As we look forward to welcoming you back to school on Friday September 1st we have created this one page with all of the useful information you will need. Whether you are a parent of a new starter or your child is already a member of our community, we hope you’ll find the information you need.
Dear Parents & Carers of students joining us in Year 7
We are really looking forward to welcoming all our new Year 7 students for the start of the new term on Friday 1st September.
We know this is a really big event for these students, moving from a primary school where they know everyone to a larger Secondary school. Equally it is a really big event for parents, even more so when this is your first child to go to Secondary school. Everyone will be working hard to make sure the Year 7s students settle in as quickly as possible. We wouldn’t be telling the truth though if we said that everything always runs smoothly. In every school in a new term there are teething troubles. What we can tell you is that we will work really hard to try and resolve any issues as best we can. To help us we need parents and carers to work with us, to let us know if they are concerned about anything, to keep communication open with us throughout the year and to trust in our experience. Sometimes we might not always make the decision that you agree with but we always make the decision that we feel is right for the students.
Below is some useful information to help you and your child prepare to be ready to start back to school.
New Academic Year 2023/2024
School re-opens for the new academic year on Friday 1st September. Students should be on the school site no later than 8.35am. School will finish at 3pm for all year groups.
Attached are the Term Dates for 2023/2024 and 2024/2025.
Arriving at School
Students should make their way to their Year group area when they arrive. Staff will be on hand to remind students where they need to be.
Bikes
If your child is coming to school on their bike please remind them about travelling at a safe speed through the car park and being mindful of cars and pedestrians. Students bringing bikes should ensure that they have a suitable lock. Bikes are left at the owners risk.
We strongly encourage all students arriving to school on a bike to wear a helmet and not to listen to music as they travel.
Please note that electric scooters and electric bikes are not permitted on site.
Year 7 will need a Packed Lunch for the First Day of School
Year 7 students will all need a packed lunch on Friday 1st September. Students eligible for Free School Meals will be provided with food and drink at lunchtime. You may wish to send your child with a snack for break if appropriate.
We have students and staff with nut allergies, please be mindful of this and avoid bringing nuts into school.
We will issue Year 7 students with a temporary Cashless Payment card until we have photos of all the students (this will take place on Thursday 7th September). Students will then be issued with their Cashless Payment card.
Parents and Carers will be sent their Log in details for Arbor – the Parent Portal (see information below) and you will be able to add money to your child’s cashless payment account, for anyone choosing to purchase food in the canteen.
Uniform
The up to date Uniform list can also be found attached. Please ensure that your child is wearing the correct uniform and PE kit. Over the holidays, if your child has chosen to have their nails done or had facial piercings please ensure that these are removed before we return to school as these are not part of our Uniform Policy and sanctions will be given.
Could we draw your attention to the PE Kit.
Students will need to bring their kit to school and get changed into their kit on days when they have PE on their timetable.
Any students in 7C – Mr Traynor’s Tutor group will need to bring their PE kit with them on Friday 1st September.
Timetables will be available for Year 7 students on Friday 1st September so they will be able to see when they have PE coming up.
Please ensure that you label every item of uniform and PE Kit clearly with your child’s name.
School Photographs
We have the school photographer in school on Thursday 7th September to student photos. Don’t worry we will ensure that any students that have PE will have their photos taken before their PE lesson. Further information on how to order your photos will be sent out nearer the time.
Arbor
We use Arbor in school for all our student information. Arbor also provides a Parent Portal and Arbor App which allows you to see like your child’s attendance, what they bought from the canteen, their behaviour points, book Parents Evening appointments, make and receive In App messages. You may have used this previously at your child’s primary school.
Once we have enrolled your child on the first day of term we can set up your access to Arbor and will contact you about how to log on.
Equipment
For students to be successful in their learning they need to come to school each day with the right equipment. Please ensure your child has a pencil case with the following items:
- A Casio scientific calculator for maths and science (Casio FX83GTX or the FX85GTX)
- Two pens (blue or black) for writing in your exercise books
- A purple pen for responding to teacher’s feedback
- Two HB pencils
- A ruler, rubber and pencil sharpener
- Coloured pencil crayons – not felt tips
- A pencil case
- A small note book to jot down things you need to remember
- A refillable water bottle
- Cashless Payment card
- A school bag that will fit all your equipment plus an A4 folder
- A reading book
Catering – Breaks and Lunchtimes
Once your child has their Cashless Payment Card you will need to ensure that your child’s account has sufficient funds on it for them to purchase any food they require at break or lunch.
