PARENT HANDBOOK

PARENTS OR CARERS WITH A

DISABILITY

To ensure that disabled parents and carers

are able to support and take part in all

aspects of their child’s education please

contact the UTC if you have a disability or

health condition or require a large print copy

of UTC documents.

UTC Address: Bucks UTC Oxford Road Aylesbury Buckinghamshire HP21 8PB Email address: reception@buckinghamshireutc.co.uk Website: www.bucksutc.co.uk Telephone number: 07553 317476 / 07899 691362 (when open full time) 01296 388688 (or 01296 388459 to leave a message) Governors: Chair of Governors Professor Nick Braisby Senior Staff: Principal Mrs Sarah Valentine Business Services Director Mr Bob Carvey Curriculum Leadership Team: Assistant Principal & Curriculum and Standards Mr Daniel Hayman Assistant Principal, Pastoral and Inclusion (SENDCO) Ms Sonia Hothi Assistant Principal & Teaching and Learning Ms Sarah Wood

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Welcome 5

Introduction 6

Student Code of Conduct/Home UTC Agreement 7

General Information 8-11

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Dear All We understand that the ongoing situation around COVID-19 pandemic is worrying for you and for your families. We can assure you that at Bucks UTC we are doing everything we can to keep students safe and respond appropriately to government guidance. It is likely that social distancing measures will still be in place in September and we are currently working through what this means for our students and making sure that whatever is planned meets the government guidance for Covid-19 implementing protective measures in education. I would like to extend a very warm welcome to our new students joining Bucks UTC and to our returning year 11 students. I do hope that you will take full advantage of your experience here at the UTC, we treat everyone as an adult and in return expect mutual respect and a can-do attitude. Our values help and drive us all to work towards meeting the vision and mission for Bucks UTC, it is important that all students understand and proactively demonstrate their individual and collective contribution to these values. Students will learn more about the values through the tutorial programme. You will have many opportunities here to progress into exciting careers when you leave us and you will be working alongside our employer sponsors and partners that are involved in the UTC. We have a dedicated staff team who have your best interests at heart, and they are very well skilled in their areas of expertise which will be of great benefit to you and your studies. Please remember that being part of the UTC is something to be proud of and we look forward to working with you and your parents/guardians during your time at the UTC. Kind Regards

Sarah Valentine Principal

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The Bucks UTC is committed to developing well rounded individuals who can work anywhere in the world, empathising with other business cultures and demonstrating high levels of social responsibility. It is important that all people feel safe, happy, accepted and integrated and that an orderly framework exists within which effective learning and teaching can take place. Bucks UTC holds an important position in the wider community educating the young workforce of tomorrow in a way which will ensure that they take a professional, positive and proactive role within their community in the future. We aim to create a culture of team players with ‘can do’ attitudes and working towards a shared common goal.

Vision Our young people will become highly skilled employees of the future through the integration of business with education in an innovative, dynamic, employment-led environment.

Mission

• Develop professional and motivated students and staff who will proactively represent the values and ethos of the Bucks UTC.

• Enable our students to achieve their full potential and be successful in life, learning and their future careers

• Build productive relationships in the IT and Construction industries to create a relevant and integrated learning experience.

Governing Board The Governing Board of Bucks UTC acts as the critical friend of the Principal and Senior Leadership Team and provides support and challenge. Governors have a range of duties and powers and a general responsibility for the conduct of the UTC with a view to promoting high standards of educational achievement. Its responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• providing a strategic view of the UTC by establishing a vision and setting the purpose and aims of the college

• ensuring the quality of educational provision • setting targets for student achievement • challenging and monitoring the performance of the UTC • making sure the curriculum is balanced and broadly based • ensuring good financial health and probity • appointing staff including the Principal • reviewing staff performance and pay

Our Governing Board is made up of employer sponsors, staff, parents and a representative from both the Buckinghamshire County Council and the Baker Dearing Trust. For more information about the Governing Body, see https://bit.ly/2UwW90m

For further information on our Governing Body please refer to the following link:

http://www.buckinghamshireutc.co.uk/about-us/governance/meet-governors

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Student Code of Conduct

As a student at Bucks UTC it is important that you respect our UTC as well as our staff, fellow students, but most of all you respect yourself. If you do this it will enable the staff at Bucks UTC to cultivate an exciting and learning focused environment for you and your peers to thrive and get the most out of your experience with us. Remember, this is your first stepping-stone to your future career, the more you put into it, the more you will achieve.

Respect one another Arrive on time

Equality for all Commit to your studies

Show you belong Help others

Play by the rules Invest in your future

Enjoy your studies Engage in your learning

Create a clean environment Value your facilities

Transform your life Excel

We are sure that you will understand that there are certain issues that the Bucks UTC will not tolerate such as violence, the sale, use or distribution of drugs or alcohol or any form of discrimination.

