Ethos And Expectations

Our Vision

Our students soar; they are the creative thinkers, the change-makers, and the problem-solvers of the future. We strive to deliver a future-inspired education: innovative teaching practices, technology, and compassionate care combine to empower our students with the attributes and selfconfidence to seize opportunities and tackle the challenges of a complex world.

Our Values

The three values which are central to our philosophy are:

Bold, Imaginative and Reflective These values are complex, and inherent in their meaning are the qualities of the key attributes we wish to develop in our students, so that they become communicators, thinkers, knowledgeable, inquirers, risk-takers, caring, open-minded, balanced, reflective and principled. These values and aims have been built into every aspect of our ethos at Bedford Girls’ School and are the basis on which our school flourishes. At Bedford Girls’ School, we want to create a culture where everyone feels truly valued and is proud to be part of the school. We are kind to each other and respectful to all members of the community; the atmosphere is purposeful, and learning in all areas of the curriculum is prized.

Expectations Of Our Students

We have high expectations of our students. We aim to teach our students to make a positive contribution to our community and the world beyond. They are expected to behave in a courteous manner at all times when in school uniform or representing Bedford Girls’ School. We believe in creating a positive, rewarding learning environment where everyone will flourish.

By establishing these expectations, we create the best possible climate for learning, teaching and working collaboratively.

We expect our community to be purposeful, kind and mutually respectful. To this end, we rely on the acceptance by all its members of an agreed code of expectations. We expect our students to show common sense and respect for themselves, for others and for the environment.

These expectations exist to protect not only the safety and comfort of our community but also the good name of our school. All members of the school are expected to observe them. Our day-to-day life in school should reflect positive and joyful attitudes towards work, relationships, and behaviour.

Upholding Of The School Ethos

Students should:

• Embrace and engender the Whole School values, striving to be bold, imaginative and reflective in all aspects of their lives.

• Celebrate and value everyone, regardless of gender, race or status.

• Welcome visitors into our community.

• Lift each other up with nurture and challenge.

• Always be kind and remain constantly curious to the perspectives of others.

• Be respectful of the world around us.

• Always remember that when they are wearing their Bedford Girls’ School uniform, students are representing the Whole School. Our uniform helps to give a sense of belonging to the School and is also important in helping to establish a good working atmosphere.

Respect For The School Environment

• Movement around the School should be orderly and courteous. A ‘keep to the left’ system operates in order to allow for calm ease of movement.

• Silence should be observed when approaching assembly to encourage an atmosphere of calm reflection.

• Please use dedicated entry and exit points for arrival and departing the site.

• Litter bins are provided throughout the site.

• Food and snacks should only be consumed in the Dining Hall, the Hub or Chequers Café.

• Students must take care of their personal belongings by using and locking their lockers. It is essential that they use their padlocks to keep their possessions secure in their lockers.

• Never leave cash around the School. All items of personal belongings are brought into the school at the pupil’s own risk and must be kept securely in their lockers.

• Students are expected to take care of books, iPads and equipment on loan from the School. They are the responsibility of the students who should use the storage facilities provided. Any equipment and books loaned by the School are expected to be returned at the end of Sixth Form.

SMOKING, DRINKING, DRUGS AND HAZARDOUS ITEMS

Smoking, vaping, drinking or the use of drugs is strictly prohibited on the school site, and failure to comply with these rules will have serious consequences. In line with the School’s Positive Behaviour Policy, do not bring into school smoking materials, illegal substances or hazardous items capable of causing injury or harm.

Please refer to the Positive Behaviour Policy on the School’s website.

Safeguarding And Child Protection

We recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all students. We endeavour to provide a safe and welcoming environment where children are respected and valued. We are alert to the signs of abuse and neglect and follow our procedures to ensure that children receive effective support, protection and care.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. Everyone who comes into contact with children and their families and carers has a role to play in safeguarding children. In order to fulfil this responsibility effectively, all professionals make sure their approach is child-centred

This means that they consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child.

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined as: protecting children from maltreatment; preventing impairment of children’s health or development; ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care; and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead is Kamelia Johnson (DSL)

The Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads are Gemma Gibson (Headmistress)

Carolyn Howe (Junior School Head)

Helen Woolley (Director of Sixth Form)

All Heads of Year have also received DSL training.

