Induction Brochure 2018

Message from the Principal

July 2018 Dear Parent/Carer

Thank you for trusting us with the education of your child. It remains our priority to enable all of our young people to enjoy their time at school, develop healthy and lasting relationships with one another and ultimately, thrive in learning and life. We are very much looking forward to working with your child and crucially in partnership with you as parents and carers on our journey of the next five years; welcome on-board!

I know that there are probably many questions you have regarding the move

your child is about to make from the primary school to John Williams and we hope that information included in this pack, in combination with our discussions during the Parent Induction Evening on the 2 July, will provide answers to your queries. There will be some time on the evening to speak with staff, so please do ask if there is anything you are unsure of or unclear about.

Warm regards

Victoria Boomer-Clark

Our Year 7 Team

Ms Emily Nash

Raising Standards Leader

Responsibility: To inspire the achievements, raise the aspirations and secure 100% ‘Personal Best’ academic progress for all students in the year group.

Responsibility: To support achievement for all through the promotion of learner well-being (safeguarding) and positive engagement (attendance and behaviour) with education.

Mrs Faye Philipson

360o Year Team Manager

Role of Learning Mentor 

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Daily point of contact for students with key responsibilities for day to day mentoring of a group (max. 30 students) To check students are equipped and ready to learn

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To share key messages Deliver sessions designed to promote Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural development

Mrs J Holland

Mr L Smith

Mr K Bradley

Who to contact t. 01275 894 680 e. info@oasisjohnwilliams.org

If you need to contact us please direct your enquiries as outlined here:

Mr A Shiner

Mrs H Philpott

Ms T Fidan

Ms J Hunt

Ms M Stephenson We also use Facebook and Twitter to publicise Academy events and activities.

Please note. We use these social media platforms to facilitate one-way communication from the Academy. We are unable to respond to any messages directed through these routes.

www.twitter.com/OAJohnWilliams www.facebook.com/oasisacademyjohnwilliams

Key Dates & Arrangements

Term 1

Induction Day Students will spend the day at our Academy, experiencing a range of different lessons and activities and meeting new friends.

Thursday 5 July, 09:30 - 15:00

Parents’ Evenings in Year 7 (We expect every parent to attend) Tuesday 9 October, 18:00

Parent Information Evening Thursday 15 November, 15:30 - 18:30

Learning Mentor Parents’ Evening Thursday 28 March, 15:30 - 18:30

A chance to talk to Learning Mentors about how your child is settling into Year 7. This will also be a chance to share any universal messages from Term 1.

Term 3

Please note we expect all parents to attend. We cannot stress enough how important this is.

Students are expected to be on site from 08:50 as our Learning Mentor sessions begin at 08:55.

Parents/Carers will receive progress updates via the Groupcall Xpressions App or email

Period 1

09.10 – 10.10

Period 2

10.10 – 11.10

Break

11.10 – 11.30

Period 3

11.30 – 12.30

Period 4

12.30 – 13.30

Lunch

13.30 – 14.10

Period 5

14.10 – 15.10

Period 6

15.10 – 16.10

Term 2 Monday 5 November - Friday 21 December

Progress Reports

08.55 – 09.10

Tuesday 4 September - Friday 26 October (Inset Days Friday 31 August, Monday 3 September & Friday 12 October)

Information session designed to help parents better understand Minimum Expected Grades (MEGs), etc. and learn how to help your child study independently

Academy Day

Learning Mentor

Term Dates 2018 - 2019

Assessment Point 1 Summary Report

December 2018

Assessment Point 2 Summary Report

March 2019

End of Year Exam Results July 2019 & Assessment Point 3

Behaviour & Attendance Updates Parents/Carers will receive several short reports summarising your child’s behaviour and engagement, including attendance & punctuality, behaviour score and a profile of any achievement points and sanctions assigned to your child.

Monday 7 January - Friday 15 February (Inset Day Monday 14 January)

Term 4 Monday 25 February - Friday 5 April

Term 5 Tuesday 23 April - Friday 24 May (May Bank Holiday Monday 6 May)

Term 6 Monday 3 June - Friday 19 July (Inset Days Monday 8 July, Monday 22 July & Tuesday 23 July)

Uniform Expectations & from September 2018 All branded uniform to be purchased directly from our uniform supplier Sportswear International.

