Apart from the first day, you can enter the school from 8.20 and go to the restaurant for your breakfast or meet with your friends. 
 

Our main meal and dessert cost £2.70. Our caterers operate a cashless payment system which will be set up on your arrival to the school using your thumbprint (biometric). If you or your parents would prefer you not to use this method, you will be given a short PIN which is used at the cash desk for payment.  Click here to read more about our on site catering.

If your child is currently registered to receive Free School Meals, that entitlement will automatically transfer to secondary education and no action is needed.

If your financial situation has changed recently, you may wish to check whether or not you are eligible to receive this benefit. Click here to access the Local Authority's website, which will explain the eligibility criteria and application process.

There are a number of toilets in the school and we will show you where they are on your first day. You could mark them on your map to help find them again. If you need the toilet during a lesson, then ask a teacher. We would prefer you to get used to using toilets during breaks, rather than missing time in a lesson. Toilets in Global and Creative are open before school, after school and at break and lunch. Toilets in the restaurant are open during lessons, but try to avoid asking to use these unless you really need them.

Talk things through with your friends first. Go to your mentor or PSM who will give you advice.  If you have concerns about bullying or the safety of another pupil, there is a safe text number 07756 477773 which you can use without another pupil knowing. Your message will be picked up by a member of staff who will come and discreetly talk to you. There are several teachers who have special training and they are part of our 'designated safeguarding team'. There are posters around the school with their names and faces on. You can come to speak to any of your teachers. If you have any doubts or worries, we are here for you.

Don’t worry about losing your way around school. You can use your map and timetable to work it out independently. Otherwise, you could stop any pupil or member of staff to ask.

Homework may be new to some of you but it is a great way for us to check you understand the knowledge you have learnt in lessons. You will get homework most evenings so try to do the homework on the night you receive it. If you would prefer you can complete homework at school, the library is open until 4.00pm Monday-Thursday and until 3:30pm on Friday. 

We recommend that you do not bring these items into school as they aren’t covered by the school’s insurance and we know you would be upset if anything happened to them.

Mobile phones are useful for quickly communicating with friends and family. However, we have noticed that they can be a distraction from schoolwork and a barrier to talking face to face with those around you. We listened to our student leadership and decided to ask pupils to keep their phones switched off during the day. During the school day, your phone should be switched off and left in your bag. If your phones 'rings, dings or pings', we'll take it from you and an adult will have to collect it from the school's Reception. Pupils asked us to have a firm stance on the use of mobile phones and we have found that pupils are happier socialising with friends and being away from their phones during the school day.

We understand that this may happen. It’s best to go to see your PSM or another staff member and explain the situation. We can phone your contact and be with you just in case it is a serious message. If you are seen using your phone, it will be confiscated until the end of the day when it will be need to be collected by your parent / carer. If your parents need to contact you during the day, then they must call the school directly and not your mobile phone.

There may be occasions when you feel ill during the school day or may sustain an injury.  If this happens talk to your teacher.  They will contact one of our trained First Aiders who may come to the class to see you depending on your symptoms.  If you are poorly or injured during lunch or break tell a member of staff who is on duty, they will be wearing a hi-vis vest.

Parents and carers are informed via email for non-urgent incidents, and by telephone for anything requiring further investigation or treatment.