2016 - 2017

Bramhall’s Four Houses

School Leadership & House Structure

Bramhall High School Curriculum

Opportunities - Extra Curricular Activities

Frequently Asked Questions

Uniform Requirement

Medical Information

Student Tips

Parent Tips

Refectory Cashless Account System and
Online Payments
At Bramhall, every student belongs to a House. Each House contains a similar
number of students with a mixture of core tutor groups (forms) from Year 7 to 11.
The House is led by a Director of House who is also a member of the Senior
Leadership Team. The Director is supported by pastoral and curriculum staff. The
pastoral support staff are non-teaching enabling them to be available to support both
students and parents throughout the day. Which House a student belongs to is
determined by their working relationships with peers and if they have elder siblings in
the school.
Within the school building each House has a specific location with its own pupil reception point. These deal on a daily basis with the needs of students in that House.
If a parent/carer has a concern about their son or daughter the House Administration
Officer is the first point of call. They will then contact the member of the house team
who is best placed to deal with the enquiry
Welcome to our House System
Our House System reflects the key characteristics we want all our learners
to develop throughout their school career.
Aqua House: The word Aqua is taken from the Latin word for water: focusing on the
concept of discover. Aqua House includes the curriculum areas of Art, Maths and Technology. When studying these subjects all students are encouraged to be reflective thinkers, to have an open mind and to ‘think outside the box’.
Aura House: The word Aura is taken from the Latin word meaning Air: focusing on
the concept of imagination. Aura House includes the curriculum areas of English and
Communication, History plus Enterprise and New Technologies. When studying these
subjects all students are encouraged to learn from and reflect upon experiences from
past events. Students are also actively encouraged to explore the creatively a command
of the English language can bring.
Ignis House: The word Ignis is taken from the Latin word meaning fire: focusing on
the concept of creativity. Ignis House includes the curriculum areas of Modern Foreign
Languages, Physical Education, Drama and Music. When studying these subjects all
students are encouraged to be enthusiastic, creative and passionate about their learning
whilst developing leadership skills and demonstrating their ability to work successfully
within a team.
Terra Firma House: The word Terra Firma is taken from the Latin word meaning
Firm Ground: focusing on the concept of enquiry. Terra Firma House includes the curriculum areas of Science, Geography, Geology and Religious Studies. When studying
these subjects all students are encouraged to be curious and to explore the world, its
faiths and cultures and how our world has evolved over time.
For all houses
What is the Personalised Learning Centre?
We have responded in an enthusiastic way to the SEND Code of practice and the clear focus on the personalisation of learning for students with barriers to their learning. The Personalised Learning Centre (PLC) is a school support centre created in 2012 for pupils. Over
the last two years it has further developed its facilities (we call them hubs) to suit the very
different needs of a significant number of children.
The Transition Pathway is a hub is for students who find transition to secondary school
more challenging. These young people may also require additional support with English and
mathematics. The intervention support helps the individual to progress at a faster rate and
to catch up with their peers. The RAIL hub (Raising Achievement in Literacy) has a focus on
improving progress with literacy whilst the RAIN hub (Raising Achievement in Numeracy)
works to improve numeric skills.
This year we have opened the Cloud, a therapeutic hub for students that need extra nurture
and help with their emotional intelligence. The final hub is Restart which provides a place
for students new to Bramhall, or returning after longer-term illness, to catch up with their
learning and at the same time benefitting from 1:1 tuition.
Alongside the intervention hubs we have centralised in the PLC the school receives external support from a variety of multi-agencies. Finally, our TAs have all received training giving them a clear pedagogical role supporting the learning of the individuals under our care.
These changes are greatly enhancing our work and helping us achieve our goal, which is to
make sure that no child is left behind.
School Leadership and House Structure
Mrs L Fox
Headteacher
Mr G W Thomas
Deputy Head
Behaviour and Support
Ms N A Joynson
Deputy Head
Curriculum
Miss C Lewis
Director of Inclusion / SENCO
Ignis House
Mr D Nuttall
Director of House
Assistant Head
Terra Firma House
Mr J M Longworth
Director of House
Assistant Head
Aqua House
Mr P Wraith
Director of House
Assistant Head
Aura House
Mr S Stonehouse
Director of House
Assistant Head
Student Support
Leader
Miss J Kennedy
Student Support
Leader
Mrs S Ahmed
Student Support
Leader
Mr J Flynn
Student Support
Leader
Mrs S Stevens
Student Admin
Officer
Mrs J Williams
0161 439 8045
x251
Student Admin
Officer
Mrs J Williams
0161 439 8045
x251