There are occasions when a student does not have sufficient funds and whilst we do try to contact home, given the time restrictions of the break periods this isn’t always possible. In addition, when you make your payment on Arbor Payments, it can take at least 30 mins to show up on our system. Where sufficient funds aren’t showing on our system, we will always offer what we call a ‘basic packed lunch’; this includes a sandwich or roll, fruit or cake and a bottle of water. We do this toensure that students do not go without food and drink but also it keeps the additional costs on your account to a minimum so that we aren’t encouraging further debt to be accrued.
We hope that you will support us with this by topping up your child’s account in advance. Please talk to us if you are finding things difficult.
Allergens & Dietary Requirements
You may recall being asked to complete a form for Allergens and Dietary requirements. Lots of you have already completed this information for us. If you have not yet completed the information on the link we sent out please could you do so before the start of term.
The link is below:
Absence
If your child cannot come to school because they are unwell or for any other reason, you must contact the relevant Head of Year on one of the following numbers either by text or voicemail as early as possible.
If you wish to speak to one of our Heads of Year for anything other than attendance please contact the main school office on 0116 264 1080
Year 7 – Miss Price and Miss Toon – 07849 700 640
Medication in school
If your child requires medication in school we will require you to complete a Medication form which is available from reception or you can email us and we can send you a form to complete. You will need to bring in a copy of a hospital letter if the medication is long term and we can then work with you to set up a Healthcare Plan.
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator – SENDCo
We have a new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo) – Genevieve Lovegrove. Mrs Lovegrove was previously our Head of English. If you have any SEND questions please contact Mrs Lovegrove at glovegrove@wreake.bepschools.org
Working with us
We are keen to work together with parents & carers to ensure that your child can be the best that they can be and leave school as a well rounded individual ready to take on the next steps in their life. Please talk to us if you have concerns, the earlier we are aware of a problem the sooner we can try to help.
Your child’s tutor will be your first point of contact, or your child’s Head of Year if your Tutor is unable to help. Please contact admin@wreake.bepschools.org or contact the member of staff directly.
We look forward to working with you and your child over the coming year.
Kind regards
Tim Marston Headteacher
We have a new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo) – Genevieve Lovegrove. Mrs Lovegrove was previously our Head of English. If you have any SEND questions please contact Mrs Lovegrove at glovegrove@wreake.bepschools.org
Dear Parents & Carers of students in Years 8, 9, 10 & 11
We are really looking forward to having the students back in school for the start of the new term on Friday 1st September. It doesn’t matter how many times we have all done this, the first day back always brings with it some nervousness, even the staff get that funny feeling in their stomach! Fortunately, most of the time it only lasts till we all walk through the school doors and then you realise how good it feels to be back!
Below is some useful information to help you and your child prepare to be ready to start back to school.
New Academic Year 2023/2024
School re-opens for the new academic year on Friday 1st September. Students should be on the school site no later than 8.35am. School will finish at 3pm for all year groups.
Attached are the Term Dates for 2023/2024 and 2024/2025.
Arriving at School
Students should make their way to their Year group area when they arrive. Staff will be on hand to remind students where they need to be.
Bikes
If your child is coming to school on their bike please remind them about travelling at a safe speed through the car park and being mindful of cars and pedestrians. Students bringing bikes should ensure that they have a suitable lock. Bikes are left at the owners risk.
Please note that electric scooters and electric bikes are not permitted on site.
Uniform
The up to date Uniform list can also be found attached. Please ensure that your child is wearing the correct uniform and PE kit.
We strongly encourage all students arriving to school on a bike to wear a helmet and not to listen to music as they travel.
Over the holidays, if your child has chosen to have their nails done or had facial piercings please ensure that these are removed before we return to school as these are not part of our Uniform Policy and sanctions will be given.
Could we draw your attention to the PE Kit. During Covid we moved away from students bringing in PE kit to get changed; whilst this has had many benefits we feel that now is the time to move back to this practice. Students will need to bring their kit to school and get changed into their kit on days when they have PE on their timetable.
