Parent Handbook 2017-18 - Kings College Guildford
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Parent Handbook
2017-18
Information for New Parents
Contents
Key Staff
A Welcome from the Principal
The Senior Leadership Team
The House System
Raising Aspirations
Student Achievement Team
Our Expectations
Kings College Values
Learning at Kings College
Extra-curricular Opportunities
Supporting Students
Supporting Your Child’s Learning
Useful Information
Term Dates (2017-2018)
The School Day
The First Day
Uniform at Kings
Equipment at Kings
Rewards
Consequences
Useful Contacts
Areas of the school
Safeguarding
Safeguarding at Kings College
Mobile Phone Guidance
ICT and e-Safety Guidance
Frequently Asked Questions
Please let us know if there are ways that we can improve our Parent Handbook in any way.
A Message from Mr McKenzie Welcome from the Principal A very warm welcome from all of us at Kings College. We are delighted to be working with you as your sons and daughters embark on this exciting phase in their education. Moving to secondary school is a challenge but also one of every child’s greatest opportunities. It is our job to make sure that your child settles in smoothly, thrives academically, is happy and becomes a life-long learner. At Kings, we pride ourselves on the excellent relationships that exist between staff and pupils. From the moment your child starts in Year 7, there will be a team of staff on hand to make sure that they are supported, work hard and take part in every lesson. Learning at Kings is vibrant, challenging and active and we aim to make sure that every child makes progress every lesson. It is our priority to ensure that your child receives the right support, care and challenge to achieve their potential. We also pride ourselves on our partnership with families. It is really important that your child receives a consistent message about the importance of learning, doing their very best, behaving safely and politely and caring about others. We know that you will support your child by ensuring that they arrive on time, well dressed and equipped to learn. In addition to this, we know that you will support your child by modelling the actions and behaviours they should exhibit and join with us in celebrating their successes. Please do contact the school if you have any questions or queries. Your child’s Form Tutor has day- to-day care of their tutees and is a good starting point if you need information or would like some advice. Parents are expected to attend Parents’ Evenings and other events at school as your support is invaluable to your child and to us. I am looking forward to getting to know every child in Year 7 and to seeing them all develop into young people of whom we will all be extremely proud. Alastair McKenzie Principal
The Senior Leadership Team
We have a whole school focus on well-being across our community with an underlying aim of
developing resilience and the skills to learn for all of our students. Kings College prides itself on its
calm, focussed and self-motivated working environment and we prioritise the maintenance of a
strong culture of trust, respect and good manners.
Mr Alastair McKenzie
Principal
a.mckenzie@kingscollegeguildford.com
Miss Anna Wallis
Vice Principal
a.wallis@kingscollegeguildford.com
Mr James Grant Duff
Vice Principal
j.grantduff@kingscollegeguildford.com
Dr Mark Taylor
Senior Assistant Principal
a.wallis@kingscollegeguildford.com
Mrs Mollie Robberts
Assistant Principal
m.robberts@kingscollegeguildford.com
Mr Gary Sills
Assistant Principal
g.sills@kingscollegeguildford.com
Mr Dave Ferguson
Associate Assistant Principal
d.ferguson@kingscollegeguildford.com
The House System
The House system at Kings encourages a sense of community, unity and joint striving to be the
best. It enables our younger students to mix with positive role models and engenders good
opportunities for peer mentoring and support. The House system allows your child to build
friendships with students of all ages within their House and become part of a family within the
wider school community. Your child will join one of our three Houses: Hercules, Orion or Phoenix.
Kings students participate in a number of exciting House activities, ranging from sporting
competitions and tutor time quizzes to fundraising events and curriculum challenges.
Raising Aspirations
At Kings we have a strong focus around raising aspirations and providing information about future
options alongside supporting the raising of attainment. My role as the Widening Participation
Coordinator is to provide a link between Kings College and the University of Surrey to offer a wide
range of exciting activities and opportunities for both students and their parents. From subject
tasters to extra-curricular activities, students are encouraged to explore future options and aspire
to Higher Education. The programme has been designed to ensure students access new and
relevant activities as they progress through the school from Year 7 to Year 11. Parents can also
access a range of information talks and speak directly to me at any time. At the start of the school
year a calendar of events will be sent home to provide you with more detailed information about
what is offered.
Miss Hannah Trott
h.trott@kingscollegeguildford.com
Student Achievement Team
Your Child’s Form Tutor
Our first priority is to enable your child to make a successful transition to secondary school. The
form tutor will meet with your child twice a day during registration and will have an overview of
progress, attendance, behaviour and general well-being. They will contact you if they have any
concerns or queries throughout your child’s time at Kings. The form tutor is also the person that
you or your child should first contact with any questions once he/she has started at Kings College.
Please contact your child’s tutor via the main school number or via the email address cited below.
