NEWS AND VIEWS

httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk Aylesford School and Sixth Form College Tapping Way middot Warwick middot CV34 6XR middot 01926 747100

MAY 2021

Aylesford School and Sixth Form College

From the Head

CONTENTS

Drama Department

Raising Money for the NHS

English Department

Year 9

Sixth Form

Safeguarding

Notices

Dear ParentsCarers and friends of the school This is only the second newsletter that we have published since the start of the pandemic and my appointment as Headteacher Whilst it is impossible to forget the difficult journey that we have all been on since March 2020 I canrsquot help but feel that things are finally starting to get better and that the worst of this pandemic may now finally be well and truly behind us Much of my optimism comes in the knowledge that everyone that is involved in our school community has worked tirelessly to ensure that whatever else happens our students are able to continue to receive the education that they need for the future and we remain as a community I remain in awe of all the children that we care for every day Despite the very

real challenges they have faced over the past year their maturity bravery and willingness to care for each other is a real credit to their families and the local community The outstanding sum of money raised and donated to the NHS from our non-school uniform day is testament of this As this week draws to a close and we start to oversee the departure of our Year 11 and Year 13 cohort we are preparing to celebrate their commitment and dedication to their studies in what has undoubtedly been a particularly tough year I would like to pay particular tribute to the calm way in which they have helped their teachers to complete what is and continues to be an extraordinarily complicated assessment process Our confidence in these young people in their next steps as they progress beyond our school is stronger than ever we are certain that they will make a fantastic contribution to society no matter what they choose to do next This newsletter also serves as a stark reminder of everything that we have had to put on hold during this academic year or delay until the problems created by the pandemic have started to subside In future editions I hope to share with you our plans for the future In the meantime thank you for everything that you have already done to support us and may I take this opportunity to wish you an enjoyable half term break We will see our Year 7 8 9 and Year 10 cohort return to school for our final part of the summer term on Monday 7 June 2021 Stay safe and well Best wishes

Tim Hodgson Headteacher

Non Uniform Day raises pound1350 for our

Local NHS Foundation Trust

httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk

DRAMA DEPARTMENT

This month our year 13 pupils successfully performed their final practical assessment This entailed the pupils rehearsing and performing monologues from professionally published plays The students performed these pieces to a very high standard and we very much look forward to the days when we can invite an audience back in to our drama studios to watch our highly talented pupils perform their examination pieces Next up are our year 11 pupils performing in their final practical assessments These will take the shape of duologues again taken from professionally published plays Our pupils are approaching there assessments in a very dedicated fashion and we are expecting a high standard of acting and performing during this examination as well Mr P Leigh

The School held a non-uniform day at the end of the Spring Term to raise money for the NHS in recognition of

the hard work carried out by NHS workers during the last 12 months of the pandemic Students staff and

parents raised pound1350 in total and have asked that the money goes towards Warwick Hospitalrsquos Intensive Care

Unit Our Headboy Luke Weatherby-Blythe and Headgirl Lauren Maher presented the cheque for pound1350 to

Eileen Rock the Fundraising Manager at South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust The Headteacher plans to

hold a non-uniform day every term to raise money to support more local charities

Pictured

Fundraising Manager South Warwickshire NHS

Foundation Trust - Eileen Rock (receiving the

cheque)

Head Girl - Lauren Maher

Head Boy - Luke Weatherby-Blythe

Miss A Timson Director of Operations

RAISING MONEY FOR THE NHS

httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

World Shakespeare Day In the week leading up to April 23rd the date of Shakespeares birth and death students across the Secondary phase commemorated the day by taking part in a number of themed activities In tutor time students completed a quiz about Shakespeares life and works serving as a revision tool for GCSE and A-level plus a foray into the context of Shakespeare for Key Stage 3 The answers garnered quite some debate in some classes In English lessons in Key Stage 3 students looked at the types of plays Shakespeare wrote taking the themes of his most famous plays to create limericks This allowed them to practice strict rules for rhyme and rhythm as Shakespeare would have done when writing his plays or poetry in iambic pentameter The plays we focused on were A Midsummer Nights Dream Macbeth (a GCSE text option) The Tempest Richard III (studied in Year 8) and Romeo and Juliet (studied in Year 9) On April 23rd itself Years 7 8 and 9 took part in Shakespeare bingo their creative teachers managed to use a number of Shakespearean words and phrases that we still use today in their normal subject lessons and students had to identify where they heard the language Students enjoyed this task and it demonstrated that Shakespeares work and language is still relevant to our modern day speech and that we still experience a similar range of human emotions and reactions to those Shakespeare wrote about over 400 years ago Do you use any of these words or phrases coined by Shakespeare in your everyday speech - Catch a cold - Green eyed monster - Eat out of house and home - Break the ice - Too much of a good thing - Successful - Generous Mrs E Furlong Second in English

