Sixth Form Course Book 2018 - 19

SIXTH FORM HANDBOOK

Writing your next chapter

Sixth form contents Welcome from the Principal A message from your daughter/ward’s Progress Leader and the Assistant Head of Sixth form The sixth form programme Key staff and contact details Term dates 18/19 Timings of the school day Dress code Academy Expectations Pastoral care Behaviour for learning expectations Student welfare support team Virtual Learning environment and attendance Policies

Welcome from the Principal Dear parent/carer, I am delighted to welcome your daughter/ward to our sixth form as she starts the next exciting chapter in her education.

Our KS5 programme of study encourages all of the girls in the sixth form to have a passion for lifelong learning and they can expect outstanding teaching and rigorous progress monitoring, coupled with a supportive mentoring system throughout their two years of study.

They will have every opportunity to engage in many extracurricular activities and also to develop as leaders throughout the academy in our student leadership programmes. We encourage them to benefit from the wider GDST network for inter school competitions, conferences and debates and also to use that impressively extensive network as they explore their further study and career options.

We will ensure that your daughter/ward leaves us as a confident, responsible, well-educated and articulate young woman, ready to face the challenges of higher education or the world of work. We expect all of our students to adopt high principles for themselves and to expect the same of others. We expect our students at Birkenhead High School Academy to go on to make a positive impact on society.

I look forward to working with you throughout your daughter/ward’s time with us and thank you in advance for all of your support.

Yours faithfully, Rebecca Mahony

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR DAUGHTER’S/WARD’S PROGRESS LEADER Year 12/13 H MCCARTHY Welcome from the Head of Sixth Form Sixth Form is a highly significant and exciting moment in a student’s school career.

At Birkenhead High School Academy we pride ourselves on a high level of pastoral care and support which helps students to prepare for that next stage of life. Engaging teaching and high expectations inspire academic ambition and a passion for lifelong learning; a modern curriculum with rigorous progress monitoring and mentoring ensures that all students achieve their potential whatever their starting point.

We believe that success in the sixth form hinges on the level of personal commitment invested and the motivation to achieve your personal ambitions. In our sixth form we have developed a community based enrichment programme which is designed to help students develop the widest possible range of skills to be able to enrich their own life and also the lives of others.

I would like to take the opportunity to welcome students to our sixth form whether they may be a new or returning student; I look forward to working with you and hope the time you spend with us will be both rewarding and enjoyable.

Mrs H McCarthy Welcome from the Assistant Head of Sixth Form I firmly believe that our Sixth Form provides our students with outstanding teaching, fantastic opportunities and wonderful resources.

Although sixth form studies are certainly not easy, they are definitely rewarding. Your time with us will be brief but we hope it will be filled with happiness and countless opportunities and that you will look back on it as being one of the best experiences of your life.

Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way, work hard and always strive to fulfil your potential.

I look forward to seeing you in September.

Miss K Holleron

The sixth form programme At BHSA we are committed to our students achieving their dreams and aspirations. In order to do this we have identified five key areas that we expect students to have achieved throughout their time with us. At the heart of our programme is our broad and balanced level 3 qualifications but we know that universities and employers look for well-rounded students and to this end we expect girls to leave having taken advantage of the experiences available in: Academic Enrichment, Leadership, Extra-curricular opportunities and work experience.

Student will be able to build a portfolio of experiences and opportunities that will make them stand out to prospective admissions tutors and employers.

Key staff and contact details Telephone 0151 652 5777 Email birkenheadhighschoolacademy@birkhs.gdst.net Principal

Mrs Mahony

Deputy Vice Principal

Mrs Carter

Assistant Vice Principal

Mrs McKenna Mrs Saccheri Mr Cartledge

For any pastoral issues or concerns about general progress: Head of Sixth Form

Mrs McCarthy

Assistant Head of Sixth Form

Ms Holleron

Year 12/13 Form Tutors

Mrs Shannon Dr Nelson Ms Potter Miss Milner-McLoone Miss Murphy Mrs Crawford

For any subject-related queries: Head of Faculty: Communications

Mr Cassidy

Head of Faculty: Specialisms

Mr Rymer

Head of Faculty: Science

Mr de Middelaer

Head of Faculty: Creatives

Miss Boyhan

Head of Faculty: Humanities

Mr Wilson

Term dates Additional dates are added throughout the year e.g. parents’ evenings, celebration evenings, work experience and examination results. Please check the school website www.birkenheadhigh.gdst.net or Firefly for updates.

