enable them to develop the skills of confidence, independence and self-awareness required for their future success and well-being. We expect all students to progress four levels between primary school and GCSEs. This will result in every student succeeding in their GCSEs at grades A*- C (including English and maths), and the majority achieving the English Baccalaureate (5 A*- Cs in English, maths, science, a language and history/geography). We expect all students to behave in a way that supports their (and others’) learning. Our teaching is creative, exciting and rigorous and our students learn through active participation, practical application, group activity, individual investigation and hard work.
young adults who achieve to the best of their ability, display the highest standards of professionalism and are ethical, active citizens fully committed to supporting their local and global community.
Our values: lead by example work together respect individuals dedication to learning and achievement commitment to communities honesty, openness and fairness
We aim to: provide a high quality education for students in Hackney and pioneer educational innovation offer a curriculum that is enjoyable, challenging and relevant enable students to fulfil their potential and participate fully in society raise standards and aspirations for young people build partnerships between local cultural organisations, business and educational communities.
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The City Academy, Hackney
Teaching and learning The core purpose of the academy is to help students learn. We do this by developing comprehensive, detailed learning and teaching strategies which foster excellent academic progress. The City Academy, Hackney ensures all students have the essential skills to achieve in later life and opportunities to excel in every subject. The academy provides: a strong core curriculum that supports literacy and numeracy a range of learning pathways to offer support and challenge more able students links between subject areas, offering innovative and stimulating learning experiences. E PHSC /tutor y embl Ass
PE
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1
30
Our students’ learning and progress are at the heart of everything we do and this is evident, not only in our ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted report, but also in the academy’s reported Key Stage 3 results. All students follow the national curriculum unless the academy (in consultation with students and parents) feels they would benefit from not doing so.
2
hours
95
92%
89%
90
92%
85 80 75 65 60 55
English & maths
English
TCAH
70 National
We are proud of the progress we have made thus far and look forward to continuing our commitment to learning and achievement as our students progress into Key Stage 4. The City Academy, Hackney is well equipped to enable our students to fulfil their potential at every level.
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TCAH
Te c
With 89% of students reaching level 5 and above in English and maths at Key Stage 3, the progress our students make is well above the national average and is truly inclusive, realising the mantra, ‘Every Child Matters’.
Percentage of Key Stage 3 students achieving level 5 and above compared with the National averages.
National
Humaniti es
In line with our vision for the academy, we aim to raise standards and aspirations through leading by example.
TCAH
MFL
3/4
Outstanding progress
All students follow a two-year programme in the core subjects and begin GCSEs in English, maths, biology, chemistry and physics in year 9. Foundation subjects are taught over three years, with the majority of students completing Key Stage 3 at the end of year 9.
National
2 2
h.
Scie nc e
4
s/ ines Bus ICT
4
4
4/5
hs Mat
Creative St udi es
2
Key Stage 3
Eng lish
Maths
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Teaching is skilled, creative and of consistently high quality so that students’ progress is rapid.
E PHSC /tutor y embl Ass
PE
1
1
4
Sci en c
6
3 3
CC) EBA E( 3
e
3
MFL
es iti
4
CCALAUREA BA T
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hours
ths Ma
ENGL IS
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Opti on 2
2
on 1 Opti
Key Stage 4
Eng lish
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All students study GCSEs in English, maths and science, and there is a wide selection of GCSE options across the remaining subjects. The vast majority of students will follow the English Baccalaureate in Key Stage 4 comprising English, maths, science, a modern foreign language, either geography or history, and two options choices. Our GCSE options subjects include many of the subjects taught throughout Key Stage 3 such as art, music, and technology as well as additional choices including Computing and economics. We also offer a range of other qualification options including AS level.
Hu ma n
How are students supported?
a Student Learning Plan. External agencies are coordinated by the Head of Learning and students are referred to this additional support if required.
The City Academy, Hackney values students’ well-being, their opinions and their achievement. All students are individuals and have a variety of complex needs. Students with special educational needs (SEN), those who are more able in a particular subject or variety of subjects, and the majority of students who fit into neither of these categories all need support and challenge.
Sixth Form
All students have a Personal Adviser who meets with them regularly in larger groups and oneto-one. Aspirational targets are discussed and agreed in conjunction with parents, forming
For more information about our A level courses and the Sixth Form in general, please refer to the Sixth Form section of the academy website or pick up a copy of our Sixth Form Guide from reception.
