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Senior School - 2025/2026

INTRODUCTION

This booklet is designed to bring together helpful information which, in our experience, parents have most needed to know. The formal provision we offer is set out in our terms and conditions and our various school policies which can be found on the website.

If you need further information or have any concerns whatsoever, do not hesitate to contact us using our general email address seniorschool@claremont.surrey.sch.uk or the main telephone number 01372 467 841.

Our website is www.claremontfancourt.net

We hope this guide is helpful, and we’ll keep you updated throughout the year about any policy or procedural changes via our weekly communications and the parent portal.

Claremont’s social media accounts:

Claremont Fan Court School @claremontfancourt

Be confident in character.

Be strong in understanding.

Be limitless in potential.

INDEX

4- Communication

6- The school day

10- Academic

18- Pastoral

22- Co-curricular

26- Transport

27- Miscellaneous

30- School systems

PhilosoPhy

COMMUNICATION

We wish to adopt a harmonious and respectful relationship with all Claremont families as we strongly believe this is in the best interests of our pupils.

sources of information

The school’s website is a useful source of general information, including important policies and procedures and term dates. More specific information and resources are available on the recently introduced parent portal which is password protected.

During term time, the school typically sends messages to parents on Tuesdays and Fridays via the SchoolPost email service.

The school office is staffed between 8.00am- 5.30pm term time for matters requiring immediate attention: 01372 467 841.

Parent Portal

We have introduced a parent portal (desktop and app) which is accessible to all parents/carers who are registered on our systems. The portal makes individual pupil information available such as prep tasks, reports and grade cards, timetables, and the school’s calendar with customisable filters. There is a useful feature which allows you to integrate the school calendar with your own online calendar. Resources such as uniform guides, term dates and key contact information can also be found in the portal.

There are ‘quick links’ within the portal to various online systems which support school activities (like myEVOLVE for trips.)

www.claremont.fireflycloud.net

Parents contacting PuPils / mobile Phones

All mobile phones should be turned off when pupils enter the main school site, including before and after school. For practical reasons, ‘school site’ refers to the area beyond the estate fencing that borders the top car park, and all areas beyond the entrance from Claremont Drive. Ideally phones should be stored in lockers between 8.25am and 4.00pm, but it is also acceptable for pupils to store their phones in bags or jackets.

Sixth form students may use their phone in the sixth form centre or just outside that building. Any pupils seen using their phone around the main school site during the school day can expect to have them confiscated. Any pupils seen using their phone around the main school site during the school

day can expect to have them confiscated. The phone will then be delivered to the appropriate head of house or sixth form office for collection at the end of the day. The phone will then be returned at the end of the day. This rule is to ensure the safety and privacy of everyone on site and to address the well-known concerns around phone use. It is expected that if pupils and/or parents urgently need to contact each other, they either use school email or contact reception. The only exception to this is when pupils are on site after school for games or prep club and are contacting parents about collection.

SOCIAL MEDIA GROUP CHATS - NEW POLICY

Following consultation with parents, we will be implementing a new policy in September 2025 for pupils up to and including Year 7. Pupils up to and including Year 7 are not permitted to use social media platforms for ‘group chats’ involving other Claremont pupils. This decision reflects strong parental support and our concern that group messaging among children under 13 may lead to unnecessary social stress and the potential for misunderstandings. To clarify, we are not seeking to prohibit family group chats or straightforward 1:1 message exchanges, nor do we seek to be prescriptive regarding individual parenting approaches, however, we ask for support in ensuring that ‘group chats’ involving three or more pupils are avoided.

staff contacting Parents

We use the contact details provided to us when a child joins the school to send information and in case of emergencies. We ask that all families keep contact information completely up to date either via the school office or by submitting updates using the parent portal. It is a legal requirement for us to hold contact details for two trusted adults (usually parents) per pupil.

Parents contacting staff

Parents are encouraged to contact us directly and without hesitation about a specific matter or concern. In most cases, an initial communication would be sent to your child’s form tutor via email. Please allow up to two working days for a response regarding general matters. Teaching and learning, together with pupils’ welfare, are always our top priorities. Communication must always be conducted with courtesy and consideration. If you do not feel satisfied with a particular response, you are always welcome to seek clarification from senior members of staff. Email for teachers and coaches who are not Claremont members of staff (e.g. peripatetic music teachers and sports coaches) must be directed to the head of the relevant department. To ensure that the teacher/parent relationship is based on trust, email conversations must not be shared with other parties or on social media platforms.

