A Performing Arts College 17 - 2016 July 2016 Parent / Carer Information PackParent / Carer Information S P CONTENTS Letter from the Principal Page 3 1 The Timing of the College Day Page 4 2 Lunch-Time Arrangements Page 4 3 Contacting College Page 5 4 College Behaviour Page 5-6 5 Items Students are not allowed in College Page 6 6 Things not to do in college Page 7 7 Safer Schools Scheme Page 7 8 College Wear Page 7-9 9 Attendance Page 10 10 Holidays in Term Time Page 10 11 Student Equipment Page 10 12 Reporting to Parents Page 11 13 Target setting and tracking progress Page 11 14 Homestudy Page 11-12 15 Controlled Assessment Years 10 and 11 Page 12 16 Borrowing From The LRC at Glossopdale Page 12 17 Car Parking Page 12 18 Summary of Term Dates Page 13 19 Transport Information Page 14-16 20 Charging Policy Page 17 21 College Calendar Page 18-21 22 Form FM1- Application for Free School Meals Page 22 2 July 2016 Dear Parents/Carer The main purpose of this information pack is to ensure you have some basic information about the College for 2016/2017 and to inform you of the arrangements for the first day back at College in September. Although the distribution is to all parents, some items are only relevant to particular year groups. Some items may be subject to change and parents will be advised of these as they arise. Arrangements for the First Day Monday 5th September 2016 Hadfield Site – Year 7 and 8 All students in Years 7 and 8 must arrive at 8.40 am for 8.45 am registration. The Year 7 students are to report to the main Hall. The Year 8 students are to report to their tutor group base on arrival. Period 1 will be spent with tutors. Normal timetabled lessons will begin from Period 2. Glossop Site – Years 9, 10 and 11 All students in Years 10 and 11 must arrive at 8.40 am for 8.45 am registration. The Year 9 students are to report to the main Hall. Year 10 and 11 students must report to their tutor group bases on arrival. Period 1 will be spent with tutors. Normal timetabled lessons will begin from Period 2. Talbot House – Years 12 and 13 Students in Year 12 must report to Talbot House at 8.40 where they will be placed in form groups and take part in their Induction Day Activities. Tuesday 6th September Students in Year 13 must report to Talbot House at 8.40 where they will be placed in form groups and receive their new timetables. External Examinations Students in Years 10 and 11 as well the Sixth Form will have important external examinations at various times during the year. Information will be provided to you and your child at the relevant time. I hope you find the information that follows useful. If you have any further enquiries then please contact the College Office on 862336 and ask to be put through to the relevant student support staff. Yours sincerely S Playford Principal 3 Welcome to Glossopdale Community College We are committed to our comprehensive values and strive for all Glossopdale learners to become successful based on three key strands of learning, experience and support. Our focus is to build a community of successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens within which all students, regardless of age, ability or background, are engaged, challenged, inspired and supported in their learning. Students are encouraged to aim high – in their work, conduct, attendance, punctuality and dress. We expect them to achieve their best and to take responsibility for their own learning, working independently and collaboratively. We aim to meet our learners’ needs in a rich and varied way. 1. THE TIMING OF THE COLLEGE DAY Students to arrive at 8.40am for 8.45am Registration 8.45am 9.15am Tutorial & Assemblies 9.15am 10.15am Period 1 10.15am 10.35am Break 10.35am 11.35am Period 2 11.35am 12.35pm Period 3 12.35pm 1.25pm Lunch 1.25pm 2.25pm Period 4 2.25pm 3.25pm Period 5 As you aware College will normally end for students at 2.25pm on a Friday. If you would like your son or daughter to remain in College until 3.25pm on a Friday, there will be provision for students to do their homework in a supervised environment. Please contact the College if you wish your child to be supervised until 3.25pm. Students in the Sixth Form may be involved in lessons before or after normal college hours. Students in Year 12 are expected to attend their Form Tutor session on a Monday/Wednesday/Friday and Year students on a Tuesday/Thursday. When students do not have a tutorial session at the beginning of the school day they are permitted to begin the school day at 9.15 and receive their attendance mark in Period 2. LUNCH-TIME ARRANGEMENTS All Year 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 students must remain on site for the whole of lunchtime. Students can purchase a meal on-site that includes a main course, a drink and a dessert for approximately £2.35. A variety of other dishes are available at varying costs. Some students may wish to bring sandwiches. These students are expected to eat their sandwiches in one of the dining halls. Snacks are available at break times from the cafeterias. If your child is entitled to free meals we should have a letter of entitlement on file in College. Approximately one month before the entitlement expires, you will be sent a new FM1 form which will need to be completed, stamped at the DSS and either returned to us or to the Area Education Office in Buxton. A copy of this application form is attached. Currently, it is taking 3-4 weeks for applications to be processed, so please return forms in good time. If we have no letter of entitlement your child may not have a free meal. The fact that you have sent the application form off is not proof of entitlement. If you return the form yourself, please let us know so we do not send you reminders. 4 Students in the Sixth Form are permitted to go ‘off site’ during their break time and lunch hour but food is also provided at Talbot House at these times for those students who wish to take advantage of these facilities. 3. CONTACTING COLLEGE Parents are always welcome to contact the College whenever necessary. The telephone number for all three sites is 01457 862336. The College website is now fully functional and contains a wide range of up to date information: www.glossopdale.derbyshire.sch.uk 4. COLLEGE BEHAVIOUR At Glossopdale we operate a Climate for Learning Policy. The overarching principles of the policy are as follows: We need to encourage all our students to be successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens. We need to reward students who make good progress, show effort and demonstrate positive behaviour and good organisation skills. Together these will raise achievement. It is the responsibility of all staff, not just teaching staff, to promote good behaviour. Staff are role models in this process and we demonstrate the behaviour we expect from students by the way we behave towards them and colleagues. Climate for Learning is a strategy for raising achievement. Expectations We seek to encourage our students to become successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens. We have agreed expectations of all our students: Successful learners Positive attitude to learning Try your best at all times Complete work Ask questions Fully equipped with pens, planner etc Reach target Achieve lesson objective No shouting out Meet deadlines Excellent attendance Excellent punctuality Confident Individuals Good body language Contribute in class Responsible citizens Courtesy to all Listening to all adults Supporting peers Correct uniform 5 Expectations in lessons are that all students: 1) Follow all instructions immediately 2) Complete all classwork and homework 3) Be ready to learn – positive attitude to learning, with a planner and equipment 4) Do not talk whilst the teacher is talking 5) Speak to all staff and peers with respect Detentions For students who fail to meet the required standards in lessons they will have a same-day detention after college. Parents and carers will be notified, where reasonably possible that their child has been issued with a same – day after college detention. The full Climate for Learning policy is available via the College website. 5. ITEMS STUDENTS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN COLLEGE The following items may not be brought into College by students or be in their possession: any item which is or might be considered an offensive and dangerous weapon cigarettes, matches or lighters illegal substances; e.g. drugs, alcohol music headphones, MP3 players chewing gum Tipp-ex and permanent marker pens. Mobile Phones Mobile phones offer a feeling of security to parents and students. Balanced against this is the problem phones can cause by disrupting lessons. Parents are expected to support this by not contacting students or accepting calls from them during the College day on their mobile phones. A graver concern for many parents is that mobile phones now have the technology to capture both photographs and video. Although students may bring phones into College, these must not be used anywhere on the College premises (this includes playgrounds and fields). This removes any concerns about their use as photographic equipment and also ensures they are not seen by potential thieves.