Parent Handbook 2025-2026

01380 724886

www.devizesschool.co.uk

PARENT

HANDBOOK 2025-26

COURAGE PRIDE RESILIENCE

Devizes School & Sixth Form College are proud to be part of The White Horse Federation Multi-Academy Trust Welcome to

The White Horse Federation The White Horse Federation runs a growing network of primary, secondary and special schools with clusters in Swindon, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire.

The White Horse Federation was founded with the aim of improving the life chances and raising the aspirations of young people – we want our schools to be beacons in our region; places that children and young people come, knowing we are in their corner and that we will do everything in our power to help them thrive and succeed.

The Trust believes in the power of a first-rate curriculum: such an education is the best foundation for helping young people to succeed and overcome social barriers, irrespective of their backgrounds or starting points.

Our aim is for our students to leave our schools ready to take their place in the world well-educated, motivated and with strong leadership skills, personally accomplished and determined to make a positive and lasting contribution to the world. By forging strong partnerships with parents and carers, promoting equal opportunities, and continuously improving our practices, we create an inclusive and supportive educational community where every student can thrive and achieve their full potential.

The White Horse Federation, Plymouth Street, Swindon SN1 2LB Tel: 01793 818603 • @WhiteHorseFed • www.twhf.org.uk

The White Horse Federation, Plymouth Street, Swindon SN1 2LB Tel: 01793 818603 • @WhiteHorseFed • www.twhf.org.uk

Contents Welcome to the 2025-26 Parent Handbook In this booklet you should find almost every piece of information you’ll ever need in order to

support

your

child(ren)

in

being

successful with us here at Devizes School.

Throughout this book direct links for digital versions and QR codes for paper copies are provided,

for

direct

links

to

websites/forms as described.

Welcome Meet the Senior Team Our Staff Term dates & school times Key School Dates What is “NFD”?

Attendance at school School Uniform Equipment Catering Rewards & Sanctions School Routines Communication Pastoral Care The House Championship Clubs & Extra-curricular Travelling to School Safeguarding Home Learning PSHE & RSE Log ins The Home-School Agreement Consents & Agreements

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 13 14-15 16 17 18 19 19 20 21 22 22 23 24-25 26

relevant

Welcome to Devizes School I am tremendously proud and honoured to be the Executive Headteacher of Devizes school, and I never cease to be amazed by the achievements of our students and the dedication of our staff.

Whether you are new to our school community, or an established

David Cooper Executive Headteacher

member, I thank you for taking the time to read this handbook and hope you find the information we have provided informative and useful.

At Devizes, we place a huge amount of emphasis on politeness, respect and kindness. At the same time, we always aim for the very highest standards of teaching and learning in the classroom. We have very high aspirations for our students and encourage them to be the best they can possibly be.

As a school, our commitment to our students is that we will provide inspiring high-quality lessons and enthusiastic teachers. We will also ensure you have exciting enrichment and personal development opportunities to help you achieve your potential and to grow the wider skills and knowledge that employers, universities and other training providers value.

We promise to ensure that all of our children will enjoy their learning in a safe and secure environment. We are an inclusive organisation and believe strongly in ensuring equal opportunities for all. Where needed, we provide bespoke individual support for or students, and we aim to get to know all of them as individuals within our school community.

Meet The Senior Team

Mr D Cooper

Mr B Cave

Executive Headteacher

Associate Headteacher

Responsible for school vision

Responsible for school culture,

and governance

attendance & raising standards.

Mr D Fiddament

Mrs K Fraser

Deputy Headteacher

Assistant Headteacher

Responsible for raising attainment and the school curriculum.

Responsible for behaviour, pastoral care, safeguarding & SEN.

Mr B Chamberlain

Mr T Lamb

Assistant Headteacher

Assistant Headteacher

Responsible for Post 16 standards

Responsible for Teaching

and curriculum, and careers

& Learning

provision

Our staff Dedicated professionals We often describe our teachers to the students as the ‘team leaders’, whose words are ‘goldust’ and who hold the keys to their success. We’re proud to hold our staff in high esteem and ensure that as highly trained professionals, they are given the respect their work and commitment deserve.