YEAR 9

httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk

A group of Year 9 students have decided to take part in this yearrsquos Junior Wolf Run to show support for a friend in Year 9 who has recently been diagnosed with FND (Functional Neurological Disorder) FND is a complex condition that isnrsquot fully understood but causes various physical symptoms such as limb weakness sensory impairments and non-epileptic seizures It is more common in adolescents and is linked with anxiety levels of which have unfortunately increased due to the pandemic Whilst there is no immediate cure for FND people who are affected can work with various health professionals to help retrain the brain Over time and with the right support symptoms can resolve and many can make full recoveries However access to these services are limited Therefore the Year 9 students felt that they wanted to help change this and so have chosen to raise money and awareness for FND Hope a charity that provides support to those suffering with the condition The group understand that FND is a very challenging disorder which is very difficult to live with and overcome and they wanted to undertake an activity which would push them in the same way and demonstrate with the right support that they can face anything and overcome it They decide to reflect this in their ldquopackrdquo name and so have called themselves the Fear Nothing Dudes Numerous staff students families and friends have already started to show their support to this incredibly selfless group by support this cause and donating to their just giving page Amazingly in just a few weeks they have already smashed their target amount of pound250 at the time of printing they had raised pound1450 They group and FND Hope would welcome any additional support you could give by donating to their JustGiving page

Aylesford School 9NUN is fundraising for FND Hope UK (justgivingcom) The Fear Nothing Dudes are Sophie Howard Abbey Paterson Izzy Stevens Issie Khan Evie Meeson Jess Turner Robert Pantling Charlotte Wright Ferran Redza Jack Hewson and Harry Whiston

Mrs L Riggs Head of Year 9

Mr S Nunn Assistant Head of Year 9

Lessons from Auschwitz The Holocaust Educational Trust has awarded three Aylesford students a place on the Lessons from Auschwitz Project 2021 Students in Year 12 applied for a place on the project Ashlyn- Rockcliffe- Barker Grace Russell and Thea Mort were chosen to participate This year the Lessons from Auschwitz will take place in Junes online and will ensure that students develop their historical understanding and apply that knowledge to contemporary issues Upon successful completion of the project all participants will receive an ASDAN accredited certificate and can share details of their involvement on their UCAS form or when applying for apprenticeships or jobs This unique four part course will be a journey of learning and exploration of the history of the Holocaust and the world we live in The project is based on the premise that lsquohearing is not like seeingrsquo and signals what can happen if prejudice and racism become acceptable We will look forward to hearing their experiences after the completion of the

project

SIXTH FORM

httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk

DRAMA DEPARTMENT

This month our year 13 pupils successfully performed their final practical assessment This entailed the pupils rehearsing and performing monologues from professionally published plays The students performed these pieces to a very high standard and we very much look forward to the days when we can invite an audience back in to our drama studios to watch our highly talented pupils perform their examination pieces Next up are our year 11 pupils performing in their final practical assessments These will take the shape of duologues again taken from professionally published plays Our pupils are approaching there assessments in a very dedicated fashion and we are expecting a high standard of acting and performing during this examination as well Mr P Leigh

The School held a non-uniform day at the end of the Spring Term to raise money for the NHS in recognition of

the hard work carried out by NHS workers during the last 12 months of the pandemic Students staff and

parents raised pound1350 in total and have asked that the money goes towards Warwick Hospitalrsquos Intensive Care

Unit Our Headboy Luke Weatherby-Blythe and Headgirl Lauren Maher presented the cheque for pound1350 to

Eileen Rock the Fundraising Manager at South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust The Headteacher plans to

hold a non-uniform day every term to raise money to support more local charities

Pictured

Fundraising Manager South Warwickshire NHS

Foundation Trust - Eileen Rock (receiving the

cheque)

