NEWSLETTER - 3 SEPTEMBER

A very warm welcome back to school to everyone in our school community.   I do hope that you have managed to have a relaxing holiday .  We are very much looking forward to welcoming the rest of school population back on Monday having had Year 7 and Year 12 in today.  It was wonderful to have them in school today and actually engaged in normal school activities, such a face to face assembly rather than on zoom.

The summer has seen a great deal of work being done across the school, a selection is shown below.  

In addition to all this work, the Year 7 transition team ran a very successful summer school for the new Year 7 students.

I would like to wish all our former Sixth Form students all the very best as they move on to the next stage of their lives.  92% of the cohort have decided to go to university, with 87% going to their first or second choice university. 

The feedback we have received from the examination board that moderated our policy and work, was positive and highlighted that the school had been accurate in the academic judgements made.  

Our Year 12 cohort is oversubscribed this year with students who made the grades for the subjects they wish to study.  This has meant for some, we have been unable to offer a place as they have not met entry requirements.    

A few important aspects of school life to note and remind your sons and daughters about:

• All students need to take a lateral flow test before they come into school on Monday.  We will have a follow-up test in school on Wednesday; this is an important measure in keeping everyone safe.
   
• The Mobile Phone Policy has changed.  This was communicated towards the end of the last term.   Phones, AirPods, earphones and any variation of an in-ear listening device are not to be visible within the school gates – there are clear signs up and we refer to this policy as ‘gate to gate’, students will be reminded.
  
  In summary, from the moment that students enter the school site in the morning to the moment they leave the school site at the end of the day, devices should not be used.  This means that students cannot get their phones out as soon as they leave the last lesson.  They will have to wait the 1 minute it takes to walk to the gates. 
  
  In order to support this policy, we ask that parents/carers do not call or text students during the school day.
  ​
  Staff will ask once for the device (earbuds and phone) if they are visible in the school and confiscate them for the rest of the day.  If a student refuses to hand over the device(s) they will receive an internal exclusion.
  
  The Mobile Phone Policy and FAQ can be found on the Polices page under Behaviour, Attendance and Welfare.  Students have been made aware of these changes.

• New wellbeing space for individuals and investment in support for those who need help.

PARENT SURVEYS

Thank you to all the parents/carers who completed the survey at the end of the Summer term.  This information has been beneficial to us as we plan for this academic year. 

One issue raised by parents was there was not enough information about what is being studied and when.  As a result of this feedback, on the new school website we have detailed the course content and the skill development for each subject. For all parents who are interested in knowing the course content and skill development for each subject, the information can be found here  Link here  . We also have detailed what is being learnt in the Personal Development lessons Link here

We will provide more detail on other aspects raised through the feedback we received.

WELCOME YEAR 7 STUDENTS

Today our new Year 7 students began their first academic term at Charters. With students in other years starting term next week, the Year 11 Prefect Mentors were able to show the younger students around the school site and answer any of their questions.

The school runs a vast array of extra-curricular clubs and during the afternoon the students were able to find out about the exciting variety of activities on offer at the Freshers Fair.

Alongside the obvious PE and Sports clubs were the less obvious, such as Girls’ Cricket and Tennis.  In addition, students could join Girls’ Robotics, STEM, Japanese and Music clubs to name but a few.

All the students had a fantastic time and were spoiled for choice with the clubs available.  It is one of the school’s aims that every student will participate in at least one after-school club, learn new skills and make new friendships.

COVID 19

Thank you very much for testing your children before their return to school, it is important that home testing continues as we know this helps to break lines of transmission and is an important control measure for the whole school community.   If your child has symptoms of Covid-19 they must remain at home and take a PCR test as soon as possible; they must remain at home until the results of the PCR test are known, even if they no longer have symptoms.   If the PCR test is negative your child may return to school, if however the test result is positive you must follow the latest stay at home guidance.

If  your child presents at school with Covid-19 symptoms, you will be asked to collect your child and take them for a PCR test as soon as possible.  If you would prefer not to take your child for a test they must remain at home for 10 day period of self-isolation, even if they no longer have symptoms.    If they take a PCR test and it is negative, they are able to return to school.

We know that Covid-19 symptoms are common for other illnesses, but we all need to take steps to limit the likelihood of an outbreak of Covid 19 at School that might result in additional control measures and place more vulnerable  staff and students at risk.
 

CAN YOU HELP WITH OUR CAREERS EDUCATION?

We are always looking at ways we can develop our careers support further.  If you can help with any of the ideas on this link, please do get in touch.  Link here

We will also be launching UNIFROG in school with the students, which will help individuals develop a wider understanding of careers from Year 7 to Year 13.

RBWM CONSULTATION

The Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead has launched a ‘Big Conversation’ to engage and listen to the views of the community and other stakeholders, and is welcoming suggestions on Active Travel measures in the borough. This is travel that requires physical effort. A public consultation opened on Monday 16 August and will run until Sunday 3 October.

The Council is developing a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) to help identify how to make improvements supporting cycling and walking and where investment is needed in the short, medium and long term.