Information for Parents Booklet 2015-2016

Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
Information for Parents
2015-16
0
Contents
Page
2
Welcome letter
3
Who’s Who
4
Contact with School
5
Student Support Information
8
Monitoring Progress
14
Extra Curricular Activities and Trips
15
Student Leadership
16
Attendance and Illness
18
School Term and Holiday Pattern
19
Uniform and Equipment
22
ICT and Mobile Technology
23
Emergency Closure Procedures
24
Catering
25
Pupil Premium
26
Music
28
Acceptable Network and Internet Use Statement
29
Home / School Agreement
1
Dear Parent/carer,
Welcome to a new term at CRGS
We trust that you had a relaxing summer break and your son/daughter has returned to school
happily and settled into their new classes.
We are extremely proud of the climate for learning at CRGS. Students present themselves
well, respect the rights of others and behave well in our school. However we also believe it is
important to regularly remind students of the principles which underpin our school community.
During the first week of term all students were shown a presentation by their form tutor,
outlining our expectations about all aspects of the school day, including during journeys to and
from school.
Please take some time to look at the information which is included in this booklet and talk to
your son/daughter to ensure they are clear about the content. We have also included a visual
summary of our Rewards and Sanctions procedures.
We firmly believe that through being clear, fair and open about our expectations we can
maintain our school as a place where students and staff feel safe, work well together, learn
and achieve.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the ongoing support you give to our
school and look forward to welcoming you to an event in the near future,
With best wishes,
Mrs J Child
Mrs C Reeves
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Who's Who
In this section we will introduce some of the key people at CRGS.
Senior Leadership Team
The Senior Leadership Team has overall responsibility for the strategic direction of the school.
They are all involved in the day-to-day running of each site and are supported by the Head of
Year at Chatburn Road and Senior Tutors at York Street.
Name
Mrs J Child
Role
Headteacher
Mrs C S Reeves
Deputy Headteacher
Head of Main School
Deputy Headteacher
Head of Sixth Form
Assistant Headteacher
Main School
Assistant Headteacher
Sixth Form
Assistant Headteacher
Director of Studies
Bursar
Mr J L Powell
Mrs C George
Mrs K Johnston
Ms J Renold
Mr A McKinnell
Based at
Chatburn Road and York
Street
Chatburn Road
York Street
Chatburn Road
York Street
Chatburn Road and York
Street
York Street
Main School Team
Main School Team ensures students make progress throughout their time at CRGS in terms
of both their academic and personal development. Heads of Year work closely with students
to celebrate success and provide any support needed by their Year group. Heads of Year
remain with their year group throughout their time at CRGS.
Name
Mrs L Hunter
Mr J Wootton
Mr A K Carson
Mrs J Graham
Mrs J Buckley
Mrs H Clarkson
Role during 2015-16
Head of Year 7
Head of Year 8
Head of Year 9
Head of Year 10
Head of Year 11
Special Needs Co-ordinator
Form Tutors
All students belong to a form group and remain in their form group throughout their time at
CRGS. Form groups and form tutors are an important support network for students. Form
tutors regularly check student planners, monitor students’ wellbeing and encourage
participation in the wider life of the school. Form tutors are the first point of contact for students
and can be communicated with through your son/daughter’s school planner. If you have any
questions or concerns that cannot be addressed through your son/daughter’s form tutor then
you should contact their Head of Year in the first instance.
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Contact with School
Useful contact details for Main School are as follows:
Main School telephone
01200 423379
Main School email
mainschool@crgs.org.uk
School website
www.crgs.org.uk
When you contact the school by telephone your call will most likely be answered by one of the
members of staff who work in the office at Main School. They are:
Mrs A Holt
Mrs K Kinney
Mrs T Thompson
The office team will direct your call to the most appropriate person if they are not able to
provide an immediate answer. Similarly, they will forward any emails received to the most
appropriate member of staff.
Email
We use PARS to email letters, newsletters, notices etc. to parents. Feedback from parents is
very positive as it means they are regularly kept informed and updated with information
concerning their son/daughter. We currently only use the email facility but may extend the
service in the future to text messages.
Our email provider is registered with the Data Protection Registrar and guarantees that all
information supplied will be kept confidential. There is no advertising associated with the
scheme.
If you do not wish us to pass your email address and mobile phone number on to Email
provider please inform the Headteacher in writing.
We do hope that you find this service useful. If you have any further queries about this service,
please do not hesitate to contact the school.
Change of Details
We do understand that contact details can change during the course of the school year and
would ask that you notify us of any changes as soon as possible so that we can update our
records. When we have to contact a parent during the school day we will start with the first
named contact and try the numbers we have stored on our system. If we are not able to get
hold of this contact we will then try the second named contact and so on. Please bear this in
mind when you are listing your contact details.
School Calendar
A calendar of key events throughout the school year can be found on the school website. This
also contains terms dates for the year.
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Student Support Information
PSHE and Citizenship
The PSHE and Citizenship provision at CRGS was comprehensively reviewed and refreshed
for 2014-15. The programme of study for PSHE and Citizenship includes form tutor teaching
on a Tuesday morning and discrete teaching of PSHE by specialist subject teachers. Topics
covered include Careers, Economic Wellbeing, Healthy Lifestyles and Citizenship education
throughout Years 7-11. A full programme of study is available upon request.
