Character journal
All students are given a character journal at the start of the academic year. It contains useful information for your child as well as a full year diary.
The journal is a useful point of contact between you and the Academy. You may write messages to staff within the journal and individual staff may write messages to you. You can always ask your child to ask that a member of staff signs your message to ensure they have seen it.
Communication with your child’s form tutor
Any queries relating to your child should first go to your child’s form tutor. Parents/Carers are encouraged to contact the form tutor to discuss any aspects of their child’s education or welfare.
If any parent feels they need to speak at a more senior level they should next contact reception and ask for the Head of Year 7. If there are still concerns, parents should ask for the SLT link for Year 7 and finally Ms Skae, the Principal.
Arbor
You can contact the school, register your child’s absence, make payments and view your child’s praise and sanction points using Arbor. Please look out for the letter detailing how to access this system towards the end of this academic year.
Student progress
Teachers may notify parents of any concerns they might have about a student’s progress. This could be via a written note in the journal, by telephone call, our app, email or letter.
You will receive regular progress reports for your child throughout the year.
The Academy holds a parents/carers' consultation evening for each year group. You will receive a letter in advance with the time and date. Parents/carers and their children in Year 7 are expected to attend. We aim for 100% attendance at these events, which are important in ensuring that we are working together to achieve the very best for your child.
For Year 7 parents/carers there will also be a meeting with form tutors within the first month of school to discuss how your child has settled into academy life. You will receive the information for this event in a separate letter.
Assessment
Academic and pastoral assessment is ongoing throughout the year. There are two formal sets of examinations, one in January and one in June. Parents/carers will have the opportunity to see how their child is progressing through progress reports sent after each set of examinations.
Academy news
The Academy will send regular news on events taking place in the Academy via email, text messages and website updates. We also use social media such as Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter) to update parents/carers with news about academy life. We send reminders of key dates such as holiday closures and staff training days so please ensure your contact details are up to date.