Back to School

Dear Parents and Carers

We are looking forward to welcoming your children back to Wollaston on Friday 2^nd September. I would like to take this opportunity to convey a few essential reminders that are key to your children having the best possible start to the new academic year.

 

Year 7

On Friday 2^nd only, our new intake should use the science gate to enter the school site so that they are able to be registered and have their assembly prior to being taken to their new form rooms. As in previous years, Year 7 will have sole use of the science playground at break and lunchtime. They do, however, have full access to the school site at break and lunch if they would rather explore!

 

New Timings for the School Day

Please be reminded that following consultation with staff and parents last year, the timings of the school day have changed. School now starts at 8.30AM and students should arrive in good time to ensure they are in their form rooms by this time. The school day ends at 3PM.

 

School Transport

Please see click HERE to view the new timings for the school buses.

 

Uniform

Uniform will be checked daily and it is expected that students’ uniform will adhere to our uniform policy. This can be found HERE.

Please note in particular that all students in all year groups are expected to be in school shoes as per policy. Please be aware that all trainers including black leather trainers such as Nike Air Force 1s are not part of the school uniform. Students who arrive wearing trainers will be asked to change their footwear. Any students who attend in non-uniform items will be loaned uniform items that we have in stock.

 

Mobile Phones

From September 2^nd, Wollaston School will operate a gate-to-gate mobile phone policy.  This means that students will not be permitted to use mobile phones or any other portable electronic devices for any purpose during the school day unless directed to do so by a member of staff according to our ICT Acceptable Use and BYOD Policy. For students where portable devices are part of an agreed learning plan that allows them to access the curriculum or for students where access to a mobile device is part of a healthcare plan, portable devices will continue to be allowed.

Students who do choose to bring mobile phones to school must turn them off and stow them away in their bags until the end of the day before they reach the gate of the school. Only when they exit the gates at the end of the day may they retrieve their phones for use.

This policy will also apply to the sixth form; however, they will be permitted to continue to use mobile devices in the Andy Todd Sixth Form Centre.

Students who are unable to follow the school policy regarding mobile devices will have their mobile devices confiscated until the end of the day. If a student’s device is confiscated it will be kept securely in student services until they are able to collect it at 3PM. Students who persistently breach this expectation and have a device confiscated on three occasions will need parents to attend school to meet with their Head of Year and to collect the device.

 

Use of the School Canteen

Students wishing to purchase food and drink from the canteen must have money debited to their smart card through ParentPay. Please be reminded that it can take a few hours for any monies paid to show on the system and this should be done in advance.

 

Yours faithfully

Simon Anderson

Head of School