Huxlow Welcome Booklet 2025 2026 by Yr6Transition

ACADEMY

WELCOME FROM THE HEADTEACHER

Education is invaluable, and our children have one chance to experience it It is therefore a tremendous responsibility and privilege for me to lead Huxlow Academy, where our goal is to ensure every child has the highest quality academic experience and create memories which last a lifetime

Ambition

At Huxlow Academy we champion the successes of our students and provide them with opportunities to be aspirational members of our community It is critical that the education we provide supports both academic success and equips students for the ever-changing world beyond school Our mission at Huxlow is for each and every student to ‘thrive through excellence’, with every door open to them as they continue their journeys towards adulthood

Respect

Commitment to the highest standards of Teaching and Learning, as well as quality pastoral care ensures that Huxlow students build nurturing relationships with staff and their peers Students feel a sense of belonging and pride in being part of daily life at Huxlow We have high expectations of staff and students, who demonstrate this through ‘The Huxlow Way’, behaviours which encapsulate our Academy values

Pride

We are a school with a lot to be proud of Instilling pride in our students is important to me, and each day I am taken aback by how proud students are of Huxlow, of their peers and of themselves, as they experience success in all shapes and forms Huxlow is an incredible school, where we pride ourselves on strong relationships with students, and where we aim to strive for excellence each day I am incredibly proud of the journey Huxlow has been on in recent years, and urge prospective students, parents and teachers to visit the Academy and see ‘The Huxlow Way’ in action

Kim IsaksenHeadteacher

MEET THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM

THE HUXLOW WAY

At Huxlow Academy we create the opportunities to enable everyone that walks through our doors to ultimately achieve our vision of “Thriving Through Excellence”

Our mission is to achieve this by building a learning community of aspirational and responsible citizens

Huxlow is an inclusive school where every student matters Students come to Huxlow Academy from a variety of backgrounds and quickly become a part of the Huxlow family Alongside high-quality teaching, we provide a wide variety of effective support Our success is achieved by knowing every student as an individual and caring for them personally and academically Students are prepared to successfully navigate the many opportunities and challenges that are presented by the modern world

To fulfil our mission we work, study and collaborate by placing a focus on three core values

AMBITION - We strive hard to achieve the very best in all that we do, and we celebrate achievement and excellence We enable our students to fulfil their academic and personal purpose RESPECT - We pride ourselves on being a school that fosters relationships in an atmosphere built upon empathy, mutual respect, dignity, equity, diversity and fairness PRIDE - Pride in all we do, both from within school and across the wider community, is at the core of our actions Our students go on to become successful adults and we enable our students to develop the pride and character we need them to have in the future

Good character is the basis of human flourishing At Huxlow Academy, we believe that the Academic success of our students is important, but without character development this success is limited Our students must also learn how to develop as a person, how to be successful and how the development of their character will help them to become well-rounded individuals, ready for the wider world

Our Core Values are –

Our behaviour policy reflects these key values and students are expected to behave by showing Pride, Ambition and Respect through all that they do

Huxlow Academy’s Personal Development programme allows for students to develop character whilst also giving students opportunities and experiences outside of the classroom The Personal Development curriculum develops the following aspects of a Huxlow Students life –

The PSHE curriculum

Careers

Enrichment opportunities including trips

Student leadership

Assemblies

Outside speakers and workshops

FORM TUTOR/ HEAD OF YEAR

At Huxlow Academy, each individual student matters We have established a strong, caring and supportive framework to ensure all achieve their very best

Form Tutors play the key role in the Huxlow pastoral system They have daily contact with the children at registration in the morning During the course of a year they are able to get to know each member of the form as an individual – to know their needs interests difficulties hopes and aspirations Each year group also has a Head of Year, who oversees pastoral care

Together, the Heads of Year, Form Tutors and Assistant Headteachers are responsible for the welfare and progression of students They deal with any serious disciplinary problems and follow up issues relating to absence, sickness, lateness, uniform and homework

At Huxlow Academy we believe that pastoral support is fundamental to the wellbeing and overall success of each of our students

