March 2012 Dear Families I am writing to you as we approach the end of another busy term at Preston Manor. This term our newsletters will be posted on the school website and I hope you will be able to make the time to read about the many activities that have taken place since I last wrote to you. I am sure you will also wish to join me in thanking all the staff for their great commitment to achieving the highest standards in partnership with you and your children. School Status When I wrote to you in July 2011 I confirmed that the governing body had decided against registering an interest in becoming an Academy. Since that time there have been a number of discussions with the Local Authority and between schools about the best way to move forward in a changing educational landscape. The governors have decided that Preston Manor should seek to preserve its values in terms of serving the local community and collaborating with primary schools, secondary schools and local colleges of further education. The Governing Body has now decided to formally consult on becoming a Co-operative Trust school. At the same time the governors would like to informally seek the views of all stakeholders about the possibility of registering an interest in becoming an Academy. The first formal consultation is planned for the beginning of the summer term and the earliest that governors might register an interest in becoming an Academy would be at the end of the term. There are complex arguments for and against these governance models; we will arrange appropriate meetings and publish background materials so that all stakeholders have the opportunity to express their views before the governing body makes any decision. Preston Manor Lower School The new Lower School buildings are now completely open and the children are enjoying some beautiful outdoor spaces in the spring weather. Reception and Year 1 children are now in their dedicated classrooms and gradually becoming an integral part of Preston Manor. We will be arranging an official opening later next term once the local elections have taken place. Community Learning I am pleased to announce that parents and family members can now achieve Level 2 qualifications through our partnership with Vision2Learn for Schools (V2L). These qualifications are obtained through government funded and completely free online study with support from an online tutor. The courses take 12-16 weeks to complete. The following courses are currently available (subject to demand and eligibility) Business and Administration Level 2 (16 weeks) Equality and Diversity Level 2 (12 weeks) Essential IT Skills Level 1 (16 weeks) Essential IT Skills Level 2 (16 weeks)

A Level 2 Customer Services course will be introduced in September 2012. Please see the link under the ‘Community Learning’ section of our website www.pmanor.brent.sch.uk for further information and to begin the registration process. Alternatively you may contact Daniel Graham, Deputy Head at [email protected] if you have any further queries. Equality Act Since 1 October 2010 the Equality Act has replaced all existing equality legislation, such as the Race Relations Act, Disability Discrimination Act and Sex Discrimination Act, providing a single, consolidated source of discrimination law, covering all the types of discrimination that are unlawful. The Act places certain duties on public bodies including schools and identifies new groups that will be covered under the Act. All schools are required to publish at least one Equality Objective by 6 April 2012 and these objectives should be tailored to best suit our circumstances and contribute to the welfare of students and the school community. We will be publishing equalities information and our first Equality Objectives on the school website. Student Birthdays Unfortunately I am ending the practice of students bringing birthday cakes and helium balloons into school. Although we recognise that young people wish to share birthday celebrations with their friends, this often disrupts learning and creates additional mess in classrooms and the canteen. If students persist in bringing these items into school they will be confiscated and parents will be asked to collect them from reception. Thank you for your support. End of Spring term arrangements The end of spring term is Friday 30 March with normal timetable for lessons 1 - 3. Students will be dismissed from 12.30pm after registering with their form tutor. Free school meals will be available for eligible students from 12.30 – 1.00pm; the canteen will be closed to other students. Start of Term Arrangements The beginning of summer term, Monday 16 April, will be a day for staff training and no students will be in school. All students will return to school for normal lessons on Tuesday 17 April and should arrive in school by 8.40am ready for registration at the usual time of 8.45 a.m. Please ensure your child is in school on time with the correct uniform and equipment so that lessons can commence with the minimum of disruption. The school will be closed on Monday 7 May for the May bank holiday. Staff Leaving This term we are saying goodbye to Natalie Raza and Joanna Whitehair from the English Department. Natalie joined the school in September 2008 and took up the post of English KS3 Co-ordinator in September 2009; she is leaving to spend more time with her baby son. Joanna joined the school in September 1998 and supported numerous students as an Interventions Coordinator and Learning Mentor. She is relocating to New Zealand with her family. I would like to wish them both every success for the future. Once again I would like to thank you for your continued help and support and I hope you and your family have an enjoyable and restful break. I look forward to seeing your children next term, refreshed and ready to learn. Yours sincerely

Matthew Lantos Head

2

Reach Society Building Connections Patron: Lord Herman Ouseley

Reach Society’s Careers Conference In association with our strategic partners Royal Navy, Runnymede Trust, ACES Youth Project, National Black Boys Can, & The VOICE Newspaper Wednesday, 11th April 2012 10.00 am to 4.00 pm HMS President, St Katharine’s Way A day in which professional men from the Black community interact with young people, aged 14 plus, to inspire them; we also invite parents to come along with their children Some noteworthy features: o o o o o o

