GrangeV2.0 is an equal opportunities setting.
We are committed to providing personalised support to all students and fully meeting special educational needs as required.
Every student matters and we aim to maximise the potential of all our students.
GrangeV2.0 strives to allow all our students to grow in self-confidence and to express their individuality. At the same time we are thoroughly focussed on supporting you personally and in your studies. We want you to achieve your goals in a focussed and enjoyable environment.
We know that best outcomes are achieved when students conduct themselves well and consistently attend lectures, workshops and tutorials. We keep a close eye on conduct and regularly monitor attendance.
Good attendance is part of the contractual agreement taken by a student on entry. We expect 95% to be the minimum annual attendance for a student unless there are exceptional circumstances (By way of illustration: 5% absence represents 10 days).
A meeting with the Head of GrangeV2.0 or the Headteacher of The Grange will follow any dip in attendance. It is worth noting that your Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) payments, if applicable, are subject to good attendance.
Appointments with doctors, dentists, etc. should, where possible, be made outside of lesson times. Where this is not possible the teachers whose lessons you will be missing should be notified in advance. It is not acceptable just to send a message with another student.
A note from home will be required for all absences from school. You will be considered absent if you miss registration. If you are late you must sign in with the School Office. After the first term of year 12 your tutor may allow you to self-certify one-day’s absence using the slips available in the GrangeV2.0 office. Absence is not an excuse for having missed a deadline for work to be handed in. You must e-mail the member of staff concerned if you are ill on a deadline date.
In the case of illness that occurs during the school day, students must see their tutor, one of their teachers or the Head of GrangeV2.0 to arrange to go home if necessary.
If you are leaving the school site for less than 15 minutes you may sign out in the book in the main school office and permission from staff is not necessary. You must make sure that you sign back in again and record the time. If you are leaving the site for longer than 15 minutes then a permission slip from the GrangeV2.0 office must be completed before leaving the site during the day for any purpose (errands and research for example) and you must sign out and back in at the main school office. You may leave the site at lunchtime, although we will expect you to behave responsibly and promote a good image of GrangeV2.0.
Driving lessons may only be booked during study periods or after 3.20pm. Permission to be excused lessons, including the Tutor Period will only be given for a driving test.
Please make sure that your holidays are not in term-time. Permission for absence will be given only in exceptional circumstances.
We insist on high standards of behaviour at all times. Members of GrangeV2.0 will be treated as young adults, with privileges and independence, and we expect that status to be respected.
We have a zero tolerance policy for deliberate disturbance of lessons, damage to school property, disrespectful behaviour to staff or smoking on site.
Any behaviour that is threatening, prejudiced, discriminatory, violent or bullying – to students or staff – will result in full disciplinary procedures and the likelihood of a student being required to leave.
Bringing alcohol, illegal drugs or weapons onto the school site will result in immediate exclusion from GrangeV2.0 and the involvement of the police.
We want you to be able to dress comfortably and with individuality. We expect you to set a good example to the rest of the school and present a good image of GrangeV2.0 to the local community. Your appearance should not cause offence or embarrassment to others.
In the event of a dispute over your appearance the Head of GrangeV2.0’s decision will be final.
The GrangeV2.0 common room is provided for the exclusive use of members of the GrangeV2.0. The purpose of the common room is to provide a place where you feel comfortable to both work and socialise.
The use and development of the common room is overseen by the Student Common Room Committee. If you would like to join this committee see the Head of GrangeV2.0.
The following facilities are available in the common room:
Drinks machine or access to hot water; snacks; T.V/CD/cassette/radio; furnished study space; furnished social space; student pigeon-holes.
It is the responsibility of every member of the GrangeV2.0 to ensure that these facilities are used properly and not damaged.
It is also the responsibility of those who use the common room to see that it is kept clean and tidy. School cleaners will not be expected to clear up after students. Tutor groups will tidy the common room on a weekly rota basis.
Personal Stereos and mobile phones may be used at any time in the common room but not around the school.
The CD player is only to be played during break and lunchtime. During lesson times the radio may be played.
Behaviour should not cause embarrassment or offence to others, nor should it distract students wishing to use the study facilities.
Posters or any display materials should not cause offence or embarrassment to others.
Access to the common room is restricted to staff and members of the GrangeV2.0. It is out of bounds to other year groups and outside visitors.
As members of GrangeV2.0, students should treat each other’s property with respect. However, if you bring any valuables into school you do so entirely at your own risk.
Deadlines that are set for the completion of work must be met. Being away from school on the day a piece of work was set is not a good reason for not completing the work on time. It is up to you to find out the work that has been set. Being away from school on a deadline date is not a good reason for not handing the work in. You should attempt to get the work sent into school and if this is not possible, you should ‘phone or e-mail the member of staff concerned. Work should then be handed in immediately upon your return to school and should not be left until your next lesson with that teacher. If you have a genuine difficulty in meeting a deadline because of other work commitments or other problems, then you should speak to the member of staff concerned in advance or, ideally, when the work is first set. You should not leave it until the day the work is due in to tell the member of staff you have a problem.
All students are expected to participate fully in preparation for Citizenship AS Level, community activity and tutor periods.
If a component of your course is being delivered by a partner school, you will be provided transport free of charge. For reasons of economy, safety and concern for the environment, students will not be entitled to use their own transport between sites.
If you need to use your own car or motorbike to drive to school you must apply for a permit before bringing the vehicle to school.
Mobile ‘phones and personal stereos may be brought in to school by GrangeV2.0students. However, they may only be used in the common room. Personal stereos must not be worn around the school site or in any classrooms, even if they are turned off. Mobile phones must be turned off completely when you are out of the common room. Any such equipment is brought into school at students’ own risk.