Our pastoral system is a key part of our strong Huxlow community where every individual matters Form tutors know their tutees well and a range of support is available at every stage of their school life Our house system provides a range of leadership opportunities for students and develops the responsibilities of different ages so they work together for a common goal These respectful values underpin our school ethos

At the centre of the school is a team of pastoral staff who are dedicated to ensuring that the students have someone to go to if they have problems or concerns Experienced staff have a wide range of strategies to support the learning, welfare and behaviour needs of each student

We are committed to placing Huxlow at the heart of the wider community and believe that a positive relationship between home and school is crucial We work together to ensure our students reach their full potential

OUR HOUSE SYSTEM

The House System represents the values and ethos of Huxlow Academy and aims to develop as an integral part of our school community In time it is our ambition that the Head of Houses and the School Council will work together creating a stronger pupil voice to motivate students and further the community spirit of the school

House System Objectives:

The House systems complements the school's ethos of Ambition, Respect and Pride

These values are developed by encouraging a sense of community awareness of each other and team spirit through a variety of activities on a weekly basis

Through the House System, students are encouraged to –

Be proud of themselves for representing their house, embracing opportunities to develop skills in areas other than those solely taught in the classroom

Be ambitious and try new things, praising others and themselves in all achievements, whether big or small

Be respectful of oneself, peers and the community

House Organisation

Huxlow Academy’s House System enhances and values the sense of community and conviction within every student

This personifies our Values and spirit of our school community; Pride, Ambition and Respect We aspire to create a stronger students’ voice and enhance the spirit of respectful democracy through a safe, responsible and supportive environment

Every student, upon entry, is assigned to one of the four houses; Blue Falcons, Red Kites, Green Osprey and Golden Eagles Each member of staff is also attached to a house Each house has a Head of House from the Senior Leadership Team:

Blue Falcons Head of House: Mr Johnson Golden Eagles Head of House: Mrs Huchet Green Osprey Head of House: Mrs Correa Red Kites Head of House: Mr Knowles

OUR HOUSE SYSTEM

Students are given opportunities to represent their house in a wide range of activities including inter-house sporting competitions and Maths and English challenges House events happen weekly and Form Tutors encourage their tutees to get involved in a variety of competitions

We are very proud of our House System at Huxlow and aim to make every member of our community feel a sense of belonging and pride every time they enter through our school gates

To promote ambition we reward students in the following way;

House points

Showing Pride, Ambition and Respect in the classroom and around the school

Good attendance (96+%)

Head teacher awards

Reward assemblies, events and activities

ATTENDANCE & ABSENCES

Many of our students achieve Full Attendance Certificates - for a term and also for a year

If your child is going to be away or late, we ask that you ring Huxlow Academy as early as possible and leave a message If your child is not at school and no message is received we will either send a message through My Ed or phone home This way we know your child is safe and well

Very few students are late for school after the close of registration at 8:50am If your child is late, they must go first to the Reception or they won’t be marked in

Your child will receive detention if they are late twice in a week for school and could be put on a monitoring report

Doctor & Dentist Appointments

It is always better to have medical/dental appointments after school Sometimes people need emergency treatment; if this happens, bring a letter from home and the appointment card, get the Form Tutor to sign an orange ‘ permission to leave site’ slip and your child will need to take it to Reception when they sign out

Accidents

or Illness

If your child has an accident or feels ill at school they must tell a teacher School staff will contact First Aid if required Your child will not be allowed to go home on their own We will contact you if the first aider thinks it is suitable that your child should leave school, and will have to be collected Your child must not contact you themselves Your child must always sign out at the Reception before leaving the school site

UNIFORM

DRESSED FOR LEARNING

Uniform

• Black knee length tailored skirt (tube skirts are not permitted) with thick black tights Black seamed school uniform trousers (trousers should not be casual, denim, jeans, leggings, jeggings, chinos or corduroy)

* A black knee-length pleated skirt with thick black tights will be permitted (available from KarlSports)

• White collared shirt;

• House tie;

• Plain navy blue or black socks;

• Black leather and polish look low-heeled polished shoes or ankle boots Canvas shoes and coloured trainers, crocs or sliders are not permitted

• Navy blue blazer with Academy logo (compulsory for all students);