Parents visiting school

Parents are welcome to visit school during the day for a pre-arranged meeting or when invited to attend an event. For the safety and security of pupils, parents must ensure that they sign-in and wear an appropriate badge during their visit. The senior school sign-in location is mansion reception.

dogs on site

Well-behaved dogs, kept on a lead, are welcome to join families for Saturday fixtures but at no other times during the week. From time to time, Rosie, our wellbeing Cockerpoo visits under the supervision of our deputy head, pastoral.

Parent forum meetings

Opportunities for parents to discuss matters directly are held both online and in person regularly throughout the year. Please look out for information.

staff email addresses

In most cases staff email addresses are constructed using the following format: Initial, followed by surname@claremont.surrey.sch.uk Example: Mr J Bloggs will have this address: jbloggs@claremont.surrey.sch.uk

Key email addresses are available on the parent portal in the resources area.

THE SCHOOL DAY

a tyPical school day:

(The library is open to pupils daily from 7.45am for quiet work)

8.25am Start of the school day – registration

8.25-8.45am Tutor time / assembly

8.50- 09.35am Period 1 lesson

9.40-10.25am Period 2 lesson

10.25-10.50am Morning break

10.50-11.35am Period 3 lesson

11.40am-12.25pm Period 4 lesson

12.30-1.15pm Period 5 lesson

1.15-2.25pm Lunch / co-curricular clubs and clinics

2.25-3.10pm Period 6 lessons

3.15-4.00pm Period 7 lessons

4.00pm End of the school day

(Prep club is available in the library until 6.00pm)

before and after school

The mansion doors open at 7.45am and pupils may work quietly in the library until registration. Breakfast club is available from 8.00am in the dining hall (no booking required). After school supervision (Prep Club) runs until 6.00pm is in the library (no booking required).

the timetable

We have an extensive site and, therefore, pupils have 5 minutes between lessons to move to their next classroom.

Assemblies for the whole school are held each Friday, except during the public exam period. Regular house and year group assemblies take place during tutor times.

Each pupil’s individual timetable is made available to them at the start of each academic year and can be viewed by parents on the parent portal. If pupils are staying beyond 4.00pm on a school day, they should either be involved in a school activity or have permission from a member of staff to be on site. If parents are unavoidably late to pick up their children, pupils should wait in the library. Pupils are not expected to use the school grounds after school or at weekends unless involved in a school activity. If they are taking part in a games fixture, pupils should be picked up no later than 10 minutes after the advised collection time from the top car park.

absence

In cases where a child is unwell and staying at home, a parent must either submit an absence form via the parent portal, call the absence line on 01372 473617 or email their child’s tutor and seniorschool@claremont.surrey.sch.uk by 9.30am and on each subsequent day of absence, explaining the reason for the absence. Please note that, in the case of diarrhoea and vomiting, a child must not return to school for 48 hours in accordance with the Department of Health guidance. If a child is absent from school without notification, we will contact parents/carers to confirm the child’s whereabouts. If the school cannot be reassured of a pupil’s whereabouts, the police will be informed of a missing pupil.

attendance and Punctuality

Pupils are expected to attend school punctually each day between 8.25am and 4.00pm with a minimum attendance record of 95%. Considerable importance is attached to punctuality and registration is a legal requirement. Persistent lateness to morning registration will automatically lead to a sanction, and we therefore ask for parents’ support in ensuring their child arrives on time. Pupils must register at mansion reception if they are arriving late to school.

aPPointments and leave during the school day/term time

Families must ensure that their own holiday plans correspond with Claremont’s term dates. Parents are advised not to take their child out of school during term time except for the most serious, pressing reasons. Any applications for permission for your child to be out of school during term time must be made to the head of house/year for consideration. Ideally, routine dental and medical appointments should be made outside of school time however, we recognise this is not always possible. Requests for permission to leave school for an appointment should be received well in advance and either by email to seniorschool@claremont.surrey.sch.uk and the tutor, or by a form on the parent portal. We will only authorise leave when appropriate. Pupils who have permission to leave school during the day, must sign out and back at mansion reception. what does

Term dates

Term dates are published on our website and parent portal, and show the current and the following academic year.

