SBL Online • School Information

Admissions

The school follows South Gloucestershire’s admissions policy, which is based on:

Special educational needs
Local siblings
Geographical considerations (those living within a school’s area of prime responsibility)
Geographical considerations (those living outside a school’s area of prime responsibility)

The admissions limit which applies for admissions to the school in September 2006 is 240. At the end of January 2006 there were 300 first and second choice applications for a place at the school for September 2006. 230 were eventually given places at the school.

General information for parents about admission and transfer arrangements is available in a booklet published by the local education authority from: The Director of Education, South Gloucestershire Council, Bowling Hill, Chipping Sodbury, BS37 6JX.

To visit the school during the day please telephone Mrs S Wren on 01454 868025 to make an appointment.

Anti-Bullying

We believe that students can only learn and achieve their full potential when they feel secure and happy at school. Our policy sets out clear definitions of bullying, and the principles and procedures that we follow when addressing it. Staff deal with the issues sensitively, consulting parents and keeping them fully informed. A team of trained post 16 students work with younger students at their request.

Dress Code

Boys	Girls
Black trousers, Navy-blue school sweatshirt with logo, White short-sleeved polo shirt with collar, Plain black shoes, Dark plain socks	Black skirt or trousers Navy-blue school sweatshirtwith logo, White short-sleeved polo shirt with collar, Natural or black tights, White or balck socks, Plain black shoes

The skirt length should not be shorter than just above the knee, nor longer than mid calf. Collarless ‘t’ shirts and turtle neck tops are not allowed.

Note: students in Year 11 have the option of a black V-necked sweater with logo** or the standard blue school sweatshirt with logo.

General Points All items of clothing must be clearly marked with the owner’s name. Items of uniform must be:

The right colour
Appropriate for school wear (extremes of fashion will not be allowed)
Shoes must be safe and appropriate for school. It is important that shoes provide the
correct firm support for growing feet. Trainers are not allowed.

Outdoor Wear - We would prefer navy-blue or black coats. Leather or leather-type or denim jackets or coats are not allowed in school.

Jewellery - For reasons of safety and security, jewellery will have to be kept to a minimum. Students can select from the following:

one wristwatch
one small ring
one necklace: simple chain and small medallion
earrings: one stud/sleeper ONLY in each ear

Additional studs/sleepers elsewhere will have to be removed during school hours.

Nose studs and other facial piercings are not allowed.

Make-up must be discreet if worn in school.
No extremes of hairstyle, e.g. mohicans.

Physical Education and Games Wear

Unisex

Rugby jersey (navy with white inset) reversible in technical fabric**

White short sleeved round neck T shirt

Navy shorts (not cycling shorts)

Football boots with navy blue football socks

Training shoes with white ankle socks

Navy blue plain jogging bottoms (optional)

Gumshields and shin pads are strongly recommended for hockey and rugby lessons
Non participants : Jogging bottoms, training shoes.
If your son/daughter is unable to participate in the lesson, they still need jogging bottoms and appropriate footwear. This is to ensure that his/her uniform remains clean and dry. He/she will be included in an appropriate capacity in the lessons.

Protective Wear
Protective clothing should be worn in practical subjects to avoid damage to clothing and to satisfy safety regulations. Aprons are available from the uniform and sport outfitters. All items of clothing must be clearly marked with the owner’s name.

Optional items such as navy-blue sweatshirts and tracksuit bottoms, running spikes, training shoes and cricket whites are obtainable (as are many other items) from uniform suppliers.

Parents should consult P.E. staff before buying these items.

**Items marked are available from the school’s appointed uniform supplier – Initially Yours who have a retail outlet in Hanham and also on the internet: www.initiallyyours.co.uk

There is a separate dress code for post 16 students, whose appearance is expected to be appropriate to a sound working atmosphere.

Charges & Remissions

This policy details the circumstances in which the school reserves the right to make charges. These include: the board and lodging element of residential activities in school hours, optional activities outside school hours (e.g. weekend visits, clubs), individual instrumental tuition, the cost of materials in practical subjects where parents have indicated in advance that they wish to own the finished product, the replacement of damaged or lost school property and examination fees in specific circumstances such as when external candidates are entered. The policy also outlines the circumstances in which the school may ask for voluntary parental contributions, and the criteria which apply to the remission of charges.

