End of Term 1, Start of Term 2 Letter – October 2024
Dear Parents/Carers,
Thank you for your continued support this term. Your feedback, support and challenge has helped us to continue our improvement journey. Students have had a great start to the academic year with lots of successes to celebrate across all Year Groups. Colleagues have issued over 130,000 praise points during Term 1 to recognise the hard work of students!
The key to continuing success is ensuring students attend the Academy every day and continue to work hard on improving their attendance. Students who keep their attendance above 95% significantly outperform those whose attendance drops below this. Thank you for your support in improving attendance and please do make contact with your child’s pastoral leader if you require further support.
Year 7 have made a great start to their time at Hanham Woods. It has been great to see them transition into secondary quickly, showing strong character and a desire to work hard, be kind and learn. Their transition continues throughout the entire year and please do contact the Year 7 Team if you need support with anything. A particular highlight of the term was the Year 7 Exhibition evening ‘Me and My World’ which was a huge success and showcased the amazing work of this Year Group.
Year 8 have been building on their Year 7 curriculum this term by going into more depth across their subjects. Having been in their lessons across the term it has been great to see their hard work and recognise some fantastic contributions. They have one of the highest amounts of praise points in the Academy, which is down to their hard work and kindness.
Year 9 will shortly start their GCSE options process. In Term 2 they will start to learn about GCSE options that are on offer alongside more careers advice to enable them to make informed decisions. Options Evening is due to take place in Term 3, which will be an opportunity for parents/carers and students to come in and speak to teachers and subject leaders about courses on offer and find out more detail.
Year 10 have made a great start to their GCSE courses and have demonstrated a mature approach to their learning. Where students are excelling, they are working hard, completing their homework and already getting hold of revision guides to supplement their learning at home. A number of Year 10 students are also making the most of enrichment opportunities available with over a third of the Year Group working towards their Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Year 11 have had a strong start to their final year at the academy. Their lessons are focused and planned to maximise learning ahead of their upcoming PPEs. Students have also received lots of careers input through assemblies and one-to-one meetings with our Careers Lead. It’s important that students remain focused and continue to complete homework, revision and attend after academy interventions to improve their grades further.
Please take a moment to read our Academy Newsletter for Term 1 (below) which contains lots of information regarding what has been happening in the Academy across the term.
Term 1 Newsletter: To read the latest newsletter, click HERE
Term 2 start date for students: Monday 4th November 2024
Term 2 key dates: https://hanhamwoodsacademy.clf.uk/events/
A reminder of our Academy Year Teams:
Please also take time to familiarise yourself with our Academy expectations below ahead of Term 2:
Academy Expectations relating to Manners, Uniform, Mobile phones, Equipment, Academy rules, electric scooters:
Manners:
We believe politeness gets you where you want to go in life. We want to continue the great work you have done instilling manners and mutual respect in your children, within the Academy. We expect students to always be polite, courteous, and show mutual respect so that positive relationships between staff and students can be achieved. This makes for a supportive and engaging learning environment where everyone can thrive.
Uniform:
The Academy uniform is an important part of our community and building a sense of belonging. It is one piece in the building blocks of creating a culture of high expectations and high achievement through an inclusive, supportive environment. All students are expected to be in full Academy uniform every day. If a student arrives at the academy in the incorrect uniform, we will support students in the following ways to meet our expectations:
- offer uniform items to borrow (if available)
- ask to go home and change (in agreement with parents/carers)
- ask to work in the Inclusion Area until the correct uniform is delivered to the Academy by parents/carers
Please note the following items which are not allowed:
- Jeans (defined as having back pockets and jean-like material) or leggings
- Tube skirts/tight stretchy material for skirts-skirts must be to the knee
- Hoodies (students need a weatherproof coat)
- Trainers
- False/acrylic nails of any kind
- False eyelashes
Please note that any hoodies of any type (defined as not being a weatherproof/waterproof coat) are not allowed. Hanham Woods Academy is a site where students are outside between lessons so please ensure they have their academy jumper and a warm, weatherproof/waterproof coat with them. Hoodies or non-uniform jumpers of any type will be confiscated if seen.
