Shire Oak Academy
Shire Oak Academy Turning potential into excellence Useful information about Shire Oak Academy Our academy day and times of sessions We expect our students to arrive at our academy site for around 8.30am. Entry to the academy 8.40 am Late bell 8.45 am Registration and Form period 8.40 – 9.05 am Lesson 1 9.05 – 10.05 am Lesson 2 10.10 – 11.10 am Break 11.10 – 11.25 am Lesson 3 11.25 – 12.25 pm Lesson 4 12.25 – 13.55 pm (including 3 x 30 minute lunch sessions) 12.25 – 12.55 pm (4A) lunch for Years 8 and 11 12.55 – 13.25 pm (4B) lunch for Years 7 and 9 13.25 to 13.55 pm (4C) lunch for Years 10,12,13 Lesson 5 14.00 – 15.00 pm All students must be on time for the start of the day and for lessons during the day. Class registers are taken in every lesson. A late register is taken in all main teaching blocks. Students arriving at the academy following official appointments or who arrive late must sign in at their base building’s reception office (the building in which their form tutor meets them each morning for registration) to give an explanation. Medical, dental and other official appointments The academy should be informed in advance, either by a written note from the parent/carer or by the student producing their appointment card as confirmation. Students must sign out at a reception office. A truancy watch slip will be issued upon signing out. This should be returned to the reception office when the student signs in upon return to the academy. Absence policy The academy expects every student to attend regularly unless prevented by illness. Student attendance is monitored constantly and, where the academy is concerned or has not been informed of absence, the Education Welfare Officer is asked to contact parents/carers. Unless the Principal has agreed to an absence, reasons other than illness will be treated as truancy. Only in exceptional circumstances may holiday leave in term time be granted . It should be noted that holiday leave for a student in Year 10 or above is unlikely to be authorised. Parents/carers cannot demand leave of absence for the purposes of a holiday as a right. Parents/carers are under a legal duty to send children to our academy regularly and risk prosecution if they fail in this duty. Parentally condoned, unjustified absence will be classed as truancy. Only the academy, within the context of the law, can approve absence. Leave of absence from the academy should be requested by writing to the Principal. Student absence Parents/carers are requested to notify the academy of a student’s absence on the first day. The telephone lines are open from 8.00am daily. A dedicated student absence line is available. Students returning to the academy following a period of absence are expected to bring with them a short, written note from their parent/carer explaining the reason for absence. Contacting the academy By telephone: The telephone line is open on weekdays from 8.00 am. An answer phone facility operates after 4.30 pm. In person:
It is always essential to report to the gatehouse at the St. Mark’s Road entrance. Please appreciate our concern for security — all visitors must sign in and out. A visitor’s badge is issued.
Via e-mail:
[email protected]
Fact sheet 6: Useful information about Shire Oak Academy
Shire Oak Academy Turning potential into excellence Useful information about Shire Oak Academy Lunch-time arrangements Parents/carers are requested to select one of the following alternatives at the outset of the academy year for their child: An academy provided lunch a packed lunch to be eaten at the academy a meal at the child’s home (we anticipate that very few parents/carers will wish to choose this option in view of the limited 30 minute lunch period) Parents/carers in receipt of income support are entitled to claim for free lunches for their child(ren). Parents/carers are urged to register for free lunches, if such circumstances apply. Further information can be obtained from the Civic Centre in Walsall (telephone: 01922 650000) or by contacting the academy. A lunch-time pass is issued only to students whose parents/carers request their child eats lunch at their home. Any student found off site at lunch-time, without a valid pass, is disciplined. Sanctions are also applied to any student who has bought food from local shops or food outlets at lunch-time. By applying these measures parents/carers can be assured their child is safe and supervised during the lunch break. Students who eat a lunch-time meal at their home are the responsibility of parents/carers. They should only return to the academy premises five minutes before the beginning of the afternoon session. Students experiencing accidents and illness Parents/carers of a sick or injured child are immediately notified and no student leaves the premises without prior warning. To ensure contact can be made, parents/carers are requested to immediately notify the academy when a change of telephone number, address or contact name and number occurs. Valuables and prohibited articles The academy cannot accept responsibility for valuable items brought into the academy. Money, calculators and watches should be kept about the person at all times, except when handed in to a member of staff for safe-keeping, for example in PE lessons. Under no circumstances are any items to be brought into the academy which might be considered offensive weapons. Students found to have brought an offensive weapon onto the academy site will be subject to the most stringent disciplinary measures. Mobile phones We understand that a mobile phone can provide both parent and student with an important means of communiciation. Therefore we do allow students to bring phones to the academy on the strict understanding that they are switched off at all times other than break and lunch. It must be understood that abusing this trust can be very disruptive to learning and such abuse cannot be accepted or tolerated. If a member of staff discovers a phone or MP3 player which is not switched off, at any other time, it will be confiscated. It is important to point out to pupils that phones should not be used as watches, calculators etc. Personal equipment All students require a suitable bag. This should be large enough to carry daily requirements. Students are expected to possess necessary basic equipment which should be clearly labelled. Textbooks are loaned to students and are their responsibility. In the case of loss or damage, the textbook must be replaced or the cost of a replacement honoured. All exercise books, files and file paper are provided, where required. Students may, of course, use their own personal files if preferred.