The staffing structure- teaching Our school is split into eight faculties: English; Mathematics; Science; Global Studies; Languages,: Creative & Performing Arts; Technology, Enterprise & Design; and Physical Education. Each area has a Head of Faculty who leads the team, with separate Heads of Subjects or Key Stages in place depending on the faculty’s needs. If you had a question about the curriculum in a particular subject area, you would make your question out for the attention of the Head of Faculty:

Head of English- Mrs R Squire Head of Mathematics- Mr M Deyes Head of Science- Mrs C Holland Head of Global Studies- Mr T Strickland Head of Languages- Mrs K Riding Head of CAPA- Mr S Macfarlane Head of Business/IT- Mr M Stephens Head of PE & TED- Miss A Beck

Term dates & school hours Term dates 2025-26

TERM 1

STARTS: Wednesday September 3rd for Year 7 and 12 Thursday September 4th for the rest of school ENDS: Tuesday October 21st

TERM 2

STARTS: Monday November 3rd ENDS: Friday December 19th

TERM 3

STARTS: Tuesday January 6th ENDS: Friday February 13th

TERM 4

STARTS: Monday February 23rd ENDS: Friday March 27th

TERM 5

STARTS:Tuesday April 13th ENDS: Friday May 22nd

TERM 6

STARTS: Monday June 1st ENDS: Wednesday July 22nd

The School Day TIME

EVENT

0830-0840

Line up

0840-0900

Tutor time

0900-1000

Period 1

1000-1100

Period 2

1100-1120

Break

1120-1220

Period 3

1220-1320

Period 4

1320-1400

Lunch

1400-1500

Period 5

1500-1630

After school activities

DETAILS

Gates close at 0830. Students at line up by this time

Students walk single file to tutor time for checks & messages

Catering facilities open. Warning bell @ 1115

Catering facilities open. Warning bell @ 1355

See ‘Clubs’ for more info on extra curricular activities.

Detentions run daily 1500-1630.

Key School Dates CALENDAR EVENTS Sep 11th-12th- Whole school photos Sep 18th- Open Evening (2.10pm finish)

01

AUTUMN TERM

Sep 25th- Open Morning tours Oct 9th- Meet the Tutor Evening (4pm-7.30pm) Nov 11th- Sixth Form Open Evening Dec 4th- Celebration Evening Dec 11th- Year 11 Parents’ Evening (4.30-7.30pm)

Jan 8th- Year 13 Parents’ Evening (4.30-7.30pm) Jan 22nd- Year 11 Supporting Success Evening Feb 12th- Year 12 Parents’ Evening (4.30-7.30pm)

02

SPRING TERM

Feb 26th- Year 9 Parents’ Evening (4.30-7.30pm) Mar 19th- Year 9 Options Evening (6-8pm)

SUMMER TERM

03

Apr 16th- Year 8 Parents’ Evening (4.30-7.30pm) Apr 30th- Year 10 Parents’ Evening (4.30-7.30pm) May 11th- June 19th- Formal Y11/13 Examinations June 24th- Year 11 Prom June 29th-June 30th- Year 6 Induction Days June 30th- Year 6 Induction Evening (5-6pm) July 2nd- Year 13 Prom July 3rd- Sports Day July 7th- Year 5 Taster Day July 9th- Year 7 Parents’ Evening (4.30-7.30pm) July 13th-14th- Year 10 Work Experience July 17th- House Rewards Day July 21st- PSHE Day

What is “NFD”?

01

(“Normal for Devizes”)

Genuine Mutual Respect

We passionately believe in teaching manners and courtesy to young people.

Through our STEPS approach to interactions, we encourage and model positive interactions with a warm, welcoming & friendly style (WWF) that makes our school a happy place to be.

02

First time, every time

For a school of 1,000 students to run effectively, we have established systems for learning- from morning line up to classroom entry and more, there is a strong sense of routine to life at Devizes School that give students stability.

We expect students to follow instructions first time, every time.

03

Courage, Pride & Resilience

Our school values underpin how students can approach life at Devizes School. The courage to take risks and try new things; the pride they have in belonging to our school community, and in their own interactions & appearance; the resilience to keep going when facing adversity- to show up everyday and overcome any barrier to progress.

Attendance at School In many walks of life achieving 85-90% in something would be a success, but when it comes to attendance, 90% means on average a student has a day off every fortnight, and misses 19 days in total each year.

In the world of education missing that much learning causes students to fall behind their peers. We want students in school every day they can so that they fully belong to our community and make the most of every learning opportunity. We also want to teach them resilient behaviours they’ll need for adult life.