Within the PSHE and Citizenship programmes the Healthy Relationships topic theme is
revisited every year. This includes three discrete blocks of Sex and Relationships Education
(SRE). In Year 7 students study a topic on Reproduction, this unit forms part of the Science
National Curriculum. In Year 9 students build on their understanding of relationships by
completing Sex and Relationships Education as part of their Technology rotation which is
delivered by a PSHE specialist. In Year 11 students extend their learning to ensure they have
a good understanding of positive relationships and how to safeguard their wellbeing.
Parents and carers have the right to withdraw their children from all, or part, of sex and
relationships education, which is not part of the National Curriculum. Parents will be notified
in writing of the programme while their son/daughter is in Year 8 and reminded of their right to
withdraw their children. Parents and carers are encouraged to discuss their decisions with
school staff at the earliest opportunity. If a child is withdrawn they will be provided with
alternative work for the duration of the lessons.
Counselling Service and the School Nurse
Through “Jigsaw” the school offers a confidential counselling service to all students. If a
student would like to speak to the counsellor regarding anything which is worrying or
concerning them, they should ask for an appointment at the Main Office or speak to their form
tutor/Head of Year.
A member of the School Nurse team runs a weekly drop-in on Wednesday lunchtime. The
School Nurse is specifically trained to support children, young people and families on a wide
range of issues. If your son/daughter would like to see the School Nurse please contact the
Main Office.
Both the School Nurse and the School Counsellor are confidential services. They do not
normally share information with school staff unless they are concerned about the wellbeing of
a student. All students in school are encouraged to share their problems with other trusted
adults including their parents/carers.
Mentoring Programme
When students join Clitheroe Royal Grammar School they will have already been successful
academically. Moving to secondary school is a big step for any student. Students may feel
increased pressure to succeed because they have previously been recognised as being
academically able. As students move through school they will find that their time management
and organisational skills are tested and they will need to learn to cope with the increasing
demands of their studies. They will also begin to work towards GCSEs in a range of subjects
and will need to balance study with other activities to keep them healthy such as sport, music,
hobbies and time to relax.
The mentoring programme aims to provide students with a short period of additional support
from a named member of staff. Mentoring helps students to:
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 Build confidence and self-esteem
 Cope with academic demands, for instance if they are not on track to achieve their
target Levels/Grades
 Develop or maintain excellent attitude to learning
 Identify how they learn best and support them to develop effective study skills
 Cope when they are facing challenges
Academic mentoring involves setting goals and working to achieve them. Students choose
targets to work towards and their mentor will support them to make small changes that help
them to develop as a learner. Academic mentoring usually lasts 8-12 weeks and students
would meet with their mentor once or twice a week. Students are often identified for academic
mentoring following an interim report.
Students who are not thriving in school for any reason may benefit from pastoral mentoring.
Mentors are carefully chosen for students to ensure that they can support them to build
confidence and resilience to cope with challenges.
If you are interested in learning more about the mentoring programme please speak to your
son/daughter’s Head of Year.
Study Skills Programme
Throughout the year Study Skills sessions are offered at lunchtimes, these are advertised in
the library. Study Skills are taught through PSHE and Citizenship lessons at the start of Year
7 and again ahead of each formal assessment period. There are also regular programmes of
organisational skills support and handwriting support sessions. If you think these would benefit
your son/daughter then please contact their Head of Year.
Anti-bullying Policy
We pride ourselves on being a caring school community where students work co-operatively
and positively together. We want to ensure that all students feel safe and secure in school and
we take all reported incidents of bullying very seriously. Your son/daughter’s form tutor will
explain the school’s Anti-bullying policy during the first week of term, ensuring all students
know what to do if they experience or witness any such incidents.
Confidentiality Policy
School staff will always encourage students to discuss any concerns that they may have about
their health or wellbeing with parents/carers. Staff recognise that the responsibility for the
welfare of students rests with parents/carers and it is important where ever possible to support
students in communicating with parents/carers about any issues that may be affecting them.
There may be circumstances in which breaking the confidentiality of a student may place them
at greater risk or may prevent them from accessing necessary treatment, without which their
physical or emotional health would be adversely affected. In these circumstances,
confidentiality may be maintained. Full details of the criteria for decisions about confidentiality
are available in the Confidentiality Policy. A summary of this policy is given on the following
page.
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Confidentiality, Young People, Families and Schools – Information for Parents/Carers
The Law!
As a matter of general principle, any
personal information acquired in the
course of working with children and
families should be regarded as
confidential.
The appropriate sharing of information within
school and, at times, with others is an essential
element in ensuring the safety and well-being of
children and young people.
Will I be told everything that
my child tells an adult in
school?
The safety, well-being and protection of
children and young people are the
paramount considerations in all decisions
that the school workforce will make
regarding the issue of confidentiality.
The general principle is that the child’s confidentiality must be respected. So if a child discloses
something to an adult and asks them to keep it confidential, the adult will do so. Generally only
if the young person is at significant risk will confidentiality be broken e.g. the safeguarding of
the child’s welfare overrides the need to keep the information confidential.
Can my child consent to any
sort of health treatment or
access services without my
knowledge?
People working with young people will assess if a young
person is ‘competent to consent’. If a young person is
‘competent’ the adult cannot inform their parents against
their wishes. Generally young people age 12 years and
below cannot consent, 13 – 16 year olds will assessed on
an individual basis, over 16’s can consent.
