Additional Information
Navigation:
Additional Information
We hope that our prospectus gives you all the information you need about Shelley College but if you need more detail, you can send for the documents listed later. Some details given here may change before next September but we will try to keep you updated. Shelley has always welcomed the interest of parents and the local community. If you would like to come to see us at work, please contact our Headteacher, Mr. John Fowler.
Senior Staff for 2007 are as follows:-
Headteacher: |
Mr. J. Fowler |
Deputy Headteachers: |
Mr. S. Harrington |
Assistant Headteachers: |
Mrs. D. Lumb |
|
|
|
|
Key Pastoral Staff for 2007 are as follows:- |
|
Acting Student Manager Year 11 |
Miss. M. Patterson |
Assistant Student Manager Year 11 |
Mrs. V. Hieatt |
Student Manager Year 10 |
Mr. R. Lockett |
Assistant Student Manager Year 10 |
Mrs. A. Jackson |
Student Manager Year 9 |
To be appointed |
Assistant Student Manager Year 9 |
Mrs. A. Maitland |
Other key staff who can help you with your enquiries:- |
|
|
Headteacher’s Personal Assistant |
Mrs. M. Worsley |
Main School Office Manager |
Mrs. S. Markham |
Education Social Worker |
Mr Trevor Pyrah |
Chair of Governors |
Mrs. P. Gillespie |
A full staff list is available from the school.
Our Admissions Policy
Kirklees LEA has a detailed admissions policy for schools in the area, which can be obtained from Margaret Hamby in Schools Admissions, Oldgate House, 2 Oldgate, Huddersfield, telephone 01484 225007.
The criteria for admission to our school are as follows:-
- children with a statement of special educational needs which names the school
- children in public care (Looked after children)
- children who live in the school’s priority admissions area who have an older brother or sister attending from the same address at the date of admission
- other children living in the school’s priority admission area
- children who live outside the priority admission area who have an older brother or sister attending from the same address at the time of admission
- children who live outside the priority area.
If places remain available, the LEA then offers places to children who live outside our priority admission area but who wish to take up a place at our school. Places are offered up to our annual Published Admissions Limit (PAL) of 354.
Even though our year groups are large, we are regularly over-subscribed. Parents of students who do not appear to meet the above criteria are advised to write to the LEA
as a matter of urgency. You are also welcome to discuss matters with our Assistant Headteacher in charge of admissions, Mr David Wadsworth. A parent whose child is refused admission to our school is entitled to appeal to an independent tribunal.
Our School Day
Morning Session: 8.35 a.m. until 12.15 p.m.
Afternoon Session: 1.00 p.m. until 3.00 p.m.
Students should not arrive before 8 a.m. as this causes security and supervision problems. The Early Bird Café is open for students from 8 oclock. Students should arrive by 8.30 a.m. at the latest, so that they are on time for morning tutor time.
- School begins with a twenty-minute tutor period and/or assembly, at 8.35a.m.
- Morning lessons begin at 8.55 a.m. and continue until 12.15p.m., with a twenty-minute morning break when drinks and snacks are available.
- At lunchtimes, an excellent selection of meals and balanced snacks is provided by our new catering section.
It is particularly important that standards of behaviour are very good during lunch hours and students who cannot behave well may be sent home for lunch.
Supervised homework rooms, games rooms and library facilities are available at lunchtimes as is a varied range of lunchtime clubs and activities, including sport, music, drama and outdoor pursuits.
During the lunch period students are under the supervision of a team of supervisors, supported by senior staff, who patrol inside and outside our buildings to ensure students are safe and behaving sensibly. Students are expected to stay on site unless they have specific permission to go out of school. Whilst we do all we can to enforce this rule, the size of our school site is such that we are unable to guarantee to keep all students on site. We ask for letters from parents giving permission for students to be out of school but parents must note that if their children defy our requests for them to stay on site we cannot take responsibility for their safety or behaviour out in the community.
- Afternoon lessons run from 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm without a break.
