TK Staff Quick Guide 2024/25 (v2.0)
Where to find information
Reference information is on Office 365 > TK SharePoint > Staff Share > Staff Information Here
Policies are the Trustees’ documents which set out the principles upon which the school is run. They are mainly intended as instructions to the SMT for running the school but are useful to staff.
Orientation
The site is orientated around 4 main teaching spaces. T Block is our main teaching area, S Block contains Science, K Block History and Geography, and The Sports Hall remains as a legacy building.
Temporary Entrance from front of school
Temporary Staff Parking
Bussage Gate Entrance (Students)
The T Block accommodates the subject teaching areas shown below:
Park Gate Entrance (Students)
Movement around the buildings
• Always walk on the left
• Before 08:30 and from 15:15 all stairs can be used to go up or down
• Between 08:30 and 15:15, the middle stair is down and the other 2 are up for all staff and students
• Exceptions when any stair can be used between 08:30 and 15:15 are:
o During lessons
o In the event of a Fire Alarm
• Staff are asked to step out of rooms at lesson changeover:
o To support student flow
o To monitor and greet students lining up to enter a room
• Accessing S-Block (Science) and K-Block (Humanities) as shown to minimise congestion:
Start of the day
Access to K-Block is from the Plaza side
Full-time teaching staff must be on site no later than 8.30 am (unless their contract specifies a later start). Weekly briefings for all teaching staff and any support staff who wish to attend, are held in the LRC at 8.30 am on Tuesday & Thursday; brief notes are circulated via email shortly afterwards. Hours of work for Support staff and part-time teaching staff are as defined in individual contracts; contact the Business Manager if unsure. Teaching staff are on-site until 3.30 pm each day as part of the directed time budget, unless their contract specifies an earlier finish. Our Staff Attendance Policy is here.
Unexpected delay or absence
For unexpected delays or absences in the morning, please contact the Cover Administrator; between 7.00 and 7.30 am on 07511 100580 or after 7.30 am the landline can also be used 01452 772131. If possible, please email work to your Line Manager and send a copy to cover@thomaskeble.gloucs.sch.uk if appropriate to your role.
Site Access
The school is open for staff from 7.30am to 6.00pm on school days. Anyone intending to visit the site outside these hours – including trips returning late - will need to make special arrangements with the site team. The school is fully alarmed once locked at the end of the day. The site is open to students from 8:30am. The secure line is opened via a Staff ID Card, otherwise please report to Reception.
Parking
The main car park is near the Sports Centre and is reached from the front of the school, with additional parking temporarily on the tennis court area adjacent to this. There is further limited parking adjacent to the crescent.
Cover
Daily cover arrangements are emailed to all staff by 8:30 am each day and should be checked first thing Cover allocations are also flagged on the SIMS homepage for each staff member via a red allocation on the timetable. The cover template for setting work for known absences is linked HERE.
Signing in at reception
During term time, permanent staff, and those on fixed-term contracts, are not required to sign into school. Colleagues wishing to leave the premises during non-teaching periods must first check that they are not required for cover and sign out at reception using the ‘Sign-in App’ device if leaving school during their contracted hours of work.
Outside of term time, all staff must sign in and out of school at reception using the ‘Sign-in App’ located on the reception desk. Staff are required to wear a blue TK lanyard and visitors either a red or green lanyard. All visitors must sign-in at reception. Visitors wearing a green lanyard can be unaccompanied around the site, those wearing a red lanyard must be accompanied at all times. Where possible, visitors should be pre-booked by emailing details to the reception team using: admin@thomaskeble.gloucs.sch.uk
Volunteers
The details of any volunteers working alongside departments should be passed to the Headteachers PA in the first instance, who will then instigate the volunteer protocol. Volunteers may not start until the Headteacher has signed off the protocol for each volunteer. Pre-teaching placements are co-ordinated by our Training Manager.
