A guide to Retford Oaks Academy Babworth Road, Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 7NJ Retford Oaks Academy Phone: 01777 861618 Email: [email protected] www.retfordoaks.ac.org.uk Diverse Academies Trust (Old Hall Drive, Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 7EA; registered company number 07664012) is a not for profit charitable trust with exempt charity status, registered in England and Wales. Principal’s welcome I am delighted that you have chosen Retford Oaks Academy for the next step in your child’s education. We are looking forward to welcoming our new year 7 students into our excellent academy and introducing them to life at Retford Oaks. The following pages, along with our Sending your child to secondary website, will hopefully help to answer school can be a daunting and some of the many questions you and your emotional time, but I am confident child will have about the beginning of that they will quickly settle in and their journey into secondary education. enjoy being a member of the Retford Oaks community. You will be sent additional information over the coming weeks. This will include I trust the time spent at our academy information about our parent portal and over the coming years will be lunch payment systems, as well as an inspiring, rewarding and successful. academic calendar for the year. However, if you have any questions in the meantime, please do not hesitate to call us or email our transition team at: [email protected] Mr C West Principal 2 | A guide to Retford Oaks Academy www.retfordoaks-ac.org.uk | 3 Starting at Our uniform We operate high standards of uniform and expect students to look smart and presentable at all times. Below are the uniform items you will need ready for your child Retford Oaks Academy starting at the academy. The essentials Uniform PE kit We understand that it can be overwhelming for both students • Compulsory black blazer with academy logo • A pair of black shorts and their parents when starting a new school. Staff at Retford • Academy tie – your child will be advised of their house • Black joggers Oaks will be available to guide you through this process. • Black trousers in a formal cut, or black, straight, • Under layers or skins can be pleated or A-line skirt worn – no hoods or zips The information here, outlines the It is important that students arrive • Formal black shoes (knee length boots or shoes • Retford Oaks Academy essential information you will need to get promptly at 8.35am ready for registration with logos are not allowed) PE shirt organised prior to your child starting with in their form groups. If a student arrives • Black jumper with academy logo (optional) • A pair of strong trainers us, and will help you prepare for your son late, they must attend a 30 minute • Plain white, formal style shirt with stiffened and rugby/football boots or daughter’s first few days and weeks. after-school detention on the Friday collar (no logos or fitted blouses) • No branded sportswear which immediately follows. The academy day • Outdoor coats may be worn, but hoodies, sweatshirts, is allowed The academy day runs from 8.35am to denim coats and denim jackets are not allowed • Although uniform policy 3.30pm and the exact timings within Uniform supplier • No jewellery, other than a plain pair of ear studs permits one pair of stud earrings to be worn, these that, including breaks and lunch, will be Some items of academy uniform can be and a watch, is permitted must be removed for PE confirmed before they start. purchased through our specialist supplier • No make-up should be worn in years 7-9 activities below, either online or at their shop. All • Hair styles should be formal – patterns and lines may other items, regardless of which supplier not be cut into hair and only colours which could is used, must conform to our uniform occur naturally may be used for hair dye or highlights specifications to ensure high standards are maintained. Equipment Uniform Direct, 9 Market Street, Students must have the following items with them at each lesson: Gainsborough, DN21 2BL • Scientific calculator • Eraser Phone: 01427 616105 • 30cm ruler • Pencil sharpener www.uniform-direct.com • 2 x HB pencils • Red pen • 2 x black pens • Reading book • Protractor/angle measure 4 | A guide to Retford Oaks Academy www.retfordoaks-ac.org.uk | 5 Travelling to the academy On foot or by bicycle Students living close by are encouraged to Parent checklist By bus be environmentally responsible, and we Familiarise myself with Students from outside of the local area recommend that they walk or cycle if they the academy day are encouraged to travel by bus. Details for are able. main routes can be found here: Buy uniform and All cycles should be wheeled across the equipment zebra crossing on arrival at the academy Kettlewells and must be locked within the cycle pen. Check bus and travel routes 985 West Stockwith, Misterton, to the academy Beckingham, Saundby Students should ensure their bike has been 987 Walkeringham, Misterton, checked for safety and wearing a helmet Gringley on the Hill, Clayworth, is strongly recommended. If concerns arise Clarborough, Hayton about the safety of the bike, or the way in which it is ridden, the academy reserves the right to ban a student from travelling to Stagecoach and from the academy in this way. 42 Worksop area 29 Bawtry, Bircotes, Harworth, Blyth, By car Ranskill, Torworth and Barnby Moor For parents wishing to drop off and pick 27 Bawtry, Everton, Mattersey, up students in cars or taxis, we have Lound and Sutton designated drop off and pick up points which are clearly sign-posted, in addition 95 Gainsborough, North Wheatley, to traffic controllers to ensure student Sturton, Leverton North and South safety. This is a very busy area of the academy at the start and end of the day – we urge all drivers to enter and leave the site with extreme caution. 6 | A guide to Retford Oaks Academy Settling in Parent checklist Check which house and Our priority is to make your child feel welcome and tutor group my child is in comfortable at our academy. We aim to ensure that the (you will be notified by transition from primary school, or indeed any other school the end of June) when joining us mid-year, is as smooth as possible. Label all belongings In the first week of starting, House system Form tutors give my child cash or a Retford Oaks operates a house system Each student is given a form tutor within packed lunch while sQuid with vertical tutor groups. There are four their tutor group who they report to on is activated houses – Thoresby, Clumber, Rufford and a daily basis and can talk to if they have Sherwood. There are several tutor groups any questions or concerns. After their first within each house, with students from few weeks at the academy, the form tutor years 7-13 in each. will give parents an update on their son or daughter’s progress, either by a phone call, Tutor groups meet each morning to email or at a parents’ evening. provide a consistent support network. Each group has a dedicated academic Parent app mentor providing leadership, guidance, During the first few weeks at the and support to all students. Older academy, students and parents will be students are encouraged to take on given a unique login for our parent app. responsibility for mentoring younger This gives access to attendance, progress, members of the group, as part of their behaviour and reward information, and personal development. also indicates where homework has been Older students act as buddies to new set and when it is due in. We aim to students when they start, ensuring there All students will have compulsory is a friendly and familiar face to help your homework set, but they should also ensure that child find their way around, help them look for opportunities to deepen and know where to be and when, and answer extend their learning by completing transition is any questions they may have about life at additional optional tasks. Details of these Retford Oaks. opportunities will be given by staff and will as smooth as be visible on the parent app. possible.” 8 | A guide to Retford Oaks Academy Lunch and catering services and expeditions – students work towards Our canteen offers hot meals and desserts, Bronze, Silver and Gold awards, supported including jacket potatoes and soups, as by academy staff and mentors. well as hot and cold snacks such as paninis Personal belongings and sandwiches. Students are advised to clearly label their Once your child joins us, we operate a property. A small number of lockers will be cashless catering system called sQuid, available for students who would like to which uses biometric data from student store their possessions. Information will be fingerprints to pay for meals. Parents can available from the house office in September. add funds electronically to their child’s Mobile phones account via our secure system. We aim to create these accounts in their first week and Students are allowed to bring mobile operate a cash system until this is in place. phones to the academy but there are strict rules concerning their use. On site, they are Extracurricular activities only to be used before and after school In addition to PE, music and drama being and at break times, and then only in the offered as part of our curriculum, students designated social areas. can meet new friends who share common For the rest of the day, phones must be interests by joining one of our clubs.