Year 7 Tutors
Mr Le Brun Mrs Ward Mr Ferguson
e.brun@kingscollegeguildford.com n.ward@kingscollegeguildford.com d.ferguson@kingscollegeguildford.com
Hercules House Orion House Phoenix House
Key Stage 3 Achievement Team (Years 7 & 8)
In order to support your child further, there are dedicated staff that will work with your child and
ensure that they are happy and making progress.
Miss A Wallis Mr D Todd Mrs S Oliphant
a.wallis@kingscollegeguildford.com d.todd@kingscollegeguildford.com s.oliphant@kingscollegeguildford.com
KS3 Progress Leader KS3 Pastoral Leader KS3 SEND Leader
Key Stage 4 Achievement Team (Years 9, 10 & 11)
Mr G Sills Miss J Hamilton Miss E Sykes
g.sills@kingscollegeguildford.com j.hamilton@kingscollegeguildford.com e.sykes@kingscollegeguildford.com
KS4 Progress Leader KS4 Pastoral Leader KS4 SEND Leader
Kings College Values
Learning at Kings College At Kings College we take great pride in the inclusiveness of our curriculum, providing opportunities for all students to learn and progress. Subjects in Year 7 and 8 Your child will learn the following subjects during their time in Years 7 and 8: • Mathematics and Numeracy • History • Technology • English and Literacy • Core PE • Art and Design • Science • PSHE • Languages • Geography • Performing Arts • PERL (Philosophy, Ethics, Religion and Life) Key Stage 4 Provision Your child will have the opportunity to select from a wide range of GCSE subjects and vocational qualifications. These are in addition to studying the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science, PE, PERL and Citizenship. Please see the school website for specific information on the curriculum for 2017-18. Literacy and Numeracy This is a key focus at Kings College as your child needs to be equipped with these skills in order to make progress during their time learning with us and succeed in adult life. Students receive timetabled support from specialist teachers and support staff during Key Stage 3. Where appropriate, some students will have a personalised literacy support plan and will access more intensive support. Social, Moral, Spiritual, Cultural Education and British Values Kings College actively promotes the Social, Moral, Spiritual and Cultural development of students by providing positive experiences through the curriculum and through interactions with teachers, other adults and the local community. SMSC and British Values are supported through our school ethos, values and behaviour systems. Personal, Social and Health Education One day per module is dedicated to teaching our students how to keep themselves safe and healthy. This day is delivered through a variety of interactive workshops.
Extra-Curricular Opportunities The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award gives students the opportunity to develop skills such as communication, team-work, leadership, planning and organisation. Students in Year 9 begin the Bronze award which includes a day walk around Newlands Corner as a practice walk, followed by their expedition to the New Forest for 2 full days. In Year 10, students complete the Silver award going to the New Forest and then onto the North York Moors. Gold students take part in the North York Moors expedition with a longer stay than Silvers. Our students gain a lot from these experiences, talking positively about what they have learnt and how much it helps to prepare them for their futures. Student Leadership There are many leadership development opportunities available to students at Kings College. We encourage all students to participate in at least one leadership opportunity over the course of the year. Music Instrumental Lessons We offer lessons on a range of musical instruments and are fortunate enough to have a number of very skilled instrumental teachers here on a weekly basis. Should you wish to find out more information, please contact Miss Sykes, Head of Music: e.sykes@kingscollegeguildford.com School Productions Each year Kings College celebrates the success of a variety of art events. These include Rock Challenge, which we have been successful at getting through to the Southern Finals for the last 2 years. The School production each year is fantastic, offering a wide variety of opportunities in singing, dancing and drama to back stage and lighting. Other events are the annual KS4 Art exhibition, Performing Arts show and the Orpheus music event. Parents are welcome to come and support their child at each event.
Extra-curricular Opportunities Sports Teams Kings College offers an extensive range of sporting opportunities for students of all ages and abilities. The most popular sports at Kings are football, basketball, netball, rugby, cricket, softball and athletics where we field both boys and girls squads across all ages. We enter all local Secondary school leagues, events and competitions. Through partnership with the RFU and Guildfordians RFC, Kings have an exciting link to the ‘all schools’ rugby programme which has seen a sizeable investment into the sport at Kings. Students have benefitted from expert coaching, increased internal and external opportunities to play competitive rugby. Members of staff are well qualified in coaching rugby up to county standard - students are known to make the Surrey Development Programme. The Young Leader Award programme at the school promotes aspiring sports leaders. This year students were able to use their leadership skills to run the Primary Sportshall Athletics event for the Guildford Schools Association. The PE department believe that watching live professional sport also provides development for aspiring athletes. Students enjoyed the experience of watching the women’s and men’s British basketball finals at the O2 Arena this year. Students also had the pleasure of meeting an Aviva Premiership rugby player, Cameron Holenstein from Harlequins RFC. Students were able to learn about the dedication and discipline needed to be a professional athlete. Kings College is also in partnership with both Guildford Baseball & Softball and Guildford City Cricket clubs, which provide the students with high quality coaching at Kings and clear pathways to develop their skills further. A member of staff is a regionally recognised netball coach, which has enabled us to produce highly skilled netball squads. For further information about sports at Kings, please contact our Head of PE, Mr Harrison May, on h.may@kingscollegeguildford.com.
