Return to the Academy – September 2021 Arrangements

Dear Parents/Carers,

As we look to the next academic year, I am writing to inform you of the arrangements for our students’ return.

As you will know from government announcements, all schools are required to undertake COVID-19 testing with students before they begin their lessons. This means that the start of the academic year will need to be adapted as follows:

Arrival and Dismissal

Each year group has been assigned a gate through which to enter and exit the academy; this is the only gate that students will be allowed to use.

Academy gates will open at 8am and students will be able to purchase breakfast from our Restaurant at this time. Students should not arrive before 8am nor congregate around the gates.

At the end of the academy day (2:45pm and 2pm on a Wednesday), students must leave the academy site immediately unless they have been directed to remain behind or are attending an enrichment club. A reminder that students in Years 11 and 13 have an extended Period 5 lesson each day and will leave 30 minutes later at 3:15pm and at 2:30pm on a Wednesday.

Lessons and Transitions

Students in Years 8, 9, 10, 11 and Sixth Form will move around the site to different classrooms for their lessons. We will have a 3 minute transition period to allow students to arrive at their lessons.  Any student who is persistently late to their lesson, without good reason, will be placed on a punctuality report. It is important that students have good attendance and punctuality in order to maximise their learning. We will operate a ‘keep left, keep moving’ policy to ensure students arrive punctually. Please discuss this with your child so they are clear on our expectations.

In order to support transition to secondary school, Year 7 will be based in one area for most of their lessons. Students will move to specialist teaching spaces for their practical subjects including science, art and PE, and will follow our 3 minute transition system. 

Break and Lunchtime

Students will be able to move freely across our outside spaces for their break and lunch times, and have access to all toilets. Spaces for ball games will be allocated to specific year groups, as will an area for Year 7 only to use should they wish. Refreshments can be purchased from the Restaurant and Street Kitchen and students are to use our biometric payment system. Please ensure that your child’s account has sufficient funds which can be topped up via ParentPay.  Students who are entitled to Free School Meals will be able to use this entitlement at lunch time only.  If you have any questions or need some further support regarding either Free School Meals or ParentPay, please contact admissions@thehalleyacademy.org.uk. 

Students are able to bring their own food items with them to consume at break and lunch. These items should be healthy and support sustaining good learning habits. Fizzy drinks are not allowed onsite nor are sugary sweets.

Equipment and Uniform

Please ensure that your child attends the Academy each day in the correct uniform and with the correct equipment. This ensures that there is no disruption to their learning.  Students should have at least one pen, one pencil, a rubber, and a ruler, although it is advisable they have more than one pen for a replacement. Students must also bring their Chromebook with them each day, fully charged and their PE kit on their allocated PE days.

Our high expectations of student uniform remain and our students should look smart at all times, wearing their uniform with pride. Coats should be plain black in colour and hoodies must not be brought to the Academy. In reference to jewellery, 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 only, no other jewellery is permitted. Students should wear plain black leather shoes – trainers, boots, non-leather shoes or shoes with branding or coloured stitching may not be worn. Furthermore, the wearing of false eyelashes, acrylic nails and nail varnish is not allowed.

Face Coverings and Masks

Masks are not compulsory however, if students wish to wear one, this is permitted. 

Detail of Suspected Cases

Students who become unwell with COVID-19 symptoms during the academy day will be assessed by both a First Aider and a Senior member of staff  who will act accordingly. You will be contacted as necessary and will be advised on your next steps by a member of the small schools team. The Academy will take the necessary steps to inform parents and the relevant agencies of any positive cases onsite. The priority is always the protection of everyone, and all communication will be undertaken in a timely manner. Please be assured that specific identification of individuals will not be communicated widely.

ParentPay

Particularly for our new parents, and a reminder for returning parents, please ensure that you have activated your ParentPay login and that your son’s/daughter’s meal account is in credit ready for the start of term. Please allow 12 hours for payments to go through to the account and the account will need to remain in credit in order to purchase food in the academy. 

On Wednesday 1st September, our Year 7 students will be provided with a breaktime snack and their lunchtime meal. 

We appreciate that there is a lot of information in this letter and, should you require further information or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact the Academy at admin@thehalleyacademy.org.uk. In order to ensure that students are able to settle back into our routines and expectations, please discuss this letter with your son/daughter. We will consistently maintain our commitment to high standards of safety for the wellbeing of all, and students will be expected to assume their responsibility in this. Please find our Community Code of Conduct here.

Thank you for your support with this information as we welcome the return to school for everyone. We hope that you and your families have a restful summer break and we look forward to working with you next academic year to achieve the best outcomes for our students.

Yours faithfully,

John Dixon

Principal

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