Carer As we approach the end of the school ...

12 July 2013 Dear Parent/Carer As we approach the end of the school year I would like to take this opportunity to forward some important information and dates. Rich Experience Week (Monday 15th – Wednesday 17th July) During this week students will be engaged in a wide-ranging set of activities. Reward trips take place on Wednesday 17th July. An alternative programme is arranged in school for students who do not take part in the rewards trips. With the exceptions of reward trips and the visits to Gibside, Warkworth and Beamish, students should attend in school uniform. End of School Year Arrangements The school closes on Friday 19th July. Students will finish school at the end of Period 4 (2.05pm). We have asked that the normal scholars’ bus services run as usual (3:05pm). If any students need to remain in school there will be supervised areas for them. Please notify your child’s Head of Year if this facility is required. September 2013 Arrangements Monday 2nd September The school re-opens on Monday 2nd September for staff training. PE kit and school equipment for new Year 7 students to be collected on this day. Tuesday 3rd September The school is open for our new Year 7 students (8:50 to 3:05) Year 12 students to attend in the morning session and Year 13 students to attend in the afternoon. Wednesday 4th September The school is open as normal for all year groups. Could I remind parents and students that students are requested to be on the school site at 8.50am so that they arrive promptly for registration or assembly for 8.55am. Uniform Update From September 2013 all students in Years 7-11 will wear clip-on ties. The current Year 7 students have worn clip-on ties this year and we have been impressed by their appearance and we believe this move will continue to enhance the presentation of our uniform and achieve greater consistency in the presentation of our students of whom we are immensely proud. The clip-on ties will be provided free of charge to our current Year 8, 9 and 10 students. The ties will be exchanged at the end of the final school week and from that point onwards the new clip-on ties become the only accepted school uniform tie. Attendance and Requests for Leave of Absence At Whickham School a key factor in the outstanding academic achievements of our students is the consistently high level of attendance achieved by our students. This year will again see record levels of attendance and a continued reduction in persistent absence. I would like to thank you for your support in maintaining this record of high attendance. At this point I would also draw your attention to a recent development in government guidelines on requests for leave of absence. Any request for a leave of absence for a student must be made on the appropriate form (available from Heads of Year or from the school website in the section marked “Parents”). Requests should be made four weeks prior to the proposed absence. However, may I also draw your attention to government guidelines that leave of absence will only be granted in exceptional circumstances. Any proposed leave of absence should be discussed with your child’s Head of Year.

Registered in England No. 7729766

Whickham School, Burnthouse Lane, Whickham, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE16 5AR

T : 0191 496 0026 F : 0191 488 0968 E : [email protected] www.whickhamschool.org

Forthcoming Events A-level Results Available for Year 13 students to collect from 8:30am on Thursday 15th August 2013 Year 12 results will be available to collect from 10:00am (Sixth Form building) GCSE Results Available for Year 11 students to collect from 9:00am on Thursday 22nd August 2013 (Sixth Form building) Sixth Form Induction and Enrolment To be held on the 23rd August 2013 from 10.00 am to midday. (Sixth Form building) For those of you who have children of primary school age I am aware that it is an important time for making the decision about which is the right school for your child’s secondary education. I would like to invite you and any of your friends and neighbours to the following events at Whickham School and Sports College to help make that decision:Open Evening for parents/carers of Year 6 children 19th September 2013 at 6.45 pm For children beginning secondary education in September 2014

Open Evening for parents/carers of Year 4/5 children 2nd October 2013 at 6.00 pm For children beginning secondary education in September 2015 / September 2016. All the events will take place at Whickham School & Sports College. If you have any queries at all regarding admission to Whickham School & Sports College please do not hesitate to contact Mr Mark Grimes (Senior Assistant Headteacher/Admissions on ext 281) or Mrs Lisa Petrie (Office Administrator Admissions on ext 202). Enquiries regarding Sixth Form enrolment should be directed to Mr P Wheatley (Head of Sixth Form on ext. 338). May I finally take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support of Whickham School and Sports College. I wish you a good summer and look forward to working with you in the coming year.

Yours sincerely,

Steve Haigh Headteacher