Parents’ Handbook A guide to school life at CLS About this booklet

This booklet is designed to assist new parents and pupils by explaining many of the fundamental aspects about daily life and the routines of life at CLS.

We hope that the information provided answers many of the questions that you will naturally have, and we will try to ensure you have as much information as possible about the School so you can start to plan ahead. Contents

Our Vision...... 2 Making the transition...... 3 Pastoral matters...... 4 Academic matters...... 5 Sport...... 8 Music...... 10 Co-curricular and enrichment...... 11 Day to day matters...... 13 Communication with parents...... 16 Uniform...... 17 Financial matters...... 19 Friends of CLS...... 21 Term dates...... 23 Last year we launched our Strategic Vision for 2019–24. In it we are enshrining the three core values of being Kind, Aware and Ready.

Our goal is for our pupils to learn to become respectful, optimistic and inquisitive young men, ready for the demands of the 21st century. We are also striving to make a CLS education available to as many talented young people as possible through transformational bursaries.

You can read the full Strategic Vision on our website.

2 Making the transition

Making the transition to a senior school can We have prepared a series of resources for pupils be a challenging time for both pupils and their to work through in anticipation of joining CLS in parents. This is a major change in a young September which will be made accessible in due person’s life, and we have a programme designed course. From June onwards, pupils will have the to help pupils settle in to their new environment. opportunity to engage with a range of activities to familiarise themselves with the CLS community, The nature of our central London location means get to know their form tutor, hear from key that it is quite normal for pupils not to know any members of staff and get themselves acquainted of their peers when they join CLS. Where more with all that comes with being a pupil at CLS. than one pupil joins from the same school, we We recognise that this is significant transition try to ensure that they are placed in different point for parents too, so will be keeping you up form groups, to encourage them to form new to date with the relevant information too and the friendships. Head of Lower School is happy to respond to any individual queries you may have.

3 Pastoral matters

Pupil welfare sits at the heart of everything we CLS will very likely be considerably bigger than do. It is our aim to ensure that every pupil feels your son’s previous school, and it may take a few that he can explore, discuss and learn in a safe, days for him to find his bearings. This is quite respectful and thoughtful environment, and that normal! Any teacher or older pupil will be happy he knows there is always someone to talk to to help. Most lessons are taught in form groups should he need it. in younger years, so pupils will always have a familiar face in their classes. We are mindful that all pupils have different needs; please feel comfortable to share all Parents’ Forum relevant information to allow us to best support We provide talks for pupils and parents on a his needs. variety of issues such as mental health, anorexia, At CLS, a pupil’s form tutor plays a key role in his technology addiction, drugs and alcohol. We pastoral care. He will see his tutor twice a day for regularly hold Parents’ Forum talks where registration, and will normally be taught by this experts in their fields explore and discuss the teacher, both in a subject and for PSHE. issues facing young people. The Parents’ Forum provides a space for parents to debate and Form tutors monitor pupils’ work and welfare, share experience of their own challenges as well and act as the channel through which as providing expert advice from professionals. information passes to and from pupils, parents Recent speakers have included Julie Johnson and teachers. The form tutor will normally on ‘The Party Scene’, Dr Emma Silver (Consultant be your first and main point of contact with Clinical Psychologist at the Brandon Centre) on the School. ‘Drugs and Young People’, Nicola Morgan (author of “The Teenage Guide to Stress”) and Janey The Head of Year and Head of Section oversee Downshire (who runs Teenagers Translated). the pastoral programme for their year groups. There is also the School Nurse and counsellors to whom pupils are able to speak freely. 4 7.30 Academic matters breakfast (optional) 8.45 CLS is unashamedly academic and we encourage am registration all pupils to develop their passion for intellectual 9.10 enquiry. We seek to stimulate the desire to period 1 challenge, query, debate and argue, allowing 9.50 pupils to develop into outward-looking young period 2 men who are ready for the trials of the wider 10.30 world. With a broad and challenging curriculum period 3 taught by high calibre teaching staff, we nurture 11.10 resilience, confidence and aspiration. break 11.30 Curriculum booklets period 4 Later this term, you will receive a booklet for 12.10 your son’s year group that outlines the general period 5 structure of the curriculum, and gives an 12.50 indication as to the intentions of the various lunch teaching departments for the year ahead. This 13.50 pm registration is not a rigid syllabus; the specific content of the 14.00 courses will depend, to a certain extent, on the period 6 responses of the pupils being taught as well as 14.40 the approach of individual teachers. period 7 The School day 15.20 * subject to change in respect of period 8 COVID-19 guidance 16.00 The School opens in the morning at 7.15am for study/clubs (optional) 18.00 pupils who are in supervised activities, such 5 as sports. School opens at 7.30am for all other form tutors know if there appears to be any cause pupils who would like to be in School earlier or for concern. come for breakfast. Registration is at 8.45am and 1.50pm, and it is compulsory for all pupils to be The amount of homework pupils are expected to in their form room for this. Morning registration complete each week differs from year to year: is followed by a tutor period or an assembly and \\ Old Grammar: 10 homeworks lessons start at 9.10am. There is a mid-morning (30 minutes each) break, and a longer period for lunch and co- \\ First Form: 15 homeworks curricular activities. Lessons finish at 4pm, (30 minutes each) when pupils are free to leave or stay on for any co-curricular clubs and societies. They can also \\ Second Form: 18 homeworks (30 minutes each) stay in the Library until 6pm if they wish to do homework or private study. \\ Third Form: 17 homeworks (30-40 minutes each)

