As we have slowly been able to open up our school doors in a socially distanced and safe way, we were delighted to welcome back Loreto College. We have a long standing relationship with all our local colleges and were delighted when Danny Price, senior manager and Head of Performing Arts, was able to meet with a cohort of our Year 10 students. He spoke to them about how their attitude and actions can influence their long term success. Part of this explored how students could identify their own unique gifts and what they could control.

Term Dates

Following last week’s blog, the additional INSET days have now been set. Please see below for 2022/2023 term dates:

• Autumn 1 ~ 1st September 2022 - 21st October 2022 (INSET Day 1st & 2nd September 2022)
• Autumn 2 ~ 31st October 2022 - 21st December 2022 (INSET Day 31st October & 2nd December 2022)
• Spring 1 ~ 5th January 2023 - 17th February 2023 (INSET 27th January 2023)
• Spring 2 ~ 27th February - 31st March 2023
• Summer 1 ~ 17th April - 26th May 2023 (Bank Holiday 1st May 2023)
• Summer 2 ~ 5th June - 20th July 2023

Dates for your diary

Our usual staff Christmas treat was put “on ice” on the last day of term, due to concerns about infection rates in the run up to the holidays. However as a result we were able to deliver some warm turkey and stuffing barms to the Wellspring in Stockport for distribution to the homeless community.

Year 11 PPEs

COVID has been high on the agenda on our return with more testing for students, unusually high staff absence and upcoming second dose of vaccinations.

COVID aside, the new year has started well with our Year 11 students receiving their PPE results - many of whom were delighted with their performance which was a reflection of their hard work. There were others who saw these results as the ‘wake up call’ they needed to knuckle down for the next round of exams in February. With so much still unknown about how this cohort of students will be formally assessed in the summer, every assessment window is important. A number of Year 11 students have been invited to attend intervention classes in English, Maths and/or Science to help them achieve their potential. These students have been selected by class teachers and subject leaders who can see they have the potential and the positive attitude to achieve better results. If your child is in Year 11 and you would like some guidance on how to help them improve their results, please contact Mrs Clarke (Raising Standards Leader).

GCSE options

Year 9 students are gearing up for making their GCSE options. We are proud of the broad curriculum offered here at Kingsway where we offer the full range of EBacc subjects (English, Maths, Science, History, Geography, Computer Science, French, German and Spanish) as well as a wide selection of other subjects to spark students interest and develop their talents. Subjects such as Business Studies, Travel & Tourism, Art & Design and Engineering are offered to help students springboard to university courses or employment in a range of sectors.

Uniform

In assemblies this week the focus is uniform. Wearing uniform correctly is a sign of respect for our school and like any profession in life a uniform is what is worn when students are ready to work and learn. All students are expected to wear full uniform every day and wear it the way it is meant to be worn. I would like to take this opportunity to remind you about our uniform policy.

Appendix C: Uniform Policy

• Footwear: Plain, flat, below the ankle all black leather footwear only (including soles). Footwear should have no air pockets, different coloured laces or any additional decoration. It should not be a sports shoe.
• Trousers: Must be school approved tailored trousers – no jeans, canvas, chinos or corduroy allowed.
• Jewellery: No jewellery may be worn, this includes earrings and other piercings. Please note we do not allow plasters over new piercings – students will be asked to remove all piercings. Students can wear a watch; however Smart Watches are not permitted.
• Make-up: Students seen wearing makeup will be required to remove it. Nail varnish and false nails (including gels and acrylics) are not permitted, neither are false eyelashes.
• Outerwear: Students should wear a coat suitable for the climate. Hoodies are not permitted.
• Promotional Clothing: Clothing which promotes e.g. sports teams, political groups, etc is not permitted
• Haircuts: Extreme haircuts are not permissible, e.g. unnatural hair colour (including red) and shaved heads less than grade 2. As a Health and Safety measure, long hair should be tied back from the face during lessons where there is a potential Health and Safety risk, e.g. Food Technology, PE or Science experiment

Can I please remind families that only footwear that is all leather, black and without air pockets will be allowed. Any additional decoration needs to be removed. 

