Policies & Procedures

School Opening Times
Absence and Lateness
Medical Team
Religious Education
Work Related Learning / Careers Education
Concerns and Feedback About the School Curriculum and Related Matters
Charging Policy
Further Policies

School Opening Times

The official school opening times are 8.00 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. Ouside this time, responsibility for students is only accepted if they are involved in events directly supervised by staff. The dining Hall is open for breakfast from 8.00 a.m. each morning.

Absence and Lateness

We ask that parents contact the school by telephone on the first day of absence with an indication of length of absence if possible. Following absence we expect pupils to bring a note from home explaining why they have been away. This should be addressed to the form tutor.

If appropriate, work to be done at home can be arranged for long term absentees.

Pupils are expected to be in school by 8.30 a.m. and in their classrooms ready to start work at 8.40 a.m. If pupils arrive after this time they must sign in at the Reception desk in the mail entrance.

We actively discourage pupils from taking holidays during term time. Requests should be made via holiday forms which are available from the main school office, or by clicking on the links below. All holiday leave will be recorded as unauthorised unless there are very exceptional circumstances. Parents will be notified by letter within 2 weeks if the absence is to be recorded as authorised.

HOLIDAY REQUEST FORM 2012 (213.82 kB)

Medical Team

We are very fortunate in having the services of a fully qualified school nurse for three days per week and a first aider for two days. There are also teaching and non teaching staff throughout the school who are trained in first aid, to ensure an immediate response whilst awaiting the attendance of a member of the medical team.

The school nurse is Miss Clare Holland; the first aider is Mrs Kirstie Mattholie. They will look after pupils if they are ill or injured and will contact you if necessary. This may be if your child is unwell and needs to come home or be seen by a doctor. The nurse is only expected to deal with cases that arise during the school day; please do not send pupils in to see the nurse with a known illness or injury - this is the role of your GP.

Where possible the medical team will make every effort to return your child to their lessons, to maximise their learning potential. Our mission, as a medical team, is a commitment to work with students, families, the school and its community to promote optimal health and academic success for all students at Saffron Walden County High School.

Religious Education

All pupils will experience a planned programme of Religious Education which follows the Essex agreed syllabus for RE. Pupils will develop an understanding of the perspectives of a variety of religious belief, both Christian and non-Christian. As they progress into the senior school, they are encouraged to engage with contemporary moral issues and come to an understanding of how people of different religious belief (and no religious belief) respond to these issues. From Year 9 RE combines with Citizenship and is taught as Life Skills to develop and widen its approach further.

Students have the opportunity to choose RE as an examination subject both at GCSE and Advanced Level within the school's option programme.

Assemblies of a broadly Christian nature are held for each year group. Should parents so wish, a child may be withdrawn from Religious Education. Parents wishing to withdraw children from assembly should contact the Year Achievement Co-ordinator.

Work Related Learning / Careers Education

The is developing a fully equipped and resourced careers section of the Learning Centre, where pupils can gain access to detailed information about the wide range of careers available. They can also obtain information through the school's Information Technology system which is equipped with careers software and CD ROMs. During Year 10 pupils undergo a two-week period of Work Experience organised by the school in co-operation with the Project Trident organisation. At KS4 a programme of Work-related Learning and Enterprise Education is built into the Life Skills course. In the Sixth Form students are given full guidance and support in the process of applying to university or employment, and in Year 12 undertake a further period of work shadowing. A Connexions Adviser is based in the school for five days per fortnight.

Concerns and Feedback About the School Curriculum and Related Matters

The Governors have established procedures for dealing with complaints about the school curriculum, including requirements relating to Religious Education and collective worship. In the first instance, parents should contact the Headteacher. Copies of the complaints procedure and the Instrument of Government are available from the school.

The school welcomes feedback from parents and students about the quality of education that it provides. Parents have a regular opportunity to feed back through reply slips that accompany school reports, and the Headteacher or his Deputies are available by appointment throughout the school year. In addition there are the usual channels of communication through form tutors and Year Achievement Co-ordinators. Parental enquiries relating to the school curriculum are always welcome, and should be addressed to the Director of Curriculum via the school e-mail. Students have the opportunity to feed back through a range of "Student Voice" structures.

The school always welcomes constructive comments, but asks parents to think carefully before raising issues which might divert staff teaching time unnecessarily.

Charging Policy

For activities totally or mainly outside school hours: no charges will be made for activities which are an essential part of the National Curriculum, a specified requirement of a public examination course, or legally required Religious Education, although a voluntary contribution will be sought to defray inevitable costs. For all other activities outside school hours actual costs will be charged.

For activities totally or mainly within school hours: parents will be charged for individual instrumental tuition other than that undertaken as part of GCSE Music courses, where the charges are subsidised by the school. An annual Music Department charge is in place to cover the costs of administering instrument tuition. Parents will also be charged for transport direct from home to an activity such as work experience.

Application for Hardship Allowance (24.95 kB)