Students in years 8, 9, 10 & 11 – will need to check their timetables on Arbor to see if they have PE on the first day back. If students have PE on their timetable on 1st September they must bring their PE kit to school with them.
Please ensure that you label every item of uniform and PE kit clearly with your child’s name.
Timetables
Timetables are available on Arbor, see the tab marked Calendar. Students may find it useful to take a photo of the timetable on their phone so that it easy to access when they are preparing their equipment etc for the next day.
For parents the Arbor App is an easy way to see your child’s timetable. Attached is a reminder of how to use the Arbor App. The App doesn’t have as many functions as the Parent Portal which you have to access online but it is a useful tool for parents on the go.
Equipment
For students to be successful in their learning they need to come to school each day with the right equipment. Please ensure your child has a pencil case with the following items:
- A Casio scientific calculator for maths and science (Casio FX83GTX or the FX85GTX)
- Two pens (blue or black) for writing in your exercise books
- A pink pen for responding to teacher’s feedback
- Two HB pencils
- A ruler, rubber and pencil sharpener
- Coloured pencil crayons – not felt tips
- A pencil case
- A small note book to jot down things you need to remember
- A refillable water bottle
- Cashless Payment card
- A school bag that will fit all your equipment plus an A4 folder
- A reading book
Catering – Breaks and Lunchtimes
Please ensure that your child’s Cashless Payment account has sufficient funds on it for them to purchase any food they require at break or lunch. There are occasions when a student does not have sufficient funds and whilst we do try to contact home, given the time restrictions of the break periods this isn’t always possible. In addition, when you make your payment on Arbor Payments, it can take at least 30 mins to show up on our system. Where sufficient funds aren’t showing on our system, we will always offer what we call a ‘basic packed lunch’; this includes a sandwich or roll, fruit
or cake and a bottle of water. We do this to ensure that students do not go without food and drink but also it keeps the additional costs on your account to a minimum so that we aren’t encouraging further debt to be accrued.
We hope that you will continue to support us with this by topping up your child’s account in advance, ready for them to start back to school.
Please talk to us if you are finding things difficult.
Allergens & Dietary Requirements
You may recall being asked to complete a form for Allergens and Dietary requirements last year. We require you to do the same again this year please. Lots of you have already completed this information for us. If you have not yet completed the information on the link we sent out please could you do so before the start of term.
The link is below:
https://forms.office.com/e/Y17n0wSxpG
Absence
Year 7 – Miss Price and Miss Toon – 07849 700 640
Year 8 – Miss Connolley and Mrs Lawton – 07935 009 943
Year 9 – Mr Jones and Miss Alvarez- Gomez – 07849 700 636
Year 10 – Miss Murnin and Mrs Hirst – 07849 700 645
Year 11 – Mrs Myles – 07849 700 638
School Photographs
We have the school photographer in school on Thursday 7th September to take student photos. Don’t worry we will ensure that any students that have PE will have their photos taken before their PE lesson. Further information on how to order your photos will be sent out nearer the time.
We have students and staff with nut allergies, please be mindful of this and avoid bringing nuts into school.
|
If your child cannot come to school because they are unwell or for any other reason, you must |
|
contact the relevant Head of Year on one of the following numbers either by text or voicemail. |
|
If your child cannot come to school because they are unwell or for any other reason, you must |
|
contact the relevant Head of Year on one of the following numbers either by text or voicemail. |
If you wish to speak to one of our Heads of Year for anything other than attendance please contact the main school office on 0116 264 1080
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator – SENDCo
We have a new Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCo) – Genevieve Lovegrove. Mrs Lovegrove was previously our Head of English. If you have any SEND questions please contact Mrs Lovegrove at glovegrove@wreake.bepschools.org
Working with us
We are keen to work together with parents & carers to ensure that your child can be the best that they can be and leave school as a well rounded, individual ready to take on the next steps in their life. Please talk to us if you have concerns, the earlier we are aware of a problem the sooner we can try to help.
Your child’s tutor will be your first point of contact, or your child’s Head of Year if your Tutor is unable to help. Please contact admin@wreake.bepschools.org or contact the member of staff directly.
We look forward to working with you and your child over the coming year.
Kind regards
Tim Marston Headteacher