lunch

Pupils enjoy a generous lunchtime period during which they eat a school lunch freshly prepared on site (this is also available when pupils are on study leave in older year groups). They may choose from a hot main course, a jacket potato, pasta or vegetarian option served with fresh vegetables and salads. Pupils are also offered a selection of filled baguettes, wraps or sandwiches. A pudding is available together with a choice of cold desserts and fruit. Year 7 pupils are released 5 minutes early from period 5 each day to start their lunch slightly earlier. Other year groups are allocated a rota of lunch sittings. Lunch should only be eaten in the dining halls. A packed lunch is supplied by our kitchen when pupils are on a school day trip. Special dietary needs can be accommodated in liaison with your child’s tutor or the care centre although we do not offer specific kosher or halal meals. We very much value the social aspect of a shared lunch time experience and therefore this is a compulsory element of the day. Refunds cannot be made if a meal is not taken.

morning snack and tuck

** Claremont is a nut free school **

Pupils are welcome to bring a nut-free mid-morning snack into school or they can purchase an item of tuck from the JGC servery. Payment is via a pupil’s i-pay account.

detention after school

Detention is a penalty imposed for persistent / significant breaches of school rules (please refer to the behaviour, rewards and sanctions policy on the website for full details).

Two after school sessions of supervised reflection (commencing at 4.15pm) take place each week, on Tuesdays (45 minutes) and Wednesdays (1 hour). A Saturday morning detention slot is also available. Parents will be advised via email should a detention be allocated.

ACADEMIC

curriculum

We support pupils at Claremont to become lifelong learners who are able to be as successful as possible academically, have a growing sense of their own academic identity and passions, be intellectually curious and be able to make a positive contribution to global, professional life and society.

Our curriculum in Years 7, 8 and 9 is therefore designed to develop ten specific learner attributes:

curriculum Policy

Details of curriculum arrangements for each stage of a child’s school career can be found in our curriculum policy. Good communication with parents is vital at all stages to support academic progress. However, it is worth noting that at certain points in a pupil’s academic journey such as the transition between Year 11 and sixth form, subject choice, teaching arrangements, and any pupil’s timetable will ultimately be at the school’s discretion albeit in open dialogue with families and pupils themselves.

textbooks and equiPment

Textbooks and exercise books are issued generally at no additional cost. Textbooks must be returned promptly when requested in good condition, and a charge is made if textbooks are lost or returned in poor condition.

A pencil case containing a set of pens, pencils, rubber, highlighters, glue stick and coloured pencils should be bought into school by pupils daily.

Pupils in Year 7 will be issued with a set of high quality drawing pencils for prep. All pupils will have a scientific calculator which is supplied by school - a small charge is made for this.

target settings

We encourage pupils to develop a ‘growth mindset’, including the setting of targets and responding to feedback. During examination years (Year 9 to Year 13) this includes establishing a target grade. This will include students agreeing a target grade for each of their GCSE or A level subjects with teachers based on recommendations. The target grade will be aspirational but realistic and give the student a clear understanding of what is possible for them to achieve. Teachers will then issue a PRAG rating against that target grade to indicate if the pupil is on track to achieve the target grade in that subject with specific written and verbal guidance on how to improve:

• Purple - achieving beyond the target grade

• Green - achieving in line with the target grade

• Amber - achieving one grade below the target grade

• Red - achieving two or more grades below the target grade

Target grades are be formulated in discussion with pupils but teachers will make the final decision. A range of evidence including cognitive baseline testing and, most importantly, a teachers professional judgement and their knowledge and understanding of the individual pupil forms recommendation. Target grades are communicated in grade cards and reports.

the Joyce grenfell Programme

The Joyce Grenfell programme is a bespoke and innovative course designed for all students in Year 12. The programme incorporates study skills and independent learning techniques and offers students a range of courses, programmes and qualifications that can be pursued alongside their A level studies, such as the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), TEFL, LAMDA, MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) or CISI Financial Services Award.

The programme is timetabled and is structured to ensure that all students have the qualifications, skills and academic interests to make competitive applications to university and professional life, including Oxbridge and medicine.

Note: Joyce Grenfell OBE (1910-1979) writer, actress, performer, was a former Claremont pupil.

academic standards

Expected academic attainment and target grades are relative to the abilities and strengths of the individual learner and all pupils will be encouraged, supported and challenged to achieve their full academic potential. Whilst academic performance will understandably fluctuate from child to child we do expect that all pupils will engage themselves fully in their learning, both inside the classroom and at home.

As a result, we expect that pupils will mostly achieve effort and engagement grades in the top two tiers across all their subjects. Subject teachers and heads of department will liaise with pastoral colleagues to support each pupil in an appropriate way to ensure they are reaching their potential and have the tools necessary to work effectively and productively.