First point of
contact for
House
students

First point of
contact for
parents/
carers via
phone calls,
e-mail and
Insight
Student Admin
Officer
Mrs A Dennis
0161 439 8045 x
551

First point of

contact for
House
students

First point of
contact for
parents/
carers via
phone calls,
e-mail and
Insight
Student Admin
Officer
Mrs A Dennis
0161 439 8045 x
551

First point of

contact for
House
students

First point of
contact for
parents/
carers via
phone calls,
e-mail and
Insight


First point of
contact for
House
students
First point of
contact for
parents/
carers via
phone calls,
e-mail and
Insight
Bramhall High School Curriculum
At Bramhall High School we continually strive to improve our curriculum diet for all
students. Nationally there has been many changes, which we have embraced and continue
to improve our provision.
Each student embarks on a personalised learning journey which helps to prepare them for
the future. This starts with a Year 7 curriculum designed to build upon the experiences in
Key Stage 2 through to Year 11 and beyond. The core skills of reading, writing,
communication and maths pervade the whole curriculum and students learn to become
more analytical and evaluative as they progress through the school. Extended writing and
the essential skills of spelling, grammar and punctuation are an integral part for which all
teaching staff takes responsibility for.
Students study 13 different subjects ensuring a broad and balanced diet. All students study
a Modern Foreign Language: Spanish, German or French. W e use a range of setting
techniques to elicit the very best from our students and tailor our teaching to meet the
needs of their learning. Our curriculum reflects academic rigour, whilst pastoral support is
provided through our daily Core Tutor programme. Skills and talents are built upon in Year
8 and Year 9 with students acquiring a very clear understanding of their strengths,
weaknesses and how these impact on their progress.
In years 7, 8 & 9 student’s study the separate sciences of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
Each of these subjects will be taught by a subject specific science specialist.
In Year 7 students will also have the opportunity to study Latin
To ensure our students are supported we offer different pathways to support in addition to
our main curriculum.
Our Transition Pathway Year 7 is designed to support students who achieve 80
points on entry. These students follow a tailored curriculum, Including one hour a
day of mathematics and English. This curriculum has been designed to allow
progression back into the main curriculum and also support emotional development.
After carefully considering parent and student voice this pathway has greater
flexibility which will enable students to transition into mainstream more easily.
Curriculum Time Year 7
The Curriculum runs over a two week timetable of 50 periods. Most students will follow the
standard timetable (Std) but a small number will follow the Transition Pathway (TP)
En Ma Sci
Std
8
8
6
TP
10
10
6
MFL
4
2
PE His Gg Ar Cm RS Mu Art Dr
DT
4
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
4
4
3
3
2
2
2
2
2
2
4
Students following the Transition Pathway have additional time allocated to improve literacy and numeracy
skills. Our aim is that all children should reach their good level of progress at the end of Year 9. We feel
that this additional support will help your son or daughter access the rest of the curriculum more effectively
and give them the very best start.
In addition to the lessons above, we will also continue to run our Skills for Life (Alternative Curriculum
Experience) Days. These Skills for Life days are innovative in their approach and are very successful this
year. It gives students the opportunity to work cross year and in House. These days focus on the
‘Citizenship’ aspect of learning.
The ‘whole’ experience is vital for your son/daughter whilst at Bramhall High School. Many opportunities are
on offer. Some of these include: Sports, Creative Arts, Life Skills and Student Leadership to name a few. It
is these experiences combined with the Academic success that truly makes a Bramhall Student stand out
N A Joynson
Deputy Headteacher
Are holidays granted in Term Time?
Holidays cannot be granted in term time. The Department for Education (DfE) announced important
amendments to legislation surrounding holidays in term time in September, 2013. The new law
gives NO entitlement to parents to take their child on holiday during term time.
As a school, we fully appreciate the financial difficulties some parents face when booking holidays,
particularly during school breaks. However, we are duty bound to ensure firm policies and stringent
checks are in place so there is a significant reduction in the number of absences being authorised
during term time.
What is the role of the Core Tutor?
