Booklet 2016 - Tanbridge House School

to Tanbridge
House Schoo
l
“Exceptional Every Day”
Dear Parent / Carer
My colleagues and I would like to extend the warmest welcome to you and your child as you join Tanbridge House School and
embark on this tremendously exciting period in your child’s life.
This is a wonderful time to be joining Tanbridge House School. Our number one priority is to ensure that every single student
feels safe, cared for and secure, above all else. As a parent myself, I know that youngsters will only thrive if they can work
in this type of environment. You can be assured that under my leadership, these conditions will prevail. At Tanbridge House
School, we learn together and care for each other and this has been officially recognised through our prestigious Unicef Level
2 Rights Respecting School Award.
The fact that we are the most oversubscribed school in West Sussex gives the school additional confidence and momentum
and we continually strive to improve and ensure that opportunities – academic and extra-curricular – abound for your child.
Whilst it is my job to ensure that all students reach their full academic potential, it is my passion to ensure that students at
Tanbridge House continue to develop the social skills that allow them to become good citizens.
We aspire to be ‘Exceptional Every Day’ here at THS and I strongly believe that Tanbridge House School provides an outstanding
education for every student. This includes support and initiatives that are available to a number of identified groups, including
those with particular needs (SEND), Pupil Premium, and High Performing students – we work hard to ensure that a range of
different learning styles and needs are catered for.
I firmly believe that the best schools are underpinned by the strongest foundations. That is why at Tanbridge House School, I
will only accept the highest standards of care and student conduct. Our superb school culture and ethos does not happen by
accident; we must continue to work together in partnership with you and your child in order to maximise trust and ensure
that common goals are achieved. From this starting point, learning (curricular and extra-curricular) will grow and flourish.
I hope that you will spend some time going through this booklet so that you are fully aware of the opportunities and expectations
across the school. It is vital that we work together and communicate effectively across all strands of school life. Again, the
starting point is a basic two way process where your child can expect to be well taught by well-prepared teachers and in
return, all students come to school on time, fully equipped and ready to learn.
I hope that you will quickly take the opportunity to get to know your child’s form Tutor and Leader of Year so that personal
relationships with these key members of staff can be developed and maintained. I am also a highly visible presence around
the school and I continue to enjoy meeting both students and parents as they come to Tanbridge House. I look forward to
embarking on this exciting journey with you.
Mr Jules White, Headteacher
Preparing for your child’s first day
The School Day
School Uniform
We oversee a formal supervision programme from 8:25am
and students are expected to arrive from 8:30am. If
students require an earlier arrival time, they are allowed
on site (but not into the buildings) from 8am. Please be
aware that this is entirely at your own risk.
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8:40am Morning Bell
All students must be in their tutor bases by 8:45am
8:45 - 8:50 Registration
If students arrive after 8:50am they must report to Student
Reception to sign in
Lesson 1
9:55 - 10:55 Lesson 2
10:55 - 11:25
First break
11:30 - 12:30 Lesson 3
12:30 - 1:30 Lesson 4
1:30 - 1:55 Lunch break
2:00 - 2:20 Registration / Tutor Time or Assembly
2:25 - 3:25 Lesson 5
3:25pm End of the school day
Students are allowed to eat during break times in designated
areas. The school canteen offers the following services:
8:15am - 8:40am
10:55am - 11:25am
1:30pm - 1:55pm
Students may have a clearly named bottle of water with
them in lessons - several drinking fountains are situated
around the school.
Equipment
Students are expected to have the following basic items of
equipment with them for all of their lessons:
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Student Planner (provided by the school)
Pens (black ink only)
Pencils, eraser and sharpener
Pencil case
School bag
Scientific calculator
Ruler
Earphones (IT lessons)
Navy blue blazer with school logo
White school shirt
School tie (available in house colours)
Standard plain tailored grey trousers or plain grey knee
length skirt (girls). Skirts must not be jersey material.
No other colour/fashion/skinny styles are permitted,
including additional belts/buttons etc
White socks, natural or navy blue tights (girls)
Dark coloured plain socks (boys)
Black leather/vinyl school shoes (no trainers, plimsolls,
canvas shoes, sling backs, stilettos, boots or high heels)
Navy blue sweater with school logo (optional – only to
be worn under blazer in cold weather)
Plain black or grey belt (optional)
Plain, dark coloured coat (optional)
Plain, black scarves may be worn to and from school
during inclement weather (optional)
A wristwatch and one small, plain gold or silver ear stud
per ear may be worn. No other jewellery or piercings are
acceptable.