We use our rewards and sanctions (see pastoral section) to promote learning. Pupils who regularly fall below the expected standard for effort and engagement will be brought to the attention of senior staff. These pupils may be given a report card and/or a formal academic support plan (including agreed processes that will aid classroom and independent learning) with detailed minimum targets to ensure that they are ready to progress academically and pastorally.

PreP

Prep books are issued to all pupils to track homework assignments. For a teacher, prep is primarily a means of reinforcing and assessing the points and concepts covered in the classroom, offering enrichment and extension as well as being good preparation for the next lesson. Extensive parental assistance defeats the purpose of setting homework, and such well-intended support can sometimes lead to a false impression of a pupil’s level of understanding. If a prep book is lost, a replacement must be purchased from the senior school office (£5.00).

Pupils in Year 7 can expect 2-3 prep tasks set per night of approximately 30 minutes per subject, whilst pupils in Year 8 can expect 3-4. At GCSE, homework is likely to take about 45 minutes per subject but may be more during periods of revision and exam preparation.

In the sixth form, there is no specific prep schedule and homework duration will differ significantly from subject to subject, and during different times of the academic calendar.

Prep will be set on Microsoft Teams ‘assignments’, and potentially collected and marked via Teams but this may differ from subject to subject based on best practice.

Parents will receive a weekly email about assignments set on MS Teams to their inbox. Teams assignments can be viewed via the parent portal.

Pupils who do not follow the spirit of the prep system (e.g. fail to complete without good reason) may be given an academic sanction.

individual needs

We aim to meet the needs of every pupil by providing appropriate support where necessary or personalising the curriculum. This might involve tailoring a pupil’s timetable, providing expert and specialist teaching for pupils during the school day. The aim of these individual or small group lessons is to support development of core literacy, numeracy and study skills and to provide pupils with a range of strategies that enable them to cope independently in the classroom. environment and increase their self-confidence. In Years 7–8, pupils are required to drop one subject to receive this support. The subject is usually one of the following: a language, art, drama, music or technology. Every effort is made to accommodate requests bearing in mind the restrictions of the timetable and teacher availability. There is an additional charge for this support.

technology use

Well specified and well used technology offers major benefits for pupils at Claremont. We see three different elements of this: the availability to all pupils of a consistent, reliable and high-quality laptop; the use of the MS Teams environment throughout their academic journey; and the presence of fully interactive screens in all our learning spaces.

All senior school pupils have their own device or laptop purchased or rented by parents using schemes via a specialist IT supplier. Pupils in Years 7-11 will use an MS Surface Pro device containing the relevant software packages for use in lessons and at home. Once pupils reach the sixth form it is appropriate that they choose their own device. These may vary according to the subjects a student is taking or the routes they expect to follow after school.

The safeguarding of our pupils is critically important and under our IT acceptable use policy, we provide filtered and monitored internet access on site and we monitor internet use via school devices at all times. We also insist on and provide appropriate anti-virus and anti-malware systems to protect both the pupils and school systems. As part of the MS Teams environment, all pupils have access to substantial OneDrive cloud storage and should use this to store their work to ensure that it is accessible from anywhere and securely backed up.

IT support: IThelpdesk@claremont.surrey.sch.uk

rePorts, assessments and monitoring academic Progress

The schedule of reporting is constructed around important summative assessment windows or transition points such as A level mock exams in the upper sixth or GCSE options in Year 8 to give pupils and their families plenty of feedback at these critical times.

The philosophy of our reporting structure is based on the principles of ensuring students are setting and reviewing sensible but aspirational targets, have the feedback they need to make improvements and to ensure there is an ongoing dialogue between parents, pupils and their teachers.

As a result, we adapt the reporting schedule to best suit the specific needs of each year group - for instance, during some examination years there are two parents’ evenings scheduled around summative assessments/mock examinations to review progress.

The full assessment and reporting framework for each year group can be found in our curriculum policy (see website).

rePorting cycle at a glance:

student futures

Our student futures programme helps guide pupils as they make choices at each stage of their education. This is supported by taught lessons as part of the PSHEE curriculum, access to specialist software (Unifrog), careers lunch events hosted by professionals representing a broad range of career paths, one to one meetings with our head of student futures and - a major event in the school calendar – the annual student futures evening.

