Principals forthcoming academic year letter 2016 17

All Hallows Catholic College A Voluntary Academy | National Support School | Specialists in Teacher Learning

Aspire not to have more but to be more Brooklands Avenue, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 8LB | Telephone: 01625 426138 | Fax: 01625 468126 | admin@allhallows.org.uk | www.allhallows.org.uk Executive Principal - Mr A S Billings BA(Hons) PGCE MA NPQH | National Leader of Education

19 July 2016 Dear Parents/Carers As is our tradition at All Hallows at this time of the year, I write to share with you some key messages, celebrations and developments in our voluntary academy for the forthcoming academic Year 2016-17.

Celebrations The Diocesan inspection in March 2016 confirmed that the College is outstanding in all areas of its provision for Catholic Education. In particular the inspector praised the way the College has embedded and lives out its values, strong leadership and management, the quality of teaching and consistently high outcomes. The reports says: ‘The values of the College are strongly evidenced…in practice, aspiration and relationships.’ ‘excellence includes provision for education, welfare and spiritual well-being of students of all ages and needs.’ A full copy of the report is available on our website. http://www.allhallows.org.uk/about-us/inspection-reports/

Thank you to all staff, governors, students and parents – it is our partnership of understanding and passion for making a difference that makes this possible.

The second major celebration and development for All Hallows is becoming a National Teaching School. This status recognises our excellent work training new and established teachers and providing courses in teaching, learning and leadership, as well as our successful research and development, and school to school support. Our Romero Teaching School Alliance will specialise in work with a wide variety of schools, including Church schools and co-operative schools. Mrs Connor will become the first Director of the Teaching School from September.

New Developments New Homework Programme From September 2016, the College will be using ‘Show My Homework’ a programme to set and track homework, and to manage home-school communication regarding homework. It is a web based system which will be used instead of planners for communications about homework. The student planner will be retained for at least one year as a diary, but its use will be reviewed during the course of 2016-17. Logins for Show My Homework will be issued in September.

There is also a free app which we will ask students to download to their phones.

New GCSE Grades and Key Stage 3 Levels The current grading system at GCSE grades A*-G is being replaced by grades 9-1. English and Mathematics will be graded 9-1 in GCSE examinations taken from 2017, all other subjects will be graded 9-1 in GCSE examinations taken from 2018. The current levels 8-2 at Key Stage 2 and 3 are also being discontinued nationally. There is no statutory or standard replacement for these levels. For the purposes of target setting and tracking, All Hallows Catholic College will adopt the new GCSE levels from year 7 through to year 11 and where appropriate further divide them into sublevels denoted by lower case letters eg 5a, 5b, 5c to mirror the outgoing Key Stage 3 system. Flight paths have been modified to reflect the new levels and parents should discuss these with their children when they appear in the exercise books in September.

Honourable Purpose

Respect

Compassion

Co-operation

Stewardship

All Hallows Catholic College is a member of The Holy Family of Nazareth Catholic Academy Trust, registered in England and Wal es with company number 8307881 whose registered office is Brooklands Avenue, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 8LB

All Hallows Catholic College A Voluntary Academy | National Support School | Specialists in Teacher Learning

Aspire not to have more but to be more Brooklands Avenue, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 8LB | Telephone: 01625 426138 | Fax: 01625 468126 | admin@allhallows.org.uk | www.allhallows.org.uk Executive Principal - Mr A S Billings BA(Hons) PGCE MA NPQH | National Leader of Education

Studying in the Sixth Form Parents are reminded that GCSE Examination results will be issued to students in person on: Thursday 18 August 08.30 - 10.30 A level Results Thursday 18 August 11.00 - 12.30 AS Level Results Thursday 25 August 10.00 -12.00 GCSE followed by enrolment for students who are intending to continue their post 16 Studies at All Hallows Catholic College Sixth Form. Parents and students are invited to a Sixth Form Induction evening at 7.00pm on Monday 5 September.

Sixth Form Dress Code Parents and students are kindly asked to consult the published Sixth Form code of dress before purchasing/replacing Business Dress this summer. In particular the requirement that Men and Women are required to wear dark coloured suits. Female suits may either include Skirts which are expected to be Knee length or Trousers which should not be overly baggy or tight fitting. Men should wear a shirt and tie and women should wear a blouse or shirt.

