The Pastoral System
Our pastoral system consists of four houses. Each house consists of nine or ten ‘vertical’ tutor groups. Each tutor group is made up of about twenty pupils representing each year in the school.

When children join the school they are allocated to a house and placed in the care of a Form Tutor and Assistant Form Tutor, who are responsible for the day to day support of a group of pupils. We make every effort to create tutor groups which are balanced in terms of gender and ability whilst at the same time trying to keep close friendship groups together. Pupils from the same family will be allocated to the same house.

Great care is taken to ensure that new pupils settle in happily. Form Tutors ease them into the routines of homework, organising their belongings, making new friends and moving safely and confidently around the school. The rest of the form group help with this process too.

Each house is cared for by a Head of House and an Assistant Head of House, who support the Form Tutors, and are responsible for the children in that particular House. The senior members of staff are also involved in the care and development of your children. In some circumstances other people may be asked to give extra support. These include the School Chaplain, the School Counsellor, the Education Welfare Officer and the Educational Psychologist.

“The positive spiritual dimension to the school supports students’ emotional wellbeing, and all students have adults they can turn to for advice and support.” OFSTED 2010

Attendance
We believe that good attendance is vital if children are to achieve their potential at school. There is a strong correlation between good attendance and high achievement. We ask parents to work with us to ensure that, wherever possible, a child attends school, and if this is not possible, that they notify us immediately. Attendance is monitored very closely and we will keep you informed and offer support if there are any concerns.

Assessment and Reporting
Class work and home learning are assessed continuously by teachers. Children are encouraged to be involved in this process. There are also more formal assessments, through tests and exams or major pieces of work. It is important that the children themselves know how they are doing in relation to expectations and what steps are needed to progress to the next level.

Four times a year children are given an assessment grade in every subject. These grades are discussed with their tutor and the report is sent home to parents. The final assessment of the year contains a detailed report from each subject teacher. Once a year we hold a ‘Review Day’, where parents are invited in to school to discuss their child’s progress in detail, but parents are welcome to contact the school at any time if there are concerns about work or progress.

Your Child’s Safety
At the heart of the government’s “Every Child Matters” agenda lies the aim that children at school should “stay safe”.
• Child Protection
Parents should be aware that the school will take any reasonable action to secure the safety of its pupils. Where there is reason to be concerned that a child may be subject to ill-treatment, neglect or other forms of abuse, staff have no alternative but to follow Child Protection Procedures and inform Social Services of their concern.
• Bullying
Bullying is not tolerated at Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School. In PSHE lessons and in assemblies we work at preventing bullying and we always encourage children and parents to let staff know of any such incidents, so that prompt action may be taken.
• E-Safety
The Internet is a powerful tool that can contribute to raising educational standards and help to promote achievement. It is an essential element in 21st century life. The school has a duty to provide pupils with a safe and secure online learning environment. We use a monitoring and filtering system which is very effective in blocking inappropriate material and misuse of the Internet. If a pupil abuses the system the school will withdraw access for that pupil for a fixed period or permanently.

“Students feel very safe in school. Bullying and racist incidents are rare and rapidly and effectively dealt with.” OFSTED 2010

Homework
Homework is seen as an important part of school life. It helps to make learning more effective, encourages pupils to work independently and provides opportunities for extended projects.

There is a homework timetable and each pupil is issued with a planner in which they record homework as it is given. Parents, too, can use the planner to check exactly what homework has been set and whether it has been completed. There is a ‘comments’ section for both teachers and parents to use.

Pupils have many opportunities to use facilities in school. There is a breakfast club before school and the library (where laptops are available) is open every lunchtime. After school the ‘Boiler Room’ provides a well resourced and popular place for homework where assistance is available. The Learning Support Unit (‘Links’) provides a more nurturing support environment.

Lunch Arrangements
The school offers an extensive cafeteria menu in pleasant surroundings. The menu offers a range of healthy options and we encourage sensible choices and promote healthy eating. Pupils use a machine to pay cash into their account. Those entitled to Free School Meals have their account credited automatically to ensure discretion. We then operate a biometric ‘cashless’ system at the tills, where pupils scan their fingerprint to deduct the cost from their account.

The dining room is also available for those pupils who opt to bring a packed lunch. Because of the short lunch break, it is not practical for pupils to go home for lunch, except in exceptional circumstances.

Free School Meals
If you think you may be eligible for Free School Meals it is very important to register, not just to save money but for the sake of the school too. Each child registered for Free School Meals brings more funding into the school. We use this money to subsidise instrumental lessons, trips and extra activities.

Application forms are available from Warrington Borough Council’s Education Department or from the school office, where staff will be happy to give help and advice.

Rewards and Sanctions
When your child comes to Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School the teachers will look for opportunities to reward good work and behaviour. We believe that young people like their parents to know how well they are doing. To help with this, pupils are awarded credits for good work and behaviour.

As they gather credits throughout the year they are awarded certificates, and at the end of the year parents are invited to a special celebration evening, where achievement in all areas is celebrated and certificates, prizes and trophies are awarded.

Good behaviour is expected at all times. A clear Code of Conduct has been discussed and agreed by pupils and staff and is displayed in all classrooms.

When this Code of Conduct is not followed sanctions may include the removal of privileges, a daily report procedure or a detention (staff will always give 24 hours notice of any detention after school lasting longer than 10 minutes). In cases of extreme indiscipline, a pupil may be educated in the School Referral Unit (SRU) away from the other children. The school day is different here, starting and finishing later than the main school. In very serious cases, a child may be excluded from school either for a fixed period of time or permanently.

Chaplaincy
The school benefits from the services of a Chaplain who provides spiritual leadership for our worship programme, pastoral support for staff and pupils and curriculum guidance on Christian faith and ethical issues. The school holds a fortnightly Eucharist service to which all pupils and staff are welcome.

“Students’ spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is outstanding.” OFSTED 2010

Equal Opportunities
Sir Thomas Boteler Church of England High School believes in Equality of Opportunity for everyone. To this end we strive at all times to provide an environment which allows for every person in the community to develop strengths, talents and abilities to their full potential. We positively promote harmony and respect for others and we challenge all forms of racism, sexism and bullying.

School Uniform and Standards
We encourage children to take pride in their appearance. All pupils must wear full school uniform which has been chosen for affordability and practicality. If a domestic problem prevents your child from wearing an item of uniform on a particular day please send a note of explanation in your child’s planner and say when the problem might be solved. If any family finds great difficulty in covering the cost of uniform please speak in confidence to your child’s Tutor or Head of House.

The school uniform is as follows:

•  Navy blue blazer with school badge
• Navy blue ‘V’ neck pullover (optional)
• House tie (available from Reception)
• For girls – black or charcoal skirt or trousers of sensible style and length (Skirts should be just above or just below the knee)
• For boys – black or charcoal trousers (Jeans and fashion trousers are NOT acceptable)
• Plain light blue shirt which should always be tucked in
• Plain shoes of sensible style and dark colour (NOT trainers, boots or pumps)
• Plain grey, white or black socks
• Girls may wear black tights
• Jewellery must not be worn apart from one pair of stud earrings and a watch

PHYSICAL EDUCATION KIT

Girls

• Red polo shirt
• Navy blue shorts for gymnastics and athletics
• Training shoes
• Football boots (if required)
• Navy blue jogging bottoms and sweatshirt (without hood) recommended for winter months

Boys

• Red polo shirt
• Navy blue and red rugby shirt
• Red shorts
• Royal blue football socks and with red tops
• Training shoes
• Football boots
• Navy blue jogging bottoms and sweatshirt (without hood) recommended for winter months