Girls may wear discreet make-up only in Years 10 and 11.
Nail varnish is not permitted.
Hair must be of natural colour. Extreme styles and brightly
dyed hair are not permitted. Long hair (collar length or
longer) must be managed in such a way so as to be safe and
tidy. Hair must be no shorter than a No 2.
PE Kit
Our PE kit is the same for boys and girls:
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Plain navy shorts (shadow stripe)
White polo shirt with school logo
Navy rugby shirt with school logo
Navy blue tracksuit bottoms (worn at the discretion of
the PE teacher)
Long navy hockey socks
Short white socks
Football boots
Training shoes
Shin pads (optional)
Hair band/tie (for long hair)
Gum shield (optional)
Sports bra (optional)
Uniform Stockists
Broadbridges, 6 Piries Place, Horsham RH12 1EH
01403 259 620 www.broadbridges.co.uk
Osbornes (LOZ Design Ltd), Enterprise House, Foundry
Lane, Horsham RG13 5PX
01403 262 453 www.rjosborne.com/Tanbridge
Textbooks and specialised equipment will be issued on loan.
Students will be required to pay for any loss or damage to
those items.
If you are unsure about any of the information above regarding school uniform, equipment, or any other information contained
in this booklet, please contact the school in the first instance for clarification.
Key Contacts and Term Dates
School Contact Details
Absence
Telephone: 01403 263 628
24 Hour Absence Line: 01403 248 111
If your child is absent or late for any reason, please phone
the 24 hour Absence Line stating your child’s full name,
Year and Tutor Group, your relationship to the student and
the reason for absence.
Email: office@ths.uk.net
(Email addresses for individual members of staff can be
found on the school website)
Website: www.tanbridge-house-sch.co.uk
Address: Tanbridge House School, Farthings Hill, Guildford
Road, Horsham, West Sussex, RH12 1SR
Key Contacts & Support
Student Reception
This area assists students with signing in and out, lost
property and access to the Medical Suite. Parents should
collect their child from Student Reception when signing
them out during school hours.
Medical Suite
The Medical Suite is staffed by a qualified first aider. If you
would like to discuss any medical matters concerning your
child, please see the member of staff here or contact the
school.
If your child requires special arrangements for medication
to be given at school, please complete the Authorisation
for the Administration of Medication Form (available on our
website under About the School/School Policies/Medicines
in School Policy). This form is to be handed in with the
medication to the Medical Suite.
Tutors, Leaders of Year and Pastoral Assistants
Your child’s tutor will normally be your first point of contact
for any concerns you may have. Tutors can be contacted
via your child’s planner or email. Further support can be
provided by contacting the relevant Pastoral Assistant or
Leader of Year. Please contact your child’s class teacher if
the matter relates to a particular teaching subject.
School Counsellors
A trained School Counsellor is available to students
who require their support. Please contact your Pastoral
Assistant or Leader of Year if you would like to arrange for
your child to see the Counsellor.
School Communications
Tanbridge House uses services called Schoolcomms and
School Gateway to communicate with parents/carers via
app, text and email. In the event of an Emergency closure,
you will be notified as soon as possible via the school
website, Schoolcomms (email) and School Gateway (app).
You can also access a wide range of protected information
related to your child via the School Gateway app, such as
attendance, achievement and their timetable. Full details
on how to access School Gateway will be provided when
your child starts at Tanbridge House.
It is important that parents contact the 24 Hour
Absence Line on 01403 248 111 before 9:00am.
Please note that if a student signs in late and we have not
received any notification, a break time detention will be
issued.
If a student needs to leave school during the day for an
appointment (eg medical, college interview) they must
provide a signed letter from their parent/carer and then
have it signed by their Leader of Year or Pastoral Assistant
(or other senior member of staff). This letter must then be
handed in at Student Reception when signing out. Students
must sign in and out at Student Reception to be accounted
for in case of emergency.
In accordance with Department for Education regulations,
Headteachers may not grant leave of absence during
term time unless there are ‘exceptional circumstances’.
Therefore, Parents are requested not to arrange family
holidays in term time.