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) endorses the view that
children and young people should be entitled to confidential support alongside safeguarding
them from harm.
Be assured that at all times children and young
people disclosing personal information to an adult
will be encouraged to talk to their parent or carer.
The adult in school will offer to help them to do this.
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Monitoring Progress
We understand and appreciate how important it is to monitor the progress being made by each
student. Each subject teacher will do this on a regular basis through the assessment of work
done in class and at home, but we also have more formal systems in place throughout the
year. We will give you more information about these as they occur but thought that a general
overview might be useful at this stage.
Interim Report
At the end of the Autumn and Spring terms each student receives
a summary of their attainment and attitude to learning. For each
subject there is an end of KS3 National Curriculum target level, a
level that the teacher thinks the student is currently working at and
an Attitude to Learning grade for classwork and homework.
Parents’ Evening
This gives you the opportunity to meet briefly with each subject
teacher to discuss your son/daughter’s progress. We would
encourage your son/daughter to attend the meetings with you.
Report
We produce a full written report for each student once each year.
This contains all of the information on the interim report, along with
a short written comment from each subject teacher.
Homework
Homework has an important role to play in helping students to develop into independent
learners. Students tell us that the range and depth of work increases when they join CRGS
and as they progress through the school. Homework will be set in accordance with the
homework timetable that will be issued at the start of term. It is always difficult to give a
definitive guide to the amount of homework set but we would anticipate your son/daughter
spending approximately 1-1.5 hours on homework each evening. Sometimes longer tasks
lasting several weeks may be set in certain subjects and it is important that students put aside
some time each week to ensure good progress with these. Homework tasks should be
recorded by your son/daughter in the planner and teachers will give sufficient time for this to
be done at some stage during their lesson. We would be grateful for your support in helping
to ensure that homework tasks are completed and handed in by the deadline set. Checking
and signing your son/daughter’s planner each week is an effective way of supporting good
study habits.
Rewards and Sanctions
Our rewards and sanctions system is based on the principle of encouraging good behaviour
and effort. Merit points may be awarded for a good piece of work, excellent effort, an act of
citizenship or involvement in a particular activity. Merit Certificates will be presented when the
number of merit points passes the particular threshold required.
Failure to adhere to the Schools’ Code of Conduct may result in a penalty point being given.
Examples include arriving late to lessons, failing to complete homework, poor behaviour or
effort in lessons, incorrect uniform etc. Penalty points are recorded electronically. Five penalty
points result in a School Detention. These take place on a Thursday evening from 3.45 pm to
4.30 pm and you will be given at least 24 hours’ notice so that you can make the necessary
arrangements for your son/daughter to get home safely. We encourage all students to work
hard to avoid collecting penalty points and many are able to do this successfully.
At the end of each term students who have not been given a penalty point during the term are
recognised and rewarded with a special event/award.
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Extra Curricular Activities and Trips
Extra Curricular Activities
There are many extra curricular activities which students can take part in and we would
encourage them to take full advantage of these opportunities. We are fortunate in having such
a talented and committed staff who give so generously of their time to support students in
activities outside the classroom. There are team activities, individual pursuits, trips and
residential visits covering many aspects of the curriculum in a way that will enrich the learning
of our students. A current programme of activities can be found on the school website as an
indication of the range of activities on offer. There will be an updated programme available in
September. Many of the clubs do take place at lunchtime because so many students travel
to and from school by bus. There are some activities taking place after school and we do ask
that you make the necessary arrangements for your son/daughter to get home safely
afterwards. Please note that the school buses leave at the end of the school day so it is
important that you make separate transport arrangements for your son/daughter if they are
involved in an after-school activity.
Trips, Visits and other Activities out of School
With this booklet you will find a copy of a letter and generic risk assessment which will cover
most of the activities that take place out of school. To save sending the same risk assessment
home several times each year before a trip or visit we ask that you sign one risk assessment
at the start of the year to cover trips and visits. Any residential visits, trips abroad or any
activity involving a 'high' risk will have a separate risk assessment that we will ask you to sign
when you give your permission for your son/daughter to take part in the activity.
Dress code for non-uniform days and off-site visits
At all times students should uphold the high standards expected of them as members of the
Clitheroe Royal Grammar School community. This includes maintaining an appearance that
is in line with the expectations of a workplace even on occasions when school uniform is not
a requirement. Students are reminded that school is a place of work including when education
is taking place off-site and what constitutes appropriate dress within a workplace rightly differs
from how they may dress at home or during personal leisure activities. Students will find that
these expectations will apply not only during their time at CRGS but into their professional
lives beyond school.
Guidelines:
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
Items of clothing unsuitable for non-uniform days and off-site visits include spaghetti
straps, any items bearing offensive logos or slogans, cropped tops that expose midriffs
and short skirts or very short shorts.
Hair must be neat, tidy and of a style acceptable to the school, avoiding extremes.
The only jewellery allowed is one small plain stud, per lower earlobe.
Make up is not allowed.
Health and safety requirements in specific subject areas should continue to be
observed including tying hair back for practical lessons and wearing appropriate
protective clothing. PE kit should be worn as per a normal school day.
On visits students should wear clothing that is suitable for the activities they will be
participating in, following additional guidance supplied by visit leaders where
appropriate.
Due to changes in fashions it is difficult to produce an exhaustive list of what is and isn’t
acceptable but a general guide should be to consider whether dress is appropriate for a
workplace. If there is any doubt then caution would be advised.