The Core Tutor is the first point of contact for your child; Core Tutors will see your child every day
and will check your child is settling in. The role of the Core Tutor includes checking uniform and
journals, discussing individual successes and rewards, liaising with students and parents and completing circle time. Your child’s Core Tutor will be fully part of the Transition Day.
Is my child allowed a mobile phone?
We allow mobile phones in school however mobiles must be switched off and in your child’s bag
during lesson time. If a mobile phone is taken out during a lesson, this will be confiscated until the
end of the day.
What happens at lunch time?
There are a number of options available at lunchtime including the Refectory, where a variety of hot
and cold food is available. Should you child prefer to bring a packed lunch they can eat in a
designated room. There are also a number of lunch bases, lunch clubs and activities for your child
to participate in should they wish.
What communication is there with Parents?
We encourage a positive and proactive relationship with parents because this has been proven to
help students do well in school. The student Journal provides a list of contacts for all staff within
your child’s house and parents are welcome to contact school by telephone or email with any queries or concerns. Parents are also able to access INSIGHT. Tracking reports are also sent home to
parents four times a year.
Show My Homework? - What is Show My Homework?
Show My Homework is an award-winning virtual homework solution that enables Bramhall to easily
and effectively track and monitor homework. As a parent you will be able to see what homework has
been set for each subject and if this has been completed.
Show My Homework is designed so pupils can stay up to date and organised with their homework
and have all the information needed to complete homework at their fingertips.
Show my homework is a web based platform that can be accessed on line and via a phone app.
This system provides easy access for students and parents. Especially popular are the phone alerts
that give parents notification of when homework has been set for their son/daughter.
What is INSIGHT? How is INSIGHT used by parents? When will I get my log in?
If a parent has registered an email address with the school as part of the information
they submit before the summer then a username and password will be sent out
automatically in the last week of the summer holidays. School then send out another mid
September. This will remind those who have received a log-in but not used it. INSIGHT
is an immediate ‘snapshot’ that parents can view. It shows attendance at
lessons,
lateness to lessons and rewards and sanctions issued. Latest progress reports are also
available
Where will I find the polices on the school website?
Currently policies are on the main page of the website under Policies.
What should my child do if they are worried about bullying?
We are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all of our
students so they can learn in a safe, supported and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any
kind is unacceptable at our school. If bullying does occur, all students will be able to tell
and be clear in the knowledge that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively.
We are a TELLING school. This means that anyone who knows that bullying is
happening has a duty to tell any adult or any member of the student leadership team.
What is a Restorative Approach?
A Restorative Approach is one which focuses on the harm caused in an incident, and
helps everyone to listen to each other’s point of view and take responsibility to put things
right. A Restorative School concentrates on establishing respectful relationships across
the whole school community, and takes steps to repair those relationships if things go
wrong, so that everyone can move forward.
Is there a Breakfast/Afterschool Club
There is no formal Breakfast or Afterschool club. The refectory is open from 8am and
serves breakfast. There are also a number of Extra Curricular activities which run
after school throughout the year.
Can my child have a locker?
Lockers are limited but your child is able to put their name down and a locker will be
allocated once available, please ensure you return the ‘Locker Request’ form.
What is the Bramhall Way?
The Bramhall Way has been chosen as the name for our whole school approach to the
management of rewards and consequences. As a restorative approaches school we
wish to ensure that, firstly, students who make the right choices about their behaviour
and learning are rewarded. Secondly, those students who make the wrong choices
about behaviour and learning are dealt with in a way that enables them to repair and
rebuild relationships.
What is the house parliament?
The student leadership is similar to the European Union Parliament Union it is made up of