Fact sheet 6: Useful information about Shire Oak Academy
It is always essential to report to the gatehouse at the St. Mark’s Road entrance. Please appreciate our concern for security — all visitors must sign in and out. A visitor’s badge is issued.
Via e-mail:
[email protected]
Fact sheet 6: Useful information about Shire Oak Academy
Shire Oak Academy Turning potential into excellence Useful information about Shire Oak Academy Lunch-time arrangements Parents/carers are requested to select one of the following alternatives at the outset of the academy year for their child: An academy provided lunch a packed lunch to be eaten at the academy a meal at the child’s home (we anticipate that very few parents/carers will wish to choose this option in view of the limited 30 minute lunch period) Parents/carers in receipt of income support are entitled to claim for free lunches for their child(ren). Parents/carers are urged to register for free lunches, if such circumstances apply. Further information can be obtained from the Civic Centre in Walsall (telephone: 01922 650000) or by contacting the academy. A lunch-time pass is issued only to students whose parents/carers request their child eats lunch at their home. Any student found off site at lunch-time, without a valid pass, is disciplined. Sanctions are also applied to any student who has bought food from local shops or food outlets at lunch-time. By applying these measures parents/carers can be assured their child is safe and supervised during the lunch break. Students who eat a lunch-time meal at their home are the responsibility of parents/carers. They should only return to the academy premises five minutes before the beginning of the afternoon session. Students experiencing accidents and illness Parents/carers of a sick or injured child are immediately notified and no student leaves the premises without prior warning. To ensure contact can be made, parents/carers are requested to immediately notify the academy when a change of telephone number, address or contact name and number occurs. Valuables and prohibited articles The academy cannot accept responsibility for valuable items brought into the academy. Money, calculators and watches should be kept about the person at all times, except when handed in to a member of staff for safe-keeping, for example in PE lessons. Under no circumstances are any items to be brought into the academy which might be considered offensive weapons. Students found to have brought an offensive weapon onto the academy site will be subject to the most stringent disciplinary measures. Mobile phones We understand that a mobile phone can provide both parent and student with an important means of communiciation. Therefore we do allow students to bring phones to the academy on the strict understanding that they are switched off at all times other than break and lunch. It must be understood that abusing this trust can be very disruptive to learning and such abuse cannot be accepted or tolerated. If a member of staff discovers a phone or MP3 player which is not switched off, at any other time, it will be confiscated. It is important to point out to pupils that phones should not be used as watches, calculators etc. Personal equipment All students require a suitable bag. This should be large enough to carry daily requirements. Students are expected to possess necessary basic equipment which should be clearly labelled. Textbooks are loaned to students and are their responsibility. In the case of loss or damage, the textbook must be replaced or the cost of a replacement honoured. All exercise books, files and file paper are provided, where required. Students may, of course, use their own personal files if preferred.
Fact sheet 6: Useful information about Shire Oak Academy