Discovering pathways to success in higher education, financial services, medicine, law, engineering, high technology, media services, civil and uniformed services, politics and more Interact with and be inspired by 24 professional Black male role models Explore and understand the UCAS process, the extra-ordinary value of Russell Group universities, the internship head start into employment & more Discover and engage the leading community groups skilled in helping our young people to become confident learners as they hone their talents th Welbeck 6 form college, (funded by the Ministry of Defence) offers funding to its students right through to university degree level Discover what private sector firms have to offer students aged 16 plus and once they become university graduates

Reach Society’s Careers Conference will be an extra-ordinary day for young people (all under 16s must be accompanied by a responsible adult). Can your child afford to miss out? Venue: HMS President, 72 Katharine's Way, London, E1W 1UQ http://www.alternativevenues.co.uk/content/tower-hill Nearest tube station is Tower Hill. We encourage all visitors to have a form of photo ID with them to gain admission. This is a FREE event; to register your name in advance, just email us on: [email protected] See our website: www.reachsociety.com for further information. For further enquires please contact us on: 07949 431 992.

3

Reminders Attendance, Punctuality and Registration Parents are reminded that the school should be informed promptly of any absence known in advance. Holidays must not be arranged during term time. Requests for emergency absences during term time should only be made in exceptional circumstances and should be made using a Request for Exceptional Leave of Absence during Term Time form available in reception at least four weeks in advance. The request will be considered by Mr Rigby, Deputy Head and you will be advised of the decision. The school has a dedicated absence line and if your child is absent for any reason or has to leave school to attend an appointment please call on 0208 385 4042 and leave a message. Please do not call the main switchboard. If your child has a dental appointment during the school day, please ensure that they bring an appointment card so that they can be allowed to leave school. If this is not possible please call the absence line on the morning of the appointment and give details of the time of the appointment and when they may leave school. Your continued co-operation is much appreciated. The school uses Keep Kids Safe, a system to help improve communication with families which includes the facility to text parents of any student who has not been marked present in registration. It is vital that students are in school on time so texts will be sent home during lesson one. Parents can also contact the school using the new service, if their child is going to be absent or late for school. Please telephone 08442 39 33 60 or text to 07624 811254. Uniform Our school blazer is compulsory for Year 7, Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 to wear over their shirt and tie. A school jumper or outdoor coat may also be worn in inclement or colder weather, but not instead of a blazer. Please make sure all items of uniform are clearly marked with your child’s name. This is especially important for blazers. Full details of the correct uniform and PE kit are given on our website. Students in Year 11 only may wear a shirt, tie and jumper or a shirt and tie. An appropriate outdoor coat may be worn in inclement or colder weather. no hats or caps anywhere on the school site scarves should be plain navy blue or black only proper school shoes (no trainers, Converse-style or other canvas boots/shoes or fashion boots/shoes) ties should be full length and visible and shirts should be tucked in trousers and skirts should be plain navy or black and appropriate for school (short skirts, trousers with cargo pockets, tight trousers and jeans are not an appropriate alternative to school uniform at any time) tights should be plain navy blue or black jewellery should be kept to a minimum and in particular, earrings should be restricted to a single pair of small, plain studs or sleepers

4

All items of uniform can be purchased from any of our three suppliers Jackies Agencies Ltd, 195 Kenton Road, Harrow, HA3 0HD (020 8909 1105) Mayfair School Outfitters, 463-465 Kingsbury Road, London NW9 9DY (8204 8117) Rumbles Uniform Suppliers, 598 High Road, Wembley, HA0 2AF (020 8902 1393) Optional Key Stage 4 ties are on sale in the Finance Office at a cost of £3.00. In exceptional circumstances if students are unable to wear the proper uniform on a particular day, they must bring an explanatory note signed by a parent to hand to their Director of Student Development. However on some occasions they may still be sent home to collect the necessary item. Staff will confiscate unsuitable items and arrange for them to be collected by parents rather than returning them to students themselves. Emergency Contact Numbers It is a legal requirement for parents to inform the school of any changes to their home address, telephone number or of any change in circumstances which the school should know about. Please complete the attached form and return it to the General Office as soon as possible with any changes to your contact details. Equipment and Student Planners As part of our commitment to develop them as independent learners, all students are expected to come to school each day with the necessary equipment to take an active part in their lessons. As well as essential equipment such as a pen, pencil and ruler, students should have their planner and a reading book with them at all times. Student planners are a vital means of communication between home and school and should be checked and signed by parents once a week. They should also be used for any routine communication between home and school. Each year we receive a number of queries about the provision of lockers at school. The governors have considered this issue on a number of occasions but have concluded that teaching space is at such a premium that any further loss cannot be justified. It is key that the school and families work together to ensure that students are well organised and only carry with them the essential items for each day and also that they are encouraged to think about the way they carry their bags; research has shown that back pain from carrying bags often occurs as a result of using one strap on one shoulder. Further information and specially designed backpacks are available from a number of websites including www.backcare.org.uk. Mobile phones, personal stereos, ear-pieces and MP3 or MP4 players are not appropriate in a school setting and we will not accept any responsibility for items that are lost at school. Staff will continue to confiscate any of these items if they are seen during the school day, including at break and lunchtime, and will arrange for them to be collected by parents rather than returning them to students themselves. Please telephone the school to arrange a time to collect items from your child’s Director of Student Development as items will not be returned without an appointment. There are telephones in school that students can ask to use to contact home in an emergency. Use of mobile phones to make calls or send texts during the school day will continue to be treated as serious breaches of the behaviour policy.

