New Parent Handbook 2023

Dear Parents

We are looking forward to welcoming your son for his first term at Caldicott. This booklet aims to ensure that the transition from his previous school is as smooth as possible, but if a query is not covered, please pick up the phone, or we could meet on Teams.

The philosophy at Caldicott is that happy boys will thrive both in and out of the classroom. They should really want to come to school and relish their time here. All boys want to do well and we will be encouraging them to do their best in each area of school life. All children learn in different ways, and at varying rates, and it is our job to build each boy’s confidence and for him to realise that hard work brings good results. It is important that boys are receiving the same messages at school and at home.

I hope their first school year at Caldicott is a great experience for your son, that he makes many friends and learns to be part of a vibrant community. Indeed, I hope that all parents feel part of the Caldicott community too; following our Parent Information Meetings (see dates and times on page 13), our first example of this kind of event is our New Parents’ Supper, currently scheduled for Thursday 5 October at 19.00, so save the date!

I also hope that your son enjoys the space and freedom that the 40 acres of Caldicott grounds give to an energetic young boy.

With best wishes

Jeremy Banks Headmaster

Introduction and School Policies

This booklet sets out for the school community some of the most important policies and procedures, which underpin life in our school. You are welcome to raise any concerns with your son’s Tutor, Head of Year, the Deputy Heads, or indeed directly with the Headmaster, at any point.

When you register your son at Caldicott, you do so on the understanding that the guidelines of the school will apply throughout his time at Caldicott. As we all know, young people are liable, from time to time, to stray from the guidelines in place. At all stages, the school endeavours to educate and explain to the boys why we conduct our school life in the manner in which we do.

As explained throughout this booklet, there are certain expectations on us as a school as well as you as parents. You have already read and signed the parent contract, but find it again here for your convenience. In sections 8 and 9 it lays out the school’s obligations and parents’ obligations. The policies below are not set in stone, but they do hold good for the period of the booklet’s currency. Unfortunately, things can go wrong at school. When this happens, the school will always explore all avenues to resolve problems. School policies and guidelines, by providing the framework within which pupils will grow and mature at Caldicott, aim to foster a sense of responsibility for the individual and for others. Ultimately, this should provide the best possible opportunity for every young man to develop talents and to emerge into the workplace as a rounded individual, ready to make a significant contribution, whatever his chosen field and passions.

Policies are available on request and on the school website, they are as follows:

• Admissions Policy

• Anti-Bullying Policy

• Behaviour, Rewards, Sanctions, Discipline and Exclusions Policy

• Complaints Policy

• Curriculum Policy

• Disabled Accessibility Policy

• English as an Additional Language Policy

• External Visits Policy

• Health and First Aid Policy

• Health and Safety Policy

• Learning Support Policy

• Privacy Notice (External)

• Privacy Notice (Staff)

• Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

• Safer Recruitment, Selection and Disclosures Policy

• SENDA Policy

• Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural development and Learning For Life Policy

Term Dates

Autumn 2023

Boarders

Wednesday 6 September - Wednesday 13 December

Day Boys Thursday 7 September - Tuesday 12 December

Exeat 1 Thursday 28 September - Monday 2 October

Half Term Saturday 21 October - Monday 6 November

Exeat 2 Thursday 16 November - Monday 20 November

Spring 2024

Boarders

Day Boys

Exeat 1

Half Term

Exeat 2

Summer 2024

Boarders

Day Boys

Tuesday 9 January - Thursday 21 March

Wednesday 10 January - Wednesday 20 March

Friday 26 January - Monday 29 January

Friday 9 February - Monday 19 February

Friday 1 March - Monday 4 March

Tuesday 16 April - Wednesday 3 July

Wednesday 17 April - Wednesday 3 July

Exeat 1 Friday 3 May - Tuesday 7 May

Half Term Friday 24 May - Monday 3 June

Exeat 2 Friday 21 June - Monday 24 June

Structure of the School

At Caldicott, we use our own names for year groups:

Year 3 = 1st Form

Year 5 = 3rd Form

Year 7 = 5th Form

Year 4 = 2nd Form

Year 6 = 4th Form

Year 8 = 6th Form

The 1st and 2nd Form are at school from Monday to Friday. There is no requirement to be in school on Saturday unless there is one of the very occasional Saturday sporting fixtures, which you are most welcome to attend. All 1st and 2nd Form boys are day boys and you have the opportunity to book your son in for flexi or occasional boarding.

The 3rd and 4th Form are at school from Monday to Saturday. On Saturday lessons finish at 12.10 and then sports fixtures are usually played in the afternoon to which you are warmly invited. The vast majority of boys in the 3rd and 4th Form are day boys although one or two are weekly or full boarders. All the day boys have the opportunity to flexi or occasional board if you choose.

The 5th and 6th Form are at school from Monday to Saturday. On Saturday, lessons finish at 12.10 with sports fixtures played in the afternoon (to which you are warmly invited). Nearly all boys in these final two years are weekly boarders and a small number are full boarders who stay at Caldicott for the weekend. There are no day boys in the 5th and 6th Form.

Activity Week

Matt Hutchings (Deputy Head, Management) runs an activity week in the summer holidays from Monday 21 August to Friday 25 August. This is open to all Caldicott boys as well as those boys who are joining us in September. It is an invaluable opportunity for the new boys to familiarise themselves with the school, a number of staff, and other boys. It is fun and relaxed with plenty of sporting and non-sporting activities each day.