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Student Leadership
Students at CRGS are encouraged to participate fully in the life of the school. This can include
taking on leadership responsibilities within the student body. There is a range of opportunities
open to students from Year 7 to Year 11. Student leaders, in any capacity, are ambassadors
for the school and enrich the school environment for all students.
School Council
Every form group is represented on School Council through School Council Representatives.
School Council is a democratic forum for student voice run by the School Council Committee,
an elected Committee responsible for developing the role of students within school decision
making. Students in Year 10 and 11 can stand for election to the Committee.
Charity Committee
Year 10 Charity Committee co-ordinates student fundraising activity within school. This
includes organising and running charitable events and non-uniform days. Charity Committee
are a thriving group, each year the interest in positions on Charity Committee far exceeds the
number of posts available. Students in Year 9 who are interested in becoming a member of
Charity Committee are given information about the selection process in the summer term.
Sports Leaders
Year 8 and 10 students are awarded Sports Colours for contributions to school sport. Many
students participate in the excellent range of sports teams and clubs on offer at CRGS. To
support staff with the running of teams and encourage the development of coaching and
leadership skills there are opportunities for students with appropriate experience to take on
roles as Sports Leaders. Sports Leaders run training sessions, take part in officiating matches
and develop wider skills in the promotion of school sport and healthy lifestyles.
Year 11 Student Leadership Team
Students entering Year 11 are eligible to hold positions within the Student Leadership Team.
This includes the following leadership positions:



Prefects
Peer Mentors
Teaching and Learning Ambassadors
All Year 11 Student Leaders have received training specific to their role and are available to
support Year 7 students with transition.
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Attendance and Illness
National data has established a strong link between good attendance and good progress. The
relationship between good attendance and achievement is also reflected in Clitheroe Royal
Grammar School GCSE results. Most of our students are rightly proud of their excellent
records of attendance and punctuality. We do appreciate that there may be occasions when
your son/daughter is too ill to come to school and when this happens we would appreciate you
contacting the Main School Office so that we know what is happening. This helps us to keep
accurate records and also means that we do not have to contact you during the school day to
ask about your son/daughter's absence from school. Please telephone the school as soon as
you know that your son/daughter will not be attending and no later than 9.00 am since this is
when we close our registers. This should be done for each day of the absence unless we
have been informed that he or she will be absent for a specific number of days. It is possible
that the school answer machine may be in operation when you ring. If this happens please
leave the following information:





Your name and relationship to the student
Your son/daughter’s name and tutor group
The reason for the absence
The expected date of return
A telephone number in case we need to contact you
If your son/daughter is absent and we have not heard from you we will contact you either by
telephone or in writing. Please note that we cannot accept telephone calls from students
telling us that they will be absent!
If your son/daughter is going to be absent from school for any reason other than illness it is
important that you obtain permission from the school beforehand. Failure to do this could
result in the absence being recorded as unauthorised, which in serious cases can result in the
case being referred to the Local Authority attendance team. This is particularly the case with
respect to holidays taken during term time.
We would strongly discourage this since it does have a negative impact on learning. You
must seek permission from Mrs Child (Headteacher) before making any holiday arrangements
and be aware that only the Headteacher can authorise such absence and will only do so in
exceptional circumstances. Recent results data shows that students with attendance of
97% or more, on average, achieve one grade more in each GCSE compared to those with
attendance of 90% or less.
Appointments during the school day
If at all possible we would ask that any medical or dental appointments be arranged outside
school hours. If your son/daughter does need to leave school at any time during the day for
a doctor's or dentist's appointment it is important that they bring a written note in advance
signed by you requesting permission to leave the premises. Before leaving they must report
to the school office so that they can sign out of school and they should report to the office on
their return so that we can sign them in. This helps us to know who is on site in case of an
emergency evacuation.
Illness at school
We hope that your son/daughter will never become ill during the school day but should this
happen they should report to the Main School Office. In all but the most minor cases a member
of our office team will telephone to inform you of the situation and determine the most
appropriate course of action. For this reason please support us by ensuring that we are
notified of any change in contact details. This will avoid any unnecessary delay in contacting
you. It is important that we are always able to contact somebody during the school day and
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we would ask you to make the necessary arrangements to ensure that this is always possible.
If your son or daughter is too ill to remain in school we will ask you to come to collect them to
take them home. Please ensure that there is a family member or friend who can do this if you
are not available.
Medicines
Students who need to access regular medication during the school day will have a Care Plan
in place and their medication will be stored securely in the Main Office. If your son/daughter is
temporarily taking some medication, please ensure they carry only enough for the school day
and that it is stored securely in their bag or blazer. If you would like advice about any aspect
of medical care or medication, please contact Mrs Kinney at the Main Office.
