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Term Dates and Holidays 2022-2023
Any updates or changes will be published in advance.
TERM
TERM DATES 2022-2023
TEACHER DAYS
Autumn
Term
Autumn Term Start Dates:
Year 7: Wednesday 7
th
September 2022
Year 8-11: Thursday 8
th
September 2022
End of term: Friday 16
th
December 2022 at 12:15pm
Monday 5
th
September 2022
Tuesday 6
th
September 2022
Friday 21
st
October 2022
Trust Learning and Teaching Conference
Monday 28
th
November 2022
Half Term Break
Monday 24
th
October 2022 to Friday 28
th
October 2022
Christmas Holiday
Monday 20
th
December 2021 to Monday 3
rd
January 2022
Spring
Term
Wednesday 4
th
January 2023 to Friday 31
st
March 2023
Tuesday 3
rd
January 2023 TBC
Friday 17
th
February 2023
Half Term Break
Monday 20
th
February 2023 to Friday 24
th
February 2023
Easter Holiday
Monday 3
rd
April 2023 to Friday 14
th
April 2023
Summer
Term
Monday 17
th
April 2023 to Tuesday 25
th
July 2023
Only Year 11 attend on Monday 17
th
April 2023 (Intervention
Day)
Friday 23
rd
June 2023
Trust Collaboration Day
Monday 10
th
July 2023
School Improvement Planning 2023-2024
May Day Holiday
Monday 1
st
May 2023
Half Term Break
Monday 29
th
May 2023 to Friday 2
nd
June 2023
Summer Holiday
Tuesday 25
th
July 2023 (students finish at 2pm on Tuesday 25
th
July
2023)
The School Day
Start
Finish
Session
Duration
08:30
08:35
Key Stage 3 line up
08:35
9:00
Tutor Time or Assembly
25
9:00
09:50
Lesson 1
50
09:50
10:40
Lesson 2
50
10:40
11:05
Break
25
11:05
11:55
Lesson 3
50
11:55
12:45
Lesson 4
50
12:45
13:20
Lunch
30
13:20
14:10
Lesson 5
50
14:10
15:00
Lesson 6
50
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Uniform Expectations
At Kingsbury School we pride ourselves on our high expectations. Uniform is no exception. Kingsbury School is first and
foremost, a place of learning and our uniform promotes the responsibility and discipline in students that contribute to their
success. With that in mind, students are expected to follow the guidelines below. Parental/carer support is essential in
ensuring our focus is on learning and achievement; for this reason, your support is anticipated and greatly appreciated.
This document provides a helpful reminder of our uniform expectations.
Boys’ Uniform
Black blazer with school badge
Plain black school trousers
Optional plain black V-necked jumper which can be worn
in addition to the blazer (October to March)
Plain white shirt with collar and sleeves (short or long
sleeves)
Plain black socks
Tie
o
Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 school tie
o
Year 11 may wear a plain black tie
Black shoes (see additional guidance)
A suitable dark waterproof coat for colder/wet weather
(no denim, leather or ‘hoodies’ may be worn)
No cardigans
Boys’ PE Kit
Black and gold school rugby shirt
Black and gold school PE Polo shirt
Black and gold school PE Shorts
Black and gold school PE Socks
Football boots with studs
Shin-
pads
Training shoes (for PE only)
Swimming trunks or shorts
Towel
Plain black tracksuit bottoms or Kingsbury School
branded tracksuit bottoms
Girls’ Uniform
Black blazer with school badge
Plain black branded school trousers fitted to waist
(provided by our approved suppliers)
or
plain black branded knee length skirt (provided by our
approved suppliers)
or
plain black trousers or skirt (without logo) see additional
guidance
Optional plain black V-necked jumper which can be worn
in addition to the blazer (October to March)
Plain white shirt with collar and sleeves (short or long
sleeves)
Tie
o
Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 school tie
o
Year 11 may wear a plain black tie
Plain black or white socks or plain natural or black tights
Flat-heeled black shoes (see additional guidance)
A suitable dark waterproof coat for colder/wet weather
(no denim, leather or ‘hoodies’ may be worn)
No cardigans
Girls’ PE Kit
Black and gold school polo shirt
Black and gold school PE Hooded sweatshirt
Black and gold school PE Shorts/skort
Black and gold school PE socks
Training shoes (for PE only)
Swimming costume
Swimming hat
Towel
Plain black tracksuit bottoms or Kingsbury School
branded tracksuit bottoms or leggings
Uniform suppliers
Match Fit Kit (Nuneaton)
Match Fit Kit provide an online ordering facility with the option of a payment scheme.
Call: 02476 350630
Online: www.matchfitkit.com (click on Kingsbury School). Password is: MFK234KIN
SK School Uniforms (open Monday-Saturday 7:30am-8:30pm and Sunday 8:00am-8:00pm)
Call: 07540 525003
Online: www.skschooluniforms.co.uk
Location: 44-46 Chartwell, Riverside, Tamworth, B79 7UG
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The school PE kit, tie, and badge are of a specific make and are available from our uniform suppliers. All other items can be
purchased from a range of specialist suppliers as well as local supermarkets and other retail outlets.
