Headteacher’s Notices


Saturday Morning Detentions! We will be holding a detention on Saturday morning once per


half term. This is for those students who have persistently failed to meet our expectations in terms of behaviour and completing work. They will run from 9.30 – 12.00, and students will be expected to attend in school uniform. As with all such sanctions, students do not have to attend – they just need to maintain their workrate, cooperate with their teachers and behave in a way conducive to the community values of Poole Grammar. Parents will be informed by letter when their son is required to attend.


We are also requiring students to undertake written tasks during other detentions. These are designed to make students reflect on their behaviour, and consider other ways they could have acted in a particular situation. The aim of this is to make sure students consider the wider implications of their behaviour, and hopefully do not behave in a negative fashion in future.


I must say that the number of students who find themselves in school detentions – either after school or during lunchtimes – is small for the size of school. It is the only place I have worked where students thank me or my colleagues at the end of the detention!


AJB


Absence Reporting Would all parents please ring the office or complete the Report


An Absence form on the School website by 0900hrs on any day that your son is absent. This means that we can account for him in the registration process and have an accurate list of pupils in school and who will be absent, as soon as possible and not have to phone to find out why a pupil is away. This enables us to ensure any evacuation that had to take place by Period 1 can be done with the confidence of knowing who is present and not just delayed / late. Many thanks for your co-operation.


Telephone: 01202 692132 Message: www.poolegrammar.com - Report An Absence


AJB


School Emergency Closure Procedures If the school should have to close for snow or any other


reason out of our control, the school will endeavour to have an appropriate message on its website and social media feeds by 0630am. This is to allow time for consultation with bus companies as they to some extent will determine our position over closure if they are not running.


If the decision is taken to close the school during the day a message will be posted on the website and social media feeds, pupils will be asked to contact their parents if possible, and then will be gathered in the hall until they are collected or can make their own way home, if conditions are safe. We are very much at the mercy of the bus companies as they will tell the school if they are coming to collect pupils and we cannot take the risk of not allowing pupils to go home even if conditions from the school’s perspective do not warrant closing. I hope we will not be put in this position this year and this note gives you a reminder of what we would do in the event of a closure. Please don’t hesitate to contact the school if you have any concerns.


AJB


School Travel Plan IMPORTANT UPDATE: Parents dropping off/picking up students have been observed using the school entrance as a turning circle to enable them to park in the layby outside. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND HAS CAUSED SEVERAL NEAR MISSES WITH BUSES, OTHER VEHICLES AND STUDENTS AT THE BUSIEST TIMES OF THE DAY!! The School entrance will now be patrolled regularly and we have asked for the council’s camera car to patrol regularly as well which could lead to drivers being fined if they are caught driving or parking irresponsibly. This is a last resort to try and ensure the safety of everyone on school premises. Please could parents observe the School Travel Plan below:-


As part of the revised school travel plan reflecting the increased numbers of pupils and staff on site we have made several changes :-


• There will be no parent cars on site between 8.00am and 8.30am or 3.00pm and 4.00pm. Please don’t put either us or yourselves in the embarrassing position of having to ask you to remove your vehicle from the site.


• There will be no Sixth Form parking on site. •


Our risk assessment makes these measures are necessary to reduce the risk of accidents, particularly at the end of the day when 1200 young people are exiting a congested site from 3.30 to 3.45 by bus, cycle and walking. By not having parent cars on site that reduces the number of vehicles on site considerably and so makes it a safer site. Please arrange to meet your son off site if travelling by car, ideally in Steepleton Road or Tollerford Road or further afield, e.g. the ASDA car park, as that will encourage him to walk and remove cars from the site. Can I thank you in advance for you co-operation on this matter.


AJB


Parking in Steepleton Road The Borough of Poole have had a number of complaints from


residents of Steepleton Road regarding inconsiderate/dangerous parking at the beginning and end of the school day. Vehicles are parking very close to the junction of Gravel Hill, as well as parking on both sides of Steepleton Road making it difficult to manoeuvre and causing traffic to queue up along Gravel Hill.


Hazards to other road users and pedestrians are reduced where parking is on only one side of the road, and where cars are not parked close to the junction. Given the importance of road safety, it is likely that the police will visit to monitor the situation.


As a school we want to maintain good relations with our neighbours, and keep our students safe. Parents may want to consider parking a little further away from the school when collecting their sons, and contribute to their fitness by giving them a slightly longer walk!


Thank you for your support AJB


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