Sometimes students display other behaviours that have a negative impact on others, or the Bucks UTC and a structured disciplinary procedure exists to address these issues constructively yet firmly and is part of our Behaviour for Learning Policy available on our website.

Remember that you are not only representing the Bucks UTC whilst on our premises, you are also representing us whilst on work placements.

Home UTC Agreement

Our aim at Bucks UTC is to help students achieve their personal best. To be successful in this we believe that it is important to work closely with parent/carers. We will ask students and parents/carers to sign a Code of Conduct agreement confirming that the Code of Conduct is agreed between all parties. In turn, the Bucks UTC will sign an agreement confirming our commitment to you. Further information on our Home UTC Agreement policy can be found on our website in the Parent Portal and the document will be part of a Registration Pack in July 2020.

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Absence

Please remember that under no circumstances must any lessons be missed without good reason acceptable to the Principal. If your child is unable to attend the Bucks UTC due to illness or other circumstances you should contact the Bucks UTC Reception on 01296 388459 or email reception@buckinghamshireutc.co.uk before 8.20am on EACH day of absence.

On a student’s return to Bucks UTC following an absence, the parent/carer should write a short note which states the reason for the absence. If your child is absent due to sickness for longer than three days a doctor’s certificate is required. Failure to meet these rules may mean your child is recorded as unauthorised absence.

Accidents/ injuries and/or sickness

At Bucks UTC our students’ health, safety and welfare is of utmost importance. If students are injured at the UTC, we will treat the injury if possible – and take appropriate medical steps.

See the Parent Portal for more information and steps you must take.

Arrival at Bucks UTC

Students will not be admitted to the Bucks UTC site before 7.45am. All students must be in their first tutorial or briefing session no later than 8.40am having with them all the equipment/stationery they will require for their sessions throughout the day.

Attendance

We adhere to the national guidance, https://www.gov.uk/school-attendance-absence and Bucks County Council guidelines regarding attendance. Any student who persistently fails to attend, is persistently late or has unauthorised absence will be reported to The County Attendance team. This can lead to parenting contracts or penalty notices being issued.

See the Parent Portal for more information.

Change of Circumstances

Please inform the UTC if there are any changes in your circumstances during the academic year eg change of name, address, telephone number, email address.

NB: It is extremely important that your emergency details are accurate

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)

The UTC has a number of fixed and dome cameras. This decision was made to protect the UTC building and equipment and to monitor activities in certain areas to identify criminal or inappropriate activity. All the cameras are monitored from a control centre. Images will be automatically destroyed, unless required by the police for evidential purposes.

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How we communicate with parents

As well as letters and phone calls there are a few ways in which we provide information to parents (and students).

Email: Students will find that they receive much more information from their teachers by email. It is important that students get into the habit of checking their UTC email accounts very regularly. As part of the first full week in September, students will be shown how to access their email, including from home. Teachers and learning support staff will also use email to get in touch with parents.

Microsoft Teams: In addition to classroom teaching, we also use Teams as an online learning platform which compliments and supports the delivery of lessons. Students, parents and carers will have access to lesson resources, information about events, employer engagement and other resources fitting to their line of study. Teams is also another way of teachers and students being able to communicate quickly and efficiently. During the COVD-19 Pandemic, Teams has been a very successful way of keeping our students engaged, and learning.

Website: The UTC website can be found at www.buckinghamshireutc.co.uk, this is where we store more general information such as policy guidance and curriculum information.

Snow closures: We pride ourselves in remaining open in all but the most extreme circumstances and have a great track record for doing so. Should we ever need to close we announce that on the website and by email. It is therefore very important that we always have your current contact details.

Educational Visits

An educational trip or visit has enormous potential for enriching the Bucks UTC curriculum and broaden students’ horizons and deepen learning. For each trip students will be required to get permission from a parent/guardian by completing the appropriate consent form which will be given to students by their tutor and it will include all details relating to the trip. We will ask parents for a contribution towards the cost of a trip where necessary.

In the current climate, trips will only be taken when it is safe to do so. See the Parent Portal for more information about Insurances, trips and how to pay.

Family Holidays

Only the UTC may authorise leave of absence, it is not a parental right (Regulation 8 Education (Pupil Regulations) Regulation 1995). If a student goes on holiday without seeking permission from the Principal, the absence will be recorded as unauthorised and we are required to inform Bucks County Council Education Welfare Service Specialist Unit who may issue a penalty notice. For further information please see https://www.buckscc.gov.uk/services/education/schools/code-of-conduct-for-issuing-penalty-notices-for-unauthorised-absence-from-school and the Parent Portal.

Free School Meals & Pupil Premium

If you think you are eligible for FSMs for your son or daughter, or if you are not sure, please complete an application form, which can be found on the parent portal.

If your child has existing Pupil Premium or FSM status, please advise us on your registration form.