We are unapologetic about our high uniform standards from which we do not deviate.

TIE Tie should be worn with 3 stripes on tie visible

Uniform is checked each morning on entry to the Academy and where students do not meet the required standards, parents/carers will be expected to support the Academy by ensuring their child is wearing full uniform.

JUMPER A plain black V Neck jumper may be worn in addition to a blazer if necessary.

To avoid confusion, here are some explicit guidelines on our uniform expectations: BLAZER Blazers are to be worn around the Academy at all times, except during PE/Dance lessons and when sitting down to eat lunch or break. They can be taken off in classrooms.

TROUSERS & SKIRTS Black, standard length trousers No skinny fit trousers, leggings or denim trousers are permitted.

Black skirts of an acceptable length (no shorter that 2” above the knee). Tube skirts are not permitted.

SHOES & SOCKS Plain black leather/faux leather shoes with a black sole.

No trainers, canvas shoes, including Vans and Converse, Ugg boots or high heels Plain black socks or tights.

SCHOOL SHIRT White short or long-sleeved, button-up shirt with a structured collar. Shirts must be tucked in at all times.

JEWELLERY & GENERAL APPEARANCE  Hairbands and clips (no wider than 2cm)  Natural hair colouring only, with no extreme hairstyles  1 small stud earring in each ear and a watch only  Make-up should be minimal and natural in appearance  Religious head dress in plain black or white only  No facial piercings are allowed. A plaster must cover any piercing until they can be removed (maximum of 6 weeks)  No false nails or nail varnish ALL STUDENTS AND PARENTS ARE EXPECTED TO SIGN AND RETURN A COPY OF OUR UNIFORM AGREEMENT. THESE WILL BE GIVEN OUT ON THE INDUCTION EVENING FOR PARENTS.

Please visit our website www.oasisacademyjohnwilliams.org where you will find instructions on how to order uniform, a uniform sizing guide and a link to the suppliers website. If you have any queries please contact Sportswear International on 0845 519 0099 who will be happy to help with any questions you might have.

Compulsory (only available from Sportswear International) Boys/Girls Black Blazer with Logo Boys/Girls White Polo Shirt with Logo

From £23.95 - £27.95

Boys Multi-Sport Shirt

From £14.35 - £16.40

Boys/Girls Football Sport Socks

From £4.10 - £4.90

Compulsory (available from the Academy) Academy Tie

£8.00

From £7.75 - £9.20

Please note that all uniform needs to be ordered from our supplier by Monday 6 August 2018 in time for guaranteed delivery before the start of the new academic year.

PE Expectations 2018-19

Equipment Expectations 2018-19 Equipment List Students are expected to bring the following to the Academy everyday:

PE KIT For PE lessons students require:  A white OAJW Academy polo t-shirt or a plain white polo shirt without any logo  Black tracksuit bottoms or shorts - no leggings  Sports trainers  Football boots - moulded studs only (blades or metal studs not suitable)  Shin pads (for rugby, football and hockey)  Oasis Academy rugby shirt (boys only)  Gum shield (for rugby and hockey) We recommend students have a plain black waterproof coat to wear in PE when it is raining. This does not need to be in addition to the coat they wear to school, but must be black it is to be worn for PE.

FOOTWEAR Sports trainers will be used on the hard outdoor courts and in all indoor spaces. All styles of running trainers and multi-purpose trainers with cushioned soles and laces are appropriate for PE lessons.

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Any canvas trainers/pumps/daps with a flat sole are not appropriate as they does not provide cushioning, ankle support or enough grip.

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A school bag big enough to hold A4 size books

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Pencil case which holds (at least); 2 black pens, 2 pencils, a ruler, a sharpener, an eraser, a glue stick, a highlighter and a scientific calculator (Casio FX-83GT Plus Battery Powered Scientific Calculator - £9.99)

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Student Planner - purchased from the Academy via Scopay at a price of £3.00.

