Dear Parents,

Everyone at Kingstone has been thrilled by the excellent results achieved by last year’s Year 11 students. 75% of the year group managed to gain five or more A* to C grades, making them the best performing year group to date. They could not have done it alone; they were well taught and superbly supported by parents. The beginning of the new school year provides an ideal opportunity for us to update parents on developments at Kingstone and provide a reminder regarding the routines and systems that we have put in place to enable the school to run smoothly and to achieve such success. Please accept my apologies for the rather dry and somewhat bulky nature of this document, which is really an information leaflet. Please take time to read the information; as always, the pupils and the staff at the school need your support.

More information available from the Parents' Letters/News page.

Contents:

• Assessment for Learning
• Attendance
• Anti Bullying
• Digital Images of Pupils
• Mock Exams (Dates for Mock GCSE Exams 2011)
• Exams (Dates for GCSE Exams 2011)
• Getting to School
• Help and Homework
• Lunchtime Arrangements
• Parents' Association
• Parent Evenings
• Parent Governors
• Pupil Activity out of School
• Pupil Planner
• School Improvement Plan 2011
• School Policies
• The School Day
• The School Uniform (see Appendix)

Assessment for Learning

Reports have been designed to give specific information to pupils and parents, highlighting strengths and areas for development in each subject area. We use an electronic package to produce the reports. Surveys of pupils, parents and teachers show that the system is working extremely well. The report is intended as the basis for discussion between pupils and subject teachers, and pupils and parents. Progress Review Days follow the publication of reports so that pupils and parents have the opportunity to discuss reports and their overall implication with Form Tutors.

Our assessment system in school clearly relies upon good communication channels and teachers communicate their assessments in a number of ways. We are working hard to place the onus on pupils to take responsibility for their progress. This involves ensuring that they are clear about their strengths and their areas for development in every subject at all times; pupils are encouraged to talk to subject teachers about these. In addition, we would like to encourage parents to talk to their children about progress in school and any areas of concern. As mentioned earlier, the pupil planner is a good communication tool between home and school; please feel free to write in any comments and do check the planner for comments made by teachers.

Attendance

The school operates a dedicated absence line Tel: 215759

Regular attendance is essential for progress in learning and we commend good attendance in a variety of ways. We use a sophisticated computer-based registration system for monitoring attendance throughout the day. This system allows us to identify and track patterns of attendance and punctuality.

The school provides a service to inform parents of pupil absence from school. Parents will be aware that the Government has clamped down on holidays being taken during term time. As a rule, the school will not authorise holidays in term time. Although 'Leave of Absence' will continue to be granted under exceptional circumstances, any other 'holiday' will be registered as 'unauthorised' on your child's record and will lead to a fine being imposed by the Local Authority.

Anti Bullying

The school prides itself on cordial relationships being the norm. Where there are concerns about bullying, it is
important that these concerns are raised with the school without delay. All reports of bullying will be treated
seriously and the school has a number of procedures in place to safeguard the welfare of pupils.

Please click the link below to view the school's Anti Bullying Policy.

Anti Bullying Policy - PDF

Digital Images of Pupils

Teachers are becoming more confident in using the latest digital technologies in their teaching and learning. Most classrooms at Kingstone now have interactive whiteboards fitted and pupils are often encouraged to take photos or video of work that is going on at the school as part of their studies. Such images may end up being used in coursework, display work or even on the school website. Obviously the school will do everything that it reasonably can to ensure that any images are used appropriately. If, however, you do not want images of your child digitally stored or displayed in this way, please contact the relevant Head of Year. It is possible for pupils to be given an exemption card which enables them to discretely withdraw from such activities.

Getting to School

School starts at 8.25 am each day. Parents who bring their children to school should make sure they are on site by 8.25 am. With 1500 pupils arriving at school, we have to insist that parents do not bring cars onto the site. Pupils who are late can only be excused if they have a note; otherwise they may be required to make up the time after school.