our Student directors. Each house council is similar to Government cabinet ministers
running departments and consists of student leaders and core reps across the year
groups. Each Parliament meets with their Director of House every two weeks. Issues are
brought to this forum and the Director of House passes any ideas and opinions to the
Senior Leadership team.
What learning do we expect to see in each lesson?
To learn, everyone needs to be involved and challenged and so in the lessons, your child
will be given tasks and activities that will check their understanding and provide the next
steps in developing their knowledge and skills.
How do teachers feed back to students?
Feedback will come in many different ways. Within the lesson, teachers will provide
individual and class feedback and advice so that your child will know how to make the
next learning step. There will be regular marking and written feedback of class and
homework, which once again will provide targets and suggestions for improvement.
What is CPR? (“Comment” “Progress” “Response”
This enables staff to comment about a student’s piece of work The member of staff
writes a comment in order for the student to progress and then is given an opportunity to
respond.
What extra support is available if my child falls behind?
Progress trackers from each House monitor the progress of each child within the school
and will help organise support if there appears to be an issue. However, the classroom
teacher and the Core Tutor are the first contact point if your child is experiencing any
difficulty and wants some help. Individual teachers are available before, during and after
school to support and help. Additional structured support is available through
departmental intervention and the PLC (Personalised Learning Centre)
What Clubs are available at BHS?
There are a broad range of extra curricular activities
Sport: Rugby, Football Hockey, Netball, Tennis, Basketball, Dance, Badminton,
Rounders, Cricket, Dodgeball and Athletics
Music: Orchestra Junior and Senior, Rock Band, Ukulele, Individual Music Lessons, Choir and Soul Band
Clubs: Art Club, Chess Club, Creative Writing Club, Reading Club, Design Technology Club, ICT Club, Drama Club, Drama Inspiration Team, Science Club, Mathematics
Club, RS The Mill Club
Bramhall High Uniform Requirement
(Available from Davensports, 98 Bramhall Lane, Stockport SK2 6JG)
Students at Bramhall High School wear uniform and conform to a Code of Appearance. This is
reviewed regularly by the Uniform Committee composed of parents, teachers and students.
Bramhall High School has a uniform policy because good standards of uniform are related to
good behaviour and high standards of achievement. It also helps to reduce bullying and takes the
pressure off families to buy fashion items for school.
We therefore expect that students will not only wear the correct uniform, but also wear it properly
at all times, on the way to and from school and during the school day. Unacceptable clothing will
be confiscated and students dressed inappropriately will be sent home.
School uniform is worn for school visits which take place during the school day, but this regulation
is waived where other clothing is more appropriate, e.g. on Geography Field Study visits. For
visits outside school hours, students are asked to present themselves dressed suitably for the
particular occasion.
Under certain circumstances, clothing grants are available to Year 7 students. For information
and an application form for a grant, please contact the Town Hall Admissions Service or the
School Office.
Boys Uniform
Black blazer with school badge (Compulsory)
Plain white Shirt with collar and long sleeves only (Compulsory and available from
any retail outlet). Please ensure that shirt has a top button which should be fastened.
Shirt should be worn tucked into trousers.
School house/year clip-on tie. (Compulsory available from BHS Reception £5).
Students will use the same house/year clip tie as they continue to move up through the
school.
Black regulation style school trousers (Compulsory and available from any retail
outlet).
Sensible plain black school shoes without logos and which can be polished No
trainers or canvas shoes
Plain black/grey socks Not trainer socks
Black V-necked jumper (Optional)
Waterproof coat with school badge (Optional) No other coat may be worn in school.
Hoodies, gilts and leather-look jackets and coats are not permitted in school)
Plain black scarf, woollen fleece gloves/hat maybe worn outside the school building
during cold weather.
Boys P.E. Kit
Red polo shirt with school badge (Compulsory)
Rugby shirt with school badge (Compulsory)
Rugby shorts with school badge (Compulsory)
Plain black football shorts (Compulsory)
Plain red long sports socks (Compulsory)
Plain black hooded sweatshirt (Optional) Only to be worn in P.E or Drama
Plain black tracksuit bottoms (Optional available at any retail outlet) Only to be worn
