Expectations

Dear Parent/Carer

Reflecting on the huge strides that all our students have made during the first year without school closures since the pandemic, there is much to celebrate. Year 11s sat there GCSE exams (the first since 2019), Sports Teams made full use of our new sports facilities (netting several trophies in the process) and the School Production returned with a fantastic week of performances of ‘Annie.’ After several years of disruption, the school is once again building on its legacy and continuing to flourish and maintain its position at the heart of the community.

Next year we will be further improving the school by revisiting and raising our expectations. We are ambitious and we know that our students always respond positively to challenge. Your support with key expectations is essential and will help us to get off to a positive and successful start in September.

Lateness and attendance

Students should be in school on time every day the school is open. Regular and punctual school attendance is of paramount importance in ensuring that all students have access to their entitlement to an education. If a student arrives for school past the close of registration then in the eyes of the law they are absent for half a day, which will affect their overall attendance. These incidents of severe lateness will be coded ‘U’. Six ‘U’ codes in a six-week period triggers a letter of concern from the Attendance Manager, and further U codes will result in a Fixed Penalty Notice fine.

Uniform

Student adherence to our school uniform code has not yet fully returned to what it was pre-pandemic. There is work to do to ensure that all students represent the school well and wear their uniform with pride. Uniform is essential in terms of having high expectations of our students. Any student wearing incorrect uniform items will be challenged either at the school entrance or in period 1. They will be offered alternative items to wear if we have them available or we will phone you to ask you to bring in correct uniform for your child to wear. Students who refuse to wear or adjust their uniform to our regulations will be sent to BLU. If there are unavoidable reasons why your child cannot wear the correct uniform please provide them with a note explaining the reason.  Please follow the link for a  full list of our uniform requirements http://www.patchamhigh.brighton-hove.sch.uk/schoolinformation/uniform-and-equipment/

Equipment

All students are expected to come to school every day with the equipment they need to be successful. This includes a full set of stationery, PE kit, a reading book, their school journal and an appropriate school bag large enough to carry everything needed for school.

Mobile phones

We recognise that mobile phones and other portable devices are important to our students; as learning tools, for contacting parents and carers and as a safety precaution that can be used to and from school. However, research strongly suggests that the use of mobile phones can have a detrimental effect on student outcomes.  Mobile phones affect behaviour; they can be a major distraction and can be used to bully and harm others. The school will continue to enforce our policy that does not allow the use of mobile phones and portable devices inside the school building. Any phone seen inside the building is confiscated by staff, placed in a labelled bag in a locked safe and can be collected by the student at the end of the day. If a phone is confiscated on more than one occasion, a parent/carer will be asked to come and collect the phone on the student’s behalf. (Schools are permitted to confiscate phones from students under sections 91 and 94 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006) If you  need to contact your child urgently you should phone the School Reception and the message will be passed onto your child.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this letter and thank you in advance for your support. I hope you have an enjoyable summer.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any concerns.

Kind regards

John McKee
Headteacher