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Parents’ Handbook
2015-2016
Senior School
Parents’ Handbook
Senior School
2015-2016
Fostering scholarship and integrity, the High School provides
inspirational opportunities and strong support to develop a lifelong
love of learning and respect for others.
CONTENTS
WELCOME
Letter from the Head 1
School Mission 3
Aims 3
School Motto 3
Statement of Care and Consideration for Others 4
WHO’S WHO
Governors 5
Senior Leadership and Management Teams 6
Academic Departments 7
Housemistresses and Tutors 8
COMMUNICATION
Absences 10
Academic Concerns – Heads of Department 12
Change of Personal Details 14
Head’s Breakfasts 14
Parent Information Evenings 15
Parents’ Evenings 16
Parent Forums 17
ParentMail 17
Parent Portal 18
Pastoral Concerns – House Tutors 19
Reports and Academic Tracking 22
Twitter 23
CONTENTS
GENERAL INFORMATION
Behaviour 24
Careers 24
Coaches 25
ESafety 27
Extra-Curricular Activities 27
Fees 28
Fees Assistance 28
FROG (Virtual Learning Environment) 29
Homework 29
Homework Diary 29
House System 30
Lunches 32
Medical Provision 34
Medicals 36
Mobile Phones 37
Music Tuition 37
Parking 39
Pastoral Care 40
Personal Possessions 40
Policies 41
Rewards and Sanctions 42
School Rules 44
Second-Hand Uniform Shop 47
Study Leave 47
Term Dates 48
Timings of the School Day 49
Uniform 49
Wi-Fi 50
WELCOME
1
September 2015
Dear Parents
The relationship between school and home is of huge
importance to your daughter’s success and happiness and we
value open, warm and clear communication between parents
and the school. There are so many ways in which you can
get involved in the school: as a parent rep for the Parents’
Association, within the High School Association for example;
by attending the Head’s Breakfasts, and Parent Forums or any
one of the lectures and information evenings available to
parents.
Your daughter’s House Tutor will make contact with you
early in the Michaelmas term. Please do not hesitate to get
in touch with the House Tutor at any point if you have a
problem or question.
The school’s aims: scholarship; adventure and integrity
inform all we do. Your daughter will experience an exciting
and scholarly curriculum and I know that she will enjoy her
learning and relish all the exciting opportunities available for
her in and out of the classroom. Whether she’s joining in
Year 7 or Year 12, we aim to ensure that she matures,
WELCOME
2
develops her skills and talents and finds herself comfortably
and quickly at home here.
I look forward to working with you and your daughter over
the coming year.
Warm regards
Mrs J Brown
Head
WELCOME
3
SCHOOL MISSION
Fostering scholarship and integrity, the High School provides
inspirational opportunities and strong support to develop a
lifelong love of learning and respect for others.
AIMS
Scholarship: to offer an education for girls, which promotes
intellectual confidence, curiosity and the joy of learning.
Adventure: to build an outward looking community through
local, national and international curricular and co-curricular
programmes.
Integrity: to sustain a community in which every girl feels
known, supported, confident and ready to shape society in a
school which builds a strong ethic of service and responsible
citizenship.
SCHOOL MOTTO
Initium sapientiae timor Domini
“Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”.
WELCOME
4
STATEMENT OF CARE AND CONSIDERATION
FOR OTHERS (written by the pupils themselves)
At St Albans High School for Girls we feel that it is
important:
to respect others regardless of age, race, background, ability or appearance.
to treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves.
to act positively against all bullying, to recognise when a joke ceases to be funny and becomes hurtful.
to rejoice in the successes of others and give
encouragement and support in times of success and
disappointment.
to provide a caring environment where the relationship between pupils and staff is open, fair and friendly.
to value extra-curricular achievement as much as academic success.
to have conviction in our own beliefs and to appreciate those of others.
that every girl leaves having had the opportunity to
achieve personal fulfilment, looking forward to the future with confidence, humour and compassion.
WHO’S WHO
5
GOVERNORS
We are fortunate to have a very active governing body who
are referred to collectively as the Council. Our Governors
attend many school events throughout the academic year.
Miss D Henderson MA (Cantab) MA (Chair of Council)
Mr R E B Allnutt LLB
Mr D Alterman MA (Oxon)
Mrs C R Callegari BA (Hons) Cert Ed
Mr A G Follows BEng DChA FCA
Ms E A de Galleani BA (Hons)
Mrs H J Greatrex BA ACA
Mrs W Hazley-Payne BA (Hons), ACMA, CGMA
The Very Revd Jeffrey John MA (Oxon) DPhil (Oxon)
Mr B R Kettle FRICS MCIArb MAE
Miss R Musgrave MA MA FRSA
Mr D Roe BSc (Hons) MRICS
Mrs J Ross BA (Hons) NPQH
Mrs J Stroud MA (Cantab) PGCE
Mr J S Thomson CA
Mr R H Ward
If you wish to contact the Chair of Council, then please send
correspondence care of the Senior School Office, and it will
be forwarded to her.