Back to the top
Back to the top
School Dates for 2007 - 2008
| Autumn Term | |
| Start of Term | Monday, 3rd September |
| Half-Term | Monday 22nd October until Friday 26th October inclusive
(Students are not at school on these days) |
| Last Day of Term | Friday 21st December |
| Spring Term | |
| Start of Term | Monday, 7th January 2008 |
| Half-Term | Monday 11th February until Friday 15th February inclusive (Students are not at school on these days) |
| Last Day of Term | Thursday, 20th March |
| Summer Term | |
| Start of Term | Monday 7th April |
| Half-Term |
Monday 26th May until Friday 30th May inclusive (Students are not at school on these days) |
| Last Day of Term | Tuesday, 22nd July |
| (There will be five school closure days for staff training during the academic year. These will be allocated later and parents will be informed of these additional dates once they have been agreed.) | |
Uniform
All students in Years 9 to 11 must wear our school uniform. It is designed to support a purposeful, safe and working atmosphere and we have tried to make it smart, sensible and comfortable. We have listened to student requests and agreed this uniform after consultation with both parents and students. Given that we have involved our students in the creation of our uniform, we now expect all of them to support the school and wear the complete uniform in the appropriate way. We ask for full parental co-operation in ensuring children are suitably dressed for school. Our uniform is as follows:-
- The school polo shirt with the school logo embroidered on it, in the appropriate year-group colour. No other polo shirt is allowed.
- The plain black V-necked school pullover with the school logo. No other jumper of any description may be worn.
- When worn with the school jumper, the polo shirt MUST be tucked in. In warm weather students may wear the polo shirt on its own, in which case it may be worn tucked in, or outside trousers.
- Plain, black tailored trousers. Jeans, cords, leggings or tracksuit bottoms are not allowed: nor are combat-style trousers with large outside pockets.
- Black, sensible and safe shoes. Trainers are not allowed.
- The school polo shirt with the school logo embroidered on it, in the appropriate year-group colour. No other polo shirt is allowed.
- The plain black V-necked school pullover with the school logo. No other jumper of any description may be worn.
- When worn with the school jumper, the polo shirt MUST be tucked in. In warm weather students may wear the polo shirt on its own, in which case it may be worn tucked in, or outside trousers/skirts.
- Plain black skirt (NB – Tight, split and very short skirts are not allowed). Trousers may be worn but they must be plain, black, tailored, and made of material similar to that of a school skirt. They must not be baggy or too tight but of a straight, plain cut. Jeans, cords, leggings or tracksuit bottoms are not allowed: nor are combat-style trousers with large outside pockets.
- Black, sensible and safe (not backless, open-toed, platform or high-heeled) shoes. Stiletto heels and trainers are not allowed.
Please note :- We reserve the right to instruct students not to wear any clothing we consider to be inappropriate, for example, coloured, studded or patterned fashion belts or particularly low cut trousers. If necessary, we will remove inappropriately dressed students from their lessons to work in isolation.
Back to the top
Whilst we accept that jewellery is fashionable and that many young people like to wear it, it is neither necessary in school, nor in many circumstances, safe. For this reason we would prefer students not to wear jewellery of any kind at any time. However we have decided that the following jewellery will be acceptable:-
- one small stud or sleeper-type ring earring in each ear
- a small, flat and discreet nose stud
- one small ring
- a watch
No other jewellery, other than that which is worn for specific religious reasons, is allowed. Students and parents need to be aware that we will insist that students remove any other items of jewellery, or any jewellery that we feel is inappropriate or dangerous.
We ask parents and students to cooperate with us where the wearing of jewellery is concerned, so that we are not forced to confiscate items. Parents must note that if any jewellery worn in school is lost or stolen, neither the school nor the Authority can accept responsibility for the loss.
This applies even if jewellery is given to a member of staff.
Any items of jewellery worn must be removed during certain lessons, for example P.E.