For those boys coming from London, there will be a minibus service available all week. It will pick up from Brook Green at 09.00 and drop off at the same location at approximately 17.00 dependent on the traffic.

If you have any queries please email Matt Hutchings at mjh@caldicott.com

Visitors

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and visitors to share this commitment. All visitors must sign in at the Front Office and will receive a visitors’ lanyard which must be worn at all times.

Safeguarding Children

Please ensure you are accompanied around the school especially around our pupils. Please do not enter any classrooms unaccompanied and the visitors’ pass must be worn at all times. If you have any concerns over the welfare of pupils, please ask to speak to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

Mobile Phones

Please exercise caution when using a mobile phone around the school and avoid using your device in the vicinity of children. Please do not take photographs without prior permission.

Health and Safety

Your safety and wellbeing during your visit are important to us. As a visitor, you have a legal duty of care for the health and safety of yourself and others. Any accidents or illnesses must be reported to the School Office.

Emergency

The fire alarm is a continuously sounding siren. In the event of a fire, please assemble on the AstroTurf with your host. Do not leave the site. Do not re-enter any of the school buildings until advised it is safe to do so.

Property or Vehicle

The school accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage to visitors’ property or vehicle.

Morning Drop Off (Day Boys)

It is important for boys to be punctual in the mornings, to ensure that they are ready to start the school day in a relaxed and organised manner. However, if they are unavoidably delayed, parents are asked to check their son in to the School Office where he can be marked on the school register.

By all means pop in to see your son’s Tutor but note that they will be busy getting ready for the day. Teachers are happy to arrange an appointment at a mutually convenient time if you contact them via email (for a link to a list of email addresses, see Communications, page 13).

All day boys report to their Tutor Room upon arrival in the morning.

Check-in time: 07.45 - 08.10

Check-Out (Day Boys)

If someone other than the specified person is collecting a boy, parents are asked to notify the School Office in advance. Boys may not be taken home unless they have been marked off the register by the member of staff on duty.

If you are unavoidably delayed, please contact the School Office as soon as possible so a message can be passed on (01753 649300). If you arrive after 16.15, your son will wait for you in the Front Hall where he can be signed out by the Office staff before he leaves.

After School Care

We offer wrap-around care from 07.45 until 18.00 Monday to Friday for all day boys (1st – 4th Form). At the end of the school day, after school care is available until 18.00. If you are running late in the event of an emergency, and arrive after this time, you will need to call the boarding phone (07917731316), which the Houseparent on duty that evening will answer

In after school care, the boys first go to the Dining Room to enjoy high tea (a small snack like a wrap, sausage roll or tomato soup). They will then occupy the rest of their time with an activity, which changes day by day as well as depending on the season and weather. They could be outside playing on the Adventure Playground or in the Sports Hall playing dodgeball, or in the IT Room, or watching a film! It’s a very popular option among parents as it aids the school run and provides boys with the opportunity for boys to spend some less structured time outside of the classroom with their peers.

If you are interested in signing your son up for after school care, fill out the Google Form that you will be sent prior to the start of every term. Or, to add on/take away days, email the Front Office (office@caldicott.com).

Normal Check-Out Times and Locations

• 16.15 from the Front Lawn. Please wait by the marquees and your son will come out to meet you once signed out.

• After school care is available on weekdays, between 16.15 - 18.00 (except on the evening preceeding an exeat)

• Saturday Check-out is at 12.10 in the same locations as above.

Middle School Activities

The 3rd and 4th Forms are able to participate in after school activities on every weekday except Wednesdays (see further information in the Activities section, page 20).

On these days, boys will check out from the Front Lawn at 17.45. There will be a member of staff on duty with a clipboard to sign them out.

After Sports Fixtures

Finishing times vary depending on the sport, team, and location of matches. Please check the Parent Portal carefully for details of ‘Return to School’ times published on individual team lists. These are often later than normal check-out times.

School Buses

At Caldicott, our bus service is an integral part of our school, and it is important that all stakeholders work together to ensure that everything runs as smoothly as possible. The boys who travel to and from school on our own school minibuses are well looked after by our permanent team of experienced drivers. There are currently eight routes around West London and the local area, which get our boys to and from their homes in a maximum of 40 minutes (traffic dependent).

Our current routes cover areas within Notting Hill, Brook Green, Chiswick, Hammersmith, Barnes Bridge, High Wycombe, Marlow and Henley. We are always looking at new areas where we can expand our service, and each year we review the current stops based on demand.

It is imperative that any changes to travel arrangements should be made via the parent portal where you can request and change bus requirements. For any last minute changes these can be emailed to buses@caldicott.com.