WHO’S WHO
6
SENIOR LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT TEAMS
Senior Leadership Team
Head Mrs Jenny Brown
Bursar Mr Fraser Campbell
Senior Deputy Head Mrs Jo Taylor
Head of the Preparatory School Mrs Judy Rowe
Deputy Head Strategy &
Communications Ms Jane Healy
Deputy Head Academic Mr Nicholas Hamshaw
Assistant Head Curriculum Mrs Kathryn Gorman
Senior Management Team
Senior Housemistress Mrs Jennie Douglas
Senior Teacher Mrs Rosemarie Frost
HR Manager Mrs Gillian Lusby
Registrar Mrs Rosemary Mason
Director of Higher Education &
Careers Mrs Rachel McDermott
Head of Sixth Form Mr Ian Thomson
WHO’S WHO
7
ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS
Heads of Department
Member of staff Department
Mr S McGuinness Art
Mrs K Osborne Biology
Mrs H Harper Careers
Dr S Legg Chemistry
Mrs A Chapman Classics
Mrs G Davies Design & Technology
Mrs H Whymark Drama
Mr J Stanford Economics
Ms E Coutts English
Mrs K Guille Modern Foreign Languages
Mr S Ramsbottom Geography
Mr S Mew History, Government & Politics
Mrs C-A Wright ICT/Director of eLearning
Miss K Sumner Maths
Dr N Springthorpe Music
Miss A Hedley (Acting) PE
Ms H McSherry PSHEE
Mr P Duddles Physics
Mr B Kerr-Shaw RS
Dr S Legg Science
WHO’S WHO
8
HOUSEMISTRESSES & TUTORS
Housemistresses
House Housemistress
Julian Mrs K Trenor
Mrs S Morrissey (Assistant)
Mandeville Mrs S Stewart
Mrs C Gissane (Assistant)
Paris Mrs C Turkington
Mrs E Schaffer (Assistant)
Verulam Miss N Collins
Mrs A Bullen (Assistant)
House Tutors
Form Tutor
7J Mrs Morrissey
7M Mrs Gissane
7P Mrs Schaffer
7V Mrs Bullen
8J Mr Lunn
8M Miss Fox
8P Mrs Sapsford
8V Mrs Ryan
9J Mrs Parton
9M Miss Broman
9P Mrs Emes
WHO’S WHO
9
9V Miss Shah
10J Mrs Thomson
10M Miss Willmott
10P Miss Day
10V Mrs Gillman
11J Miss Burgess
11M Mr Tickner
11P Miss Jost
11V Miss Marsh
SJ1 Miss Sumner
SM1 Mr Mew
SP1 Mrs Chapman
SV1 Miss Foster
SJ2 Mrs Osborne
SM2 Mrs Guille
SP2 Mr Kerr-Shaw
SV2 Mrs Monighan/Mr Hillebrand
SJ3 Mrs Ray
SM3 Dr Legg
SP3 Mr Bailey
SV3 Mrs Powell
COMMUNICATION
10
One of the keys to a good parent-school relationship is
communication and there are a number of ways in which we
effect this.
ABSENCES
Advance request to the Head for a significant
absence
Advanced absence requests should only be made for
compulsory events, such as Carol Service, Founders’ Day and
Prize Giving, for exceptional personal circumstances and for
absences that are for longer than one day. Permission is
unlikely to be given unless the request is made well in
advance of the event. Written requests addressed to the
Head should be made to the Head’s PA, Mrs Simpson.
All other advance absence requests
All other absence requests should be made using the Parent
Portal, via the Contact Us tab on the menu bar, where there
are clear instructions to follow.
Routine requests will receive a simple acknowledgement
from your daughter’s House Tutor or the PE Department.
More complex requests will receive a personal response
from your daughters’ Assistant Housemistress,
Housemistress or Head of Sixth Form.
Absence requests should be made as far in advance of the
date as is possible to enable the school to maintain accurate
and up-to-date records of attendance.
COMMUNICATION
11
Absence as a result of short term illness
Mrs Paustian will continue to be the first point of contact for
alerting the school should your daughter be unwell. Please
ring or email as early as you can and no later than 9.15 am on
the morning of each day that your daughter is absent and be
specific about the reason for the absence.
Once your daughter returns to school she will not need a
note to further authorise her illness. The previous phone
calls or emails will suffice.
Absence as a result of longer term illness
In general, longer term absences will be dealt with on an
individual basis. For absences of more than a week’s
duration, formal medical authorisations are likely to be
required by the school.
Absence Line telephone number: 01727 853800
Email: [email protected]
COMMUNICATION
12
ACADEMIC CONCERNS
Should you have any concerns about your daughter’s
academic progress, email the relevant Head of Department
and ‘cc’ your daughter’s House Tutor. Your concerns will be
dealt with by the Head of Department, who will keep your
daughter’s House Tutor informed. For Years 12-13, you
should ‘cc’ the Head of Sixth Form.
A full list of staff can be found on our website at
www.stahs.org.uk under the Community tab.
Heads of Department
Name Department Email Address
Mr S McGuinness Art [email protected]
Mrs K Osborne Biology [email protected]
Mrs H Harper Careers [email protected]
Dr S Legg Chemistry [email protected]
Mrs A Chapman Classics [email protected]
Mrs G Davies Design & Technology [email protected]
Mrs H Whymark Drama [email protected]
Mr J Stanford Economics [email protected]
Ms E Coutts English [email protected]
Mrs C Foster EPQ Co-ordinator [email protected]
Mrs K Guille Modern Foreign
Languages [email protected]
Mr S Ramsbottom Geography/Director
of eLearning [email protected]
Mr S Mew History, Government
& Politics [email protected]
COMMUNICATION
13
Mrs C-A Wright ICT/Director of
eLearning [email protected]
Miss K Sumner Maths [email protected]
Dr N Springthorpe Music [email protected]
Miss A Hedley
(Acting) PE [email protected]
Ms H McSherry PSHEE [email protected]
Mr P Duddles Physics [email protected]
Mr B Kerr-Shaw Religious Studies [email protected]
Dr S Legg Science [email protected]
Mr I Thomson Head of Sixth Form [email protected]
Mrs S Brown Assistant Head of
Sixth Form [email protected]
COMMUNICATION
14
CHANGE OF PERSONAL DETAILS
If any of your personal details should change such as email
address, address, phone numbers, then please let us know as
soon as possible so we can update our records. The simplest
way to do this is via the Details Update electronic form on
the Parent Portal and please make sure that we have both
addresses and contact numbers in cases where parents do
not live at the same address.