Parents are asked to contact the school if in doubt before purchasing uniform.
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT ALL ITEMS OF CLOTHING ARE CLEARLY NAMED.
Students may be sent home if their appearance is deemed inappropriate. The school reserves the right to decide whether
any individual’s choice of clothing is acceptable.
All too often, students arrive in school wearing inappropriate trousers or shoes which they have purchased from uniform
sections of high street stores but which are not in line with our uniform policy. We want to avoid parents having to replace
these items to meet our expectations and so the following information has been produced to assist in making appropriate
choices first time.
Shoes and boots (additional guidance)
Shoes/boots should be entirely black, flat-heeled (no higher than 2.5cm) and leather or leather style in appearance. They should
not have any logos (unless plain black) or writing on them. Plain, ankle-height, black leather or leather-look boots are permitted.
Shoes and boots should be worn with trousers covering ankles and have only black laces. Leather style sports brand shoes such
as Air Force 1 will be accepted if they are completely plain black.
Unacceptable items include: Leisure trainers, high heels, suede, pumps, canvas, sandals, boots that are above ankle-height, and
coloured or multi-coloured laces.
Trousers and Skirts (additional guidance)
Trousers
Plain black, tailored and suitable for business wear. Unacceptable items include: cords, cotton, denim and trousers that are tight
fitting.
Skirts
Skirts should be plain black, knee length and straight or pleated. Skirts should be non-stretchy fabric.
Unacceptable items include: Hipsters, cargo style, tight-fitting trousers, leggings, jeggings, stretch trousers, denim, jersey fabrics
(skirts), shiny fabrics and any coloured external labelling are not permitted. Our uniform suppliers provide a range of trousers
and skirts in different styles, including approved logoed items.
Jewellery
No jewellery other than a watch, school badges and one small, plain ear stud per ear may be worn. The school will not
accept liability for these items. The wearing of other jewellery and body piercings is not allowed for health and safety
reasons e.g. rings, nose studs/piercings, tongue studs, eyebrow and navel rings, and necklaces.
Items of jewellery and wrist watches should not be worn in Physical Education and Swimming lessons.
PLEASE NOTE: it is not an acceptable excuse for a student to ask to wear unapproved jewellery (including transparent
retainers) to prevent a piercing from closing up. Covering piercings with a plaster or other item is also not acceptable. In
these circumstances, a student refusing to remove an item of jewellery will be placed in isolation.
Makeup/Hair styles
Year 7 and 8 girls are not allowed to wear makeup. Year 9, 10 and 11 girls can wear a discrete amount of makeup (i.e.
almost unnoticeable). The school reserves the right to decide whether any individual’s use of makeup is acceptable.
Year 9, 10 and 11 girls can wear discrete nail varnish that must be neutral in colour (i.e. non-bold colours and non-
decorative). False nails are not permitted. Refusal to remove nail varnish will result in isolation and parents/carers
contacted.
The school reserves the right to decide whether a hairstyle is ‘extreme’ in either style or colour. Extreme hairstyles will be
deemed inappropriate.
PLEASE NOTE: Hair dyes take several days to wash out and tramlines/shaved areas take several days to grow back. Please
save experimentation for the six week summer holiday.
Equipment
A set of basic writing equipment (to include pens, red pen, pencils, ruler, eraser, sharpener and protractor)
A calculator
An appropriately sized school bag suitable for carrying equipment and essential personal items (not handbags or pouches)
The following items should not be brought into school: Tippex, chewing gum, expensive personal items, an excessive
amount of money and make up.
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School Behaviour and Discipline Policy
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR STUDENTS
At Kingsbury School, students are expected to treat others as they would expect to be treated themselves, showing respect,
consideration and courtesy to other students, staff, visitors and the community. The School Code of Conduct exists to ensure
that all students are able to focus on their learning in a safe and pleasant environment. It should be followed whenever
students are representing the school, including on the way to and from school, whether walking, cycling or using school and
public transport. Kingsbury School promotes and instils the following Character Traits which underpin student conduct and
inform our decisions and policies:
Respect
We show respect by listening and cooperating with others,
seeking to understand their point of view. Respect is treating
others as we would wish to be treated ourselves. This includes:
Listening to others’ speak
Using good manners
Being considerate of others’ feelings
Showing tolerance of others’ beliefs
Being thankful
Looking after our environment and community
Kindness
We show kindness by being friendly and considerate. This
includes:
Understanding other people
Being sympathetic
Helping other people
Making others’ feel welcome
Saying nice things
Honesty
We show honesty by being truthful and sincere.