Registration
The school uses Class Charts for electronic registration and the AM register must be taken before 09:00 am. Registers must be taken at the very start of each lesson, with students arriving late (after 09:00, 10:05, 12:30 and 14:15) marked with ‘L’ and the number of minutes late on arrival recorded See the Attendance Policy for further details. Morning registration marks the beginning of the school day and should be conducted formally. Tutors should check uniform and ensure all relevant notices are given to students. Students not in the correct uniform should be sent to their HoY to borrow uniform, be issued with a uniform pass and have this recorded in Class Charts Students arriving after 09:00 will need to report to reception.
Timings of the school Day
Assembly
An assembly rota is published at the start of each term. Tutors are expected to attend with their tutor group.
Students sit alphabetically with their Tutor Group in their designated area of the bleacher seating as follows:
7, 9, 10 and 11
8
Students
• Immediately move to the assembly location on the 8:40 bell.
• Do not sit until 08:40.
• Are properly dressed before entering the assembly location, with coats off.
• Are silent as soon as the 8:45 bell sounds and until the end of the assembly.
• Sit alphabetically with their tutor group in the assigned space.
• Are directed where to sit if late.
• Remain seated at the end of the assembly until dismissed by their Head of Year / SMT.
Tutors
• Give students advance notice of assemblies.
• Arrive at 8:40 to
o Register students by 8:45
o Help ensure students are correctly dressed
o Ensure that students are seated in the correct place
o Issue any notices/detention slips
• Leave at 9:00 if they are teaching.
Head of Year
• Arrives for 8:40 ensuring students and tutors are fulfilling their responsibilities.
• Dismisses students in an orderly way at the end of the assembly.
Assembly lead
• Finishes promptly in time for the next lesson.
• Ensures content, language and presentations are appropriate for a mixed attainment audience
• Follows the planned topic overview
SMT
• One assigned per week
• Greet students at the door, requiring to remove coats.
• Assist with uniform defaulters – log any issues for HoYs
Site team
• Ensure sufficient seats are provided for the number of students.
• Ensure Hall is cleared ready for next use.
Break and lunch
The canteen is open at break and lunch to purchase food. Funds are added to each users School Gateway account and finance can arrange for either biometric data or a pass code to be issued for use at the till.
Students may eat food in the following designated areas:
• The Hall
• The Dining Canopy
• Lunchtime only: Activity Studio 2 (packed lunches)
• Animal Club (with a permission pass)
• On the field (when open)
• The Plaza hard-surfaced area, accessed via the outside of the building
• The Quad hard-surfaced area, accessed via the outside of the building
Students may not eat food:
• In any classrooms (T-Block, S-Block and K-Block).
• Moving around the school and the site.
• On the MUGA (Tennis Courts).
• In lunchtime detention.
Entering the Hall (Canteen Area)
The door adjacent to the servery is the entrance point to the Hall at lunch and break.
Two retractable barriers designate queues, one to the left and the other to the right of the door.
Years 10 and 11 queue to the left and other year groups to the right.
Students do not enter the hall until prompted to do so by a member of staff.
In dry weather, all exits are via the field-side doors.
Students can exit the Hall via the door adjacent to the servery to use the toilets to the left.
Normal weather
• Students may eat in the following designated eating spaces:
o Hall, Activity Studio (cold), Dining Canopy, fields if open, plaza or quad.
o A small number of students may eat in a quieter space by arrangement with EVB.
o The Activity Studio close at 13:45.
• If not eating, plaza, quad, MUGA, Dining Canopy or fields if open are available.
• The following areas are then also available from 13:45:
o With a pass: Animal Club, Cabin Club, IT Club, Library …
o Sports Clubs are available to different year groups on each day
• The following areas are also available to all from 13:30:
o Fields when open
o Plaza, MUGA, quad, canopy.
o Eating spaces
• Students are not to wander the school site
Wet weather (too wet to go outside)
• Wet Breaks where no one goes outside are rare.
• On these occasions, students eat in the following designated eating spaces only:
o Hall, Activity Studio (cold), Dining Canopy, Animal Club (pass)
o If not eating, the Sports Hall is also available.
• On a wet day, food is served in boxes and tables are not deployed.
• Those eating remain in eating areas until 13:45. (bell indicates)
• At this point students may exit eating spaces
• Students may then use:
o Activity Studio
o Hall/canopy
o Sports Hall
• Students are not to wander the school site
Student
use of Toilets
Outside of lesson time, students should use the nearest toilet. Only 1 person should be inside each cubicle. Students may use the toilet during lesson transitions, break, lunch and before and after the school day.