Shelley winters can be very cold and students are encouraged to wear a warm coat to school. However, coats must be removed as soon as students enter the school buildings. Please note that
- No coats, or outside clothing (e.g. scarves, gloves, hats) may be worn inside the buildings at any time. They must be placed inside students’ lockers, or in bags, out of sight.
Any student wearing any of these items inside the school building will have them confiscated until the end of the school day and a negative comment written in their planner. Repeat offenders will face detentions and possibly a period of isolation.
- Students must avoid all extremes, including extreme hairstyles.
- If worn, make-up and nail-polish must be discreet, natural look.
Obviously visible/bright make-up or nail polish are not allowed.
In September 2006 we introduced a PE Kit for students in Year 9. This will now be worn by students in both Years 9 and 10. Compulsory elements of the PE kit are:
- Navy Shorts with logo
- Navy Football Shirt with logo
- Navy/White Football Socks with logo
- Navy Polo Shirt with logo
- Navy/White Track Top with logo
- Navy/White Track Pants (Optional)
- Navy Reversible Jacket with logo (Optional)
- Navy/White Rain Top with logo (Optional)
- Navy Polo Shirt with logo
- Navy/White Track Top with logo
- Navy Shorts/Skort/Track Pant with logo (at least one of these items)
- Navy Reversible Jacket with logo (Optional)
- Navy/White Rain top with logo (Optional)
Students need to bring certain equipment to school every day in order to help them achieve all of which they are capable. All students are expected to have pens, pencils, and rulers with them at all times, along with their Student Planners. They must bring the specific equipment needed for certain lessons e.g. P.E. and Food Technology. We also recommend that all students have good quality dictionaries and calculators. Books and equipment need to be carried in proper bags which are large enough to carry them without damaging them.
Whilst we recognise the need for some students to have mobile phones with them at school in case they need to contact parents in an emergency, phones are not necessary equipment for a school day. Sadly the misuse of mobile phones in schools across the country is increasing.
Students who do bring mobile phones with them to school must not use them at any time other than at break and lunchtime.
Mobile Phones and Personal Music Players (ipods/MP3s etc) may only be used OUTSIDE THE BUILDINGS. They must not be used around corridors or in classrooms, or social areas. Any phone that rings or is visible during lessons will be confiscated.
If a student attempts to break these rules, or is found to be sending inappropriate messages at any time, the phone will be confiscated.
Continual misuse of mobile phones may result in a student being refused permission to bring a phone to school.
At all times we wish to maintain an atmosphere around school which encourages a work ethic. We therefore do not allow items for personal music - walkmans/personal CD or cassette players/ MP3 players/etc. – inside the buildings at any time. If members of staff wish from time to time to play music as part of their lessons, they will take responsibility for using a single player for a whole class.
If any personal music players are used inside the buildings, they will be confiscated.
The only exception to this rule is that Sixth Form students may use personal music players in the Sixth Form Common Room.
We believe that regular attendance is vital if students are to take full advantage of the educational opportunities at Shelley. We therefore ask all parents to make every effort to ensure their children attend school at all times, unless they are genuinely too ill to attend.
Student attendance at our school is very good. We seek to work with parents on all attendance issues and major problems only come from that small handful of students whose parents appear to condone their absences. It is important that a note or telephoned explanation is given for each absence. We would prefer a note as this can be checked for authenticity. Parents are asked to use the Student Planner for writing absence notes and to send such notes to us the day of their child’s return.
We strongly disapprove of students being taken on holiday in term-time as this can seriously affect their education. We are very worried about the increasing tendency of families to choose to take holidays during term-time in order to take advantage of reduced prices. If, in exceptional circumstances, families are forced to take a holiday in school time, the procedure is to write, in advance, to the Headteacher to ask permission for students to miss school. Otherwise we are prepared to refuse permission for absence. This will result in "unauthorised attendance" (truancy) marks being given.
The following figures refer to the 1109 students in Years 9 to 11 who attended school up to July 2006.
