Headteacher: Jonathan M Wilson BA MSc
Tel: 01633 654100 Fax: 01633 654110 e-mail:
[email protected] Web: www.duffryn.net
15 July 2016
Letter to all Parents of students at Duffryn High School Dear Parent/Guardian Another school year comes to an end at Duffryn High School – our final one before we change to ‘The John Frost School’ in September. A special welcome to the Year 7 students who will join us in September. We will be sending our final school newsletter home with students next week. Important information you will need for September: Thursday 1 September Friday 2 September
Monday 5 September
Staff only in school for INSET day Is the first day of school but only Y7 and Y12/13 should attend on this day. All students from these year groups MUST be present. All year groups back to school.
1. Holidays in Term Time - Please do not book a holiday in term-time. Along with all other secondary schools in Newport, we will not be authorising holidays in term-time. It has been proven that this type of absence seriously damages a student’s education. Both the Welsh Government and Newport City Council support this stance. Any absence related to holidays in term time will be marked unauthorised and treated as truancy. From this year £120 fines will be levied on parents who ignore this. 2. School Uniform - We are very proud of our reputation for excellent uniform and all students should be wearing full uniform when they return in September. The whole school is expected to be in new The John Frost School uniform from September. The uniform is available from Trutex via their website and their shop in town in Cambrian Road. I enclose the details again with this letter. For girls either black tights or knee high grey socks are acceptable to wear with the uniform. PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING: Black shoes only are to be work with the uniform. No kind of training shoe is acceptable or shoes with Velcro straps that look like training shoes. Jewellery (other than studs in the ear) is not allowed for health and safety reasons – this includes piercings. If your child has an extreme haircut please ensure that this grows out before September. The same applies to brightly dyed hair. The Headteacher has the final say on this matter. Students may wear their old Duffryn High School coats until they wear out. We no longer require school coats so students can buy their own coats, but these should be black and only contain a small logo. You will find enclosed with this letter a list of school uniform items and prices. 3. School Bags - These should be dark, fairly plain and fit for purpose i.e. big enough to carry all equipment. They should not be bright/logoed fashion accessories. 4. Mobile Phones – the use of mobile phones by students is not permitted during the school day. If any phone calls home are needed, they will be made from Reception on school telephones. 5. Exam Results - Students wanting to collect their exams results can do so at these times on: Thursday 18 August: Y12 and Y13 GCE (AS and A2), BTEC and OCR National Results and IFS Year 13 9.30am – 11.30pm Year 12 11.00am – 1.00pm No results will be available after 2.00pm. Thursday 25 August Year 11 GCSE, BTEC OCR National and IFS Results
10.00am – 1.00pm
Year 10 & 9 GCSE and BTEC
11.00am – 1.00pm No results will be available after 2.00pm.
6. All students are asked to keep their dinner card (a replacement card will cost £2.00) and all their exercise books for September. 7. Free school meals are available to children whose parents/guardians are in receipt of one or more of the following benefits: Parents who are in receipt of:
Income Support Income Based Jobseekers Allowance Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 Income-related Employment and Support Allowance Child Tax Credit, provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and your annual income does not exceed £16,190. (HM Revenue and Customs are responsible for assessing the level of annual income.) Guarantee element of State Pension Credit. Working Tax Credit 'run-on' - the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit. Universal Credit Young people who receive Income Support or Income Based Job Seekers Allowance in their own right are also entitled to receive free school meals. It is important to the school that all those entitled to claim meals do so, even if your child only eats lunch in school a few times in the year. The school receives additional funding for free school meals which will be spent on your child’s education.
https://services.newport.gov.uk/forms/form/431/en/free_school_meals_and_uniform_grant
If you want to check that your child is already on the list, please telephone Main Reception (654100) from Thursday 1 September onwards. If you are claiming for the first time and need help with filling in the application form, please come to Main Reception from 1 September and we will help you complete the form correctly. Applications can be made at any time during the year if there is a change in circumstances. Complete the on-line application form: Application forms are also available from the school (in term time) or from newport City Council (outside of term time) by telephoning 01633 656656 Applications should Applications should arrive no later than the end of the summer term so that they can be processed for the start of the new school year. Applications can be made at any time during the year if there is a change in circumstances.
A final plea for parents to get involved in the PTA. Please remember, it is your school – help us to make it even better, with your input the students will achieve even more! I hope you have a very relaxing and enjoyable summer. My staff and I look forward to meeting you at various events during the next school year and updating you on the exciting building work which is gathering pace on our site. Yours sincerely
Mr J M Wilson Headteacher