• Navy blue V-necked sweatshirt with the Academy logo – (optional – to wear under the blazer during winter, not as a replacement)

Sportswear

• Navy blue PE shorts embroidered with Academy sports logo;

• Navy quick dry polo with Academy sports logo;

• Trainers;

• White sports socks;

• Football boots;

• Navy blue socks;

• Navy or black tracksuit bottoms with or without Academy logo;

• Navy or black leggings with or without Academy logo;

• Navy skort with or without Academy sports logo;

• Navy PE half-zip top with Academy logo;

Jewellery

Jewellery is not permitted with the exception of a watch (Smart watches are not permitted), and one set of ‘stud’ earrings and one plain signet ring Body piercings are not permitted with the exception of a clear nose stud Nose rings are not permitted If students have body and/ or facial piercings they will be expected to wear clear studs

Hair

Hair should be tidy and extreme hairstyles and colours are not acceptable Hair should be tied back if requested for health and safety reasons during PE, Science and Design Technology lessons

• Rugby shirt with Academy sports log• N B Navy P E sweatshirts and hoodies with Academy sports logo are no longer available to purchase and should not be worn Nails (varnish, gels or false nails)

False nails and nail extensions are not permitted Nail colour should be kept clear or neutral in colour

Make-Up

A reasonable amount of lightly applied make-up is permitted for all year groups False eyelashes are not permitted

Hats / cover-up / hoods on

Students cannot wear any cover-ups including hoods on the Academy site, unless for medical or religious purposes by prior agreement with the Headteacher

BE PREPARED

Your child will have to prepare themselves for Huxlow Academy

These are some of the things they might need to do or think about:

Look at their timetable each night to see what books and equipment they may need

Make sure they have their pencil case with at least a black pen a blue pen and a purple pen a pencil, a ruler, a rubber and a calculator They must also bring a reading book each day

Do they need a P E kit? Do they need something special such as cookery ingredients and an apron? Credit on their Wisepay account? Packed lunch? Bus Pass?

Check their uniform - look smart This shows they are ready for learning

Pack their bag the night before school

Make sure that when your child gets to Huxlow they keep their equipment safe They must not bring the following things to school:

Valuable games

personal equipment such as computer

Dangerous sharp things

Jewellery (they can only wear a watch, one set of stud/ small sleeper earrings and one plain ring, NO OTHER JEWELLERY including facial piercings are allowed)

No make-up is allowed in Year 7

Hair must be a colour that is naturally occurring No hair style should be ‘extreme’ in style and/or colour

BUS INFORMATION

Most of our students live in Irthlingborough Finedon or Woodford Children from Irthlingborough do not live far away and walk to Huxlow Academy If your live in Finedon, Woodford, Great Addington or Little Addington you can apply for a school bus pass by following this link: School travel assistance - Schools and education (northamptonshire gov uk)

If you do not live in Irthlingborough, Finedon, Woodford, Great Addington or Little Addington you will need sort alternative travel arrangements such as lifts or public transport

These are the current times of buses The bus contractors may change in September Please contact Huxlow Academy to check new times closer to the start of term

Buses come onto the Huxlow Academy site They will drop your child off and pick them up at the same place Lots of teachers will be on duty If your child is late out of school and misses the bus, they must go back into school and tell a teacher

If they lose their bus pass there will be a replacement charge

Keep the bus pass in a safe place!

Bromcom SCHOOL COMMUNICATION

Bromcom is used as the main form of communication with parents/carers It is a comprehensive platform that has streamlined communication and administrative tasks for both school and parent/carers

A key advantage to support you during your child’s journey through our school is the opportunity to access the parent portal via the Bromcom website or access the app (Apple or Android) called My Child At School (MCAS) If you have children at other Tove Trust schools, or other schools using Bromcom, your single login will allow you to see information about all of your children in the same place

Once your child starts with us in September anyone with parental responsibility can sign up to our MCAS system All you will need to sign up with is the e-mail address that we hold for you Please enter our school postcode NN9 5TY or the school code 15611 pick our school from the list and follow the instructions on screen