The academy’s Sixth Form - opening in September 2014 - offers a broad range of academic subjects and students are expected to conform to the professional working environment that has been engendered since year 7.
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The City Academy, Hackney
Parent/Carer Handbook 2014
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Additional Studies
The library and literacy
The academy operates an extended day for all students; the library is open both before and after school and our staff offer a range of extracurricular activities including our Additional Studies programme of enrichment classes every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 3.50 and 4.45 p.m.
The academy has three fully-staffed libraries, open Monday to Friday, 7.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. All three libraries offer a wide range of resources including: fiction books; non-fiction books; magazines, newspapers and journals; and PC/Mac computers for use during break, lunch, before and after school to complete homework.
The extended day
Students should have a reading book with them at all times as part of their essential equipment.
The PE department also run a programme of winter and summer sports clubs alongside training sessions for the academy’s competitive squads both before and after school.
Accelerated Reader
Breakfast is offered from 7.45 - 8.20 a.m. This provided an opportunity for students to prepare themselves physically for learning by eating a healthy breakfast and to ensure they are punctual.
How are students encouraged to be healthy? Students learn how to maximise their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being through a programme of personal, health, social, career and emotional awareness (PHSCE). It is a parent’s right to withdraw their child from sex education although we would encourage all families to support our well thought through programme. The City Academy, Hackney offers a minimum of two hours physical education each week and provides healthy food and drink, taking into account individual needs. These items can be bought using our cashless catering system called ParentPay (see page 12).
All students in Key Stage 3 are enrolled on a programme called Accelerated Reader (AR) to improve their literacy and encourage them to read for pleasure. Students earn points by taking quizzes on the books they read throughout the term.
Reading for pleasure: what can you do at home? Set a good example: let your child know that you value books and make sure they see you reading Don’t stop reading with your child: some children love being read to, even when they have become fluent readers themselves Make time to read: set some time aside for reading at home Talk about reading: share your views about books you have enjoyed Don’t just read books: encourage your child to read in different formats - magazines, newspapers, comics, online, etc. Encourage them to use the local library: there are lots of free resources available which can support your child’s out-of-school reading.
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The City Academy, Hackney
A message from the Chair of our Parent Staff Association The City Academy, Hackney has a deserved reputation for the excellence of its teaching, its calm atmosphere and the sure progress of its students. From the very first day it is obvious to new parents and carers that every student is expected to do well and will be supported and encouraged. Both in and out of lessons, the staff have developed a great range of interesting and creative opportunities, allowing children to flourish in their own individual way. Joining the academy is a big step after primary school and there are many new challenges, both for the child and the family. A key difference between primary and secondary schools is that the ordinary daily contact between parents and teachers decreases, as the children grow more independent. The City Academy, Hackney therefore gives great importance to
the relationship between school and parent and has excellent communication strategies. The school is very clear about its own philosophy, and sets firm rules, but it is also skilled at listening to parents’ concerns. The City Academy, Hackney is a superb school that is making a huge difference to the community. Stephen Webster Chair of the Parent Staff Association
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Parental engagement Parents play a crucial role in ensuring their child achieves at the highest level, meets their targets and makes the most of their opportunities at the academy. We regularly provide parents with information and data to ensure they are informed of their child’s progress. Parents are regularly given feedback from every subject; progress reports are compiled five times a year, posted home at the end of each half term and available online via your personalised ePortal account. ePortal also makes available additional information regarding attendance and behaviour.
In person The academy does its utmost to support parental engagement by offering numerous opportunities for parents to meet with staff throughout the year.
Drop-in SLT surgery Every Thursday and Friday, 8.30 - 9.30 a.m. a member of the Senior Leadership Team is available to discuss any issue regarding your child. No appointment is required.
Personal Advisers are recorded both in your child’s planner and on ePortal - which is also the best place to start to track your child’s progress, attendance, rewards and sanctions (see page 12). Parents must attend the first Consultation Week appointment with their Personal Adviser and are invited to subsequent meetings each year. Personal Advisers should always be the first point of contact for parents. There are no Additional Studies classes during Consultation Week as appointments are scheduled between 3.40 and 5.30 p.m.
Parent Day
Parent Staff Association
Parent Day (once a year) is when teachers are available to meet parents/carers to talk about their child’s progress in specific subjects.