Head Girl - Lauren Maher

Head Boy - Luke Weatherby-Blythe

Miss A Timson Director of Operations

RAISING MONEY FOR THE NHS

httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

World Shakespeare Day In the week leading up to April 23rd the date of Shakespeares birth and death students across the Secondary phase commemorated the day by taking part in a number of themed activities In tutor time students completed a quiz about Shakespeares life and works serving as a revision tool for GCSE and A-level plus a foray into the context of Shakespeare for Key Stage 3 The answers garnered quite some debate in some classes In English lessons in Key Stage 3 students looked at the types of plays Shakespeare wrote taking the themes of his most famous plays to create limericks This allowed them to practice strict rules for rhyme and rhythm as Shakespeare would have done when writing his plays or poetry in iambic pentameter The plays we focused on were A Midsummer Nights Dream Macbeth (a GCSE text option) The Tempest Richard III (studied in Year 8) and Romeo and Juliet (studied in Year 9) On April 23rd itself Years 7 8 and 9 took part in Shakespeare bingo their creative teachers managed to use a number of Shakespearean words and phrases that we still use today in their normal subject lessons and students had to identify where they heard the language Students enjoyed this task and it demonstrated that Shakespeares work and language is still relevant to our modern day speech and that we still experience a similar range of human emotions and reactions to those Shakespeare wrote about over 400 years ago Do you use any of these words or phrases coined by Shakespeare in your everyday speech - Catch a cold - Green eyed monster - Eat out of house and home - Break the ice - Too much of a good thing - Successful - Generous Mrs E Furlong Second in English

YEAR 9

httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk

A group of Year 9 students have decided to take part in this yearrsquos Junior Wolf Run to show support for a friend in Year 9 who has recently been diagnosed with FND (Functional Neurological Disorder) FND is a complex condition that isnrsquot fully understood but causes various physical symptoms such as limb weakness sensory impairments and non-epileptic seizures It is more common in adolescents and is linked with anxiety levels of which have unfortunately increased due to the pandemic Whilst there is no immediate cure for FND people who are affected can work with various health professionals to help retrain the brain Over time and with the right support symptoms can resolve and many can make full recoveries However access to these services are limited Therefore the Year 9 students felt that they wanted to help change this and so have chosen to raise money and awareness for FND Hope a charity that provides support to those suffering with the condition The group understand that FND is a very challenging disorder which is very difficult to live with and overcome and they wanted to undertake an activity which would push them in the same way and demonstrate with the right support that they can face anything and overcome it They decide to reflect this in their ldquopackrdquo name and so have called themselves the Fear Nothing Dudes Numerous staff students families and friends have already started to show their support to this incredibly selfless group by support this cause and donating to their just giving page Amazingly in just a few weeks they have already smashed their target amount of pound250 at the time of printing they had raised pound1450 They group and FND Hope would welcome any additional support you could give by donating to their JustGiving page

Aylesford School 9NUN is fundraising for FND Hope UK (justgivingcom) The Fear Nothing Dudes are Sophie Howard Abbey Paterson Izzy Stevens Issie Khan Evie Meeson Jess Turner Robert Pantling Charlotte Wright Ferran Redza Jack Hewson and Harry Whiston

Mrs L Riggs Head of Year 9

Mr S Nunn Assistant Head of Year 9

Lessons from Auschwitz The Holocaust Educational Trust has awarded three Aylesford students a place on the Lessons from Auschwitz Project 2021 Students in Year 12 applied for a place on the project Ashlyn- Rockcliffe- Barker Grace Russell and Thea Mort were chosen to participate This year the Lessons from Auschwitz will take place in Junes online and will ensure that students develop their historical understanding and apply that knowledge to contemporary issues Upon successful completion of the project all participants will receive an ASDAN accredited certificate and can share details of their involvement on their UCAS form or when applying for apprenticeships or jobs This unique four part course will be a journey of learning and exploration of the history of the Holocaust and the world we live in The project is based on the premise that lsquohearing is not like seeingrsquo and signals what can happen if prejudice and racism become acceptable We will look forward to hearing their experiences after the completion of the

project

SIXTH FORM

httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

World Shakespeare Day In the week leading up to April 23rd the date of Shakespeares birth and death students across the Secondary phase commemorated the day by taking part in a number of themed activities In tutor time students completed a quiz about Shakespeares life and works serving as a revision tool for GCSE and A-level plus a foray into the context of Shakespeare for Key Stage 3 The answers garnered quite some debate in some classes In English lessons in Key Stage 3 students looked at the types of plays Shakespeare wrote taking the themes of his most famous plays to create limericks This allowed them to practice strict rules for rhyme and rhythm as Shakespeare would have done when writing his plays or poetry in iambic pentameter The plays we focused on were A Midsummer Nights Dream Macbeth (a GCSE text option) The Tempest Richard III (studied in Year 8) and Romeo and Juliet (studied in Year 9) On April 23rd itself Years 7 8 and 9 took part in Shakespeare bingo their creative teachers managed to use a number of Shakespearean words and phrases that we still use today in their normal subject lessons and students had to identify where they heard the language Students enjoyed this task and it demonstrated that Shakespeares work and language is still relevant to our modern day speech and that we still experience a similar range of human emotions and reactions to those Shakespeare wrote about over 400 years ago Do you use any of these words or phrases coined by Shakespeare in your everyday speech - Catch a cold - Green eyed monster - Eat out of house and home - Break the ice - Too much of a good thing - Successful - Generous Mrs E Furlong Second in English