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A4 sized folder, which will hold Knowledge Organisers (A4 sheets of paper from across all subjects)

Mobile Phones 

Mobile phones are to be turned off at all times in the Academy and kept in school bags.

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If they are seen, heard or used in the Academy building or in the outdoor spaces, they will be confiscated and we will ask that you collect the phone from the Academy at the end of the day.

Valuables Items of value must not be brought into the Academy (e.g jewellery, ipods, significant amounts of money, etc.).

Football boots will be used on the grass and on the 3G Artificial Pitch. Students will only be able to wear Football boots with moulded and/or plastic studs on the 3G. No metal studs, blades, dimpled trainers or any flat soled shoes on the 3G.

Oasis Academy John Williams cannot accept liability for loss of valuables brought into the Academy.

Year 7 Curriculum 2018 - 2019

Maths Mastery - 4HPW

Drama - 1HPW

CEIAG - 1HPW

Science - 3HPW

Biology Chemistry Physics

Geography - 1HPW

Spanish - 2HPW

PE - 2HPW

English Mastery - 6HPW

Food - 1HPW

Music - 1HPW

HPW - Hours per week

Religious Studies - 1HPW

Art - 1HPW

History - 1HPW

Total - 25 Hours

Dealing with Friendship Issues & Bullying Concerns Parents are often worried that their child may be exposed to bullying. We are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all our students so they can learn in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Often students fall out with their friends and become involved in name calling and arguments. When issues of this kind arise it is not classed as bullying however, we will follow up on those reported to us.

At Oasis Academy John Williams we support students to deal with these situations and develop the skills they need to repair relationships with their peers. It is important that incidents are reported so that they may be dealt with effectively.

One of the strategies we use is called Restorative Justice. This involves investigating the incident and supporting students to reflect upon and provide their own resolution. As part of the reconciliation process an agreement between those involved is made. Sanctions can also be used alongside this method.

Serious Incidents of Bullying/Harassment The Academy does not tolerate any form of bullying/harassment (where bullying or harassment is the use of deliberate aggression with the intention of hurting another person). All incidents are recorded by staff and dealt with in an appropriate manner. In serious cases parents are informed and may be invited to meet with staff to explore appropriate resolution.

Please be aware that we have a dedicated email address whereby students can report bullying incidents;

tellus@oasisjohnwilliams.org Through the PSHE curriculum, Academy assemblies, the Student Leadership Team and our Learning Mentor programme we aim to raise awareness of the anti-social nature of bullying/ harassment and highlight the responsibilities of all our staff and students.

Attendance - Every Day Counts!

We are looking forward to your child coming to our Academy in September and would like to take this opportunity to remind you about the importance of good school attendance and being on time.

ATTENDANCE Attendance is important because it will help your child:  Achieve their personal best  Keep up with their work  Make friends  Make the best of all the opportunities that are available Because learning makes a difference to your child’s future Did you know?

90% of attendance sounds good and most of us would be pleased if we achieved this in a test, however this means missing one whole day of Academy every two weeks.

Attendance categories GREEN - Expected Attendance

97% - 100%

95% - 96.9%

of YELLOW - Risk Underachievement

Serious Risk of

AMBER - Underachievement

93% - 94.9%

90% - 92.9% BEING ON TIME It is important your child is on time:  So they don’t miss the instructions at the start of the lesson  So we know your child has arrived safely at school

Risk of PINK - Severe Underachievement (PA)

0% - 89.9%

RED -

Extreme Risk Court Action (PA)

Did you know?

Being 15 minutes late each day during an entire Academy year is the same as missing two whole weeks of learning.