Supporting Students School Progress Reports Students and parents will receive regular reports about their progress and be able to speak with their child’s teachers at parent meetings. If you would like to speak to a member of staff regarding your child’s progress, please do not hesitate to contact us. English as an Additional Language (EAL) Students who have not received a full education in English or who are new arrivals to the UK receive a range of support based on their need. This may involve English withdrawal classes, in- class support and after-school homework clubs. Special Educational Needs (SEND) If your child has an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP), or if they have support for a learning difficulty, the SEND department will organise appropriate support. This support may involve withdrawal for additional literacy or numeracy, in-class support from a Learning Support Assistant or specialist support from an external professional. If you have any concerns about your child’s special educational needs please contact: Mrs Stephanie Oliphant for Key stage 3, s.oliphant@kingscollegeguildford.com or Miss Emma Sykes for Key Stage 4, e.sykes@kingscollegeguildford.com Gifted and Talented Many of our students have special skills and talents which we aim to identify and nurture. Some students are gifted in several subject areas whilst others have a specific talent (for example, in art, music or sport). These students are encouraged to attend a range of extension and enrichment activities including Master Classes and skills workshops.
Supporting Students
The Eikon Charity
www.eikon.org.uk
Kings College has an established partnership with The Eikon Charity—a Surrey based charity
committed to supporting the wellbeing, aspirations and resilience of Young People. Eikon
has over 20 years of experience across Surrey delivering multiple approaches to engage
young people with improved emotional wellbeing and resilience.
Kings achievement teams identify young people, who might be experiencing one or more of
the following challenges in their life.
Some of the issues Eikon can support young people through:
• Strained family relationships
• Friendship issues
• Exam stress
• Drugs and alcohol
• Low mood and self-esteem
• Challenging behaviour in school
• Anger problems
• Anxiety
• Young Carer (see below for more details)
Eikon supports young people in school in the following ways:
• 1-2-1 mentoring
• Lunchtime drop ins
• Group work programmes
• Trips and residential trips
• Support Groups
Please note: While the role of the Youth Specialist aims to give support to young people
who may find themselves in a variety of difficult or challenging circumstances, it is
important to note that the Eikon Youth Specialists are not Counsellors.Supporting Your Child’s Learning At Kings College we firmly believe education is a three way partnership between the child, the home and the school. To this end we are fully committed to ensuring strong and mutually beneficial communication between home and school. We understand and respect the valuable contribution parents make and know that for our students to be successful we need support from home. We will make every effort to ensure all our communication with you is timely, clear and meaningful. Reading Evidence shows that parental involvement in their children’s learning and in particular, literacy activities will positively affect your child’s progress at school. Regular reading not only improves your child’s reading and comprehension skills but also develops concentration skills and a positive attitude towards learning. In order to support regular reading with your child, we stock a number of reading age appropriate resources in our Library which can be borrowed and returned. Routines at home You can help your son or daughter to get into these new routines by following some of the suggestions below: • Encourage them to pack everything they need for school the night before, before they go to bed (books, lunch money, sports kit and any other equipment). • Make sure your son or daughter has a good, balanced breakfast before they leave for school. This will give them the energy they will need and will enable them to concentrate better in lessons. It is also often helpful to pack their bag with a bottle of water that they can sip during the day. Energy drinks are not allowed in school and will be confiscated from students if seen. • Encourage your son or daughter to get to know their timetable, and keep a copy for yourself. Have them check their timetable regularly so that they remember things like packing their PE kit, etc. • Make sure your son or daughter checks their planner on a daily basis so that they can remind themselves if they have homework due, and how long they have to complete it. Students should also be showing these planners to you so that you can monitor their workload, as well as whether they have been set detentions, etc. Should you need to contact your child’s tutor, you can also send in notes to school via the planner. • Encourage your child to empty their bag every couple of days to ensure that they have passed on any letters that they may have been given. Copies of letters are always placed on the school website: www.kingscollegeguildford.com. Parents’ Meetings Kings College have two opportunities during the course of the school year to meet with your child’s teachers. The purpose of these events is to give you the opportunity to meet with your child’s teachers and discuss their progress, celebrate successes and ask any questions that you may have. We expect all parents to attend these appointments.