for P.E or drama.
Trainers. (Must have neutral soles to protect Gym and Sports Hall floor)
Rugby, Football, Hockey Boots (As and when required for P.E.)
Girls Uniform
Black blazer with school badge (Compulsory)
Plain white shirt with collar and long sleeves only (Compulsory and available from any
retail outlet). Please ensure that shirt has a top button which should be fastened. Shirt
should be worn tucked into skirt or trousers.
School house/year clip-on tie. (Compulsory - Available from BHS Reception £5 ).
Students will use the same house/year clip tie as they continue to move up through the
school.
Black regulation skirt (Compulsory and available in any retail outlet). Skirts should be
of a reasonable length. Skirts that are short or have slits are inappropriate for school.
Black regulation trousers. (Can be purchased at any retail outlet as an alternative to a
skirt)
Sensible plain black low heeled school shoes without logos and which can be
polished. No trainers, pumps or canvas shoes.
Plain black socks or tights. Not trainer socks.
Black V-necked jumper (optional)
Waterproof coat with school badge (Optional). No other coat may be worn in school.
Hoodies, gilets and leather-look jackets and coats are not permitted in school)
Plain black scarf, woollen fleece gloves/hat maybe worn outside the school building
during cold weather.
Girls P.E. Kit
Skort with school badge (Compulsory)
Red polo shirt with school badge (Compulsory)
Plain long red sports socks (Compulsory)
¾ Black leggings for dance (Compulsory and available in any retail outlet)
Plain black hooded sweatshirt (Optional) Only to be worn for P.E. dance or drama
Plain black tracksuit bottoms (Optional and available in any retail outlet). Can be used
for P.E and drama
Trainers (Must have neutral soles to protect Gym and Sports Hall floor)
General Code of Appearance for All Students
Hoodies - are only to be worn in P.E, dance or drama. It is not acceptable to wear a
hoodie underneath the school blazer.
Jewellery - is not allowed with the exception of a simple stud in each ear lobe and a
simple wrist watch.
Tattoos - body piercing and other forms of ‘body art’ are inappropriate for
children under 16 and will not be allowed in school.
Make-up - should not be worn in years 7, 8 and 9 but may be discretely applied from
year 10 onwards.
Hairstyles - very short/shaved, brightly coloured, extremely styled hair is not
allowed. Long hair must be tied back for safety reasons.
Belts - should be appropriate, plain and functional.
School Bags - The National Back Pain Association recommends a rucksack
style bag, worn across both shoulders.
Fundamental Principles
The uniform code of appearance is designed to ensure that students have an
appearance that is appropriate for the school day. It is very possible that some students
may interpret the rules in various ways which in the school’s judgement is inappropriate.
In these cases, our judgement will be based on these principles.
We would like to inform you of the provision for the medical needs of students while they
are at Bramhall High School.
The school has the services of a School Nurse, employed by the Health Trust, and the
school also employs a Medical Needs Coordinator & Welfare Assistant. The School
Nurse visits the school once a week and does a ‘drop in’ session; in addition students
may book an appointment via their House Administration Officer. The Medical Needs
Coordinator & Welfare Assistant deal with all other medical and first aid situations and are
based within the school.
If your child has an ongoing medical condition the Medical Needs Coordinator will contact
you prior to them starting in September, to make their transition as easy as possible. In
addition if you have any concerns you can contact the Medical Needs Coordinator at
school on 0161 439 8045 Ext.195 or the School Nurse on 0161 426 9249.
On the admission form there is a section on medical information; please complete this
section and inform the school of any changes to contact telephone numbers.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me on the number above.
Heather Renshaw
Medical Needs Coordinator
From our students
When you start high school, it may seem like a big and confusing place
but you will get used to it and feel much better after only a few weeks.
Getting lost, forgetting your pencil case and going to the wrong lesson are
all things that everyone has done at one point, so don't feel embarrassed!
It’s all part of the experience and there’s no point worrying about it
because later on you will realise how insignificant it was! Hopefully, with
the help of this section, you will be able to get a head start to your journey
through high school.
Year 7 Tips
One of the best ways for you to settle into high school is to hear about the
experiences of some students who have recently just moved up into year