Ways to encourage attendance  Phone us on 01275 894681 as soon as possible to tell us why your child is absent and when you expect them to return. Putting the Academy number in your phone can save you time. Know the routine for alerting us to absence  Only grant days at home for genuine illness (you will know!)  Avoid taking holidays in Academy time  Know routines of the Academy day to avoid issues, e.g. have they got their PE kit?  If you have any concerns ring us we will check attendance and be discreet  Praise and Reward good attendance: even small successes

Other tips to secure good attendance  If there is a problem with your child’s attendance, talk calmly to your child and listen to the explanation. There is always an explanation  Talk to us to resolve issues. We may be able to help and support you and your child. You are not alone  Be particularly watchful and supportive in the run up to tests and aware of coursework deadlines  Help them catch up with missed work; a missed day does not mean missed work  Remember praise for good attendance

Legal responsibilities  As a parent you have a legal responsibility to make sure your child attends school every day  You are at risk of receiving a Penalty Notice or prosecution in the Magistrates Court if you fail to ensure regular school attendance of your child  In the event of high levels of illness you may be asked to produce medical evidence.  A leave of absence form will be required to be completed if you wish your child to have planned absence. Authorisation is considered on an individual basis  We will be happy to meet with you to discuss any issues or concerns you and your child may have

Safeguarding

Xpressions App

Emotional Health & Wellbeing Young people today can face many challenges and it is our responsibility to keep them informed about how and where they can access support and advice should they need it.

We thought it would be useful to make you, as parents and carers, aware of some useful support services:

Childline Get info and advice about a wide range of issues, talk to a counsellor online, send an email or post to the message boards

Off The Record provides free, confidential , easy to access counselling for 11-25 year olds in Bristol 0808 808 9120

www.otrbristol.org.uk

Freedom Youth a Bristol-based www.youngminds.org.uk the UK’s leading charity committed to improving the emotional wellbeing and mental health of children and young people.

project where young people can access specialist one-to-one and group support, including counselling, to support with gender identity issues

www.integratebristol.org.uk a Bristol based charity that works towards equality and integration.

For more info visit http://parents.groupcall.com/setup/account-registration/

www.kooth.com

If you have a problem logging in, please contact parentsupport@groupcall.com

Free, safe and anonymous online support for young people

Biometric Information

Confidential Online Payment Access Information

At the Academy we use a Biometric System for the canteen servery, the Library and when your son/daughter is using a printer.

Put simply a Biometric system means that we take a copy of each students’ fingerprint, and is kept on file so that only they can use money in their account, borrow from the library and print from their account.

Questions and Answers:

The online payment system allows you to make payments to our Academy using the Internet.

You can use this same account for any children you may have at the Academy, and for children at other schools where the same online payment system is used. A letter will be sent home with your child during the first week of Term 1, with details of full details and the online link code.

How are students and staff recognised by the system?

By their fingerprint which is totally unique. The biometric measurement takes a pert image of some of the coordinates of the fingerprint. This information is then converted, encrypted and stored as a unique number. This cannot be converted back to a fingerprint, nor can it be used by anyone else.

What information will the Academy hold on this new system?

Simply create the online account by following steps 1 to 8 below. Link your child(ren) to this account by following steps 9 to 15 below. The Academy will provide a separate Online Link Code for each child, which will be sent home in a letter with your child at the beginning of Term 1.

1.

Exactly the same as before plus the fingerprint. Name, learning mentor group, photo, meal entitlement and the balance of their account. All information will be handled under the guidelines of the Data Protection Act. The information will only be used for the services within the Academy (catering, library and printing) and will be destroyed when the data is no longer needed (such as when the student has left the Academy).

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How will students obtain food?

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They will scan their finger at a till point in the canteen. This will bring up their balance on the till display.

How do students put money into this account?

Cashless catering (online payments). The Academy does not accept payment by cash or cheque.

What happens if my child is entitled to free school meals?

The money will go automatically into your son/daughter’s account on a daily basis.

If you have any questions or queries regarding this system please do not hesitate to contact the Academy on 01275 894 680 or email: info@oasisjohnwilliams.org with the subject Biometrics.

8.

Open a web browser (e.g. Internet Explorer or Google Chrome, please note you cannot use Microsoft Edge) and go to www.scopay.com/school.

Click on Register as a new user.

Enter your Email address and a Password of your choice (minimum 6 characters).

Confirm the Password.

Enter the Online Link Code provided above (you must enter the code exactly as it appears above).

Enter the rest of the billing details to match your credit or debit card and click on Confirm.