Routines START OF THE DAY

All Sixth Form students are expected to be in School for 8.30am, even if they have a study period in Lesson 1.

Students should arrive at School and sign in via the QR code outside The Hub.

We start the day with a bang and go straight into Lesson 1.

Students may use The Hub before the start of School, from 7.30am.

End Of The School Day

School finishes at 4.00pm. Students do not need to sign out. Please leave the site through the designated Sixth Form entry and exit points.

Students may stay in school to study in The Hub or The Study Loft until 7.00pm. After this point, unless in school for a specific supervised activity or event, students are expected to have left the site.

Tutor Groups And Tutor Time

All students will be allocated to a Tutor Group for the two years of Sixth Form.

Tutor time follows Lesson 1 and is an essential contact point between Tutors and Tutees. This time is used in different ways, but essentially the Tutor is here to champion student welfare throughout the Sixth Form.

Each half term two or three more formal tutorial sessions are covered in tutor time, looking at study skills, preparation for UCAS or University, or student well-being.

Each half term each student will also have at least one 1:1 meeting with their tutor, where they will discuss study skills, academic and co-curricular progress alongside future aspirations.

The Senior Tutors in Lower and Upper Sixth, together with the Sixth Form Pastoral Officer, are vital to the smooth running of the Sixth Form and further support the students.

Assemblies

Students are expected to attend assemblies to contribute to wider school life unless they have permission not to. Assemblies are not religious but do allow for some period of reflection.

Whole School assemblies take place most Mondays, with year group assemblies on

Wednesdays and House assembly every other week on Thursdays.

Leaving The School Site And Signing Out

Sixth Form students have extensive privileges as they start to develop independence and self-responsibility. Students are allowed on the School site at specific times. Students must sign in and out via the QR codes as we have a legal duty of care to know exactly who is in School at any one time. Failure to sign in and out may result in having the privilege of leaving the site removed.

• Sixth Form students may leave the site at lunchtime, or in a study period in Lesson 4 or 5.

• Students are not allowed to leave the school site until lunch time (12.45 pm) for any reason apart from an authorised appointment.

• Students may leave School early to work from home if they do not have lessons in the afternoon. However, they are not allowed to leave school to go home any earlier unless they have been given specific permission.

• In the first half term of Lower Sixth, students are expected to report to the LRC for supervised study between Lessons 1 and 3.

Lunchtimes And Snacks

Students have a range of options for lunch. They may purchase food in Chequers Café, the dedicated Sixth Form Café (open all day offering a healthy range of freshly made hot food, salads, sandwiches, snacks and hot drinks) or they can leave school at lunchtime. Many students choose to bring food in from home and there is a microwave, kettle and toaster in The Hub.

Food must only be eaten in Chequers Café or The Hub, on dry days food can be enjoyed in the Sixth Form garden.

Students can use cash or cards to purchase food in Chequers Café.

If a student would like to have full hot lunches they need to sign up for School Lunches and eat in the Dining Room. Email accounts@bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk

Reporting Absences

Any absence must be reported by parents to the absence@bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk email before 8.30am in the morning, please provide the reason for the absence. Any unauthorised absences will be chased up by the school. Please continue to inform us on each subsequent day of absence.

All students should aim to have an attendance of 95% or above and should understand that absence from school will impact their learning. Of course, some absence is unavoidable, but it is important to be present as much as possible as the pace of learning Sixth Form is swift. Students must take the initative to catch up on missed lessons using text books and Google Classroom resources.

Should they need further guidance, they should contact their teachers.

Authorised Absence

If a student needs to leave the site for a dental or medical appointment during the school day, the School must be informed in advance via absence@bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk. Should you need to ask for authorisation for an unavoidable period of time a Sixth Form, approval must be sort in advance from the Headmistress via email to absence@bedfordgirlsschool.co.uk.

Retrospective permission will not be granted.

Parking

There is limited parking available to Upper Sixth students who have valid driving licences, it is allocated on a first come first served basis. Students must apply to the Senior School Office for a parking permit. Please check on availability before planning to drive to school.