If you are temporarily away from home during term time,
please inform us of the alternative arrangements for your
daughter. This should include the name, address and
telephone number of the person responsible for her in your
absence.
HEAD’S BREAKFASTS
As an opportunity to meet with parents, the Head runs a
series of breakfast meetings to which parents are warmly
invited in year groups. They offer parents a chance to talk to
the Head about anything topic, over a coffee and croissant.
These are held on fixed dates between 8.15 am and 9.00 am
in the Jubilee Centre Rotunda, with one held every year for
each year group. The meetings are designed to be informal,
social occasions and will coincide with important periods for
year groups (such as options choices) but there is no fixed
agenda. They also provide opportunities to meet senior staff
and to speak with fellow parents about any issues relevant to
your daughter.
Dates for each year group will be published in the
Michaelmas term.
COMMUNICATION
15
PARENT INFORMATION EVENINGS
Our programme of Parent Information Evenings is designed
to cover a wide range of topics affecting you and your
daughter. The evenings are tailored to suit the needs of
different year groups and incorporate themes such as mental
health awareness, eSafety, 'Life in the Sixth Form' and GCSE
option choices. By working in partnership with parents, we
aim to increase awareness of relevant issues whilst offering
practical and constructive advice on how to guide your
daughter through the decisions and challenges ahead of her.
Dates for this year’s evenings are:
Year 7 New Parents’ Welcome
and Information Evening
Wednesday
16 September
Year 8 Parents' Information
Evening
Thursday
8 October
Year 9 GCSE Options
Information Evening
Wednesday
4 November
Year 11 Sixth Form Open Evening Monday
28 September
Years 12 & 13 Life in the Sixth Form Wednesday
9 September
All Years Young People’s Mental
Health
Thursday
28 April 2016
COMMUNICATION
16
PARENTS’ EVENINGS
There is a formal Parents’ Evening every year, for each year
group to which parents are invited. The purpose of Parents'
Evenings is to give you the opportunity to discuss your
daughter's academic progress with her subject teachers.
We very much hope you will make a special effort to attend
these evenings which provide a vital link between parents and
the school and which are often timed at stages when
important decisions concerning your daughter's future have
to be made.
If you have any concerns regarding your daughter, please
don’t wait until the Parents’ Evening to raise these with the
school, but contact her House Tutor as soon as possible.
Dates for Parent Evenings for 2015-2016 are:
Year 7 Wednesday 16 March 2016
Year 8 Thursday 12 November 2015
Year 9 Wednesday 18 November 2015
Year 10 Tuesday 8 March 2016
Year 11 Thursday 4 February 2016
Year 12 Tuesday 19 January 2016
Year 13 Tuesday 8 December 2015
COMMUNICATION
17
PARENT FORUMS
Parent Forums meet once a term and are chaired by the
Head. They explore school-related topics which are
published in advance, enabling the school to consult regularly
with its parent body.
Details of how to sign up for these forums are published at
the start of the Michaelmas term.
Parent Forums 2015-2016
Tuesday 3 November 4.15 – 5.30 pm
Communications: reporting your daughter’s progress
Tuesday 9 February 4.15 – 5.30 pm
PE provision
Tuesday 3 May 4.15 – 5.30 pm
School lunches
PARENTMAIL
The school uses ParentMail. This is a system which uses
email to send you any notices, information and forms
pertinent to your daughter. If urgent notifications need to be
sent, email and SMS (texts) are used, to ensure that you
receive them on time.
It is therefore imperative that you inform us of any changes
of email or phone numbers as soon as possible.
COMMUNICATION
18
PARENT PORTAL
The St Albans High School Parent Portal provides an online
link between parents and the school to ensure that you are
kept informed. It is a useful way for parents to find out
important information and keep updated. For example, you
will find:
Reports
Daughter’s timetable
Clubs
Bulletins
Latest publications
School calendar
All new parents will automatically receive their own login
details when their daughter joins the school.
COMMUNICATION
19
PASTORAL CONCERNS
Your daughter’s House Tutor, the person who sees her
every day, will be the first contact for most queries. In the
case of Year 7, this House Tutor will be the Assistant
Housemistress as well. You can contact your daughter’s
tutor by email. Alternatively, you can leave a telephone
message with the School Receptionist. Your daughter’s tutor
will acknowledge receipt of your message, and take time to
address your concern. This is the case, especially, if queries
raised become more complex than they initially appeared.
Where your concern is of a more serious nature, you should
contact your daughter’s Assistant Housemistress if your
daughter is in Years 7 and 8; her Housemistress for Years 9
to 11; or the Head of Sixth Form or Assistant Head of Sixth
Form directly.
Housemistresses
House Housemistress Email
Julian Mrs K Trenor [email protected]
Mrs S Morrissey (Asst) [email protected]
Mandeville Mrs S Stewart [email protected]
Mrs C Gissane (Asst) [email protected]
Paris Mrs C Turkington [email protected]
Mrs E Schaffer (Asst) [email protected]
Verulam Miss N Collins [email protected]
Mrs A Bullen (Asst) [email protected]
COMMUNICATION
20
House Tutors
Form Tutor Email
7J Mrs Morrissey [email protected]
7M Mrs Gissane [email protected]
7P Mrs Schaffer [email protected]
7V Mrs Bullen [email protected]
8J Mr Lunn [email protected]
8M Miss Fox [email protected]
8P Mrs Sapsford [email protected]
8V Mrs Ryan [email protected]
9J Mrs Parton [email protected]
9M Miss Broman [email protected]
9P Mrs Emes [email protected]
9V Miss Shah [email protected]
10J Mrs Thomson [email protected]
10M Miss Willmott [email protected]
10P Miss Day [email protected]
10V Mrs Gillman [email protected]
11J Miss Burgess [email protected]
11M Mr Tickner [email protected]
11P Miss Jost [email protected]
11V Miss Marsh [email protected]
SJ1 Miss Sumner [email protected]
COMMUNICATION
21
SM1 Mr Mew [email protected]
SP1 Mrs Chapman [email protected]
SV1 Miss Foster [email protected]
SJ2 Mrs Osborne [email protected]
SM2 Mrs Guille [email protected]
SP2 Mr Kerr-Shaw [email protected]
SV2 Mrs Monighan/
Mr Hillebrand
SJ3 Mrs Ray [email protected]
SM3 Dr Legg [email protected]
SP3 Mr Bailey [email protected]
SV3 Mrs Powell [email protected]
Head of Sixth
Form Mr Ian Thomson [email protected]
Assistant Head
of Sixth Form Mrs Sarah Brown [email protected]
COMMUNICATION
22
REPORTS AND ACADEMIC TRACKING
It is the school’s policy to inform you of your daughter’s
progress every term, either at a Parents’ Evening or by a
report. In terms when no Parents’ Evenings are scheduled,
you will receive either a short report or an extended report.