Term begins

Half term

Term ends

Autumn term 2017

6th September

20st December

Spring term 2018 Summer term 2018

7th January

22nd October – 2nd November 15th February – 22nd February 27th May – 3rd June

15th April

29th March 12th July

Easter Weekend: Friday 19th April and Monday 22nd April 2019 May Bank Holiday: Monday 6th May and Monday 27th May 2019 Staff Study Days: 2018: Tuesday 4th September Wednesday 5th September Wednesday 3rd October (TBC) 2019: Friday 15th February Monday 3rd June Year 12 Sixth Form Welcome evening 12th September 2018 Year 12 Form Tutor Review 16th October 2018 Year 12 Parents Evening and Next Step talk 9th May 2019 Please be aware that the Government has changed the regulations around holidays in term time from September 2013. It has always been academy policy to discourage such absences in term time because of the detrimental impact on students’ education at whatever age or stage they may be, but from September 2013 heads and principals “may not grant any leave of absence during term time” and you are therefore urged to make best use of the generous holiday periods at the academy.

Please note – GCSE and A Level coursework deadlines are spread throughout the academic year (specific dates will vary from course to course). Often these assessments are externally moderated, therefore dates will be nonnegotiable.

Timings of the school day Registration Assembly/Form Time Period 1 Period 2 Break Period 3 Period 4 Lunch/Enrichment Period 5 Enrichment

8.35 am – 8.40 am 8.40 am – 8.50 am 8.50 am – 9.50 am 9.50 am – 10.50 am 10.50 am – 11.10 am 11.10 am – 12.10 pm 12.10 pm – 1.10 pm 1.10 pm – 2.25 pm 2.35 pm – 3.35pm 3.35 pm – 5.00 pm

Please note we operate a two week timetable – students must ensure they know at all times (and especially after school holidays) whether it is an ‘A week’ or ‘B week’ to ensure they have the correct equipment and homework and arrive promptly to the appropriate lessons.

Students are encouraged to undertake independent study in school during non-taught lessons, however they may leave the school premises during these times ensuring they sign out and in at the main school office.

This privilege can be revoked at any time if attendance to lessons and/or progress is less than good.

Sixth Form Dress Code Please note – Students will be sent home to change if they arrive in school dressed inappropriately.

Repeated failure to adhere to the dress code may result in a student risking their place in sixth form.

Students should ensure that they look smart at all times.

Blazer / cardigan / jumper

This can be any colour and should be worn throughout the school day. Hoodies are not allowed.

Top

This can be any colour/pattern/style, providing it is not low cut, made of sheer fabric or carrying an offensive slogan/image.

Crop tops are not allowed.

Trousers

Skirt

Dress

These can be any colour/pattern but should be smart. Blue denim is not allowed.

This must be at least knee-length but can be any colour/pattern.

This should be at least kneelength but can be any colour/pattern.

Shoes

Appropriate footwear should be worn. Trainers are not allowed.

Tights

Tights should be worn when wearing a skirt or a dress.

Tights are not necessary during warm weather.

Hair, make-up & piercings

Make-up should be minimal/natural and hair colour should not be overly vibrant. Facial piercings are allowed but should be minimal (studs).

Tattoos

Tattoos must be kept covered up at all times.

Coats

An appropriate smart coat can be worn to and from school but cannot be worn around school during the day.

Formal Occasions (e.g. Open Evenings, Prizegiving)

A blazer and shirt with skirt/trousers should be worn at formal occasions.

NB – throughout the dress code we refer to ‘office style’, which can be a little ambiguous!

If you visit www.next.co.uk and look at their ‘Tailored Looks > Workwear’ section this is a good guide!