Some of these items may be marketed as school items so please check they meet the uniform requirements before you buy.
All uniform guidelines apply to all students in Years 7-11-there are no exceptions made for Year 11 students. All communication with students and parents has said that uniform guidance does apply to Year 11.
We are asking that all parents/carers and check the following items before next term to ensure that students are meeting expectations:
Jewellery:
Students are not permitted to wear jewellery due to our health and safety guidelines. The only jewellery allowed is a single pair of ear studs may be worn in the earlobe and/or nose stud may be worn to the Academy but must be removed for PE without exception. Apart from this, no additional jewellery may be worn, i.e. no hooped ear/nose-rings, necklaces, bracelets, rings or additional piercings. Plastic retainers of any kind are not allowed. Taping of piercings is not permitted for PE or at any other time. Allowances are not made for healing times for new piercings. If students wish to have a new piercing then they must remove it for school without exception. Smart watches are not permitted.
Make Up:
At Hanham Woods the wearing of make up is discouraged as is not needed for school. If make up is worn, then it must be of a very discrete nature. Nail varnish of any kind is not permitted. Acrylic/false nails/gel nails and false eyelashes of any kind should not be worn at any time.
If you are unsure if the item you are purchasing meets the policy please check before you buy. We also have preloved uniform for purchase through the Friends of Hanham Woods.
We have very high standards in everything we do, and we want your child to look as smart as possible at all times. Wearing smart uniform helps to create the right conditions for learning and enables students to take pride in belonging to our community. We are very proud of our students and the high standards of their uniform, and we know that you are too! If you require further clarity or support to ensure your child is in the correct uniform, please get in contact.
A reminder about our uniform expectations can be found here: https://hanhamwoodsacademy.clf.uk/our-academy/uniform-equipment/
Academy Rules
No mobile phones: Mobile phones should be off and in bags when students arrive at the Academy gates in the morning and only be taken out of bags once they have left the main school gates. If they are seen or heard during the Academy day, the phone will be confiscated and placed securely in reception. The student will be issued with a 30 minute after Academy detention and the phone can be collected at 15:30.
No swearing
If a student is heard casually swearing around the Academy, they will be issued with a 30 minute after Academy detention. We expect students to be polite and respectful.
No ‘hands on’ (pushing and shoving / playfighting)
If a student is seen pushing and shoving other students or playfighting, they will be issued with a 30 minute after Academy detention. We expect students to respect the personal space of others and conduct themselves in a safe manner around the Academy site.
No Aerosols / Perfume sprays
Students are not allowed to bring aerosol canisters of any description into the Academy as these pose a risk to some of our students with respiratory conditions like asthma. If students need to use anti-perspirant during the Academy Day then we would ask that they bring the roll-on type with them. Spray perfumes and other aerosol cannisters are not permitted. Thank you for your support with this.
Equipment:
It is important that students are properly equipped every day so that they are ready to learn. All students are required to bring a bag to school. An equipment check will be carried out daily in tutor time to ensure students are ready to learn. Students are not required to bring scissors or pencil sharpeners into the Academy as these are provided in lessons. Academy equipment requirements can be found here: https://hanhamwoodsacademy.clf.uk/our-academy/uniform-equipment/ Students can purchase a pencil case (containing the correct equipment) from reception for £1. If you need support with equipment, please do get in contact so that we can help.
Electric Scooters:
Electric scooters are currently illegal to ride on public highways unless a driving license and insurance is held by the rider. It is not appropriate for students to be riding e-scooters to and from the Academy and they are, therefore, banned from the Academy site. This measure is in place to protect and uphold the safety of all students as they commute to and from the Academy. If a student arrives at the Academy on an e-scooter, it will be confiscated, and you will be called and asked to come and collect it.
Term Dates for 2024/2025: https://hanhamwoodsacademy.clf.uk/our-academy/term-dates/
If you have any concerns or queries, please do get in touch either via email: [email protected] or phone: 0117 440 8900.
Thank you for your continued support of the Academy as work together to give people the best chance of success.
Have a restful half term and I look forward to welcoming students back to the Academy on Monday 4th November.
Dream BIG // Work Hard // Be Kind
Mr O’Callaghan | Principal