Term Dates
Autumn Term 2016
INSET Day
Monday 5 September
Integration Day Tuesday 6 September
(Year 7 only)
First Day
Wednesday 7 September
(All students)
Half Term
Monday 24 October to Friday 28 October
Last Day
Friday 16 December
INSET Days
Monday 5 September
Spring Term 2017
First Day
Tuesday 3 January
Half Term
Monday 20 February to Friday 24 February
Last Day
Friday 7 April
Summer Term 2017
First Day
Monday 24 April
Half Term
Monday 29 May to Friday 2 June
Last Day
Tuesday 25 July
INSET Days
Monday 5 September has been confirmed as an INSET
Day. Further dates will be available on our website once
confirmed. See www.tanbridge-house-sch.co.uk/currentparents/term-dates.
Teaching and Learning
Teaching and Learning
Performance Review & Target Levels
Our curriculum and teaching provision ensures that each
student is able to access work that is challenging and
motivating. Each student is expected to work hard to
achieve their personal best. Please see our Teaching and
Learning Policy on our website for further information.
Teachers review the performance of individual students three
times a year in performance reviews. These show how students
are progressing and include targets for improvement.
Teaching Groups
Key Stage 3 Year Groups are divided into three timetable
blocks called T, H and S. The ability spread in each block
is designed to be as close to identical as possible. When
students arrive at the beginning of Year 7, they are initially
taught in tutor groups for most subjects. During the course
of the first term, students will be set according to ability
for most of their lessons.
Students study a two year Key Stage 3, before making
decisions about their Key Stage 4 subject preferences at
the end of Year 8.
Homework
Students are given a Student Planner in which to record
their homework. Students will complete one learning
homework per week in core subjects and one per fortnight
in foundation subjects in KS3. Additional tasks will also be
set.
KS4 students will receive at least one piece of homework
every week in every subject. Homework is often linked to
coursework and assessments. Therefore, some homework
may span a longer period of time and these will not be set
as separate tasks. Homework will take the form of a variety
of tasks, as appropriate for the subject. Structured learning
reviews will also form a key element of homework.
Tasks and deadlines for completion are set by teachers
and students are responsible for writing this information
in their planner. Students’ homework is also recorded on
the e-planner. Students can log-in to monitor their own
individual tasks by entering their school email address.
You can support your child with homework by providing
suitable conditions in which they can work, setting regular
times during which homework is done, checking the
e-planner, signing the Student Planner every week and
giving reasonable help with difficult tasks.
Tanbridge Learning Portal (TLP)
All students can find learning and revision resources for
every subject through the new Tanbridge Learning Portal
(TLP). Details of how to access the TLP will be made
available at the start of the academic year.
Useful School Terms for Parents
A glossary of common words and terms that we frequently
use in school can be found on the school website under:
Current Parents/Useful Terms/Glossary.
Grades from Outstanding (1), Good (2), Inconsistent (3) and
Not Adequate (4) are awarded in a range of categories. These
grades are based not only on individual pieces of work, but on
the effort shown in all areas over a period of time.
In their first term students will be assessed through Cognitive
Ability Tests (CATS) and teacher assessed pieces of work. Early
in the spring term students will then be assigned an expected
outcome to GCSE grades 9-1 for the end of Year 11. This will be
based upon KS2 prior attainment and assessed work during the
first time. As students enter KS4 in Year 9, refined GCSE targets
will be issued based upon performance throughout KS3.
Target grades will be reviewed to reflect the student’s actual
performance and need for further challenge. They should not be
considered a ceiling to performance.
Marking and Assessment
Each term:
• Students will be provided with a Knowledge Organiser from
each subject that summarises the term’s core content
and homework tasks, allowing students and parents to
personalise their own homework timetable.
• Weekly (core subjects) and fortnightly (foundation
subjects) learning homeworks will be set in relation to this
core content. These tasks will be shared with students and
parents at the start of each term on the online studentplanner, alongside support and challenge tasks.
• Learning homeworks will be assessed by means of 10 minute
in-lesson tests, marked in a variety of ways including self
and peer assessment against success criteria, and recorded
by the teacher.
The above is the minimum requirement for homework tasks.
However, some subjects may set additional or different tasks
to the above – these will be recorded on the electronic student
planner. Where underperformance is apparent, additional
homework may be set at the discretion of the teacher, along
with out of lesson intervention.
Students will complete four substantial pieces of work each
term in Core subjects, and three in Foundation subjects:
• Two extended pieces of writing in core subjects, one in
foundation subjects
• One structured Learning Review- a piece of work designed
to help students reflect on previous work.