Supporting Your Child’s Learning Learning outside the classroom We recognise both the academic and non-academic merits of learning outside the classroom for our pupils. For our younger students in Key Stage 3, homework is used to reinforce the basic skills and knowledge learned in class, to foster positive attitudes toward learning and to instil the academic behaviours and character traits that will help them find success in their GCSEs and beyond. As students mature into Key Stage 4, homework focuses more on knowledge acquisition and retention to accelerate academic achievement. Students at this age are guided to be more independent in preparation for their examinations and future pathways. For pupils of any age, the completion of regular homework also gives parents the opportunity to stay informed of and actively support the progress of their child. Teachers will assign homework for the following reasons: • to review and practice knowledge and skills acquired in class; • to encourage more in-depth exploration of topics introduced in class; • to apply skills they’ve learned in class to new situations; • to prepare for future classes; • to develop student self-discipline and personal organisation; and • to encourage independent study. We understand that homework can be a cause of concern as children transition into secondary school. To support learning outside the classroom, Kings offers the following advice: Use the planner Encouraging your child to use their planner is a great way to help them stay organised and to instil academic behaviours. Each student is responsible for recording the details of their homework in their planner to help them keep track of their assignments. We ask that parents support this habit by signing their child’s homework and signing their planner each week. The planner is also a useful learning resource that includes suggested reading lists, literacy and numeracy support, world maps, a periodic table and more that can be used to support your child’s learning outside the classroom. Set a routine Students will receive regular homework assignments and are expected to be learning outside the classroom on a daily basis, so it’s important to establish a routine for when and where homework is completed. If possible, parents should set up a quiet, comfortable study area with good lighting and the school supplies that pupils need. Making homework part of a daily routine will help your child develop strong study habits that will set them up for success in school and beyond. Seek support We understand that homework is often challenging. To help your child overcome any difficulties they may encounter, encourage them to bring their assignments to the Kings Library after school for Homework Club. The Library has plenty of computers, useful books and staff available to help. Form tutors and subject specialists are also great resources from whom your child can seek support.
Supporting Your Child’s Learning Attendance and Punctuality Good attendance equals good progress. We encourage parents to ensure that their children achieve maximum possible attendance and that any problems that prevent this are identified and acted on promptly. Good attendance and punctuality are rewarded each half term. • We expect 100% attendance. In the event of an absence please call Mrs Percy, the Attendance Officer, via the main switchboard on (01483) 458956 or on l.percy@kingscollegeguildford.com. • The school operates a first day calling policy and parents will be contacted by phone or text message if a student is absent and we have not received a phone call. • Should we have no contact from home to explain a period of absence, our Attendance Officer may be asked to conduct a home visit. • The school will refer students to the Education Welfare Officer if attendance becomes a concern. • Parents may be required to provide medical evidence for absence and attend an attendance panel within the school when attendance falls below 90% or causes concern.
Supporting Your Child’s Learning
We encourage good punctuality in our students both to school and lessons.
• Students are expected to arrive at school by 8.20am each morning ready for lessons
to start at 8.30am.
• Students will be kept in detention on the same day if they arrive late. This detention
will be held during brunch.
Holiday requests during the term
We cannot condone holidays taken in term time, even with good reason, because it damages the
education of your child. For this reason, holidays within term time will only be authorised in the
case of a genuine emergency for which evidence of the need to travel has been provided.
Unauthorised holidays taken in term time will be referred to the Education Welfare Office, which
may result in a fine.
Leaving school early
If you require your child to leave school early, please write a letter to your child’s tutor at least 24
hours beforehand and confirm what time you will be collecting them from school (please also note
whether your child will be returning to school, and the reason for their absence). This letter will
ensure that your child is not marked as an unauthorised absence on the register. Further
information regarding attendance can be found in the Attendance Policy. To download this, please
look on the Kings College website, where you will find it in the ‘Parents’ section.
If your child is ill at school
Students who are unwell in school should report to Reception where they will be seen by a
qualified first aider. Parents/Carers will be contacted if a student needs to be taken home.
If your child needs to take regular medication at school
Please contact Reception to discuss your child’s particular circumstances.Supporting Your Child’s Learning Parental Involvement in the Kings Community We welcome suggestions from all parents as to how we can improve and continually strengthen the link between home and school. Please feel free to contact us with your ideas. Equally, Kings does have a Parent Council; a small, very enthusiastic group of Parents, Friends and Governors who work closely with the College to enhance the student experience. The Parent Council often help with fundraising activities, and have recently raised money by fundraising for playground furniture, a new football kit and equipment for the Duke of Edinburgh’s expeditions. Should you wish to find out more about the Parent Council, please email ParentsCouncil@kingscollegeguildford.com. Should you have any questions about any aspects of secondary school life, please do not hesitate to contact the school.