YEAR 9

httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk

A group of Year 9 students have decided to take part in this yearrsquos Junior Wolf Run to show support for a friend in Year 9 who has recently been diagnosed with FND (Functional Neurological Disorder) FND is a complex condition that isnrsquot fully understood but causes various physical symptoms such as limb weakness sensory impairments and non-epileptic seizures It is more common in adolescents and is linked with anxiety levels of which have unfortunately increased due to the pandemic Whilst there is no immediate cure for FND people who are affected can work with various health professionals to help retrain the brain Over time and with the right support symptoms can resolve and many can make full recoveries However access to these services are limited Therefore the Year 9 students felt that they wanted to help change this and so have chosen to raise money and awareness for FND Hope a charity that provides support to those suffering with the condition The group understand that FND is a very challenging disorder which is very difficult to live with and overcome and they wanted to undertake an activity which would push them in the same way and demonstrate with the right support that they can face anything and overcome it They decide to reflect this in their ldquopackrdquo name and so have called themselves the Fear Nothing Dudes Numerous staff students families and friends have already started to show their support to this incredibly selfless group by support this cause and donating to their just giving page Amazingly in just a few weeks they have already smashed their target amount of pound250 at the time of printing they had raised pound1450 They group and FND Hope would welcome any additional support you could give by donating to their JustGiving page

Aylesford School 9NUN is fundraising for FND Hope UK (justgivingcom) The Fear Nothing Dudes are Sophie Howard Abbey Paterson Izzy Stevens Issie Khan Evie Meeson Jess Turner Robert Pantling Charlotte Wright Ferran Redza Jack Hewson and Harry Whiston

Mrs L Riggs Head of Year 9

Mr S Nunn Assistant Head of Year 9

Lessons from Auschwitz The Holocaust Educational Trust has awarded three Aylesford students a place on the Lessons from Auschwitz Project 2021 Students in Year 12 applied for a place on the project Ashlyn- Rockcliffe- Barker Grace Russell and Thea Mort were chosen to participate This year the Lessons from Auschwitz will take place in Junes online and will ensure that students develop their historical understanding and apply that knowledge to contemporary issues Upon successful completion of the project all participants will receive an ASDAN accredited certificate and can share details of their involvement on their UCAS form or when applying for apprenticeships or jobs This unique four part course will be a journey of learning and exploration of the history of the Holocaust and the world we live in The project is based on the premise that lsquohearing is not like seeingrsquo and signals what can happen if prejudice and racism become acceptable We will look forward to hearing their experiences after the completion of the

project

SIXTH FORM

YEAR 9

httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk

A group of Year 9 students have decided to take part in this yearrsquos Junior Wolf Run to show support for a friend in Year 9 who has recently been diagnosed with FND (Functional Neurological Disorder) FND is a complex condition that isnrsquot fully understood but causes various physical symptoms such as limb weakness sensory impairments and non-epileptic seizures It is more common in adolescents and is linked with anxiety levels of which have unfortunately increased due to the pandemic Whilst there is no immediate cure for FND people who are affected can work with various health professionals to help retrain the brain Over time and with the right support symptoms can resolve and many can make full recoveries However access to these services are limited Therefore the Year 9 students felt that they wanted to help change this and so have chosen to raise money and awareness for FND Hope a charity that provides support to those suffering with the condition The group understand that FND is a very challenging disorder which is very difficult to live with and overcome and they wanted to undertake an activity which would push them in the same way and demonstrate with the right support that they can face anything and overcome it They decide to reflect this in their ldquopackrdquo name and so have called themselves the Fear Nothing Dudes Numerous staff students families and friends have already started to show their support to this incredibly selfless group by support this cause and donating to their just giving page Amazingly in just a few weeks they have already smashed their target amount of pound250 at the time of printing they had raised pound1450 They group and FND Hope would welcome any additional support you could give by donating to their JustGiving page

Aylesford School 9NUN is fundraising for FND Hope UK (justgivingcom) The Fear Nothing Dudes are Sophie Howard Abbey Paterson Izzy Stevens Issie Khan Evie Meeson Jess Turner Robert Pantling Charlotte Wright Ferran Redza Jack Hewson and Harry Whiston

