Safeguarding
Information
Mr Atkinson's Friday Update 10.06.22
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Dear parents/carers,
I hope all had a good break over the Jubilee bank holiday. It has been great to hear about what students had been doing, including Billy (Yr 8) whose family organised a street party with everyone else bringing the food, I'm not sure which was the hardest job!
However, we also realise that in the current times the cost of living is having an impact on all and therefore some may not have been able to celebrate as much as they would have liked. To support with this, we have been approached to trial being a Food Bank drop off point for the Bradford Central Foodbank. This was featured in the school magazine at the end of term asking parents/carers to donate if they are able to. The collection point is A3 and this is a list of the items that they have asked for:
- Longlife UHT Juice
- Cereals
- Lentils (tins or microwave packets)
- Soup (tins)
- Jam
- Toilet Rolls
- Beans (tins)
- UHT Milk
- Tinned Fruit
We know that times are difficult for everyone but if you wish to donate please ask your child to drop any of these items off to A3. This is going to be publicised to students in an upcoming assembly as well but it's very much a case of only if people wish to and are in a position to do so. The sixth form, led by Jemima (Yr 12) and Mr Brown (Assistant Head of Sixth Form) are also supporting this with a 'Clothes Swap' day, where students bring in old clothes to then trade with others... entry though is with an item of food from the above list, which in turn will be donated to the Food Bank.
Looking ahead to this half term, it is another action packed calendar with the Arts taking centre stage and rehearsals for 'When I Grow Up!' start on Monday 20th June in G8/G9 from 3pm - 4pm. Students do not need to audition to take part, however, if they would like to be considered for a main part, this can be done on Monday 13th June at the same time and location as before. With reference to other Arts events, Mr Davenport (Head of Art and Design) joined me in the whole school assembly to launch the annual Art Competition.
Also this half term sees the reintroduction of the Yr 7 and Yr 8 Sponsored Walk which is occurring on Wednesday 20th July. This is being led by Mr Foster (AHT). We also have the Duke of Edinburgh weekend expeditions for Yr 9 and Yr 10 being led by Mr Morse (Teacher of Science), the first of which has begun today. We would like to say good luck to all those taking part, they are all great community events which we have sorely missed over the past two years.
In addition to this, Mr Ward (AAHT/Deputy DSL) is busy planning for next year and the different activities that will be on offer with the House system returning in full. Mr Bridge Junior (soon to be head of the current Yr 7 and Yr 8) and Mrs Roberts (Head of current Yr 7 and Yr 8) have also been planning for the reintroduction of morning form time next year, which again will tie into the House system. Finally, with regards to the House system the Student Leadership Group under the guidance of Mr Riley (Head of Media/Research) are consulting students next week on the renaming of the House system. Students in the team have expressed they want to make the House names more relevant to them and their peers and therefore they are consulting the wider student population next week.
In terms of consultation, Mrs Spicer (AHT) and I would like to invite any parents/carers who would like to attend a consultation meeting regarding the school's Peer to Peer abuse policy (Anti Bullying) to contact:
maria.parker@bingleygrammar.org
to express that you would like to attend. We will then contact you directly to let you know the time and location of this. The meeting will be focused on the existing policy which has been recently been amended by Mr Bridge Senior (Current Head of Yr 10 and Yr 11) and Mrs Roberts alongside the work they have been doing with the Behaviour Hubs and the Anti Bullying Alliance. Finally regarding consultation, a big thank you to all those who have responded to parent surveys following the recent parents' evenings. This feedback has helped inform our decision to return to face to face parents' evenings with the next being on Tuesday 21st June for our current Yr 7 parents. It will be great to bring you into the school for the first time this year.
Finally, I promise... next week the year teams will be changing. This allows the teams time to get to know their new students before the end of the year ready to hit the ground running in September. For those students who have existing 1-1's with staff these will continue and a hand over will be completed so the new teams are fully updated. The new teams will be as follows with email addresses going live on Monday:
YEAR 7
Mr Booth - AAHT for Yr 7/Yr 8/Yr 9
Mr Bridge (Junior) - Head of Year for Yr 7 and Yr 8
Ms Blagg - Student Support Officer for Yr 7
YEAR 8
Mr Booth - AAHT for Yr 7/Yr 8/Yr 9
Mr Bridge (Junior) - Head of Year for Yr 7 and Yr 8
Mrs Faunch - Student Support Officer for Yr 8
YEAR 9
Mr Parapia - AAHT for Yr 9 and Yr 10
Mr Bridge (Senior) - Head of Year Yr 9 and Yr 10
Mrs Bradley - Student Support Officer for Yr 9 until 27th June, Mrs Bradley also works in the sixth form and has previous experience with Years 8 - 11.
Miss Clough - Student Support Officer for Yr 9 from the 27th June, Miss Clough is a new member of staff with a background working in mental health, which we know will be invaluable in the coming months and years.
YEAR 10
Mr Parapia - AAHT for Yr 9 and Yr 10
Mr Bridge (Senior) - Head of Year for Yr 9 and Yr 10
Mrs Qayyum - Student Support Officer Yr 10
Students are aware of these changes and assemblies will be happening on Monday 13th June to reinforce this.
Best wishes.
Matthew Atkinson - Deputy Headteacher/Designated Safeguarding Lead