7 from primary school. These will help you understand what high school
life is like in year 7 and prepare you for when you start going to high
school. Here are a few things year 7 students wanted to share with you:
Alice: I thought that I would easily get lost in high school and when
I first arrived, it was bigger than I expected, but after a week I found my
way around easily! I didn’t get lost once because I always had people that
were going to the same lessons as me so we found our way around together, and the older students were always really helpful.
Adam: At primary school I loved football so I knew I wanted to join
the football team at high school, but when I started looking at the school
activities there were so many to pick from! I ended up playing rugby,
which we never got the chance to play at primary school and that is my
new favourite sport. I wouldn’t have thought that I was going to like it as
much as I did, but I’m glad I tried so many different sports.
Megan: When I joined high school, I was surprised by how many
subjects we did, and slightly overwhelmed by how much there was to
learn. After a little while I realised that my teachers were there to help me
through every step, and they helped me to build up my confidence and
recognise that I was more than capable. This really helped me to start
enjoying my learning and now I appreciate all of the interesting things I
learn at school.
6 Tips for an Easier First Year
Once the ‘newness’ of going to Bramhall has worn off, how do we keep a positive attitude? People normally feel best when they have rested and are focused on staying
calm. They learn best when they are organised and can think and remember things
easily. It’s easy to say we will stay organised but when the pressure builds and homework never ends it can be hard to stay organised and calm. But we have a solution! By
following these 6 tips you can help yourself feel and learn better.
1
Drink Water!
Did you know that our brains are thought to be 85% water? The brain works by transmitting electrochemical signals, and these signals control our thoughts, movements and
everything we feel or do. Since water
allows electricity to flow, it’s important to stay
hydrated, so drinking plenty of water helps the signals to transmit faster. This means
we can think faster and learn better too.
2
Eat Healthily!
Nutrition has an effect on our learning, our attitude, and our motivation, so it is
important to make sure we have a balanced diet. Many breakfast cereals have a lot of
sugar in them, which affects the amount of sugar in our blood. This can make us
hyper and although it may make us feel like we’ve got loads of energy, after this point
we feel low on energy and sleepy, making it hard to focus and learn. Instead of
overloading on sugar, eat something like a slice of whole grain bread and peanut
butter, which will give you carbohydrates (which give you energy) and protein (which
helps you to grow. Researchers have found that foods with Omega-3 fatty acids appear to help us to improve our focus, reading, spelling and our behaviour. You can find
these in fish, fruits and vegetables.
3
Move Around!
Your body and brain need you to move so they can work properly. Being active has
been proven to improve your listening skills, which help with our learning. Good ways
to stay active include taking part in many sports at school to try and find one you enjoy
and then perhaps joining a local sports club. We all need exercise, not just to keep fit,
but also for the energy to help us to focus, work and learn. Sporting activities and
even just moving around are a good break from homework and when you finish you will
feel much better and find the homework easier. Walking between your lessons counts
as a small amount of activity that helps us to re-charge so we can listen better and stay
focused.
4
Get and stay organised
Some people love being organised . Some people love working in chaos. But there has
to be some kind of organisation, so learn to manage the work you get. You can do this by
buying some kind of folder or notebook to keep all of your work
organised. You
could have a folder with different sections for different subjects, or write down the homework you have go to do for each subject in a notebook. Many schools will provide you with
a journal or planner, so make the most of this! They can be very helpful to ensure you
don’t miss deadlines and also to help you make
targets for yourself. Once you have
started to become more organised, you will find that you are much calmer and more ready
to learn new things!
5
Up with down time!
These days, things such as X-box the TV, our friends and our hobbies always surround us
and we can find it difficult to find free time, where there are no distractions. This puts
stress on us, which can affect our learning and our mood. Here are some tips to help you
relax and find some true free time:


Take some time to have some quiet time to rest, this will restore your body and mind
Eat your dinner with your family; by spending time with family, it will allow you to talk
about the day
Limit the extracurricular activities to one or two a year to begin with. And make sure
you enjoy doing them
After school, chill out by contacting your friends, have a snack or listen to music
before you start homework
Every once in a while, leave a weekend free with absolutely nothing planned
Do some light exercise with friends like a bike ride or a kick about in the park
6
Sleep!




There have been many pieces of research telling us that we don’t sleep enough. A lack of
sleep can affect our memory, thinking, problem solving skills and concentration. Sleep
specialists have worked out that most school pupils need 8-10 hours of sleep a night. If
you are finding it difficult to get that much sleep, try and set a time that you aim to be in
bed by. If you cannot get to sleep, then try to do an activity in the day, such as running
around, so you are tired when it comes to the evening. Eventually, you will get used to going to bed earlier and having more sleep so it will be much easier to get to sleep as time
goes by.
If you are feeling moody and generally cannot be bothered, a lack of sleep might be the
problem. Make sure you get as much sleep as you can, as it will help your body
recharge for another day. Sleep is so important for you to be able to work properly, so make
sure you get plenty of sleep before exams too.
From our students
Don’t worry parents, we have added this section that’s specifically tailored to you, as
having a child move from primary school to secondary school can be daunting, if you
don’t know what to expect. If your child has asked you questions about this transition
and you haven’t been able to answer; then fear not. We have compiled a helpful section
filled with hints and tips to not only get your child through the transition process but also,
to help you with their first year at high school . If you want to know how to help your child
revise and stay organised or, just what to expect from their first few months at
secondary school then you have come to the right place and all you have to do is read on
......
The First Day
You will need to appreciate that you child will be going from being the eldest to being the
youngest in the school; this can be quite daunting for children. Make sure they are
relaxed and are reassured that they will always have someone there to help them. This
could be their friends or new teachers and House Staff or especially their student
Leader.
Every year 7 student will be attached to a Student Leader; these are older students
whose job it is to make sure your child is looked after. They will be in your child’s core
periods to help them with any problems that they are facing and they are also a friend
that your child can talk to in the morning. Having someone who is in a higher year can
really help as they have already been through school and have experienced what your
child may be experiencing.
Talking and Listening
Talk to your child about their new school, teachers, friends and the work that they are
doing. They may have worries so try to encourage them to talk to you about how they
are feeling. You could tell them about your first day at high school to reassure them that
it wasn’t such a daunting experience. Schools have changed a lot since you were there,
so read and discuss the literature provided by the school and look at the website
together.
Praise and Encouragement
Praise and encourage your child at every opportunity you can; this will build their self
esteem and enable them to feel more confident and secure in their new school. Not only
that, it will allow them to explore their pathways in high school and will assure them that
they are making a good start.
Extra Curricular Activities
Encourage your child to participate in many extra curricular activities as this will help them make
new friends and enjoy their time at school. These can be sports or music based. However, be
wary that your child doesn’t take on too many activities; if they do it could mean that they will not
have a lot of free time and their work load will increase dramatically, making them more stressed.
Working as Partners - Contact The School
If in doubt, talk to your child’s core tutor as early as possible about any worries you may
have. Remember, there are always two sides and the more informed you are, the more
