Dear Parents and Carers
I hope you are well. I just wanted to give you a few important updates please.
Communications
As you are aware I communicate to you via the Head’s Herald every week. It is really important that you do read and engage with this communication as it contains important information. We do very occasionally get emails informing us that you are not aware of an event etc. However, our communications are very regular. Please ensure you engage with what we send out. I appreciate you are very busy people and I know it will not be intentional, but it really does help with efficiencies and effectiveness.
Also, we are trying to not send communications via the post where possible, as we want to be environmentally friendly and efficient, so it is essential that you have all your details correct on Arbor. We need at least two emergency contacts. If you do not provide emergency contacts or the phone line no longer works when we call it, then we may have to contact the police or appropriate professionals as per our safeguarding protocols in an emergency situation. You can have as many contacts as you wish but we require two as a minimum. We also rely on you updating the information if circumstances change. We have 98% of parents and carers signed up to Arbor, which is superb. However, you need to please use the App and make sure you do log on and check it for information. Maybe view it as a school mail drop, where it will need to be checked once a day. If you are still unsure how to use Arbor then you must contact us and of course we will help and support you. We do keep you fully updated all the time but I appreciate however, that this sometimes this can be overwhelming.
Pastoral Information
I would just like to let you know that the transition period in terms of the Pastoral support is now in place. As you know, the Head of Year stays with their Year group until they reach Year 11. Mr Horne, the Senior Pastoral Lead always remains static and takes the students when they reach Year 11. The Head of Year 10 (who currently is Mr Willcock) then moves to the new Year 7. We operate this new structure from the 9th June 2025 because Mr Willcock will be needed for all the Year 7 Transition Days, events and Primary school visits as the new Head of Year 7. Whilst the Year 11 are still in school completing their GCSE examinations, Miss K Dowling, will support in overseeing Year 10 until they leave. Therefore, there is no change for Year 7-9 in school at present, and current Year 10 will have Mr Horne and Miss K Dowling until the end of the Year.
September 2025 Structure:
Year 7 Mr Willcock
Year 8 Mrs Ashwin
Year 9 Mrs Brown
Year 10 Mr Gwinnett
Year 11 Mr Horne
The Year 10 students are aware of this change, however I just wanted you to feel in the loop.
Secure Mobile Phone Ban
As you will have seen from my previous two editions of the Head’s Herald, we are looking at introducing an increased layer to the mobile phone ban that is already in place and has been in place since I began as Headteacher in 2014. Our current policy is that mobile phones are not allowed in school at any time, and if they are seen they are confiscated and returned at the end of the school day. The product that I have been researching for many months, just ensures that the phone cannot be used at all during the school day. Whilst you may wonder what is wrong with the current system and on the whole, it works fine to a degree, but I am well aware that students are incredibly resourceful and will find a way to use their phones – in the toilets for example or out of range of a CCTV camera etc. and this causes a whole host of issues for us.
As a school we want to focus on our students’ well-being and academic success in equal measure and to do that then we need to be brave and really face up to the disruption that mobiles phones can cause us in a school day. I did a study of the time we spend dealing with issues that were caused by mobile phones or the battle that we can have at times over students who are caught using the mobile phones and it was staggering. This time could be utilised so much better in terms of supporting the young people from a Pastoral, wellbeing and mental health perspective for example. Smartwatches will also will not be allowed in school. Students can wear a traditional watch if they wish.
We are currently looking at using Yondr, who specialise in creating phone free environments via the Yondr pouch. We have visited many schools who use this product and I have spoken to their staff, students and parents/carers at length regarding how it works and more importantly, the positive impact that this is having on the young people and their well-being. As you are aware I will never enter into any decision lightly and all decisions are based on research and ultimately will be of benefit to the young people, their well-being and academic success.
The product essentially is a secure pouch, which allows the student to keep their phone with them, but prevents them from using the phone within the school day. The pouch is locked on entry to school and released on exit. The only real difference to what we already have in place, is that the phone is in a secure pouch. The principle is still the same in them not using their phone. As the phone is in a secure pouch there is absolutely no temptation to use it so minimises any distractions. Where we may need hand held technologies we will look to purchase iPads in this instance. We will of course provide much more information and launch events etc. prior to this being implemented, if this is the final decision. I am just wanting to be transparent in my thinking so you feel consulted.
I know and understand that you will have your opinions on this matter and I will always listen to you. Therefore, I have created a bespoke mail box which will come directly to me and I will answer all your worries and queries personally, the mail box is mobilephone@boteler.org.uk Please do not email my personal email for communications on mobile phones as I want to keep this separate so I do not miss anything. I appreciate this will initiate conversations, so please reach out. It is best coming straight to me rather than assuming, as I can give you the definite answer and nothing will be lost in translation. It may take time as I will respond personally to every email but I feel that is always the best way, so you feel valued.
I have spoken to sample groups of students and parents/carers and they are already very supportive in this potential move. Especially, because of the impact it will have on well-being. They see it as I have described as ‘a layer’ to the current policy.
I only ever have the best interests of my young people at heart and I always want to work with you so again please get in contact if I can help.
If this were to go ahead, we would potentially be looking at a September launch.
I really appreciate you taking the time to read this letter and I know it is a lot to digest. I really value our working relationship and hopefully we can move forward on this together.
Have a lovely weekend when it arrives.
Yours faithfully
Beverley Scott-Herron
Headteacher