Information: Term Dates Autumn Term 2017 Monday 4 September – Thursday 21 December INSET day 1 Monday 4 September INSET day 2 Tuesday 5 September Students return to school Wednesday 6 September Early closure for Parents’ Meetings Thursday 12 October at 12.45pm (Year 7, Year 8) Early closure for Parents’ Meetings Thursday 19 October at 12.45pm (Year 10, Year 11, Sixth Form) Half Term Monday 23 October – Friday 27 October INSET day 3 Monday 30 October Students return to school Tuesday 31 October Parents’ Meetings Tuesday 31 October – normal closure at 3.00pm (Year 9) End of Term Thursday 21 December at 12:00 noon Spring Term 2018 Thursday 4 January – Thursday 29 March INSET day 4 Thursday 4 January INSET day 5 Friday 5 January Students return to school Monday 8 January Half Term Monday 12 February – Friday 16 February Students return to school Monday 19 February Early closure for Parents’ Meetings Thursday 1 March at 12.45pm (Year 7, Year 8) Early closure for Parents’ Meetings Tuesday 6 March at 12.45pm (Year 9, Year 10) End of Term Thursday 29 March at 12:00 noon Summer Term 2018 Monday 16 April – Friday 20 July Students return to school Monday 16 April Early closure for Parents’ Meetings Thursday 19 April at 12.45pm (Year 11, Sixth Form) Half Term Monday 28 May – Friday 1 June Students return to school Monday 4 June End of Term Friday 20 July at 12:00 noon
Information: The School Day
The timings of the school day will be as follows:
8.30 to 8.40 Prepared for school check
8.40 to 10.20 Period 1
10.20 to 10.50 Break
10.50 to 12.30 Period 2
12.30 to 13.00 Lunch
13.00 to 14.40 Period 3
14.40 to 15.00 Tutor
Understanding a student’s timetable
The timetable will show you a few different codes that describe what lesson you have, who the
teacher is, and which room students have to go to. An example is shown below to help you
understand your child’s timetable:
• Subjects are named, indicating the subject your child will be learning during a particular session.
• The letters relate to the teacher’s staff code, eg PLA = Miss Plaice.
• 203 tells you which room number to go to (in this case, Room 203 in the main building).
Like most schools, we run a two week timetable.
1Mon 1Tue 1Wed 1Thu 1Fri
Prep. check Prep. check Prep. check Prep. check Prep. check
am PLA 203 PLA 203 PLA 203 PLA 203 PLA 203
Design Tech. Maths Humanities Art English
1 OWE 006 PLA 203 VOG 008 JNN 110 PIM EC7
Brunch Brunch Brunch Brunch Brunch
Br
Science PE English Computing Maths
2 TAY 221 MAY G1 ENT EC2 MEL 108 PLA 203
Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch Lunch
Lu
Humanities English Maths Science Perf. Arts
3 VOG 008 PIM EC7 WIJ 103 TAY 221 SYK LC2
Tutor Tutor Tutor Tutor Tutor
pm PLA 203 PLA 203 PLA 203 PLA 203 PLA 203Information: First Day
Before your child’s first day
In order to help your child to feel fully prepared for their first day at Kings College, please ensure
that they have the correct uniform and equipment. It is also a good idea for your child to have
practised their journey into school at least once during the summer holidays.
Your child’s first day
Your child might be feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves about their first day at Kings, and
we aim to make it as enjoyable and stress-free for them as possible. On their first day we always
give the new students an opportunity to get to know their classmates, as well as supporting them
with finding their way around the school. This helps them to develop their confidence in and
around the school building, and gives them an opportunity to get to know their teachers in a less
formal manner.
It is always lovely to see a new year group in perfect uniform, with bags full of pencils, pens and a
good reading book. The day will begin with an assembly in the Drama Studio. Students will be
asked to sit in their tutor groups when they enter the Drama studio - they will be reminded about
their groups when they arrive.
The nature of the first day
• 08.30 - 08.40 - Students arrive at school. On this occasion, new students may enter the
school through Main Reception.
• 08.40 - 09.00 - Assembly in the Drama Studio to welcome the students to school.
• 09.00 – 10.20 - Time spent in tutor groups completing a range of team-building activities.
During this time the students will work together, meet the rest of their classmates and their
tutor. The students will also go through their new timetable, have a tour of the school to
help them get their bearings and complete the biometric testing required for them to be
able to purchase food from the canteen.
• 10.20 – 10.50 - Brunch time - students will be able to buy food from the canteen and will
then spend brunch in the Quad.
• 10.50 – 12.30 - Students will go to their lesson.
• 12.30 – 13.00 - Lunch time - students will be able to buy food from the canteen and will
then spend lunch in the Quad.
• 13.00 – 14.40 - Students will go to their lesson.
• 14.40 – 15.00 - Students will go to their form rooms for afternoon registration. They will be
able to talk about their experiences of the first day and continue to complete some ‘getting
to know you’ style activities
• 15.00 - The end of the first day. All students will be dismissed and can go home. If you are
collecting your son or daughter, please arrange to meet them somewhere outside the
school, as the foyer will get very crowded if all parents wait in there.Information: Uniform
Uniform helps provide a sense of community and belonging. We insist that all students take pride in
their appearance and come to school in the correct uniform at all times.
