Frequently Asked Questions
When is Student Services open?
During term time, we’re open from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Thursday and 8am to 3:30pm on Fridays .
During the holidays, we’re open from 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday.
We’re closed on Public Holidays.
What should my child do if they arrive late for school?
If a student is late arriving for school, they should go to Student Services and sign in.
What should my child do if they need to leave during the school day for an appointment eg doctors, dental, hospital?
All students must go to Student Services before they leave and sign out. Please make sure that you have written a note in your child’s Planner, explaining why they need to leave school along with the time they need to leave and when they are expected to return. Your child will need to show this note to their teacher and also to Student Services. When your child returns to school after the appointment, they will need to sign in again at Student Services.
Why do you need my contact details?
It’s important that we know how to contact you in case there is an emergency, such as if your child becomes unwell.
We also need your phone number (landline or mobile) so that we can send you an automatic message if your child has been registered as absent during lesson 1 and we haven’t already been told by you why they aren’t in school. This is an unauthorised absence and we treat this very seriously, especially because our first concern is to make sure that your child is safe.
What is First Call?
First Call is an automated system that will send you a message (via text or a pre-recorded voicemail) if your child is registered as absent without a reason during lesson 1. If you have already told us that your child will be absent because of an appointment or illness, we will update our attendance register so that you don’t receive a First Call message. However, if we haven’t been told the reason for your child missing school, this will be treated as unauthorised absence and you will be sent a message during lesson 1.
What if my child is too ill to come to school?
Please make sure that you report your child’s absence due to illness by contacting us before 8.20am on each day of absence. You can do this by ringing 01908 682 296.
My child needs to take medicine during the day. What should we do?
Medication can be brought into school, but it must be handed in to Student Services at the start of the day with a note from you giving instructions for its use eg dosage, frequency etc. It is the responsibility of your child to remember to go to Student Services at the right time for their medication. Please do not decant the medication into a separate container – it is very important that the medication is in its original packaging.
We do not provide any plasters or medication to students eg paracetamol, Ibuprofen, cough sweets etc.
What if my child needs first aid during the school day?
First aid can be provided for all students in Student Services. We also have a number of trained First Aiders across the school. If your child needs further medical attention or needs to go home, we will contact you for your permission first.
Can my child buy stationery from Student Services?
Yes, we stock a small amount of stationery for students to purchase:
Pencil – 5p
Pen – 5p
Rubber – 5P
Colouring pencils (pack) - £1
Sharpener – 5p
Protractor – 10P
Ruler (15cm) – 15p
Ruler (30cm) – 30p
Compass – 50p
Pencil case – 25p
Timetable – 10p
Can my child use the phone in Student Services?
Yes, students can use the phone in Student Services during break times. Calls to a landline are charged at 10p and calls to mobiles are charged at 20p.
Do you keep forms in Student Services?
Yes, we have a variety of useful forms in Student Services, including:
Holiday application
Bus pass application
Free School Meal application
We hope to put these forms online soon so that you can download them at home.
There is a locked box on the wall in Student Services for cheque payments for lunch cards to be safely deposited. This is emptied every day.
My child has lost some of their belongings (eg uniform). What should we do?
Student Services looks after lost property, so it is a good idea for your child to pop in and ask us whether their lost item has been handed in. We check lost property to see if the student’s name has been marked on the item – this way we can return the item to the student straight away.