Sixth form students receive UCAS support via university talks and one to one support from our higher education co-ordinator. Those who wish to pursue Oxbridge, medical sciences, engineering, law or apprenticeship courses will receive additional support. Students are also supported with university admissions testing across a range of subjects. We are always delighted to hear from parents who wish to offer their own expertise and experience, or even a work experience placement as our students consider their future careers.

curriculum booklets

There is a curriculum booklet for each key stage available to view on our parent portal. Each curriculum booklet provides an overview of the subjects offered in each stage, information about subject choices (as applicable) and details of what is taught in each subject.

gcse and a level oPtions

We understand that deciding on GCSE and A level options can be challenging. We therefore ensure there is plenty of information, guidance and feedback to support pupils and their families. We schedule parents’ evenings and report cycles ahead of and following options evenings. There is student futures guidance scheduled in the PSHEE curriculum around deadlines for choices. Pupils can meet with either the higher education co-ordinator or head of student futures to discuss their choices and pupils will meet with either their tutor or head of house to discuss their options.

We want pupils to flourish on their chosen curriculum pathways. As a result, we may well make recommendations to pupils and parents about their choices.

Parents’ evenings

Parents’ evenings are held online as parent feedback has favoured this approach. A link to the booking system is sent via School Post well in advance of the parents’ evening. Pupils must also be present for these important meetings.

PASTORAL

houses

A vibrant house system lies at the heart of Claremont life. All pupils are allocated to a specific house for the duration of their time in the senior school. This includes their time in the sixth form. The six houses are: Norwood Banstead Radnor Longcross Stanmore and Esher.

House competitions run across the year to allow pupils of all ages and interests to play a part in the advancement of their house.

House allocation is at the discretion of the head of middle school and the deputy head, pastoral. Siblings typically join the same house although are unlikely to be placed in the same tutor group.

Pastoral co-ordination

Each of our houses are led by an experienced head of house and a deputy head of house. In turn, they lead a team of tutors. Together, these members of staff are responsible for the academic progress, general wellbeing and co-curricular engagement of their charges. Pastoral leaders also help to address any disciplinary issues involving pupils in their cohort. The deputy head, pastoral, oversees the house system.

sixth form Pastoral co-ordination

Sixth form students are also members of one of the six houses and contribute to the overall success of their house. However, day to day pastoral supervision is provided by the head of sixth form, and the heads of Year 12 and 13, and a team of sixth form tutors.

tutors and tutor grouPs

Vertical tutor groups exist for Years 7-11 and the sixth form respectively, meaning that pupils meet each day with a small number of pupils from other year groups. Tutor groups are like families within the larger communities of the house and wider senior school. Typically a pupil remains in the same tutor group throughout their time in the middle school (Years 7-11). No tutor group is larger than 20 and pupils benefit from sharing experiences and learning from each other in a way that is not possible in lessons where pupils learn alongside peers in the same year group.

Tutors meet their tutees every morning at 8.25am for registration and there is an extended tutor time on at least three days of each week (on other days there are year group, house and/or whole school assemblies). Our intention is that parents quickly come to regard their child’s tutor as someone with whom they and their child can have a trusting and positive relationship. Each tutor is able to deal with most parental enquiries and concerns related to a pupil, at least in the first instance.

The middle school (Years 7-11) will hold some key moments for pupils which cut across the house structure such as a pupil’s initial induction into Claremont or the selection of GCSE courses. These activities are led by the head of middle school.

PuPil id cards

Upon joining the senior school, pupils are provided with an ID card which enables them to use printers and access buildings across the site. Should the card be lost, the loss should be reported to the pupil’s tutor who can arrange for a replacement - a small charge will be added to the account for lost ID cards.

Prize-giving

We celebrate pupils’ academic achievements and their efforts in support of the school community at a prize-giving ceremony in early September. Pupils who are awarded prizes will be invited to attend this event with up to two family members.

uniform

All pupils should start each school day in smart/formal uniform unless it is their games afternoon on that particular day. In these cases, pupils must wear official school sports kit including tracksuit in cold conditions. Pupils who have a reason to change into sports kit (due to a sports training session or PE lesson), may remain in that uniform for the rest of the day.

Afternoon games at a glance:

Monday - Year 9

Tuesday - Year 10

Wednesday - Sixth form and Year 11

Thursday - Year 8

Friday - Year 7

For Years 7-11, when wearing smart/formal uniform, blazers should be worn, shirts and blouses must be tucked in, shoes should be polishable black leather and socks ankle height. Trainers are not acceptable, and shoes should be smart and clean.

Sixth form students are required to wear a ‘business style’ dress (suit or jacket/trousers/skirts) with shirt and tie or a blouse (see details in specific sixth form dress code). For those wearing skirts, they should not be significantly above the knee (a hand width above the knee is acceptable, but no more).

