Rough Guide for Parents

Who do I talk to when ...

• I have a concern about my son’s academic progress or homework?
  Head of Lower School (x287) / Head of Middle School (x289) / Head of Sixth Form (x227)
• I want to discuss a routine or pastoral issue?
  The Form Tutor – leave a message at Reception
  or email or call the Pastoral Office (x288).
• I want to tell the school about a change in my circumstances?
  School Reception - rec@bws.wilts.sch.uk
• I want to change my personal details held by the school?
  Login to BWS Parent Portal and select General - Personal Details
• I want to ask about a school event?
  School Reception - rec@bws.wilts.sch.uk
• I want to find out about imminent events or latest news in school?
  Look at the Twitter Feeds
• I want to check on dates or future arrangements?
  Look at the School Calendar

• Dr S Smallwood - Head Master - sds@bws.wilts.sch.uk
• Mr G Lloyd - Deputy Head Master - gl@bws.wilts.sch.uk
• Mr A Harmsworth - Assistant Head, Assessment and Targets - mah@bws.wilts.sch.uk
• Mr J Rogers - Assistant Head, Staff Development, x245 - jpr@bws.wilts.sch.uk
• Mrs Z Lambard - Head of Sixth Form (Year 13), x227 - zhl@bws.wilts.sch.uk
• Mrs A Gough - Deputy Head of Sixth Form (Year 12), x227 - ajg@bws.wilts.sch.uk
• Mr D Brown - Head of Lower School, x292 - dgb@bws.wilts.sch.uk
• Mrs M Jenner - Head of Middle School, x289 - mjj@bws.wilts.sch.uk
• Mrs E Jacobs - Pastoral Support Officer, x288 - pastoralsupport@bws.wilts.sch.uk
• Mrs J Glasson - Examinations Officer, x256 - jg@bws.wilts.sch.uk

Bad Weather: If the school is closed information will be posted in the following places: School website, @BWordsworths twitter feed and emailed via ‘ParentMail’. Announcements will also be made as early as possible on Spire FM (102FM)

Medical Information: Alerts will be posted on the website and via email when necessary.
All information on your son must be sent to Lower School/ Middle School/ Sixth Form/ Reception. Please ensure that we have up-to-date details and medication (if needed). If there are items of a medical nature which need to be kept safely at school (epipens, inhalers etc) please bring to Reception.

Lost Property: The Receptionist will contact students directly if named property is handed in. Named items are kept for approx 4 weeks then disposed of. Unnamed kit will not be retained. Boys will also have the chance to reclaim lost property periodically at assemblies. Please name all of your son’s kit.

School Staff and Governors. Full lists of the staff and their areas of responsibility are posted on the website. There is also a list of the Governors, their terms of office, committee membership and links with different areas of school operation. Draft minutes of Full Governors’ Meetings are posted on website as soon as possible after each meeting.

or

Email Reception: rec@bws.wilts.sch.uk

or

Telephone: Call 01722 333851 and select the absence number and leave a simple clear message including student name and tutor group

When? On the 1st and subsequent days as necessary.

To request leave of absence: Either a letter should go to the appropriate pastoral office.
An Absence Request Form is available by clicking here or use the BWS Parent Portal - Insight and select General - Report absences and complete the Planned Absence online form. The school reserves the right to insist on attendance for all boys in term time.

Year 7 Intake. Taster day in July of Year 6. House Suppers for each tutor group in June (for parents and boys), hosted by House Prefects. New school year starts in early September when the incoming Year 7 boys spend a day in school with their form tutors familiarising themselves with the environment.

Year 12. Optional Induction Day in July. Enrolment days for Sixth Form at the time of exam results (usually 4th Thursday/Friday in August (see below). Induction days in school at the beginning of the September Term.

New Parents. Evening for new parents in June; details about life in school, also details of the BWSPA and the chance to meet others. Uniform and sports kit which has been pre-ordered can be picked up on Induction Day in July.

Parents’ Evenings. Consultation evenings (5.00 – 7.30 pm) and Information evenings (generally 7.00 pm start) in calendar; mostly in the Spring Term.