Driver Expectations

As a parent, you and your son(s) should expect the following from the bus driver and the service:

• They will ensure that your son safely goes to and from school

• They will be there on time in the morning to drive your son to school

• They will reiterate the school’s policy on behaviour and expectations of the boys whilst traveling to and from school

• They will be contactable on their work contact numbers and will respond in a timely manner

Boys expectations

We should all expect the following from the boys when travelling on school transport:

• Students are always seated

• Seatbelts are always used

• Noise is kept to a level that is not distracting

• No objects are thrown

• Safety equipment is not interfered with

• Rubbish is not left in the vehicle

School expectations

Please can we ask the following of parents and guardians:

• To inform us of any bus changes a week in advance and to submit all requests via the Parent Portal

• To inform the front office of bus requirements/collection for fixtures via email

• To send all bus communications to buses@caldicott.com

• To arrive for your son(s) morning drop off and afternoon pick up at least 10 minutes before the departure/arrival time

Issues or concerns pathway

• Please share any causes for concern initially with the relevant Head of Year and Tutor

• S/he will then decide what to do next

• Low level behaviour, such as not following instructions etc - will be referred to the Head of year and they will manage this in the first instance

• Continual low-level behaviour (having been warned & referred to by the HOY) or behaviour that is of a severe or dangerous nature will be referred to Mr Hutchings

• Behaviour that could be interpreted as bullying or a pattern or a safeguarding concern, will be referred to Ma’am Bisschop

Chapel

Caldicott is a Church of England school and all boys attend the Chapel services. Boys of all faiths are to be tolerant of each other’s religions and to embrace each other’s differences. Chapel is at the centre of school life, both literally and metaphorically. It is one of the oldest parts of the school. In essence, Chapel provides a warm and secure place where the whole school community can pause from the rush of the daily routine and reflect together on the love and wisdom of God. The Chapel is always open to boys and staff as a space for quiet reflection. The Chapel Master, James Paget, is always available to offer spiritual guidance.

All boys attend Chapel at least once a week.

Reading

Reading is one of the most important things that boys do at Caldicott. The importance of building a wide vocabulary, the ability to command a correct and fluent syntax, and enjoying the journeys that fictional stories can provide a young, malleable mind, all combine to give a child a developed lively imagination and, of course, heightened awareness of effective communication. The impact that it has on their writing is immeasurable.

There is a strong reading culture at Caldicott. Boys are often seen reading in their own time and wandering around the school with a book in hand. Boys in the 1st and 2nd Forms are encouraged to read during their English lessons every morning. Teachers liaise with the parents on a regular basis about the development of children’s reading.

Reading in the 3rd and 4th Forms is monitored in a similar way and once the boys begin boarding in the 5th Form, they have the opportunity to read upstairs in their dormitory for 30 minutes most nights and there are two reading periods assigned during the week. Free-reading in lessons is at the discretion of the English teacher. Furthermore, Kindles are often used, instead of books, as class readers, to encourage reading. The boys are also allowed to bring their own Kindles into school.

The school has a close relationship with Gerrards Cross Book Shop, who help us coordinate events such as author visits, talks and book fairs. This year we’ve been fortunate to welcome one of our parents, and award-winning author, Rashmi Sirdeshpande, as well as Old Caldicotian and illustrator, Dave Shephard. The highlight for most of the boys, was when Clare Balding gave a talk to the boys about her new book that motivates children to never give up!

The school’s reading list is regularly updated by the Head of English, David Evans and the Librarian, Anna Elson. It is divided into three booklets, with recommendations for Lower, Middle and Senior readers.

Flexi and Occasional Boarding

We offer flexi and occasional boarding in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Form to complement the day experience that the vast majority of boys have in those year groups. We define flexi-boarding as one, two or three nights per week, on a regular basis and occasional boarding as one full week per term.

There is no requirement to take up this offer and nor will your son be adversely affected if you choose to stick to the familiar ‘day’ experience. However, this development may prove to be a valuable inclusion in your son’s week as it will be a meaningful experience to develop independence, it will build self-esteem in large part due to the fun and camaraderie and it may well benefit you in a practical sense, by taking out the commute.

With a range of fun activities in the midst of our fabulous grounds and supervision of the daily spellings/times tables/reading, all completed before supper at 18.00, this opportunity could add significantly to your son’s experience of Caldicott. After supper with all the boarders in our Dining Room, the flexi and occasional boarders will go upstairs at about 19.30 for either showers or time playing in their snug. Lights off will be at 19.40 for the 1st and 2nd Form and 20.15 for the 3rd and 4th Form (these times are later in the Summer Term). With 20 beds allocated to flexi and occasional boarding, their own newly refurbished bathroom, a Houseparent’s accommodation adjacent and on-call Night Matron, Ma’am Dhardwar, this is a home from home for these boys.

Meal Times

At break time the boys are all offered a snack, fresh fruit and a drink of milk or water before they go out to play. In order to encourage good habits, each of the younger boys will have their own school-issued water bottle which is kept in their classroom and washed regularly. In addition to this, there are many water fountains around the school site.

There are two separate lunch sittings each day. In the first sitting, the boys have their main meal with their friends and a teacher in a family-style service. Good table manners are promoted and boys are encouraged to try a variety of foods. In the second sitting, the older boys also have the choice of selecting their food from the salad bar. Our supper menus are designed to tempt boys to engage in a ‘have a try’ approach to the meals we provide, particularly if these happen to be from our selection of ‘Around the World’ menus. Special meals are also popular with the pupils, such as Mexican Fiesta Day, Chinese New Year Supper or Burns Day where we decorate the Dining Hall and have an authentic menu selection.

All this apart, some of the initiatives which have been adopted as policy in the Catering Department are as follows:

• Fresh fruit is offered at all services and no restriction is in place to limit the amount a pupil can have.