This includes:
Doing the right thing
Being trustworthy
Thinking before you speak
Having good intentions
Admitting your mistakes
Ambition
We show ambition by being determined to succeed. This includes:
Never giving up
Trying hard in lessons
Having goals
Asking questions
Being hardworking and resilient
Overcoming difficulties
Pride
We show pride by celebrating our achievements and who we are.
This includes:
Achieving our goals
Wearing the school uniform correctly
Focusing on the quality of your work
Volunteering and attending school events and activities
Looking after our environment
Being confident
These values are displayed in our school. We aim to instil and re-affirm with students attending Kingsbury School our
commitment to the above, helping them to blossom into young adults ready to play an active, positive role in society.
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parents
and carers
staff
students
EXPECTATIONS
All stakeholders have a part to play in relation to promoting, encouraging and expecting high standards of behaviour from our
students.
ROLE OF STUDENTS
Classroom Expectations:
Enter your lessons calmly and on time, ready to learn.
Bring all the necessary equipment so that you do not
have to borrow from others.
Listen carefully to your teachers and follow their instructions.
Display Resilience and Ambition by trying your best at all times.
Present your work neatly, taking pride in the appearance
of your work.
Be Polite and Respectful to all.
Complete and hand in all your homework on time.
In practical subjects, obey the safety rules at all times.
Stand behind chairs at the end of every lesson.
Five-in-Five (The best start to learning)
Our Five-in-Five strategy communicates the expectations of students during the first
five minutes of every lesson, enabling a positive and prompt start for all. There are
five key expectations:
Be Polite: Meet and greet your teacher at the door
Be Punctual: Be on time to lessons
Be Positive: Begin the entry task activity and review your learning from last
lesson
Be Proud: Neatly write the date and title and take pride in the presentation
of your work
Be Prepared: Sit down with your equipment and planner on the table (Pen,
pencil, ruler, red pen and exercise book)
The Five-in-Five expectations are displayed in every classroom.
Outside the Classroom Expectations:
Enter and leave school sensibly, showing consideration for other pedestrians and road users.
Wheel your bicycle when on the school grounds and always wear a helmet on the road.
Walk sensibly and on the LEFT in corridors and on the stairways. Observe any one-way systems.
Help keep the school site and surrounding community tidy by not dropping litter; use the bins provided.
Always walk in the school building in a low energy, calm, sensible and quiet manner.
Always demonstrate respect and consideration for the school building and its contents.
Social time expectations
It is important that all students and staff can experience a calm and pleasant environment during social times. During these
times, all students are expected to adhere to the following expectations:
Consume food only in the designated eating areas (Dining Hall, School Hall, Canopy area and quad area). Food should
not be consumed in any other area.
Hot plated food purchased in the Dining Hall should be consumed in the Dining Hall.
Designated social areas include the school hall, Food Court, Canopy area, yard, quad area and school field (summer term
only). Students should not congregate in corridors, stairwells, doorways or other access areas. The stage area is strictly
out of bounds.
Students should conduct themselves in a sensible, calm, quiet and low energy manner during social times, showing
consideration to others at all times.
The school library is available at social times for reading, homework and organised activities.
The IT Suite is open every lunchtime in room 34.
The school memorial garden is out of bounds but can be made available upon request for quiet reflection time.
Mobile phones are not permitted during social time. Mobile phones will be confiscated if seen by a member of staff.
Energy drinks should not be consumed on the school premises and will be confiscated if seen.
Persistent failure to respect social time expectations may lead to a student being excluded at these times.
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Personal appearance and property
Wear full school uniform correctly, including on the way to and from school.
Outdoor coats, scarves and gloves should not be worn in the school building.
You may bring small items to school for your personal convenience or recreational use at social times e.g. MP3 players
or electronic games. You must ensure that these never disturb a lesson. These devices should be switched off in
lessons and should not be visible unless requested by your teacher. Failure to do this may result in confiscation until the
end of the school day. The school will not take responsibility for damaged or stolen property if you have not taken
reasonable care of them.
Do not bring dangerous items to school,
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FAQS: Holiday and authorised absence
The new restrictions placed on Head teachers, regarding absence from school, continue to present challenges for
schools and parents. The following document therefore sets out answers to the most often asked questions in this
area.
Can I take my child out of school for a family holiday?
NO. Head teachers are unable to authorise absence for a family holiday unless there are exceptional circumstances.
If you feel you have an exceptional circumstance you must speak to the Head teacher prior to making any
arrangements or taking any absence. Parents are legally responsible for ensuring their children receive education in
accordance to with section 7 of the Education Act 1996 and if on a school roll that they regularly attend school.
Please note:
Head teachers cannot authorise absences if they believe it will impact negatively on a child’s education.