Blazer Kings College blue with Kings logo
Pullover Plain grey V neck pullover
Cardigan Plain grey cardigan
Shirt Traditional shirt in white with short or long sleeves, and buttoned to
the neck. Girls are not permitted to wear fitted blouses
Tie Kings College tie only
Trousers Plain grey or black, straight legged and tailored fit. Skin tight style,
leggings or jean material trousers are not permitted
Skirt Kings College, black pleated
Belts Plain black with small plain buckle
Tights Plain black opaque or neutral
Coats Plain dark colour for college purposes
Footwear Plain black shoes
Please note that hoodies are not permitted.
PE Kit (Boys and Girls) - available from the school office apart from footwear
Compulsory
• Kings College navy sports shorts
• Polo shirt with the Kings College logo
• Navy/light blue Kings College football socks (winter)
• White sports socks (summer)
• Trainers
• Football boots
Recommended
• Kings College navy track suit bottoms
• Kings College navy sports leggings
• Kings College hoody with logo
Hair at school
We want our students to reflect the high standards of Kings College at all times. Hair must be neat
and tidy, must not be dyed unnatural colours or be cut in severe styles. Tram lines are not
acceptable.Information: Equipment
Equipment for Learning
Please remind your child to bring the following equipment every day in order to support their
learning and progress in class:
• Blue and black ball point pens
• Pencil and pencil sharpener
• Coloured pencils
• Eraser
• Ruler (30cm)
• Protractor
• A calculator
• Small glue stick
• Art book (available through the college)
Other items they will need are:
• A reading book of your choice for silent reading during registration
The College will provide them with…
• Subject text books
• School exercise books
• Student homework planner/diary
Please check the planner daily as it should detail all the homework that your child has been set. It
also provides a means for you to inform your child’s teacher of anything important that they may
need to know from time to time. We would like you to sign your child’s planner/diary each week.
We need your support to ensure that books provided by the college are looked after and kept in
good condition. Students should cover their books in clear sticky back plastic so that they stay in
good condition. Make sure that your child has put their name and form group on all of their books,
equipment and uniform so that if they lose anything it can be returned to them.
Please do not allow your child to bring valuable items into the College, as we cannot be
responsible if an item of value is lost or stolen.Information: Rewards
The Kings College rewards system operates alongside the College's Behaviour Policy and has the
aim of ensuring the consistent application of rewarding and reinforcing positive behaviours.
The rewards system at Kings College Guildford reflects the strong culture of celebrating success in
the school. It links into the House system to help further engender a sense of community and
belonging amongst students, parents and staff.
Positive behaviours
The following are examples of behaviours that will be actively promoted and result in rewards at
Kings:
• Good progress • Being a good team player
• Trying something that is difficult or new • Help at a Kings or community event
• Completing work to a high standard • Use of initiative
• Positive attitude • Excellent attendance and punctuality
• Respect for others
• Calm and sensible conduct
• Good manners
• Care for others and helping those in need
Rewards Given
In order to embed a sense of shared community and individual achievement the students receive a
reward card for good work during lesson and we also send postcards home. Tutor groups with the
most reward points are congratulated each module.Information: Consequences Our philosophy at Kings is to begin by expecting the best from every student. We will explicitly teach the behaviour that we expect from our students and ensure that every teacher approaches behaviour management in a consistent way. Subject teachers are fully responsible for the behaviour within their classrooms and are expected to own their space and the students’ behaviour. Every teacher actively sets the climate for learning every lesson and should plan lessons to ensure engagement and work that is appropriate and accessible for individual students. Feedback is also a critical part of the learning process – positive feedback should be used four times more frequently than negative feedback. In lessons, students will be used to seeing our ‘Traffic Light’ behaviour tracker on the board or wall of the classroom. Every student begins every lesson on Green and is expected to work, engage with the lesson and demonstrate good manners. If students need to be reminded about their behaviour this may take the form of a quiet word, a name on the board or a reminder of the task set. If the behaviour persists, students will find that they have moved to Amber. At this point, there is still an opportunity to work off their temporary lapse in behaviour. If the behaviour persists despite support and reminders, the student may well move to Red. At this point, a student should expect a consequence to occur following the lesson. This may take the form of: • A 20 minute lunchtime detention • A request to repeat or complete the work of the lesson in the student’s own time • A request to help the member of staff with something that will contribute to the community in a positive way In the rare event that a student cannot rectify their behaviour within the lesson, Kings runs a ‘Support Call’ system by which teaching staff can call for support to calm or remove a student if their behaviour is significantly impacting on the learning of others. Students who repeatedly disrupt learning in any given day, or who have had to be removed from lessons by a ‘Support Call’, are expected to complete an isolation/detention on the same day. This runs from 1pm to 5pm. In these situations parents, are always contacted. On the rare occasion that it is not feasible or possible to complete the 1pm to 5pm isolation/detention on the same day, the sanction can be deferred to the following day. Whilst in the isolation/detention from 1pm to 5pm, students are expected to behave impeccably and work studiously on activities designed to develop their literacy and numeracy. Kings operates a clear and transparent system of consequences and sanctions. This promotes a positive climate for learning and provides clarity for students and staff.