These reports are accessible via the Parent Portal so you can
view them online at any time. If you would like a hard copy
as well, you will need to request one via your daughter’s
House Tutor.
Throughout her time at the High School, your daughter’s
academic progress is tracked by her House Tutor,
Housemistress and Head of Sixth Form. Students in Years 7
and 9 complete a MidYIS (Middle Years Information System)
test in September, devised by the CEM Centre at Durham
University. The MidYIS score gives us an indication of
academic potential and this, in turn, informs the tracking
process. The information helps us to encourage each student
not only to meet her potential but to exceed it. Your
daughter should measure her attainment and effort against
her own potential and standards and not that of others.
The House Tutor will offer your daughter advice on how to
improve if that is appropriate. If she is already doing well, the
House Tutor will discuss with her how she can excel even
further. In the Sixth Form the tracking system emphasises
independent study and incorporates discussions related to
preparation for the student’s UCAS application.
Recent GCSE and A Level examination results can be viewed
in the Parent Portal, under Information, General Information,
Senior School.
COMMUNICATION
23
The school has its own Twitter @STAHS [and Facebook]
account which parents can follow. It is used to communicate
the High School’s vision and successes to parents, students
and the community and to promote and celebrate pupil
voice.
Photos and posts are also used on individual departmental
Twitter accounts to share girls’ activities when they are away
on school trips. The school does include photographs or
images (including moving images) of pupils in the school's
promotional material such as the prospectus, website and the
media, including social media. We would never disclose a
pupil’s home address, but may include a pupil’s first name in
any accompanying text. Parents who do not want their child's
photograph or image to appear in any of the school's
promotional material must make sure their child knows this
and must write immediately to the Head requesting an
acknowledgement of their letter.
GENERAL INFORMATION
24
The following information is in alphabetical order and will
hopefully provide you with all you need to know (or where
to find out the information) for your daughter’s time in the
school.
BEHAVIOUR
The school has high standards of behaviour and endeavours
to encourage good habits of work and behaviour from the
moment a girl enters the school.
For more information, please see the ‘Behaviour and Exclusion
Policy’ on the Parent Portal under Policies.
CAREERS
Careers education and guidance are a fundamental part of a
High School education.
In Years 7 – 10 girls learn about the wide range of choices
available to them and the skills they require for the 21st
century workplace. This is delivered through interactive
PSHEE lessons and reflective sessions with their House
Tutor. Included within this framework for Year 8 is the
opportunity to participate in work shadowing.
Years 9 and 10 have targeted Careers Days that support the
GCSE and A Level options process by illuminating the
possible academic routes into the world of work.
Years 8 – 13 and their parents enjoy exciting Careers
Breakfasts. At these events girls develop their networking
GENERAL INFORMATION
25
skills when they engage with a variety of professionals in
discussion about their careers.
All Year 10 and 12 girls have the option to undertake
Cambridge Occupational Analysts’ higher education and
careers tests and follow up interviews.
Speakers are specially invited to talk to girls and parents
about their professions at our Inspiring Choices careers
events.
COACHES
We have a wide range of coach routes and the up-to-date list
of these is on the Parent Portal under General Information,
Whole School.
Whilst every effort will be made by the operators to comply
with route schedules, it may be that bad weather, operational
difficulties, or other circumstances beyond our control will
cause delays. In extreme weather, the coach operators will
take the girls to the nearest safest point to their final
destination, from which parents can collect their daughters.
In such circumstances only, the drivers would remain
responsible for the girls until they are all collected.
Drivers are instructed to stop only at official stopping points
and not to leave earlier than scheduled. Girls are requested
to be at the coach stop at least five minutes before the
scheduled arrival time. Passengers are expected to find a
seat as quickly as possible, to remain seated throughout the
journey and wear their seatbelts.
GENERAL INFORMATION
26
Whatever the reason, should the coach be delayed, we
recommend that the girls wait for 30 minutes before seeking
alternative travel or making other arrangements.
Parents should be aware that they are responsible for the
safety of their daughters while they are travelling on coaches.
Please help us by insisting on the cardinal importance of
wearing seatbelts throughout the journey.
Conditions of Use for the coaches and the school Coach
Regulations are on the Parent Portal under General
Information, Whole School.
Casual travel
Any girl wishing to travel on a coach other than her normal
coach must email the Bursary at [email protected] by
9.00 am on the day of travel.
Registers of girls travelling home on each coach are in the
lower corridor. If a girl’s coach arrangements change, it is a
girl’s responsibility to change the register accordingly before
2.00 pm. Regular checks will be made and girls not
following procedure will be given order marks. In an
emergency, where circumstances change after 2.00 pm, she
should report to the main reception. Some coaches may be
full and therefore casual travel would not be possible. If
there is no space on the coach, alternative arrangements
must be made.
