Dear Families
Welcome to the academic year 2023/2024. I hope you have had a restful summer and I am looking forward to seeing our students return to school next week.
We have had two wonderful days celebrating post-16 and GCSE results here in school this summer and our community should be very proud of the achievements of all our young people. We look forward to seeing the vast majority return to our sixth form and to those heading off to pastures new we wish them much luck and look forward to hearing all about their successes.
As we prepare for the new academic year to begin, I thought you would welcome some information about the start of term.
Wednesday 6th September: Year 7 and 12 only starting at 8.40am
Thursday 7th September: All year groups starting at 8.40am
It is important for all students to be inside the school gates by 8.30am to allow them time to lock bicycles and make their way to their classrooms etc. Being punctual will mean they do not miss any vital information to make a good start to their year.
I am delighted to welcome new colleagues to the senior team to enhance and accelerate areas of the school to best meet the needs of our community.
Should you or your child have any safeguarding concerns then please find below the safeguarding team though it should be noted that all colleagues in the academy will be able to support you or your child in the first instance.
Designated Safeguarding Lead – Mrs A Harrison
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Leads – Ms K McGillycuddy, Mr A Wood, Mrs R Hawtree, Mr D Bunnell, Mrs R Morris
Safeguarding team – all of the Heads of Year: Mr Fair, Ms Pugh, Mr James, Ms Nelmes, Mr Pilkington and Mr Warren. Members of the pastoral team: Miss Rogers, Mr Phillips, Ms Donatien
Attached to this letter is a pastoral update from Mr Wood which outlines our expectations in relation to attendance, behaviour, uniform, online safety and anti-bullying. The arrangements for Heads of Year and the wider pastoral support team are noted as we welcome new colleagues to the academy. If you have any questions please do get in touch with him.
We have had lots of work going on over the summer which includes a new astroturf on the All Weather Pitch and the installation of perimeter fencing around the playing fields thereby giving the whole site a secure boundary.
You may well be aware that the trial in relation to our critical incident in July is occurring on the 4th and 5th September. We are grateful that Gloucestershire Constabulary will provide a presence at the school on the 6th and 7th to offer reassurance to students should they need it. It is likely that the trial will reignite media interest in the community and the school so please do check in on your child should this be the case. We will be checking on students on their return to school the following days and will have colleagues available to talk to them if they find that helpful.
All students will have assemblies/tutor times on safeguarding and being safe as well as specific PSHE lessons on knife crime devised by the PSHE Association and published by the Home Office. The lessons focus on positive choices that young people could make to live knife free and aims to challenge misconceptions students may have about carrying a knife. We will also welcome external speakers and contributors throughout the year and we will let you know when these are happening.
As a Young Minds Matter school, we work with partners to signpost young people to appropriate mental health services. This will continue this year and will be enhanced by offering coffee mornings for parents/carers who want to discuss mental health issues. The first coffee morning will be held in school in term 1 – look out for the date coming soon – and other sessions will be held out in the community throughout the year.
Alongside all of this we have an exciting curriculum to deliver including a wonderful extracurricular offer of sports, arts and music. We look forward to welcoming our students back to Tewkesbury Academy and to building on a sense of belonging this year based on the principles of community and connectedness.
Kind regards
Kathleen McGillycuddy
Principal