Information: Areas of the School There are many people that make up the Kings community and as a result we expect students to move around the college in a safe and sensible fashion. Polite behaviour from everyone is standard at all times. Being calm around the school is essential. The Library The Library is a place that students can access during brunch, lunch, before and after school. The Library is fitted with a suite of computers, and also acts as a learning area where students can complete homework, read, or chat quietly during social times. The Café Running on a cashless, biometric system (where students scan their finger in order to make their purchases), the canteen serves both hot and cold food, as well as a range of beverages. Students who bring packed lunches may also eat in the dining areas. Students are expected to queue for their meals in an orderly fashion. Students are expected to eat in a sensible manner and clear their trays at the end of their meal. No litter should be left when the students have finished their food. Food and drink should not be consumed around the school building. Toilets The toilets in the school are open on the ground floor before and after school and at brunch and lunch. Students are not permitted to use the toilets during lesson time except in an emergency or unless they have a note confirming a medical condition. Lifts Lifts must only be used by those students with a physical disability or with injuries or illnesses. Permission must be granted by a member of staff in order for the lift to be used. The Cloakroom Students are permitted to leave their PE kits and coats in our staffed cloakroom when they are not in use. Students may also purchase equipment and items of stationery from the cloakroom during brunch and lunch. The Quad When students in Year 7 join Kings, designated ‘safe’ areas are assigned where they can sit and relax without worrying about being disturbed. These areas are designated as ‘Year 7 only’ spaces, unless they are working with Year 8 buddies. The Quad is staffed at all times. Bicycles There is a bike storage area at the back of the school. Students who use this area must ensure that their bikes are securely locked in the bike rack and that cycle helmets are worn to and from school.
Safeguarding at Kings College
The safeguarding team at Kings College run a series of events throughout the year to promote the
safety and well-being of our students. Should you or your child have a concern about the safety or
well-being of a Kings College student, please contact one of our trained Designated Safeguarding
Leads below.
Student safety is the main priority for all the staff at Kings College. If you need to speak to
anyone they will listen to you.
The staff with the main responsibility for Safeguarding at Kings College are:
Miss A Wallis Mrs M Robberts Mr D Todd Miss J Hamilton
Vice Principal Assistant Principal Head of Key Stage 3 Head of Key Stage 4
Designated CIC Designated Lead Key Stage 3 Deputy Designated
Safeguarding Lead Safeguarding Lead Safeguarding LeadMobile Phone Guidance
Our Philosophy
Kings College accepts that parents/carers give their children mobile phones to protect them
from everyday risks involving personal safety and security. The College also understands
that giving a child a mobile phone gives parent/carers the comfort of knowing that they can
contact their child if they need to speak to them urgently.
At Kings we want students to use mobile devices in a way that keeps themselves and others
safe. As a result the following rules apply:
Acceptable Use:
When allowed to use in class by a member of staff
To contact parents /carers during brunch or lunch
Use to play games at brunch and lunch
Unacceptable Use:
Getting your phone out in class without the teacher’s permission
Using your phone to intimidate, embarrass, humiliate or threaten someone
Sending inappropriate texts, pictures or images
Using your phone to take pictures or videos of anyone in College even if they have
given permission
Consequences
If you are found to have used your phone in an unacceptable way you may:
• Have your phone confiscated for the day.
• Not be allowed to carry your phone with you in College for 3 days.
• Not be allowed to carry your phone with you in College at all.ICT and eSafety Guidance
Our Philosophy
The following e-safety Rules and Guidance are designed to help protect both students and the
College by describing acceptable and unacceptable computer use. Use of the internet, the College's
learning platform and other related technologies can be monitored and logged and can be made
available to teachers.
Acceptable Use:
Only using ICT systems in College for school purposes.
Only logging on to the College network or learning platform using your own username and
password.
Accepting that you are responsible for all activity carried out under your username.
Following the College’s ICT security system and not revealing passwords to anyone and
changing them regularly.
Only using your College email address for College related work.
Making sure that all ICT communications are responsible and sensible.
Behaving responsibly when using the internet/learning platform.
Being polite and respecting the views of others.
Using discussion forums constructively.
Ensuring that your online activity, both in College and outside of College, will not cause
distress or bring the College into disrepute.
Respecting the privacy and ownership of others.
Unacceptable Use:
Using ICT systems at school for personal gain or illegal purposes.
Sending anonymous messages or chain mail.
Giving out any personal information when using the College’s learning platform.
Arranging to meet someone unless this is part of a College project approved by a teacher.
Deliberately browsing, downloading, uploading or forwarding material that could be
considered offensive or illegal. If you accidentally come across such material, you will report
it immediately to your teacher.
Downloading or installing software on College technologies.