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School Term and Holiday Pattern
2015/2016
Approved by Governors 20th October, 2014
Autumn Term 2015
Inset
Tuesday 1 September 2015
Years 7 and 12
Wednesday 2 September 2015
Years 8 – 11
Thursday 3 September 2015
Year 13 (foll w/exp)
Monday 7 September 2015
Inset
Friday 23 October 2015
Mid Term Closure
Monday 26 October - Friday 30 October 2015 (inclusive)
Closure after school
on
Friday 18 December 2015 @1.05pm
Number of openings
72 and 2 Inset
Spring Term 2016
Re-open on
Monday 4 January 2016
Mid Term Closure
Monday 15 February - Friday 19 February 2016 (inclusive)
Closure after school
for students on
Thursday 24 March 2016
Number of openings
54
Summer Term 2016
Re-open on
Monday 11 April 2016
May Day Closure
Monday 2 May 2016
Mid Term Closure
Monday 30 May - Friday 3 June 2016 (inclusive)
Closure after school
on
Friday 15 July 2016 @ 1.05pm
Inset
Monday 18 July 2016 – Professional Development Day
Number of openings
64 and 1 Inset
Total Number of Openings – 190
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Uniform and Equipment
The school is proud of its traditions and believes that school uniform encourages a pride in
appearance. Parents are responsible for providing the uniform and ensuring it is properly
worn. Uniform must be worn for travel to and from school. A uniform list can be found below.
We would like to ask for your support in encouraging your son/daughter to meet our high
expectations with regard to school uniform.
Stockists:
Gray’s, 68 Northgate, Blackburn and 31 Castle Street, Clitheroe (www.graysblackburn.co.uk)
Ribble Valley Supplies, Harris Chambers, Well Terrace, Clitheroe
Main School Uniform (Years 7 - 11)
The current uniform requirements are as follows:
Girls
Blazer
Jumper
Tie
Skirt
Socks
Trousers
Shirt
Shoes
Aprons
Boys
Blazer
Jumper
Tie
Socks
Trousers
Shirt
Shoes
Aprons
Royal blue with school crest.
Optional and only to be worn with blazer. Royal blue with school crest.
Official Main School clip-on tie (royal blue, red and gold). Must be worn at
all times.
Dark grey Trutex stitch-down pleated skirt code GPB-HGY, knee length.
White ankle socks or plain, opaque, black tights.
Smart plain black tailored straight legged trousers, worn with black socks
or plain, opaque, black tights. Denim, leather, velvet, corduroy, jeans,
patch-pocketed, leggings, boot-leg, flares or skin-tight trousers are not
acceptable. Belts must be plain black with a maximum width of 2.5 cms.
Long or short-sleeved plain white shirt. Ties must be worn with the shirt.
Shirt to be worn inside skirt or trousers, the top button must be fastened.
Plain black shoes of a sensible height (heel to be no more than 4 cms).
Stiletto heeled shoes, boots, training shoes, pumps and mule-type sandals
(without a back) are not permitted.
For Art, domestic style.
For Food Technology, domestic style.
Royal blue with school crest.
Optional and only to be worn with blazer. Royal blue with school crest.
Official Main School clip-on tie (royal blue, red and gold). Must be worn at
all times.
Mid to dark grey or black, plain.
Dark grey only, similar to Trutex basic style TBT 731. Denim, leather,
velvet, corduroy, jeans, patch-pocketed, leggings, boot-leg, flares or skintight trousers are not acceptable. Belts must be plain black with a
maximum width of 2.5 cms.
Long or short-sleeved plain white shirt. Ties must be worn with shirt. Shirt
to be worn inside skirt or trousers, the top button must be fastened.
Plain black sensible shoes with a black sole. Boots, training shoes and
pumps are not permitted.
For Art, domestic style.
For Food Technology, domestic style.
All items should be clearly marked with your son/daughter’s name.
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For All Students
Hair must be neat, tidy and of a style acceptable to the school, avoiding extremes. Bleached,
coloured or streaked hair is not acceptable. For Science, PE and Technology lessons long
hair must be tied back for health and safety reasons. Hair bobbles / bands should be of a
plain style and of a single colour. The only jewellery allowed is one small plain silver or gold
stud, per lower earlobe, maximum. Make-up is not allowed. Nail varnish other than clear
varnish is not allowed. Hooded sweatshirts are not part of the school uniform.
PE Kit
The school PE kit is available from Grays and Ribble Valley Supplies. Please note that both
Gray’s and Ribble Valley Supplies can embroider initials onto the polo shirts, reversible tops,
shorts and skorts. This is optional but recommended by the PE department.
Essential Kit
The following items must be purchased from Gray’s or Ribble Valley Supplies and include the
CRGS crest:
•
•
•
•
Reversible Rugby shirt with school crest (for boys only)
Royal blue shorts with school crest (two pairs may be needed; one for indoor lessons
and one for outdoor lessons).
Royal blue socks with school crest
White polo shirt with school crest
The following items can be bought from any retailer:
• White ankle socks
• Mouthguard
• Shinpads
• Football boots
• Towel
• Suitable kit bag
• A change of underwear is advised for during the wet winter months
• Trainers for the gym but that may also be suitable for use on the All Weather Pitch.
These trainers should have ‘non-marking’ soles. Please note that students may also
wear round moulded studs or astroturf trainers on the All Weather Pitch but are not
permitted to wear blades of any description, metal studs or ‘fashion’ trainers/pumps.
Optional Kit
The following items are optional but highly recommended, especially in the cold winter months.
If you wish to purchase these, you must obtain them from Gray’s or Ribble Valley Supplies
and they must include the CRGS crest:
• School Tracksuit with school crest, the tracksuit can be bought together or separately
as a top or bottoms.
• School Rain jacket with school crest
• Royal blue Skort with school crest (used by the girls in lessons but also when
representing school in fixtures).
The following item can be bought from any retailer:
• White base layer.