ACADEMY EXPECTATIONS At Birkenhead High School Academy we place a high value on academic achievement. Our aim is to enable every student to reach their full academic potential. If they are to do this our students need to make full use of the opportunities they have to learn and develop good study habits.

The way in which we expect our students to approach academic work is set out below.

Academic Expectations 1.

Students are expected to play an active part in their own learning by:a)

looking and listening attentively during lessons;

b)

working diligently at any given task;

c)

having an expectation that they will learn and absorb new ideas;

d)

being pro-active, seeking help and ask their teachers’ or support staff if they do not understand what is required.

2.

Students are expected to arrive at lessons punctually and to bring with them all the necessary books, kit and/or equipment.

3.

All work is to be done to the best of the student's ability. Content, accuracy and presentation should be of the highest achievable standard.

4.

All set work, including reading, learning and preparation as well as written work is to be done at the arranged time as directed by the teaching staff.

5.

All homelearning activities will be set as a task on Firefly by their class teacher. Students are encouraged to make a note of the deadline in their Student Planner.

Students are expected to read the homelearning contract in their Student Planner at the start of each year.

They must tick the form on Firefly to show they have read the contract and agree to follow it.

Subject teachers will inform students, at the start of the academic year, of when they will set home learning for their subject. Students should record this in the front of their student planners to help them to organise their time effectively.

6.

An excellent attendance rate is a key driver for success. If for any reason a student has been absent it becomes their responsibility for:a)

copying up missed work;

b)

going through the work and seeing that she understands or learns it;

c)

approaching the relevant teacher for assistance and explanation;

d)

handing in any work completed prior to absence, immediately upon return to school.

SERIOUS MISCONDUCT 1.

Bringing cigarettes into school and smoking on school premises are serious breaches of discipline and are strictly forbidden.

2.

Bringing alcohol into school, or taking it on a school activity, is strictly forbidden.

3.

The introduction of illegal drugs into the school, or a school activity, is sufficiently serious misconduct to lead to exclusion.

4.

Physical assault on, or intimidating behaviour towards, any member of the school community are serious breaches of discipline and will not be tolerated.

N.B. Any actions by students which might bring the school into distrebute will be dealt with at the discretion of the Principal.

Please refer to BHSA’s Senior School Behaviour and Rewards Policy

PASTORAL CARE At Birkenhead High School Academy we pride ourselves on getting to know our students well, understand what motivates them and maximising their opportunities on a day to day basis. The Pastoral Team which surrounds your daughter/ward is wide and experienced to ensure whatever support, guidance or help is required there is someone there to provide it.

Pastoral Care Team The Year 12/13 Progress Leader is responsible for the co-ordination of pastoral care throughout the sixth form.

Pastoral care for each student is provided daily by the Form Tutor who should be approached by your daughter/ward if any help with a problem is required. Additional specialist support is provided by Ms Cumiskay, the Student Welfare Lead Professional and the Learning Mentor, Miss Thomas.

Leadership Mrs McCarthy – Head of Sixth Form Miss Holleron – Assistant Head of Sixth Form

Pastoral Support Ms Cumiskay - Student Welfare Lead Professional Miss Thomas – Learning Mentor

Student Welfare Lead Professional Our Student Welfare Lead Professional is Ms Cumiskay. She works with students at times when they need additional support. Ms Cumiskay helps girls overcome barriers to their learning and offers support to students when required.

Ms Cumiskay also works closely with external agencies to support not only our girls but also their families.

Learning Mentor Miss Thomas is our learning mentor whose role is to support other staff and students in removing barriers to learning.

She works with groups of students who may be struggling and need support.

Correspondence All correspondence to the school should be made via the school office and through your daughter/ward’s Form Tutor in the first instance.

All correspondence concerning your daughter/ward should be addressed to the Form Tutor. Private correspondence should be clearly marked CONFIDENTIAL and addressed to the Principal.

Your daughter/ward's name and form should be printed on any correspondence, please. All correspondence should be sent direct to school and not to any private address. This also applies during school holidays.