Sixth Form Facilities Over the holidays there will be an upgrade to our current Sixth Form facilities with the addition of a refurbished/bigger ‘Study room’ and new ICT equipment to further support the independent skills required for Post 16 study. The appointment of Mrs L Coates as an Academic Mentor will further strengthen the support available to students as they make the demanding transition from GCSE to A Level study.

We have reviewed the feedback from the ‘Sixth Form Student Voice’ questionnaire and their preference to work in exercise books rather than Files and will therefore be issuing exercise books to all students from September.

Sixth Form Summer Work All Year 12 students have received both a paper and electronic copy of work they are required to complete over the summer holidays. It is important that time is set aside to complete this to a standard which reflects their A level/BTEC Target Grade. It is a requirement that this is completed in order for students to progress to Year 13 studies. The work should be submitted to teachers on 6 September.

Key Dates Term Dates and INSET Days 2016 / 2017

Term

College Closes to Student

College Open to Student

Michaelmas

Tuesday 6 September 2016 (Year 7, 12 and 13 in only) Wednesday 7 September 2016 (All students in)

Friday 28 October 2016

Christmas

Monday 7 November 2016

Friday 16 December 2016

Epiphany

Tuesday 3 January 2017

Friday 17 February 2017

Easter

Monday 27 February 2017

Friday 31 March 2017

Whitsun

Tuesday 18 April 2017

Friday 26 May 2017

Trinity

Monday 5 June 2017

Friday 21 July 2017

INSET DAYS 2016/2017 Monday 5 September 2016 Monday 19 December 2016 Tuesday 20 December 2016 Friday 30 June 2017 Monday 24 July 2017

Honourable Purpose

Respect

Compassion

Co-operation

Stewardship

All Hallows Catholic College is a member of The Holy Family of Nazareth Catholic Academy Trust, registered in England and Wal es with company number 8307881 whose registered office is Brooklands Avenue, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 8LB

All Hallows Catholic College A Voluntary Academy | National Support School | Specialists in Teacher Learning

Aspire not to have more but to be more Brooklands Avenue, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 8LB | Telephone: 01625 426138 | Fax: 01625 468126 | admin@allhallows.org.uk | www.allhallows.org.uk Executive Principal - Mr A S Billings BA(Hons) PGCE MA NPQH | National Leader of Education

Other Key Information Dress for Success – Prepare for Learning Thank you to the vast majority of our students and parents who fully support our uniform policy and ensure the high standards we promote. Please note the following reminders about College uniform. The full College uniform policy is available on our website.

Girls’ Blouse Year 7- 9 - White College blouse with revere collar and embroidered logo on the collar. No tie is required. We have worked with the uniform supplier and the embroidered logo is now sewn on rather than glued, so is far more robust.

Jumper - Plain mid-grey ‘V’ necked jumper with College badge (Y7&8). Plain black ‘V’ necked jumper with College badge (Y9-11). The jumper is compulsory for all year groups.

Skirts - Tartan kilt in College colours. Year 7&8 wear the black red and white tartan skirt. Year 9-11 wear the black and white tartan. All skirts should be purchased below the knee to allow for growth.

Ties - Plain red clip-on tie with College badge for boys in Year 7 and 8. Boys in Year 9-11 will be issued with a traditional striped College tie (which is not a clip on). This will be issued at the start of term in assemblies and will be free of charge, in exchange for their current clip on tie. Girls in Years 10 and 11 will continue to wear the plain red tie which complements the kilts.

Blazer- There are no changes to the style of the blazer. During the first half term the uniform supplier will come into College and stitch the relevant house badge onto each blazer, covering the Business and Enterprise logo, as this also features on the bag. We have set up a system for doing this which means there will be no disruption to learning.

College Bag - Any new College bags purchased will have the logos of both of our specialisms, Business and Enterprise and Languages. Students may of course use their existing bags until a new one is required.

Coats - Black rain jacket with embroidered College badge which was introduced in 2013-14 should now be being worn by all students in Y7-10 when a coat is needed. Year 11 should have a plain black coat that can be worn over the blazer in cold or wet weather. Coats should be removed on entry to the building.