Whilst we appreciate that it is difficult to park when collecting children from school, can parents please make sure that they do not park anywhere near the entrance or exit to the Fire Station, opposite Kingstone School. There have been occasions in the past, where appliances have been called out from the station and their exit has been impeded by parents in cars, waiting to pick up children. Ideally, parents should arrange to meet their children some distance away from the school, as other neighbours, including the Keresforth Centre have also complained about difficulties in accessing their premises between 2.30 pm and 3.00 pm. We would encourage as many pupils as possible to walk, use the buses or cycle to school. Many thanks for your co-operation in this matter.

The school operates a bus boarding pass system. Pupils are required to show their pass before being allowed onto a school bus. Temporary passes, valid for one day, take the form of a stamp put into the school planner and cost 10p. Pupils may obtain temporary passes or replacement passes from Pupil Point, South Building. Antisocial behaviour on buses is, fortunately, a rare occurrence. However, any pupils involved in any form of antisocial or dangerous behaviour on the buses, will have their passes revoked and will be effectively banned from using the school bus. In the interests of the vast majority of well-behaved pupils, information on any such incidents should be passed on to the appropriate Head of Year, in absolute confidence.

Help and Homework

Homework is an essential and integral part of your child's work at school. Teachers will set homework when it is appropriate and we would urge all parents to encourage their children to complete it in full. There will, of course, be variations by subject and from child to child.

Lunchtime Arrangements

It is in the interests of pupil safety and harmony within our local community, that pupils remain on the school premises at lunchtime. The cash cafeteria provides a much improved range of good quality food for pupils and staff at break and lunchtime. Pupils entitled to a free school meal will be able to purchase either a two-course meal of the day or other food to the value of £1.70. As a rule, pupils in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 may not leave the school site at lunchtime. Pupils in Year 11 wishing to go home for lunch, must bring a letter stating that they are going home.

• Please make sure that the midday arrangements form in the pupil planner is completed and signed.
• Pupils must have a pass if they leave the site. Pupils leaving the site without a pass will face the appropriate school sanction.
• Once a pupil is off-site, responsibility, safety and welfare passes automatically to the parents.
• Pupils remaining on site must behave appropriately.

Poor behaviour will result in detention, or, in serious cases, temporary exclusion from school at lunchtime. We are always pleased to hear from parents who are willing to act as midday supervisors. We currently have vacancies for temporary and relief supervisors and any parents who are interested in helping in this way can obtain details from the school.

Parents' Association

As parents of pupils attending the school, you are automatically members of the association. Our ultimate aim is to enhance the educational facilities available to our children at the school. We do this by raising funds from a number of events held throughout the year, the first one being our Annual Craft Fair in October. We are always in need of extra help and new ideas from parents, as well as students; if you would like to get involved, please contact either Mrs. K. Cooper on Barnsley 738521, or Mrs. C. Roberts on Barnsley 203816.

Parents' Evening

Parents' Evenings run from 4.00 pm to 7.00 pm. Details of parent consultation arrangements will be sent to you nearer the time.

Parent Governors

Parents play a key role in the work of the Governing Body, representing parents' views on school issues. The names and contact numbers of our parent governors are available from Mrs. K. Cooper on 738521.

School governors are in place to ensure that schools are well run. They are volunteers who help decide on the direction, focus and ethos of schools. Governors represent people from many walks of life: school staff, parents, the local community. This means that school decisions are made by people with a wide range of experience and views.

School governors lead schools, they don’t manage them. They are there to give a long-term strategic direction to how the school is run; to be critical friends to the school; and to ensure the school is accountable for its actions.

Governors discuss and have input on:

• School policies
• Long term plans and the future of the school
• How the school budget will be spent
• How the school will try to reach performance targets
• Drafting the annual report to parents
• Appointment and dismissal of staff
• Complaints from pupils, staff and parents
• Repair and maintenance of school buildings
• Use of school premises outside school hours

The governing body has two sub-committees of governors to look at specific issues. These are the Personnel and Curriculum Committee and the Finance and General Purposes committee.