Complaints

The school has an approved complaints procedure which offers parents and others a formal route to pursue any complaint about the school curriculum and related matters.

General Complaints Policy
PDF Document

Special Education Needs

The objectives of the school’s Special Educational Needs (SEN) policy are:

to ensure all children have full access to the National Curriculum
to ensure all children are integrated into the life of the school and are able to contribute to the life of the school
to ensure children with SEN make consistent and clear progress and attain high levels of achievement
to define roles and responsibilities in respect of special educational needs, and to outline the monitoring, evaluation and review processes.

The school has restructured provision for students on the Code of Practice so that each Key Stage now has a team of staff, overseen by a coordinator. Each year group has trained teaching assistants assigned to it, who are able to gain a detailed knowledge of the students they work with by liaising with teachers and tutors. We have opened a Skills Centre to support the special needs of students of all abilities. Students receive one-to-one and small group support in a well-equipped environment.

We have also increased provision for students with emotional and behavioural difficulties. A multi-agency review group meets regularly to ensure good communication between the school and external agencies and an inclusion centre has been opened as an alternative to external exclusion for students needing sanctions.

In these ways the school has increased the resources that it is devoting to students with the full range of special needs.

Drugs Education

This policy explains the school’s commitment to the health and safety of all of its members, and clearly states that students will be educated in a substance free environment. Alcohol, cigarettes and non-prescribed drugs must not be brought onto the premises, consumed during the school day or whilst on educational visits. Smoking is not allowed on any part of the school site by students or adults. The policy describes our drugs education programme and our commitment to work closely with parents and the police. It states that all medicines, apart from asthma inhalers, must be kept at the student services office.

Sex Education

Since 1994 schools have been required by law to provide sex education for all students, including education about sexually transmitted diseases. At SBL, sex education is delivered both through the National Curriculum-based schemes of work for science and through Personal Social and Health Education lessons. Parents have the right to withdraw students from any sex education that does not form part of the National Curriculum. We cannot provide an alternative curriculum for students whose parents may wish them to be withdrawn; instead, supervised private study is arranged. The policy on sex education covers at length the aims of the provision and its content in terms of pupils’ knowledge, social skills development and examination of attitudes and values. It also gives clear guidance for teachers on giving advice to individual pupils.

Religious Education

Religious education is part of the core curriculum for all students. It is in sympathy with the locally agreed S.A.C.R.E syllabus. Whilst alternative special teaching arrangements cannot be made for students whose parents wish to exercise their right to withdraw them on grounds of conscience, they can undertake supervised private study in the learning centre.

Equal Opportunities

The school operates a rigorous equal opportunities policy covering race, gender and ability which applies to all areas of the school’s organisation and curriculum. The policy promotes and affirms all students’ entitlement to equality of access and treatment in all areas of the school. It aims to encourage students to value themselves and others and to recognise the strengths and richness of diversity.

Home / School Agreement

As a parent I undertake to:

see that my child attends school regularly, on time, and with the right equipment
provide written notes to explain absences
make the school aware of any concerns about my child’s work or behaviour
support my child with extended work and check their organiser at least once a week
support the school’s policies and guidelines for dress and behaviour
attend parents’ evenings and discussions about my child’s progress

The school undertakes to:

care for your child’s safety and well-being
ensure that they have opportunities to achieve their full potential through a balanced and challenging curriculum which meets the individual needs of your child
provide opportunities for extra-curricular activities and regular extended work
involve your child fully in their learning through prompt feedback on their work and clear targets for improvement
achieve high standards of work and behaviour through building good relationships and developing a sense of responsibility to the school community
keep you informed about school matters and about your child’s progress through regular, detailed reports and through the student organiser
be open and welcoming at all times and offer opportunities for you to become involved in the daily life of the school

As a student I undertake to:

attend school regularly and on time
follow the school dress code
bring the books and equipment I need every day
show my parents and teachers comments that have been written in my organiser, and make sure that they receive letters, reports and other communications
do all my classwork and extended work as well as I can
be polite and helpful to others, and follow the baseline expectations
respect the school environment and keep it free from litter