Students who regularly attend extra-curricular clubs will have the opportunity to buy a “CRGS
Sport” warm-up jacket. Order forms will be available to students in September.
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Equipment
Your son/daughter will need to ensure that they are organised so that they arrive at school
ready to learn. Our advice would be for them to get their bag ready for school the night before
to avoid a last minute rush in the morning!
The general equipment needed for every lesson is as follows:
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Pens and pencils
Eraser
Ruler (30 cm)
Glue Stick
Planner and rough book (these will be provided at the start of the year)
The student planner is given to all students at the start of the academic year and they are
expected to bring their planner to school every day and have it available during all lessons.
As well as containing useful and important information it also contains a 'diary' section where
homework can be recorded. We would ask that you check your son/daughter's planner
regularly and sign it every week. We will also check regularly that the planner is being used
properly. Finally, please support us by helping your son/daughter to appreciate that the
planner is a school document that should not be defaced.
Other more specialist equipment that they will need is as follows:
English Dictionary (we recommend the Oxford Pocket Schools’ Dictionary)
Maths
Calculator (these can be purchased from the Maths Department at a discounted
price during the first term)
Compasses
Protractor
Music
Students will need either a descant recorder or other melody instrument to take part
in performing and composing music in class lessons. If your child does not already
have a recorder or other melody instrument, recorders can be purchased from 'Time
& Tune' located on Preston New Road, Blackburn. They typically cost in the region
of £7.
Lost Property
During the course of a term we seem to collect vast amounts of clothing, shoes and other
equipment that has been lost. Many items are unnamed and remain unclaimed. After 3 weeks
lost property is recycled or given to charity. It would be extremely helpful if you could ensure
that your son/daughter's name is clearly written on all clothing and equipment so that it can be
returned quickly and easily if it does get lost. The school cannot be held responsible for
damage or loss of personal equipment unless it is handed in to the Main School Office
for safe keeping. Lockable lockers are provided for students on payment of £5.00, which is
refundable when the student leaves Main School. Students should keep all equipment in a
locker and not leave belongings or valuables unattended.
All textbooks, subject notebooks and files are provided from school resources. If loss or
damage is caused by careless usage it must be made good at the student's own expense.
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ICT and Mobile Technology
Use of Computers and the Internet
We are fortunate to have 4 dedicated computer rooms and one specialist language laboratory
at the Chatburn Road site. This means that all our students have access to high quality and
up to date technology, which greatly enhances the learning experience. However, in order to
safeguard our students we do have a policy about the use of the network and Internet and you
will find a copy of the policy at the back of this booklet. Any violation of this policy will be taken
extremely seriously and could result in an exclusion. We would be grateful if you would spend
some time talking through the policy with your son/daughter so that they understand how
important it is that they follow it. If you have any questions about the policy please contact Ms
Renold for clarification.
Mobile Telephones and Mobile Technology
We do not accept responsibility for mobile devices brought into school by students.
Any devices which are brought into school must be switched off and stored away during the
school day, unless permission has been granted by a member of staff.
Mobile devices have cameras/video features. It is important for your son/daughter to realise
that photos or video clips should not be taken at school unless it is part of an organised activity
under the direct supervision of a teacher. Furthermore any photos or video clips must not be
made public (for example on the Internet) without the permission of the Headteacher. Any
violation of this would be taken extremely seriously and could result in an exclusion from
school.
Transport and Bus Services
Many of our students travel to and from school using one of the bus services provided by the
Local Authority and we often receive questions about this. Please note that we do not have
any responsibility for the organisation or administration of these services and for this reason
you should contact the Lancashire Bus Services (Tel: 0300 1236738) if you have any
questions about bus services.
Parking in the School Grounds
The school premises and the area immediately surrounding the school are extremely busy
between 8.30 am and 9.00 am, and then again at the end of school between 3.40 pm and
4.00 pm. We would kindly request that you do not drop off or collect your son/daughter inside
the school gates at these times because it is so busy with school buses arriving and departing.
There are also some parking restrictions on Chatburn Road to protect the students and
minimise disruption to the local community. When Parents' Evenings are taking place,
parking on the school premises is reserved for staff only due to the very restricted area
available.
Remaining in School after School Hours
For health and safety reasons students should not be in the school building before 8.30 am or
after 4.00 pm without permission since these are the times between which staff are on duty.
If students arrive before 8.30 am they must wait in the school canteen where breakfast is also
available.
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Emergency Closure Procedures
On rare occasions, the school may have to close at short notice, for example due to:
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Adverse weather conditions
Problems related to the safe operation of one of the sites such as heating, electricity
or water supply
Closure before the start of school
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A decision to close school will generally be made by 7.30 a.m.