Requests for absence during the following periods are likely to be refused:
1. The first half term of any academic year (applies to all students)
2. School or external examination periods
3. Options time (for students in year 9/10 and 11)
4. Anytime during years 10 and 11 (for all students in these year groups)
5. Other times where significant school events are taking place (ie: Work Experience week- Y10)
The following are not exceptional circumstances:
1. A family holiday requested in term time for financial reasons
2. A holiday in term time organised or paid for by a relative or friend
3. A holiday arranged to fit in with availability of accommodation or flights.
4. A weekend sporting or music event where students are travelling to a venue.
5. Absence in term time where the reason given is:
i. School holiday work commitments of a parent being more substantial.
ii. Work experience (Unless agreed with the school prior to the date)
6. Absences which reoccur (Other than medical or similar health related appointments)
This list is not exhaustive and provided for illustration only.
What is an absence from school for exceptional circumstances?
Exceptional circumstances could include:
1. Where an absence from school is recommended by a health professional as part of a parent or child’s
rehabilitation from a medical or emotional issue.
2. The death or terminal illness of a family member
3. To attend a wedding or a funeral of a family member
4. International or national sporting commitments
5. Where there is an exceptional or unforeseen circumstance which the Head teacher is confident adheres to the
following principles:
a. The absence is highly unlikely to ever reoccur.
b. The Head teacher is convinced that absence from school is the only option
c. The absence does not negatively impact on the education of the student.
Please note: Evidence would be required in each case and must be submitted at the time of your request. We advise
that you do not plan for your child to be absent from school without gaining prior agreement from the school first.
Headteachers cannot retrospectively authorise absence from school under any circumstances.
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How do I request authorisation from the Head teacher to take my child out of school?
In order to acquire authorisation for you to remove your child from school you will need to fill in a request form and
then either post or take it into school for the attention of the Head teacher. The Head teacher then has to make a
decision based on the information provided in the authorisation form, in addition to the evidence you have provided.
What evidence is needed?
The evidence you will need to provide depends entirely on what type of leave from school you are applying for:
A wedding abroad needs evidence of the event and can include invitations and evidence of
travel/accommodation reservations.
Enforced holiday weeks (i.e. work closure fortnights) would require a letter from an employer.
Sporting commitments would require a letter from the sport’s governing body or letters of invitation to a national
or international competition.
Attendance at a school or college interview (or other) would require an invitation letter.
If my request is authorised what are my responsibilities?
If your request is authorised, you are required to:
Ensure your child catches up on any missed school work. This is your responsibility and school are not obliged to
provide work for your child to complete.
Ensure your child returns to school on the agreed date. Failure to return as agreed will result in absences being
unauthorised. This may result in legal proceedings against you either through a Penalty Notice or the Magistrates
Court.
What are the penalties for unauthorised or poor attendance?
Penalty Notices
This includes students caught on truancy sweeps, persistent late arrival after the close of registration or unauthorised
absence that has not been authorised as an absence from school for exceptional circumstances.
In these cases, the warning is given on the absence request form, detailed within this information leaflet and
accompanying letter; no further written warning will be given. Fines can be issued for unauthorised absence of 5 or
more days and each school day is divided into 2 registration periods.
If you ignore a declined request
If your request is declined, and you still take your child out of school, each parent within your household will be issued
with a £60 penalty notice for each child you have taken out of school.
If a penalty notice remains unpaid for 21 days, it will increase to £120. If after 28 days it remains unpaid, you may be
summonsed and you may be liable for a fine of up to £1000.
Support and guidance on attendance is always reliable and if you have any questions about this, or if you need help to
achieve an improvement, then please contact the school.
Please note: We advise that you do not plan for your child to be absent from school without gaining prior agreement
from their school first. Headteachers cannot retrospectively authorise absence from school under any circumstances.
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Clare Bacciochi Scholarships
Kingsbury School has for some time benefitted from access to the Clare Bacciochi Fund. The charity fund was set up
in memory of Clare, who attended Kingsbury School and was sadly killed in the Lockerbie disaster along with the 243
passengers and 16 crew members of Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988. The fund, operated by trustees connected to the
school, has for many years given young people from Kingsbury School access to opportunities which they would not
otherwise have had such as:
Funding for international and national school visits.
Hardship fund for uniform and school equipment costs
Access to external training/coaching.
In the past the fund has been accessed where students have found it difficult to pay for these activities. The trustees
however feel that the fund should be more than a hardship fund and should impact on all students at Kingsbury
regardless of financial situation. As a result, 6 Scholarships will be offered for 2022/23 which we would encourage all
students to consider applying for:
2 Academic Scholarships
2 Sporting Scholarships
2 Arts Scholarships
The purpose and scope of each of the scholarships are as follows:
Academic Scholarship
An academic scholarship is designed to support a student in Yr7-11 in making the most of their educational
opportunities. The fund makes provision for the following to be purchased/undertaken:
Individual student net-book or supporting educational device, full payment of school organised trips for
2022/23 or other educational opportunities, as agreed by the trustees, which support further academic
achievement.
Academic Scholarships will be issued on the condition that students attend revision/primary transition and
support events where required.