On Bromcom you can view in real-time your child's Attendance, Assessment and Behaviour Along with their timetable, any letters or messages and the school calendar You will also be able update the data information that we hold for you such as telephone numbers, home address and contacts

Canteen AT HUXLOW ACADEMY

Our food is freshly prepared by a dedicated team on site

We are open for service for Breakfast 8 20-8 45, Breaktime 11 10-11 30 and Lunchtime between 13 30-14:20

There is a cashless system that all Students can sign up to regardless of whether they bring their own lunch or have an entitlement to Free School meals

We serve a wide range of food styles, and embrace new flavours and foods We still have lots of the classic favourites, including the always popular Wednesday roast

THE LIBRARY AT HUXLOW ACADEMY

The academy has over 150 desktop computers (4 of which are in the Library) over 175 laptops and over 100 tablets for students to use around the academy

Huxlow Academy Library is the place to be when it comes to studying, reading and enjoying all the available resources The Library is a quiet study area where students are encouraged to be independent learners

The Library is open Monday – Friday, 8 30 am – 4 00 pm during term time The Library is open to all students before school, during break & lunch time and after school

Students have access to fiction and non-fiction books, encyclopaedias, study guides and the careers library Students are able to borrow books from the library using our computerised system In the Library there are 4 desktop computers which are available for students to use as well as a printer/photocopier

HOMEWORK CLUB AT HUXLOW ACADEMY

A supervised Homework Club runs after school until 4pm Monday – Thursday and is open to all students It is an opportunity to use the computers, books and other resources or simply a quiet place to do some work

Something new for your child to get used to will be homework

We do homework because:

It helps students to work on their own and be independent;

It helps students to practise skills they learn in class;

Students can complete more work than they could in lessons alone;

Students find things out for themselves

So you can see that homework is very important Without it your child will not become as skilled as possible

DUKE OF EDINBURGH

We are really excited to be part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s award here at Huxlow Academy

Once your child gets to year 9 they will be invited to take part in the Bronze award The Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards is a voluntary non-competitive programme of activities for anyone ages between 1424

Doing their DofE gives young people the opportunity to experience new activities or develop existing skills There are three progressive levels of programmes which when successfully completed lead to a Bronze, Silver or Gold award

The young people create their own DofE programme by choosing a volunteering, physical and skills activity, going on an expedition and, for their Gold only, taking part in a residential activity

STUDENT LEADERSHIP

At Huxlow Academy developing Student Leadership is key and when students are given the opportunity to step up, this can have a profound impact on their school Huxlow Student Leadership Programme aims to increase the opportunity for Student Leadership across the academy and to enhance the input students have with rewards, whole school events and student well-being

Our Student Council contains representatives from years 7-13 We meet monthly to discuss issues and initiatives The council is made up of over 30 form captains, 12 prefects and members of the Sixth Form Senior Leadership Team

As well as this, we have numerous other Leadership roles across the academy, including Transition Ambassadors in Year 8; Sports Leaders in Years 9-11 and Diversity and Mental Health Ambassadors Huxlow Student Leadership aims to be inclusive to ensure that all students have an opportunity to lead

ETHOS TEAM

The Ethos Team are a part of Huxlow Academy

‘We exist to transform Young people’s live through holistic education’

Our holistic vision is designed to support the aspirational, relational, and spiritual needs of students and their families

Our work is structured around the following learning outcomes:

Developing Character and Values

Helping students thrive by raising their aspirations, fostering respect, building resilience and hope, and empowering them to grow by serving others

Building Healthy Relationship

Helping students learn to value themselves enable them to identify the qualities of healthy relationships, foster digital relationship skills, grow in wisdom for intimacy and be equipped for long term committed relationships

Understanding Christian Perspectives

(helping students explore the basics of Christian belief, discover how faith works in practice and understand why the Christian faith matters )

Meet the Huxlow Ethos Team

Mrs Hannah Ijih - Ethos Leader works with senior staff to coordinate a bespoke Ethos Programme that helps improve student outcomes

Mrs Amy Matthews - Ethos Family Support Worker engages with families to help improve student outcomes

Samonna Poleon-Henry - Youth Worker - helps by meeting student’s emotional, relational and spiritual needs to help improve student outcomes