Equipment Awards Pupils require a supply of stationery for their Commendations are awarded to pupils in the schoolwork, which must be brought to every lower school for outstanding effort in a particular lesson. This includes pens (no biros), pencils, a aspect of School life. When pupils reach specific calculator (the School recommends the Casio milestones, they receive rewards for their efforts. 991ex classwiz), a protractor, compass, 30cm ruler, and coloured pencils. Glue and scissors are Each week, two pupils from each year group are also recommended. nominated to receive a Head’s Award. This can be to recognise any achievement, from an act of Homework diary kindness, hard work, improvement, or something All pupils are given a homework diary where from the co-curricular programme. they note down each homework as it is set and In addition, if a pupil produces an outstanding when it is due, along with the time it takes to piece of work his name is entered in the complete. This diary allows parents to monitor homework progress and they are asked to let 6 Head’s Distinction Book and a letter is sent to Library their parents. The Library is open from 8am and pupils are strongly encouraged to make full use of the Reports, Grades & Parents’ Evenings books, newspapers, online reference services, Pupils usually receive two full reports each year laptops and space for private study. and a set of grades each half term. These are published via the Parent Portal, and you will be John Carpenter Bookshop informed when they are available. The bookshop is open from 8am to 2pm each day. It stocks a wide variety of titles including the In addition, there is one Parents’ Evening per year, latest bestsellers for all ages, together with a full when you have the opportunity to meet with your range of stationery, calculators, sheet music, ties, son’s Form Tutor and subject teachers. stamps and greetings cards.

Parents are welcome to use the bookshop as well as the pupils. An online ordering service is available by clicking this link, or you can email any orders to the manager at: [email protected] with many titles only taking a few days to arrive.

Most pupils have a pre-pay credit account with the bookshop that can be set up online. An account with the bookshop often becomes vital during exam periods when pupils may need to purchase emergency equipment.