The academy has a well-established Parent Staff Association (PSA) chaired by parent Stephen Webster. The group host a range of events including: parent lunches - at which you can try our family dining service; Subject Evenings so parents can experience life in the classroom first hand; discussion evenings and quizzes.
Meetings start from lunchtime and run through until 8 p.m. allowing parents/carers to plan around other commitments. Appointment dates and times will be posted to you in advance.Your child must attend with you (in full uniform with their planner) or it will be recorded as an unauthorised absence. There are no lessons on Parent Days and the academy is closed to all other students.
Consultation Week Consultation Week is when parents/carers meet with their child’s Personal Adviser to discuss their levels and progress, and set practical targets to support their learning across the curriculum. Students will always have a target level they should be working towards recorded in the front of their exercise books, and targets set by their
All parents/carers are welcome to attend the termly meetings to discuss any issues they may have, all of which is fed back to the Senior Leadership Team. Also, the PSA have recently set up a second hand uniform shop. Visit the Parents page of our website for details of upcoming events and minutes from previous meetings.
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The City Academy, Hackney
Print and post
Our website
The academy still relies on posting information home to parents as it negates the need for online communications not available to all families. For example, reports are posted home each half term, as is our newsletter, The City Times. Some 300 positive praise postcards are sent per week and we regularly write to parents inviting them to upcoming meetings, events and concerts.
In addition to our parent/carer consultation events, the academy also makes available a range of online services our parents can use to track their child’s progress, find out about upcoming events and pay for trips or lunches. The best place to start is on our website.
Our school magazine, The City Times, is available in print (posted home to all parents/carers) and online at the end of every half term and includes: photos and articles from recent events, our top achievers, information from the Parent Staff Association and key dates for the half term ahead.
Student planner Your child’s planner is both an essential piece of equipment (which they must have with them every day) and an important means of communication between you and your child’s tutor and teachers. Homework, detentions, Consutation Week targets and reading logs are all recorded in your child’s planner. Tutors and parents/carers can write messages for one another in the weekly comments box, and parents/carers must sign their child’s diary each week which is checked during tutor period on Monday mornings.
Telephone For general enquiries or to speak with a teacher, please call the academy reception on: 020 8525 5440. If your child is going to be absent from school, please call the absence line by 8.20 a.m. on: 020 8525 7140.
Text messaging The academy also manages a text messaging service called GroupCall used to send important reminders and information, often used as a follow up to a letter or other form of correspondence. It does not cost you money to receive messages.
www.thecityacademy.org On our website you will also find a range of up-todate information you and your child will need for life at The City Academy, Hackney including: a news page, and online version of our halftermly magazine, The City Times an up-to-date events calendar including term dates, Parent Days, Consultation Weeks, and exam timetables photos and videos of student activities
ePortal ePortal - a link to which can be found on the Parents page of our website - is a valuable online portal, providing you with useful information regarding your child’s progress including: current levels, timetable, attendance, punctuality, rewards and sanctions. Please log in regularly to stay up-todate and well informed.
ParentPay Part of our cashless system, ParentPay removes the possibility of loss or theft of money from students. Parents credit money to their child’s account online via the website with a credit/ debit card or at a PayPoint outlet with a PayPoint card. ParentPay login details and instructions will be sent to you along with a request slip for a PayPoint card. Any questions on how to use the system can be answered by our Finance department. ParentPay is used to pay for lunch, snacks, music lessons, trips, event tickets and books.
Parent/Carer Handbook 2014
Who do I speak to if I have a complaint? It is the academy’s intention that you and your child experience the highest quality of service, educational provision and communication. If you have any concerns about our quality of provision please follow the agreed complaints procedure. Please contact reception who will put you in touch with the relevant member of staff, give you their contact telephone number or email address. The academy expects all staff to return calls and emails promptly. Correspondence, statements and records of complaints are considered confidential. If you have any concerns about a particular subject or lesson, please contact your child’s subject teacher or Subject Leader. Please read the full complaints procedure on the Hackney Learning Trust website: www.learningtrust.co.uk
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Complaint heard by staff member Ensure complaints coordinator informed of outcome Issue not resolved Complaint heard by Principal Acknowledge receipt of complaint Write to complainant with outcome of investigation Ensure complaints coordinator informed of outcome Issue not resolved Governors’ complaints panel meeting arranged Issue letter inviting complainant to meeting Issue letter confirming panel discussion Ensure complaints coordinator informed of outcome
Issue resolved
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The City Academy, Hackney
Pastoral care
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The academy’s core values which emphasise achievement, enjoyment and respect are also having a positive impact on students’ lives.