Casual travel undertaken by pupils not paying for termly
coach use will be charged at £7.00 per journey, added to the
next termly bill.
GENERAL INFORMATION
27
Year 7 parents are advised to make sure their daughter
knows the route she will travel and her stop in advance of
coach use as coach drivers cannot accept responsibility for a
girl who misses her stop.
If you should need to phone PPH Coaches, their number is
01727 864988.
Late Coaches
Late coaches run on Mondays to Thursdays to cater for late
activities. These leave at 5.10 pm.
ESAFETY
Safe and appropriate use of technology are paramount in
today’s increasingly digital world: both ICT and PSHEE
lessons include eSafety issues and discussions within their
curricula and the school has a dedicated eSafety Officer. It is,
however, vital that these messages are also reinforced within
the home environment and the school provides an eSafety
site which provides useful, current information for parents.
EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
The school runs a wide range of activities at lunch time and
after-school (4.00 pm – 5.00 pm) and all girls are encouraged
to attend at least one of these. Most after-school activities
are timetabled on Monday to Thursday evenings to enable
your daughter to travel home on a ‘late’ coach if this is her
mode of transport. A list of all clubs on offer and what they
involve is on the Parent Portal, under Clubs.
GENERAL INFORMATION
28
FEES
Tuition fee charges are normally reviewed once a year and,
at present, are announced in April for the following academic
year. Fees are payable in advance and are due by the first day
of term. A late payment charge of 2% per month will be
added for payments received after the due date.
Details of methods of payment will be sent to you with the
details of the tuition fee charges. Further details are available
from the Fees Administrator who can be contacted on 01727
792540 or by emailing [email protected].
Most books are provided by the school, but where girls
should be annotating texts, they will be charged for such
books on their termly bill. Please help us to keep down
costs by encouraging your daughter to look after her books.
If school or library books are not returned on time or
returned in such a condition that the member of staff
concerned feels that it is due to careless treatment or wilful
damage, then you will be charged the full replacement cost.
FEES ASSISTANCE
In the present economic climate the Governors feel it is right
to remind parents that a proportion of the school’s income is
budgeted to be available to provide fees assistance to parents
who encounter financial difficulties. If parents find themselves
in this situation and wish to explore the possibility of
assistance, they should contact the Head or the Bursar who
will be happy to provide further details of the scheme.
GENERAL INFORMATION
29
FROG (VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT)
The school is committed to providing remote access to
school resources and does so using a Virtual Learning
Platform (VLE), Frog. The VLE provides teaching and learning
materials, but is also the administrative hub of the school. It
is your daughter’s responsibility to check school notices and
school emails on a daily basis; this is part of a structured
framework for her growing independence.
HOMEWORK
All subjects set homework on the same day as the lesson
takes place.
For Years 7 – 9, each homework is expected to take 20
minutes and for some subjects, one longer homework is set
for 40 minutes. All homework must be written into your
daughter’s Homework Diary at the time it is set.
In Years 10 – 11, each homework is expected to take 30
minutes, except for English homework which should take 45
minutes.
HOMEWORK DIARY
Filled with essential information for life at the High School,
your daughter should write down all the homework set for
each day in her Homework Diary so she knows exactly what
she should be doing. Your daughter’s diary will also provide
her with the opportunity to record her extra-curricular
activities and achievements on a termly basis.
GENERAL INFORMATION
30
HOUSE SYSTEM
The school’s aim is to protect its close and kind community,
offering spiritual, emotional and moral support. To facilitate
this, there are four House groups for administration, pastoral
and some teaching purposes and every girl is placed into one
of these Houses. The House system also provides a valuable
opportunity for girls of all ages to work together and to take
on responsibilities as they move through the school.
GENERAL INFORMATION
31
House badge House name
and colour Named after:
Julian
(Red)
Lady Juliana Berners, a
fifteenth century
prioress of Sopwell,
famous for her learning.
Mandeville
(Green)
Sir John Mandeville,
associated with a book
of travels in the
fourteenth century.
Paris
(Blue)
Matthew Paris, a monk
of St Albans Abbey in
the thirteenth century
and well-known for his
Chronicle of local
events.
Verulam
(Yellow)
Francis Bacon, first Earl
of Verulam, philosopher
and writer.
GENERAL INFORMATION
32
LUNCHES
A large proportion of girls have school lunches where there
is a wide choice of food, including vegetarian options. We
offer nutritious, healthy food, using as much fresh produce as
possible. Nuts are not knowingly used, with the exception of
coconut (Senior School only). Themed days and the
introduction of new foods help to make a positive impact at
lunch time. A Healthy Eating Committee is made up of staff
and girls.
Weekly menus are available to view on the Parent Portal,
under Menus.
Girls eat according to a year group rota, which varies daily.
Girls who eat packed lunches eat with the rest of the year
group in the Dining Room.
School Lunch charges:
Termly lunch £275
Casual lunch £5.95 per day
The school does not make a profit on lunches and every
endeavour is made to keep these charges as low as possible.
Days missed through illness, etc cannot be refunded. The
charges will be reduced for the Trinity term for girls in Years
11 and 13 who go on extended study leave. Notice of
intention to change must be emailed to [email protected]
no later than the first day of term or half term at the end of
which notice is to take effect.
Parents are reminded that a full half term’s notice to
withdraw from school lunches is required and you should
email [email protected] to give notice.
GENERAL INFORMATION
33
It matters to us that girls enjoy their lunch and we encourage
feedback from them and from you to ensure that their dining
experience remains a very good one.
Lunch cards
Each girl is issued with a lunch card at the beginning of the
school year, required for entry to the Dining Room.
Emergency lunch tickets
In an emergency, a girl may obtain an emergency lunch by
obtaining a card from the School Receptionist after 1.00 pm.
