Dates for the Diary
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Dates for the diary Monday 2nd September Start of term – Years 7 & 12 Tuesday 3rd September Start of term – All years th Tuesday 17 September Dear Parents/Carers their university applications and seen thousands of children pass through her Science lab and they un- Year 11 Geography field The close of the academic year is always a time when doubtedly leave with an enhanced enjoyment of trip I reflect on the successes of the past 12 Science. We wish her the very best in her retire- months. Longfield Academy has had a great year ment. th where students have thrived, staff have flourished Thursday 19 September and as a community we have grown. We have held Longfield Academy has celebrated many successes Year 11 Geography field Trust events, including most recently the Year 10 this year and we hope that this will be concluded trip careers conference and the LGBT+ network group with some great GCSE and A-Level results in Au- but maintained high quality learning. We have em- gust. It is always the highlight of my year to see the barked on the Middle Years Programme with year 7 faces of our students light up at seeing the fruits of th rd Friday 20 – Monday 23 which is already seeing our students develop skills their labour and gaining the grades that they have September and attributes that we are very proud of and starting worked so hard for. Equally, seeing members of to pervade every aspect of our Academy life. staff celebrate with the students for whom they Year 11 PGL trip have supported, challenged, and nurtured, quite I am extremely pleased that we are fully staffed for often over a period of years. th September, which in a time of uncertainty in the wid- Monday 30 September er world, this is quite some achievement! We are Our Post 16 provision is being widely recognised st & Tuesday 1 October particularly pleased to welcome Mr Williams back to for the Outstanding grading by Ofsted, and conse- HPV vaccinations Longfield Academy as our new SENCO - having quently we have seen record numbers of applicants completed his early training and career with us, he has for our courses. Our current Year 11 students will worked locally at Trinity School but will return in always have priority (subject to entry requirements) th Friday 4 October September to lead on Special Educational Needs. but we also look forward to welcoming new stu- Year 7 Eynsford trip It does however also mean that we say goodbye to dents from other local schools. some staff, and one member of staff of note that I I hope you enjoy reading the newsletter and it is at think many of you may wish to pass thanks to is Mrs th th this point that I would like to thank all of the staff Friday 11 – Sunday 13 Maria Willis. Having joined us in 1989, Mrs Willis at Longfield Academy for their hard work, dedica- has held many positions of responsibility, not least October tion and support to the young people in our the Head of 6th Form for many years, and through Netball trip care. They are a truly magnificent group of profes- this role, laying the foundations for our Ofsted rated sionals that are always prepared to go the extra mile Outstanding Post 16. to support a child. Friday 18th October Given her length of service, I suspect that not only I trust you will have an excellent summer and I look End of term are there current students who have benefited from forward to welcoming the students back in Septem- her teaching, but also some parents may also have ber - with immaculate uniform, fully prepared for once been in her class as a student too! learning, a positive mental attitude and on time! She has worked closely with students to support Mrs A O’Donnell Holiday Reminder Attendance Longfield Academy wants students to be successful and Congratulations to the following students for gaining this success is heavily linked with high rates of attendance 100% attendance for the whole school year : throughout a student’s time at school. To reinforce this point, the Academy wishes to inform parents and carers Anderson Galileo of the regulations around holidays being taken during Bradley Lee Maddison Chapman term time. During the Academic year the Academy is John Durling Callum Hall-Rogers closed for 14 weeks when you can take holidays and Kye Oakley travel. The Department for Education (DfE) states that Jamie Dupuy Lucie Hemsley with effect from 1 September 2013 that Head Teachers Josh Rayfield Andrew Wyld MAY NOT grant any holidays or other absences during Frankie Bussey Noah Noordally term time unless they are exceptional circumstances. Amber Baldock Elise Davenport Eevy Parker Sarah Mills Some examples of exceptional circumstances are below: Josie McGuire Maya Sengupta Joseph O'Brien A close bereavement in the family (Parent, Kit Watson Lani Fielder-Dyer