For pupils wearing skirts or shorts, these should normally be worn with a base layer or tracksuit trousers, unless the summer uniform policy has been enacted. For all year groups, a coat is not an acceptable alternative to a blazer or jacket. Full details can be found in the uniform guide on the parent portal.

hair, Jewellery and makeuP

Hair should be neat, clean, natural in colour and not obscure the face. Facial hair is not accepted. In certain instances, such as PE science and DT hair may need to be tied up for safety reasons and staff will insist on this. Hair should not be extreme and/or unnatural, and judgement on this is at the discretion of the deputy head, pastoral. For those with pierced ears, one or at most two studs in each ear is acceptable. No other jewellery should be worn. Makeup or nail varnish is not permitted for pupils in Years 7-11. Exceptions to all these rules for religious or other personal reasons, should be discussed with heads of house/year and agreed with them and the deputy head (pastoral) in advance of any change.

behaviour, rewards and sanctions

Full details about how the school operates its rewards and sanctions can be found in the behaviour, rewards and sanctions policy on the website. We are always pleased to reward positive contributions to school life – examples of these are departmental merits given by class teachers, house points which contribute to the overall success of a pupil’s house or commendation certificates awarded in assemblies. Positions of responsibility further up the school are awarded in recognition of outstanding commitment and levels of personal development and achievement.

We know that our pupils may make mistakes at times, and the premise behind our behaviour management procedures is that we all learn from our mistakes and once sanctions are served, we move forward positively together.

language

All pupils should treat their peers and staff with dignity and respect. This includes always using appropriate and inoffensive language and recognising that words can be harmful to others if used carelessly and without thought. Being reasonable, courteous and polite is a basic but essential expectation and pupils should also expect staff to treat them in the same way.

Personal, social, health and economic education (Pshee)

PSHEE is delivered to all pupils through academic lessons and specific pastoral sessions led by the head of PSHEE or teachers specially chosen for the role (often pastoral leaders).

The curriculum includes age-appropriate topics such as drugs and alcohol education, family relationships, peer pressure, mindfulness, staying safe online and on social media and resilience. Relationship and Sex Education (RSE) is compulsory in senior schools and more details can be found in the Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) policy.

counselling

Qualified and BACP-accredited counsellors provide individual counselling sessions in Cedar Lodge (our pupil hub) during the school day. A pupil can be referred by a teacher, parent, carer, or request it themselves. Once a pupil is referred, our school counsellor will meet with them as soon as possible to assess their needs. Once confirmed, the pupil will meet with the counsellor weekly for 45-minute sessions. Typically, pupils see the school counsellor for up to six sessions.

The content of the sessions is confidential. However, if a child is at risk, the school process for safeguarding pupils will be implemented. In line with national guidelines, counsellors do not always require parental consent to work with a young person.

teen tiPs - wellbeing hub

Claremont subscribes to an online platform which offers useful and relevant ‘hints and tips’, parenting courses, webinars and other content to help you support your child at this stage in their development.

The wellbeing hub can be accessed using a link sent to parents or via the app tray on the parent portal.

overview

At Claremont, we believe that a well-rounded education goes beyond the classroom. We foster an atmosphere in which pupils can always “have a go” at trying out something new. Our co-curricular timetable is updated termly, with mostly free activities, from chess, coding and archery, to politics, textiles, yoga and traditional team sports. Ideas for new clubs are always very welcome from pupils and students lead certain clubs and house competitions.

ParticiPation

Participation in at least two activities per week is expected and pupils do not usually have to formally enrol. Pupils must, however, participate in drama rehearsals and productions, orchestra, and choir practices if they have successfully auditioned. Scholars are also expected to participate wholeheartedly in the activities for which their scholarship was awarded.

clubs and clinics communication and signing uP

The full co-curricular programme is circulated to pupils, parents and tutors the start of each term. Some clubs are seasonal or there may be exciting new additions to the programme each term.

Teachers also offer academic subject support clinics at lunchtimes for pupils who would like to take aspects of learning to the next level or for those who may need a little extra help.

The vast majority of clubs are produced in-house by our teachers and coaches and are at no extra charges. This means that children can just ‘turn up’ and show their interest. Some clubs will naturally have a limited capacity and in this circumstance we will offer sign-up sheets and do our best to rotate the offering over the year.

co-curricular fair

Pupils will be introduced to all the co-curricular activities available to them early in the autumn term when we host a lunchtime ‘co-curricular fair’. This important event creates an exciting buzz which helps the pupils engage with what is on offer and introduces them to new activities which they may not have tried before.

sPort at claremont

With 100 acres of grounds, sport plays a major role in Claremont life. Our principal sports are football, lacrosse, rugby, netball, cricket, athletics and indoors gymnastics, table tennis and badminton (to name a few). Pupils also participate in orienteering, golf, skiing, fencing, trampolining, triathlon and archery with these sports entering schools’ competitions.

