Dear Parents/Carers,
I hope you have had a lovely Christmas break and managed to spend some quality time with your loved ones.
You will be aware from previous correspondences that the academy will resume for Module three on Wednesday 4 January 2023. The first day of the module has been dedicated entirely to staff training therefore students are expected in school from Thursday 5 January.
The new year offers us new opportunities to improve standards and to strengthen our partnership for the benefit of all our students, and I look forward to working closely with you in this endeavour.
Attendance
I am sure that as parents and carers you will agree that being in school and having the best attendance possible underpins all the many benefits of school for your child, such as their learning, wellbeing and wider development. It is for this reason that I would like to ask for your support in ensuring that your child attends school regularly and is on time each day for all their lessons. Please contact your child’s college if you believe there is a good reason why they cannot attend school so that we can work with you to help improve overall attendance. Please note that as a parent or carer, you are legally responsible for making sure your child gets a suitable full-time education therefore if your child is absent from school without permission or a valid reason, you are likely to be breaking the law and the local authority may prosecute you to protect your child’s right to a full-time education
Uniform
Please ensure that your child arrives at school in full and correct school uniform. Students who return to school in incorrect uniform, with painted fingernails or wearing fake eyelashes, may be sent home.
Chromebooks
Chromebooks are a major part of our digital strategy and are used in most lessons throughout the school day. It is our expectation therefore that every student brings their chromebook to school every day so that they can engage fully in all lessons. Please also support us by ensuring that your child’s device is fully charged every evening.
Parking Onsite
I would like to remind parents/carers to avoid parking or drop off on the site after 8.20am in the morning. This is to ensure that we are able to facilitate the safe entry and exit of coaches and also to ensure that the site remains safe for our students with disabilities.
Only parents/carers with suitable permits should drop off/park on site after this time.
Parents and carers can pick up their children after 3.30pm at the end of the school day for the same reasons.
Reward Trips
We are in the process of finalising some year group reward trips on the following dates:
- Monday 27th March – Year 10, Thorpe Park
- Tuesday 28th March – Year 9, Thorpe Park
- Wednesday 29th March – Year 8, Chessington World of Adventures
- Thursday 30th March – Year 7, Chessington World of Adventures
For Year 11 students, there are plans for targeted students to attend a revision residential in Kingswood, Ashford, ahead of the second round of PPEs and then after the PPEs a reward trip available to all students.
For all trips for all year groups, only students with a good record of attendance and behaviour, from Module three onwards, will be allowed to participate. Students whose attendance or behaviour fall short of our high expectations will not be taken on any reward trips. We also have some exciting trips planned for the end of the academic year during our Enrichment week. All details will be shared in due course.
As we look forward to a positive and collaborative new year, I hope that I can count on your support to ensure that learning is maximised, behaviour is impeccable, and that all students are supported so that they can fulfil their potential.
Yours faithfully,
Dr F. Donkor
Principal