Scholarship
A sporting scholarship is designed to support a student in Yr7-11 who is making the most of their talent in this area.
The fund makes provision for the following to be purchased/undertaken:
A one-year subscription and costs of an external club (eg. KA, Old Salt’s, Dosthill Colts, Pony club), purchase of
specialist sporting equipment, full payment of school organised trips in this area, other purchases as agreed
by the trustees.
Sporting Scholarships will be issued on the condition that students contribute significantly to school
teams/activities.
Arts Scholarship
An Arts scholarship is designed to support a student in Yr7-11 who is making the most of their talent in this area. The
fund makes provision for the following to be purchased/undertaken:
Payment for a years’ worth of music lessons, individual student instrument/electronic device which supports
these activities, specialist art equipment, full payment of school organised trips in this area, other purchases
as agreed by the trustees.
Arts Scholarships will be issued on the condition that students contribute significantly to school drama, music
or arts activities.
All Scholarships have an initial limit of £500, with students being able to make further representations to the fund if
successful, for additional cost to be covered (i.e. to cover expensive specialist equipment or trips).
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Conditions of award
Students making an application for a Scholarship award must:
1. Be a student of Kingsbury School on September 7
th
2022.
2. Remain a student of Kingsbury School throughout the academic year 2022/23.
3. Have not benefitted from a Clare Bacciochi scholarship before.
4. Have good attendance
5. Demonstrate behaviour in keeping with the school’s code of conduct.
6. Students must satisfy the trustees in their letter of application that they meet the application criteria and
conditions of the award outlined in this letter.
7. The trustees retain the right to withdraw the scholarship offer at any time, before, during or after award should
the award conditions be broken.
8. The trustees retain the right to dis-apply applicants from the scholarship, if they feel they have not applied
within the conditions/criteria for the award or in the spirit of learning/advancement in which the scholarship
is offered.
9. All purchases made as part of the scholarship must be completed through Kingsbury School – Neither
cash/cheque nor other form of personal financial transfer can or will be made to scholarship winners.
Application
Prospective scholarship students should by letter address the following in their request for consideration:
Conditions 1-5 outlined above.
What activities they are already involved in which support their application (e.g. Swimming club, school sports
teams, art club, music\drama events, science club, GCSE subject choice).
What they would hope to use the scholarship for.
How they believe the scholarship would help enhance their learning or promote their
achievement/development.
Identify two referees who can support their application
i. One member of Kingsbury teaching staff (Or for Yr 6 students previous teacher/Headteacher)
ii. One directly related to the activity being undertaken (i.e. Coach, Teacher)
Applications must be made by Friday 25
th
November 2022.
Applications will be considered by a selected panel of trustees from the Clare Bacciochi Fund; information from
provided references may be considered as part of their decision making process. We hope that all students will
consider making an application for a scholarship and look forward to announcing recipients during the course of next
term.
Photograph/Image Permission
During your child’s time at Kingsbury School, we may take photographs of activities that involve your child. The
photographs may be used for displays, publications (including local newspapers) and on a website by us, or by the
Castle Phoenix Academy Trust. Images will always be approved by the school first.
Photography or filming will only take place with the permission of the Headteacher and under appropriate supervision.
When filming or photography is carried out by the news media, students will only be named if there is a particular
reason to do so (e.g. they have won a prize or celebrating their achievements) and home addresses will never be given
out.
Before taking any photographs of your child, we need your permission. Consent will be sort at the beginning of your
child’s time at Kingsbury.
You can ask to see images of your child, held by Kingsbury School and may withdraw your consent in writing at any
time. You can inform us via email at admin4111@welearn365.com or via letter addressed to school. We have one
month to comply with your withdrawal request.
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Cashless Biometric System Information
Kingsbury School uses fingerprint biometrics in our cashless catering service. By measuring an individual’s physical
features in an authentication inquiry and comparing this data with stored biometric reference data, the identity of a
specific user is determined. There are many different biometric features that can be used for authentication purposes,
these include fingerprint, signature iris, retina, DNA or any other unique characteristic. Once a characteristic has been
chosen, the next stage in the Biometric process is authentication. A biometric feature is saved on to a database. Once
a characteristic has been chosen, the next stage in the Biometric process is authentication. A biometric feature is saved
on to a database. Once the data has been stored, a new scanning of the biometric feature is taken. If the comparison
is positive, access to the appropriate application is granted.
Biometric and Security – students and parents can rest assure that the fingerprint images cannot be used by any other
source for identification purposes. The system uses an image of the fingerprint to create a mathematical algorithm
and then discards the finger print; only the numbers remain and these cannot be reinterpreted back into a fingerprint
image.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you need to take my child’s fingerprint?
By taking an image of your child’s fingerprint, we can turn this information into a digital signature.
Can fingerprints be used by any other agency?
No, the software we use turns your child’s fingerprint in to a mathematical algorithm. The image of the fingerprint is
then discarded. The information that is stored cannot be used to recreate an image of the child’s fingerprint.
