Parent Update

I know that many families would like to discuss relationships and sex education (RSE) further and I have made the following commitments:

• At our next Parent Consultation Event on Tuesday 4th July, the packs of printed resources that many parents requested will be available to review between 3.30-4.00pm
• In the first half-term of the next academic year, one of the bi-weekly Community Group meetings will focus on the RSE curriculum with leaders available to ask and answer questions
• Then, in the second half-term of each academic year (November time), a further consultation event will take place similar to the one we had last week ahead of the Spring term when much of the content is taught

Our RSE policy, including our current curriculum map as an appendix, is available here

There are two remaining consultation events this term. They will take place between 4pm and 5pm in the main halls.

As stated above, we will welcome those parents wishing to discuss the RSE curriculum and to view the resources at the earlier time of 3.30pm at our next event on Tuesday 4th July, before beginning to focus on the planned building project from 4pm onwards.

• Building Project; Tues 4th July
• Home-school Communication; Thurs 13th July

I know that many families are looking forward to celebrating Eid this week. While I recognise that different mosques and different communities will officially mark Eid on different days (some on Wednesday and some on Thursday), I would like to remind parents that pupils are able to take one day away from school for religious observance and not two days.

On Friday this week, we will be celebrating One World Day (an updated version of what have previously been known as Culture Days). On this day, pupils will be invited to wear their own clothes, including traditional dress if they wish. There will also be fashion, food and music activities taking place throughout the day. 

The National Education Union (NEU) has announced to further days of strike action later this term: Wednesday 5th July and Friday 7th July.

On these days school will be closed for almost all pupils. The only pupils attending will be those who are due to take part in trips or special events which we hope to still be able to continue with. These include the planned trip for some Year 10 pupils to Drayton Manor and the Year 6 Transition Day. If your child is due to take part in a trip or an event on either of the planned strike days, you will be contacted directly to confirm arrangements.

All Ark Schools across the country will be taking part in a training day on Thursday 6th July. This date has been in the diary for a long time, and it is a day on which teachers from across all of Ark Schools work together to moderate the marking of end of year exams and to plan the curriculum for the year ahead.

This does mean that for almost all pupils, the school will be closed Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next week. Pupils will be directed towards learning and revision activities to complete, and guidance will also be shared with parents early next week.

A reminder that our parent and community group continues to meet on Thursday mornings with families welcome to arrive from 9.15am onwards.

A reminder to please save the date of Friday 21st July for Progress Day appointments with your child’s form tutor. In these appointments you will receive and review your child’s end of year report and exam results, and you will also receive important information about the start of the new school year in September.

A number of families have asked me recently about the term dates for the next academic year. These can be found here. Please note that pupils will be expected back in school on Wednesday 6th September after the summer holidays.