So here at Devizes we want attendance heroes- HERE, EVERYDAY, READY, ON TIME!

MAKE SURE YOU...

Avoid absence where possible Request known absence in advance Always report an absence Communicate any concerns Encourage good attendance Send them in to try if in doubt Scan the QR code to reach the absence page of our website and download the form requesting an absence from school or click here

Good attendance means being in school at least 97% of the time

For further information on whether your child is well enough for school, click here or use the QR code

School Uniform At Devizes School, we expect a high standard of dress. Uniform gives a sense of belonging to school and pride in being a part of our community, and eliminates socio-economic barriers.

All students from Year 7 – 11 are expected to wear the correct school uniform and we do ask you and your parents to take special note of our requirements.

Please ensure that ALL ITEMS are marked clearly with your name. Branded items of uniform can be purchased from Scholars (address below), and the school is always available to support any families in need of it regarding costs of uniform or access to items. Full details of our uniform can be found via the QR code at the bottom of the page.

Scholars 2 The Little Brittox Devizes, SN10 1AR Tel: 01380 722642

Access Scholars’ website here

Main uniform: Devizes School branded blazer Devizes School branded jumper (optional) Plain white school shirt (top button done up) Tie in House colours Black trousers or professional-length charleston skirt Black polishable school shoes

Sportswear: Devizes school branded PE shirt Navy or black tracksuit trousers or shorts (no leggings or hot pants) Trainers

Additional equipment needed: Shin pads Football boots Gum shield Swimming costume/shorts and goggles

Access the full uniform guide here

Equipment Being ready to learn is a big part of being a HERO- Here, Everyday, Ready, On Time. Therefore having a full set of equipment is an expectation of all our students:

MAKE SURE IN YOUR BAG YOU HAVE EVERY DAY...

Student Handbook with timetable Two black pens One green pen Ruler Eraser Scientific calculator Pencil

Catering Meals are served in the Lower School Dining Hall or at the Snack Shack, which serves a huge selection of foods at very competitive prices. Dishes of the day include a vegetarian option and much more besides. Although chips are sometimes on offer, students are encouraged to choose healthy options. Students may also bring their own lunch to school. This should be eaten in the dining halls or picnic areas.

We operate a cashless provision for which students will be given a unique code during their first week at Devizes. You will receive details of your child’s ParentPay account in their first week with us.

If you think your child may be eligible for free school meals, please visit Wiltshire Council’s website via the QR code below:

Rewards & Sanctions Having a strong school system for both rewarding and sanctioning students is important in establishing a consistent culture for our students. At Devizes School, we passionately believe that having precise routines for students where they clearly understand their expectations of them at all times. Therefore from the start of the day in our morning line up, all the way through to detentions after school, staff use scripted instructions consistently so students are familiar with what they are asked to do.

The house points system forms the cornerstone of the school’s Behaviour Policy. It provides a simple and transparent way for students, parents, and teachers to evaluate how well students are conducting themselves. Students earn positive points for demonstrating outstanding learning, achievement, and character. Students earn negative points for displaying behaviour that detracts from learning or that runs counter to the school’s culture. A student’s house points balance is the difference between their merits and demerits. In other words:

House Points = Merits - Demerits As students accrue more house points, they pass through various reward levels and have their achievements recognised through letters home, certificates, invitations to the Headteacher’s Breakfast and trips. If a student moves into negative house points, they will move through the behaviour boundary system. This will trigger increasing levels of sanction, but it will also enable support to be put in place to try to stop the negative behaviour.

The school recognises that praise and reward are powerful motivational tools. All staff actively seek opportunities to praise and reward students for meeting the high expectations that we have of them. In class, we celebrate success and reward effort to foster a strong classroom culture. We reward students for displaying the following behaviours in our classrooms, across our school and within our community:

L E A R N

Language & Eloquence Explain your points Ask & answer questions Read with confidence Neat presentation

Rewards & Sanctions As well as rewarding students through our merit system, the school has a clear “disruption-free learning” approach to life in the school through the use of the demerit system.

In the classroom If a student is disrupting the learning of others through poor choice behaviour, the teacher will first of all issue an informal warning to them. If this continues, a formal warning of removal to refocus will be issued. If sadly, despite the teacher’s best efforts, the individual continues to prevent others from learning successfully by their behaviour choices, they will be asked to leave and attend refocus as a sanction. They will also receive a 30 minute after-school detention.