What happens when my child leaves Kingsbury School?
When a student leaves school, all data can be deleted very easily.
How does it work?
When the child places his/her finger on the scanner, the software matches their fingerprint with the unique digital
signature held in the database.
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School Gateway
To keep your children safe and ensure their well-being, we are constantly looking for ways to improve our links with
you and keep everyone up-to-date and well informed. In order to do this we operate a system called “School
Gateway”, an electronic school communication system with an added smartphone app and online payment system.
You will;
Receive messages more reliably and promptly via email, text or app message.
Still be able to receive paper letters if you don’t have email
Be able to reply by email, text or app message, and be able to send us any reasons for absence via text, email
or app message
In addition by registering for a school gateway account from www.schoolgateway.com you will be able to:
o Use a quick and simple wizard to keep track of your payments for activities and receive notification
when payments are due.
o Top up school meal accounts from home rather than send money in with pupils.
o Utilise a secure system to make payments by card.
We aim to withdraw from paper based communication. We therefore encourage you to follow the next steps and
access the School Gateway system in order to enable us to keep you fully up to date.
Next steps:
1. We will use the email address and mobile number that we hold for the Priority one contact(s).
2. If you do not have an Apple or Android device, skip to step 6
3. (a) Go to the “School Gateway” website (www.schoolgateway.com) and register,
(b) Go to your app store and search for “School Gateway” and download the app
4. Once downloaded, select the “I’m a New User” button; enter your email address and mobile number that we
have on record for you. Select Send PIN and a PIN number will be text to your mobile phone
5. Log in with your email address and the PIN, your account is now active and you will receive instant notifications
of messages in your notifications bar
6. If you change your contact details, please let the school know as soon as possible
School Gateway is registered with the data protection act. All information you provide will be kept private and will not
be passed on to any other organisation. Your details will only be used for the purpose of school business. You will not
receive any SPAM or marketing material.
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Rules for Responsible Internet and Email Use
Kingsbury School has installed computers and Internet access to support learning. Students must adhere to these
guidelines to ensure the safety of themselves and others.
When using the Internet, students must the follow these guidelines:
I will only use my own login and password, which I will keep secret
I will not access other people’s files
I will use the computer for schoolwork and homework only
I will not bring USB sticks into school without permission
I will ask permission, from a member of staff, before using the Internet
I will only e-mail people I know, or my teacher has approved
I understand that access to social network sites (such as Facebook and Twitter) in school are prohibited unless
directed by a teacher for academic purposes.
The messages that I send will be polite and sensible
I will not give my personal details e.g. home address or phone number, or arrange to meet someone
I will not give out information about any other person unless my teacher has approved it
I will help to protect other students and myself, I will tell a teacher if I see anything I am unhappy with or I
receive a message I do not like.
I will not access or try to access inappropriate websites or perform inappropriate searches
I will not download inappropriate material
I understand that school can check my computer files and the Internet sites that I visit
I will not attempt to bypass the School filtering system
I must ensure that I am logged out of all services and programmes on any devices in order to protect my data.
When using email accounts, students must follow these guidelines:
I understand that the email account is the property of Kingsbury School and can be withdrawn at any time
I will not reveal my password to anyone. If my password is changed or forgotten, my email account will need
to be deleted and re-create, hence all work will be lost
I will only hold work in my email area for as short a time as possible. It is my responsibility to back up or keep
hard copies of data that I deem to be important
I understand that my account should only be used for transferring/sharing data between school and students
and it must be applicable to assigned work tasks. I should not use my account for personal use, other than
those outlined above.
I understand that school implements an anti-virus policy and all data sent is virus scanned. I understand that
Kingsbury School cannot be held responsible for any damage that may be caused through the transmission of
any virus/spyware or other malicious software through the assigned email account. It is the users responsibility
to ensure that their computers are adequately protected.
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Emergency Evacuation Procedure
It is important that we have a plan of action to follow in the event of having to evacuate the school in an emergency.
As you will appreciate, it is not possible to practice a full scale evacuation so we must make certain assumptions to
enable us to be as efficient as possible, should a need for an emergency evacuation occur. Therefore, as part of this
procedure, we require you to complete the Emergency Evacuation Consent Form to ensure the safe and rapid release
of your child.
We must assume that we cannot gain access to the buildings or to telephones in a serious emergency.
For this reason, it is important that we have parental permission to release as many pupils as possible quickly to a
place of safety, once the decision to close during the school day has been taken. We would speed up the process of
evacuating your child if we had your permission to release him/her without the need to make telephone contact. It
is, of course, vital that parents/carers know exactly where their child is going, and we must assume there will be no
transport other than scheduled bus services available. Your child should make contact with you in the event of an
evacuation, once he/she has reached the place of safety.
May I also request that you inform us of any change in the information you give for emergency evacuation as soon as
it occurs so that our data is always current.
