Handbook
for Parents
and
Students
Poplar Grove School KS4
Revised September 2012
CHILDREN & FAMILIES
POPLAR GROVE SCHOOL
Poplar Grove
Wembley
Middlesex HA9 9DB
Head Teacher:
Janis Mahony
Tel: 020 8937 3773/4
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.pru.brent.sch.uk
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How to find us
We are based at the Chalkhill Youth and Community Centre in Poplar Grove. We
have excellent facilitates, with purpose built classrooms, sports hall and outside
sports area. The building is managed by the Youth Service and also houses an
under 5s nursery. The Youth Service run youth clubs and other provisions for young
people in the evening and on school holidays.
Buses: 182, 245, 297, 302, N98
There is a bike stand at Poplar Grove but we
accept no responsibility for students’ bikes, they
should bring in a bike lock.
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Welcome
Welcome to Poplar Grove School.
Poplar Grove is a Key Stage 4 Student Referral Unit. We work with young people
who live in Brent and who have been permanently excluded from mainstream
education. We provide full time education and an opportunity to gain the skills and
qualifications our students need to become successful members of their
communities and to continue with education or move into work.
We work closely with other organisations such as the College of North West London,
the Youth Offending Team, Education and Welfare Service and mainstream schools
to ensure that students who attend this provision have as wide a variety of
opportunities as possible.
We have a firm commitment to providing education of the highest quality, believing
that excellent teaching is the key to learning. In addition to this commitment we also
believe, that it is essential that our students take responsibility for their actions, build
positive relationships, and learn from their experiences.
With thanks
Janis Mahony
Janis Mahony
Head Teacher
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The School Day
Breakfast Club
Tutorial and Registration
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Break
Lesson 3
Lesson 4
Lunch
Lesson 5
Lesson 6
9:10 am to 9:30 am
9:30 am to 9:45 am
9:45 am to 10:30 am
10:30 am to 11:15 am
11:15 am to 11:30 am
11:30 am to 12:15 pm
12:15 pm to 1:00 pm
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
1:30 pm – 2:15 pm
2:15 pm – 3:00 pm
10.1
10.2
11.1
Thursday
11.2
10.1
10.2
11.1
Friday
11.2
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lunch
PSHE
Science
Maths
English
English
Maths
ICT
Science
Maths
English
art
Lifeskills
English
Science
PSHE
Maths
Maths
Science
ICT
English
lunch
Science
ICT
English
Maths
Maths
ICT
Science
English
English
Maths
Lifeskills
art
Science
English
Maths
Lifeskills
Science
ICT
English
Maths
1:001:30
lunch
break
break
Tutorial
Tutorial
12:151:00
lunch
11.2
Maths
English
ICT
Science
ICT
Science
English
Maths
art
Lifeskills
Maths
English
Lifeskills
Maths
English
Science
ICT
English
Maths
Science
11:3012:15
lunch
11.1
Wednesday
English
Maths
Science
ICT
Science
English
Maths
ICT
Lifeskills
art
English
Maths
Maths
Lifeskills
Science
English
English
Maths
Science
ICT
11:1511:30
break
10.2
10:3011:15
break
10.1
9:4510:30
break
11.2
Tutorial
11.1
Tuesday
Tutorial
10.2
Tutorial
10.1
breakfast
club
11.2
breakfast
club
11.1
Monday
breakfast
club
10.2
9:309:45
breakfast
club
10.1
9:109:30
breakfast
club
Class
2:153:00
3:003:15
art
PSHE
PE and
enrichment
PE Btec
Media BTEC
Business BTEC
Academic
PE Btec
Media BTEC
Business BTEC
Academic
PE and
enrichment
Lifeskills art
art
PSHE
PE Btec
Media BTEC
Business BTEC
Academic
individual coaching sessions for students with form tutors
Timetable
1:30-2:15
ICT
art
Values and Aims
Core Values
The way that we work together, with students and with their families is based on our
core values of:
Responsibility, Respect, Equality, Trust and Achievement
We aim to meet our students’ need for
Empathy, Trust, Respect, Cooperation and Safety
Aims
We are committed to:
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Providing our students with a fresh start
Developing a positive approach to learning in a safe and supportive environment.
Increasing self-esteem and independence in learning.
Raising attainment levels.
Providing students with the support and advice they need to learn from their
experiences and do things differently
Offering meaningful education and vocational opportunities to all students.
Reintegrating students into further education.
We believe in:
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The use of Restorative Practices to create an environment where all members of
the learning community work together to create a safe environment where
learning can flourish
A zero- tolerance approach to behaviour which harms individuals or the
community
Clear boundaries and high levels of care
The need for a broad and balanced curriculum and a range of learning
opportunities, both formal and informal
Carefully agreed challenging goals and expectations with regular monitoring and
review.