Parent/Tutor Teas. One for year groups 7 – 9 during the Autumn Term, 4.00 – 5.00 pm. Tutors + Head and Assistant Head of Lower School + Head Master, no appointments necessary – a ‘health check’ rather than in-depth analysis.

Parents’ Questionnaires. Completed online biennially by parents; issued to boys annually. Results discussed by senior staff, governors and used to assist with planning. Questionnaire results also posted on the website.

Head Master’s Open Door Sessions. Held 5 times a year – Head Master available with no appointment; check in initially at Reception.

Comment on website/self evaluation form/school improvement plan. Comments welcome at any time – to admin@bws.wilts.sch.uk

BWSPA. Regular events through the year publicised through the website and ‘Insight’, Newsletters and messages via the boys. Monthly Draws and the Summer Fête at Founder’s Day. Committee meets monthly and is very active, raising large amounts of money for the school. Skills/Volunteer Register kept – to volunteer contact one of the BWSPA Committee, details on website. There is also a BWSPA notice board in the main school car park, giving details of forthcoming events etc and a BWSPA twitter feed.

School Shop, Uniform and Sports Equipment. The school shop is located in the Number 11 building and is situated in the cobbled courtyard. Enter the school from the Close entrance via St Ann’s gate and we are on the left. It is open every Monday 12.00 – 1.00pm and Wednesday afternoons from 3:30 to 4:30 pm during term time only. A full uniform list can be found on the website. Note that House Polo Shirts are required for Sixth Form Games.

BWS PArent Portal - Insight Access via the school website, details of your son’s academic progress, awards, sanctions and parents evening bookings

NB: All Cathedral events are open to parents, but it pays to arrive reasonably early as the best seats go quickly! All students (whose presence is not compulsory) and their parents are also very welcome to attend the following events, along with any former students.

• Cathedral Services (including Eucharist). Held monthly during the school day; attendance compulsory for boys.
• Prize Giving. Annual event, usually 3rd or 4th Thursday in September in the Cathedral. All boys except Year 7 attend. Usually starts at 3.00 pm, service lasts about 1 1/2 hours. School uniform must be worn; boys sit in tutor groups.
• Founder’s Day. Annual service in Cathedral, held in the early part of the Summer Term.
• Carol Service. Held annually in the Cathedral shortly before the end of the Autumn Term. Usual start time 7.30pm.
• Concerts and plays. School productions annually, staged either in BWS Sports Hall or in the Drama Studio. Publicised and ticket sales through school.
• Sports Day. Held at South Wilts athletics track near Five Rivers Leisure Centre towards the end of the Summer term. Attendance compulsory for Years 7 - 10 and 12. Boys report to their tutor at the track (ie not at BWS!) at 9.00 am and stay for the whole day. Events usually finish with presentations at around 2.00 pm, after which boys make their own way home.

Curriculum and Timetables, Homework – where to find out what your son should be studying, and when he should be doing it!

Details are given on the website – look especially for the curriculum summaries for Year 7–9 and homework timetables for Year 7 - 11. The Homework Diary is absolutely crucial; if this is filled in (legibly!) and signed at both home and school then most of the rest will fall into place. Your son should have homework every night – don’t accept the usual excuses (done it at school/on the bus/at a friend’s house etc). If in doubt – check. If you are concerned – contact his form tutor; don’t leave it if you are worried! Sign diary weekly, add a note in it if you wish to contact the form tutor.

Assessment and Reports – how do I know how he is doing?

Assessment grades work in different ways in each section of the school. In Years 7–9 there are grades for attitude and attainment. Attainment grades give an indication of what his expected outcome will be at the end of Year 9 in terms of a Key Stage 3 Level, where appropriate. At GCSE, AS and A2 Levels targets and attainment grades correspond to expected outcomes in terms of exam grades; targets are based on how well he did at the end of the last Key Stage. So, on his reports, look for any mismatches between his target grade and his current attainment grade for each subject.

Grade reports for Years 7–10 come at the end of the Autumn and Spring Terms, with a full report in the Summer (post exams). Year 11 get a grade report in November and then a full report after their mock GCSEs. Year 12 and 13 also get one grade and one full report each year.

Reports are issued to parents via the BWS Parent Portal - Insight

The good news…

• Distinctions. (Years 7 – 8) – green slips awarded for good work, 5 can be exchanged for one H/M Distinction (blue). The homework diary will be stamped as confirmation and you will be informed directly by post.