Mrs L Riggs Head of Year 9

Mr S Nunn Assistant Head of Year 9

Lessons from Auschwitz The Holocaust Educational Trust has awarded three Aylesford students a place on the Lessons from Auschwitz Project 2021 Students in Year 12 applied for a place on the project Ashlyn- Rockcliffe- Barker Grace Russell and Thea Mort were chosen to participate This year the Lessons from Auschwitz will take place in Junes online and will ensure that students develop their historical understanding and apply that knowledge to contemporary issues Upon successful completion of the project all participants will receive an ASDAN accredited certificate and can share details of their involvement on their UCAS form or when applying for apprenticeships or jobs This unique four part course will be a journey of learning and exploration of the history of the Holocaust and the world we live in The project is based on the premise that lsquohearing is not like seeingrsquo and signals what can happen if prejudice and racism become acceptable We will look forward to hearing their experiences after the completion of the

project

SIXTH FORM

SIXTH FORM

httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk

Higher Education Research Year 12 students have begun their research regarding the various opportunities post Aylesford We have been fortunate to launch Unifrog which is a complete destinations platform for students across KS3 KS4 and KS5 regardless of their interests or academic ability It is the only place where students can compare every university course apprenticeship and FE course in the UK as well as university in 30 other countries across the world This is alongside getting access to labour market information and advice on careers and subjects for all routes (unifrogorg) Year 12 students will also receive information during year period and tutor time on the following topics

Applying to Higher Education Student Finance Student Life Graduate Employability and Placements Applying to Oxbridge Routes into teaching Choosing a course at University deciding on a single or joint honours degree Applying for medicine Studying Art and Design Business Engineering Healthcare

Languages Law and Psychology Taking a gap year Apprenticeships employment

Year 12 are also encouraged to visit the UCAS website (University Colleges Admissions Service) which is the centralised service that students use to apply to university It is the service that everyone who wants to study an undergraduate degree in the UK applies through (ucascom)

LEADERSHIP TEAM 2021- 2022 Year 12 students have been invited to apply for a position on the Student Leadership Team Currently there are 4 roles available which include Head Boy Head Girl Mental Health Ambassador Student Lead on Events and Charity The posts involve leadership of the school student body and close working partnerships with staff As the most senior students the successful candidates play active roles and represent the school at internal and external

functions The Head Boy and Head Girl will also advise the School Learning Council on appropriate issues Students applying for the position were asked to respond to a range of questions such as What personal skills and qualities would you bring to the post applied for In what ways do you think the Head Boy Head Girl can contribute to the leadership and prosperity of the school How would you promote Aylesford School to a parent student considering joining the school What hope and ambitions do you hold for yourself Candidates are encouraged to apply if they feel that they possess the skills and qualities to bring to the posts To apply visit the show my homework bulletin board announcements

LIFE AFTER AYLESFORD Year 13 tutors shared quick and easy recipes with their tutees to cook when away from home in readiness for independent living for those students going off to university Hopefully this will motivate them to avoid too many takeaways

SIXTH FORM

httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk

The Year 12 and 13 assessments are upon us Revision is more than just

reading through the notes you made in class - it also means knowing how to

interpret the questions when youre sitting the assessment Writing past papers can

help with revising as it can identify gaps in knowledge determine how much you can

write in the time allocated and build self-confidence for tackling the assessments It

is an opportunity to put those all-important time management skills into practice

We wish you every success in your forthcoming assessments

INTEREST FREE STUDENT LOANS

Year 13- Did you know that interest free loans for up to the value of pound1500

per year are available to students living in Warwick who are going to college or

university Financial assistance is available for university and college courses

after A-Levels if you live in the postcode area of CV34 If you are hoping to start

further education you should know The Charity of Sir Thomas White Warwick

is able to offer interest-free loans of up to pound1500 per year for each year of your

course

You can apply by downloading an application form at wwwsirthomaswhiteorguk emailing

connectsirthomaswhiteorguk or by telephoning Belinda Shuttleworth on 01926 350555

Year 13 Stand-Down

The stand down date for Year 13 is Thursday 27th

May 2021 following a leaver rsquos farewell event from 1030-

1230pm which includes outdoor games and a BBQ Each student will receive their photos hoodies and a small

gift as a memento of their time at Aylesford

Staff at Aylesford wish them all the best for the future beyond sixth form and to thank everyone who has

contributed something to the atmosphere and purposefulness in the Sixth Form as well as showing resilience

and adaptability during the covid-19 pandemic

Pictured are Year 13 with Mrs Keel Mr Shaw Mrs Parkinson Dr Bush Mrs Till Miss Smith and Mr

Grinham

httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk

SAFEGUARDING

Following on from my previous email I would like to remind parents about the dangers that young people can encounter on social media please be vigilant supporting schools efforts to educate young people on their continued safety online Monitoring their access and usage is the easiest way of preventing incidents occurring that leave our children vulnerable to bullying online grooming and exploitation Using parental settings and privacy settings are also valuable tools for parents please see previous email containing help sheets and websites to support this If you identify an issue on line this is an area the police would like you to report take screen shots for evidence report to the site itself and then block the person before informing the police on 101

