Year 7 Info booklet - Wentworth High School

Welcome from the Headteacher

Wentworth High School is part of Phase 3 of the Building Schools for the Future Programme andwe are currently designing our brand new building.This is both extremely exciting and challenging as we need to have a school which is capable ofproviding a first class education for young people in this area for many years to come. It must beflexible enough to cope with any demand made by curriculum changes and adaptable enough tomeet the needs of an increasing school population in this area. The cohort for Year 7 2012/13 isthe smallest year group in the whole of Salford and after this numbers rapidly increase!The school will open in September 2014 with building starting on the school field in May 2013.Parents and pupils will be kept well informed of progress via the school website.Until then we are working hard to maximise the learning space we currently have and to ensurethat we continue to improve our practice and performance.Contact UsIt is essential that communication is a two-way process if we are to have a successful partnership.Should you require any information, the first point of contact for general enquiries is the schooloffice: 0161 789 4565For attendance issues or to report a pupil’s absence: 0161 921 1133You can also contact us via email at our email address:wentworth.highschool@salford.gov.ukOr call us to make an appointment if you need to see a member of the pastoral team or theteaching staff.School Office Hours:8.00am until 4.00pmFor Year 7 parents the person who will be able to help you in the first instance is eitherMr Aspinall, Achievement Co-ordinator or Mrs Grime, Transition Mentor.On our Open Evening on Thursday 27 th September all Year 7 parents are invited to meet theirchild’s form tutor for a ‘settling in’ meeting. This is an informal opportunity to share views on thetransition period and to discuss any concerns you or we may have at this early stage of the schoolyear.What Information Will I Receive?

During the school year you will receive one interim report which highlights progress against targetsin each subject area and one full report. Should you wish to discuss any aspects of these reports,please contact either Mr Aspinall or the individual subject teacher if it is just one subject specificissue.Year 7 Parents’ Evenings are in September for pastoral matters and March for academic progress.We also have information on the Learning Platform and the school website so please log inregularly for updates.Accident or Illness at SchoolIt is very important that parents/carers complete and return to us the Annual Parental ConsentForm giving us contact details should we need to ring you urgently.If your child is ill during the school day they must see Mr Aspinall who will ask for contact to bemade with you regarding this matter.Pupils must not ring home themselves using a mobile phone but must follow schoolprocedure.MedicationShould your child require medication during the school hours, please send a letter to the schooloffice stating the dose required. All medicines must be handed in fully labelled with your child’sname.Under no circumstances are children permitted to carry any medication with them.School MealsThe school operates cashless catering which uses a biometric system. This is a much easiersystem than a card as pupils cannot misplace their finger! If, however, you would prefer a card tobe issued this can be arranged but there will be a charge for any replacement cards needed.Meals are served on a cafeteria basis and there is a wide choice of food available. Should youprefer to provide a packed lunch pupils will not need to register on the system but they would notthen be able to purchase snacks at breaktime.Pupils only have 35 minutes at lunchtime so going home is an option limited to those students wholive very near to the school. Pupils need to have permission to leave the site during this time andmust be going to their own home and not to a friend’s house.The reputation of the school suffers if pupils are off site on mass and in our experience studentsare more likely to misbehave or truant if they are off the premises. We therefore ask for yoursupport in this.The School Day

Excluding Wednesday8.55am 9.00am Registration9.00am 9.15am Assembly/Form Time9.15am 10.15am Lesson 110.15am 10.35am Break10.35am 11.35am Lesson 211.35am 12.35pm Lesson 312.35pm 1.10pm Lunch1.10pm 2.10pm Lesson 42.10pm 3.10pm Lesson 53.10pm 3.20pm Registration3.20pmEnd of school dayWednesday Only8.55am 9.00am Registration9.00am 9.15am Assembly/Form Time9.15am 10.15am Lesson 110.15am 10.35am Break10.35am 11.35am Lesson 211.35am 12.35pm Lesson 312.35pm 1.10pm Lunch1.10pm 2.10pm Lesson 42.10pm 2.20pm Registration2.20pmEnd of school dayTERM DATESWENTWORTH HIGH SCHOOLSCHOOL YEAR 2012-13

