Strood Academy Information Booklet 2018 - 19 2 CONTENTS PAGE 3 Principal’s Letter 4 Senior Staff List 5 Home and Academy: Communication 6 Year 7 Curriculum 7- 8 Timetable 9 Homework 10 Academy calendar 2018 -19 11 Academy Restaurant 12- 14 Frequently Asked Questions 15 Code of Conduct 16-17 Academy Rules 18 Uniform 19 How can I help my child? 20-22 Additional Information including School transport, Music lessons, Assemblies and Charging and Remissions Policy 3 Strood Academy Carnation Road, Strood, Rochester, Kent, ME2 2SX Telephone: 01634 717121 Fax: 01634 735755 [email protected] Principal: Kim Gunn BA (Hons) MBA NPQH Dear Parents and Carers A very warm welcome to Strood Academy. All successful schools have very strong partnerships between parents, students and teachers. Our aim is to start that process by ensuring a smooth transition to secondary school and hope that this booklet proves both helpful and informative. The Academy is divided into three colleges for years 7-11. Each of these is led by a Vice Principal. The fourth college is for the Sixth Form. Teaching is undertaken through seven faculties and Student Services, covering the national curriculum in a way that personalises both learning and the way we monitor and support each child. Expectations for good attitudes for learning are high and every student will be expected to complete homework assignments. With a strong emphasis on literacy and numeracy, students follow a two year Key Stage 3 programme allowing for a three year period leading to GCSE and vocational qualifications. A Sixth Form that will grow to 300 students allows for progression and a broad offer of courses. Care, support and guidance are high priorities. Parents receive progress reports regularly to ensure that every student receives the level of support and challenge that they need to be successful. The Academy will promote participation in sport and the arts and ensure that a full range of clubs, activities and teams are available in the ‘extended day.’ We hope that you will encourage your child to get fully involved in the life of the Academy. The term starts for Year 7 on Monday 3 September with registration at 9.40am and the school day will end at 2pm. From Tuesday 4 September the normal school day of 8.45am -3.05pm will resume, with the exception of a 2pm finish each Wednesday. We look forward to a happy and fruitful association between yourselves and Strood Academy. Yours sincerely Kim Gunn Principal 4 Senior Staff Principal Mrs K Gunn Associate Principal Mrs D Piralic Vice Principal - Hercules College Mrs T Copeland Vice Principal - Trafalgar College Mr S Daly Vice Principal - Victory College Mr G Cook Assistant Principal & Head of Sixth form Miss S Nasim Assistant Principal - Deputy Head of Hercules College Miss J Lindsay Assistant Principal - Deputy Head of Trafalgar College Mr A Kelly Assistant Principal - Deputy Head of Victory College Mrs C Napier Assistant Principal - Inclusions Mr G Matthews College Staff Director of Studies – Hercules College Mr R Harvey Director of Studies – Trafalgar College Mrs K Chidlow Director of Studies – Victory College Mr J Kirk Assistant Director of Studies – Hercules College Ms L Robicheau Assistant Director of Studies – Trafalgar College Mr S Palmer Assistant Director of Studies – Victory College Mrs J Pattison Pastoral Manager – Hercules College Mrs K Lennox Pastoral Manager – Trafalgar College Mrs K Thornton Pastoral Manager – Victory College Mrs L Brown Pastoral Manager – Apollo College Miss M Bartlett 5 Home and Academy: Communication Communication between home and the Academy is the most effective means of securing partnership, and the best outcomes for your child. Progress Reports Parent/Teacher Consultation Evenings Progress reports are issued regularly over the year so Each year you will be invited to the Academy to that an indication can be given of your child’s discuss your child’s progress. Please make every progress and achievement in key areas of each effort to attend these meetings – an exchange of subject. views on a personal basis is invaluable. In all years, we encourage students to attend with Concerns their parents. This practice has proved most Apart from this regular consultation, there may be helpful in promoting effective discussion. occasions when the Form Tutor or the Director of Studies feels it would be helpful to talk to parents. Rewards Scheme S/he will arrange a mutually convenient time with Form Tutors monitor the points awarded on a you. Equally, there may be matters of concern that weekly basis which enables them to congratulate you will wish to discuss with us. Usually the best students doing well. person to contact will be your child’s Form Tutor, who ParentMail is able to co-ordinate support within the Academy. The most direct way of receiving all school The Director of Studies may obtain the help of communication is via Parentmail. Please ensure agencies outside the Academy whenever this is that the Academy always has your current email considered appropriate. Such agencies include: address so that letters are sent directly to your The