If the school has to be closed, a message will be broadcast on Radio Lancashire
(95.5FM), Rock FM (97.4FM) and Heart Radio (105.4 FM)
Information will be available on the school’s website (www.crgs.org.uk). The school
telephone lines at both sites will have a recorded message about the closure (York
Street - 01200 423118, Chatburn Road - 01200 423379)
Any student arriving at school unaware of the closure will be met by a member of
staff who will assist in making arrangements for the student to get home
School closure during the day
This happens rarely and any decision to close will be made only after consultation with the
Headteacher and SLT following a specific risk assessment
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Students will be informed of the closure and will be asked to contact parents using
their mobile phones. Students who need help in contacting parents with be directed
to the school office
Students who travel on a school bus will be notified of any possible changes to their
route and asked to depart on the correct school bus if available
Students who normally walk home will be requested to do so
Students who are collected from school or who have special travel arrangements will
be asked to telephone home to ask about emergency arrangements
School will be kept open and staffed by an adult until the last student is able to leave
Parent/Carers
We ask that parents/carers support this policy to ensure the welfare and safety of their
sons/daughters by:
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Ensuring that sons/daughters have parents’/carers’ up-to-date emergency contact
details to discuss arrangements
Only telephoning school if necessary, telephone lines become jammed very quickly
Assuming that school is open unless notified to the contrary
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Catering
Our canteen is open to students before school, at both morning breaks and at lunchtime and
operates using a cafeteria type system where pupils purchase food and drink from a range of
items that are available. Students may choose to bring a packed lunch to school. The food
and drink available from the canteen meets the national guidelines for healthy eating and we
encourage all pupils to think carefully about the food they eat. At lunchtime a range of hot
dishes will be available along with jacket potatoes, sandwiches, a salad bar and fresh fruit. A
meal deal of main course and dessert will cost in the region of £2.20. A drink costs from 60p.
At each morning break the canteen serves toast, teacakes, sandwiches, fresh fruit and a
student will typically spend in the region of £1.30.
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Pupil Premium
We would like to make all parents/carers aware of our Pupil Premium programme and the
opportunities this provides for students. You may be aware that as a school we receive
additional funding for students at Main School who:
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Have been entitled to Free School Meals (FSM) at some point in the last six years
Are currently entitled to Free School Meals
Have parents who have historically served or are currently serving in HM Armed
Forces
Have been adopted
Are in the care of the Local Authority
This funding is allocated to the school and we can decide how it should be best spent to benefit
the students concerned and the wider school community. Our website details how this funding
was spent during the last academic year. Some of the exciting projects and opportunities we
have been able to offer are:
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Counselling provision on both school sites
The mentoring programme and Student Leadership team development
Year 7 Speaking & Listening workshops
Literacy Development programme
Interventions programmes to assist students with organisational skills, handwriting,
spelling and reading confidence
Contributions to school visits for eligible students
Assistance with the purchase of musical instruments and peripatetic lessons for
eligible students
Assistance with the purchase of essential school equipment for eligible students
Revision and study programmes on both sites- accessible to all students
We have been fortunate to be able to offer this support as a result of our current funding, but
we are keen to do more. We know that there are many other areas we could develop and we
are keen to enhance our student support and intervention provision for all students.
Free School Meals
If you feel your son/daughter may be eligible for Free School Meals we would encourage you
to apply using the link below. Even if your son/daughter does not subsequently take up the
meals in school, we would receive valuable additional funding to develop our student support
provision. If your son/daughter may meet one of the other criteria for Pupil Premium please
contact Mrs Reeves in school for a discreet discussion.
Please be assured that other students would not be made aware of your son/daughter’s
eligibility and this information is shared confidentially within school.
If you have any further questions about Pupil Premium please do not hesitate to contact Mrs
Reeves at main school. If you believe your son/daughter may be eligible please follow this link
to find out more:
http://www.crgs.org.uk/FinancialAssistance/FinancialAssistance.html
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Music at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School
Welcome to the music department. We would like to take this opportunity to tell you about the
wide variety of extra-curricular music activities that exist and to encourage your son/daughter
to get involved with them. Most of the activities take place at lunchtime. Orchestra, however,
rehearses after school on Monday, and Swing Band rehearses after school on Thursday.
Instrumental/vocal lessons
We are able to offer instrumental lessons on all stringed, woodwind, brass, drum kit and
orchestra, percussion instruments, guitars, and in singing, on an individual basis. These
lessons are available to all students regardless of whether they have received similar lessons
at primary school or a County Music Centre. A fee is payable in advance for each term’s
lessons. Lessons are 20 minutes long (although lessons of 40 minutes duration can be
arranged). 14 lessons are provided during the Autumn term in 2015. The cost of 14 twenty
minute lessons is £123.20 (the equivalent cost for 40 minute lessons is £246.40).
Most lessons take place during the school day although some do take place before or after
school. Lessons are organised on a rota basis to minimise disruption to normal timetabled
lessons, although students are expected to catch up any work missed whilst they attend their
instrumental or vocal lesson. All students who have instrumental or vocal lessons are
expected to take part in the extra curricular activities by joining at least one ensemble
according to their level of ability. We feel that this is important because it helps them to
develop their musicianship as well as providing the musical experience and pleasure of
performing with other musicians.
If you would like your son/daughter to continue with, or start these lessons please complete
the attached form and return to the Bursar with the correct payment for lessons for the autumn
term. Please note that if you wish to withdraw your son/daughter from instrumental or vocal
lessons the Bursar and the Director of Music must be notified at least four weeks before the
beginning of the following term, or a charge will be made for the following term.
The form also contains a questionnaire for you to complete if your son/daughter is, at present,
receiving individual or small group tuition at school or a County Music Centre on one of the
following instruments: violin, viola, cello, double bass, flute, oboe, clarinet saxophone,
bassoon, trumpet, cornet, tenor horn, baritone, euphonium, trombone, French horn,
tuba, classical guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, drumkit, orchestral percussion and
singing. If your son/daughter will be starting lessons for the first time at CRGS, please
complete any questions as appropriate and leave the others blank.