All toilets are fitted with networked vape alarms
During lesson time, students should remain in their lessons is the overriding principle, however professional judgement should be used. It is likely to be “No” near the end or start of lessons. If they must go, preferably one at a time, they should use the nearest toilet, and the teacher must record it as LIVE DATA in Class Charts so any patterns can be picked up. You must be aware of those with toilet passes to avoid embarrassing students. Don’t pitch a “break” as happening during a double lesson; you can allow a toilet break for a limited number of students during movement/transition time slot if needed.
Duties
The majority of full-time staff to do 4 duties per fortnight and all part time staff to do 3 duties per fortnight. Duties are managed by Claire Rossiter and a rota is published each term. SMT will do 4 to 6 lunch duties per fortnight for senior staff detentions and patrol. AAHT’s will do 4 lunch duties per fortnight for senior staff detentions and patrol Heads of Year will do 2 lunch duties per fortnight for senior staff detentions / patrol TLR post holders will do 2 lunch duties per fortnight for senior staff detentions.
Student Services
Student services is located on the first floor of T Block. It is a one stop shop for students when they need support or have pastoral or additional learning needs.
Student services reception is staffed from 8.30am to 9am and at break and lunch times.
The safeguarding team is based in student services. Students who are on the high-risk register, have red time out cards or have an appointment with the DSL or Deputies will report to the safeguarding office here. Concerns are logged on CPOMS. However, students and parents can email the safeguarding team via: studentsupport@thomaskeble.gloucs.sch.uk
If a student needs to access pastoral support or has a safeguarding concern they can attend the reception area of student services from 8.30am to 9am or at break and lunch times. Students should be encouraged to only visit this area during those times.
The Learning Support Department is based in student services with work areas, a kitchen, two classrooms and a wet room. It is a quiet working environment where students will be supported with their additional needs.
Students who have been sent out of a lesson also report to student services reception and are expected to work quietly. Students are expected to complete a REACH reflection sheet so that they can provide more detail about their Exit which will be revisited at their SMT detention that Friday.
If a student is unwell they must report to the main school reception where they will be seen by a member of the first aid team.
Safeguarding
We all form part of the wider safeguarding system for children, described in statutory guidance 'Working together to safeguard children'. Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility
The Safeguarding Policy is here.
A collection of key documents here must be read by Staff each year, with a requirement to sign and return a declaration annually to say that they have read and understand these documents. Staff are also required to complete safeguarding training at least every three years.
Logging safeguarding concerns
The school uses a digital platform called CPOMS. Please log all concerns through this allocating the DSL group, however urgent concerns should also be referred directly to one of the DSL team. Visitors should log any safeguarding concerns through Main Reception, who will transfer to CPOMS.
Communication
Meetings
The school’s calendar of meetings is published annually. Time for all meetings is allowed for in the allocation of ‘directed time’ for teaching staff Support staff are invited to attend meetings as appropriate, particularly full staff meetings. Whenever possible, an alternative day time meeting will also be offered. The meetings document is HERE.
Staff Briefing
These take place each Tuesday and Thursday at 08:30 in the LRC. All colleagues are welcome to share information. A brief summary of briefing points is emailed out shortly afterwards.
Daily Notices for Students
Physically placing notes into register packs at reception is currently the standard method of giving messages to students. It is imperative that all relevant notices are handed out by tutors to their group at morning registration. We will look at digitising this in the next term. It is essential that registers are returned each day to reception.
Friday Staff Notices/Staff Bulletin
Upcoming events are emailed to staff on Friday via the Friday Notices sheet. Please ensure any activities, visits, visitors, planned absences and courses etc. are notified to Amanda Oxberry for inclusion on Staff Bulletin/Friday Notices by 3.00pm on the Thursday afternoon, earlier if possible. The diary is emailed out to all staff along with confidential student information on the afternoon of each Friday. All staff are required to refer to this document in order to be aware of upcoming events.