Consultation Days Consultation days will continue to operate as per last year. Information about how to book appointments will be issued 4 weeks prior to the consultation day taking place. An overview can be found below:

Wednesday 25 January 2017

Tuesday 28 February 2017

Year 7

Attend College Work Related Learning Activity Day “My Dream Job”

Attend College Activity Day

Year 8

Home Study – Humanities work to be set by Humanities Faculty

CONSULTATION DAY Activity to be completed at home by Languages when not in appointments

Year 9

Home Study – Mathematics work set

by Mathematics Faculty

Year 9 Higher Education visit

Honourable Purpose

Respect

Compassion

Thursday 20 April 2017 CONSULTATION DAY Reading blog at home on theme of Religious Education when not in appointments Reading blog at home on theme of Work Related Learning

CONSULTATION DAY Reading blog at home on theme of English when not in appointments

Co-operation

Stewardship

All Hallows Catholic College is a member of The Holy Family of Nazareth Catholic Academy Trust, registered in England and Wal es with company number 8307881 whose registered office is Brooklands Avenue, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 8LB

All Hallows Catholic College A Voluntary Academy | National Support School | Specialists in Teacher Learning

Aspire not to have more but to be more Brooklands Avenue, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 8LB | Telephone: 01625 426138 | Fax: 01625 468126 | admin@allhallows.org.uk | www.allhallows.org.uk Executive Principal - Mr A S Billings BA(Hons) PGCE MA NPQH | National Leader of Education

Year 10

Home Study – English work to be set by English Faculty

CONSULTATION DAY Reading blog at home on theme of Sport, Exercise and Diet when not in lessons

Children’s Takeover Day (Work Experience opportunity, exact details tbc)

Year 11

CONSULTATION DAY Reading blog at home on theme of English when not in appointments CONSULTATION DAY Home Study when not in appointments

Work Related Learning Activity Day (Post 16 choices, CV and letter writing workshops)

Home Study / Revision Study – Maths/Science work to be set (at home or in College – organised by Maths/Science Faculties) Revision Day / Private Study in college or at home

Year 12/13

Year 12 Higher Education visit / Year 13 UCAS application / Home Study

Attendance, Absence and Punctuality Threshold for Persistent Absence: As from September 2015 the Government changed the persistent absence threshold from 15% to 10%. This means that students whose attendance is 90% or below will be considered a persistent absentee (PA). Attendance and punctuality is directly linked to attainment and success in education and is closely monitored by school staff. Students’ whose attendance is or is becoming a cause for concern will be supported by their Form Tutors, Year Learning Leaders and the attendance team. If required, a referral to the Educational Welfare Service may be made for additional support. If a student fails to achieve 90% attendance and has 10 or more sessions (half days) of unauthorised absence recorded on the attendance register in a given period, a penalty notice may be issued by the Local Authority. Leave of absence will not be authorised in term time. Consideration will be given to requests made under exceptional circumstances and should be requested in advance in writing to the Principal. I would like to take this opportunity to thank parents and carers for their support in ensuring the regular and punctual attendance of their children. If you require any further information or would like support with attendance issues please do not hesitate to contact your child’s Year Learning Leader.

No Holidays Authorised in Term Time: The importance of full attendance to academic achievement is well known and many of our students rarely, if ever, take days off from College. This includes absence for medical reasons as well as holidays. Across England the amount of holidays taken in term time amounted to 9.7% of all absences (2011/12 data). As a result legislation was passed that took effect in English schools from 1 September 2013. From this date no entitlement was given to parents to take their child on holiday during term time and this law will be strictly followed once again in 2016/17 by our College under guidelines from the Department for Education (June 2016).

Parents can be fined by the Local Authority for taking their child on holiday during term time without consent from the school. Consent will only be given in exceptional circumstances by the Principal. In the past we authorised holiday requests where the child had attendance of 97% or more. This can no longer be the case. Please support the College with this legislation and ensure your child's full attendance at College.

Medical Absence from College Whilst the College requires parents to contact us on each day of absence, school policy now requires that any student who accumulates 7 or more days of absence during the course of the academic year will be asked to provide medical confirmation of the need to be absent before any further absences are authorised for medical reasons. This is a necessary measure as we closely monitor absence due to illness / medical reasons in order that we can ensure students are supported where needed.

For your information medical confirmation does not have to be a doctor's note but can also take the form of a medical appointment card, a copy of a relevant dated prescription or evidence of medication being taken.