The Receptionist will record her name and the cost will be
added to the next fees bill.
Lost cards
If a girl loses her card, she may obtain an Emergency Lunch
ticket (see above) but if, after three days, she still has not
found her card, she must obtain a new one from the Bursary
(via Frog), giving them 24 hours’ notice. Third and
subsequent replacement cards per year will cost £5.00 and
the charge will be added to the next fees bill.
Change of lunch cards
Any changes to lunch cards should be made on the first day
of term or half term. A new card can be collected from the
Bursary.
Packed lunches
Packed lunches must be consumed in the Dining Room.
Chilled water is available in the canteen at break and lunch
time.
GENERAL INFORMATION
34
As we are encouraging healthy eating throughout the school,
we would be grateful if the content of packed lunches reflects
our values.
In addition, the school requests that packed lunches do not
include nuts nor food containing nuts.
Girls may wish to bring in a small snack to eat at mid-
morning break and there is a tuck shop in the Dining Room
and in Michael House operated by the Catering Department.
MEDICAL PROVISION
The Senior School has two Nurses and other members of
staff who hold First Aid qualifications to deal with accidents
and illness as they arise during the school day. The Nurses
may administer paracetamol, ibuprofen, antihistamine and/or
throat lozenges, following receipt of a signed school consent
form if your daughter is under 16. Girls over 16 may self-
consent.
Should your daughter need to take any medicines during the
day, a letter of consent stating your daughter's name, the
medicine, quantity and time to be administered should be
sent to school. Please ensure that the medicine is fully
labelled, in the original container and then please ask your
daughter to give the medicine to the Nurse, so that it may be
given at the appropriate time. The Nurse will supervise the
taking of the medicine.
A register of asthma sufferers, girls with severe allergies and
other medical conditions is kept by the Nurses. Girls with
asthma should have their named inhalers with them at all
GENERAL INFORMATION
35
times. A spare inhaler may be sent to the medical room to
be kept as a back-up should a girl misplace or forget her
inhaler. The school can administer salbutamol (reliever
inhaler) if your daughter’s inhaler is not accessible. This can
only be given with parental consent. Girls with severe
allergies should carry their Adrenaline Injector with them at
all times. The Nurses have a spare injector for use in
emergencies. Girls must remember to take their inhaler
and/or injector with them whenever they leave school for a
games lesson or an excursion, etc.
If any girl feels unwell, she must go to the Nurse. In cases
where the Nurse deems it necessary for your daughter to be
sent home during the school day, she will notify you and ask
you to collect her. Girls should only be collected on the
recommendation of the Nurse, not at the request of
the girl herself.
In the rare event of a serious accident which requires
emergency hospital treatment, the school will make the
necessary arrangements and you will be contacted
immediately with all the details.
In order for the foregoing to work smoothly it is essential
that parents advise the school immediately if there is any
change to telephone numbers, to enable us to contact you
straightaway should an emergency arise.
GENERAL INFORMATION
36
MEDICALS
School medicals are arranged for all girls in Years 7 and 10
on entry to the school. Parents are strongly recommended
to take advantage of this and will be invited to attend if they
so wish. We also follow up any concerns as appropriate.
The School Docor would be pleased to consult with parents
on any matters which concern their daughter(s) if required.
To facilitate the best care possible, parents are asked to keep
the Nurses informed of any medical condition or problem
pertaining to their daughter during her time at the school.
As part of an overall approach to healthcare, girls will be
regularly weighed and their height measured.
Communicable Diseases
There is a list of communicable diseases on the Parent Portal
under General Information, Whole School. If your daughter
contracts any of them, you need to inform the school by
telephone immediately.
We recommend that girls are absent from school for the
following periods for the illnesses listed below:
Vomiting and diarrhoea Return when there has been
no recurrence for 24 hours
Measles and chickenpox Return 5 days from onset of
rash
Mumps Return 5 days from onset of
swollen glands
GENERAL INFORMATION
37
MOBILE PHONES
Mobile phones are permitted in school but the school cannot
take responsibility for their security, and girls must be
responsible for them by locking them away securely in their
locker.
MUSIC TUITION
A full list of extra music lessons is on the Parent Portal under
General Information, Senior School, Music.
The majority of lessons are given during school time on a
rota basis with fixed lesson times guaranteed only for girls in
Year 11 and above. Whilst every effort is made to avoid
disruption of music lessons through expeditions and school
functions, this is sometimes inevitable.
Requests for music tuition and all correspondence
connected with the taking of music lessons should be
addressed to the Director of Music, Dr Nigel Springthorpe,
email address: [email protected]. Normally lessons can be
arranged to start within half a term.
Lunch time theory classes to prepare girls in the Senior
School for Grade 5 are also available (free of charge) please
contact the Music Administrator for details:
Musical instruments
Before starting piano lessons it is assumed that there will
be a suitable instrument available at home for regular
GENERAL INFORMATION
38
practice. In the case of orchestral instruments, we can
usually arrange for beginners to hire a school instrument
for a year, although saxophones and guitars are not
available for hire and parents are asked to make their
own arrangements for these.
Orchestras and Bands
There is a rich provision of extra-curricular instrumental
groups and several have regularly achieved success on a
national level. Full details of standards required and times of
rehearsals will be available to view on our Parent Portal. It is
hoped that girls who have reached a suitable musical
standard will be able to participate in these ensembles.
Smaller ensembles also rehearse before school and at lunch
time.
Choirs
Choirs participate in services in the Cathedral and Abbey
Church of St Alban, in concerts in school as well as in concerts
and local, national and international competitions.
There are un-auditioned choirs open to all, as well as more
select chamber choirs. Parents are also invited to take part in
the annual Choral Society Concert, rehearsals for which take
place in the Lent term leading up to a major concert with
orchestra and professional soloists in the Abbey in March.
