Parents Handbook Master 2018_DCS Parents Handbook 2009 21/06/2018 10:20 Page cov1 DEAN DC CLOSE CHELTENHAM SENIOR S CHOOL Handbook for Parents September 2018 Parents Handbook Master 2018_DCS Parents Handbook 2009 21/06/2018 10:20 Page cov2 INTRODUCTION FROM THE HEADMASTER Dear Parents and Guardians, Welcome to the Dean Close Handbook for Parents. Visitors and newcomers to the School often comment on the family atmosphere that they find here. We very much hope that your sons and daughters will benefit greatly from this ethos and as time goes on will also be able to contribute to it. This handbook is intended to give you answers to many of the detailed questions that may arise and to give you some idea of the activities and experiences that take place in School. Most importantly, it is not a substitute for conversations with all of us who are responsible for your child’s progress and you should feel most welcome to contact us at any time by telephone or email and we shall aim to arrange meetings whenever necessary. If I might give two pieces of advice at this introductory stage: - you can’t be too involved. There really is an astonishing range of excellent activities tToo d pou apnilds to see, and new ones open up each year. The people who commit to things are the ones who have the most fun and benefit the most. - it is wonderful for you to be involved as well, but please bear in mind that as your sTon psa orre ndtas ughters move on in the School they are learning to think and speak for themselves and you can often help best by giving them an opportunity to take the initiative. If that doesn’t work then, as always, please let us know. As the proverb has it, ‘it takes a village to raise a child.’ Education is a team effort and we greatly look forward to working with you in the coming year. Bradley Salisbury Parents Handbook Master 2018_DCS Parents Handbook 2009 21/06/2018 10:20 Page 1 DEAN CLOSE SCHOOL CONTENTS : PAGE Introduction from the Headmaster PAGE Important Information for Parents 2 Nomenclature 2 Notes for Boarding Pupils 10 Contacting the School 2 Stated Aim 10 School Calendar 3 Leave-Out 10 Visiting the School CONTENTS 3 Social Events 3 Half terms Parents’ Meetings 3 11 Page No. The Business Club 3 Exeats Our Values INFORMATION FOR PARENTS 4 11 2 Day Boarding 4 Airport Transport 11 OUR VALUES 4 Pastoral Information 5 Information Communications Technology 11 The HouseP SAySsTteOm RAL INFORMATION 5 Using Laptops in School 5 11 Counselling 5 Use of the Internet 12 The TutoriaAl CSAysDteEm MIC INFORMATION AND TIM5 ETABLECareers Advice 7 12 Personal, Social and Health Education 5 Work Experience 13 NOTES FOR ALL PUPILS 9 Guardianship 6 Co-curricular Activities 13 Chaplaincy NOTES FOR DAY PUPILS 6 Sport 10 13 Academic Information 7 Music/Drama 13 Daily TimeNtaObleTES FOR BOARDING PUPILS 7 Monday & Wednesday Ac1tiv0 ities 13 Curriculum 7 CCF 13 INFORMATION COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY 11 Examinations 8 Duke of Edinburgh 14 AssessmeCntA aRndE MEoRnSit oAriDngV oICf PE rogress 8 Community Action 12 14 Learning Support 8 Clubs and Hobbies 14 English LaCngOu-aCgeU TRrRaiInCinUg LAR ACTIVITIES 9 Fourth Form Activities 13 14 Academic Discipline 9 Medical Information 14 MEDICAL INFORMATION 14 Notes for All Pupils 9 Appointments 14 Timings BURSARY INFORMATION AND POL9ICIES Insurance 15 14 Leave of Absence from School 9 Treatment for Day Pupils 15 Chapel THE OLD DECANIAN SOCIETY 9 Immunisations 16 15 Transport 9 Gum Shields 15 SCHOOL SHOP AND UNIFORM 16 Cars 9 Bursary Information 15 Belongings SCHOOL BUS SERVICE 9 Payment of Fees 21 15 Implications of Absence from Lessons 9 Insurance 15 The SchooMl CAoPdSe of Conduct 9 Extras 23 15 Dress and Appearance 10 Optional Extras 15 Mobile Phones 10 Notice of Leaving 15 Field Day and Other Activities 10 Electrical Testing 15 Beginning of Terms 10 Policies, Guidelines & Procedures 15 Parties 10 The Old Decanian Society 16 Eighteenth Birthday Celebrations 10 School Shop 16 Notes for Day Pupils 10 Hours of opening 16 Absence 10 Clothing Lists and Regulations 17 Extra Meals 10 Uniform for Lower School 17 Conduct 10 Uniform for Sixth Form 18 School Buses 10 Sports Clothes (all Pupils) 19 Occasional Boarding for Day Pupils 10 General Uniform Guidelines 20 Boarders’ Requirements 20 FOR PARENTS HANDBOOK Parents Handbook Master 2018_DCS Parents Handbook 2009 21/06/2018 10:20 Page 3 DEAN CLOSE SCHOOL INFORMATION : INFORMATION FOR PARENTS While we hope very much that most common questions are answered in this handbook, it is not intended to replace face to Paul Montgomery face conversations or telephone communication. Please do get Field [email protected] in touch with us if you are in doubt about any aspect of