House system Heads of House are responsible for pastoral care at the academy and for having an overview of students’ education including their attainment, welfare and behaviour. Students are grouped into four Houses with a Head of House for each and elected student House Captain. The House system is used to motivate students to achieve, through a range of House-related activities and competitions, from reading to sport. There is also a House Surgery box where students can fill in a slip and request a meeting with their Head of House if they have any issues or concerns they want to discuss.
Vertical tutor groups The academy operates vertical tutor groups. This means that tutor groups include a mix of ages. In schools that use this system, tutors have much more contact with individual students and there are fewer instances of bullying as students create friendships across and between year groups.
Behaviour and attendance We place a great deal of importance on developing the personal and social skills young people need to function well as positive citizens. The academy expects the kind of standards of behaviour that would be displayed in any professional workplace. For example, we expect students to be on time for school and
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to have excellent attendance. It is our teachers’ responsibility to ensure that the academy delivers a secure environment with outstanding teaching. It is our students’ responsibility to be well presented, polite and courteous at all times, and we expect parents to uphold our rules so that every child can succeed. The academy believes that children should understand that there are always consequences associated with good and poor behaviour. With this in mind, we have a simple and consistently enforced system of rewards and sanctions to support high standards of behaviour. This encourages hard work, rewards good behaviour and promotes success.
Merits, rewards and awards All students can earn merits as well as weekly and termly awards for good behaviour, excellent effort or attainment, attendance or reading. These merits then translate into prizes for individual achievements as well as awards for top attaining Houses, tutor groups and year groups. Achievements are celebrated in assemblies and communicated home via positive postcards and The City Times. The academy empowers polite, conscientious, disciplined and successful students who want to achieve. All members of the community know they are valued and can work, learn and teach without inappropriate disruption. Students must respect one another, respect the property of others and the environment, and follow the academy rules.
Parent/Carer Handbook 2014
How does the academy challenge bullying? The academy encourages all students to challenge bullying. Students should report incidents inside and outside the academy to a member of staff, who will tackle it promptly and sensitively. Bullying is defined as repeatedly deliberate and hurtful behaviour that can take many different forms including: Emotional - unfriendly, excluding, tormenting or taking property Physical - pushing, hitting or any form of violence Racial - racial taunting, graffiti or gesturing Sexual - unwanted physical contact or sexually abusive comments Homophobic - focusing on, or as a result of, sexuality Verbal - name-calling, sarcasm, rumour-spreading, teasing Cyber - activity online, videos, photos, SMS, phone or social media.
Why might some students be excluded? The academy makes every effort to ensure that the learning environment meets the needs of all students taking into account their individual needs and circumstances. However, if it is considered that a student’s presence in the classroom constitutes a threat to themselves or any other individual(s) in the community or their behaviour compromises the education of others the Principal reserves the right to remove privileges and to exclude students either internally or externally from their peers or the academy as a whole.
How are students kept safe? The City Academy, Hackney has an on-site security presence at all times, closed circuit television monitoring and a system for registering and welcoming visitors. All visitors access the building
15 through the main entrance and are required to wear their identification badges at all times. Students can be identified by their biometric profile and their uniform. Students are supervised by qualified staff at all times on the academy site and when visiting places off-site.
Why is good attendance necessary? Good attendance is essential if students are going to achieve their full potential. The City Academy, Hackney works with parents to ensure that we meet our attendance targets. Parents and carers play the most significant role in ensuring that attendance and punctuality are good. The academy asks parents and carers to: refrain from organising family holidays during term time. The Principal reserves the right to refuse permission for students to be absent for a vacation contact the academy on the first day of absence, explaining the reason and the expected length of absence write a note in the Student Planner for them to bring on the first day of their return arrange medical and other appointments outside school hours where possible. Students with poor attendance records are sanctioned in accordance with The City Academy, Hackney’s sanctions policy and students with habitually poor attendance are referred to Hackney Learning Trust.
Welfare at the academy If you have any concerns about attendance, punctuality or your child’s welfare, please contact your child’s Tutor, Personal Adviser or Head of House in the first instance. If you are unable to get a satisfactory response by following the agreed procedures, then please do not hesitate to contact reception to arrange a meeting with a member of the Senior Leadership Team or our Education Welfare Officer (EWO).