For information about each of these choirs, please visit the
Parent Portal, General Information, Senior School.
GENERAL INFORMATION
39
PARKING
Being located so close to the city centre, unfortunately
parking can be difficult. Townsend Avenue can get very
congested particularly during coach pick-up times (between
3.20 pm – 4.00 pm). There is a public (pay-and-display) car
park at the entrance to Townsend Avenue from St Peter's
Street should you need to park for a longer time. Parking on
the school premises is reserved for staff only.
Please would you always avoid waiting or turning in Maple
School entrance in Hall Place Gardens as this area is also
very congested.
For safety reasons parking is not available for parents in the
Sports Hall car park and you are asked not to drive into this
car park to leave or collect your daughter. Please do not
drop off your daughter in the staff car park for the same
safety reasons.
If a girl drives herself, drives others or is a passenger in a car
driven by another pupil, it is entirely at her own risk and she
should check her own and others’ insurance to make sure
she has adequate cover.
GENERAL INFORMATION
40
PASTORAL CARE
Your daughter’s welfare is of paramount importance to us. In
order to support her as effectively as possible, open and
efficient communication between home and school is
essential. If there is something that is troubling your
daughter, please contact us sooner rather than later. Rest
assured, we will be doing the same if we notice any changes
in your daughter at school.
Our large pastoral team, led by the Senior Deputy Head and
Senior Housemistress, work together with you to support
your daughter. It also draws on the expertise of the Chaplain,
the counsellor and a medical centre with two nurses and a
general practitioner. We can provide a high level of support
in school but there may be instances which require the
involvement of outside agencies. The pastoral team will help
you to find the most appropriate care for your daughter.
PERSONAL POSSESSIONS
The school does not accept any liability for personal
possessions. All uniform, musical instruments, watches,
calculators, mobile phones, electronic equipment and purses
should be clearly and permanently marked with the
owner's name. Money and watches or other valuables
must either be carried on the person or handed to a
member of staff for safe keeping. Large amounts of money
or valuable items should not be brought to school.
Borrowing is allowed only with the consent of the owner and
the express permission of a member of staff.
GENERAL INFORMATION
41
All girls are provided with lockers so that their personal
possessions can be stored securely.
Unmarked property is not kept in school for more than half a
term and a final Lost Property clearance takes place at the
end of each term.
POLICIES
The school has a large number of policies, which are to be
found on the Parent Portal under Information, Policies. They
include:
Admissions Policy Anti-bullying arrangements
Assessment Policy
Attendance and Absence
AUP for Pupils
Behaviour and Exclusion Policy
Child Protection Policy (Safeguarding)
Code of Conduct
Complaints Policy
Curriculum Policy
Cyber Bullying
Data Protection Policy
Discipline
EAL
Educational Visits
Equal Opportunities
Exam Concessions
First Aid Policy
Health and Safety Policy
GENERAL INFORMATION
42
Safeguarding
Safer Recruitment
Misuse of Substances
Parent Portal AUP
PSHEE 7 – 11 Overview (Personal, Social, Health & Economic
Education)
SEND (Special Educational Needs)
The most recent ISI Inspection Report (date) is available on
the Parent Portal under General Information, Whole School.
REWARDS AND SANCTIONS
We have a system of merit marks and prizes throughout the
school which recognises and rewards girls who make
consistently positive contributions.
Merit Marks
These are awarded in recognition of good work, effort or
service to the school. They can be given in all areas of
school life, including extra-curricular and House activities.
Girls register their own merit marks on our Frog system.
These are then checked regularly by their House Tutors.
When a girl has been awarded ten merit marks in a term, she
receives a certificate signed by her Housemistress. When
she has two certificates, she goes to see the Head to record
this in the Achievement Book. Staff will also send girls direct
to the Head to record a really outstanding piece of work or
other achievement.
GENERAL INFORMATION
43
Conduct in the school is generally excellent and therefore
sanctions are light and behaviour issues are very rare.
However, if sanctions are required, Order Marks are given.
Order Marks
Possible reasons for Order Marks:
1. Late homework
2. Chewing gum
3. Rudeness/misbehaviour
4. Persistent lateness to registration and/or lessons
5. Persistent failure to bring the appropriate kit to lessons
6. Persistent forgetting of lunch card
7. Persistent uniform infringements
Detentions are given for more serious breaches of
behaviour. Please refer to the ‘Behaviour and Exclusion
Policy’ on the Parent Portal for further information.
Prizes
In Years 7 to 11 two categories of prizes are awarded.
Academic Prizes are awarded to those girls in the year who
have achieved the highest academic standard throughout the
year and in their end of year examinations.
Year Prizes are awarded to girls who have had a consistently
positive attitude in lessons as well as recognising their overall
contribution to school life.
GENERAL INFORMATION
44
In Year 13, as well as Academic and Year Prizes, there are
also prizes for endeavour and special service to the school.
In addition to all the above there are named prizes, donated
by alumnae and supporters of the school which recognise
specific achievement in various areas of school life.
SCHOOL RULES
Girls’ conduct is generally excellent and self-regulated but
there are a few key rules it is important your daughter
recognises and follows.
The rules are essential for the efficient running of the school
and for the safety of the girls and their property. We expect
girls to behave with consideration for others.
1. Attendance
School hours are from 8.35 am until 3.50 pm. Girls must
be in registration for 8.35 am. Girls who arrive at school
before 8.15 am should wait in the Dining Room until the
bell rings. Girls who arrive after 8.35 am must sign in
according to procedure.
Girls may be asked to stay after school or on Saturdays
for practices and rehearsals, to play in matches and,
exceptionally, for disciplinary reasons.
