Return to the Academy: September 2023 Arrangements

Dear Parents/Carers,

As we look to the next academic year, I am writing to inform you of the arrangements for our students’ return. We are very much looking forward to returning and continuing the learning journey with our students. This letter contains some information with the intention of reminding you of our high expectations that we know we share with you for the benefit of our students.

Year 7 students will start at 8.25am on Friday 1st September and Year 12 students will return on the same day at 9.25am. Students in Years 8, 9, 10, 11 and 13 return to the Academy on Monday 4th September at 8.25am.

Arrival and Dismissal

A reminder of our Academy hours commencing on 1st September 2023. Students are to arrive by 8.25am and will be dismissed at 3:10pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 2:20pm on Wednesday. All students should enter the Academy via the Front Gate on Corelli Road and dismissal is via the same gate. Students in Years 12 and 13 will be dismissed from our Back Gate on Holburne Road. We ask that students do not congregate outside our gates waiting for friends or family members, instead meeting on Broad Walk or other roads in the vicinity. This is to ensure that we can accommodate the safe departure of our students. Students in the Infinity Hub should enter and leave via the Back Gate where members of staff will greet them. Our students must leave the Academy site immediately unless they have been directed to remain behind or are attending an enrichment club. Information regarding our enrichment offer will be provided once students return.

Academy gates will open at 8am and students will be able to purchase breakfast from our Restaurant at this time. As we are located in a residential area, students should not arrive before 8am nor congregate around the gates.

Please note that for Modules 1 and 2 only (September-December 2023), students in Year 7 will be dismissed 10 minutes early to support their transition to secondary school.

Lessons and Transitions

All students will move around the site to different classrooms for their lessons. This will allow for students to enjoy their learning in subject specific spaces. We will have a 3-minute transition period to allow students to arrive at their lessons. Any student who is persistently late to their lesson, without good reason, will be placed on a punctuality report. It is important that students have good attendance and punctuality in order to maximise their learning. We will operate a ‘keep left, keep moving’ policy to ensure students arrive punctually. Please discuss this with your child so they are clear on our expectations.

Break and Lunch Times

Students will be able to move freely across our outside spaces for their break and lunch times, and have access to all toilets. Specific spaces for ball games are allocated and we have an area for Year 7 only to use should they wish. Refreshments can be purchased from the Restaurant and Street Kitchen and students are to use our biometric payment system. Please ensure that your child’s account has sufficient funds which can be topped up via ParentPay. Students who are entitled to Free School Meals will be able to use this entitlement at lunch time only. If you have any questions or need some further support regarding either Free School Meals or ParentPay, please contact admissions@leighacademyhalley.org.uk.

Students are able to bring their own food items with them to consume at break and lunch; these items should be healthy and support sustaining good learning habits. Fizzy drinks are not allowed onsite nor are sugary sweets.

Equipment and Uniform

Please ensure that your child attends the Academy each day in the correct uniform and with the correct equipment; this ensures that there is no disruption to their learning. Students should have:

• at least one pen (it is advisable they have more than one pen for a replacement);
• one pencil;
• a rubber;
• a ruler

Students must also bring their Chromebook with them each day, fully charged and their PE Kit on their allocated PE days. In addition, students must bring with them a refillable water bottle to ensure that students can keep hydrated throughout the day. Students were provided with a water bottle in Module 6 which they should continue to use, and Year 7 students will be given a new water bottle on their first day. We do not provide disposable cups for students to use as we look to become a more sustainable Academy.

Our high expectations of student uniform remain, and our students should look smart at all times, wearing their uniform with pride. Please note that our summer uniform policy is not operational and therefore students must wear their blazer to and from the Academy every day and also onsite. All trousers must be secured at the waist – with a plain black belt if necessary and must not sit below the waist. Undergarments should not be visible to protect the dignity of all, and tracksuit bottoms must not be worn under trousers. Coats must be plain black and hoodies, tracksuit tops, denim jackets and all non-uniform items must not be brought to the Academy. In reference to jewellery, students are only allowed to wear a maximum of one small stud in each ear, worn in the lower lobe, and a wrist watch only, no other jewellery is permitted. Students must wear formal plain black leather or leather-look shoes – trainers, boots, non-leather shoes or shoes with branding or coloured stitching are not to be worn. Furthermore, the wearing of false eyelashes, acrylic nails and nail varnish is not allowed. A reminder that students must not be in possession of vapes and, if found to be, we will apply our policy consistently.

ParentPay

Particularly for our new parents, and a reminder for returning parents, please ensure that you have activated your ParentPay login and that your child’s meal account is in credit ready for the start of term. Please allow 12 hours for payments to go through to the account and the account will need to remain in credit in order to purchase food in the Academy.

On Friday 1st September, our Year 7 students will be provided with a breaktime snack and their lunchtime meal.

Monday 4th September

On Monday 4th September, all students should go to their tutor base at 8.25am.

We appreciate that there is a lot of information in this letter and, should you require further information or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact the Academy at admin@leighacademyhalley.org.uk. In order to ensure that students are able to settle back into our routines and expectations, please discuss the contents of this letter with your child. We will consistently maintain our commitment to high standards of safety for the wellbeing of all, and students will be expected to assume their responsibility in this. Please find our Community Code of Conduct here and also our Behaviour Policy.

Thank you for your support with this information as we welcome the return to the Academy for everyone. We hope that you and your families have a restful summer break and we look forward to working with you next academic year to achieve the best outcomes for our students.

Yours faithfully,

Ben Russell
Principal