• One assessment
The extended writing and assessments will be formatively
marked by the teacher, and may include:
• Success criteria
• Redrafting
• Targets to close the learning gap
• Opportunities for students to respond to comments
Results of assessments will be reported to parents, shared with
students and used by teachers to identify areas of strength and
areas of weakness. This will help to inform future planning,
homework and intervention.
Safety and Security
Safety at School
ParentPay® / Money in School
We do everything we can to avoid accidents, injuries and
damage in school. If students see anything they think
is unsafe, they should report it to a member of staff
immediately.
We use a totally cashless payment system called ParentPay®
for school meals, trips and resources which involves the
use of online payments and biometric registration for the
canteen.
Safety & Security Online
Online safety and security is very important at Tanbridge
House School and we have an Acceptable Use of ICT Policy
that all students are required to follow. This policy can be
found in the Student Planner and on our website under:
About the School/School Policies.
All new Year 7 students will be registered automatically
unless you have opted out. All other new students can
register by completing a form available from Community
Reception.
Further advice/information about staying safe online can
be found on our website under:
Current Parents/Advice and Resources/Online Safety
Child Protection / Special Educational Needs and
Disabilities Policies
We work hard to make sure that every child is kept safe and
secure at school and child protection is considered in all
aspects of school life. Parents can view a copy of our Child
Protection Policy and our SEND Policy on our website under:
About the School/School Policies
Student Well-being
The well-being of our students is of the utmost importance
and we have a strong Pastoral team in school, as well as
links to external support, who are available to help students
and families with any issues they may be facing. You can
find useful links on our website for students and parents
who may require further support, under:
Current Parents/Advice and Resources/Student Well-being
Responsibility for Learning (R4L)
R4L refers to our behaviour policy and systems that
recognise and reward good behaviour and progress by our
students in all aspects of school life. R4L also deals with
inappropriate behaviour choices in a firm and consistent
way by imposing sanctions (if appropriate) and offering
support and intervention personalised to each student.
Details of our R4L protocols are contained in the Student
Planner and the full behaviour policy can also be found on
the school website.
Personal Belongings
Student lockers are allocated in the first few days of the
academic year. A deposit of £5 is required which will be
refunded upon safe return of the locker key.
All belongings should be clearly marked with the student’s
name, especially coats and all items in the PE kit. If a
student mislays any property at school they should check
Lost Property at Student Reception. Lost PE and games
equipment is stored in the PE department.
We recommend that students refrain from bringing
valuables into school. However students are permitted to
bring mobile phones/tablets (such as iPads) into school but
they must not be used during lesson times, unless instructed
by the teacher. Please note that the school accepts no
liability for loss, damage or theft of personal property on
our premises.
If students do need to bring money into school (in excess
of £10) they (or their parent/carer) may bring it to the
Finance Office for safekeeping.
School Travel
Bus
If your child has applied for a WSCC bus pass, it will be
distributed in school within the first few weeks of the
autumn term. Until then, your child can use their County
Transport authorisation letter in place of their pass,
which should be sent to your home before the start of the
academic year. The County School Transport Co-ordination
Group can be contacted on 01243 753 530 or by email at
school.transport@westsussex.gov.uk
Bicycle
Students may cycle to school if you give them permission
to do so. Students are not allowed to ride their bicycles
once they enter the school site. Bicycles must be locked
securely in the cycle racks provided. We do not accept
responsibility for bicycles brought onto school premises.
We strongly recommend cyclists wear a safety helmet,
reflective clothing and bicycles are roadworthy.
Car
Students can be dropped off/collected by car in the school
drive. However, this is an extremely busy area, especially
at the end of the school day and we advise you arrange
collection off site. Please ensure that you observe all signs,
road markings, and speed limits (5mph). Please do not park
in the bus lane or wait in areas marked with yellow lines.
Further Information
Further Information
Our school website contains a great deal of information for
both current and prospective parents. Please visit
www.tanbridge-house-sch.co.uk
If you cannot find the information you require online,
please contact the school and we will be happy to help.
Tanbridge House School
Farthings Hill, Guildford Road, Horsham,
West Sussex, RH12 1SR
Headteacher: Mr Jules White, BA (Hons)
Telephone: 01403 263628 Fax: 01403 211830
Email: office@ths.uk.net
Website: www.tanbridge-house-sch.co.uk