No girl may leave the school premises during the
day without permission. Where permission is given
to attend dentist appointments etc girls must sign OUT
and IN on return in the relevant clipboard. If illness is
GENERAL INFORMATION
45
experienced during the day, girls should go to the
Nurse and are only allowed to go home if they have been
to see the Nurse and parents have been contacted.
2. Off-site arrangements
No girl below Year 12 may walk to the field alone.
Girls in Year 10 and 11 who have private study lesson 5
may go home, unless required for an after school activity.
Alternatively, with parental consent they may have ‘town
leave’.
3. Uniform
Every girl below Year 12 is required to wear the correct
school uniform.
For all girls below Year 12 no jewellery may be worn
except one pair of plain stud earrings. They are allowed
in the earlobe only and must be removed for PE. Hair
must be tied back and a natural colour.
All items of uniform and other personal possessions
should be clearly and permanently marked with the
owner’s name.
4. Use of mobile devices
Girls must adhere to the ‘Acceptable Use Policy for
Pupils’ and a ‘Mobile Device Policy’ with regard to the
use of IT equipment and their own electronic devices.
Breaches of the policies may result in detention.
GENERAL INFORMATION
46
5. Conduct around the school and on coaches
For safety reasons every individual must be familiar with
the arrangements for evacuation of the building in an
emergency and be aware of safety instructions applicable
to particular departments. These are displayed clearly in
every department.
Lunch cards and coach cards must be carried at all times.
The chewing of gum anywhere on site is strictly not
allowed. The possession of, or use of, cigarettes, alcohol
or banned substances, is forbidden.
Food may only be consumed in the designated areas.
Food may not be eaten in classrooms. Bottled water may
be consumed in class at the teacher’s discretion.
Poor behaviour on the coach will not be tolerated and
may result in being banned from using the coaches and
failure to wear a seatbelt is strictly prohibited.
6. Use of the coffee shop
Years 7 – 9 After school
Year 10 Any time during Trinity term
examination periods.
During break and lunch in the last
half of Trinity term.
Year 11 Any time during the mock and public
examination period.
During break and lunch in normal
term time.
Years 12 and 13 Any time
GENERAL INFORMATION
47
SECOND-HAND UNIFORM SHOP
The Second-Hand Uniform Shop is run by parent volunteers.
It provides a really useful and cost-saving service to parents
as well as making a substantial fund raising contribution to
the school. Whether buying or selling, 20% of the proceeds
goes to the school; last year the donation was in the region
of £3,000. It sells practically everything that is on the official
school uniform list for both the Senior School and
Wheathampstead House.
For full details of this service, please see the information on
the Parent Portal.
Further information
If you need any further information, the Second-Hand
Uniform Shop Co-ordinator, Jan Caines, can be contacted via
Senior School Reception.
STUDY LEAVE
Girls in Years 10 – 12 are granted study leave during their
examination periods and they only need to come into school
when they have an examination. Year 13 study leave starts
after the June half term. All girls must remember to sign in
and out. Revision rooms will be made available if girls wish to
study in school.
GENERAL INFORMATION
48
TERM DATES
Michaelmas term 2015
Year 12 Tuesday 8 September
Reception, Years 7, 12 & 13 Wednesday 9 September
Whole school Thursday 10 September
Half term Monday 19 October –
Friday 30 October
Term ends Friday 18 December
Lent term 2016
Whole school Tuesday 12 January
Reception, Years 1 & 2 return Thursday 14 January
Half term Monday 15 February –
Friday 19 February
Term ends Thursday 24 March
Trinity term 2016
Whole school Tuesday 19 April
Half term Monday 30 May –
Friday 3 June
Term ends Friday 15 July
GENERAL INFORMATION
49
TIMINGS OF THE SCHOOL DAY
Girls should arrive promptly for Registration and for lessons
as movement time between classrooms has been built into the
school day.
Registration 8.35 am – 8.45 am
Assembly or 8.50 am – 9.10 am
Tutor time 8.35 am – 9.10 am
Lesson 1 9.15 am – 10.15 am
Break (inc movement time) 10.15 am – 10.35 am
Lesson 2 10.35 am – 11.35 am
Lesson 3 11.40 am – 12.40 pm
Lunch (inc movement to Lesson 4) 12.40 pm – 1.45 pm
Lesson 4 1.45 pm – 2.45 pm
Lesson 5 2.50 pm – 3.50 pm
Coaches depart at 4.00 pm
Girls may choose to stay in school between 4.00 pm – 5.00 pm
for an organised school activity or for doing homework in
Room M10, the libraries or Room 25.
Late coaches run only on Mondays to Thursdays at 5.10 pm.
UNIFORM
Certain items of uniform MUST be purchased through the
official school outfitter (indicated on the uniform list). Other
items, although in most cases stocked by Stevensons, may be
purchased elsewhere (eg Stanmore Pullen), provided that
they conform to the specified regulations.
GENERAL INFORMATION
50
The school outfitters are:
Stevensons Ltd
133 Victoria Street
St Albans
Tel: 01727 853262
A full list of the uniform and other items which must be
purchased are on the Uniform List on the Parent Portal
under General Information, Whole School.
WI-FI
For convenience, those girls who have a smartphone, or
other portable device, are permitted to access these
resources and their school emails via school Wi-Fi: the
instructions for doing so can be found on the VLE. However,
it should be noted that smart devices are not a requirement
and the ‘Acceptable Use Policy’ and ‘Mobile Device Policy’
rules apply at all times: access is with teacher permission
only. Year 7 girls should not expect to enjoy this access until
they have completed an eSafety program.
GENERAL INFORMATION
51
St Albans High School for Girls
Townsend Avenue
St Albans
Hertfordshire
AL1 3SJ
Tel: 01727 853800
www.stahs.org.uk
NOTES
NOTES
Artwork by
Eleanor Yong
Year 13