Details of fixtures and results are regularly updated in the sport area of the school’s website (SOCs) which can be checked for timings as well as venues and maps for away games.

Pupils selected for teams MUST be available for mid-week and Saturday fixtures. Team lists are available on the SOCs website and placed on the sports hall notice board and players should be at school in good time, ready to play. Refreshments for teams are provided after each home game.

Teamsheets posted on SOCs are password protected. The current password is: Teamsheet26

sPorts awards

In the summer term, we celebrate sporting achievements with pupils and their families at a sports awards evening (this event is by invitation).

school triPs and enrichment week

Enrichment trips range from day trips and evenings at the theatre, to residential trips during the school holidays. Towards the end of the summer term, our pupils embark on enrichment week during which various residential trips and activities take place. Year 7 and 8 pupils, partake in various workshops in school for a couple of days and then leave site for an activity based residential. Year 9 pupils take part in DofE and academic day trips. Year 12 students take part in work experience during enrichment week.

All trips are managed using myEVOLVE, an online tool for planning educational visits and trips. Parents sign up for a myEVOLVE account using a registration link sent to them. You can access myEVOLVE via the parent portal.

Production

Every year, pupils are invited to participate in a school production which is typically performed in the summer term to a full house of the wider Claremont community, friends and family. If pupils audition for a role, we ask families to support their children being available for each of the scheduled rehearsals.

duke of edinburgh’s award scheme

We introduce the DofE award scheme to pupils in Year 9. Throughout the year they complete a range of overnight expeditions as a team and take part in community volunteering projects to qualify for a bronze award. After that, it is their choice to work towards a silver or even gold award.

individual lessons: music and drama

Tuition for a wide variety of musical instruments and vocal lessons is available for pupils individually during the school day. Lessons are delivered by self-employed visiting music teachers (VMTs). Claremont’s music department facilitates introductions and provides specialist music practice spaces. However, all the detailed arrangements, including the fees, scheduling and the terms are dealt with directly between families and the VMT.

Pupils who play a musical instrument or who are keen singers, are encouraged to join school ensembles, perform in assembles or at early evening concerts to enrich their musical journey. The co-curricular programme has details on the musical ensembles available.

Speech and drama lessons are available to pupils, and lesson culminate in LAMDA graded exams.

bus network

TRANSPORT

A school bus network is provided exclusively for the use of our pupils, offering a safe and convenient way of travelling between home and school.

Claremont partners with Vectare, a specialist school transport company, to run this service. All bookings, whether ad hoc or regular journeys, are made via an online booking system which features a personalised journey planning portal, pricing and booking arrangements.

Orderly conduct is mandatory for the bus service, and any pupils failing to abide by the code of conduct will lose the privilege of using the service (temporarily or permanently). Enquiries can be directed to the dedicated transport team at claremontfancourt@vectare.co.uk.

After school, staff are on duty in the top car park until the buses depart each day at 4.15pm

vehicles on site

Senior school families must only use the top car park for drop off and pick up, approached from the Portsmouth Road (A307) unless otherwise advised. The Claremont Drive entrance may only be used by exception if a particular family has another child who is in Year 2 and under.

Always observe the speed limit of 10mph if driving within school grounds and note that the limit drops to 5 mph in the top car park to ensure the safety of pupils.

bicycles

Pupils cycling to and from school must wear a cycle helmet. Covered bicycle racks can be found in the peace garden beside the mansion and just outside the sixth form centre. Cyclists may use either Portsmouth Road or Claremont Drive to enter site.

sixth form driving

Sixth form students who have passed their driving test may apply for permission from the head of sixth form to park in the school grounds.

Students who are given permission must park their vehicles as directed by the estates team. Anyone reported for inconsiderate parking or dangerous driving will forfeit the privilege of being able to park on the school site, either temporarily or permanently, depending on the seriousness or frequency of the misdemeanour.

MISCELLANEOUS

PuPils’ health

The care centre (Tel: 01372 473701) is staffed by a team of experienced and qualified nurses who are also trained in paediatric first aid. Many school staff also have first aid training. Care is delivered centrally alongside the individual needs (IN) department and our counselling service in Cedar Lodge (also known as the pupil hub), to ensure a holistic approach to pupil wellbeing. If your child has a medical condition that requires them to have an individual health care plan, please contact the care centre to discuss.