Attempting to bypass the internet filtering systems.Frequently Asked Questions Hopefully you have found the handbook to be a useful resource. Please feel free to refer back to it throughout your child’s time at Kings should you have any questions or concerns. In addition to the points covered, every year we find that there are questions that are asked by parents about the transition process. It is hoped that the pages that follow may help put your mind at ease regarding topics not already addressed in the handbook: I’ve got a question about my son/daughter’s education. What shall I do? At Kings College we are committed to responding to your questions or concerns as quickly and as sensitively as possible in order to resolve the issue promptly. Most concerns can be resolved by your child’s Form Tutor. If this is not possible, then the assistance of the Head of Key Stage should be asked for. Contact details for the key members of staff can be found in this handbook. Falling out with friends – Is it normal? Our staff are very approachable and friendly, and they are trained to help with any problems that students may have. It is not unusual that, as children form new friendships groups, that new ‘pecking orders’ are established. This can, at times, cause upset amongst Year 7s, particularly if ‘old friends’ feel left out because a student has made brand new friends. Our recommendation is to give advice but don’t overreact — tears and anger are normal reactions if friendship group dynamics change. Most friendship patterns sort themselves out without adults getting involved. With this said however, please feel free to contact us if your child becomes depressed or withdrawn for a long period of time, or if you have a suspicion that bullying might be involved. The main forms of bullying are intention (such as a deliberate attempt to make someone unhappy); persistence (an ongoing campaign, not an isolated incident) or an imbalance of power. We also recommend that parents and carers go through our mobile phone and eSafety policies with their children so that they are aware of what constitutes inappropriate behaviour (cyber bullying). How do I find out about my child’s progress? We believe in working very closely with parents and carers, keeping you up-to-date with information about your son or daughter’s progress. As noted previously, we will send home a report throughout the year with information about attainment and achievement. There will also be opportunities to come into school to meet with subject teachers and Form Tutors during our Parents’ Consultation Events. If you have queries at any other time regarding progress or attainment, please contact your son or daughter’s Form Tutor or, if known, subject teacher. How can I keep up-to-date with what is going on? Our website is a very useful channel for you. Please visit it as regularly as you can as you will be able to read our latest updates, see pictures of our recent events and see copies of letters sent home via pupil post, as well as many other items that may be of interest. The termly newsletters are also uploaded onto the website, and these often feature invaluable information about college matters. I have some concerns Your first point of contact for any enquiry or concern is your child’s Form Tutor or Head of Key Stage. However, if you have any serious concerns or complaints, please contact a member of the Leadership Team, who will be happy to help and advise you.
Equally, positive and constructive dialogue between staff and parents/carers ensure that your
Frequently Asked Questions
child will achieve their very best at the college.
How can I encourage my child to stay safe?
You can make sure your child stays safe by establishing a few simple rules about travelling to and
from school, and what to do if they're home alone. Suggestions have been listed below:
• Make sure your child knows their home phone number, as well as your or your partner's
work phone number. Where possible, it is often helpful for them to have contact details for
another trusted adult (such as a family member, a neighbour or family friend) and how to
use 999 for emergencies.
• Regardless of whether they're walking to the bus stop or all the way to school, make sure
your child sticks to road safety rules such as the Green Cross Code. You can help emphasise
that it doesn't just apply to younger children by sticking to it yourself.
• Wherever possible, it’s always a good idea if students travel to school with friends or
siblings.
• If they're cycling to school, make sure your son or daughter studies the latest edition of the
Highway Code, which has got lots of helpful tips for cyclists. This is available from your
bookshop, newsagent or local bike shop. A helmet, front and rear lights (and spare batteries
for them) are all essentials, and a suitable chain and lock for bike security is also a good
idea.
• If they're spending time on their own after school and before you get home, establish rules
about locking doors, answering the phone and inviting friends over.
I’m worried about my child’s safety on the internet. What can I do?
Kings has invested in specialist software to protect your child from inappropriate usage of the
internet. Whether chatting with friends, playing games or doing research for school projects, your
child is likely to spend even more time online as they get older. While they may understand chat
rooms and multi-player games better than you do, they still need your guidance.
Top Tips for Internet Safety:
• Consider using Internet filtering software and child-friendly search engines. Use your
browser's controls, as some offer differing degrees of security for each family member.
• Check out what child protection services your internet service provider offers: do they filter
for spam, for instance? If not, ask them why?
• Keep the computer in a communal area of the house, where it's easier to monitor what your
children are viewing.
• Tell children not to give out their personal details. If they want to subscribe to any services
online, make up a family email address to receive the mail.
• Young people love to chat, but make sure they only use moderated chatrooms and
encourage them to introduce you to their online friends.
• Encourage your children to tell you if they feel uncomfortable, upset or threatened by
anything they see online.
• Involve your children in writing your own family code of acceptable Internet use. Remember
that what's acceptable for a teenager isn't necessarily okay for a primary school aged child,
so get their input.
• The web is a great resource for homework, but remember to use more than one site in
research to get broad, balanced information. Research sources should be referenced.
• Surf together. Go online with your children and become part of their online life. The key to
safe surfing is communication.You can also read