Working with students and their families
Helping students and their families to access support from other agencies
Providing inclusive teaching and learning that inspires and is based on the
principles of assessment for learning, and maximizes learning opportunities
The importance of working for a purpose and having achievement recognised
through accreditation
Developing a community of learners ,that supports the concept of life-long
learning for staff, students and their families
What are Restorative Approaches and how can they
help?
Restorative Approaches are a way of managing behaviour by working
together to restore and repair relationships when there has been a break-down in
communication.
Restorative language and mediation encourages young people to take
responsibility for their own behaviour and to understand the feelings of of others.
Used in the home it can help improve communication between parent/carer and
child. Everybody is able to communicate their needs and work together to move
forward.
To Punish or not to Punish?
Traditionally if someone does something wrong, we focus on ‘what they did wrong?’
followed by ‘how will they pay?’ We think that someone must be punished, or else
they ‘got away with it.’ But... this can lead to children keeping secrets so they don’t
get in trouble, and feeling angry about punishments that may not connect to what
actually happened.
Instead, try asking the 5 Restorative Questions. These are questions that you can
ask your child, other family members and yourself when an issue arises.
The 5 Restorative Questions
1. What’s happened?
2. What were your thoughts and feelings at the time?
3. Who has been affected?
4. What do you need to move on?
5. What needs to happen to put things right?
Using these 5 questions helps to make sure everyone’s feelings are heard. It also
encourages cooperation so that dealing with a problem is not up to you alone…… it
is the responsibility of the whole family to work things out together.
Instead of that, try this…
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Instead of giving orders, try describing the problem.
Instead of blaming, try giving information.
Instead of shouting, try describing what you feel.
Instead of long lectures, try just a few words.
Instead of threats or orders, try offering a choice.
Instead of nagging, try putting it in writing.
Instead of reacting, acknowledge their feelings.
Staffing
Senior Leadership Team
Head Teacher
Deputy Head Teacher and SENCO
Behaviour and Attendance Manager
Janis Mahony
Victoria Collinge
George Georgiou
Subject Leaders
Teacher
Mr Joel Russell
Mr Ashley Anderson
Mr Lukasz Michalski and Mr Asim Mahmood
Ms Monique Schutte
Ms Victoria Collinge
Ms Nina Knowles
Mr Tony Newland
Ms Abby Sonko
Ms Reanu Bahal and Patricia Allen (Brent Centre for Young
People and Adolescents)
Subject
English
Maths
Science and PE
ICT and BTEC Business
French and History
Art
Music
Sociology/Citizenship
PSHE
Support Staff
Ms Valerie Brooks
Ms Reanu Bahal
Mr Steven Burrowes
Ms Dorette Stewart-Marshall
Mr Brandon Palmer
Ms Emma Begil
Ms Una Jackson
Mr Harry
Offsite Manager
Learning Mentor
Teaching Assistant
Teaching Assistant
Teaching Assistant
Teaching Assistant
Administration Assistant
Cook
Support and Advice
TBA
Jenna Connack
Wendy Noel
Patricia Allen
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Connexions (career advice)
Addaction and SHOC
Connexions (intensive support)
Brent Centre for Young People and
Adolescents
Curriculum and Qualifications
Core Offer and Options at Poplar Grove
All students will take the core subjects, all subjects (apart from PE
and PSHE), are accredited through GCSEs or equivalent qualifications.
In addition each student will be able to take one of the options
shown.
BTEC
BTEC
Media
Business
core offer Maths
English
BTEC
Sports
Science
ITC
Lifeskills
PSHE
Art
PE
Academic
Option
French, History
English
Literature
Assessment and Reporting
All students are assessed on entry, this information is used by teachers to ensure
that work is set at the right level and students are helped to reach their full potential.
Students’ achievement and learning are recorded daily and assessed using PRI
points, which record attendance, achievement, and attitude.
Targets are set and shared with Students and their Parents/Carers at Student
Progress Review (SPR) days, these are every term
We provide a report on progress each term, which includes targets set during the
SPR days.
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Homework
As our students are in KS4 and working towards GCSEs Homework is essential.
Homework is given at the end of lessons and is available on Fronter. We ask that
parents support their child’s learning by ensuring that they complete homework
regularly.