School Reports Parents/carers will receive two interim and one full report in each academic year. These will be available on Firefly and parents/carers will receive notification to inform them they have been uploaded.

BEHAVIOUR FOR LEARNING EXPECTATIONS Guide to the Behaviour for Learning Grade At BHSA we expect ALL students to demonstrate positive behaviour for learning.

What is expected by ‘outstanding’ Behaviour for Learning is shown below.

1 = Outstanding          

always takes responsibility for their own learning actively participates by answering and asking questions; works independently and uses their initiative willing to take the lead when working in a team is an effective team player always meets deadlines always comes to lessons prepared to learn reflects on their own learning respects both themselves and others in their learning is curious about her own learning is always determined to give of her best.

2 = Good       

takes responsibility for their own learning participates in lessons by asking and answering questions meets all deadlines set arrives to lessons prepared to learn can work independently with guidance is respectful to themselves and to others is well organised.

3 = Requires improvement 

because behaviour for learning is not good.

4 = Unsatisfactory     

does not always take responsibility for their own learning misses deadlines can come to lessons unprepared needs a lot of encouragement to participate can, on occasions, be disruptive to their own learning and that of others.

STUDENT WELFARE SUPPORT TEAM The Student Welfare Support Team supports and promotes the physical, emotional and social health of our students. The Team aims to enable the girls to reach their true potential by removing barriers to their learning in a caring and supportive environment.

The Student Welfare Team is composed of:      

Link School Nurse - Mrs Angela Renehan HSIS Nurse - Mrs Tracey McDonough Student Welfare Lead Professional – Miss Cumiskay Learning Mentor – Miss Thomas Youth Worker – Jo Seggie SENCO – Mrs Kennerley

Illness in school If your daughter/ward becomes unwell during the school day and is unable to continue with her lessons, she should speak to any member of staff, who will initially assess the situation and as required will consult with her Progress Leader who will also be able to assist her. Parents/Carers will always be contacted if she needs to be taken home or go to hospital. It is anticipated that during your daughter/ward’s time at BHSA, there may be occasions, due to illness that she will need to go home. Whilst it is appreciated that many parents/carers are in work during the school day, it is essential that parents/carers provide school with up to date emergency contact details and that a plan is in place whereby they can make arrangements for the student to be collected from school.

Should your daughter require first aid, there are many qualified first aiders throughout the whole school who will provide assistance within the limits of their training. If further professional emergency medical assistance is required, the ambulance service will be called to attend and if they determine that your daughter/ward needs to be taken to an accident and emergency department, they will always be accompanied by a member of staff and parents/carers will always be contacted.

Health Records It is in the best interest of your daughter/ward if school is aware of any medical condition that may limit her academic progress or require treatment during the school day.

Medical information is confidential, but the school may need to pass on some aspects of this information to staff as your daughter/ward will be within their care during the school day. Medical conditions of any kind (such as: Anaphylaxis, asthma, diabetes, heart conditions and epilepsy) that may require urgent care/treatment should be made known to school, including any specialist treatment for such can be held available at school. Any impairment of hearing or vision should also be made known so as to ensure that your daughter/ward is seated appropriately in the classroom.

Please ensure that all such details are included on the Medical Form which will be sent to you and returned to the SENCO as soon as possible.

If your daughter/ward has a medical condition requiring specific care, particularly in an emergency e.g. anaphylaxis, the SENCO will arrange an individual Health Care Plan. Parents/carers are welcome to meet with the SENCO to

discuss this plan or any other issues relating to their daughter/ward’s health.

Diabetes/Epilepsy/Anaphylaxis/Asthma The school has policies in place for dealing with students with these medical conditions. Details of these policies can be obtained on request.

Students with asthma are encouraged to participate in all school activities unless otherwise indicated. Please ensure that your daughter/ward has her inhaler with her at all times when she is in school – it should be clearly marked with her name and expiry date.

If your daughter requires EpiPens – please ensure that she has in date EpiPens in school. She may carry these with her or they will be kept in Reception for easy access in an emergency.