Refocus Our refocus room is staffed by members of the pastoral team and supervised by a member of our Senior team throughout the day.

Students that are sent to refocus due to poor behaviour in class, or as a sanction for another negative incident, are closely observed by staff to assess their attitude to learning. They are given a written task to complete and checked to ensure they can be extra polite and follow instructions effectively. Once staff are satisfied that all three criteria have been met, and their minimum refocus time served, they are reminded of their after-school detention and returned to lessons. A lesson removal visit normally lasts around 45 minutes. To learn more about our refocus process, have a listen to our explanatory podcast by scanning the QR code or clicking here.

Detentions Detentions run at various points throughout the school day. Minor incidents result in a 10 minute break detention (BD), whilst lesson removals and more serious issues around a student’s poor attitude to school result in a 30 minute after-school detention (ASD).

Students may sit multiple after-school detentions consecutively if they commit multiple misdemeanours in a day, up to a total of 90 minutes. The school also runs a Leadership Team Detention (LTD) for those who are involved in significant incidents or who fail to attend their ASD. All detentions logged before 1430 will be sat the same day. Detentions logged after 1430 will be sat the following day, so that adequate notice can be provided to parents/carers. If a student fails to attend their BD, they are issued an ASD as a result. Failure to attend an ASD results in a LTD the next available day, which they are collected for before 3pm. if they walk away from a LTD then they are internally suspended until 4.30pm the next day.

Detentions cannot be split up, and only a parent can request they are moved to accommodate an appointment. Parents must inform the school prior to 3pm if there is a valid reason for moving a detention to avoid an escalation.

School Routines To build our core routines in school and have clear instructions for everyone in our school, we have two key acronyms in daily use. This is to help all remember how we both interact with each other, and demonstrate active listening to instructions and explanations.

Our “STEPS” acronym outlines courteous behaviour and polite interactions with one another, whilst our “FOCUS” acronym outlines what students should do when a member of staff is talking.

The school regularly refers to individuals being “WWF”. This means to be Warm, Welcoming and Friendly. We constantly refer to how not just what we say, but how we say it (our tone of voice, body language and facial expressions) communicate with others, and train our students in effective communication with both peers, staff and visitors. We will always be courteous to one another, expecting staff and students to ask one another how they are, and to wish each other a good day.

We have other whole school routines that embed the culture we wish to nurture at Devizes School. We do not use mobile devices on the property to cultivate conversation and engagement, and avoid any potential issues that could arise from their use on site. We check equipment and uniform daily to ensure we are ready to learn, and as students arrive at a classroom they are expected to follow key routines such as removing coats and bags, taking their equipment out ready and standing behind their chairs in ‘FOCUS’ ready for the lesson to begin. Even the handing out of resources is carefully choreographed to maximise learning time.

To learn more about our use of ‘FOCUS’ and ‘STEPS’, have a listen to our explanatory podcast by scanning the QR code or clicking here.

Communication Keeping in good contact with each other is an essential part of a home-school agreement, and as parents your role is to regularly keep us updated with any updates, queries or concerns you may have. But how do we keep in touch with you?

Devizes Dispatch We send out a weekly email bulletin that shares a Headteacher’s message, dates for your diary, key notices and a small snapshot of life at Devizes School.

Dear Devizes Each year we send out three of our “Dear Devizes” newsletters, which showcase the very best of what has been happening in and around our school Arbor Using our Abor data system, we regularly communicate with you regarding rewards, sanctions, reports and more, keeping you fully informed of any ways you can support your child, and the latest information around their progress. You can also log into Arbor via the Parent Portal.

Details of how to do this are at the back of this handbook.

School Reports Our progress reports are shared with parents at key milestone moments throughout your child’s school journey. We will share with you performance in assessments; teacher’s predictions of final qualification grades should the progress continue at the pace displayed to date; attitude to learning grades based on what they have demonstrated in the classroom and their key data such as house points and school attendance.

Social Media The best way to keep in touch with all that happens at Devizes School is to follow us on social media. Scan the QR codes below or click the icons to go straight to our pages:

Pastoral Care We take the pastoral care and personal development of our students very seriously. Our tutor group system is led in KS3 by specialist non-teaching Heads of Year, whilst our KS4 is led by one of our Raising Achievement Leaders (specialist teachers), ably supported by a nonteaching Pastoral Assistant. In our Sixth Form, each year group has a Head of Year, with a Pastoral Assistant and Mr Chamberlain heading things up as the Head of Sixth Form.