7 Sport

We encourage all pupils to be as active as \\ First Form pupils have one period of PE and one possible, and the wide variety of sports and period of swimming per week; Games takes place on Friday afternoons. activities on offer ensures that all pupils are able to take part or compete in this important area of \\ Second Form pupils have one period of PE and School life, regardless of their talents or skills. We one period of swimming per week; Games takes seek to develop an interest in and enthusiasm for place on Monday afternoons. physical activity. This will, we hope, encourage \\ Third Form pupils have one period of PE and one pupils to continue with regular physical activity in period of swimming per week; Games takes place later life. on Thursday afternoons. \ All pupils follow a programme of Games, Physical \ Fourth Form pupils have one period of PE and one period of swimming per week; Games takes Education and Swimming. * subject to change in place on Tuesday afternoons. respect of COVID-19 guidance \\ Fifth Form pupils have one period of PE and one \\ Old Grammar pupils have one period of PE and period of swimming per week; Games takes place one period of swimming per week; Games takes on Wednesday afternoons. 8 place on Friday afternoons. \\ Games for the Sixth Form take place on Parents are welcome to support their son at inter- Wednesday afternoons. school fixtures. Details of fixtures and results can be found at sports.cityoflondonschool.org.uk. For their Games afternoon, pupils leave School on coaches at 1pm and return by 4.15pm. The Weak swimmers are encouraged to seek external coach journey to Grove Park takes approximately help to improve their swimming. In addition, 35 minutes. there is a swim improver’s class that runs once a week at lunchtime to help non-swimmers The School’s fields are located at Grove Park in overcome their difficulties in this activity. south east London. The address of the ground is Please see the Uniform section for sports 47 Marvel’s Lane kit details. Grove Park London SE12 9PP

If your son needs excusing from Games

Parents are asked to request permission by emailing the appropriate address (below). Your son must also visit the PE office at break on the day that they are seeking to be excused. Unless your son has an appointment to attend, he is expected to work in the Library until 4pm.

Email addresses:

• [email protected] • [email protected] • [email protected] • [email protected]

9 Music

The Music Department aims to give all pupils the This free tuition last for two terms and takes opportunity to excel, whatever their level. The place during timetabled Music lessons. programme of co-curricular music fits around Arrangements are made in the first few weeks of the academic and sporting life of the School, the Autumn Term. allowing pupils to excel in a number of fields. Instrumental Tuition Pupils in Old Grammar and First Form have the At any stage in their School life, pupils are able opportunity to learn a new instrument. Those to take up individual tuition in the following who already play an instrument choose another instruments: orchestral instrument to learn in order to expand their skill set. Free tuition is available on the Piano, organ, violin, viola, cello, double dass, following instruments: violin, viola, cello, double flute, recorder, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bass, oboe, flute, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, bassoon, french horn, trumpet, trombone, French horn, trumpet, trombone and percussion. tuba, classical guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, percussion and singing. Please note that free tuition is not available in piano, organ, guitar or singing. The fee for a term of 10 lessons, each of 30 minutes duration, is £258. 10 Co-curricular and Enrichment Activities

Activities outside of the classroom play Clubs and Societies an essential role in the development and There are over 70 different activities which strengthening of our aims and values. There pupils can take part in, ranging from the Ukelele is a strong emphasis on broad participation: Orchestra to Politics Society, Squash Club, and sport, music, drama, the Duke of Edinburgh even a weekly Cheese Appreciation Society. We Award Scheme, Combined Cadet Force (CCF), hold a Freshers’ Fair at the start of the Autumn Community Service Organisation (CSO) and Term where pupils can sign up to and try out charity fund-raising form the basis of our co- different clubs. Pupils also have the opportunity curricular programme, along with an abundance to start their own societies should they wish. of out-of-school trips and visits for pupils to explore the world around them. Details of the times and locations where clubs and societies meet can be found on the Parent We hope your son will enjoy taking part in all CLS Portal and on the co-curicular hub on the Pupil has to offer, and that he will take the opportunity Intranet. to try something new. 11 Expeditions and Trips Throughout the year, pupils will have the opportunity to go on a variety of trips and expeditions. Some of these are day trips based around the academic curriculum which occur during school hours. This could be a Geography trip to the Emirates Stadium or a visit to the National Gallery, for example.

Some trips are further afield and will occur outside of school hours; these trips will usually incur a fee, details of which will be communicated to you via the weekly newsletter. You will be informed of these trips six to nine months in advance.

