1 Parents' Handbook
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Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni PARENTS HANDBOOK 2018- 2019 Foreword 2 I wish to extend a warm welcome to you as new parents’ of Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni. Your child will be coming to a very happy and successful school, a school that is able to offer every opportunity to develop the innate abilities and skills of every child. In Cwm Rhymni we believe strongly that “The heart of the matter is the pupil’s progress” and our aim is to ensure that every pupil has the opportunity to achieve their potential, with the pupils welfare central to all our activities. Owain Ap Dafydd Prifathro Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni Gellihaf Y Gwyndy Gellihaf Road, Fleur de Lys, Pontygwindy Road, Blackwood, Caerphilly, NP12 3JQ Caerphilly, CF83 3HG Tel: 01443 875227 Fax: 01443 829777 Tel: 02920 863367 W ebsite: www.cwmrhymni.com Em a il: [email protected] This prospectus is designed to give you as a parent or guardian or prospective pupil an insight into school life. The content we hope will address some of your questions and give you a perspective on the values that underpin the school’s aims and objectives. Phil Bevan Chairman of the Governing Body Parents’ Handbook 2018 / 2019 School Principles As a school we have established a number of principles, which we will strive to achieve for each pupil:- 1. To develop the full personality of the 5. To ensure that the pupil uses individual by offering experiences that his/her language, especially Welsh, will develop the mind, body, spirit, both orally and in writing, in a full Feelings and imagination. programme of extra-curricular, social activities, as well as in their lessons 2. To give the child‟s inborn sense of and thereby to learn how to curiosity an opportunity to develop communicate effectively. lively, inquisitive minds, and the abilityto argue logically, weigh up 6. To help pupils appreciate the arguments, and make independent achievements and aspirations of man judgements. in art, music, science, technology and literature. 3. To foster respect for other people, for religious, spiritual and moral 7. To develop a sense of pride in every values, and to develop tolerance pupil in their roots, community and towards different beliefs and attitudes, country, pride in the language whether social, economic or political. of that country, and loyalty to the society to which they are closely 4. To help pupils develop attitudes, bound. learn skills, assimilate information and deepen their understanding, all of 8. To encourage pupils to participate which should be relevant to their future with enthusiasm to the best of their life, in work, home and leisure time, ability in a responsible and taking into account that the world is a self-disciplined manner. rapidly changing place. 9. To prepare pupils to offer their services and to lead in society according to their own ability and talents. Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni 4 Leadership of the school Chair of the Governing Body Councillor Phil Bevan 75 Pontygwindy Rd Caerphilly. Leadership Team: Headmaster Mr Owain ap Dafydd (Physics) Deputy Headteacher Mr Rhys Thomas (History) Senior Assistant Headteachers: Mr Lloyd Mahoney (English) Mr Matthew Webb (Physics) Mrs Eirian Jones (Biology) Assistant Headteachers Scott Conway (Mathematics) Adam Gravell (Mathematics) Ryan Jenkins (Additional Learning Needs) Parents’ Handbook 2018 / 2019 Subjects In Year 7, 8 and 9 pupils study the following subjects: Core Subjects Non Core Subjects Welsh Religious Education Physical Education English Geography Art Mathematics History Music Science Modern Foreign Drama Languages Information Technology Technology At the end ot Year 9 options are chosen. The core subjects are compulsory but pupils are able to choose up to 3 optional subjects. Core Subjects Non Core Subjects Welsh Religious Education Physical Education English Geography Art Mathematics History Music Triple Science French Hospitality Applied Science Spanish Information Technology The Welsh Baccalaureate Design and Technology Computing Textiles Drama Business Construction Travel and Tourism Hospitalty Health and Social Care Handbook 2018 / 2019 In the Sixth Form pupils can choose the following subjects with up to 5 AS courses in the first year and 3 A2 courses in the second year. Welsh Religious Education Physical Education English Geography Art Mathematics History Music Applied Science French Drama Biology Spanish Information Technology Chemistry Psychology Design and Technology Physics Sociology Textiles Economics Classroom Assistants Law Hospitality Business Health and Social Care Travel and Tourism “ Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni The Welsh 8 Baccalaureate The Welsh Baccalaureate qualification has become an integral part of our pupils‟ curriculum. Our students will study the diploma at the level most appropriate to their learning. Our aim is that every student leaves Cwm Rhymni with at least one of the levels of the Welsh