Parent Weekly Bulletin Staff
Upcoming events are emailed to parents on Friday via the parent bulletin. Please use THIS link for inclusion. The deadline weekly is 3.00pm on Thursday.
Telephone
The school telephone number is 01452 770 301. Staff should use school mobile phones on school trips; these can be booked through the Finance Office.
The school’s e-mail address is admin@thomaskeble.gloucs.sch.uk and each member of staff is provided with their own e-mail address. The IT Team create and update email distribution lists. Please avoid ‘All Staff’ emails whenever possible. The school Communication Policy is HERE. Parents should use the “admin” email.
Communication with Parents
Formal points for communication with parents (reports and parents’ evenings) are shown on the school calendar. Guidance on the writing of reports is issued at the appropriate times. A programme of parent consultation evenings is included in the calendar and published annually. We carry out parent evenings both face to face and virtually. Staff can register to be on school site for virtual parent evenings but can also conduct these at home, if preferred. No member of staff should absent themselves from a parents’ evening for any reason other than illness, without prior consultation with the Headteacher. Teaching staff are expected to attend in line with their time budget.
Open communication with parents is an important part of our students’ education and colleagues may wish to talk or write to parents for a variety of reasons. Such communication should always be carried out professionally and with the interests of the student at heart. When using emails, staff should continue to use formal language and copies of any correspondence, which may later be needed to be referred to by others, should be placed in student files. If in any doubt, colleagues should seek immediate advice from their Head of Department or Head of Year. No letter should be sent without going through the Headteacher’s PA. Letters to be checked can be left in the tray in the Head’s PA’s office. Any criticism received or heard of the school, or of individual colleagues, must be referred to SMT as a matter of urgency. Under no circumstances should such criticism be commented upon by colleagues without SMT advice.
Staff should familiarise themselves with our agreed communication protocols as outlined in the Communications Policy E.g. we do not email other staff outside of agreed hours and staff should not respond to parent communications received outside of school hours until the next working day. The intention here is to ensure all staff are able to manage their workload without raising expectations that might place pressure on colleagues, we aim to respond in 48 hours We have a zero-tolerance policy for abuse or aggression against a member of staff. Please see the guidance for dealing with aggressive parents or members of the public here
Behaviour
The behaviour policy is HERE
Incidents of behaviour are logged on the Class Charts platform.
Protocols and documentation relating to student behaviour and absence can be located in the Behaviour Policy.
Rewards
The Behaviour Policy outlines the school procedure for rewarding students’ good behaviour. This is largely done via house points awarded in accordance with agreed departmental policies. Further information can be found in the Behaviour Policy
Our approach is underpinned by the REACH values (link to poster), with a focus on empowering all students to uphold these values. A centralised detention system removes the need for staff to set their own detentions and no detentions should be set outside of this system.
Low-level negative behaviours are dealt with using a range of de-escalation strategies. Positive behaviour and consistent negative behaviours are logged via Classcharts and followed up by HoD and HoY. Bullying and safeguarding incidents are logged on CPOMS and followed up by the student support team.
Negative behaviour logs result in a 30-minute centralised detention, and these run 5 days a week during lunchtime, and are double staffed including SMT. Students will be notified of the expectation to attend a lunchtime detention by a slip in the registration folder and tutors must ensure they give the slip to the student and encourage them to reflect on their behaviour choices. During detentions students are expected to work in silence. Staff are strongly encouraged to have follow up conversations with students during this time to support a positive outcome
A centralised 60-minute after school detention runs every Friday, staffed by SMT, for students who do not complete lunch detentions successfully and for high level incidents and class exits. This should be issued by HoD, HoY or SMT. For a more detailed guide, click here (link to flow chart) and notification on Classcharts that parents/carers can see.
Centralised isolations take place on Mondays & Fridays.
Emergency procedures
All protocols and documentation relating to emergency procedures can be located here
First Aid
The school has several qualified first aiders. Any incident should be reported to Reception immediately and they will contact first aiders as required. In an emergency the first aiders group call extension is 123 Parents must be informed (either by telephone or via a note sent home with the child) if a child is involved in an accident/incident. This should be done via the First Aid / student support team. A record is made on the log which records all visits to medical. If the incident is more serious appropriate documents are completed and the Local Authority informed through the SHE procedures. All medication is stored securely and a record kept detailing what is held on site.
