Typical School Day

8.30am - 8.35am:

8.35am - 8.50am

8.50am - 9.50am:

9.50am - 10.50am:

10.50am - 11.10am:

11.10am - 12.10pm:

Homework

Each Form has its own homework timetable for the year and this is distributed during the first full week of the Autumn Term. Normally, pupils receive two or three pieces of homework each night: these are set from Monday to Friday; the number of minutes that pupils should spend on each piece is indicated next to each subject on the timetable. It is important that pupils complete homework on the day that it is set, even if the due date is not for a day or two; if pupils wish to hand homework in before the due date, they may use the teacher pigeonholes next to the IT and Learning Support offices for this purpose.

Pupils should stick to the length of time indicated for each subject’s homework; if they persistently spend a great deal longer (or less ) than this, parents should inform the Form Tutor. If you feel your child is spending too much time on homework, please stop them and write a short note to the teacher directly into the exercise book for the subject teacher to read.

Lastly, as the purpose of homework is to enable pupils to consolidate their learning, pupils should complete all homework proactively and independently. While it is acceptable to give your child a hand with understanding homework instructions, you should avoid assisting them with the actual completion of tasks. If you feel your child is having difficulties with a particular piece of homework, please let the subject teacher know.

ShowMyHomework

ShowMyHomework is an online tool to help you keep track of your child’s homework. All homework will be published here. Year 7 starters will receive their login during their first week and this will remain with them throughout their senior years. You will be given a parent login PIN which is linked to your child’s homework calendar.

Lockers and cubby holes

All pupils have a locker and will need to provide their own padlock to secure it. Padlocks should be similar in specification to an ABUS 145/30 to ensure it is the correct size for the lock mechanism. Pupils will be required to provide their combination number to the School Office. Pupils are asked not to bring valuable items or large sums of money into School. Anything of value should be locked away. We cannot accept responsibility for anything lost from bags or blazers. The lockers are not suitable to take large holdalls so please ensure PE kit is kept in a small bag (as supplied by our School Uniform supplier) that will fit into the lockers. We are not able to accommodate large holdalls around the locker area. We recommend a trainer bag for PE shoes - this can be a plastic bag.

Lunches

A school meal is provided for all pupils in the Refectory. Our caterer Holroyd Howe, commit to a Fresh Food Policy which means at least 90% of the dishes they serve must be prepared from fresh ingredients. Nutritional guidelines and sample menus are available on our website. Pupils may bring their own snack for break time. We recommend pupils bring in a refillable water bottle to school. No fizzy drinks are permitted.

Please note that we are a nut-free school. All snacks, cakes for cake sales and food provided for your child must be nut free. Please check packaging on all food items, particularly cereal bars.

Before School

In the Senior School there is no care provided before school. Pupils are permitted to enter the School building from 8am and wait in the locker area until it is time to go to registration. Pupils should not go straight to their classrooms or wait on the Bridge.

After School Prep

Pupils may stay at school until 6.00pm to do homework with a teacher providing supervision. They must not leave the school site before attending Prep due to fire safety and safeguarding. It is important that pupils are collected promptly by 6.00pm and must sign out with the duty teacher when they leave. If parents fail to turn up, pupils are taken to the Manor House and can be collected from there.

Acts of Worship/Chapel

All pupils participate in acts of worship and are expected to be supportive of the School’s ethos. Regular Masses are held at the start and end of each term, on Holy Days of Obligation (if at all possible) and on other special occasions. The dates for these Masses can be found in the School Calendar. Attendance at School Mass is compulsory for all pupils.

The Roman Catholic faith underpins everything we do at Alton School. It is the basis for our value system and is the core of our philosophy that every child matters.