Grandparent, Sibling, Aunt, Uncle, Cousin) Shania Durling Jimmy Hossack Tommy Bailey Attending a funeral Maria Nandra Sean Behr Religious observance Emma Walter An organised activity the academy agrees in Anu Sebastian Matisse advance Nicholas Greenfield Please note, an exceptional circumstance does not Zachary Jones include family weddings or such events. Lillian Lee The Academy is required by law to comply with these Aidan Riphagen regulations which affect all absences during term time. Bethany Ling Therefore, should the Academy refuse to grant leave and Patrick Aiby parents/carers take their child out of school without the Thomas Bishop school’s authorisation then the law clearly states this is Adam Hoare illegal. Your child’s absence will then be recorded as Dylan Jones unauthorised and you are at risk of receiving a Fixed Jay Redding Penalty Notice of £60-£120 (if paid within 28 days) per Daisy Glazebrook parent from Kent County Council. Failure to pay the Randney Omuni-Kwenzilike notice may result in you being prosecuted by Kent County Ryan Mackway-Jones Council. Jack Fry Therefore, we are asking you to support the Academy by Fraser Patterson ensuring your child achieves excellent attendance and Matthew Denton you do not apply for holiday leave or remove your child Aiden Down for a holiday throughout the course of the Academic year. Kye Finch Failure to meet this responsibility will leave the Academy Tanaka Chinhoi no alternative but to follow the procedures and law set Thokozani Zulu out by the Department for Education. Mr J Lever Behaviour Charter In addition I wanted to bring your attention to the following that we expect from September. The introduction of the mobile ban at Longfield Students will be expected to bring in their school Academy has been incredibly successful. I would like planner everyday. Failure to do so will result in a 15 to thank you for your support in this and the minute break time detention with their tutor. difference it has made has been quite astounding. Break/Lunchtime detentions should be for no longer than 15 minutes but it must be made clear to We are continuously reviewing all of our systems and the student: the time and location of the detention, procedures with the sole purpose of trying to ensure citing the reason for the detention that all students have the opportunity to learn and thrive. We strongly believe that learning in a safe, Detentions will be recorded in the students conducive environment will enable students to reach planner. their potential. Through discussions with students, staff and the Parents Forum we have devised a new Students will be given ONE chance to attend Behaviour Charter that will be displayed in all only. classrooms and in key locations around Longfield Academy that highlights two things: After school detentions will be 40 minutes in length from 3:25 pm to 4:05 pm. On Wednesdays Rewards - Although learning and the subsequent this will be from 2:05 pm to 2:45 pm. Parents will be reward of achieving success is the ultimate reward we informed so that alternative transport arrangements do strongly believe in rewarding students that go can be made. above and beyond. Our Behaviour Charter identifies the additional rewards students can achieve by having If a student takes it upon themselves to leave a excellent attendance, a positive attitude and approach classroom without permission they will automatically to their learning and making a valued contribution to receive a 40 minute after school detention. the academy and wider community. Failure to attend an after school detention issued by a classroom teacher or subsequently the Head of Sanctions - We have high expectations of the Department, will likely result in the student being behaviours we expect from all students but on placed in our Internal Exclusion Room for one day. occasions we have to sanction students where behaviour has fallen short of that high expectation. By We must remind you that “Parental consent is not making the likely sanctions for negative behaviours required for detentions”. This is in line with DFE clear and transparent we aim to empower students to guidance detailed in the “Behaviour and discipline” avoid negative behaviours as such behaviours will document from January 2016. receive an appropriate sanction. This will also act as a reference point for staff at the academy so they can A letter will be sent out to all parents/carers towards the encourage positive behaviour but also consistently end of the summer break reminding you of the apply sanctions where applicable. Behaviour Charter and students will be given further guidance through assemblies and the tutor time I have included in this newsletter a copy of the programme in the first week or two of the new academic Behaviour Charter that will be on display so your child year.