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The City Academy, Hackney
Expectations Students are expected to:
Students must not:
follow the rules at all times
be defiant to any member of staff
work hard to make progress every day
bring in or use anything dangerous or illegal
be polite and responsible
threaten, bully, fight, be violent or abusive
take responsibility for their behaviour
damage academy property or steal
respect each others’ race, culture, gender and sexual orientation
bring in valuable items, phones, MP3s etc.
look after the building and environment
be late for lessons or take time off school, if at all possible.
be prepared for learning with the correct uniform and equipment attend every day, on time.
Rules 10 classroom rules. All students must:
10 general rules of conduct. All students must:
1. arrive on time and line up in single file (the first person will hold the door open for the others)
1. be polite and respectful at all times
2. enter quietly and stand behind their desks before being asked to sit
2. wear the correct uniform at all times including travelling to and from the academy
3. sit where the teacher asks and place any completed homework on the desk. There should be no coats and bags on the desk
3. travel to and from the academy quickly, courteously and quietly
4. listen carefully, in silence, when the teacher is talking
4. talk, not shout
5. put their hand up if they need to ask, or answer, a question, and wait to be asked to speak
5. walk, not run. Walk on the left in corridors, in silence
6. complete all work to the best of their ability
6. respect the reception and other public areas
7. write their homework in their planner
7. stand when the Principal or visitors enter the class
8. when the teacher tells them - pack up and stand quietly behind their chair
8. refrain from congregating outside the academy gates at the end of the school day
9. hold the door for others to leave the lesson when asked
9. refrain from bringing food, sweets or gum into school
10. read a book in silence when waiting for a teacher.
10. put litter in the bins provided
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What happens if students do not meet the academy’s expectations and rules? Behaviour improvement path Description of behaviour
Appropriate action
By whom?
Parental support
Green No behaviour concerns
Regular reports and rewards Praise postcards and positive letters home
All staff
Praise and reward
Lack of attention in class/talking in line
1. Reminder 2. Warning (name on board) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -1 demerit 3. Detention (up to 30 minutes)
All staff
Discuss with child
Not working to targets or potential
Contact Personal Adviser and home
Teacher
Meet with staff to agree action
Missing homework
20 minute detention
Teacher
Ensure homework is completed
Not in uniform/PE kit
Send home to change/Reflection Room/ 20 minute detention
All staff
Ensure your child is in correct uniform
Incorrect equipment/planner not signed
20 minute detention
Teacher/ Per. Adv.
Ensure your child has the correct equipment
Late arriving at the academy
20 minute detention
Teacher/ Per. Adv.
Ensure your child is ready to arrive on time
Absent
Note required
Per. Adv.
Note explaining absence in diary
Amber (aggregated event log)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -5 demerits
Continued rule breaking in class
1 hour subject detention/subject report
Subject Leader
Discuss your child’s behaviour
Consistent lack of engagement
Meeting with parent + action plan
Per. Adv. /HoH/SL Discuss with staff + agree action
Consistent under-achievement
Meeting with parent + action plan
Per. Adv. /HoH/SL Discuss action and expectations
Repeatedly late to school
1 hour House detention
Head of House
Repeated absence
Referred to Education Welfare Officer
Meet with Education Welfare Office (EWO) + agree action
Possession of food/phone/jewellery etc.