Pupils who become ill during school time should ask permission from their teacher to visit the care centre. Families of pupils joining the school must complete a detailed information form about their child’s health. Our nurses can administer over-the-counter medicines as indicated on your child’s health information form.

If a pupil is too unwell to continue at school, a nurse will contact parents (or named contact) to arrange collection from the care centre. Pupils must not contact their parents directly to be collected from school for any reason.

Where possible, medication should be administered at home. If this is not practical, pupils may require prescription medicine during school hours, such medication should be stored in the care centre and must be clearly labelled and in its original container. Parents must complete a consent form for prescription medication to be administered in school. This can be found on the parent portal in the resources area.

Emergency medicines

Any child requiring an adrenaline auto injector, inhaler or other emergency medication should carry their own emergency medicine with them and be responsible for their medical equipment at all times. A second set should be stored in the care centre as back-up. It is the responsibility of parents to keep a record of the expiry date of the medicine so a replacement can be organised when stored at school. The care centre have salbutamol inhalers and auto-injectors for use in emergencies. This will be for any pupil with asthma or anaphylaxis who has a prescribed inhaler or auto-injector as reliever medication.

Immunisations

Surrey Child and Family Health provides an immunisation service via Claremont which delivers the optional vaccines for senior school pupils. Please refer to the parent portal care centre section for greater detail.

Open events and gala day

Open events and the sixth form open evening are held for prospective families. It is expected that our scholars and sixth form students will attend open events. All pupils are also invited to guide and participate in this rewarding activity.

Claremont’s gala day takes place toward the end of the academic year. It is whole school event, including and celebrating all our pupils, welcoming all families and friends of the school.

Friends of Claremont

The Friends of Claremont Fan Court is the school’s parents association and a registered charity, which organises social and fundraising events throughout the school year, including a major Christmas fair.

The Friends aim is not only to enrich the education of our students but to create and sustain a strong sense of community across the whole school. The Friends also organise good as new uniform sales termly.

Parents and staff are automatically members of FoCFCS, and everyone is invited to get involved, attend, participate and support the events. Support, no matter how great or small, helps build our community and is appreciated. If you would like to find out more or get involved, please contact The Friends via: friendsofclaremont@claremont.surrey.sch.uk

lost ProPerty

With a very busy and spacious school site, items are quite often misplaced as pupils move around. It is vital that all items which come into school are clearly and securely labelled – it is compulsory that items of uniform are labelled. All lost clothing and equipment which is left in the sports or science areas will be placed in the lost property boxes located in these areas. A small lost property box is also located in the library.

The site is cleared before major events and at the end of each half term – any items found will be placed in the bag racks. Valuable items such as mobile phones, if found, will be held by the head of house office or the sixth form office. Lost property – suggested steps for pupils to take:

1. Retrace their steps from when they believe that they lost the item

2. Look in the lost property boxes

3. If the item is still missing, the pupil should report to the heads of house office and mansion reception to see if it has been handed in

4. Discuss this with the tutor who will escalate the matter

At the end of each year, unclaimed uniform items which are not named will go to the good as new sale if in saleable condition. Other unnamed items will be donated to charity where appropriate.

lockers and bag racks

Pupils have access to a locker each. These come in a variety of sizes and with a variety of locking mechanisms. Lockers will be allocated at the start of each academic year (or when a pupil joins the school). Pupils are asked to provide their own combination lock. At the end of each year all lockers must be cleared, and locks removed by pupils in preparation for the following year.

A large, covered, bag rack beside the Sir Sydney Camm building, which is monitored by CCTV is available to all pupils to use at the centre of the school site.

SCHOOL SYSTEMS (available via the parent portal)

Vectare app (and web portal)

·The passenger app is for families who use the school bus service

·Bus tracker updates available

·Book your child’s bus journey

·url for portal: claremontfancourtschool.vectare. co.uk

Support: claremontfancourt@vectare.co.uk or live ops line: 0115 777 3198

myEVOLVE app (and website)

·myEVOLVE manages trip bookings, payments and consent forms for educational trips and residentials.

·Parents can also purchase small sundry items in EVOLVEshop

·Parents will receive a booking and payment invitation link via email for all school trips. Trips can be booked and paid for via the email link or parents can access their myEVOLVE account to book, pay, consent and view the trips.

·Parents can sign up for myEVOLVE using the parent portal.

Support: seniorschool@claremont.surrey.sch.uk