Emergency Closure
The Headteacher will make the decision concerning any closure of the school. Announcement of this will be on the school’s website and via local radio. A staff Schoolcomms message is used to ensure that all staff know when the school is closed. A message is also posted on the Gloucestershire County Council “Closed Schools” website by the Headteacher.
Fire Evacuation
The school premises are protected by a fire alarm and fire extinguishers, which are inspected regularly in line with Local Authority regulations. The fire alarm is a continuous ringing of the school bell. A fire alarm test is carried out at 8am every Monday morning. Staff should not vacate at this time, unless the alarm extends for more than 1 minute.
Any person discovering a fire should sound the alarm immediately. The school will undergo regular fire drills, not always with notice. All staff should make their way to the assembly point. All staff must be familiar with the operating evacuation procedures for their working areas. Fire exits must be kept free from obstruction at all times. Fire doors (which provide connections between rooms or areas of the school) should be kept closed at all times, unless they are on the automatic closure system in the case of alarms sounding.
All staff have a responsibility to ensure all students maintain a calm and quiet exit from their classrooms and make their way to their designated area. Do not attempt to put out any fire, unless it prevents exit from the building. Teachers should be last to leave the classroom assisting any students on crutches/wheelchair and should close the door behind them.
Fire evacuation documents are here.
Threat requiring shelter (lockdown)
The Lockdown bell warns of an unspecified danger on the school site. All staff have a responsibility to ensure students stay calm and quiet and remain in their current classroom. Doors are locked from the inside and internal blinds closed. Should this happen during break or lunch time students should go to their regular tutor room.
Staff development
Chris Patrick is the Staff Development Coordinator. Ben Clarke is responsible for the induction of new staff, the ECT programme and support for GITEP students. New staff induction is set out here and ECT Induction here
Requests for training
Staff should discuss CPD needs with their line manager before submitting an application for the relevant CPD course via Bluesky. Staff should not book courses until approval has been given by the DHT; the Finance Office can assist with this if requested. Staff will receive email confirmation regarding the outcome of their application request. The full CPD Policy is available in StaffShare.
Appraisal
All protocols and documentation relating to appraisal are be located here.
Appraisal arrangements for teaching staff are organised to comply with the requirements of the Teachers’ Conditions of Service and the School Teachers’ Pay & Conditions Document. A draft will be completed in T6, to be reviewed and finalised in October, the Line Manager will evaluate the teacher’s performance, review the previous year’s targets and set targets for the coming year.
All support staff are expected to meet the school Support Staff Standards. Appraisal for Support Staff is carried out on an annual cycle. Targets will be negotiated and agreed with the Line Manager and will be reviewed halfway through the year.
Staff conduct
Working in a school means the highest standards of conduct are required, particularly when it comes to matters of safeguarding children from harm. There are various policies which are useful:
• The Conduct Policy and Whistle Blowing Policy here.
• The Complaints (and concerns) Policy here.
• The Grievance Policy here
• The Disciplinary Policy here.
• Guidance for Adults Working with Children Policy here.
• The Safeguarding Policy here
Complaints and Concerns
Any complaints or concerns raised made to any member of staff about the school or a member of staff should be reported to the Headteacher immediately. If the complaint/concern is verbal, please advise the complainant to put this in writing to the Head and then write a brief summary in advance of them doing so. If any colleague has any reason to believe may be subject to a complaint they should inform the Headteacher or Deputy Headteacher as a matter of urgency.
Staff Absence
Requests for pre-planned staff absence should be requested via the eform here and then submitted to the Headteacher. Further details are included in the staff absence and staff attendance policies.
Planned absence must be approved by the Headteacher or in their absence, the Deputy Headteacher.
School event absence requests are also submitted via the eform and must be passed to the Headteacher for approval at least 5 days in advance whenever possible. Personal absence requests are submitted using the eform. As much advance notice as possible is appreciated in such circumstances. Staff should await a decision regarding the absence before finalising plans. CPD absence requests are submitted via Bluesky at least 10 days in advance where possible.