Please see the Parent Portal for more details

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Homework

Homework will be set for all year 10/11 students. Each subject will provide students with their expectations which staff will follow in the setting and assessment of homework/assignments. Students in Year 10 should expect homework tasks of approximately 40 minutes in length, rising to 45 minutes in Year 11 for each homework task

Homework will be appropriate to the needs of individual students and will be meaningful in content and purpose, which:

• Can prepare students for their next learning • Embed/consolidate the learning from previous lessons • Provide an opportunity to develop independent, inquiring minds • Encourage independence and ownership of learning outside the

classroom/College environments e. Develop students’ ability to organise and manage their time effectively

A formal homework timetable will be provided in September.

ID Cards

It is the policy of Bucks UTC to provide a safe working environment for students whilst in the Bucks UTC building and the proper use and display of ID cards is the way to do this. Students are required to wear your issued photo ID card in plain view in order to gain access to the building. See Parent Portal for more information including about lost cards.

Lateness

In the workplace excellent timekeeping is important and employees must adhere to an organisation’s rules regarding this. Therefore, students are expected to arrive in good time to be at their first scheduled lesson. Failure to meet this required means they will be marked as late. Any lateness may result in students being issued with consequences, such as an after-school detention, in line with our Behaviour for Learning policy. Regular lateness will be reported to the County Attendance Team.

Leaving Bucks UTC

Students must remember that they are still representing the Bucks UTC when off-site and they should always apply the Bucks UTC’s Student Code of Conduct so that they give the best impression of us at all times. Parents/carers are welcome to collect their children from the main Bucks UTC car park if they would like to but should be aware there is parking enforcement in operation with a strict drop off/collection time via ANPR.

Medical Conditions

Before students enrol at Bucks UTC you will be asked to complete a medical form. It is really important to us that this form is fully completed so that any relevant information can be held (confidentially) on file - things such as any allergies students may have or medication they are on.

Please notify the UTC if your son or daughter suffers from a medical condition which requires a care plan, medication, or affects their daily activities. Also, let us know of any change in a medical condition they may have.

Mobile Devices

Bucks UTC recognises the power of mobile technology in the 21st century and its responsible and acceptable use. We do not ban mobile phones from the UTC. However, our policy is that they should be handed in to Reception at the beginning of each day or put in their locker. Mobile devices should not be used during lesson periods. If students do not follow these simple rules, the mobile phone or other mobile device including portable/Bluetooth speaker will be confiscated and will be stored securely in reception where parents can collect them. Headphones should not be visible at any point during lesson time and these can also be confiscated.

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However, our policy is that they should be handed in to Reception at the beginning of each day or put in their locker. Mobile devices should not be used during lesson periods. If students do not follow these simple rules, the mobile phone or other mobile device including portable/Bluetooth speaker will be confiscated and will be stored securely in reception where parents can collect them. Headphones should not be visible at any point during lesson time and these can also be confiscated.

Our full mobile device policy can be found on our Parent Portal.

Use of Images

Occasionally we take photographs of students or film them. The UTC does not pay students a fee for the use of their image. Photographs may be used in UTC publications, on our website or displayed in the UTC. Lessons are filmed to improve the performance of students in subjects such as English, Computing and Construction. We also film lessons to improve the performance of teaching staff. See the Parent Portal for our Privacy Policy. Students must not take photographs of staff or students.

Participation in Sport

All students are required to take part in the timetabled Sports lessons, it is a mandatory part of the curriculum. Where students are unable to participate in timetabled sport lessons a medical note from a professional will be required. Students must have their sports kit with them for the timetabled lessons. Failure to bring appropriate kit/participate in timetable Sports will lead to consequences as set out in the school’s Behaviour for Learning Policy.

Safeguarding

Bucks UTC holds as one of its highest priorities the health, safety and welfare of all children and young people involved in courses or activities which come under the responsibility of the UTC. We fully recognise our responsibilities for child protection, this policy can be seen at: https://buckinghamshireutc.co.uk/about-2/governance/policies/

Our policy applies to all staff, governors and volunteers working in the UTC.

Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) and Health Education

Parents may request that their son or daughter is excused from receiving all or part of the sex education programme provided by the UTC. Students may not be withdrawn from the sex education element of the National Curriculum which covers the biological aspects of human growth and reproduction as delivered in Science. Please mark your letter for the attention of the Principal.

Term Dates 2020-21: full details available in the Parent Portal

Wednesday 2nd September 2020 First scheduled day of term for students.

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All parents can access the Parent Portal at any time, on a smartphone, tablet or computer. This has further information in relation to curriculum, policies, forms and is always updated.

For details on the below items, please refer to our Parent Portal which is accessible at buckinghamshireutc.co.uk/parent-portal.

Subjects News

In school Guidance and Policies

Parent Info Finance

The login details for the Parents Portal are;

Username: BucksUTC

Password : Reception

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BUCKS UTC. Education, but better.