Confiscated until end of term + 1 hour detention
All staff
Discuss + collect at end of term
Missing a 20 minute detention
1 hour House/Subject detention
Behaviour Team
2+ breaches of academy rules (in 1 week)
1 hour House/Subject detention
Head of House
Ensure your child adheres to academy rules
Red (aggregated event log)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -10 demerits
Serious breaches of academy rules
Withdrawal + up to 2 hour detention + urgent meeting with parent/carer
SLT
Meet with staff to agree action Support for restorative plan Ensure child adheres to plan and academy rules
MIssing a 1 hour detention
2 hour after-school detention
Behaviour Team
Parents/Carers informed
Yellow (recorded event log)
3+ House/Subject detentions (in 1 half term) 2 hour Saturday/after school detention + letter home SLT
Discuss action and expectations
Persistent absence/lateness
As above + fixed penalty notices considered
Agree action with EWO
Severe (aggregated or 1 event)
Severe action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -50 demerits
Missing a 2 hour detention
Severe level sanctions can only be determined by the Principal/Vice Principal in line with DfE guidance The range of sanctions considered are shown in brackets against the behavioural concern Parents are informed and engaged in pastoral/restorative plans in all cases except permanent exclusion Pastoral/restorative plans will only be considered if there is a degree of contrition, honesty and willingness to apologise in public if necessary
Constant disruption (1-5) Persistent rule breaking (1-5) Defiance (1-5) Fighting (2-5) Bullying (1-5) Abusive or threatening behaviour (2-5) Damage to property or theft (3-5) Drug/alcohol use (4,5) Violence or assault (4,5) Drug dealing (5) Offensive weapons (5)
SLT/HoH
1. Reflection Room + urgent meeting with parents to develop a Pastoral Support Plan 2. Reflection Room + 2 hour detention. Parents will come to collect their child, discuss the reason for the detention and agree an action plan for behavioural improvement 3. Excluded for 3 days + meeting with parents to agree a Pastoral Support Plan 4. Excluded for 15 days (to be heard by Governors) + meeting with parents to set a Pastoral Support Plan 5. Permanent exclusion and/or managed move to another school
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The City Academy, Hackney
Parent/Carer Handbook 2014
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The Family-Academy contract The academy Parents/Carers Students will will ensure that: will ensure that: ensure that they: we provide a safe and supportive environment for students to enjoy learning and achieve their full potential students have the best possible education by providing a suitable curriculum and individual support we set challenging targets for students to aspire to and review them regularly we provide regular reports of students’ progress for parents and carers we contact home to praise and reward students’ success we contact home if there are concerns about a student’s behaviour, effort or attendance we contact home immediately if students are to be detained for more than 30 minutes after the end of the academy day we provide opportunities for parents and carers to discuss their child’s progress with teachers and other professionals.
their child attends every day, on time, unless they are ill their child wears the correct uniform to, at, and on the way home from the academy their child has the correct learning equipment needed for the day including PE kit they support the academy’s policies on behaviour and uniform including a) up to 30 minute detentions without notice and b) same day severe incident after-school detentions until 5.45 p.m. once informed they provide a suitable environment for their child to work at home their child completes their homework on time and to the highest standard they attend Personal Adviser consultation appointments and Parent Days to discuss their child’s progress and any other meetings arranged with their consent they encourage their child to try a broad range of additional activities from those on offer they read and sign their child’s Student Planner every week their contact details are upto-date and they let reception know if their details change.
work hard and expect to learn in every lesson and additional activity attend regularly, arrive on time, wearing the correct uniform and with the correct equipment follow the academy’s rules at all times complete all homework to the highest standard and hand it in on time treat all adults and students with respect and stand up in class if the Principal or an unknown adult or visitor enters the room be polite at all times and open the door to let an adult through first respect the academy building and equipment and leave rooms tidy after using them take letters and messages home and deliver them to their parents or carers keep their Student Planner up to date with homework and targets and show it to academy staff if requested.
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The City Academy, Hackney
Uniform and equipment What uniform do students wear? Students must wear correct uniform at all times. This includes on their way to, at, and on the way home from the academy. It is a symbol by which students are recognised within the community and it fosters a sense of pride for, and respect of, the learning environment.
Girls’ uniform
Boys’ uniform
Academy blazer
Academy blazer
Academy blouse (Key Stage 3 = white/Key Stage 4 = blue)
Long-sleeved shirt (Key Stage 3 = white/Key Stage 4 = blue)
Academy skirt/trousers
Academy trousers
Academy jumper
Academy tie
Plain black ankle socks or tights
Academy jumper
Flat, plain black school shoes *
Black socks
* Kickers shoes are not permitted and shoes must not have any branding.
Girls’ PE kit
Plain black school shoes *
Boys’ PE kit
Academy games polo shirt
Academy rugby shirt
Academy skirt/shorts
Academy rugby shorts
Academy games socks or plain white ankle socks
Academy games socks
Red academy sweatshirt
Sport-appropriate footwear
Sport-appropriate footwear
Protective gumshield
Protective gumshield
Academy base layer (optional)
Academy base layer (optional)
Academy polo shirts (optional) ***
Academy tracksuit (optional) **
Plain white socks (optional) ***
All jewellery must be removed for PE. ** for use after sports clubs, fixtures, training and Additional Studies. *** optional for Key Stage 4 and summer term only for Key Stage 3.