Medication If at all possible medication should be given at home. However, there may be occasion when this is required during the school day. The medication should be brought in and handed to a member of staff in Reception and a Request for storage and administration of medicine form completed. This will then be safely stored in the medicine cupboard/fridge.

If your daughter/ward is currently on medication, please complete the form in this handbook, Request for storage and administration of medicine, and include this with the:  Prescription medication, in a container clearly labelled (by the pharmacist) with name of medicine, instructions for use, date of dispensing, your daughter/ward’s name and expiry date.  Non-prescription medication, in the original container, stating manufacturer’s instructions and a label with your daughter/ward’s name and expiry date.

As a general rule, students should not carry medicine in school, except for asthma inhalers, insulin pens or antihistamines and Epipens for anaphylactic shock – please consult with the School Nurse and/or the Student Welfare Team if required.

Please advise your daughter/ward that she should not take another girl's tablets/medicine. If she feels unwell she should report to her Progress Leader.

It is the responsibility of parents/carers to ensure that:  They notify school in writing of any changes to medication or dosage.  Ensure supplies of medicine are replenished as necessary and note expiry date.  Medication required while their daughter/ward is away on a school trip or holiday is sent with her or given to a member of staff for safe keeping – please liaise with school regarding this.

Paracetamol Parents please note: Paracetamol is not routinely given out in school Medication will only be given to students with a signed Request for Storage and Administration of Medicine form.

The SENCO and/or School Nurse will see students for health interviews where a care plan is required for a specific medical condition e.g. anaphylaxis or diabetes, or on request by parents/carers. Parents/carers are welcome to attend these health interviews, but it is not a necessity.

If there is anything identified by the SENCO and/or School Nurse that may require further investigation, parents/carers will be notified.

Health Education The role of the School Nurse is to promote the physical and mental health of all students to enable them to reach their optimum educational potential. She also supports the teaching staff with health education in conjunction with the school’s Personal, Social and Health Education Programme (PSHE) and the National Curriculum. This will cover a wide range of subjects including puberty, healthy eating, relationships, contraception and sexual health.

BHSA is part of the Health Services in Schools Programme, whereby students also have access to a Youth Worker (a weekly lunchtime drop in session), school counsellors and a weekly lunchtime sexual health drop-in clinic, run by the Health Service in Schools Nurse.

If there are any changes in your daughter/ward’s medical details, if she develops a medical condition or there are any changes to her medication/treatment for an existing illness, please inform school in writing as soon as possible.

It is also important that we have emergency contact telephone numbers and these should be updated as necessary.

VIRTUAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT Firefly All students have access to our Virtual Learning Environment – Firefly. Here they can find information, support and guidance about the subjects they are studying as well as a wealth of information ranging from our sixth form experience and revision tips, to relationships and extra-curricular opportunities. In addition to this students can see any tasks that have been set.

Parents are also provided with log in details for Firefly. Here you can find your daughter’s profile with her attendance, punctuality, latest grade grid as well as other relevant information.

Internet Access and Emails All students are provided with internet access in school as well as an email address once they have signed the student ICT Acceptable User policy.

Attendance Context To maintain the outstanding academic outcomes for every student at BHSA, a highly regular and punctual attendance is vital. Our expectation is that students should attend school every day and strive for a 100% attendance record.

In some extreme cases students may need to unavoidably miss school, therefore we consider a good attendance to be 97% plus. This equates to missing no more than 6 school days a year. Anything lower will be classed as a cause for concern and can have significant effect on a student’s learning and future prospects.

As the term lengths are shorter at BHSA than in other maintained schools, it is even more important to ensure the number of absences is kept to a minimum.

Monitoring Form Tutors monitor attendance on a daily basis, praising students with excellent attendance and punctuality rates. Reward systems for attendance and punctuality are used to encourage students who attend regularly.

Form Tutors will intervene if attendance concerns are raised by consulting with students and/or contacting home. Progress Leaders and Senior Leaders will become involved if attendance rates do not improve following intervention.

BHSA works closely with Wirral LA drawing support from the Educational Welfare Officer, in cases of regular poor attendance.