Educational visits
All protocols and documentation relating to educational visits are be located here
Colleagues wishing to take students on any off-site visit should discuss the feasibility of the trip and appropriate dates with their own (or departments) SMT Link before making any arrangements. Residential trips should be discussed well in advance so they can be included in the school’s annual and 3-year trip calendar at the beginning of the school year. An 18-month lead in for overseas trips will support parents making payment instalments. No letters should be sent to parents until approval has been given by finance and SMT. Trip leaders should inform the kitchen if a large number of students will be out at lunch time and the site team if the trip starts or will return after normal school opening hours.
Using the Minibus
The minibuses (16 passengers) can be booked for visits by authorised drivers only.
Staff wishing to drive the minibuses should supply a licence check code to the Business Manager along with the last 8 characters of their driving licence While checks on drivers will be carried out annually, it remains the responsibility of all authorised drivers to inform the Business Manager of any changes to their licence (e.g. endorsements, disqualifications, medical factors etc) as soon as possible. The Operations Manager will accompany new drivers on a short familiarisation trip before driving a minibus with students aboard
Minibuses are booked via the relevant outlook calendars and are approved by the Business Manager. Further details are available through the Operations / Site Team – keys are kept in the Finance Office. It is the responsibility of the driver that all passengers wear a seatbelt and behave well. Any example of poor behaviour should be reported appropriately at the earliest opportunity. When the journey is complete the minibus must be left in a clean and tidy manner.
Holding a mobile phone whilst driving is in breach of the law. When on school business, whether in a car or driving the minibus, no driver must disobey this law.
Finance
All orders must be raised using the new financial management system “Access”. Training is given to all budget holders and should any issues arise, please refer to Sara Papps or Hollie Hayes. On receipt of goods, invoices should be checked, and sent to the finance office for payment as soon as possible.
Expense claims
Although the preference is for all goods to be requested via a purchase order placed on the finance system. However, it is accepted that, sometimes, resources have to be purchased by staff. The monies can be reclaimed via payroll by completing an expense claim which must be supported by receipts. The expenses claim must be authorised by the Head of Department. Expense claim forms are held in the finance office.
Additional Hours
If part-time staff are asked to work additional hours, these must be approved first by the Headteacher. On completion of extra hours, the relevant claim form should be completed and returned to the Finance Office. A timetable of cutoff dates for each pay period is published each year. Claims received after the published date will be processed for the following month.
Uniform
A copy of the school uniform policy and uniform list is available from the school website here. Heads of Year can issue a uniform-pass and hold stocks of jumpers, blazers and tights to be issued as a loan each day to students in need.
Mobile Phones
All student mobile phones should be switched off and should not be used or seen during school hours. If a member of staff sees a mobile phone being used, it should be confiscated and passed in person to the school office for the relevant sanction to be set on ClassCharts No mobiles should be used by students within the school buildings from 08:30 and until the end of the last period at 15:15. Outside of these times, students may use their mobile phones.
Staff may have their phones and use, as appropriate, however, out of sight of students.
Teaching and learning
Key documents are located here, and include:
Teaching & Learning Policy
Curriculum Policy
Homework Protocol
All homework must be set through Class Charts and subject leaders are responsible for ensuring that this is done. Homework timetables are produced for each year group
External Examinations
It is school policy to enter all students for external examinations. If staff wish to consider disapplication for a student, then clear reasons must be given to the Deputy Headteacher. No suggestion of a final decision should be communicated until the Deputy Headteacher has authorised it and notified parents. The Exams Office can advise on the correct form and notice period to avoid fees. Click here for protocols.
Set or Tutor Group Changes
Any changes to a Tutor Group must be agreed with the Assistant Headteacher (Pastoral) in advance.
Where sets exist, it is important that pupils are placed appropriately. If set changes are required:
• Year Leader and Deputy Headteacher informed in advance.
• Where another department is affected, it is important that everyone is consulted.
• Parents are informed via Year Leader letter.
• When a Year Leader needs to alter a pupils’ set, the Year Leader consults with appropriate HODs, informing Assistant Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher and then parents.