An email will then be sent to your email address asking you to click (or copy and paste) a link to verify your email address and activate your account. You will not be able to purchase any products until you have completed this procedure.

Log on to your email account and click on the link to activate the account (if the email doesn’t appear in your Inbox, you should check your Junk Email folder).

If your child has any siblings, link the sibling accounts as follows (you will need a separate Online Link Code for each sibling): 9.

10.

11.

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13.

14.

15.

Go to www.scopay.com/school.

Log in using your email address and password created above.

At the top of the screen, click on Your account.

Click on Link Pupils.

Enter the Online link code for the sibling provided by school.

Click on Link Pupil.

You will now be able to make payments for any pupils linked to this account.

If you need help using the Internet Payments system there is a User Guide on our Academy website at the following address: http://www.oasisacademyjohnwilliams.org/content/epayments

Home Academy Agreement

Free School Meals Information

Did you know … just registering your child for Free School Meals means that the school gets extra money?

Register now to make sure we don’t miss out The Government is giving money to schools to help children from lower income families do their very best. This funding is called a ‘Pupil Premium’.

for Free School Meals you will also be able to get financial support towards the costs of some Academy trips.

Our Vision At Oasis Academy John Williams we aspire to provide all students with a first class educational experience.

We aim to raise aspirations by creating a ‘can-do’ culture where all students will achieve their potential and become confident and competent people.

For this to become a reality, staff at the Academy, students and parents must work in close partnership.

Support the Academy by working with staff to ensure that my child meets the Academy expectations, and follows all Academy values and rules.

For every child registered for Free School Meals, Please register as soon as possible to make Oasis Academy John Williams gets £935 this sure your child and others in the Academy don’t year. miss out.

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Promote excellent attendance and punctuality by ensuring that my child attends the Academy regularly and is on time.

With this money we are already providing additional staffing support for students (and have appointed a Science Intervention Manager). If you are registered

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Notify the Academy of any leave of absence request and accept this may not be authorised.

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Ensure that my child is wearing full Academy uniform correctly and arrives properly equipped for every lesson, every day.

How does it work?

1. First, check if you qualify – it is not just if you are unemployed, so please look at the list below.

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2. Registering is really quick and easy – if you think you qualify you can apply by visiting https:// www.bristol.gov.uk/schools-learning-early-years/free-school-meals

Attend Parents’ Evenings, Celebration Evenings and other Academy events and meetings as required.

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3. Your child will have a free, healthy meal at lunchtime (saving you more than £450 a year), and the Academy receives £9.5 extra.

Help to support my child towards meeting and exceeding their personal best.

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Ensure that my child attends Period 6 Intervention and Study Zone sessions as directed by the Academy.

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Support the completion of coursework and home study.

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Encourage my child to use social media responsibly.

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Give permission for the Academy to store data on my child.

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Give permission for the Academy to use photographs and film footage of my child in an Academy context for possible circulation.

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Undertake to pay for the cost of any repairs arising from vandalism or inappropriate behaviour on the part of my child.

No one will know you have registered and it will not affect any other benefits you are claiming.

Please talk to us about registering your child today.

Do you qualify?

You can register your child for Free School Meals if you get any of these benefits 

Income Support

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Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance

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Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

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Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

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The Guaranteed element of State Pension Credit

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Child Tax Credit (as long as you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)

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Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit) Universal Credit

Students can also register for Free School Meals if they get any of these benefits themselves.

Come and talk to us if you are not sure.

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‘Look Smart’, wearing correct uniform and conducting myself in a sensible and orderly manner at all times.

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‘Be Nice’ at all times, showing respect to adults and treating others in the manner that I would expect to be treated.

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Use social media responsibly, never posting anything that could cause distress to another person.

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Play my part in the improvement of my Academy by striving to improve my standards of work and behaviour at all times (I understand I must attend any detentions as directed by staff).

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Make positive choices and get involved in all Academy activities, including Period 6.

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Respect and look after the Academy environment and equipment, taking a positive stance against litter and other such issues.

