Student Standards

In order to develop an aspirational learning culture, we have introduced some new standards to help students to focus on their learning. We would like to thank you in advance for supporting us to raise standards in order to achieve the best possible progress for our students.

The Start of the School Day

Entrance to the school opens at 8:15 – 8:35am
The school day starts at 8:40am.
Students should be in school before the bell rings at 8:35 am and in their form room by 8:40am ready for registration.
The student entrance will be closed and locked at 8:35am every day.
Entry after this time will only be via the school main reception.
Students who are late to school will receive a sanction. In the first instance, this does not carry negative points.

Essential Equipment

Students must arrive at school with the necessary equipment to learn. This includes the following: School bag, Clear pencil case, black pen, purple pen, pencil, ruler, rubber, scientific calculator, whiteboard, whiteboard pen, whiteboard eraser. All students are provided with a fully stocked pencil case (excluding calculator) at the start of the academic year. Replacement sets are available to purchase on the school shop for £3. Scientific calculators can also be purchased from school separately. Equipment checks are carried out daily and students are responsible for ensuring all equipment works and is replenished when it runs out.

Mobile Phones, Earphones and Speakers

As part of our Disconnect2Reconnect campaign, mobile phones are NOT allowed to be used at school. Students have three options:

Students can bring their phone to school, but it must be locked away in the Yondr pouch (provided by school) on entry to school. This can be unlocked at the end of the day.
Students do not bring their phone to school, and leave this at home.
Students who have brought their phone but not their pouch must hand their phone into school on entry, and collect it at the end of the day.

On entry, school may randomly search students to ensure the mobile phone policy is adhered too. If students are caught on their mobile phone during the school day, they will be placed in on track. This is usually for one full day.

The Yondr pouches have been provided by school. If students lose or damage their pouch, then they must purchase a replacement from the school shop. School may look to recycle the pouches when students finish school in Year 11.

Earphones and speakers should not be used in school. If these are brought in, they should be kept in a student’s school bag out of sight. If a student is caught using either of these things, it is likely that an on-track sanction will be issued.

School understands that several devices can be linked to mobile phones, for example smart watches and Fitbits. Ideally smart watches should not be brought into school. If students are caught using smart devices for any purpose other than telling the time, then it is likely than an on-track sanction will be issued.

Nails, Make-Up, Tattoos and Hair Cuts

Make-up should be natural and kept to a bare minimum. Students will be asked to remove any excessive make up. No false eye lashes are permitted (including strips and semi-permanent) – students will be asked to remove these.
Hair must be appropriate for a smart, professional environment, be a natural colour, and must not be extreme style. Short hair must not contain shaved patterns. Only small, plain functional and safe hair accessories are allowed.
Nail varnish is not to be worn in school. Acrylic nails are not allowed in school and students will not be allowed into lessons until these are removed.
It is illegal to have a tattoo under the age of 18 so tattoos are not allowed in school. If a student already has one, this must be covered at all times.

Jewellery

Jewellery is not allowed in school, with the exception of a single stud earring in the lobe of each ear. This includes larger earrings in the ear, earrings in the top of the ear, other facial piercings, including tongue piercings, necklaces, rings or bracelets.

Jewellery is part of the daily check by pastoral staff on the main entrance, and by form tutors during registration. If students are wearing jewellery around school, members of staff will confiscate it and take it to the safe in the school office. The following system then applies:

First offence – Stage 1: The item is confiscated and locked in the school safe. The item is collected by the student at the end of the day. One behaviour point will be issued.

Second offence – Stage 2: The item is confiscated and locked in the school safe. The item is collected by the student at the end of the day. One behaviour point and a LOFT lunch detention will be issued.

Third offence (and every offence thereafter) – Stage 3: The item is confiscated and locked in the school safe. Parents/carers are informed and asked to collect the item at the end of the school day. One behaviour point and a LOFT lunch detention will be issued.

Food at Lunchtime

Lunchtime lasts for 1 hour, which consists of 30 minutes for lunch break and 30 minutes for enrichment. The exception to this is on a Thursday, where lunch is 30 minutes, and there is no enrichment.

Food must be eaten in the school dining rooms at lunch time. This is either the Main Hall, the Sports Café, or the Year 11 Canteen. This includes packed lunches.
Drinks are allowed outside, but school expects students to use the litter bins where appropriate.
Students should be responsible for their own litter and use the bins provided for rubbish in the dining rooms. Failure to do so may result in a LOFT lunch detention and community service with the school site team picking up litter around the school.