• As much as reasonably practicable, fried food is kept to a minimum.

• All vegetables are steam cooked to maintain as much of the vitamin content as possible.

• A vegetarian option is always available.

• A salad bar is available at both lunch and supper times.

• On a half-termly basis, the Catering Manager meets with the boys’ Catering Committee to discuss the service provided.

• The school is a nut-free zone.

It is important that the school looks after all students in its care. To this end, we endeavour to ensure Caldicott is a nut-free school and seek the school community’s cooperation in supporting the safety of all pupils at the school. Nuts and nut-based products are excluded from the school site based on the ingredient list of any food product. Despite this policy, Caldicott cannot fully guarantee a totally nut-free environment.

Please ensure that you notify the school on the medical form if your son has an allergy and provide as much information as possible. Please also arrange to speak to a school Nurse.

Email

Caldicott uses email frequently, and so it is important to ensure that your contact details are up to date. Parents can email staff by using ‘{staff initials}@caldicott.com’.

A full list of the staff’s email addresses are available on the calendar app. However, parents should be aware that teachers are unable to read emails or respond to them during the school day, and will reply to parents at the end of the school day or the following morning. Urgent messages should be left with the School Office.

For general queries, please follow this link to our Directory, in order to find the best person to contact.

Parent Meetings

At the start of every academic year, all year groups have an Information Morning where parents are given an idea of what their son will be learning in the different subjects. Parents have an opportunity to ask any questions about the year ahead. 1st and 2nd Form parents will have the opportunity to have a 15 minute meeting with their son’s Tutor in the Spring Term. The dates of the Parent Information Meetings can be found below (note that these times are subject to change, you will receive more information closer to the time):

• 1st & 2nd Form - Tuesday 12 September at 15.15

• 3rd Form - Saturday 16 September at 09.30

• 4th Form - Saturday 9 September at 09.30

• 5th Form - Saturday 16 September at 11.00

• 6th Form - Saturday 9 September at 11.00

Parents of boys in 3rd/4th/5th and 6th Form have a Parents’ Evening once a year. Boys attend the meeting with their parents and each teacher has a fixed amount of time with the parents and the boy.

Classlist

All parents have access to ‘Classlist’, our tailor-made private parent platform. The Friends of Caldicott like to communicate to all parents about news and the wonderful events they organise via Classlist. This is a safe and completely secure platform (i.e. with information of your choosing shared only with other Caldicott parents in your child’s year group), where you can post questions, make playdates, or issue party invitations, for example. Please be reassured that you will have full control over your privacy settings and the information that you choose to share at all times.

It gives reliable Form lists for easy group communications, it has a school-run map to find other parents nearby, but ultimately it keeps you updated on forthcoming FoC events. We advise downloading the Classlist App onto your mobile, and registering yourself and your son/s (and any guardians/nannies that need to be kept in the loop) as the FoC use the event ticketing and payment function for all their events.

The School Calendar

The school calendar, which contains a diary of events as well as useful contact information, is available online on the Calendar App, and our term dates can be found on our website.

The Parent Portal

At the start of a boy’s first term, parents are given a user name and password so that they may access the portal. The Parent Portal is accessed via our website. This is the main source of up-to-date information regarding fixtures and events as well as boys’ personal and academic information. Half-termly interim reports called ATLs (Attitudes to Learning), and end of term reports are available on this portal. The boys’ end of term reports are sent home to parents at the end of the Autumn and Summer Terms.

Newsletter

A newsletter is produced at the end of each week and sent via email. The newsletter highlights the week’s stories, boys’ achievements and important notices from teachers, such as details of upcoming events and extra-curricular competitions. It also contains a link to the school menu for the forthcoming week as well ‘The Week Ahead’ which lists all events taking place for the next week.

Books Going Home

Every week your son will take home a different book for you to peruse. It is an opportunity for you to discuss what he is learning and for you to follow-up any concerns with the teacher.

Your Son’s Tutor

At Caldicott every child matters, and the happiness and wellbeing of our pupils is of paramount importance. A happy child is a productive child and it is the duty of all staff to help ensure that each and every pupil is well cared for, feels safe and secure, is happy, and engages positively with the world around him.

Caldicott’s support, care and guidance stems from the Tutor who is responsible not only for their pastoral care, but also for ensuring good communication between school and home. Every pupil has a Tutor with whom he has daily contact. The wider net of care for each boy includes Heads of Year, Housemasters, the Medical Team, and the Head of Boarding. It also depends greatly on the boys themselves, for we nurture a sense of looking out for your friends, and encourage leadership from the very first term. Community, belonging, and a deep-seated sense of friendship play a major role in each boy’s time at Caldicott and your son will find security in the extended family of their House. With that security, comes a sense of wellbeing and confidence that enables pupils to flourish as individuals.

Caldicott believes that effective pastoral care is a partnership between the school and parents. Communication with parents takes place through parents’ receptions and regular reports but also through emails, telephone and meetings as required. Effective co-operation between parents and the school pre-empts most serious situations and provides the best possible support for young people in their formative school years. Parents may contact the school to discuss a pastoral or academic issue at any time and indeed are encouraged to do so. Most day-to-day communication will be through the pupil’s Tutor or the Head of Boarding, but in some situations it may be appropriate to involve the Head of Year, the Deputy Heads or, indeed, the Headmaster.

