Dear Families,

Before moving on to the new term, it is with great sadness that I have to share that one of our Year 11 students from last year passed away towards the end of the holiday. A young life taken far too soon. I was honoured to be able to represent the Joseph Leckie community at the Janāzah and our thoughts and prayers remain with family and friends at this most difficult of times. If your child has been impacted by this tragic event, we have professionals in school who can support them. Please reach out to your child’s year team so that support can be arranged for them.

 

It has been great to have the school back open this week and full of students again. They have made a brilliant start back with students looking really smart in their uniforms and, even from day one, showing great commitment to their studies.

The new academic year brings us some new colleagues; I am sure the community will join me in welcoming our new members of staff:

  • Mrs Wright – Assistant Principal
  • Mr Derench – Science Teacher
  • Mr Tawheed – Science Teacher
  • Miss Kilmartin – Science Teacher
  • Miss Longmore – Teacher of History and Law
  • Miss Hussain – Geography Teacher
  • Miss Shelley – PE Teacher
  • Mrs Gandy – Pastoral Manager

As I mentioned in a letter over the summer, we have implemented a new pastoral system with a Head of Year and Pastoral Manager leading each of our year groups. These colleagues will be key contacts for you and your child during the year.

Year Group

Head of Year

Pastoral Manager

7

Miss Akhtar and Mr McKenna

Mrs Gandy

8

Miss Griffin

Miss Bird

9

Mr Taylor

Miss Marston

10

Mr Gain

Mrs Kumar

11

Mr Khan

Mrs Devey

 

Canteen Accounts

In a change made to how our catering accounts work, students will no longer be able to run up an overdraft on their food accounts in Arbor. If a child does not have enough funds on their account, on that day they will be given a sandwich and drink and will then be told that they will not be able to get further food until their Arbor accounts are topped up. We have had to make this change as too many students were in a deficit and did not pay off the money owed to the canteen, leading to significant losses.

Mobile Phones

Students have been reminded in assemblies this week, and I will remind them again next week, that school now needs to be mobile phone free zone by default and at no time during the school day should students access their phone. A very small number of students have had their phone confiscated in the first two days and their parents have had to collect them; a couple of parents chose not to.

Neither students nor parents should be surprised by the need for parents to collect the phone if it is seen in school, as this change has now been widely shared on several occasions. Should a student choose not to hand their phone over to be confiscated they will face serious sanctions, which could escalate to suspension.

Making the school a mobile phone free zone is not optional and we need the support of both students and parents to achieve this. Wherever possible please encourage your child to leave their phone at home, and do not attempt to contact your child during the day on their mobile phone, instead please use the school reception number to pass on any necessary messages.

I am always excited at the start of the new academic year about all the opportunities that will present themselves to our students. I urge everyone to take every opportunity you are given and to be the very best versions of yourself every day.

Thank you for your continued support,

Yours faithfully,

Mr McNaughton

Principal