All teachers at GrangeV2.0 are expected to consistently teach to an excellent standard with full and up-to-date knowledge of the relevant syllabus.
All student work is regularly assessed with high quality guidance for progression.
Teaching is personalised to meet the needs of all students.
Independent learning tasks are consistently set for essential private study.
Teachers consistently maintain an excellent environment for learning.
Students are expected to fulfil all learning tasks required of them by their teacher to a standard that is appropriate to the level of achievement they are aiming for.
Teachers will track performance and make subject leaders, the Head of GrangeV2.0 and the Headteacher aware of unacceptable effort and sudden dips in performance. Appropriate action will be taken to ensure the situation is remedied.
Deadlines will be set for coursework and must be adhered to. The Head of GrangeV2.0 will interview students as required and appropriate action will be taken if issues persist.
All students sign a Learning Agreement and an Acceptable Use Policy for ICT hardware and software.
The Student Learning Agreement is intended to give students a clear understanding of what they can expect from GrangeV2.0 and what will be expected from them in return.
Under this agreement GrangeV2.0 will endeavour to provide:
A programme of courses that is delivered by suitably qualified and effective members of staff using appropriate facilities and resources.
A friendly, caring and supportive environment.
A tutor who monitors your progress, provides guidance and assistance in setting targets for improvements and provides one to one tutorials at least once a month.
The provision of structured guidance in the use of private study time, including the regular setting and marking of formal work to be tackled during private study time.
Support in developing good study skills and coping with stress.
Support for any special needs you may have.
The opportunity to take part in leisure and extra curricular activities.
A careers’ programme suited to your needs with easy access to expert careers’ advice.
The acknowledgement and recording of personal achievement.
Opportunities for you and your parents/guardians to come into school to discuss your progress. It is an expectation that representation should be made by at least one party.
In return you will be expected to:
Notify the school of any change to personal circumstances, e.g. address, telephone numbers etc.
Be determined to make the most of your time.
Accept responsibility for your own learning with support of your subject teachers and tutor.
Accept responsibility for Resources/Books. Etc.
In the case of absent staff – you will be expected to complete all work set.
Complete all work to the required standard by the required deadline.
Complete the Citizenship programme.
Use your private study time in school effectively.
Attend all sessions punctually. As a full time student you will normally be expected to be in school and to attend both morning and afternoon registration.
Discuss with your tutor in advance if you need to leave school for a good reason and use the signing in/out system.
Respect the individual rights of all members of both school communities and behave according to the whole school Code of Conduct.
Attend all examinations.
Act as a positive role model for the younger students in both schools and community.
Adhere to ICT Code of Conduct.
Contribute to the life of GrangeV2.0 and both school communities by undertaking community action.
Adhere to the Dress Code.
Accept that you may be asked to leave GrangeV2.0 if the above conditions are not met.
If you are an EMA student, in order to ensure payments are met the onus will be on you to ensure you have registered. In the case of staff absence, you should let the School Office know you are present.
One problem that affects most students at some time is that of time management. Trying to juggle the, sometimes conflicting, time pressures of attending lessons, studying, preparing for assessments, socialising and earning money is often difficult and prioritising can be even harder.
The following rough guidelines should be used in gauging the framework within which students should be managing their time.
Bearing in mind the workload of year 12 students and the various other commitments usually undertaken outside school, students need to make full use of study time and facilities in school. In particular, care must be taken not to distract other members of the school community. Computers are only to be used for research and study purposes.
Study time out of school
A student should be spending approximately 20 hours per week studying in addition to taught lessons. Most students have between four and eight study periods per week. Therefore, if all study periods are used for study then between twelve and sixteen further hours should be assigned each week out of school. Not all this time will be spent completing tasks formally set by teachers. A large amount of this time should be spent engaging in activities such as further reading, research, reading relevant newspapers, journals and magazines, watching relevant TV programmes and reviewing work previously done.
Part time work is of great value to students for a number of reasons. However, part time work must be made to fit around the study commitments outlined above and not the other way around! The following guidelines should be followed during term time:
Monday - Thursday
This should be no more than two hours per night and should finish no later than 11pm.
Friday night
This should be for no more than four hours and should finish no later than midnight.
Saturday and Sunday
This should be no more than one ten-hour shift or two five-hour shifts and should finish no later than 11pm.
Total hours worked
Students should be doing part-time work for no more than a total of ten hours Monday - Friday and no more than 15 hours in total per week.
Finally, students should make their tutors aware of their time commitments for part-time jobs and other activities and should be updated as and when necessary.
The computer system is owned by the school and is made available to students to further their education. The school's Internet Access Policy has been drawn up to protect all parties - the students, the staff and the school.
The school reserves the right to examine or delete any files that may be held on its computer system or to monitor any Internet sites visited.
Access must only be made via the authorised account and password, which must not be made available to any other person.
Students requesting Internet access should sign a copy of this Acceptable Internet Use Statement and return it to the Head of GrangeV2.0 for approval.
Course or study problems
Please talk these over with subject staff and your Tutor. Staff are always ready and willing to help, however large or small the problem.
Money problems
We have a small fund available to help students who can’t afford to pay for essential items for their course. Please mention this to your tutor who will explain what to do.
Personal problems
Depression, loneliness, eating problems, family difficulties, etc. may be affecting you and your work. Staff would like to help you and they have access to counselling and other support. Generally, your tutor will be the first person to talk to about any problems you have.
Don’t keep problems to yourself - sharing a problem is often the best way of solving it!