As a parent/carer I will: 

4. If you don’t want your child to have the school meals they can continue to bring packed lunches as normal – but if you qualify and are registered, the Academy still receives £935 extra, and you will be entitled to claim additional financial support for some Academy trips.

the learning of other people.

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Give permission for my child to participate in formal sporting and recreational activities organised by the Academy including organised travel to and from offsite venues.

As a student I will: 

Strive to attend the Academy every day and arrive on time.

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‘Work Hard’ every day towards achieving my personal best, taking great care to never disrupt

As an Academy we will: 

Actively promote our values of inclusion, equality, hope, inclusion, healthy relationships, and perseverance in all of our actions.

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Provide a high quality education for all students which enables them to develop their personal talents and achieve their personal best.

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Offer a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum for all students, characterised by high quality learning experiences.

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Provide a safe, caring, orderly, well-disciplined and supportive environment which promotes learning.

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Set work which is challenging, yet suitable to the age and ability of the student.

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Contact parents/carers if there is a concern regarding attendance or punctuality.

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Keep you regularly informed of your child’s progress.

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Provide information and keep you up to date with progress and developments through the website and newsletters.

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Inform or consult parents as appropriate on issues of Academy policy.

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Listen to your views and respond positively to any concerns or complaints.

50 useful things for parents & carers to know about life at Oasis Academy John Williams

Welcome to Oasis Academy John Williams! It was suggested by some of our parents that collating a list of key information about the day-to-day activities at OAJW would be useful, particularly for parents of new Year 7 students. We have responded to this suggestion and put together the list below, which is in no particular order, but hopefully will answer some of the questions you may have!

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2.

We want all of our young people to feel safe and happy at school, and to enjoy learning At OAJW there is a culture of genuine care and support. We are one big team - staff, students and parents/carers 3.

It is a key aim of OAJW to raise student expectations/aspirations within an achievement culture where hard work is expected and rewarded. We want all of our young people to be equipped with the skills, knowledge and character to be able to thrive in both learning and life 4.

The school day starts at 08.55. There is a 15 minute Learning Mentor Registration session, 5 one-hour lessons every day, a 20-minute break at 11.00 and 40-minute lunch at 13.30. There are no bells. Students arriving after 08.55 are late, and must attend a break time detention in the Theatre 5.

Lessons end at 15.10, with an optional Period 6 (P6) programme running from 15.10–16.10, Monday -Thursday. The programme includes enrichment, extension and intervention activities 6.

Homework is given by teachers, as appropriate, in all subject areas. Homework not completed to deadline results in a ‘Study Zone’ being given, usually on that same day. Study Zone (SZ) is held in the atrium between 15.10 and 16.10 Monday to Thursday. A student choosing not to attend SZ for homework, will be escalated to a Friday evening detention (SLT detention) from 15.10 – 16.10 in the Theatre.

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Study Zone attendance can be compulsory or voluntary. Compulsory SZs would be given for a homework which wasn’t completed and handed in on time, or may be given to support the closure of a knowledge gap. Some students choose to attend SZ to complete their homework or work independently. It is staffed by a team of teachers and support staff who work with students upon request. The staff who support Study Zone are published on the P6 timetable, along with their subject specialism so that our students can access help if there is an aspect of their work they are unsure of, or do not fully understand. Although not all teachers are involved with the running of Study Zone, all subject areas are represented throughout the week, so there is access to specialist support if needed 8.

At OAJW we know that we do not always get everything right, but we work hard to reflect, learn, improve and grow. We love receiving feedback…….. the good stuff too!!!

9.

We know that our young people do not get it right all of the time, no-one is perfect after all.

We do however have systems in place to sanction poor behaviour choices and support personal growth. Please work with us and provide your support when required!

10. We are fully aware that we use many acronyms – they are almost a common language for us, both as teachers and students. Following now are some of the most common ones 11. MLT – a lunchtime detention which runs from 13.30 – 13.50 in LS0.1. It is held in silence.