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Educational Visits and Activities
It is now recommended practice to ask parents/carers to provide consent for trips that your child takes part in whilst
at Kingsbury School. This consent is for sporting activities/fixtures and UK visits.
Prior to any trip, parents/carers will be given information about the visit and their child’s proposed participation. There
will, of course, be the opportunity to withdraw consent should you wish your child not to participate.
Whilst this consent can be used for virtually all visits, there are situations where consent for a specific visit will be
required. These include visits abroad and some visits involving third party provision, e.g. where an outdoor education
centre requires their own consent forms to be signed.
By consenting you are agreeing to the following:
I understand that all reasonable care will be taken of my child during the visits/activities and that he/she will
be under an obligation to obey all directions and instructions given and observe all rules and regulations
governing the visit/activity.
I understand that if my child seriously misbehaves or is a cause of danger to himself/herself or to others, then
he/she may be sent home early from the visit/ activity. In such a situation there will be no obligation on the
school/establishment to refund any money.
I agree to my son/daughter to be given first aid or urgent medical treatment during any school trip or activity.
EXPLANATORY NOTES
This consent serves several important functions:
1. It confirms your knowledge of and your agreement to your child’s participation in planned visits/activities
2. It advises you that the Children, Learning and Young People’s Service will NOT necessarily be legally liable for
every type of loss suffered by a child whilst on a visit.
3. It contains information about your child together with your consent to medical treatment if required.
4. It gives the supervising staff immediate information on how to contact you in an emergency.
Data protection – The Trust is committed to ensuring we hold data in accordance with legislation. To comply with
General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) effective 25 May 2018, we treat all personal data held manually and on
computerised systems administrative systems with due care and confidentiality. Personal data will only be disclosed
in accordance with The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (Regulation (EU) 2016/679) and in accordance
with the Trust’s Data Protection Policy.
Data collected is used for registration and monitoring purposes, and to ensure emergency contact information is
updated.
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Lines of communication
PASTORAL SUPPORT
Deputy Headteacher, Behaviour
and Welfare
Mrs K Williams
Year 7 Pastoral Team
Miss M McDonnell
Year 8 Pastoral Team
Mr C Court
Year 9 Pastoral Team
Ms L Franks
Year 10 Pastoral Team
Mr J Parker
Year 11 Pastoral Team
Mr C Cameron
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mr M Martin, Associate Assistant
Headteacher
Pastoral Admin Assistant
Miss C Blaby
Welfare Officer
Mrs J Bagley
Behaviour Officer
Mrs V Bancroft
FACULTY LEADERS
Mrs Moores, English and
French (includes Media studies and
Film Studies)
Mrs Sevellec, Mathematics
Mr Stubley, Science
Mrs R Carey, The Arts and Sport
(Music, PE and Drama)
Mrs L Newman, Humanities
(Geography, History, RE, Psychology,
Sociology and Citizenship)
Miss Mason, Technology
(Product Design, Technology,
Computer Science, Child
Development, Hospitality and
Catering and Art)
PLEASE NOTE THAT EMAIL CONTACTS ARE ON THE SCHOOL WEBSITE
SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Headteacher
Mr M Clarke
Deputy Headteacher
Mrs M Carrick
Deputy Headteacher
Mrs K Williams
Assistant Headteacher
Mr C Collis
Assistant Headteacher
Miss C Duffty
Assistant Headteacher
Mrs L Newman
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Mobile Phones
Students are not allowed to use mobile phones in school unless explicitly given permission to do so as part of a learning
experience; this is indicated by the teacher and not decided by the learner.
We appreciate that parents may prefer their children to have access to a phone as they travel. However, we encourage
parents to:
• Communicate via the school office if they urgently need contact with their child
• Ensure any mobile phones are switched off and are in bags during the school day.
Due to the difficulties posed by social media sites (Snapchat, Tik Tok etc.) and the increasing number of phone cameras,
phones will be confiscated by staff if students are seen to be using them at any time during the school day where they
are not permitted.
School Fund
In common with other schools, we ask parents to make a contribution to the school fund. The money is used to buy
items which cannot be provided for our budget. These are for the benefit of students and include subject awards and
trophies. We ask for a ‘one off’ contribution of £10.00 for your child. We are constantly looking for ways in which we
can raise funds for the benefit of our students and do appreciate your support with school fund. We would also
welcome any additional ideas for fund raising which you may have.
Additional learning materials
In line with our charging policy we will not charge you for any items which students require to effectively access the
school curriculum.
Throughout your child’s school career there will be books/other items which would enhance learning/understanding.
We may encourage you therefore to purchase:
• Individual copies of English texts
• Revision guides
• Art sketchbooks
Where we believe these items will benefit your children, we will contact you to explain the benefits and where
possible, offer discounts for bulk purchase through school.