Teaching Groups
Students are taught in small groups of up to 9. All teachers are qualified and
committed professionals, in most lessons there are Teaching Assistants or other
teachers who support student’s learning
Each group has a form tutor who keep parents and carers informed of progress and
who are the first point of contact. Students are expected to attend a morning
registration and tutorial session between 9:30-9:45 every day, and tutors will arrange
a weekly individual meeting for each student at 3pm. Parents may also be asked to
attend these meetings.
Form tutors
11.1
11.2
10.1
10.2
Tutor
Joel Russell
Nina Gadd
Teaching Assistant
Emma Begil
Brandon Palmer
Dorrette Stewart Marshall
Abby Sonko/Asim Mahmood
Monique Schutte
Steven Burrowes
Attendance
There is a morning and afternoon registration
Please let us know by 9:30 if a student is unable to attend school.
Students will be sent a text every morning if they have not arrived on time.
We will contact parents and carers is a student is not in school by 10:30.
Absence letters are sent out if we have been unable to confirm the reason for an
absence.
The Behaviour and Attendance Manager and a Student’s Form Tutor can provide
help and advice
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Students who arrive after registration will be marked late
Students who arrive after 10:30 will be given an unauthorised late mark
Students who have persistent lateness and absence will be referred to the
Education Welfare Service
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Students with consistent good attendance and punctuality will be rewarded.
Our expectation is that all students should achieve 95%
attendance, and 99% punctuality
Attendance and Punctuality is important
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Colleges and Employers ask for attendance and punctuality figures
90% attendance still means that one half day a week is being missed, 20 days
in one year.
17 missed school days a year equates to a half drop in GCSE grades
Absence = Missed learning.
Working with Parents
We seek to work closely with parents and carers. All parents are expected to attend
a meeting as part of induction with the learning mentor and BCYP worker.
Form Tutors will be in regular contact, and we encourage parents and carers to
share any concerns.
The Head Teacher will always be ready to meet with parents, if possible please do
this by appointment.
We will contact parents if we have any concerns, but do not see this as a sanction
and would ask parents not to treat it as such but to work with us to overcome any
difficulties.
We will ask parents to come in for meetings to discuss concerns and appreciate their
support in this.
We will on occassions provide opportunites for parents to meet together to provide
us with their thoughts and opinions.
We offer support to parents and carers through regular meetings and occasional
events.
Each term there is a SPR day where there is an opportunity to meet with all staff
Safety
All students have a responsibility to behave safely, and to ensure the safety of
themselves and others
All students are wanded on entry to the building
We prefer students to remain onsite during the school day
We do not allow any weapons, drugs or alcohol onsite and will inform parents/carers
and the police if any student brings them in
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We have the right to search students or their posessions
We encourage safe use of the internet
If we are concerned that a student is being harmed we will follow child protection
procedures and contact social care.
If a student is likely to harm themselves or others we have a duty to protect them and
sometimes this may involve restraint. This will always be the last resort and use the
minimum amount of force necessary
Mobile Phones/MP3 etc
We allow students to bring in electronic equipment, but this should not be used
during lesson times. If a student is consistently disrupting lessons by use of a mobile
phone etc this will be dealt with through the code of conduct.
We do not accept any liability for students’ personal possessions
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School Code of Conduct
You Should…..
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Respect yourself and take
responsibility for your
behaviour and be honest
Respect each other’s race,
culture, religion, gender &
sexual orientation
Respect the environment
Respect the adults who
work in the school
Respect other people’s
opinion
Respect, books and
equipment in all lessons
Attend school regularly
Arrive on time and sit
where the teacher asks
you to
Be aware of others in the
corridor
Keep the school tidy and
put litter in bins
Talk to a member of staff to
help resolve conflicts
Take support offered to
you
You must …..
If you choose to…..
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Be wanded each morning
Meet behaviour expectations
and respond to warnings
Not use phones, MP3
players, iPods or any other
electrical equipment during
lesson times
Leave a room when directed
to
Leave site when directed to
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Bring in, or use anything
that is dangerous or illegal
Threaten, bully, fight, or be
violent to others
Damage school property or
steal
This is behaviour of serious
concern
Consequences
If you are not following the Code of Conduct and responding to support offered the following will happen:
Stage 1 – Verbal Warning
Stage 2 -Yellow Card Warning
Stage 3 – Withdrawal – recorded on SIMS
Warnings are written on the board – and if behaviour improves and the teacher’s request followed they can be
“worked off”.
If you are withdrawn more than twice in one day you will spend the rest of the day out of lessons and your
parents/carers will be informed.