Please see below the information and request that was forwarded on behave of the Warwickshire County Council Police Commissioner Dear all Cyber Safe Warwickshire wants to get the views of young people and their patterns of gaming during lockdown (between March - September 2020 November - March 2021) so that we can identify the changes in gaming and whether this has had an adverse effect on young peoples wellbeing The Warwickshire Gaming Survey 2021 aims to find out the usage type time spent on and reasons for gaming and to check whether young people are aware of the risks associated with cyberspace The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete Warwickshire Gaming Survey 2021 httpsaskwarwickshiregovukinsights-service2cfd15bd Cyber Safe Warwickshire is a local resource funded by the Police Crime Commissioner Abbey and Joe the Cyber Crime Advisors for Warwickshire County Council funded by the Police Crime Commissioner are responsible for delivering the Warwickshire Cyber Crime Action Plan on behalf of Warwickshire community safety partners focussing on delivering initiatives to prevent and reduce risk of harm from cyber-crimes to individuals More information on online safety the Cyber Crime Advisor role and other resources can be found at httpswwwcybersafewarwickshirecom and httpssafeinwarwickshirecomcybercrime During the holiday if you are concerned about the safety of a child and you feel that they are in immediate danger please call 999 For all other concerns you can telephone these in to MASH ndash the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub ndash on 01926 414144 Mrs D Savage Safeguarding Officer

Twitter Account AylesordSafeg1

SIXTH FORM

httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk

The Year 12 and 13 assessments are upon us Revision is more than just

reading through the notes you made in class - it also means knowing how to

interpret the questions when youre sitting the assessment Writing past papers can

help with revising as it can identify gaps in knowledge determine how much you can

write in the time allocated and build self-confidence for tackling the assessments It

is an opportunity to put those all-important time management skills into practice

We wish you every success in your forthcoming assessments

INTEREST FREE STUDENT LOANS

Year 13- Did you know that interest free loans for up to the value of pound1500

per year are available to students living in Warwick who are going to college or

university Financial assistance is available for university and college courses

after A-Levels if you live in the postcode area of CV34 If you are hoping to start

further education you should know The Charity of Sir Thomas White Warwick

is able to offer interest-free loans of up to pound1500 per year for each year of your

course

You can apply by downloading an application form at wwwsirthomaswhiteorguk emailing

connectsirthomaswhiteorguk or by telephoning Belinda Shuttleworth on 01926 350555

Year 13 Stand-Down

The stand down date for Year 13 is Thursday 27th

May 2021 following a leaver rsquos farewell event from 1030-

1230pm which includes outdoor games and a BBQ Each student will receive their photos hoodies and a small

gift as a memento of their time at Aylesford

Staff at Aylesford wish them all the best for the future beyond sixth form and to thank everyone who has

contributed something to the atmosphere and purposefulness in the Sixth Form as well as showing resilience

and adaptability during the covid-19 pandemic

Pictured are Year 13 with Mrs Keel Mr Shaw Mrs Parkinson Dr Bush Mrs Till Miss Smith and Mr

Grinham

httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk

SAFEGUARDING

Following on from my previous email I would like to remind parents about the dangers that young people can encounter on social media please be vigilant supporting schools efforts to educate young people on their continued safety online Monitoring their access and usage is the easiest way of preventing incidents occurring that leave our children vulnerable to bullying online grooming and exploitation Using parental settings and privacy settings are also valuable tools for parents please see previous email containing help sheets and websites to support this If you identify an issue on line this is an area the police would like you to report take screen shots for evidence report to the site itself and then block the person before informing the police on 101

Please see below the information and request that was forwarded on behave of the Warwickshire County Council Police Commissioner Dear all Cyber Safe Warwickshire wants to get the views of young people and their patterns of gaming during lockdown (between March - September 2020 November - March 2021) so that we can identify the changes in gaming and whether this has had an adverse effect on young peoples wellbeing The Warwickshire Gaming Survey 2021 aims to find out the usage type time spent on and reasons for gaming and to check whether young people are aware of the risks associated with cyberspace The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete Warwickshire Gaming Survey 2021 httpsaskwarwickshiregovukinsights-service2cfd15bd Cyber Safe Warwickshire is a local resource funded by the Police Crime Commissioner Abbey and Joe the Cyber Crime Advisors for Warwickshire County Council funded by the Police Crime Commissioner are responsible for delivering the Warwickshire Cyber Crime Action Plan on behalf of Warwickshire community safety partners focussing on delivering initiatives to prevent and reduce risk of harm from cyber-crimes to individuals More information on online safety the Cyber Crime Advisor role and other resources can be found at httpswwwcybersafewarwickshirecom and httpssafeinwarwickshirecomcybercrime During the holiday if you are concerned about the safety of a child and you feel that they are in immediate danger please call 999 For all other concerns you can telephone these in to MASH ndash the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub ndash on 01926 414144 Mrs D Savage Safeguarding Officer