Baccalaureate, the highest level being the equivalent to an A Grade at A Level. The Welsh Baccalaureate recognises our pupils‟ ability in a variety of curriculum areas. They study an exciting and relevant module on Wales, Europe and the World which broadens their knowledge of political, economic, cultural and social issues in today‟s society. Important current affairs are addressed through an extensive Personal and Social Education programme. As part of the Welsh Baccalaureate, all pupils will learn a new foreign language,successfully complete work experience, voluntary work and an enterprise initiative. Our pupils also prove their competency in all of the essential and key Skills, before being awarded the Welsh Baccalaureate diploma. Many guest speakers are invited to Welsh Baccalaureate lessons, as well as pupils being able to participate in field trips both locally and nationally. The school has taken every opportunity to introduce this exciting new qualification in a lively and relevant way, which allows every opportunity to educate our pupils to become inquisitive and independent learners. Parents’ Handbook 2018 / 2019 10 Contacting the school Parents or guardians are welcome to contact the school at all convenient times. We advise you to telephone in advance to arrange an interview with your child‟s Head of Year. Head of Key Stage Deputy Head of Year Y GWYNDY KS3 Mrs Caryl Hall-Williams Year 7 Miss Elin Jones Year 8 Mrs B Evans Year 9 Mr Tom Pritchard KS4 Mr Tracey Neale Year 10 Ms Rh Jenkins Year 11 Mrs C Evans KS5 Mr Lloyd Mahoney Mrs Sara Skevington Miss Elin Rhys Bullying Bullying assumes a variety of different forms, including physical bullying, verbal bullying, social bullying, and spreading malicious rumours. The teaching staff are aware of these various forms of bullying. They are sensitive to the problem during lesson times, in between lesson times and at the end of the school day. The teaching staff will respond to signs that there may be something wrong with the individual pupil – a deterioration in the standard of work, illness that is not accounted for, a general sense of disaffection, untidy books or physical injury such as bruising. The teaching staff will listen and respond seriously to any complaint made by a student. The teaching staff will also try to ensure the physical safety of the pupil. Any incident reported will be noted and the Form Tutor or the appropriate Head of Year will be alerted to the problem. Both the Form Tutor and the pupil will be asked to describe the incident or complaint. 11 The relevant pupil/s will be reminded of the seriousness of the complaint or alleged incident. All parties involved will be told that a written record will be kept. Efforts will be made to secure reconciliation. The “bully” concerned will be reminded of the pain that their action has caused. Appropriate sanctions will be utilised. The situation will continue to be monitored on a daily basis and a thorough follow-up procedure will be adhered to. If the bullying continues the school will contact the parents or guardians. In serious cases parents or guardians will be asked to come to the school to discuss the matter. Suspension is possible if the situation requires it and if the bullying has been proved to be true. Monitoring Progress We will be reporting back on every pupil's progress frequently during the academic year. In October and February we will be distributing the results of the monitoring progress , as well as an interim report in December for the content to be discussed in the parents evening. At the end of the academic year each pupil will receive a detailed and personal report from each subject studied. Discipline The essence of discipline is to know oneself and to discipline that self. The school strives to foster self discipline in all aspects of school life by nurturing respect for oneself, for others and for academic, moral and social standards, both in lessons and on the games field and in other activities. Whilst there is a written code of conduct, we believe that teaching and learning by example can be more effective. When the need for punishment does arise, we look for an appropriate and constructive form of punishment. Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni Purchase of 13 School Uniform The school uniform can be purchased from any one of these outlets: • TSS, Caerphilly; • Dyfed Menswear, Ystrad Mynach; • CC sports, Bargoed; • Direct Mailing via TRUTEX; In an effort to improve the supply of school uniform to parents or guardians, our school has become involved with Trutex School Link. Trutex is a long established school uniform business, experienced in providing school uniform direct to parents or guardians. Through its School Link service you are now able to purchase all our school uniform, and as an added advantage, the product will be delivered directly to your home (or specified address). Details specific to our school are within the School Link brochure. School Link supplies items of our school uniform throughout the year, at competitive prices, and at no extra cost.