Unauthorised Absence All schools are required, by the Department for Education, to report the authorised and unauthorised absences for their students’ each year. An absence is deemed unauthorised if either:  

a student has been absent without the permission of the Principal no note of explanation is provided to validate the absence

Only the Academy, within the context of the law, can approve absence – not parents/carers. Absence, other than illness or unforeseen emergency, must be with prior authorisation from the Principal, which should be sought at least three days in advance.

Unauthorised absences are recorded on reports and in public data documents printed by the government as ‘truancy’; this reflects on the reputation of the school as well as on the individual.

Absence from School If a student is absent from school it is their responsibility to catch up all missed work or home learning. If an absence is known in advance, the student must approach individual members of staff for guidance and to collect work.

Pre-Authorised Absence Requests for absence should be submitted to the Principal no later than three days prior to the date of absence. If an absence is authorised by the Principal, parents/carers will be notified. An absence note will not be required on return for pre-authorised absences.

Un-Planned Absence For safeguarding reasons it is the parent’s/carer’s responsibility to telephone the school office on the first day of absence to inform them of a student’s absence and to provide further information if necessary (such as length of absence etc.). On returning to school, a signed note is required to authorise the absence.

Both a phone call and note are required to authorise an absence.

Medical and dental appointments Religious observance Special occasions

Routine visits to the doctor/dentist/optician etc. should be arranged out of school hours or during school holidays.

Authorisation for medical and dental appointments may be given in an emergency or other unavoidable circumstances.

Absence can be authorised on a day exclusively set apart for religious observances by the religious body to which a student’s parents/carers belong.

Exceptional occasions may be sanctioned through authorised absence; attending sports events or concerts are examples of insufficient cause for authorisation.

Family/domestic Looking after other children, minding the house or shopping within problems school hours are not acceptable reasons for absence under the law.

If factors arise at home which may affect a student’s attendance please contact the Form Tutor as soon as possible to ensure support can be put into place.

Bereavement It is helpful if we are informed of family bereavement so that we can offer students support. Absence under such circumstances will of course be authorised.

Holidays The Department for Education changed legislation in relation to family holidays taken in term time from 1st September 2013. Amendments to Education (Pupil Registration) (England) Regulations 2006 make clear that Head Teachers may only grant leave of absence in exceptional circumstances.

Sixth form Open days Sixth form students are expected to visit universities and colleges during school holidays. Authorisation will be given for a maximum of two absences to attend open days during term time, if appropriate letters requesting authorisation for absence are brought in.

Interviews Sixth form students must of course attend interviews at universities and colleges on the dates and at the times allocated by the institutions. It is essential that they keep school informed of these dates.

Personal data consent ‘Personal data’ means, for the purposes of the consents sought, photographic or video images of, and/or information relating to, your daughter/ward including her name, age, subjects studied, public examination results, awards achieved, participation in extra-curricular activities and school records.

In order to comply with the Data Protection Act 1988 we seek your and your daughter’s/ward’s consent to the use of personal data relating to your daughter/ward by the School (Birkenhead High School Academy) and/or the Trust (The Girls’ Day School Trust) for the purposes set out below.

1. In material produced by the School or the Trust primarily intended for internal use or display in the School or for circulation amongst any or all of the following – current and former pupils and their parents, guardians and carers, School and Trust employees and staff (e.g. newsletters, school magazine).

2. In material produced by or on behalf of the School or the Trust primarily intended to inform the public (e.g. prospectuses) or for publicity or promotional purposes (e.g. press releases, promotional videos).

3. On the publicly available School and/or Trust websites from time to time, primarily to inform the public, or for publicity/promotional purposes.

Please note: We will only divulge personal data to the extent necessary for the purposes concerned, and will use our discretion sensitively and with due regard for your daughter’s/ward’s privacy.

We will not include the full name (which means first name and surname) of any child together with her image, without good reason. For example, we may include the full name of a competition prize winner if we have their consent. Likewise, if we use images of individual pupils, we will not use the name of that child in the accompanying text or caption without good reason.