Charity Charity is at the heart of everything we do here at CLS, and we are very proud to run what is consistently an extremely successful charity appeal, raising sums regularly in excess of £60,000. In 2018-19 we raised over £69,000 for Tiny Tickers; this year, the pupils are dedicating their fundraising efforts and events to staff. This process encourages the pupils to think Switchback. on the issues about which they are passionate and to engage in a wide range of causes. Annual The annual charity appeal is run by a committee fundraising events include a sponsored walk, 48- of Sixth Form pupils, and the charity for the hour row, winter and summer fêtes, talent shows, year is chosen democratically after a week of quizzes and evening events for parents to attend. campaigning and voting from all pupils and 12 Day to day matters Your son will be given a copy of the City of If any boy needs to contact a parent London School Standards, Rules and Regulations urgently, or vice versa, this must be at the start of term. This outlines the ways in done via Reception (020 3680 6300 or which we expect every pupil to behave. [email protected]).

Mobile Phones Lockers & School Bags When they are in School, pupils in Old Grammar All pupils are allocated a locker, where they and First to Third Forms must keep their mobile should keep their books, sports kit and other phones switched off. They are not allowed to personal or valuable items. use their mobile telephone at any point during the day unless given instruction to the contrary There is no school back pack; a sturdy rucksack by a member of staff; if an electronic device is (with two shoulder straps) is recommended for seen or heard by a teacher they will issue the day-to-day-use. boy a Mobile Phone Misuse Record (MPMR). Two MPMRs will result in an automatic after-school Bags with wheels are not permitted in School, detention. unless there is a valid medical reason; if you think 13 that this may be the case, please discuss this with These items are retained until the end of the the School Nurse. School year.

Personal property Meals Please ensure that all items of uniform are Pupils can choose to have school lunch at an labelled with your son’s name. This helps identify additional cost per term, or bring in their own the owner of any lost items that end up in packed lunch. Sample menus can be viewed on Lost Property. the Parent Portal. Breakfast is served 8-8.45am and a tuck shop is open during morning break During PE, Swimming and Games lessons, where pupils can purchase a range of snacks. all valuables should be stored securely in the locked valuables box provided, and not in the Catering is provided by Holroyd Howe, and the changing rooms. team is experienced in handling all dietary needs and allergies. Due to the diverse pupil intake, our Lost Property is located on Level 1 next to the chefs generally avoid the following ingredients School Keepers’ office, opposite the Sixth Form within their menus, but due to manufacturing Common Room. Items can be claimed during process we cannot guarantee there are no traces morning break, and the Keeper on duty will help of the product: pork, crustaceans, molluscs, pupils search for their items. sesame, peanuts or tree nuts. At the end of each term, the Friends of CLS sort ICT, email and the Internet the lost property and a list of named items is emailed to pupils and parents. Items unclaimed General rules around using the School network, by the start of the following term, together with either on a School computer or a personal device all un-named items, are laundered and sold are outlined in the School Standards, Rules and at second-hand uniform sales or donated to Regulations and Pupil Acceptable Use Policy. The charity shops. rules are in place to ensure the online safety of every user. Items of value (phones, watches, wallets, etc.) are photographed and images uploaded to the intranet for pupils to check themselves. 14 Bad weather Should a pupil be taken ill or have an accident The School will usually remain open during bad at School, he should seek help from the nurse or weather. However, if there are circumstances nearest first aider in the first instance. in which the School needs to close, you will be You will always be contacted in the event your alerted via the School’s website and email. son falls ill during the School day, if he needs to go home, or if he requires further medical Illness attention. If your son is unwell enough to be absent from School, please ring 020 3680 6300, and choose Leave of absence the ‘Absence’ option, to leave a message as Permission for a leave of absence during term early as possible on the morning of each day time must be requested in advance and in writing of absence. (or by email) from the Senior Deputy Head. Please If we have not heard from parents regarding an note that a leave of absence will not be granted absence, we will contact parents in the morning for holidays. of each day of absence as we must account for all CalFix pupils’ whereabouts. Each term, a Calendar and Fixture List (CalFix) is On his return to School, a letter or email must distributed in as a printed booklet and online via be sent to your son’s form tutor explaining the the Parent Portal. reason for his absence.