Girls and boys Academy rucksack
Academy hat (optional, winter months only)
Academy winter jacket
Extra rugby shirt or polo shirt (optional)
Parent/Carer Handbook 2014
21
Essential equipment
Hair and jewellery
Students must carry a clear, transparent pencil case containing:
No jewellery is to be worn except plain watches and one plain metal, discreet stud in each ear. Long hair must be tied back and all hair must be worn in a style appropriate to a business environment. Extreme hairstyles/ colours (including facial hair and eyebrows) that undermine the ethos or discipline of the academy will not be permitted. Only plain black hair bands are permitted.
2 x black/blue pens
Coloured pencils
2 x pencils (HB)
Protractor
Rubber
Plus:
Pencil sharpener
Calculator
Ruler
Student Planner
Green pen
Reading book
What items are not allowed at the academy? No electronic equipment (MP3 player, mobile phone, PSP, DS etc.) is to be brought into the academy. If seen, they are confiscated and only returned at the end of term. Students are also not allowed to bring in food, sweets, drink, cosmetics or money.
Judgements on acceptability can only be made by staff at the academy. Students with inappropriate hair or uniform will be placed in the Reflection Room or sent home to change.
Uniform shop Uniform must conform to the uniform policy and must be purchased from our supplier: Trutex, 31 Broadway Market, London, E8 4PH. In addition, our Parent Staff Association run a second hand uniform shop selling a range of items including blazers and PE kit. Please see our website for more information.
22
The City Academy, Hackney
Key dates and times Term dates
Daily schedule
Our term dates for 2014/15 are shown below. Please continue to check the Events page of our website for updates.
All students should be in school for morning line up by 8.20 a.m. If your child is going to be absent from school, please call the absence line by 8.20 a.m. on: 020 8525 7140.
Autumn term 1
SEP
5
OCT
24
Friday 5 September 2014 – Friday 24 October Friday 5 September - Induction for year 7 /12 Monday 8 September – all students return to school Autumn term 2
NOV
3
DEC
19
Monday 3 November – Friday 19 December Spring term 1
JAN
5
FEB
13
Monday 5 January 2015 – Friday 13 February Monday 5 January – staff training day Tuesday 6 January – Year 11 Parent Day Wednesday 7 January – all students return to school Spring term 2
FEB
23
MAR
27
Monday 23 February – Friday 27 March Monday 23 February – Year 7/8 Parent Day Tuesday 24 February – all students return to school Summer term 1
APR
13
MAY
22
Monday 13 April – Friday 22 May Monday 13 April – staff training day Tuesday 14 April – all students return to school Summer term 2
JUN
1
Monday 1 June – Wednesday 15 July Monday 1 June – Year 9/10 Parent Day Tuesday 2 June – all students return to school
JUL
15
Timings for the school day are as follows: Library opens 7.30 a.m. Breakfast Club 7.45 a.m. All students on site 8.20 a.m. Period 1 8.30 a.m. Period 2 9.30 a.m. Break 10.30 a.m. Period 3 10.50 a.m. KS3 - lunch / KS4 - period 4 11.50 a.m. KS3 - period 4 / KS4 - lunch 12.50 a.m. Period 5 1.40 p.m. Period 6 2.40 p.m. End of day (Mon/Fri) /Recess (Tues-Thurs) 3.40 p.m. 3.50 p.m. Additional Studies (Tues-Thurs) until 4.45 p.m. until 5.30 p.m. Additional activities/clubs 6.30 p.m. Library closes
Breakfast, break and lunch All students are seated formally at tables for lunch and we expect all students to eat the healthy meal provided by the academy. There are vegetables and salads to accompany the meal, followed by a dessert or fresh fruit. Students are not allowed to bring in sweets, crisps, or their own packed lunch from home. If a student brings in anything forbidden by the academy, items are confiscated and they receive a detention. Breakfast is offered from 7.45 - 8.20 a.m. This provides an opportunity for students to prepare themselves physically for learning by eating a healthy breakfast and to ensure they are punctual. Sample breakfast, break and lunch menus (including prices for break time snacks) can be found in the Students section of our website.
Parent/Carer Handbook 2014
23
Homerton Row, London, E9 6EA 020 8525 5440 admin@thecityacademy.org www.thecityacademy.org Principal: Mark Emmerson
The City Academy, Hackney is sponsored by KPMG and the City of London Corporation. The City Academy, Hackney is a registered company. Registered in England No. 6382192 Registered office: The City Academy, Hackney, London, E9 6EA. Registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales. Charity No. 1121963
Printed on 100% recycled paper.