The school’s Pastoral Hub is the centre for all student-related matters. Home to our pastoral staff, students attend the Hub for uniform, equipment, well-being or practical matters, as well as for a range of interventions. We do however, actively encourage students to attend the Hub at break/lunch time only, unless asked to attend or in the event of an emergency.

Our pastoral team liaises closely with support, safeguarding and administrative staff to ensure student needs are effectively communicated, and also supports the school’s behaviour system. In the event of a concern regarding your child’s welfare, the relevant member of the pastoral team is your first point of contact.

YEAR GROUP

ROLE

NAME

Y7

Year Leader

Mrs K Yeoman

Y8

Raising Achievement Leader

Mrs V Mackay

Y8

Pastoral Assistant

Miss C Bourreau

Y9

Year Leader

Mrs M Cattelona

Y10

Year Leader

Mr T Black

Y11

Raising Achievement Leader

Mr M Traylor

Y11

Pastoral Assistant

Mrs S Gray

Y12-Y13

Head of Sixth Form

Mr B Chamberlain

Y12

Head of Year

Mr T Brown

Y12-Y13

Pastoral Assistant

Mrs S Dunbar

The House Championship The House Championship works as a vital part of school life, encouraging a sense of belonging in the school and providing opportunities for students outside of the classroom. Everyone at school belongs to one of three houses, named after the local historical sites of Avebury (yellow), Roundway (red) and Silbury (green).

The houses are led by Senior staff. Each house have representatives in each year group who form the house council- an elected student body that provides voice and direction for the school to ensure that we listen effectively and appropriately to the position of our students.

The House Championship sees the three houses compete against one another each week, with points available for their average attendance, overall house points, involvement in any after-school clubs or extra-curricular activities, and engagement in a broad range of challenges and creative activities. We hold termly house assemblies to celebrate and encourage engagement in these areas too.

At the end of the academic year, our winning house is announced, receiving the House Cup and a fantastic reward for the students to enjoy.

Your child’s tie colour reflects the house they are in. Please encourage them in making the most of the various opportunities on offer within the spirit of the competition.

Clubs & Extra-Curricular The school has a wide range of clubs and extra-curricular activities available for students to get involved in, broadening their school experience beyond the classroom. Each term our PE faculty share the focus not just in lessons, but the clubs that are available to take part in. We run a set of incredibly successful sports teams too.

There is something for everyone at Devizes School, from Creative Writing or debating to our green projects and even our Dungeons & Dragons Club! Please scan the QR Code for more information on what we offer our students or click here.

Travelling to School For safety reasons, students travelling by car should be dropped off on the ring road outside the school. There are two access points to the school- our Leisure Centre and Nursteed Road gates. Gates open at 0815 each day for 15 minutes, and at 1500 for 20 minutes. Devizes is renowned for its traffic, so for those driving their children to school, do allow enough time to travel and ensure they arrive on time.

Students cycling to school are expected to bring their own bike lock to secure their bicycles in our bike shed located next to reception. The school cannot take responsibility for any loss or damage to bikes while on site.

For information on public transport, please refer to local websites.

Bike Sheds

Nursteed Gate Leisure Centre Gate

Safeguarding Keeping your child safe in school through these formative years is of the highest importance to us at Devizes School, and for that purpose we have a dedicated team of individuals who focus on all safeguarding related matters within the school life. We regularly highlight these staff to our students so they know who they can go to if they have a concern about their well-being or safety.

If you are worried about the actions of an adult working in the school, please report to the Headteacher before leaving the site (ask at reception or email dcooper@devizes.wilts.sch.uk) If your concerns are about the Headteacher please contact the White Horse Federation using the following details: Dr Dan Nicholls (The White Horse Federation CEO) (dnicholls@twhf.org.uk) Mark Warne (Chair of Governors) (mwarne@devizes.wilts.sch.uk) Students are also able to report concerns anonymously via the school’s Whisper button, which can either be found on the school’s VLE page, by texting “DEV1” and their message to 07860 021 or by scanning the QR code below.