Attendance for the 2005-06 school year |
Shelley |
Kirklees |
National |
Percentage of half days in the whole school missed through authorised absence (e.g. illness). |
5.4 |
6.7 |
6.8 |
Percentage of half days missed through unauthorised absence (e.g. truancy or absence without a parental note). |
0.5 |
1.1 |
1.3 |
Total overall attendance rate. |
94.1 |
92.2 |
91.9 |
Our Sixth Form provides an excellent educational experience and now attracts large numbers of students, many from schools other than Shelley College. Entrance to the Sixth Form is based on an interview and the emphasis is placed on high levels of commitment shown during Years 10 and 11, as well as examination results. We offer a broad curriculum with courses to suit students with varying interests and abilities. Our Sixth Form has doubled in size in recent years and now stands at well over 300.
Full details about our Sixth Form can be found in our Sixth Form Prospectus.
All subject departments have produced a detailed statement of aims, policies and teaching syllabuses, which we do not have space to summarise here. These are available on request from the Headteacher. Particular information which intending parents may wish to have is given below:-
There is a co-ordinated approach to careers education across the curriculum, involving teachers, tutors and professional Careers Advisers. All students receive careers guidance throughout their school lives and parents are given the opportunity to meet Careers Advisers at Parents' Evenings and at fixed times during the year. All students undertake a period of two weeks' work experience, organised by The Calderdale and Kirklees Careers Partnership, at the beginning of Year 11. In the Sixth Form there may be a further opportunity for work experience.
The school combines a cross-curricular approach to Personal and Social Education with dedicated lessons which cover aspects of citizenship, careers, and Health Education (including Sex and Relationships Education). School lessons are supported by whole school events aimed at raising awareness of specific issues, by the use of outside speakers and by the excellent work of our School Nurses. The staff and Governors have drawn up and approved a policy for Health Education which is obtainable from the Headteacher.
Religious Studies is taught throughout the school in accordance with the Kirklees Agreed Syllabus. Units of work examine topics such as freedom; the place of the individual in society; prejudice and discrimination; and crime and punishment. In Years 10 and 11 all students follow a short course GCSE which includes topics on Marriage and Family Life; Social Harmony; Matters of Life and Death; and Wealth and Poverty. In Year 12 Religious Studies is covered by the General Studies course and examines issues such as the sanctity of life and the place of religions in society. An A level option is available in Year 12 offering students the opportunity to begin the study of Philosophy and Ethics. Full details of our approach to religious education can be obtained from the Headteacher. No parents in recent times have felt that their children should be withdrawn from Religious Studies lessons, though that right remains.
Assemblies are held each morning: once a week in half year groups, and tutor-based on the other four days, as is allowed by the 1988 Act. In these assemblies the students are presented with matters for serious moral and spiritual thought, the majority of which will have a broadly Christian interpretation. Because the school takes a non-denominational approach to daily assemblies, parents virtually never withdraw their children.
We offer a very wide variety of opportunities outside of the classroom, to support the all-round education of our students. This includes cultural exchanges in Europe, Tanzania and our annual exchange with students from Martha’s Vineyard in America. Students can undertake the Duke of Edinburgh Award, community service, environmental work, and they can involve themselves in Drama productions as well as a host of clubs and societies.
Peripatetic Music teachers provide individual and group tuition in a variety of instruments and extra-curricular music activities include an orchestra, wind band, jazz band, pop choir and several steel bands. One of Kirklees’ Weekend Music Centres is held at Shelley College.
Our Physical Education Department is committed to providing the opportunity for every student to achieve their potential and as a result sport flourishes at our school. We have school teams in a variety of sports, including soccer, rugby, netball, rounders, and hockey. Other sports, such as badminton and athletics are also popular, as are gymnastics, dance, and outdoor adventure. Shelley College is part of the national School Sports Co-ordinators Programme and in addition we provide the opportunity for students to gain both the Junior Sports Leader and Community Sports Leader Awards.
All school clubs have an open access policy. Students are encouraged to make links with local clubs and to participate in inter-schools fixtures. Those with greater potential go on to participate at area, regional and national level.