Medical care and accidents The School Nurse is available from 8.30am to 4.30pm, and we have several members of staff who are trained in first aid and can assist in emergencies.

15 Communication

We email all parents every Friday afternoon with Policies and Procedures news and regarding School-related matters. Key policies can be found on the School’s website under the ‘About’ section. Any The Citizen is our student-produced newspaper, questions related to our policies should be published every Friday. This contains a mixture of directed to the Head’s Executive Assistant School news and events, opinion pieces, reviews, ([email protected]). recipes and sport. Data Protection Parent Portal Please refer to the School’s Privacy Policy, which The Parent Portal is our main online resource for is available on our website. parents to access information about their son. This includes:

\\ Your contact details (this is where you can change and update any details)

\\ ‘Your Child’ data (reports, grades and progress cards)

\\ ‘Resources’ (lunch menus, school policies, exam timetables, online permission forms)

\\ Co-curricular activities (society timetables, trip information, music lessons)

\\ A library of the Friday mailings

\\ Access to the online shop and payment system. This is where you can pay for trips, top-up your son’s bookshop credit and book School theatre tickets. 16 Uniform

The School dress code is outlined in the School Sports kit Standards, Rules and Regulations. Parents are asked to purchase the sports kit bundle for their son, which will ensure that he has The key items of uniform are: everything he needs for all weathers in PE lessons \\ City of London School black blazer or black/ and Sport afternoons. maroon blazer, available from John Lewis Pupils will need non-marking trainers and football \\ Black and red school tie, available from John boots if they want to play football. We recommend Lewis or the School’s Bookshop plastic/moulded studs or Firm Ground (FG). \\ Black trousers or charcoal trousers For swimming pupils should wear plain black \ \ White long sleeve shirt Speedos or jammers \\ Grey pullover with trim or grey slipover (optional), available from John Lewis See our flyer (opposite) for more info.

\\ Black pullover or grey pullover (optional) Second-hand uniform

\\ Black stripe scarf (optional) The Friends of CLS regularly hold second-hand uniform sales where you can find many items in \\ Black shoes (not trainers or boots) and plain a range of sizes. These sales usually coincide with dark socks School events and parents’ evenings. \\ A sturdy rucksack

Please ensure that all items of uniform and sports kit are labelled with your son’s name. Name labelling pens are available from the bookshop.

17 purchasing your Sportswear PE & Games Kit by NIKE ©

The following kit bundle (8 items) is essential for all pupils and used for both PE and SPORTS KIT Games lessons. We recommend you always place your order at least 3 weeks BUNDLE before the start of term. Examples of each item, in various sizes, will be available to (REQUIRED FOR ALL PUPILS) view and order at your scheduled familiarisation afternoon.

PE GAMES GAMES SHIRT SHIRT MIDLAYER

PE & GAMES SHORTS

GAMES TRACKSUIT BOTTOMS

GAMES GAMES

RAIN JACKET SOCKS

To purchase your kit visit… www.clubwebshop.com/cityoflondonschool OPTIONAL EXTRAS OPTIONAL

BACKPACK BEANIE HAT

PE & Games Kit HARDCASE GOALKEEPER information BAG SHIRT SCAN HERE sheet 18 Club Web Shop is maintained and managed by Vesey UK Limited. For all order enquiries please click here for details Financial matters