Home Learning The school believes that home learning is an essential part of all students' education. It gives opportunity to extend and consolidate work done in class; it encourages the production of creative, reflective and investigative work independent of the teacher; it also develops skills in personal organisation, a sense of responsibility and in forming invaluable habits for future learning and success. Home learning is an essential part of preparation for examinations and it is vital that students dedicate time learning key information required for exam success. Home learning also provides a valuable opportunity for teachers to assess the progress of students and use this to inform future learning.

Teachers must ensure that details of the home learning are Satchel One with any resources that will support the task, ensure it is referred to in the lesson together with the deadline. When home learning is submitted, all staff must record if a students has not completed a piece of work in Arbor. We expect parents to take an interest in their child’s home learning and encourage them to complete it to the best of their ability.

When home learning is not completed on time, students receive a 24 hour extension before an an after school detention is set in Arbor. If students have difficulty completing the task then they should discuss this with the teacher before the deadline. Full details of our Home Learning policy can be found on our website via the QR code above or by clicking here. The QR Code for access to Satchel One can be found on the next page.

PSHE & RSE All students participate in a weekly PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) programme. This programme contains content that equips all students for adult life and covers a range of different areas from personal health and wellbeing, health relationships and citizenship. The schemes of work develop their awareness of the world around them, perhaps challenging some of the existing ideas and inform them about the decisions and responsibilities they will face in life. In a trusting environment, students develop their analytical skills, their ability to listen and accept the views of others and their debating skills. Students see a specialist teacher once a week for these lessons. Outside speakers such as the local police are used, to clarify issues such as 'sexting' and keeping safe online.

Topics include the role of parliament; the criminal justice system, finances and your future; peer influences’; addictions; mental health; human rights and parenting. It also includes a module on relationships and sexuality education in each year, tailored to their age and balanced in its viewpoints.

Log-ins

Arbor

Edulink

SatchelOne

ParentPay

The Arbor parent app is available on both Google Play and the Apple App Store, and is compatible with devices running Android or iOS.

To access the Arbor website, scan the QR code or click the link below it. Your first log in will include resetting your password through a browser. You will also have to accept the terms and conditions. As a security precaution, you will then be asked to confirm one of your children’s dates of birth. Once you click verify, you will now be logged in! If it doesn't accept the correct date please contact the school.

You can switch between children by clicking on their name. From here you can then view the progress of your child, school communications and update key information/consents regarding you and your child.

The school uses Edulink One for Parents’ Evenings. The EdulinkOne app is available on both Google Play and the Apple App Store, and is compatible with devices running Android or iOS. You can access the Edulink One website via the QR code or by clicking the link below it.

The school’s ID is Devizes and your username and password will have been emailed to the address you supplied on your child’s Data Collection Form. If you have forgotten or don’t have your username or password, use the RESET LOGIN link on the login page with your registered Email.

The buttons around the student identify various actions available on Edulink One- most of these are now deactivated for Devizes School. You are able to swap between children by clicking on their picture at the top right of your screen. By clicking on ‘Parents Evening’, you can select the event you wish to attend and book appointments accordingly. On the day of the event you can return to the section and choose “Start Appointments”. You may need to enable Edulink’s ability to access your camera and/or microphone.

The school uses Satchel One for setting student home learning activities, and parents can access their child’s home learning diary to support them in completing all tasks set and meet the relevant deadline.

You will be sent an activation PIN that will register your account. If you have not received a PIN within the first two weeks of the school year please contact the school from your registered email address. You can access the Satchel One website via the QR code or by clicking the link below it.

ParentPay is an online system that allows you to make payments 24/7 for a variety of purposes, including school dinners, trips, and after-school clubs.

The school office will issue you with your unique ParentPay account activation details. Once you receive these details, simply log on to the ParentPay website to activate your account.

You can access the ParentPay website via the QR code or by clicking the link below it.

Home-School Agreement

As a student, I will: 1. Try my hardest in everything that I do and always have high expectations of myself.

2. Aim to attend school every day. This shows that I value my schooling and that I do not want to miss out on any learning.

3. Organise myself, so that I arrive at school on-time, in full uniform and with the correct equipment. This gives me the best start to every day.

4. Wear my uniform correctly both inside the building and on my journey to and from the school.

This shows that I want to look smart and that I am proud to represent my school.