Students arriving after 13.35 but before 13.40 complete a 25 minute detention. Those not attending are escalated to a Friday evening (SLT) detention from 15.10 – 16.10. Refusal to attend MLT results in ARC until 16.10 on that day

12. SLT – a Friday evening detention which runs from 15.10 – 16.10. It is held in the Theatre and students are expected to carry out additional study 13. ARC – our internal exclusion base. Students spend a full day in ARC, until 16.10 for disruption to learning and other serious events. Students in ARC have a different break and different lunch time.

They work independently and in silence throughout the day 14. AP Reports – Assessment Point reports summarising your child’s attainment and referring to our Conditions to Thrive Framework. You will receive AP reports 3 times a year (December, March & July) 15. 360 YTM – a non-teaching member of staff assigned to each year group who is responsible for ensuring attendance and appropriate behaviour 16. LM – Learning Mentor. Every child is placed in an LM group with an LM who generally remains with them throughout the year, and sometimes longer. Students are with their LMs everyday from 08.55 – 09.10 and also from 14.10 – 15.10 every Tuesday 17. Duty Call – this is made where learning has been disrupted and a student is removed from the lesson and taken to ARC for 24 hours (until 16.10 on that day and until the same lesson the next day) 18. At OAJW we focus on the main thing, which is supporting, promoting, developing and encouraging the learning and growth of our young people 19. Students follow a broad and balanced curriculum, studying a wide range of subjects in Years 7 & 8, before opting for their GCSE subjects, which they begin studying in Year 9. Students study a minimum of 8 subjects to GCSE level 20. Our 4 ‘Conditions to Thrive’ (CtT) are central to our work in supporting our young people to thrive in learning and life. Our CtT framework helps to structure conversations we, and you, may have with your child and helps them know what the next steps for development may be. Our CtT, which also appear on the AP reports are; Self-Direction - ‘I am in control of my future’ Resilience - ‘I persevere even when it is tough’ Self-Control - ‘I am in control of my emotions and responsible for myself and others’ Communication - ‘I ask questions and present myself to the highest standard’ 21. The atmosphere of the academy/school is one that encourages students to talk openly to staff. There is high quality support for students with problems and close and effective links with external agencies where relevant 22. Students are set Minimum Expected Grades (MEGs), based on their KS2 scores, which are reconsidered every year. Students are encouraged to exceed their MEGs and not see them as a ceiling to their achievement 23. Following each AP there are celebration assemblies, which involve celebrating the achievements and progress of learners from within each year group 24. All year groups do End of Year Exams, which usually begin in the middle of June. Exams are taken in the Sports Hall under strict exam conditions. This is so that when in Y11, and taking their GCSEs, all students are used to this way of working 25. Throughout the year there will also be a number of assessments, which happen in lessons, which your child will need to prepare for at home. During any assessments, or in any lessons, all we ask is that our students do their very best

50 useful things for parents & carers to know about life at Oasis Academy John Williams

26. Following end of year exams, there are a series of year group celebration assemblies, with the highest performers in terms of both attainment and progress made being invited to our Annual Prize Giving in July. Parents and carers too are invited to this special event 27. Student Planners are a means of communication between home and school. They are used primarily to record homework. As parents/carers, please sign your child’s planner weekly.

LMs also sign each planner 28. When managing learning behaviours, we use a ‘Chance – Warning – ARC’ approach. We do not tolerate disruption to learning. Students disrupting lessons are given a chance, then a warning (given a lunchtime detention) and if still disruptive are removed from the lesson and are taken to ARC. On occasions, depending upon the severity of the disruption, students might be removed immediately. If your child is removed to ARC you will be informed via telephone or message 29. Please send your child to school every day; put simply, attendance matters. We know that those with poor attendance do not thrive and grow as those who attend every day do. Please try to make medical appointments out of school time – it is hard to catch up on lost learning!

30. If your child is not in school, expect to receive phone calls from the 360 YTMs and letters home, asking for you to attend meetings to try to improve attendance 31. Holidays are not authorised during term time, unless in truly exceptional circumstances.