Absences

If your son is not going to be in school please contact the School Office on 01753 649300 or email (office@caldicott.com) to report their absence. Please do this before 08.00 on the first day of the absence, and each day of absence thereafter.

To request an authorised daytime absence (e.g. medical appointment, school visit etc.) please email Matt Hutchings (mjh@caldicott.com). For any absence that will extend overnight, please contact Tom Gloster, our Head of Boarding (tehg@caldicott.com)

If we have not heard from you by 09.00 then we will start to call all the contact numbers that you have provided in order to gain an explanation for the absence. If we still have not been able to ascertain where your child is then we will make a home visit. However if we still haven’t been able to get a response then we will report it to the police as your child will then be classed as a ‘missing child’.

This procedure is to ensure that we know where your child is and that you are all safe. Please let us know in good time why your child is absent from school.

Data Protection

Caldicott is a registered Charitable Trust and we take our responsibilities as a data controller seriously. We are committed to using the personal data we hold in accordance with the law. A copy of our Privacy Notice can be found here.

If you have any questions regarding your personal data, or its use, please contact our Data Protection Lead, Nancy Wright, by email (gdpr@caldicott.com).

Health

The Medical Health Questionnaire should be completed and returned before your son’s first day at Caldicott. If a boy feels unwell or is injured, he is sent to the Health Centre where he is looked after by the school Nurses. Parents are always informed and on some occasions are asked if they would take their son home.

Dental and Medical Appointments

Parents are to make dental appointments for their son in the holidays and medical appointments at times when the boy will miss as little school as possible.

Eye and Hearing Tests

Early in the Autumn Term an optometrist and audiometrist will visit the school to check all new boys’ sight and hearing. Parents will be notified at the beginning of September and they need not attend these appointments with their son. Feedback is given to parents if necessary

Administering of Medicine (prescription and non-prescription)

Most pupils will need medication at some stage of their school life. Although this will mainly be for short periods, there are a few pupils who may require regular medication.

At Caldicott, we keep many over-the-counter medicines in stock, which allows the Health Centre, Matrons, and other members of staff to act ‘in loco parentis’ to give the appropriate treatment for acute illnesses and accidents. If your son needs to take any over-the-counter medication on a regular basis, we require you to complete a medical permission form outlining the reason they need it, exact dosages and times.

Any prescription medication brought into school must be taken to the Health Centre straight away, accompanied by a completed medical permission form. Prescription medication will only be administered if it is in English, received in the original container, stating the pupil’s name and the dosage required on a pharmacy label. This will then be administered in the Health Centre.

NHS Guidelines:

Whether your son is fit enough to attend school will depend on how severe the illness. It is important to consult a health care professional if there is any doubt.

• Cough and cold: a child with a minor cough or cold may attend school. If the cold is accompanied by a raised temperature, shivers or drowsiness, the child should stay off school, visit the GP and return to school 24 hours after they start to feel better. If your child has a more severe and long-lasting cough, consult your GP, who can give guidance on whether your child should stay off school.

• Raised temperature: if your son has a raised temperature, he shouldn’t attend school. He can return 24 hours after he starts to feel better.

• Rash: skin rashes can be the first sign of many infectious illnesses, such as chickenpox and measles. Children with these conditions shouldn’t attend school. If your child has a rash, check with your GP or practice nurse before sending them to school.

• Headache: a child with a minor headache doesn’t usually need to be kept off school. If the headache is more severe or is accompanied by other symptoms, such as raised temperature or drowsiness, then keep the child off school and consult your GP

• Vomiting and diarrhoea: children with diarrhoea and/or vomiting should definitely be kept off school until at least 48 hours after their symptoms have gone (in compliance with Public Health England).

• Sore throat: a sore throat alone doesn’t have to keep a child from school. But if it’s accompanied by a raised temperature, your child should stay at home.

• Chickenpox: if your child has chickenpox, keep them off school until all their spots have crusted over.

• Head Lice: once your child has received appropriate treatment, he may return to school.

The House System

The boys belong to one of four Houses: Cooper (yellow), Jenkins (red), McArthur (green) or Wood (blue). A boy’s House is listed next to his name in the ‘School List’ section of your son’s Pupil Planner. House meetings are held on Wednesday mornings and are a great opportunity for boys of all year groups to mix together. Competition for work effort grades, behaviour, Drama, Music, Art and Sports play a large part in fostering House spirit.

Incentives for Good Work and Behaviour

A plus and minus system is run on a House basis. Pluses are awarded for good work, effort and behaviour. At the end of each term, the House with the most points across all of the House competitions is rewarded with a House party.

Creative and Performing Arts

Caldicott was recently shortlisted for Independent School of the Year for Performing Arts, and provides a rich tapestry of opportunity for boys to enjoy tuition and perform in Music, Art, Drama and Declamations. It is hoped that all Caldicott families will enjoy their sons’ participation in the Arts and appreciate attending many enjoyable performances during the course of their association with the school.

Music

Boys can enjoy specialist one-to-one tuition on all the main orchestral instruments from a team of 12 visiting professional musicians and teachers, for which there is an additional charge. These individual lessons take place during the school day on a rota system, so a boy’s music lesson is not usually on the same day or at the same time each week. Boys are encouraged to join in ensembles as early as possible, and to perform regularly in a range of contexts appropriate for their age and standard, from beginner to experienced recitalist.