Extra curricular ensembles
String Ensemble
This group consists of violins, violas, cellos, double basses and harp.
It rehearses on Tuesday lunchtime, accommodating string players of
a wide range of ability, with parts suitable for beginners and more
advanced players.
Guitar Ensemble
Rehearses on Wednesday lunchtimes playing a wide variety of
music.
CRGS Singers
This ensemble is open to all enthusiastic singers, in Years 8 – 11
and sixth form students. Rehearsals take place at lunchtimes, with
occasional after-school rehearsals.
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Year 7 Singers
Brass Ensembles
This ensemble is open to all year 7 students. Rehearsals are on
Friday lunchtimes. We sing a wide variety of music, from pop to
classical.
We have a Junior Brass Ensemble and a Senior Brass Ensemble.
Both groups rehearse on Friday lunchtime playing a wide variety of
music.
Woodwind
Ensemble
An ensemble of flutes, oboes, clarinets and saxophones. This
ensemble rehearses on Monday lunchtime.
Swing Band
This is for advanced trumpet, trombone, and saxophone players, with
a rhythm section of piano, bass and drums. Rehearsals take place
after school on Thursday. Membership of this group is by audition.
Orchestra
The orchestra is open to Year 7 students by invitation. A standard of
approximately Grade 3 is expected for string players, and Grade 4
for woodwind and brass players. Percussion players need a strong
sense of rhythm and a versatile approach! Rehearsals are on
Monday after school and on Tuesday lunchtime.
Flute Group
This ensemble rehearses on Tuesday lunchtime, fortnightly.
All our music ensembles are open to any students who sing or play. You do not have to be having
instrumental or vocal lessons in School in order to take part in the ensembles.
If you have any questions about the range of activities or would like further information please do
not hesitate to contact Mr J G Moon (Director of Music).
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CLITHEROE ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL
Acceptable Network & Internet Use Statement
For Students Years 7 to 11
The computer systems are owned by Clitheroe Royal Grammar School and are made
available to students to further their education. The school's ICT Policy has been drawn up to
protect all parties - the students, the staff and the school.
The school reserves the right to examine or delete any files that may be held on its computer
systems. The content of all internet sites visited by students will be monitored by the IT staff.
All students should return a signed acknowledgement slip to school.
The school reserves the right to withdraw access to IT resources from any student who
behaves in an inappropriate manner.
Internet access is filtered by our Internet Service Provider (ISP). However, no filtering system
is perfect. If your son/daughter accesses any material that they find disturbing (deliberately
or accidentally), they should report it immediately so that it can be blocked.
 All internet activity should be appropriate to the student's education;
 Network access should only be made via the authorised account and password, which
should not be made available to any other person;
 Activity that threatens the integrity of the school ICT systems, or activity that attacks or
corrupts other systems, is forbidden;
 Users are responsible for all e-mail sent and for contacts made that may result in e-mail
being received;
 Use for personal financial gain, gambling, political purposes or advertising is forbidden;
 Copyright of all materials must be respected;
 Posting anonymous messages, forwarding chain letters or using chat programs is
forbidden;
 As email can be forwarded or inadvertently sent to the wrong person, the same professional
levels of language and content should be applied as for letters or other media;
 Use of the network to access inappropriate materials such as pornographic, racist or
offensive material is forbidden;
 Downloading or installing any third party programs is forbidden;
 Students are forbidden to take photographs or video of staff or students without prior
permission;
 Material (text, video, photo) about the school and/or persons connected with the school are
not to be published on the internet (e.g. Facebook) without prior permission from the
Headteacher;
 Any activity which in the opinion of the school is inappropriate or brings the name of the
school into disrepute is forbidden, including use of internet sites at home.
 Students should report any incidence of cyber-bullying to your Head of Year and /or the
Network Manager.
Depending on the severity, any student disobeying this policy will experience sanctions
including suspension up to permanent exclusion.
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Home-School Agreement
Our school expects that parents/carers, in line with agreed school policies, will:
 ensure that their son / daughter attends school regularly and arrives on time
 ensure their son / daughter is dressed according to the school’s uniform requirements and
has the correct equipment for each lesson
 support the school’s policies and guidelines for behaviour, good conduct and responsibility
 support their son / daughter in homework / independent learning assignments ensuring that
they are attempted and handed in on time
 attend Parents’ Evenings and other meetings about their son’s / daughter’s progress,
encouraging their son / daughter to attend Parents Evening and contribute to the
discussions
 take an interest in their son’s / daughter’s life at the school and lend support and
encouragement in all facets of school, curricular and extra-curricular.
Parents/carers can expect that our school, in line with its agreed policies, will:
 make contact if there are any serious problems with attendance, punctuality, equipment or
dress
 communicate any serious concerns or problems affecting their son’s / daughter’s work or
behaviour
 set, mark and evaluate appropriate class and homework assignments and monitor their
son’s / daughter’s
progress through these methods
 provide written feedback on their son’s / daughter’s progress through academic monitoring
and formal reports
 arrange Parents’ Evenings to discuss their son’s / daughter’s progress
 encourage students to respect and care for each other and their surroundings and take
responsibility for themselves and others
 provide a safe, secure and supportive environment in which young people will be able to
develop their talents to the full and prepare them for the many roles they will take on in life
 keep them informed about school activities (communication includes letters, newsletters,
the website, our email provider and notices to parents/carers taken home by students).
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