5. Complete my homework on time and to the best of my ability. This will boost my academic progress and shows my teachers that I care about my studies.

6. Demonstrate exemplary conduct at all times. I will follow the school rules and be the best version of myself.

7. Be polite and helpful to others. I will demonstrate good manners and be considerate to others as I move around the building.

8. Report any incidents of bullying. I will tell a member of staff about anything that might risk the safety of myself or others.

9. Be responsible for my actions, tell the truth at all times and learn from my mistakes. If I get things wrong, I will apologise, seek to make amends and complete any sanctions that I am given.

10. Use the internet and social media responsibly. I want to be kind to others and do not want to spread gossip.

11. Uphold our Community Code of Conduct. Many of my fellow students and their families live in the local area, so I act considerately in the community, on transport, in local shops and recreational facilities.

As a parent/carer, to support my child and the school, I will: 1. Ensure that my child attends school every day. I will arrange appointments in the holidays or after school hours wherever possible. I will not take holidays during term time. I will contact the attendance officer on the morning of any unplanned absence.

2. Establish consistent morning routines. I will ensure that my child arrives at school each day ontime, dressed in full school uniform and with the correct equipment.

3. Take an active interest in my child’s education. I will ask my child questions about what they are learning, regularly look at exercise books and homework tasks, and support with improvements suggested by teachers.

4. Promote effective home study. I will provide a quiet, well-lit space in which my child can study and complete homework. I will review my child’s homework before it is submitted and ensure that it is completed on time. Ensure that my child reads regularly at home during the week to further support vocabulary development.

6. Establish evening routines that are conducive to effective learning the next day. I will limit screen time before bedtime and ensure a reasonable bedtime.

7. Support the school’s behaviour policy, including the procedures relating to detentions and the confiscation of banned items.

8. Raise any concerns or complaints directly with the school in a measured and professional manner.

9. Not engage in any malicious communications on social media that could upset or cause offence to any members of staff, students, parents and carers or any member of the school community.

10. Follow the school’s advice on safeguarding actions that I can take as a parent/carer to help keep my child safe.

11. Maintain open communication with the school. I will ensure that the school has at least two emergency contact numbers. I will make the school aware of anything that might affect my child’s education, behaviour or safety. I will review regularly the contents of my child’s planner/satchel/book bag. I will attend parents’ evenings and any other meetings as appropriate.

Home-School Agreement As a school, we will: 1. Provide a safe, calm and orderly environment where each child can be happy and successful.

2. Ensure that each child achieves their full potential as a valued member of the school community.

3. Provide an ambitious, broad and balanced curriculum, and excellent teaching in every subject.

4. Provide a high-quality personal development programme and a wide range of clubs and activities that enable students to broaden their horizons, pursue their interests and learn about higher education and the world of work.

5. Communicate regularly with parents about their child’s academic progress, achievements and any concerns.

6. Be open and welcoming to parents and offer opportunities for them to become involved in the life of the school.

7. Work in partnership with external agencies and share relevant information with them to support children and keep them safe.

PLEASE REFER TO THE CONSENTS & AGREEMENTS SECTION AT THE END OF THIS HANDBOOK TO SIGN THE HOME-SCHOOL AGREEMENT.

Signed:

D Cooper- Executive Headteacher

Date: 1st September 2025

Signed:

B Cave- Associate Headteacher

Date: 1st September 2025

Consents & Agreements This handbook constitutes an important form of communication between school and home. It contains key information and outlines agreements between the two that form the basis of strong support for our students.

To acknowledge that you have read this handbook, and agree to various aspects of its content, please log in to your Arbor Parent Portal and confirm that you: Have read and retained a copy of this handbook Agree with the contents & symbolic partnership outlined in the Home School Agreement Permit the school to collect data within the parent portal for the purposes as detailed within the school’s privacy policy, and in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulations Accept email as the main form of communication between school and home Give permission for the school to use photography of your child within the school Give permission for the school to use photography of your child as part of the school’s promotional material Agree to your child taking a full part in the school’s PSHE/RSE programme Agree to relevant medical treatment being given to your child when appropriate, in line with the medical information supplied, and to your child carrying a specified quantity of pain relief on their person should they require it for a minor issue (e.g. headache).

Devizes School & Sixth Form College The Green, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 3AG T: 01380 724886 E: devizes_school@devizes.wilts.sch.uk www.devizesschool.co.uk

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