They are also encouraged to take grade exams through ABRSM, Trinity or LCME boards, and to participate in music making opportunities at home, at school and in the community. There are numerous competitions and performance opportunities during the school year ranging from private recitals for beginners to instrumental competitions, House competitions, whole school concerts, charity performances and community visits.

Singing

There is a robust culture of singing in the school. We have two professional singing teachers in the department, and choirs for every age group including a Senior Chorus and the more specialist Scholaris. Choirs perform in both sacred and secular settings both on and off site, such as Chapel services, the School Carol Service, charity concerts locally and for organisations by invitation.

More details about Music can be obtained from the Director of Music, James Paget (jep@caldicott.com)

Drama

In addition to their weekly timetabled drama lessons, there are many opportunities for boys to develop and present their dramatic skills, taking part in plays, musicals, the House Drama Competition, Declamations, public speaking competitions, showcases and workshops led by Drama teachers. (LAMDA) tuition at Caldicott is available in solo or duo acting, and boys are entered for exams from Entry Level right up to Bronze Award. We have a 100% pass rate with the majority of boys receiving merits or distinctions.

If you would like to find out more about the Drama curriculum or LAMDA, please contact our Head of Drama, Jo Duncan (jkd@caldicott.com).

Art and Creative Subjects

All boys have specialist Art teaching though the school on the curriculum. Boys are able to participate in art exhibitions, annual visits to art galleries such as the V&A or National Portrait Gallery, compete for Art prizes, participate in whole school cross-curricular projects, collaborations and installations, and have their work displayed around the school.

Scholarships

Boys are invited to aspire to scholarship in all these areas from the outset, but from the 4th Form they may be encouraged to consider preparing to apply for an award if they have begun to show particular promise and talent, along with the commitment to prioritise their area of study and make a significant contribution to the life of the school within it. This would be a decision between the boy, the department and the parents to make together, and if agreed upon supported by the Headmaster. Scholarships are regularly won to schools such as Eton, Harrow, Radley, Wellington, Marlborough, Stowe and Bradfield.

Activities

The Deputy Head (Management) is responsible for the running of the Activity Programme for 3rd and 4th Form, and so any queries or concerns should be directed his way in the first instance. The Head of Boarding oversees the running of activities for the 5th and 6th Form. There are no activities run on the evenings preceeding an exeat.

Lower School (1st and 2nd Form)

Lower School activities take place on Tuesday afternoons, from 14.55 – 16.15. Boys are organised into mixed groups within their own year group and each week groups rotate so that boys can try a new activity. Staff will offer a variety of activities including: construction, arts and crafts, board games, card games and a variety of outdoor learning opportunities. These are valuable sessions, providing an ideal chance for the boys to mix with children across the year group and to develop a range of teamwork and social skills.

Middle School (3rd and 4th Form)

Middle School activities take place after the normal school day on a Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 16.45 – 18.00. It is expected that all 3rd Form boys attend only one after school activity per week. All 4th Form boys attend at least one, and up to three, after school activities per week. There is a mixture of sporting, non-sporting and life skill activities each day. This allows every boy to try something new, regardless of which day he chooses. Boys are encouraged to achieve their Challenge Caldicott Award through their participation in a variety of activities and must complete one full term of an activity in each of the three categories.

As many of the activities are new to the boys, for the first three and a half weeks of the Autumn Term (up until the 1st Exeat) they have the opportunity to try all of the activities in mini half sessions on their chosen activity day. After this, each boy makes his final choice(s) of activity for the first term. He will then make his activity choice for the following two terms at the beginning of each term.

Senior School (5th and 6th Form)

Boarders’ activities take place after supper every night, from 18.45 – 20.00. It is expected that all boarders attend at least two activities per week. The activities on offer include and expand on all the activities in the Middle School programme, allowing the opportunity for continued development within the boys’ chosen activities. There will also be many new activities for the boys to try, owing to individual staff interests and their choice of activity.

Sport

Sport obviously plays an important role in the boys’ lives at Caldicott. The school has a strong sport-for-all ethos and boys are encouraged to give their very best in a range of sports and activities and to learn about winning and losing in a sporting way

It is very early days in your son’s sporting career and many boys will be introduced to a new sport at Caldicott. Team selection will be very fluid and we encourage boys to enjoy representing Caldicott and not to worry about which team they are playing in at this stage. The philosophy of sport at Caldicott is to give every boy the opportunity to have the same access and provision throughout. All boys have different abilities, but all boys will be nurtured so that they enjoy playing sport and want to get better.

Fixture lists for the term ahead are available on the website. The boys are told the evening before if they will be playing in a match. Team lists cannot be supplied before this as unexpected absences can affect plans up to the last minute. The teams and the arrangements for match days are published and updated on the Parent Portal. Any last minute notices are on the front page of the school website.

In choosing Caldicott you are choosing a school committed to matches on Saturday afternoons. Only in a few exceptional circumstances will permission be granted to miss Saturday matches. For rugby fixtures, the wearing of mouth guards is advised, and all boys have the option of getting fitted for a new Opro mouth guard every year. Boys in the 1st Form do not require mouth guards as they play the non-contact version of the game. With regards to headgear or shoulder pads, this is up to the individual, but if a boy does wear these items then they must be International Rugby Board approved.