The school enjoys good sporting facilities which include: a multi-purpose sports hall with a viewing balcony; a gymnasium; a fitness suite; tennis and netball courts; and rugby, soccer and hockey pitches. A purpose-built P. E. teaching room was opened in October 2000.
The welfare system at Shelley offers support when a student's personal problem begins to affect some aspect of school life. The form tutor is usually the first person to become involved. If the case is long-term or more complex in nature, the form tutor will then work with the year staff. If problems are not resolved in school we are able to ask for support from several outside agencies. Our Education Social Worker, Mr T Pyrah, can be contacted by making an appointment through school or Upperhead Row (01484 221919).
We have a limited amount of first aid and accommodation for sick students when emergencies arise during the day. If a student is too ill to remain in school we contact parents and ask parents to make arrangements to transport their child home. However, we do hope that no child will be sent to school when sick. We therefore ask you not to use our first aid facilities as an alternative to your own doctor. We can only offer advice, not diagnosis.
If your child needs hospital treatment we will contact you and ask you to come to school to travel with the ambulance. If it is more convenient, you may wish to go directly to hospital. Please note that there may not always be a member of staff available to travel with your child in the ambulance.
Any form of aggressive behaviour or bullying, or wilful damage to the property of the school or other people, will be dealt with very firmly and is liable to lead to exclusion from school.
Neither the school nor the Local Authority can be held responsible for any loss or damage to property. Students should not therefore bring to school items of high value and valuables must not be left in cloakrooms or lockers. Anything of high value that must be brought to school must be handed to the School Office for safe keeping.
No articles that are potentially dangerous (such as fireworks, aerosol sprays, matches, lighters, knives, laser pens and drinks in cans or glass bottles) may be brought into school. We have also had to ban chewing/bubble-gum because of damage to furniture and carpets.
The school strongly disapproves of smoking because of the undoubted damage to health that it causes. Students must not smoke on or near the premises, or on the way to and from school. Matches, lighters and cigarettes will be confiscated if found. Smoking in the building presents such a hazard to health and safety that students caught doing so will be isolated and may face exclusion from school.
If any student is ever found to be in possession of illegal substance at school (s)he will be referred to the police and will be excluded from school, possibly permanently. Any student caught dealing drugs will almost certainly be excluded permanently.
It is very important that we have the support of parents in our approach to behaviour and the measures we take with individuals. If we do not have this support, experience shows that students’ behaviour deteriorates rapidly.
The Positive Behaviour Policy is intended to:
- Ensure that there is a regular, consistent and public recognition of and reward for, all students who work and behave in the appropriate manner.
- Ensure students are fully aware of our expectations of behaviour at Shelley College. They must take responsibility for their actions and accept that they have the opportunity to improve if they are failing to behave in the way that is expected. However, they must accept the consequences if they fail to do so.
Positive Behaviour consistently recognises and rewards students in a number of ways, namely stamps, credits, certificates, postcards and phone calls home, meetings with members of the school’s Senior Leadership Team and Awards Ceremonies.
A pyramid of sanctions are also implemented consistently throughout the School. If students fail to adhere to our expectations of behaviour, both in lessons and around the school, the sanctions procedure will be implemented. In line with rewards, there is a hierarchy of sanctions; verbal warning, written warning(s), removed from the classroom and moved to another teaching area, after school detention, isolation, written contract, fixed and permanent exclusions.
Both the rewards and sanctions are cumulative. Therefore, students have a clear understanding of how both positive and negative behaviour will progress through the appropriate pyramid.
Specific details of the Positive Behaviour Policy are summarized in student planners.
Our policy for Special Educational Needs reflects the requirements of the 1996 Education Act, and the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act 2001. However, the content of the Policy reaffirms our commitment to meeting the special needs of students in the learning situations in which they arise. Copies of our policy can be provided on request.
Although subject specialists remain responsible for the education of all students in their teaching groups, the Learning Support Department provides full support in the development of Individual Education Plans. Each Plan sets out clear targets for students to achieve over an agreed period of time and provides guidance as to how these might be achieved.