Twitter Account AylesordSafeg1

httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk

SAFEGUARDING

Following on from my previous email I would like to remind parents about the dangers that young people can encounter on social media please be vigilant supporting schools efforts to educate young people on their continued safety online Monitoring their access and usage is the easiest way of preventing incidents occurring that leave our children vulnerable to bullying online grooming and exploitation Using parental settings and privacy settings are also valuable tools for parents please see previous email containing help sheets and websites to support this If you identify an issue on line this is an area the police would like you to report take screen shots for evidence report to the site itself and then block the person before informing the police on 101

Please see below the information and request that was forwarded on behave of the Warwickshire County Council Police Commissioner Dear all Cyber Safe Warwickshire wants to get the views of young people and their patterns of gaming during lockdown (between March - September 2020 November - March 2021) so that we can identify the changes in gaming and whether this has had an adverse effect on young peoples wellbeing The Warwickshire Gaming Survey 2021 aims to find out the usage type time spent on and reasons for gaming and to check whether young people are aware of the risks associated with cyberspace The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete Warwickshire Gaming Survey 2021 httpsaskwarwickshiregovukinsights-service2cfd15bd Cyber Safe Warwickshire is a local resource funded by the Police Crime Commissioner Abbey and Joe the Cyber Crime Advisors for Warwickshire County Council funded by the Police Crime Commissioner are responsible for delivering the Warwickshire Cyber Crime Action Plan on behalf of Warwickshire community safety partners focussing on delivering initiatives to prevent and reduce risk of harm from cyber-crimes to individuals More information on online safety the Cyber Crime Advisor role and other resources can be found at httpswwwcybersafewarwickshirecom and httpssafeinwarwickshirecomcybercrime During the holiday if you are concerned about the safety of a child and you feel that they are in immediate danger please call 999 For all other concerns you can telephone these in to MASH ndash the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub ndash on 01926 414144 Mrs D Savage Safeguarding Officer

Twitter Account AylesordSafeg1

httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk

NOTICES

Communication with The Senior Leadership Team Head of Student Progress or any other member of staff We are unable to invite parentscarers onto school site currently If you need to speak with a Senior Leader Head of Student Progress or a Teacher please be aware that they are still bound by timetable commitments If you need to speak with a member of staff please call Reception on 01926 747100 so that we can arrange a mutually convenient time for a telephone appointment for you To email any correspondence to Head of Years or teachers please email officeaylesfordschoolorguk or officemailaylesfordschoolorguk with the teachers name in the subject line and this will be forwarded to the relevant person

Dropping off forgotten items Please may we ask that you support your child to ensure that they have all the necessary equipment and belongings with them for their school day We are unable to take in at our reception items for your child during the school day due to the current pandemic and are unable to deliver a note to them to ask that they come and collect any items from us at Student Services Communication during the school day As we are a large school and unable to use the services of office runners due to the pandemic and the necessity to avoid cross contamination of year bubbles we are unable to get messages to your child during the school day Please ensure that any communication is done before the school day or you have a source of contact following their school day We would always email your childrsquos teacher and tutor with any message however we cannot guarantee that this will be passed on during the school day Students Appointments Protocol Currently we are unable to assist parentscarers with honouring appointments during the school day This is to ensure that the year bubbles are protected If your child is unwell at school During these unprecedented times we would ask that any child displaying any of the following symptoms does not attend school 1 High temperature ndash this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your

temperature) 2 New continuous cough ndash this means coughing a lot for more than an hour or 3 or more coughing episodes in

24 hours (if you usually have a cough it may be worse than usual) 3 Loss or change to your sense of smell or taste ndash this means youve noticed you cannot smell or taste anything

or things smell or taste different to normal All students know that if they are unwell during the school day they should make their way to Student Services where a first aider will assess their condition and where appropriate contact the parentcarer to ask for them to be collected If your child is highlighted during the school day to present with one or more of the above symptoms you will be contacted immediately for you to promptly collect your child from school Change to contact details Please ensure that you communicate any changes to your contact details directly to the office we need this in a handwritten or email form Please email officeaylesfordschoolorguk and we will confirm to you when the request of change of details has been completed

Medication in School Medication should only be taken in school when absolutely essential You will be required to show the school evidence of the prescription and will be required to complete the necessary school paperwork to enable student services to administer any medication or indeed to keep any medication in school We are unable to administer medication as per our school policy without the evidence of a prescription Please come into the school in order to complete the necessary paperwork or alternatively contact the General Office to arrange for the necessary paperwork to be sent to you on the details above