Lunchtime arrangements
The care of your child is extremely important to us. For this reason, we require that all students, Years 7-11 inclusive,
remain on the school site at lunchtime. This means that they are in a safe, supervised environment. Students are
expected to stay on the school site once they have disembarked from school transport and public bus services.
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Advice for Parents: Social Media
Three things to know:
Research shows that high use of social media is linked to poor mental health. One recent study shows that
young adults who used social media heavily were three times more likely to be depressed than occasional
users. Another study discovered that young people who exceeded two hours of social media use per day were
more likely to claim that their mental health was ‘fair’ or ‘poor’ than occasional users.
Sleep is crucial for productive engagement and well-being. Research has shown that social media and screen
time in general is linked to lower quality of sleep.
Each social media site is able to decide how it protects their users; there is no agreed set of child safety rules
to protect young people from the risks. Each site will have its own age ratings – for example Whatsapp has
recently set its minimum age to 16 years old. Even YouTube has a minimum age requirement, which is 18, but
from 13 years old a child can sign up as long as they have a guardian’s permission.
Three things you could do:
Talk to your child about the positives and negatives of social media. Most young people are very aware of
these and know that there are changes they could make to use the internet in general in a healthier way. Being
upfront about our own habits (even any unhealthy ones!) and setting goals together can sometimes help to
avoid making it a source of conflict. One key aspect of this is discussing how social media can affect our
reputation through the digital footprint we create for anyone to access.
Encourage screen-free time before bed. If possible, having a family-wide screen-free curfew could help model
good use of screens and place value on everyone caring for their wellbeing through winding down activities
and better quality of sleep.
Help your child to spend more time on activities they enjoy and which make them feel good. Perhaps
encourage them to re-join a sports team they used to like, take up a hobby that they’ve expressed an interest
in, or spend time as a family doing things together: family movie time using films your child has recommended,
trips out etc.
Advice for Parents: Screen time
Three things to know:
Battles over screen time and devices have become a depressing part of family life. Recent research has
revealed that it’s not so much the length, but the nature of the screen time that matters. What is important is
that whatever young people are watching, playing and reading is high-quality, age-appropriate and safe.
The University of Oxford examined 120,000 UK 15-year-olds in 2017 and found that among those teenagers
who were the lightest tech-users, it was found that increasing the time spent using technology was linked to
improved wellbeing - possibly because it was important for keeping up friendships. In contrast, among the
heaviest users of technology, any increase in time was linked to lower levels of wellbeing.
Further research has shown that more than two hours of smartphone use on a weekday, and more than four
hours on a weekend day, was linked to lower wellbeing. Several other studies suggest that higher levels of
screen use in children and adolescents is associated with reduced physical activity, increased risk of
depression, and lower wellbeing.
Three things you could do:
The British Psychological Society recommends that parents and carers use technology alongside children and
engage them in discussions about media use. Help your child get into a screen-free bedtime routine. Screen
time in the evening is especially bad for sleep patterns.
Set limits like no screens during meal times or no screens after a certain time. Suggest having one day a week
with no screen time like Screen-Free Sundays. If they have a smartphone, encourage them to turn off as many
notifications as possible and to turn on flight mode when they’re with friends and family.
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Encourage your child to do new physical activities instead of screen-based inactivity. This could be new
hobbies, going for a walk, playing sport, being creative or joining a youth group. Role-model good behaviour
by being mindful of your own screen time.
Advice for Parents: Transition into secondary
school
Three things to know:
• The move to secondary school brings lots of change, such as different classrooms, different teachers for each
subject, bigger buildings, new travel arrangements, unfamiliar environments and mixing with new students.
Studies suggest that if students aren’t supported properly, transition can lead to an increased risk of poorer
attendance, lower grades, school disengagement, reduced confidence and self-esteem, and increased
symptoms of anxiety. Mentally healthy schools. 2018 (www.mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk)
Research suggests that students’ concerns about transition to secondary school generally involve issues such
as:
Losing old friends.
The size of their new school and getting lost.
Rules, discipline and detention.
Finding their way around.
• Research highlights that children who kept the same best friend during the transition period between primary
to secondary school tend to do better. Supporting and encouraging friendships during the transition period
and beyond may help students to improve attainment and behaviour.
• Research shows that the transition to secondary school can potentially be as difficult for parents as it is for
their children.
Three things you could do:
• New experiences coupled with your feelings about leaving your child in a new place can be a stressful time in
a family’s life. It is normal and acceptable to feel anxious as a parent/carer, but it is important not to pass these
feelings on to your child. Support your child and encourage them to keep in touch with their group of friends.
• Talk about up and coming change with your child and approach transitions in a positive and exciting way. Help
your child express their feelings, worries and emotions about the change and acknowledge their feelings.
Have a look at and discuss the video from Young Minds on YouTube with your son or daughter. It reassures
children that they’re not alone when it comes to their worries about secondary school, that there are ways to
cope with change and there are people to talk to when things get difficult:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT6ctrk3pVQ