Parents will be involved in all stages of decision-making, relating to the way the school attempts to meet the special educational needs of their child. It is our firm belief that all students should have equal access to all areas of the school curriculum.
We are fortunate to have a very active Parents' Association - the Parents' Social Committee - who run regular social and fund raising events. Do please support them in their activities, which in recent years have helped to raise significant sums of money for the benefit of students. If you would like to take an active part in this Association, please contact our Assistant Headteacher, Mr Brian Warner.
The Governing Body recognises the valuable contribution that the wide range of additional activities, including trips and residential experiences can make towards students personal and social education. It therefore aims to promote and provide activities both as optional extras and as part of a broad and balanced curriculum for our students.
In certain circumstances it will be necessary to charge parents for all or part of an activity. There is a detailed governors charging policy available from the school and we operate within national guidelines.
We will always endeavour to support students in cases of genuine financial difficulty which might result in their education suffering.
Both special school buses and normal bus services are available to take students to and from school. Students of compulsory school age who live more than 3 miles from school may qualify for a Zero Fare bus pass. Application forms should be filled in at middle schools in the case of Year 9 students. Students in other year groups apply in February each year. Forms for this are available at school, but the arrangements are made entirely between parents and the Local Authority.
Students living less than 3 miles from school, and not within reasonable walking distance, and who are aged between 14 and 19 years, must obtain a half fare pass, otherwise full fare may be charged. Application forms for passes are available from a main Post Office or from the Yorkshire Traction or Metro Bus offices. Sixth Form students can collect a form from the Sixth Form Office.
If a bus fails to arrive on a morning, please inform school immediately by telephone so that we can inform Year Offices.
Students need to get to school as quickly as possible.
Parents who bring their children to school by car are asked to ensure they arrive well before registration time and not later than 8.25 a.m.
If it is necessary to pick students up after school parents are asked not do so until 10 minutes after the end of school so that buses have an opportunity to clear the turning circle. Where parents are forced to arrive at school before 3.10 we must ask that you park outside of the school site on the main road away from the yellow lines. If parents do not support us with our procedures then congestion and danger will increase and an accident may well occur. Please help us and your children by remaining outside of the school site until at least 3.10 p.m.
Please do not park on the double yellow lines at any time.
If students wish to cycle to school, this may be arranged when written notification from the parents is received. A pass is then issued. Students cycling to school must follow all traffic regulations on our site, including the one-way system.
Ours is a flourishing Governing Body with 20 members, including six parent governors who are elected for periods of four years. Governors have a large measure of control over the appointment of staff, financial affairs, and broad school policy. They meet as a large group about six times a year and have several smaller working groups e.g. for curriculum, staffing and financial matters. Governors also visit the school regularly, both formally and informally. This helps to ensure good communication and understanding of school matters. We would be pleased to hear from parents who might like to become parent governors.
Our current Chair of Governors is Mrs Linda Dye (Withinfields, Lower Common Lane, Scissett). Current parent governors, all of whom can be contacted through the school, are Mr Ian Barker, Mr Jeff Beevers, Reverend Helen Hodgson, Mr David Sharples, Mrs Paula Gillespie, and Mrs Olive Simpson.
Documents relating to:-
- Discipline;
- Health and Sex Education;
- Personal and Social Development of students;
- Homework;
- Multi-Cultural and Anti-Racist Education;
- Collective Worship;
- Special Needs; Equal Opportunities;
- Assessment, Recording and Reporting Achievement;
- Careers Education;
- Charging for activities;
- Fundraising;
- Dealing with Drug-related incidents;
- The Curriculum;
- Liaison in the Shelley Family of Schools;
- Meeting the Needs of the Most Able Students;
- Raising the Achievement of Boys;
- Improving Literacy;
- The Governors' Annual Reports to Parents.
We intent to make these documents available online as soon as possible.
There is a detailed complaints procedure available to you, devised by the LEA and Governors, a copy of which can be obtained from school on request.