• Once the move is agreed, the data office is informed to action the change.
Health and safety
The School, through Trustees and Members, fully accepts its responsibilities for the health and safety of its employees and of its students. This responsibility is set out in policy here
Any issue arising must be reported to the Site Management Team immediately using the online premises help desk: premiseshelpdesk@thomaskeble.gloucs.sch.uk
Every member of staff in the school has a part to play in:
• reporting any causes of possible danger, either to the Site team by email or phone or to the Head of Department responsible for that area
• assessing the risks involved in any activities for which you have responsibility, and in any area of the school in which you are working, and responding accordingly.
• reporting any accidents, or near accidents, in writing on an accident report form available from the School Office
• following the procedures and practice, which have been designed to protect staff and students, and ensuring that the students do so too
• ensuring that you keep abreast of any regulations which may apply to your particular area of work.
Managing Medicines and First Aid Policy
It is essential that we are all aware of the Supporting Students with Medical Conditions Policy (here) and First Aid Policy (here) and act accordingly. This is updated to reflect latest guidance, often more frequently than annually. Please use the StaffShare electronic policy folder to inform any actions relating to this important issue.
Employment
The school employment protection policy is here
Flexible retirement policy is here and the flexible working request policy is here
Job Applications and References
Staff applying for a different job are asked to let the Headteacher know at the earliest possible opportunity. They should be listed as a referee, although in many cases other colleagues will be consulted to make sure the reference is as supportive as possible. Other staff are welcome to act as referees for colleagues or ex-colleagues however, must supply a copy of their reference to the Headteacher. This is a legal necessity
Dress
Staff are expected to present a smart and professional appearance, wearing clothing appropriate to their job. The school would not wish to interfere in matters of individual choice but does expect all colleagues to exercise discretion and dress appropriately. Colleagues in doubt over such matters should see their line-manager. In the event of an issue arising over such matters the Headteacher will clarify the definition of “appropriate”.
Laptops, network, ICT use
Guy O’Malley is the school’s Operations Manager. Any queries relating to IT should be raised via the helpdesk: ithelpdesk@thomaskeble.gloucs.sch.uk . All teaching staff are issued with a laptop to support their work at school. Staff must be fully aware of the Data Handling and Protection Policy. Staff are also provided with a Thomas Keble email address and key school-related communications are sent to this address. Emails must be checked at least once a day for incoming messages that require action.
All staff have their own storage drive on the school’s network, and it is recommended that files are stored here as regular back-ups are made. ‘Staffshare’ is used to store shared files within departments as well as files that are intended for use by all staff, and all staff should be familiar with its layout and content.
There are sets of laptops and tablet computers available for classroom-based ICT access. Booking forms are accessed via the Staff website area – please see IT support team or email IT help desk if you would like help with this.
Administrative Support
Photocopying
The Reprographics Technician is available in the Reprographics room Monday to Friday between 9.00am and 3:00pm. Photocopying can be left in the tray in the photocopying room. Email copying to reprographics@thomaskeble.gloucs.sch.uk
o Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 3.15 pm
o Friday 8.30am to 12.00pm
Typing
The front office will provide a two-day maximum turnaround time for typing. Please place typing in the tray provided in the office with any relevant instructions or email to the relevant colleague. They will produce hard copy for proof reading which can then be submitted for sending.
Display
Classrooms should display work relevant to the topics taught; wherever possible including pupils’ work. Displays should be changed at regular intervals. Displays in public areas, should also be changed regularly. Any requests for display support should be made to the Display Officer (Jane Gandy).
Staff and Parent Committee
Staff Social Committee
The purpose of the committee is to support concerns in relation to staff welfare and to organise social events. Staff could be asked for a donation later in the year if there were a shortfall in funds.
Thomas Keble PTA
The PTA is made up of parents, teachers and friends of the school whose aim is to support the work of the school. It has a committee which plans and organises a variety of events, thus providing the school with much equipment and help. Every member of staff is automatically a member of the PTA and we hope that all will wish to support events and attend meetings. The 100 club is open to all staff to join.
The Deputy Headteacher links with the PTA and all requests should go through the DHT in the first instance.