Pupil Activity out of School

During the coming year your child may have the opportunity to take part in after school curricular/sporting activities, some of which may involve competitions against other schools. Such activities will probably involve travelling to another school. Where activities are undertaken after school, full details will be given to the individual pupils involved prior to the event or fixture, usually verbally by the lead teacher. This will include information relating to where pupils will be going, the activity/sport undertaken, what they will need and the expected time back at school.

The school also organises a number of routine visits and journeys away from the school site, as part of the children's learning experiences. Such visits take place during the school session times and tend to be local within the Barnsley area. Visits and journeys during the school day are always an extension to their classroom activities. Such activities are always approved by the Headteacher and present no significant risk to the health and safety of the pupils, and follow the Local Authority's guidance.

If you are happy for your child to participate in these routine activities then you need take no action, however, if you do not wish your child to participate, please contact Reception.

Pupil Planner

Each year every pupil is given a planner. This is a permanent reference document for parents, as well as pupils and contains much of the basic information you require during the year. It is vital that pupils use the planner carefully and we urge parents to ensure that the planner is kept in good order and used appropriately. The planner can provide a vital means of communication between you and school staff. If you write a note for a particular member of staff, such as the Form Tutor, please impress upon your child to show it to the relevant teacher the next day.

School Policies

The Governing Body sets the framework for the school’s Discipline Policy. Within school we have a Behaviour Policy, which has been approved by Governors and from this, stems a variety of policies, which we use on a day-to-day basis.

A list of school organisational policies is published in the annual prospectus, the new edition of which is available in September. If parents wish to look at any of the schools policies then they are asked to contact reception. Occasionally, clarification is required over policy matters and we seek to resolve such matters amicably and quickly.

Parents are reminded that in accepting a place at Kingstone, they are effectively accepting the policies, which are set out in the School Prospectus and laid down by Governors. Should parents wish to complain, the school has a clear procedure based on the LEA guidelines. This procedure is available from the school on request. Parents are always asked to telephone the school immediately and if necessary make an appointment with senior staff, who will carry out appropriate investigations. Parents who contact the LEA or Governors about any matter first will, as a matter of course, be referred to the school. Parents have the right of appeal to the Governors following the outcome of any school based, internal investigation.

The Current School Policies are listed below in PDF format (requires Acrobat Reader):

• Examination Policy.pdf
• Equal opportunity policy.pdf
• Child Protection Policy.pdf
• Prefect System Policy.pdf
• Arts Policy.pdf
• Homework Policy.pdf
• School Visits Policy.pdf
• Assessment Recording Reporting.pdf
• Learning Resource Centre Policy.pdf
• Behaviour policy.pdf
• Exclusions Policy.pdf
• Sex Education Policy.pdf
• Inclusion SEN Policy.pdf
• Charging for School Activities Policy.pdf
• Complaints procedure.pdf
• Health and Safety Policy.pdf
• Anti-bullying Policy.pdf
• Responsible use of computers Policy.pdf

The School Day

The timings of the school day are:

THE KINGSTONE SCHOOL UNIFORM

• All pupils must wear school uniform, including a school clip-on tie with the appropriate Year Group colour
• School jumpers must have the official school logo
• The items described above are only available from The Kingstone School Shop
• The school uniform is traditional in nature and, as such, fashion trends are not always appropriate for school wear. Mini/maxi skirts, sweatshirts and unsuitable/unsafe footwear are not allowed
• Make-up and nail varnish must not be worn in school
• Hairstyles should also be appropriate for school; if in doubt, please check with Link Tutor or Head of Year
• The only item of jewellery accepted is a wrist watch and body piercing is limited to one stud in each ear lobe. These items, if worn, must be removed for all PE activities. No other form of Jewellery or body-piercing is allowed in school

*In severe winter weather only, as a practical measure, the wearing of sensible boots will be allowed.

All uniform and other equipment items are available and competitively priced from the School Shop, which is open daily.

N.B. THE SCHOOL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DECIDE WHETHER A PUPIL’S APPEARANCE IS APPROPRIATE FOR MAINSTREAM CLASSES