School fees on the top right hand side of your invoice in the The school fee is published on the School’s payment reference. website, and – for the Autumn Term 2020 – is The School’s bank details are as follows: £6,313. This is unchanged on the fee charged for the academic year 2019-20. Any change Account Name: City of London School to the school fee is advised with at least one Collection Account term’s notice. Sort Code: 30-00-02 Account No.: 01241341 Direct debit SWIFT/BIC: LOYDGB2LCTY Direct Debit is a preferred method of payment. IBAN: GB82 LOYD 3000 0201 2413 41 Each term’s fees are divided into three equal Debit or Credit Card instalments to be collected over nine months of the academic year as follows: To pay by card, please telephone the School Fees Clerk on 020 3680 6320 with the relevant details. \\ Autumn Term instalments will be claimed at the end of August, September and October. Other charges \\ Spring Term instalments will be claimed at the From time to time, other charges may be added end of December, January and February. to your termly invoice, such as costs associated with CLS London Week. You will be informed of \\ Summer Term instalments will be claimed at the any such charges before they are processed. end of April, May and June.

Bank transfer Lunch Pupils can choose to have a school lunch at a If you wish to pay fees by one single payment, this cost of £278 per term. must be paid in full by the first day of term. Please include your ‘Account Ref’, which can be found

19 Music lessons are usually limited. You will be informed of any The fee for a term of 10 lessons, each of 30 upcoming trips via the weekly newsletter, which minutes duration, is £258. This usually payable will outline any costs. Payments can be made on in advance, but pupils joining the School in the online shop and payments system, WisePay. September will be charged on the November bill Late payment charges for tuition in both the Autumn and Spring Terms. Simple interest at the rate of 6% above the base Additional charges will be made for music rate of the Bank of England (as varied from time examinations and these are non-refundable, even to time) per annum calculated on a daily basis is if your son is unable to take the examination. charged on any overdue payment from the due date until the date of actual payment. Examination fees The School charges parents the cost of any public Further information on late payment charges examinations their son sits as and when they can be found in the Parent Contract - Terms & arise. The cost of this will be added to invoices at Conditions. the appropriate time.

Lost or unreturned items Where books and other items of school property are lost or unreturned, a charge will be added to the termly bill.

Trips Pupils will be offered the chance to take part in a range of trips and expeditions during their time at CLS. These trips are not compulsory and places

20 Friends of CLS

The Friends of CLS is our parents’ association. Social events for the pupils The Friends of CLS team up with the Friends of Each year group has its own Friends of CLS City of London School for Girls to organise joint representative, who are all parents of current social events for Old Grammar to Third Form. pupils and can help to answer any questions you These are hugely popular, with up to 150 pupils might have, particularly during your son’s first few attending. They help the pupils from both schools weeks at CLS. develop their social skills and lay the foundations Friends’ events are self-funded, or run as of a wider friendship group. fundraisers in conjunction with the pupils’ Charity Committee. All funds raised support both School Social events for parents projects and the School’s pupil-elected charity. Every term there are social events for parents including coffee mornings held at Café 101, the Events are listed in Calfix, and notices of Salvation Army next to the School. upcoming events also appear in the School’s Weekly News email. To help new families meet each other, in the Autumn Term there is a Sunday afternoon blue- 21 badge guided City Walk. Recent themes have How to get involved included ‘London at War’ and ‘Shakespeare’s New committee members are always South Bank’. The walk is followed by tea and welcome. Please contact the Chair at cakes at School. The Quiz and Curry Night [email protected]. is another popular event held later in the Autumn Term.

In the Spring Term, the Spring Soirée provides a relaxed and informal evening of fantastic music from the pupils.

Later in the Summer Term, the Friends of CLS and the Sports Department invite parents to the Old Grammar, First Form and Second Form Sports Day Picnics at Grove Park.

22 Term Dates

Autumn 2020 Spring 2021 Summer 2021

Induction for new pupils: Begins: Tue 5 January Begins: Tue 20 April Thu 3 September Half Term: Mon 15–Fri 19 February May bank holiday: Mon 3 May Half Term: Wed 21–Fri 30 October Ends: Fri 26 March Half Term: Mon 31 – Fri 4 June Ends: Fri 11 December Ends: Tue 6 July

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