If this happens twice in a week a meeting with your parents/carers will be arranged
Behaviour of Serious Concern – Damage to building, or property; Stealing; Bullying; Verbal threats or
aggression; Physical Assault ;Fighting; Gambling: Racist, Sexist or homophobic incidents/language;
Use or sale of alcohol or other mood changing drugs; possession of a weapon; refusal to leave room
or site
You must meet with BAM/SLT, and will be placed in withdrawal room or sent home and excluded. An Incident
slip will be completed and recorded on SIMS and your parents will be informed. The police may be informed.
You will be expected to take part in a restorative meeting
If you refuse to leave a classroom you will be directed to leave the premises and receive an exclusion
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Rewards
Students are rewarded for achievement, attendance and behaviour. This is daily
through phone calls or post cards home; weekly through certificates and termly
through vouchers. Once a year we will arrange trips as a reward.
We also take part in the Jack Petchey scheme where students nominate each other
to receive a reward.
PRis – in each lesson you can earn up to 6 PRi points, A, P,
GW, SE, PR and BH.
Daily
Tokens – special rewards are given for behaviour or
achievement that is out of the ordinary – you will be given
a token and explained why it was given to you
Positive phone calls; postcards and letters home
Weekly
Every half term
Every term
Certificates from form tutors:
95% attendance
95% punctuality
Highest number of PRis in each form
Highest number of rewards in each form
Certificates and a voucher from form tutors:
95% attendance
95% punctuality
Highest number of PRis in each form
Highest number of rewards in each form
Certificates and a voucher from form tutors:
95% attendance
95% punctuality
Highest number of PRis in each form
Highest number of rewards in each form
From all staff:
Student of the term
A form trip:
Every year
95% attendance
95% punctuality
Highest number of PRis in each form
Highest number of rewards in each form
From all staff:
Student of the year
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Food
We have a Breakfast Club every day, from 9:10-9:30
Students are able to buy snacks at break time in the canteen
Lunch is free for all students and is a balanced and healthy meal
Students are able to bring in packed lunches
We do not allow food purchased offsite to be eaten onsite
Food is not allowed in lessons
Counselling and other Advice
We are lucky to have access to a range of counsellors and other support. Students
are advised to take this help.
Where Students need this support we will offer a chance this may be help from a
psychologist from the Brent Centre for Adolescents or a counsellor from Connexions.
We also have an advisor from Addaction.
We also provide Sexual Health Advice through SHOC.
Advice on Careers is given through Connexions
If you would like your child to receíve support please contact Mr George Georgiou
Who do I see first if.....
Remember your first point of contact is always your Form Tutor.
You can see them about anything.........
I am being bullied
I am upset/angry/ need to talk
I am having worries about life at Poplar
Grove
I have attendance issues
I want to ask questions about my lunch
orders
I have concerns about College
Your Form Tutor or Tutor Support
Your Form Tutor/Tutor Support
Ms Bahal
A Staff Member who you trust
Your Form Tutor or Tutor Support
Your Form Tutor or Mr Georgiou
Ms Buchanan
Staff on lunch duty
Ms Brooks
I have concerns about my curriculum
Ms Collinge
I have questions about exams
I have concerns about my subject
including homework
I am worried about my literacy
I am worried about my numeracy
Fronter
Mr Anderson
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The Subject Leader
Mr Russell
Mr Anderson
Ms Schutte
I want to change something about school
or I am unhappy/happy about the school
Mr Mahmood/Ms Sonko
Mr Mahmood
Ms Brooks
Ms Buchanan
Mr Georgiou
I am feeling unwell
I’d like to see a counsellor or get advice
on drugs or sexual health
Useful Contacts
Brent Alternative
Education Service
College of North
West London
Education Welfare
Officer
Ms Claire Warner
(Head of Service)
Ms Nita Vahder
(Post Exclusions
Officer)
Ms Helen Crabtree
Ms Anugwom,
Ngozi
Advice on
Alternative
Education
0208 937 3192
Manager of 14-19
provision
Support on
Attendance and
Punctuality
0208 208 5112
0208 937 3156
020 8937 3291
Complaints Procedure
We would hope that if you have any concerns you would feel able to talk to us about
them and a resolution found without having to follow this procedure. However if this
is not possible the arrangements for dealing with complaints are simple
1.
2.
3.
4.
School staff and the Head Teacher handle criticisms and concerns informally,
in the first instance, not as formal complaints.
Formal complaints are made in writing, but may be complemented or clarified
by an oral presentation.
Formal complaints are investigated and handled as swiftly as possible and the
complainant kept fully informed throughout all stages of the investigation,
preferably in writing.
Each complainant will receive a formal response in writing, once the
investigation is complete.
If, in the course of an investigation, the management committee considers that
disciplinary action should be taken against a member of staff, disciplinary
proceedings will be initiated.
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