If no medical evidence is provided then the absence will be coded as unauthorised. Ten or more unauthorised absences may result in you receiving a Fixed Penalty Notice.

Honourable Purpose

Respect

Compassion

Co-operation

Stewardship

All Hallows Catholic College is a member of The Holy Family of Nazareth Catholic Academy Trust, registered in England and Wal es with company number 8307881 whose registered office is Brooklands Avenue, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 8LB

All Hallows Catholic College A Voluntary Academy | National Support School | Specialists in Teacher Learning

Aspire not to have more but to be more Brooklands Avenue, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 8LB | Telephone: 01625 426138 | Fax: 01625 468126 | admin@allhallows.org.uk | www.allhallows.org.uk Executive Principal - Mr A S Billings BA(Hons) PGCE MA NPQH | National Leader of Education

Senior Leadership Team – Areas of Responsibility 2016-17 Executive Principal

Mr A S Billings

Deputy Principal and Head of School Director of Teaching School Director of Finance and Business Assistant Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal Assistant Principal

Mr P Nickson Mrs A M Connor Mrs J Leigh Mr M P Blades Mrs M Garvey Mrs S Marshall Mrs C Buhac Mrs S Williams

All Hallows Catholic College and St Paul’s High School, Wythenshawe Day to Day routines Romero Teaching School Alliance Lead Finances, Transport Key Stage 3 and Alternative Provision Sixth Form and Community Key Stage 4 and SEN(D) Teacher Learning Programmes Achievement and Progress

Year Leaders 2016-17 Year 7 – Mr J Mercer, Year 8 – Ms S Mellor, Year 9 – Miss C Joyce, Year 10 – Miss S Thomason, Year 11 – Mr D Aspinall, Year 12 – Mr T Parke, Year 13 – Mr D Howells House Leaders 2016-17 Alpha – Miss L Gowing, Omega – Mr J Hamlin, Pax – Miss K Lee and Icthus – Mrs C Lewis Welcome to New Staff Subject and Theme Leaders Teachers

Support Staff Cover Supervisors

Ms G O’Hagan (RECC), Mrs R Flatley (Languages) and Dr G Keogh (RECC responsibility for Sixth Form RE and Theology) Miss J Emmett (Languages), Mr R Jones (Science), Mr T Martin (History and RECC), Miss M Argument (History and RECC), Miss C Buttigieg (Languages), Mr L Downie (Maths and Science), Miss J Turvey (Maths and Science) and Miss A Schofield (Science) Miss F McKillop (English Graduate Support) Miss L Hatch and Miss S Jones

Farewells We wish the following staff well as they move on to new pastures at the end of this year: Mr T Harding (RE Supply), Miss S Easter (Langs), Mr D Slobodian (Maths), Miss K Campbell (Sc), Mr M Shaikh (Sc), Mr J Keane (RE), Mr N Mallon (Eng), Mrs S Lu Mahon (Langs), Mrs S Badcock (Sc), Mr B Kewin (Perf Arts) and Mr A Wilson (PE). We thank you for your contribution to the life of our College and to the education of our students. I would also like to thank three senior leaders for their excellent work and wish them all the best for their future: Mr G Diamond, for his work as our SEN provision leader. We congratulate him on securing a Deputy Headship. Mrs A Harrison for her sterling work in leading the Language College. Mrs Bill for her work in the development of our student services, who is retiring having fulfilled the role of Assistant Principal and more recently class teacher. Thank you also to support staff who are moving on this summer: Miss J Davis, Miss A Alder, Mrs D Stratford, Mrs T Lugsden, Mr A Kaprielian and Mrs N Simms. We wish Simon Bartoli well in his retirement after 39 years of service at All Hallows.

May all our staff go with a prayer of thanks and a request for God’s blessing as they face new challenges and opportunities.

With every good wish for a happy and restful summer holiday.

Yours sincerely

A S Billings BA (Hons), PGCE, MA, NPQH Executive Principal / National Leader of Education

Honourable Purpose

Respect

Compassion

Co-operation

Stewardship

All Hallows Catholic College is a member of The Holy Family of Nazareth Catholic Academy Trust, registered in England and Wal es with company number 8307881 whose registered office is Brooklands Avenue, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 8LB