Wentworth High School operates a homework policy and you will receive a homework timetable inthe first weeks of the term. Homework tasks are on the Learning Platform so please log on andhave a look.Homework is always brought up in discussions with parents and there is never a clear consensusof views. Some think we set too much, some too little. Please keep us informed of your views andlet us know if you think it has not been set appropriately. It should also be in the Pupil Planner!This is how you can help your child with homework:Type of Homework What your child does ...and what you could do with yourchildLearningThe job is to remember certainwords, details or rules.Act as question master/mistressCompletingWork already started in school isto be finished at home.Look at the whole piece of work andperhaps make useful comments. Askwhat the whole task is about.Writing UpYour child will use homework timeto write about work done in schoolor write a finished version ofrough work done in school.Again, look at the whole piece or, evenbetter, talk about it briefly first, to get thework clearly ingrained in your child’s mindand jog his/her memory.QuestionsA matter of answering questionsafter a lesson’s work.Check the answers. Do they give theexact information wanted in the questions?Finding OutSearching for information on agiven subject. Part of thishomework might be done in theschool library/resource centre inthe student’s own time.Don’t do too much for them here! Butencourage and help when they are stuck.It is obviously better to suggest where theymight find the information than find it forthem.RevisionQuite simply a matter of learninga section of work for a test or anexamination.Get your child to explain the work to you.You ask the questions once they areready. You can even ‘mark’ the answers ifyou like.Reading AheadReading ahead in a text book toget some ideas of what work is tocome – and be ready for it.Be aware of what they are doing in thesubject at the moment; be interested inwhat he/she has found out.Rough WorkHere the students are asked toprepare for a lesson to come byputting ideas or information downon rough paper.Suggest a starting point perhaps. Oncefinished, ask them to read the work to you.Even if it is rough the rules of spelling andpunctuation still apply.School Uniform

Item Girls BoysBlazer (schoolMaroon with school badgeapproved)SkirtBlack – Modest length (No morethan 2 inches above kneeTrousersBlack (full length school trousers)ShirtLight blue (plain school shirt)Tie Silver stripes on Maroon background (Yrs 7/8/9)Maroon stripes on Silver background (Yrs 10/11)SocksWhite, grey and blackTightsPlain Black, White or GreyShoesPlain black, low heeled school type shoesPlease note: Training shoes, boots (for boys or girls),shoes with logos and plimsoll type shoes are NOT ALLOWEDOptional Uniform ItemPulloverV-necked, maroon with school crestPE Uniform ListGirlsBoysBlack tracksuit top – with school logoBlack tracksuit bottoms - plainBlack polo shirt – with school logoMaroon shorts - plainSocks – BlackNB: Pupils not actively taking part in the lesson are still required to bring their kit asthey will still participate in some way eg. time-keeping etc.Other Important Information:Training ShoesCoatsJewelleryHairHair AccessoriesMake-upMust not be worn on the school premises other than during PE lessons.Outdoor coats are to be removed on entry to the building. The schoolstrongly recommends that outdoor clothing should be the cheapestsuitable for its intended purpose.Only one plain stud in the lobe of each year. These items must bediscreet and as small as possible. All other items of jewellery, apart from awatch, are not allowed. All other forms of body piercing (including stretchpiercing of ear lobes) are not allowed and must be removed.Pupils with shaved or partly shaved heads, haircuts that include razorpatterns or brightly dyed hair, may be sent home at the discretion of theHeadteacher. If the hair is dyed it must be one natural colour.A small hair ribbon or slide may be worn.Pupils wearing obvious make-up, including nail varnish will be asked toremove it.Behaviour and Discipline

The overall aim of the Behaviour and Discipline Policy is to promote good behaviour and create thepositive atmosphere in classrooms that is required for teachers to teach and all pupils to learn. Bythis, we aim to raise achievement by improving the behaviour and attitude of those pupils who donot always behave acceptably, and reward those who do.The school regularly seeks the views of the major stakeholders in relation to pupil behaviour andthe school’s behaviour strategy. Pupils, Parents, Governors, teaching and non-teaching staff areconsulted and their views recorded and responded to.Aims of the School Behaviour and Discipline Policy:RewardsTo create an environment which encourages and reinforces good behaviour.To define acceptable standards of behaviour.To encourage consistency of response to both positive and negative behaviour.To promote self-esteem, self-discipline and positive relationships.To ensure that the school's expectations and strategies are widely known and understood.Rewards play a crucial part in the reinforcement of good behaviour and we believe that rewardshave a motivational role, helping students see that good behaviour is valued.The commonest reward is praise, informal and formal, public and private, to individuals andgroups. It is earned by the maintenance of good standards as well as by particularly noteworthyachievements.Departments are encouraged to deliver subject specific rewards in the classroom via the use ofAchievement Awards in SIMS and positive contact home.Achievement Coordinators employ specific rewards for their year group involving individualawards, group and / or class rewards. These can include the awarding of vouchers, Jump theQueue lunch tickets, form group trophies, bespoke trips such as bowling and non uniform days forspecific forms or groups.Trips at the end of term are also aimed at those students that have displayed good behaviour andattendance throughout the year.SanctionsSanctions are based on the degree of severity of the issue or incident and could include thefollowing:Reprimand by the class teacher – incident recorded on the pupil’s behaviour logPupils placed on the corridor to reflect on their attitude – recorded on behaviour logDetentions both individual teacher and school based – recorded on behaviour log.Detentions take place every evening after school. Detentions can also be given for poorpunctuality to school or lessons.Pupils being placed on the Behaviour Staging System – Stage 1 on report to class teacher,Stage 2 on report to faculty director of learning, Stage 3 on report to AchievementCoordinator, Stage 4 on report to member of SLT, Stage 5 on report to Headteacher.Pupils can be placed in seclusion for fixed length of time for serious incidents and in themost serious cases pupils can be fixed term excluded for a fixed period.