Our concussion protocol is well managed by our team of nurses and doctors, and if your son suffers a suspected concussion you will be contacted. All concussions suffered will result in a return to play after 23 days, ensuring that the boy is symptom-free.

Caldicott has a tradition of excellent support from parents and families at matches, both home and away, and the match teas are very popular.

Uniform

We expect boys to wear their uniform and their sports kit with pride. Boys have a winter uniform which they wear in the Autumn and Spring Terms, which can be found on our website. The uniform for the Summer Term differs. All uniform should align with the labelling requirements found on the following PDF

Uniform and sports kit are available from the School Uniform Shop or from the Second-hand Shop, both of which are on site near the swimming pool. Opening times of the shops are on the website. All enquiries can be directed to the Uniform Shop (uniform@caldicott.com, 01753 642299) or to the Second-hand Shop (secondhand.uniform@caldicott.com).

If you cannot make it to the shop in person during opening hours, you are most welcome to place an order over the phone on the shop’s direct line 01753 642299 or online. A uniform price list is on the website. Mrs Bradshaw and Mrs Snushall will be happy to call you back to arrange collection and payment of your order. Collection of uniform is from the uniform box outside the Dining Room. The Senior Matron takes care of new uniforms for abroad boys and will liaise with the Uniform Shop.

Uniform Shop

The uniform shop is open during term times on Mondays between 16.00 and 17.00 and Fridays between 08.00 and 09.00. The shop opening times for the school holidays are published on the school website.

All items of clothing, shoes, sports equipment and stationery should be clearly named. It is important that boys take responsibility for their own belongings.

Second-hand Uniform

The shop opening times are published on our website. Only clothes which are in good condition will be accepted for resale.

Sports Kit

Parents are reminded that rugby/football boots should be predominantly black (with black laces), and trainers should be white. Day boys take their games kit home at the end of each week to be washed. This needs to be returned each Monday in the maroon and green Caldicott kit bags.

Haircuts

Boys are expected to take pride in their appearance and so are required to have a neat and tidy haircut of a reasonable length (off their collars and ears).

Examinations and Assessment

All boys have assessments in the various examinable subjects. Assessments are done at the end of either a topic or a module, and no revision is required in preparation for these. The purpose of these assessments is for staff to track the progress of boys in a range of skills.

Examinations are done annually in the Summer Term, immediately after half term. Boys will be given a revision pack for these exams, along with guidelines on how to revise and for how long. The 6th Form also have mock exams in February after half term to ready them for Common Entrance in the Summer Term.

Boys will also undertake some computer based tests periodically to inform teaching: Cognitive Ability Test (CATs) at the start of each academic year and Progress Tests in English and Maths at the end of each academic year in order to track progress.

School Trips

Classes may go on a few school excursions over the course of the academic year, the costs for which are charged on the school bill. In the 2nd Form, all the boys attend a two night residential trip at PGL’s outdoor activity centre in Surrey. Parents will be sent detailed information about this trip during the Autumn Term.

5th Form Adventure Week

The 5th Form have a residential week in the penultimate full week of the Summer Term after their school exams. This trip is designed predominantly to be an outward bound trip. It will have a mixture of elements to help develop leadership and teamwork skills, include a wider educational aspect, will introduce the boys to outward bound activities and will, of course, include lots of fun. This trip currently runs to Polzeath in Cornwall.

6th Form Leavers’ Week

The 6th Form have a residential week in the last full week of the Summer Term after their Common Entrance exams. The philosophy and aims of this trip are much the same as those for the 5th Form Adventure Week.

Other Useful Information

Valuable Items and Games

Valuable items should not be brought in to school, as it causes great distress if they are damaged or misplaced. Trading of popular items is actively discouraged.

Stationery

All day boys are required to provide their own named pencil case with HB pencils, a 30cm clear and rigid ruler, rubber, sharpener, coloured pencils and a non-coloured glue stick. Boys in the 3rd Form and above may also use a Berol handwriting pen, before moving to a fountain pen. The 4th Form can have ink pens and most have erasable ink pens. Each item should be clearly labelled and boys should ask for replacements from home when necessary. Boarders can obtain replacements from the Deputy Head (Academic) during the week.

Birthday Invitations and Treats (Day Boys)

The school requests that party invitations should not be handed out at school unless all the boys in the class are being invited. Many parents therefore find it easier to send an email to other parents. Unfortunately, due to the various allergies of our boys, we ask that boys do not bring in any cakes for their birthdays.

Leaving School During the Day

If a boy needs to be picked up during the school day, parents are asked to collect him from the School Office, where he will be signed out. If he is then being brought back into school, he should be registered back in via the School Office.

Mobile Devices

We ask parents to support the school in preventing boys from gaining access to games, videos, television programmes or magazines, which may be considered to have a bad influence on them. We are increasingly aware of the difficulties and responsibilities we all face these days, particularly with regard to the proliferation of unsuitable material. The current policy on mobile devices and smart watches is available on the website.

