Dear Parents/Carers,
We are looking forward to welcoming your child back to the academy on Monday 8th March 2021. All students will receive an induction on their first day to support the safe and successful return to the Academy. To ensure that all children have a high quality induction back to the academy and to support our second round of Lateral Flow testing, we will be staggering the return. Students should arrive at the academy on time and enter via the Holburne Road entrance.
Students must wear a face mask to keep themselves and others safe, unless exempt. This is upon guidance from the Government on the return for schools. If your child is exempt and we are not aware, please inform Hawking School. Students will only be considered exempt upon confirmation from their parent/carer. A discreet badge will be given to these students. Face masks are now compulsory in all inside spaces, including classrooms and the common room area. Students should bring a small plastic bag to place their face mask in when they are eating or drinking. This is to reduce the possibility of transmission, keeping our community safe.
Students will have designated finish times as outlined below:
| Year Group | 12 | 13 |
| Finish Time (Mon, Tues, Thur, Fri) | 2:45pm | 3:15pm |
| Finish Time (Weds) | 2:00pm | 2:30pm |
The government announced in February 2021, that from the date of return, school attendance is mandatory. This means that it is compulsory for all children to attend school unless they have been advised to remain at home by a medical professional.
If your child is unable to attend the academy at any time because they are complying with clinical/and or public health advice then you must inform the academy through normal absence procedures immediately. Similarly, If your child is anxious about the return to the academy, then please discuss with Hawking School in order that we can put the right support in place.
Standards and Expectations
As most students have been away from the academy for a significant amount of time, I want to take this opportunity to remind you of our high standards and expectations at The Halley Academy, as well as inform you of some amendments to procedures and expectations as part of our response to the current guidelines.
Punctuality
Last year we successfully introduced a new punctuality procedure which had a significantly positive impact. It is important that students are in the academy, taking advantage of every possible opportunity to learn and therefore a prompt daily arrival is extremely important. I would like to thank you for your support in ensuring your child arrives to the academy at their allocated entrance point by 8:25am at the latest and below is a reminder of the procedures for students arriving outside of this time:
- Late arrival from 8:26am – 8:40am student will attend a 30-minute loss of personal time (LOPT). Parents will receive a text message regarding lateness.
- Late arrival from 8:41am-9:15am student will attend a 60-minute LOPT. Parents will receive a text message regarding lateness.
All LOPTs will be completed on the same day as the lateness to the academy.
Independent Study Period
If your child has an independent study period during the last lesson of the academy day (1:45pm and 1:00pm on Wednesday), they will be permitted to leave the academy site to study at home if they wish. Students who leave site early must be up to date with their work and have arrived on time to the academy that day. They must return home immediately to continue with their studies. Permission to leave early is at the discretion of the Hawking School team.
Dress Code
All students are required to dress smartly for the academy. This is intended to support students in making appropriate choices as they prepare for work or the next stage of their educational journey. Our dress code is business wear, that is what you would expect in a formal office environment.
Male students are expected to wear smart trousers, shirt and tie.
Female students must also be in smart business wear. This includes a combination of: a smart shirt/blouse, knee-length skirt, knee-length dress, smart trousers.
Trainers, revealing clothes, jeans of any kind or colour, leggings, hoodies, are not permitted.
If there are issues with meeting these standards, then please contact the Hawking school immediately, as the academy can support families in cases of hardship.
Jewellery and Appearance
Students are only allowed to wear a maximum of one small stud (no stone) in each ear, worn in the lower lobe, and a wrist watch. Rings, bracelets (with the exception of medical bracelets) and piercings additional to one in the lower ear lobe are not permitted.
Chewing Gum
Chewing gum is not allowed on the academy site.
Mobile Phones/Headphones/Electronic Devices
When students arrive at the start of the academy day, mobile phones, ear/headphones and other electronic devices must be switched off and put away. Mobile phones and devices can only be used in the sixth form common area and will be confiscated if used elsewhere in the school. Confiscated items can be collected from the Hawking School office at the end of the day. The academy has a legal right to confiscate items such as jewellery, mobile phones or any other item contravening academy policies. (We may also confiscate items outside the policy if it causes health and safety concern or disrupts the smooth running of the academy.) The academy does not take responsibility for loss or damage to any electronic devices brought into the academy.
Equipment
In order to be ready for learning, all students must bring to the academy a suitable school bag large enough for their A4 working notes folder.
Students must have a pencil case which must contain pens, pencils, ruler and rubber and personal hand sanitiser. There will be regular equipment checks. We recommend students bring more than one pen with them so they always have a replacement. The current recommendation from the government is that students provide their own equipment, such as pens and pencils and avoid sharing these items. Please ensure that your child is well equipped for learning every day.
We are promoting respiratory hygiene with our students. Students should therefore bring tissues to the academy in order to adhere to the ‘Catch it, bin it, kill it’ advice.
Energy Drinks
Caffeinated energy drinks are not permitted in the academy. This is reflected in the academy behaviour management policy, in line with the national food standards for schools and academies. Consumption of these drinks can lead to poor concentration, lack of energy (when the inevitable ‘crash’ occurs), poor behaviour, insomnia, increased anxiety, nausea, headaches and other health risks. Any student found with these drinks will have them confiscated. When in lessons, students are allowed to drink still water.
Movement in the Academy
Students will receive an induction on their first day back at the academy. All students must adhere to the control measures put in place, which includes designated learning areas, designated areas for unstructured times, designated toilets and a’ keep left and keep moving’ policy in corridors.
Community Conduct
The high expectations of our students extend to the community. We expect The Halley Academy students to represent the academy well. When travelling to and from the academy, students should always be respectful of each other and other members of the community, thinking about the language they use to each other as well as not making excessive noise or behaving in an antisocial manner. It is important that students use appointed road crossings and follow road safety rules. Please reiterate this at home with your child and ensure you know the journey they take to and from the academy. Your child should be encouraged to go home directly at the end of the academy day.
As for our return at the start of the academic year, our Covid-19 measures remain and have been updated in accordance with the guidance from the Department for Education. I encourage you to refer to our academy website where we will upload the full induction presentation that all students will receive upon their return. Please do discuss our high expectations with your child and prepare them to wear their mask at all times when inside. The safety of our community and the wider community is extremely important and our procedures have been developed with this in mind.
I look forward to welcoming your child back to the academy next week.
Yours faithfully,
Tim Harrison
Head of Hawking School