- You should ensure that your children attend school regularly and on time, appropriately dressed.
- You should take an active interest in your children's school work, progress, attitude to work and behaviour in school.
- You should support the authority and discipline of the school, recognising that its rules are aimed at providing the best possible environment for effective learning and teaching.
The school understands and appreciates the value and benefits of part-time employment for young people. This is, however, an area in which a proper balance must be struck. Leisure activities, employment and school work all compete for the limited time available and it is important that school work and supporting study do not suffer.
Employment of Children
Children under the statutory school leaving age can only be employed within the terms of the bye laws on the Employment of Children. These regulations do not permit the employment of children under thirteen years of age, and for those over that age there are limits on the hours and type of employment allowed. Parents and employers must both complete an application form for an employment permit before the employment begins.
In the case of senior students the school relies upon the good sense of parents in ensuring that excessive hours are not worked.
Employment Permits are available from the Academy Reception Office or directly from Council HQ in Newtown St Boswells.
Behaviour on School Buses
There is no supervision on buses except by the driver. Bad behaviour not only inconveniences fellow pupils and members of the travelling public, it also gives a bad impression of the school and could lead to accidents. Parents are asked to emphasise to their sons/daughters that good behaviour on buses is vital.
Drivers have authority to confiscate bus passes and report misbehaviour to the school. Repeated instances of misbehaviour may result in bus passes being removed for a period of time and ultimately permanently. In such cases it becomes the responsibility of the Parents/Guardians to transport the pupil to and from school. The school will keep parents informed if there is a problem regarding the behaviour of their son/daughter on the buses.
Punctuality, Attendance and Absence
Registration
Each pupil is allocated to a Tutor Group based upon the House System. There are three Tutor Groups in Tweed House (1TX, 1TY and 1TZ) and similarly for Abbotsford (1AX, 1AY and 1AZ) and Eildon (1EX, 1EY and 1EZ). If possible, pupils remain in the same Tutor Group, with the same Group Tutor, from years one to five. Pupils register at 8.45 am each day.
Lates Procedure
A pupil is classed as late if a late-slip has to be issued from the office. The pupil's group tutor keeps a record of lates. If a pupil has three lates in one month then a letter is sent out by the office. The Pastoral teacher will follow up the letter by making contact with the pupil. If the pupil is late again within the month, with a reason which is unacceptable, the Head of House will be informed and parents may well be invited to school to discuss the problem.
Attendance
Responsibility for ensuring a pupil's regular attendance, by law, lies with the parent or guardian. The school will do everything in its power to assist parents and guardians in discharging this legal responsibility by maintaining a record of attendance, advising parents when attendance is unsatisfactory and asking the Academy's Attendance Officer to call at a pupil's home in cases of unexplained absence. It is also a legal responsibility of the school to request parents to provide an explanation (preferably by letter) of all absences.
Parents will receive notification of their son/daughter's total number of absences to date on the annual report card. They may, at any time, ask the relevant Pastoral Teacher for a computer printout of absences. This details the number of absences and the reasons for all absences during the current and previous sessions.
Absences
Known Absences
If it is known in advance that a pupil will be absent from school e.g. hospital appointments, family wedding etc. the parents are asked to inform the school by letter prior to the absence if possible.
Illness
Where a pupil is absent due to illness, the following procedure should be followed by parents:-
- In the case of a short absence (i.e. a few days) the parent should supply a note to the pupil to be handed to his/her Group Tutor on the day of return to school.
- Where the absence extends over more than 5 days, then the parent should inform the school in writing or by telephone of the reason for the absence and its likely duration. If the absence is likely to extend more than 2 weeks, the provision of schoolwork should be discussed with the relevant Pastoral Teacher.
- If after five days a note or phone call has not been received, the Group Tutor will ask the office to send out an attendance letter as a reminder.
Family Holidays
It is assumed that wherever possible parents will avoid taking family holidays during term time. It is recognised, however, that this is not always avoidable and in such cases parents should notify the Headteacher in writing as far in advance as possible. The Scottish Executive does not allow the school to authorise a holiday during term time. These absences for holidays are now classed as "unauthorised".
PLEASE REMEMBER - GOOD ATTENDANCE AND
HIGH SUBJECT GRADES USUALLY GO TOGETHER