5

Home Learning Home Learning activities are set on a regular basis at Preston Manor and should be recorded by all students in their planner. Home Learning gives individuals the opportunity to develop their skills as independent learners. In addition, Home Learning is provided for students to practise applying the skills they have learned in lessons. Without this practice, students do not progress and reach their potential. Therefore we ask that you monitor that Home Learning is set and recorded in your child’s planner. If there are any queries or issues regarding Home Learning, please communicate this with form tutors through the Student Planner in the first instance. We appreciate your support in ensuring the best progress for your son or daughter. Offensive Weapons A significant concern among young people and the adults who care for them is a fear of crime and in particular the fear of crimes involving weapons. Thankfully incidents in Brent schools involving weapons are few and far between, but all secondary schools have committed to working in partnership with the police to reduce this fear and the consequences of this type of crime. Evidence shows that young people are most likely to be victims if they carry a weapon themselves. Education plays a key role in preventing incidents and schools will continue to work with the police to develop appropriate programmes. I am sure all families will support us in our efforts to keep each young person safe at school and in the wider community. Preston Manor remains signed up to the Brent Schools’ Offensive Weapons Protocol developed in partnership with the Metropolitan Police. We take any incident of this nature very seriously. Under the protocol, any student found in possession of an offensive weapon (including fireworks and imitation weapons) will be referred to the police and will place themselves at risk of permanent exclusion from the school. Behaviour in School and the Wider Community The vast majority of our students exhibit excellent and courteous behaviour at all times and are a credit to their families. However some staff and students have raised concerns about rude, disrespectful and uncooperative behaviour from a small number of individuals. In order to ensure that the school remains a harmonious community where all students and staff are able to develop and fulfil their potential, I will continue to treat any behaviour of this kind as a serious breach of school discipline. Students who repeatedly behave in this way will place themselves at risk of fixed term or possibly permanent exclusion from Preston Manor. The school has high expectations of the way that students behave in the local community. In particular students must go straight home at the end of the day unless they are taking part in an organised school activity supervised by a member of staff must not congregate by the school gates after 3.30pm and if they need to meet younger siblings they should wait in the playground by the Art and Design Block must not arrange to meet friends who do not attend Preston Manor under any circumstances must not behave in an anti-social or inconsiderate way near local bus stops and shops, particularly at the Texaco petrol station or in Preston Road

6

Due to the potential risk to the health, safety and welfare of all members of the school community, as well as possible damage to the school’s reputation, any incidents when students fail to heed these instructions will be dealt with as a very serious matter. Parents are also reminded that for health and safety reasons and a lack of available space there is no parking provided on the school site at the beginning and end of the school day, unless by prior arrangement. Unfortunately we receive a number of complaints from local residents and the police Safer Neighbourhoods Team about inconsiderate parking, including across driveways and on the yellow zigzag lines directly outside the school entrance. I encourage all students to walk, cycle or use public transport when travelling to or from school and ask that if parents do choose to use their cars they show consideration for our neighbours. Entitlement to Free School Meals We are keen to ensure that all students receive the support to which they are entitled and are having nutritious food at lunchtime. A letter was sent out in December giving full details of who is entitled to apply and where you can access the forms. Copies of this letter are available in reception or from our website. In addition the school receives the Pupil Premium element of its funding according to the number of students eligible for FSM. School Trips From 1 September 2011 all payments for school trips have been made through ParentPay or Paypoint. Further details regarding payment method will be included in the letter outlining the trip details.

7

STUDENT EMERGENCY CONTACT DETAILS Please pass this form to the General Office

STUDENT DETAILS Student SURNAME Student FIRST name: Form: Home Telephone no.: Mother Work no.: Mother Mobile no.: Mother Email address: Father Work no.: Father Mobile no.: Father Email address: OTHER EMERGENCY CONTACT DETAILS Please give details of any other person to contact in case of emergency Name: Telephone no. Relationship to child: Name: Telephone no.: Relationship to child:

8