All medication is to be stored in Student Services in the original container labelled with your childrsquos name dosage and frequency prescribed and expiry date clearly visible with the correct and necessary paperwork completed prior to being accepted at Student Services and being administered to your child It is the parentrsquos responsibility for the safe delivery of medication and to replace medicine that has expired Out of date medication will be safely disposed of

Students are not permitted to have any medication on their persons in school due to possible misuse by themselves or dangers to other students Students with asthmadiabetessevere allergies however are responsible for carrying their own medication eg inhalersEpipens Hairstyle Reminders Parents are asked to ensure that their children do not come to school with unusual hairstyles (eg close cropped particularly shaved hair is not acceptable) neither is hair of contrasting length or colour Please note that a barberrsquos rsquonumber 2rsquo (6mm) shaved cut is the shortest allowed Parents are requested to seek advice from school if in doubt before allowing a particular fashion Mobile phone Policy Reminder- An update can be found here on our school website We discourage you as parents to allow your child to bring phones and other electronic devices to school This is because their use in both lesson time and recreational time is forbidden Students may only bring in such items if the items are switched-off and remain completely out of sight If a student abuses this arrangement then the phone or the electronic device will be confiscated for the remainder of the school day and a behavioural point will be marked against their file The student will be unable to have their confiscated item returned until after registration If a student is caught repeatedly using a phone or electronic device then the item will be confiscated and returned only to the parentcarer who will be invited in to collect the item Deodorants and Antiperspirants Roll on deodorants and antiperspirants are preferred to their aerosol equivalents in consideration to students that are asthmatic Although stopping short of an outright ban on all aerosol forms of deodorants antiperspirants and pump action sprays any irresponsible use in enclosed areas by students will be considered a disciplinary matter Coronavirus The Government and NHS are well prepared to deal with this virus You can help too Germs can live on some surfaces for hours To protect yourself and others

Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze

Bin the tissue and to kill germs wash your hands with soap and water or use a sanitiser gel

If you have arrived back from China within 14 days follow the specific advice for returning travellers This is the best way to slow the spread of almost any germs including Coronavirus Should you wish to find out more please visit govukcoronavirus

NOTICES

httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk

httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk

NOTICES

LEAVE OF ABSENCE DURING TERM TIME UPDATED INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

The Supreme Court recently reached a decision in the case of Platt v Isle of Wight Council which has clarified the law on unauthorised leave including holidays during term time The parents of children of compulsory school age are required to ensure that they attend school on a regular basis The Supreme Court has made it clear that attending school lsquoregularlyrsquo means that the children must attend school on every day that they are required to do so As such the parents of any child who is absent from school without authorisation for any length of time are likely to be considered as committing an offence under s444 of the Education Act 1996 Head Teachers retain the ability to authorise leave in accordance with the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 When considering such requests for a leave of absence the school are obliged to act within the law Head Teachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances relating to the application If the leave is granted head teachers are able to determine the number of school days a child can be absent for It is for the Head Teacher to decide what is lsquoexceptionalrsquo and it is at their discretion if the circumstances warrant the leave to be granted The school can only consider Leave of Absence requests which are made by the lsquoresidentrsquo parent Each application for a leave of absence will be considered on a case by case basis and on its own merits Where applications for leave of absence are made in advance and refused the child will be required to be in school on the dates set out in the application If the child is absent during that period it will be recorded as an unauthorised absence which may result in legal action being taken against the parent(s) by way of a Fixed Penalty Notice Failure to make an application for leave in advance can also result in a Fixed Penalty Notice being issued to the parent(s) All matters of unauthorised absence relating to a Leave of Absence will be referred to the Warwickshire Attendance Service part of Warwickshire County Council It is important to note Fixed Penalty Notices are issued to each parent of each absent child (for example 2 children and 2 parents means each parent will receive 2 invoices in the amount of pound120 each totalling pound240 for both children this is reduced to pound60 per child if paid within 21 days) Where a Fixed Penalty Notice is not paid within the required timeframe as set out on the notice the matter will be referred to Warwickshire County Councilrsquos Legal Services to consider instigating criminal proceedings under S444 Education Act 1996 Fixed Penalty Notices are issued in accordance with Warwickshire County Councilrsquos Code of Conduct for Penalty Notices

Your childrsquos progress academically as well as socially is our shared priority How to report a student absence

Phone 01926 747100 and leave a message speak to a member of the office or email

attendanceaylesfordschoolorguk

2 Each day your child is absent you need to repeat the step above

Please note that we may still request further information regarding your childrsquos absence

Miss J Leith Director of Pastoral Support

httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk

httpwwwaylesfordschoolorguk