The Friends of Caldicott

The Friends of Caldicott (FoC) is a committee of volunteer parents with children across the school. Each year has a representative. They organise a number of events throughout the year that are both an opportunity to socialise together as families and with the staff, and to raise funds for extra projects and developments around the school. These events include the New Parents Supper in October, the legendary Bonfire Night for all the family, fun golf and tennis days at Stoke Park, and the Caldicott Summer Party at the end of the school year. There are plenty of opportunities to socialise and you may make life-long friendships along the way.

The Parent Contract

You will have already been issued with the Terms and Conditions (Parent Contract), along with a copy of the School Rules, with regard to your son’s place at Caldicott.

Lower School (1st & 2nd Form) Additional Information

First Day of Term

On your son’s first day, bring him to the front lawn where his teacher will be waiting to greet you both. If he is joining mid-year, please bring him to the Front Office.

The boys will be given the following items, already named by their teachers:

• A Caldicott book bag

• A reading record book

• A Caldicott water bottle

• A Pupil Planner

At 16.15 please make your way to the front lawn where the Lower School boys check out every day. When your son sees you through the window of the corridor, he will check out with the member of staff on duty and make his way out to you. All the Lower School Form Tutors will be present at this time.

Classes

Your son will have the same Form Tutor for the majority of his lessons, with the addition of some specialist subject teachers. These Tutors will write to introduce themselves to your son over the summer holidays. All subjects are taught in mixed ability groups, apart from Maths which is in sets from the 2nd Form onwards.

Reading Books

Each evening, the boys take home a book to read and a reading record book in their Caldicott book bags. Boys are asked to read each night and it is important that parents sign and date the reading record book, which should be returned each day for reading at school. Boys will be guided to suitable reading material by their teacher. They may also borrow two books at a time for a two week period from the School Library.

Watches

Boys in the 1st and 2nd Forms are encouraged to wear an inexpensive analogue watch, clearly named, to school.

Incentive Schemes

As well as the whole school plus and minus system, the 1st and 2nd Forms have a unique system depending on which class they are in, that rewards them for good behaviour and progress in lessons. Rewards are then given out once boys reach a certain amount.

Helping your Child at Home

Caldicott sets little homework for the younger day boys as we believe that the working days are long and that extra work at home can lead to tiredness and be counter-productive. During the year they will be given weekly spellings appropriate to their stage of learning. They may also be set some maths tasks, if required. Regular reading out loud to an adult would also be beneficial for their continued development.

At Caldicott, independent work is done in school under teachers’ guidance, so that when the boys return home they can enjoy family time. Over the years at the school, the boys will learn increasingly to work on their own in the supervised prep sessions with teachers.

Education is, however, a partnership and there are a number of ways parents can help to support their son at home during the long summer holiday. For any boys who require help with the following, it would benefit him to practise before he starts at Caldicott:

• tying shoe and boot laces, and ties.

• telling the time on an analogue as well as digital clocks.

• holding a pencil correctly and drawing a line with a ruler.

• cutting with scissors.

• colouring in accurately.

• being able to dress quickly and independently.

• number bonds (for 10, 20 and 100) and times tables (all but at least 2x, 5x and 10x).

• reading aloud.

• writing (he could write a short review of a holiday, for example).

• letters of the alphabet.

• swimming without buoyancy aids and gaining confidence in the water

• trying new foods (the school menu is published each week in the newsletter).

Middle School (3rd & 4th Form) Additional Information

First Day of Term

A lot of the current Caldicott boys will be well versed with the first day back, however, they do need to remember that they are not allowed to go down the Lower School Corridor. They should endeavour to walk through the courtyard, past the Centenary Hall and take the side entrance to the 3rd Form corridor. For those boys who are new to Caldicott, they should be brought to the Front Hall where they will be met by members of staff and shown to their new classroom. All boys will need to bring in their Games/ PE kit including a towel on their first day. Boys will be given the following items, already named by their teachers:

• A green Caldicott 3rd and 4th Form book bag

• A reading record book

• A Pupil Planner

Classes/Sets

3rd Form is spread across three mixed ability classes. Apart from Maths, which is streamed, and with the exception of games, all other lessons will be taught in Form groups. The majority of their lessons are taught by specialist subject teachers.

Prep Time

The boys in the 3rd Form do not have an extended prep session in the morning. Instead they will have extra academic lessons to allow more contact time with their teachers.

Reading Books

Each evening, the boys take home a book to read and a reading record book in their Caldicott book bags. Boys are asked to read each night and it is important that parents sign and date the reading record book, which should be returned each day for reading at school. Each classroom has a small bookshelf which has books that can be read. Alternatively, there is a very well-stocked library which the boys are encouraged to use.

They may borrow two books at a time for a two week period from the School Library.

Helping Your Child at Home

Caldicott sets little homework for those boys in the 3rd and 4th Forms as we believe that the working days are long and that extra work at home can lead to tiredness and be counterproductive. Regular reading out loud to an adult would be beneficial for their continued development. In addition, boys may also be given some French vocabulary to learn which will help to prepare them for weekly tests.

Finally, we want to foster independence throughout the boys’ time in the 3rd and 4th Forms. To prepare your son for the busy week ahead, it would be advisable that he logs in to the Pupil Portal on a Sunday to see when his Music lesson is (whilst also taking the opportunity to see what’s on the weekly food menu that week) and he should also help to pack his own kit bag.