School Health Team Inbox. Parentmail have also designed a free App which makes using Parentmail via your mobile The Attendance Advisory Practitioner phone much more user friendly. The Educational Psychologist The Social Services Department Behaviour Support Service Medway Youth Trust Police It is always better to contact the Academy to express concern or to seek advice than to worry and allow a situation to deteriorate. However, staff may not be able to respond immediately due to teaching commitments but they will try to respond within 24 hours. Please be aware, that If you wish to see a member of staff you must make an appointment. This can be done by leaving a request when calling in, or emailing [email protected] You can also email colleges direct via the email addresses listed on the last page entitled useful contact details. 6 Year 7 Curriculum The Academy operates a ten-day timetable throughout the year. In each two-week period there are 38 teaching units of 75 minutes. Students in Year 7 follow a common curriculum comprising: SUBJECT NUMBER OF UNITS English 8 Mathematics 8 Science 8 Art/DT 3 Humanities 4 Modern Foreign Language 3 Physical Education / 4 Dance Total 38 Organisation The majority of students will be taught in mixed ability groups. However, in Mathematics, Curriculum English, Science and Modern Foreign Language, students are taught according to ability. Students will have access to a broad and balanced Students who have special learning difficulties curriculum which will be delivered through the will receive specific help either through International Baccalaureate Middle Years additional support in the classroom from Programme (IBMYP). This programme covers the teaching assistants and the class teacher or on a expected national curriculum areas, but also seeks one to one basis. to develop key character traits such as being “knowledgeable”, “principled” and “open- minded”. Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHEE) Through PSHEE we aim to educate students to understand themselves and to play a responsible role within families and as members of local, national and international communities. Many aspects of Citizenship are taught within PSHEE which takes place during form time. 7 Timetable The pattern of the Academy day is as follows for: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday Wednesday 7.30 - 8.45am Access to Academy 7.30 - 8.45am Access to Academy 8.45 - 9.15am Form time and assemblies 8.45 - 9.15am Form time and assemblies 9.15 - 10.50am Period 1 (including a 20 9.15 - 10.50am Period 1 (including 20 minute minute break) break) 10.50 - 12.05pm Period 2 10.50 - 12.05pm Period 2 12.05 - 1.50pm Period 3 (including a 30 12.05 - 1.50pm Period 3 (including a 30 minute lunch break) minute lunch break) 1.50 - 3.05pm Period 4 and end of school 1.50 - 2.00pm Registration and end of school 3.15 - 4.15pm Clubs and Activities 2.15 - 4.15pm Staff Professional Development. No after school clubs The Academy operates a 10 day timetable. This means that some of your child’s lessons in Week A may be slightly different from those in Week B. Please see an example on the next page. Each block shows the class code, teacher name and room number. This is not your child’s timetable this will be issued to them in September. 8 Timetable Week 1 (Date) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday V1 V1 V1 V1 V1 AM Form Tutor AM Form Tutor AM Form Tutor AM Form Tutor AM Form Tutor 210 210 210 210 210 7v/Pc2 7v/Sc1 7v/En1 7v/Ma1 7v/Sc1 1 Mrs PE 1 Mrs Science 1 Ms English 1 Mrs Maths 1 Mrs Science DEFAULT 217 148 300 321 7v/Hu2 7v/Hu2 7v/Hu2 7v/Sc1 7v/En1 2 Mr Humanities 2 Mr Humanities 2 Mr Humanities 2 Mrs Science 2 Mr English 230 230 231 145 148 7v/Dt2 7v/En1 7v/Ma1 7v/Ma1 7v/Ma1 Mr Design Mr English Mrs Maths Mrs Maths Mrs Maths 3 3 3 3 Technology 3 148 313 313 313 144 V1 V1 V1 Form Tutor V1 V1 PM Form Tutor PM Form Tutor PM Registration and PM Form Tutor PM Form Tutor 210 210 dismissal 210 210 210 7v/Ml1 7v/En1 7v/En1 7v/Pc2 Ms Modern Mr English Mr English Mrs PE 4 Foreign Language 4 4 4 4 148 148 DEFAULT 229 Timetable Week 2 (Date) Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday V1 V1 V1 V1 V1 AM Form Tutor AM Form Tutor AM Form Tutor AM Form Tutor AM Form Tutor 210 210 210 210 210 7v/Pa2 7v/Sc1 7v/Sc1 7v/Pc2 7v/Sc1 Ms Performing Mrs Science Mrs Science Mrs PE Mrs Science 1 1 1 Arts 1 1 321 316 DEFAULT 316 220 7v/Ml1 7v/Hu2 7v/Ma1 7v/Sc1 7v/En1 Mrs Modern Mr Humanities Mrs Maths Mrs Science Mr English 2 2 2 2 Foreign Language 2 231 313 316 148 229 7v/Dt2 7v/Dt2 7v/Ma1 7v/En1 7v/Ma1 Mr Design Mr Design Mrs Maths Mr English Mrs Maths 3 3 3 3 Technology 3 Technology 305 148 305 216 225 V1 V1 V1 Form Tutor V1 V1 PM Form Tutor PM Form Tutor PM Registration and PM Form Tutor PM Form Tutor 210 210 dismissal 210 210 7v/Ml1 7v/En1 7v/En1 7v/Ma1 Ms Modern Mr English Mr English Mrs Maths 4 4 Foreign Language 4 4 4 148 148 313 229 9 Homework All students are expected to follow a programme of regularly set homework, varying from 20 to 40 minutes per subject per week in the lower years, to 2 hours per subject in year 11.