school 07825 413580 life, or if you have any suggestions as to information which should be included in this handbook. One of the first things to Matt Wilkes be aware of is that there is certain terminology which may not Gate [email protected] be used elsewhere but is part of the Dean Close language. The 07884 667294 most common ones are given below, for further Dean Close terminology please refer to page 10 of the Appendix. Kate Milne Hatherley [email protected] 07825 214315 DEAN CLOSE NOMENCLATURE Cathy Feltham Mead DCS Abbreviation for the Senior School [email protected] DCPS Abbreviation for the Preparatory School 07469 159824 HsM Abbreviation for Housemaster/Housemistress Julie Kent Exeat School closes for the weekend from Friday Shelburne [email protected] afternoon to Sunday evening 07884 667293 Field Days Compulsory day when the timetable is suspended for activities Brian Poxon Tower [email protected] Mufti Casual dress 07884 666192 Ciara Allen Terms Turner Hall Michaelmas September - December [email protected] Lent January - March 07884 667295 Trinity April - early July Other useful numbers Year Groups School numbers are 01242 258000, followed by extension Fourth Form Year 9 number. There are also DDI lines. Remove Year 10 Fifth Form Year 11 (main GCSE year) [email protected] Headmaster Lower Sixth Year 12 (First year of A2 Levels) 01242 258000 Option 1 Upper Sixth Year 13 (Second year of A2 Levels) General Enquiries [email protected] 01242 267401 CONTACTING THE SCHOOL Headmaster’s PA [email protected] It is our aim to work very closely with parents and guardians to 01242 258036 promote the education and welfare of each pupil. Deputy Headmaster Communication about the pupil should in the first instance [email protected] always be with the HsM (Housemaster/Housemistress). HsMs will let parents and guardians know of good times to phone Deputy Head (Pastoral) 01242 258019 and of any other useful information, eg email addresses. We [email protected] use a wide range of printed and electronic means to keep parents and guardians informed, as well as the many opportunities that arise for face to face discussions. Deputy Head (Academ0ic1) 242 258037 [email protected] HOUSEMASTERS AND HOUSEMISTRESSES Jonathan Pitt Director of External Re0la1t2io4n2s 2 67446 Brook Court [email protected] [email protected] 07884 667292 Director of Fourth Form Studies Ben Price [email protected] Dale [email protected] 07584 356954 Director of Remove & Firfjtdho Fnaolrdmso Snt@udeieas nclose.org.uk Jessica Briggs Fawley [email protected] Director of Sixth Form [email protected] 07884 667287 FOR PARENTS 2 HANDBOOK Parents Handbook Master 2018_DCS Parents Handbook 2009 21/06/2018 10:20 Page 4 DEAN CLOSE SCHOOL INFORMATION : Housemistress in advance and ‘touch base’ with whoever is on 01242 258062 duty on arrival. Chaplain [email protected] 01242 258044 Other meetings with Headmaster, Housemaster/mistress, Registrar [email protected] IDf isruechto ar omfe Settuindgi eiss ,d teustiorar,b eletc to discuss any aspect of the 01242 258086 pupil’s progress, it is best to arrange an appointment by Bursary [email protected] telephone or email. 01242 258042 Accounts [email protected] PSaorceinatls E avren atls ways very welcome to attend school events, 07762 469381 matches and match teas. Any suggestions or offers to arrange Estates [email protected] other social events would be warmly received; a group of 01242 258016 parents meet on Saturday mornings to play hockey in the School Shop [email protected] winter and tennis in the summer. 01242 258080 Health Centre [email protected] IPna are wnotsrl’d M ine ewtihnicghs electronic communication is increasingly 01242 258002 becoming the preference of so many, parents’ meetings Theatre Administrator Fax 01242 258007 provide the invaluable opportunity to meet one to one with each of your son/daughter’s teachers, face to face. The dates and times of the meetings are advertised, each term, in the School calendar and via mailings. TWheee wkleye mklya imlinagiling is available online at www.deanclose.org.uk/weeklybulletin, with important information about the week ahead. Pareennttss a’ St Doceiaenty Close are all members of the Parents’ Society, which was newly formed in the academic year 2017-18. It aims to improve the communication between the School and parents TWheeb Sscitheo ol website can be found at www.deanclose.org.uk. and to plan a programme of events, both informative and It is updated on a daily basis and contains the latest news, social. We are keen for parents to work together with us even sports results, events, departmental information, etc. Within this more effectively in bringing up and educating their children. site is a Parent Hub area.