Penalty Notice Fines will be issued by the Local Authority 32. Year Team RSL – member of staff, linked to each year group, who responsible for student achievement and progress 33. Uniform standards are exceptionally high and expected to be followed by all. Shirts are tucked in, with the top button fastened and at least 3 stripes showing on the tie. Blazers are worn around the Academy, unless in a classroom or seated in the atrium during lunch or break. They do not need to be worn when outside. Students wear smart black shoes. Nail varnish or false nails are not allowed, nor are facial piercings. Only natural hair colouring is permitted. No outdoor coats/hoodies are to be worn in the academy 34. Chewing gum is not allowed in the academy 35. Mobile phones are not to be seen, heard or used at all in the Academy building or in the grounds. If they are, they will be removed and returned to the student at 15.10 on the first occasion. Further breaches will result in collection by parents and a phone contract being issued. Mobile phones are not something to tell the time on – we encourage watches for this purpose!

36. We run a termly Parent Forum, where we gather the views and take feedback from those who attend. We enjoy receiving constructive feedback, so please consider attending!

37. We are a cashless school, so please ensure you sign up to Scopay as directed; in the event of difficulty contact our finance team via telephone or email info@oasisjohnwilliams.org 38. We also are trying to move to paperless communication via The Xpressions App – again please sign up 39. It is also useful to stay connected via our Twitter (@OAJohnWilliams) and Facebook (Oasis Academy John Williams) accounts 40. We encourage our young people to bring water bottles to school and refill them during break and lunch, as necessary from the water coolers. Fizzy drinks are not allowed

41. Our food is provided by Sodexo and the service is open from 08.10 – 08.50, 11.10 – 11.30 and 13.30 – 14.00. All food is purchased via online credits. Allocations for those eligible for Free School Meals, automatically is loaded onto a child’s fingerprint every day. We encourage parents to track what their child is buying and try to promote the ‘meals of the day’ 42. Throughout the year you will receive 3 AP summaries, end of year exam results and be invited to a Learning Mentor Evening and a Parent’s Evening. We expect all parents to attend the LM and Parent’s Evening with their child 43. Throughout your child’s time at JW, there are likely to be some friendship issues and fallings out, which tend to be made worse by the use of social media! Please can you encourage your child not to engage inappropriately with social media, and as parents, please don’t be tempted to get involved either!

44. All students are expected to come to school with a school bag, big enough to carry all of their equipment and books. Lockers are available for student use, with a £5 key deposit (refundable with return of key when locker no longer required). We encourage students to use lockers, and in doing so, be responsible and organised 45. If your child begins to feel unwell when at school, they should tell their teacher and then report to Student Services. We do not have a school nurse but our small first aid team will consider the symptoms and take appropriate action. We have clear systems to respond to medical issues and will communicate with you as parents in a timely fashion. If your child contacts you from school stating that they are unwell, please advise them to go to Student Services and we can deal with the appropriate course of action from there 46. Communication; if you have something you wish to speak to us about, please call reception. If it is an issue linked to a specific subject, you will be directed to either the teacher or head of department, if it is linked with attendance or general academy life, the 360 YTM and if associated with general progress, the Year Team RSL. If the member of staff is not available, they will get back to you within a reasonable time period 47. We know that most of our young people walk, cycle or scoot to school. Please can we ask that you remind them to be aware of road safety and respect all members of our local community 48. We are not responsible for valuables brought onto site. Please ensure that your child has a lock for their bike or scooter, and that they look after their phones, watches etc if they choose to bring them into school 49. Please ensure your child has the necessary equipment with them everyday. They must bring a pencil case, with at least 2 black pens, 2 pencils, a ruler, a sharpener (unless using mechanical pencils!), an eraser, a glue stick, a highlighter and a scientific calculator. The calculator our Maths and Science team recommend is the Casio FX-83GT Plus Battery Powered Scientific Calculator (£9.99) 50. We encourage our students to talk openly to our staff team about any concerns or issues they may have. Your child’s Learning Mentor is usually the first port of call, but any member of staff will either support directly or signpost to the relevant person. If your child does not want to speak face to face with a member of staff they can use our ‘Tell Us’ email address (tellus@oasisjohnwilliams.org) This list is not exhaustive, and we hope it has provided useful and relevant information about life at Oasis Academy John Williams!