Attendance

We believe that good attendance is vital if children are to achieve their potential at school. We ask parents to work with us to ensure that, wherever possible, a child attends school, and if this is not possible, that the correct procedures are followed.

What to do in case of absence:

• If your child is absent please notify the school by phone on the first day of absence.
•  When your child returns to school after an absence please ensure they bring their Tutor a note, dated and signed by you, explaining the reason for the absence (there is a designated space in the planner).
• Please try to arrange medical or dental appointments outside school times to avoid disrupting your child’s learning. If this is unavoidable, a note or appointment card must be shown to the Form Tutor in advance.
• Family holidays should not be arranged during term-time. If this is unavoidable, you must obtain authorisation in advance. Forms are available from the school office and should be returned to your child’s Form Tutor for authorisation at the Headteacher’s discretion, which is only possible in exceptional circumstances.
•  It is very important that the school can contact you should an emergency arise. Please provide an emergency contact telephone number and inform us if this number changes. We do not allow children to return home unless we are sure that a parent or other responsible adult is there to receive them.

Bringing your child to school

Please do not use the main drive to drop off or pick up your child as this causes congestion and presents a danger to pupils. Please use the Community Sports Centre instead.

Chaplaincy

The school benefits from the services of a Chaplain, The Reverend John Harries, who provides spiritual leadership for our worship, pastoral support for staff and pupils and curriculum guidance on Christian faith and ethical issues.

Charging Policy

Pupils are expected to provide their own pens, pencils, rulers and bags, but all exercise books, text books and other necessary equipment will be provided free of charge. From time to time special visits or activities are arranged and we ask parents to make a voluntary contribution to enable these to take place. If you find it difficult to make a contribution in a situation like this, please let your child’s Tutor or Head of Year know, so that we can seek other sources of funding for your child. Any such problems will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

Discipline

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 excluded from school either for a fixed period of time or permanently.

Homework

Homework is seen as an important part of school life. It helps to make classroom learning more effective and encourages pupils to work independently.

Each pupil is issued with a homework 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.

You can help in the following ways:

• make it clear to your child that you value homework
• support the school by explaining how it can help with learning
• encourage your child to do homework and give praise when it is completed
• provide a quiet place for doing homework in your home
• ensure that homework is started as soon after arrival from school as possible
• provide a bag to carry books to and from school
• check and sign homework diaries every week in order to check that deadlines are met
• let us know about any difficulties or concerns

Pupils may use facilities in school. There is a breakfast club before school, the library is open every lunchtime and after school and a quiet room is set aside each lunchtime. There is a room for homework tutorials each evening and staff are on hand to give help to those pupils who need it.

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.

Lunch Arrangements

The school offers an extensive cash cafeteria menu in pleasant surroundings. The menu provides a range of healthy options and we try to encourage sensible choices. Pupils may also eat their own sandwiches in the dining room. Because of the short lunch break, very few pupils go home for lunch. Pupils who do wish to go home should bring a note from parents each term and they will be given a pass.

If you think you may be eligible for Free School Meals, application forms are available from Warrington Borough Council’s Education Department or from the school office.

The Pastoral System

When children join the school they are placed in the care of a Form Tutor who is responsible for the daily routine 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. 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. Prefects help with this process too.

Each year group is cared for by a Head of Year and/or a Head of School, who supports the Form Tutors, and is responsible for the overall welfare of the children in that particular year.

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, the Educational Psychologist and the School Health Care Assistant.

Prohibited Items

Children should not bring large sums of money or valuable or dangerous items in to school. Tippex and permanent marker pens are also prohibited.
We strongly discourage children from wearing any jewellery for safety reasons. If earrings are worn, they must be one pair of studs or small sleepers. Other piercings are not allowed. Jewellery is not permitted for PE lessons. Mobile phones are not prohibited provided they are switched off during lessons. However we discourage pupils from bringing them to school and cannot accept responsibility should they go missing.

Extreme hairstyles are not allowed (this includes bright coloured dyes and cuts shorter than a number 2).

A limited number of lockers are available. A returnable deposit of £5 is charged for the key.

Pupil Voice

Children play an important role in the management and development of the school. Each Tutor Group elects it own representatives to the School Council, which is split into 5 Pupil Action Teams. Each team is led by a Senior Prefect and focuses on an important aspect of the school. They work with the staff and governors to bring about improvements.

The pupils also elect a Head Girl and Head Boy, who represent them and the school in a range if important events.

Rewards

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

School Council

The school believes that young people should play a big part in shaping their own environment. We have recently introduced an innovative School Council system through which elected representatives from each Tutor Group serve on one of five Pupil Action Teams for a year. The Teams, which include pupils from all years, each have a specific focus and meet regularly to discuss current school issues. Each is chaired by a Senior Prefect. The full School Council meets on a termly basis to discus progress and the allocation of finances to make improvements in facilities for pupils. Fifteen per cent of the school population are involved in the Council’s work, either through direct election or recruitment for specific projects.

School Uniform

We encourage children to take pride in their appearance. All pupils must wear full school uniform. 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 Year Tutor or Head of School.

The school uniform is as follows:

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

Physical Education Kit

Girls

• Red polo shirt
• Royal blue shorts for gymnastics and athletics
• Training shoes
• Royal blue jogging bottoms and royal blue sweatshirt (without hood) recommended for winter months

 Boys

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

Notes

• School ties and badges are available from school
• PE uniform and blazers may be purchased from Latifs
• All items of clothing and all equipment should be clearly marked with the child’s name

Special Educational Needs

The school provides excellent support for children with Special Educational Needs. All staff are involved in monitoring their progress and a skilled team provide specialist help in a variety of ways. Teaching Assistants provide support in mainstream lessons, but some pupils are withdrawn from their class to work in a small group or in a one-to-one situation. Much of this work takes place in the Learning Resource Centre, situated next to the main Library but pupils with emotional, behavioural or attendance problems have their lessons in “Links”, our Learning Support Unit, situated just outside the main school building. Here, the aim is to equip youngsters with the skills they will need to reintegrate into mainstream lessons.

The Pupil Support Department also works closely with parents and with other agencies, such as the Behaviour Support Team, the Education Welfare Service, Social Services and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service to ensure that every child receives the most appropriate support. Review meetings with outside agencies take place once every half term.

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”.

To that end the school has very clear principles regarding:

• Child Protection
• Bullying
• Use of the Internet
• The School's Website

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 will not be 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.

Most pupils and parents feel that the school deals effectively with incidents of bullying, but nevertheless we are constantly trying to improve things.

Use of the Internet

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.

The School’s Website

Occasionally the school will display pictures which feature pupils on the website. Parents will be asked to give their permission for the school to do so.