• Commendations. (Years 9–11) – awarded for excellence; nominations notified to parents by email. All awards are listed on Insight

• Sports Colours and Half Colours. Full Colours green certificate and tie, Half Colours red certificate, awarded in whole school assembly.

• Silver Cross Awards. (Years 12 and 13) – for outstanding contribution to the school community; certificate and tie awarded in whole school assembly.

• Other awards – many and varied, given out in various assemblies and recorded in the Prize Giving Programme for posterity…

And the other news…

• After School Detentions – given for various indiscretions 24 hours notice through homework diary. Detention lasts for 30 mins–1 hour.

• Occasional Half Day Detentions and internal exclusions may be given for more serious or serial offences. Several days’ notice by letter from Head Master.

• Exclusions are rare, but occasionally necessary. Letter home from Head Master will confirm details.

Subject Choices made in Year 9 (for GCSE) and in Year 11 (for A level). Information Evening and Sixth Form Recruitment Evening as appropriate.

Setting – how this is done – and who to talk to?

Languages. Year 7 (1st language), Year 8 (2nd language). Contact Head of relevant department if in doubt – but remember that we have to look at the overall picture in order to balance groups/manage staffing etc.

Maths. Banding in Year 8 based on performance in Year 7. Sets in Year 9 based on previous performance. GCSE path determined by Year 9 setting. Contact your son’s Maths teacher or Head of Maths (Mrs Barrett).

Science. Setting in Year 10 based on previous performance; GCSE path can depend on set. Contact Dr Baker (Key Stage 3 & 4 Science Co-ordinator).

Internal School Exams. Years 7/8/9 sat in lessons in May, Year 10 sat at Easter, Year 12 sat in early summer term. Exam timetables given out to boys in May, also published on website. Results given out to boys by subject staff in June, notified to parents in reports at end of the Summer Term.

GCSEs, A Level Exams. In May/June/July; boys will have individual entry confirmation and timetable. CHECK DETAILS CAREFULLY FOR/WITH HIM! Note that there can be modules and/or resits in both January and June at GCSE (Science). Results for GCSE & A Level are issued at the School in late August. Dates published by the school. Further info from Mrs Glasson (Examinations Officer).

SWGS Subjects - How to find out more – and what you should do if you have a concern. Details of courses given on website - Subjects Taught. Contact the Sixth Form Office.

Careers: Advice comes from our independent careers adviser (Sally Armstrong) who focuses on the Sixth Form.

Learning Support: If you wish to discuss your son’s learning support needs, please contact our Learning Support Co-ordinator Mrs Paden.

Clubs and Societies: All our extra curriculum clubs are listed on the Extra Curricular Webpage

More information on the Sports page

Focus Sports. Rugby (Autumn Term), Football (Autumn & Spring Terms), Athletics (Summer Term), Basketball (all year).

Other Sports. Cross Country, Hockey, Cricket, Trampolining, Volley Ball, Badminton, Tennis, Table Tennis etc…

Matches – Arrangements and Contacts. Fixture lists on website. Teams will frequently be finalised shortly before each fixture due to injuries etc. Travel arrangements/timing/venues etc available from Reception. We expect boys to represent the school where required – please contact the relevant member of staff where there is a problem.

Choral and Instrumental

Individual lessons for most instruments; contact Mr Fay (Director of Music) for details. Instruments can be stored in secure accommodation in the Bishopgate Building; the instrument must be insured by you.

Various instrumental groups – string ensemble, junior and senior brass ensembles, jazz groups.

Carol Concert (December), Choral Concert (May), Junior and Senior Musicians’ Concerts (May), House Music Festival (May), numerous other opportunities for performance inside and outside school.

Major and smaller productions are available throughout the year.
Contact Mrs Gordon mkg@bws.wilts.sch.uk

Details of curricular and extra-curricular trips are given on the website. Letters are issued on the website too. Indemnity form is issued at start of school year which includes permission for all day trips; residential trips have separate arrangements. If slips are not returned your son cannot go. Assistance with payment may be possible – contact the Head Master.

It is essential that all contact details (including emergency contacts) and medical details are current.