We have shared expectations with pupils who have played their part in writing these charters.These are displayed all around school and in classrooms and are referred to on a regular basis bystaff.Corridor CharterAlways walk on the left of the corridor.Always walk on the left going up and down stairs.No running on the corridors.No silly or boisterous behaviour on the corridors.No mobile phones out between lessons – don’t risk confiscation.Make sure you arrive on time to lessons.Uniform to be worn correctly on the corridor.No eating or drinking between lessons.Move to lessons on the warning bell after break and lunch.Be ready to work when you get to your classroom.Classroom CharterAll students to arrive on time to lessons and to be greeted by the classroom teacher.All students to settle down to the starter activity.Students to sit where they are asked to or moved to by the teacher.Class work and coursework will be completed to the best of your ability.Homework or assignments will be recorded in planners and completed.No mobile phones out in any lesson.Uniform will be worn correctly in the classroom.If, for any reason you are placed on the corridor to calm down or so the teacher can talk toyou, stay outside the classroom and do not interfere with the lesson or other classrooms.Mobile PhonesIf pupils have a mobile phone they may bring it into school BUT they are not permitted to be usedat any time inside the school building or between lessons. Teachers are asked to confiscatemobiles if this rule is not followed. Should you need to contact your child during the school dayplease ring the office who will be happy to pass information on for you. Similarly, if you child needsto contact you the office will arrange this for them.

A Tell Us CultureAt Wentworth High School we adopt a zero tolerance approach to bullying of any kind withinschool. We work hard as staff and students to educate ourselves further about bullying and nonbullying behaviour which can sometimes be seen by some pupils as such and what we can all do asa school community to stamp it out.“Bullying is behaviour by an individual or group, repeated over time, that intentionally hurtsanother individual or group either physically or emotionally. Bullying can take many forms (forinstance, cyber-bullying via text messages or the internet), and is often motivated by prejudiceagainst particular groups, for example on grounds of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, orbecause a child is adopted or has caring responsibilities. It might be motivated by actualdifferences between children, or perceived differences”As a school we have adopted the following initiatives to combat bullying:Department of Education, updated July 20111) Clear escalation and resolution of reported bullying incidents.All staff members have been trained on how to handle and escalate reports of bullyingfrom students in the following way:Is it bullying? Does the incident have the following characteristics?- Repetition – Not one off incidents, frequent over a prolonged period of time- Intent – Behaviour deemed purposeful not accidental- Clear victim – behaviour targeted at specific individual or group- Power imbalanced – Unequal power causing stress to one partyWhich type of bullying is it?Verbal Emotional Cyber Physical* Staff report incident to Achievement Coordinator of victim* Achievement Coordinator or Senior Leadership Line Manager informs MissO’Farrell (Anti Bullying Champion) of incident or issues.* Miss O’Farrell issues ACO or SLT with recording sheet for completion* Miss O’Farrell works with victim and bully to resolves the issues and appliesappropriate sanctions.

2) Implementing ‘Keep kids Safe’ Bullying reporting text service.Following a meeting with students to enable pupil voice to be heard they came up with theidea of a bullying text service they could use to report any incidents of bullying that theywitness or are involved in. The text service comes straight to school and is passed to MissO’Farrell for follow up. Texts can be anonymous or senders can leave their name shouldthey wish. All students have been given the number, it is advertised all around school andwill be printed in the students’ planners in September.3) Refining bullying report forms.Following the revision of the school’s Anti Bullying Policy we decided to redraft the bullyingreport form. Student feedback informed us that the previous form was not discreet enoughfor students to feel comfortable using. We made the form smaller in size and white incolour to ensure anyone can feel confident in completing one. These forms can be given toany member of staff, the main school office or placed in the bullying box which is located ina discreet part of the library.4) Introducing student Anti Bullying Ambassadors.We have this year elected 5 students from across every year group to act as Anti BullyingAmbassadors for the school. These students have the knowledge of how to escalatebullying incidents reported to them in the correct manner and are well known to allstudents in school. The idea is that any victims of bullying may feel more confidentapproaching a peer rather than a teacher.5) Raising Anti Bullying Awareness.All students have been part of anti bullying assemblies and form period activities whichallow them to discuss bullying in all of its forms and educate them to identify thedifference between bullying and non bullying behaviour, and how bullying can affectpeople.6) Wentworth High School holds The BIG AccreditationThis nationally recognised award shows that school takes bullying and inclusion seriously.It shows we are able to:-• Work to an externally agreed standard• Employ consistent and updated good practice• Actively include children and young people in anti bullying practice• Work to ensure that every child can fulfil their potential and enjoy community activities,without fear of being bullied

Community LinksA taste of Army Life“Wear It Pink Day”Things going onAtWentworth!Salford Children’s Book AwardAnti-bullying WeekPupils meet Waterloo RoadcastRemembrance DayHarvest Festival“Bug Hotel” Environment &Gardening ClubGeography Trip to Berlin.BT Paralympic World CupProduction of “Cinderella”