We will not disclose (a) ‘sensitive personal data’ as defined in the Data Protection Act 1998, or (b) address, telephone or email details without your and your daughter’s/ward’s explicit consent, unless the disclosure is strictly necessary to protect your daughter’s/ward’s best interests.

ParentPay In an attempt to remove all cash and cheques from school we are asking parents/carers to only use our epayment system to pay for dinner money, trips and all other school activities.

This can be done online via card using a secure website called ParentPay or through local stores using cash, where you see the PayPoint logo (further details will be sent to you separately).

Please visit www.parentpay.com, click ‘Login’ and activate your account using the codes supplied.

INTOUCH, FIREFLY, PARENT PAY AND BIOMETRICS Many letters and notices are sent to parent/carer’s during the school year. These will be emailed to parents/carers using SIMS InTouch. Letters are also uploaded onto the parents’ section of the Firefly for your information. If a reply slip is required please return it to the correct member of staff prior to the due date, even if it is a nil return.

Benefits of Firefly • • • •

it improves communication with parents no lost letters enables parents/carers to monitor home learning tasks set and completed reports can be accessed on Firefly

Making payments At BHSA we operate a cashless system and we do not accept cash or cheques in school except for charity events.

Our catering tills use the biometric system and funds are loaded using the ParentPay system. You are able to set balance alerts and view what your daughter/ward has bought.

Benefits of Parent Pay    

introduces an easier method of payment for parents for trips, school lunches and other school activities. convenient anytime, anywhere payments 24/7 * flexible, secure payment options peace of mind knowing funds have reached school

* It offers you the freedom to make payments for trips, lunches etc. on line whenever and wherever you like, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For the Academy: •

less time for teachers collecting payments so they can concentrate on teaching and learning

•

less cash/cheques to count and bank

•

less cash held on the premises

•

payments go straight into our school bank account

ParentPay FAQ What about our personal information?

ParentPay holds a very limited amount of information about you and your child solely for the purpose of administering your account; however ParentPay does not use your personal information other than for supporting the school. We do not share or give information to any other organisations. We operate under strict guidelines set out by the Data Protection Act 1998.

Is it safe to make payments on the internet?

Yes. ParentPay uses leading technology to process your card transactions securely. All communication with the bank is encrypted and neither ParentPay nor the school have access to your card details.

How can I check that it’s secure?

Standard website addresses begin with http; the address for a secure site will always begin with https. You will also see a padlock at the bottom/top right of the screen on our login page and after you have logged into your account; never enter your card details or personal data on any web page whose address does not start https.

Additional Information Details of your local PayPoint store can be obtained using this link http://www.paypoint.co.uk/locator.aspx. For more information please visit www.parentpay.com or the school website http://www.birkenheadhigh.gdst.net/parents/parentpay/Pages/default.aspx.

Biometrics The Academy biometric recognition system is used for the purchasing of food, student printing and the library loan system. The system works by scanning the fingerprint and then converting it to a unique numerical code. It is this code that the Academy stores not a fingerprint. When your daughter/ward starts at the Academy you will need to have a signed consent form which you should take to ICT Support office so you can enrol onto the scheme.

In this pack you will find the consent form which requires signing to ensure Data Protection rules are not broken.

Benefits of Biometrics    

The probability of two people sharing the same biometric data is virtually nil Because a biometric property is an intrinsic property of an individual, it is extremely difficult to duplicate or share (you cannot give a copy of your hand to someone!), whereas sharing of PIN numbers or lunch cards is possible.

Each pupil is treated the same way and there is no risk of stigma for example with those girls taking Free School Meals.

Potential bullying to take others PIN numbers or lunch cards is eliminated.

Policies and Guidance We would like to draw your attention to our attendance policy which can be found both the school website and upon request from the school office along with other policies and statements.

We are required to draw your attention to our Attendance and Data Protection policies in particular.

-

Attendance Behaviour Data protection E-safety and internet usage Homework Medicines Mobile devices More able students (previously known as ‘G&T’) Assessment, reporting & recording Safeguarding Special Educational Needs Trips and visits Uniform