you can help your child. Sometimes, your child’s perspective on how things are going may
not be the same as their teachers or support staff.
Now that you are aware of some of the fundamental areas of your child’s high school life,
here are some tips from high school teachers. These tips have been provided with the
intention to allow for the best possible environment for your child to ensure that their
potential is maximised. If these tips are used, your child is most likely to settle in better and
cope with the new and dynamic infrastructure of their high school. Here are some vital tips
from teachers:
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Give your chid a place to work -this will allow them to be comfortable when working or
doing homework, so they will concentrate better
Put your child’s name in their uniform and sports kit - if any part of your child’s
uniform or sports kit is misplaced and later found, it is easier to return it to them
If possible, go to the school induction evening -this will provide both you and your
child with crucial information regarding subjects, as well as information specific to the
school
Attend parents’ evenings - this will give you an update as to how your child is doing in
school and how much progress they are making
Keep a copy of your child’s timetable to help keep them organised - this will mean
you are always aware what lessons your child has and can help them to pack the
right things
Our school website has INSIGHT - contact your child’s school to obtain access to
your child’s progress, attendance, results etc
Find out who your child’s teachers are - if any problems arise in the future specific to
one subject, you will be able to directly contact that subject teacher for assistance
Give your child more responsibility - this may include doing a household chore. This
will help them to cope better when they need to take responsibility for their own l
earning (such as when revising for exams)
Refectory Cashless Account System and Online Payments
Bramhall High School has a cashless account system for use in the refectory.
Each student has his/her own individual account which needs to be topped up in
advance of using the system. The system is accessed by students inputting an individual four digit into a keypad attached to each till in the refectory.
Our preferred payment method is online via the “scopay” site a link to which is on
the “Parent Payments” page of the school website. Details of how to register online
can be found on this webpage. This system is easy to use and reduces risk of payments being lost / left in student’s bags and can also be used for trip/event payments.
Students will be given an online access code and a PIN number for using the refectory system on induction day but if you wish to register online in advance to fund
the account prior to induction day please the finance team for your code
(email [email protected]).
We do also have a facility for payments by cheque or cash.
Payments by cheque (payable to Bramhall High School) must be marked with the
student’s name, core group and “Cashless Lunch System” on the reverse.
We discourage payments by cash as there is a risk it being lost but if you do want
to pay by this method it must be sent in a sealed envelope clearly marked with the
student’s name, core group and the amount of cash enclosed.
Payments by cheque or cash should be posted in the letterbox next to the main office by break time to ensure the account is credited for lunchtime (or before school
to be credited by break)
A daily limit for spending of £5 is set as default. This can be changed by submitting a “cashless system lunch payment system” which is available on the Parent
Payments webpage.
On or before induction day Thursday 7th July 2016 we recommend that
where possible students top up their lunch account with sufficient funds
to last them until at least the end of the first week of the Autumn term. As
a suggestion, £20 would be an appropriate amount to cover this.
We also provide access to our catering system website which will give details of
purchases in the last 30 days. This website is linked from the Parent Payments
page and login details can be obtained from finance from early September.
If you have any queries, require login details or a current statement please do not
hesitate to contact us on 0161 439 8045 x 106 or by email to
[email protected]
Bramhall High School
Seal Road
Bramhall
Stockport
SK7 2JT
www.bramhallhigh.stockport.sch.uk
Tel: 0161 439 8045
Fax: 0161 439 8095
Email: [email protected]