I would also like to reinforce that ‘Hoodies’ are not allowed in school and are not a substitute for a coat or a school blazer. If students choose to wear a hoodie to and from school, from 8:30am and until they leave school at 3pm they should be in their bags and not seen. If students are wearing hoodies during the school day then they will be confiscated. The term ‘Hoodie’ is an umbrella term that includes pull on and zip up tops with a hood that are made out of jersey material. 

Piercings, acrylic nails and false eyelashes are not permitted. If your child has had piercings, acrylic nails etc over the holidays they will be asked to remove them. If your child wishes to get a piercing, then can I suggest that this waits until the summer holidays.

If you have any queries regarding uniform then please contact your child’s Pastoral Head of Year.

Breakfast cafe

Following on from student requests we have decided to trial reopening of our breakfast cafe service. Students can come along to Foxland canteen from 8am to purchase a variety of hot food and drinks, perfect on the cold mornings! We do ask that students refrain from entering into the main building until the doors open at 8:20. 

New staff

Finally, we welcome some new staff this new year Mr Green - Head of Technology, Mrs Axon - Resource Centre Manager & Mrs Somerville - Teacher of Business Students/Computing.

Dates for your diary

Return to school

As mentioned in last week’s blog, students will be following a staggered return to school to ensure that we have tested all consenting students prior to the start of the Spring term. The details are as follows:

COVID Testing Schedule - January 2022

N.B. ~ Years 11 and 10 will attend their test, and then go home. They start school at 8:30am the next day following their timetable as normal. 

Years 7, 8 and 9 will attend at their scheduled time and remain in school following their normal timetable.

Year 11 exams

Our Year 11 students have reached the end of their PPE examinations. As yet, we are still unsure if this cohort will be sitting their GCSE examinations in the summer, so these PPE exams could be an important factor of their GCSE outcome. They will be receiving their results of these PPE exams in a mock results day on Thursday 6th January 2022.

Protecting our students

We have been made aware of some reports of males acting suspiciously in cars. Their behaviour has left children feeling unsafe. The local authority has sent us some information to remind parents, and young people about steps they can take to keep safe when out and about. 

Statistics show that crime against young children by strangers is rare. Even so, there are steps you can take to help to protect your child:

• stay alert, and keep personal media devices turned off, so they can hear what's going on around them- earphones can be distracting and limit awareness of surroundings
• stick to busy, well-lit roads, and avoid short cuts
• if your child thinks someone is following them, they should cross the road or go to a place with lots of people around, like a bus stop or shop
• when travelling by bus, your child should try to use bus stops on busy roads, sit near to others and near the driver when possible
• if someone tries to take something from your child, tell them never to fight
• tell them to keep mobile phones and other valuables out of sight
• if your child has to use a lift – tell them to try to use them with friends, and not to feel worried about getting out if they are uncomfortable about someone else being in there
• encourage your child to speak up if they are being bullied or feel they might be in danger

Check list for young people

• Think - before you go out
• Where are you going?
• How are you getting there?
• Who are you going with?
• Who needs to know?
• Take only the money you need and keep it in a safe place.
• How are you getting home?
• Is your mobile charged and have you got credit?
• Keep your mobile handy but out of sight
• Keep valuables such as devices, jewellery and items of expensive clothing out of sight
• Who will you contact in an emergency?

 The NSPCC have produced this guide to help parents decide if their child is ready to travel alone/ stay home alone.

Please encourage your families to report incidents of concern to the police via 101 or to use the GMP chat facility. In emergencies always use 999.

Breakfast cafe

Once all the students have returned in full in January, we will be trialling our canteen opening for breakfast from 8:00 until 8:15 on the Foxland Campus only. We hope this will help our students to have a great start to the day with a range of hot and cold food and drinks on offer to purchase. Students must not come into the main building at this time but are welcome to eat inside the dining hall. We will review this after the February half term.

Dates for your diary