Friday 29th November 2013

Dear Parents and Carers, I have now been in post for nearly a term and am proud to be working with the students and staff at the Isle of Sheppey Academy. Having conducted a series of reviews and audits, we are confident in our plans for improving the quality of our provision for the students and community, and are now ready to launch the next phase of our journey towards becoming an outstanding Academy that everyone will be proud of. I share your hopes and aspirations that your child will be successful at the Academy and in their future. Some changes are required in order for this to happen and I am therefore asking for your full support and engagement in everything we are trying to achieve. From Monday 2nd December we will be bringing in some improvements, and rigorously enforcing our existing expectations, to support and encourage the very best standards of teaching, student behaviour, attendance and punctuality. We will continue to work to improve the quality of teaching and learning and are launching new classroom expectations of teachers and students to foster engagement and positive relationships, with a major focus on literacy and progress. We have the highest expectations of ourselves each other and our students. We should take pride in ourselves and our wider community, and aspire for excellence in all that we do, celebrating our achievements. Positive behaviour, kindness, hard work and effort will be rewarded and celebrated. The first rewards trip is being planned for before Christmas to recognise those who always do what we would expect, as well as those that are excelling and those that are trying really hard to better themselves. More information about this and other opportunities and rewards for students will follow. Please note our expectations and consequences below: Be present to improve standards of attendance and punctuality, lateness to the Academy and/or lessons will result in a next-day detention. Up to 5 minutes late will result in a 30 minute detention and more than 5 minutes late will result in a 1 hour detention. Please note that students who travel between sites will be issued with a ticket as they exit the buses, with the time of arrival on it to show their teachers. They will not be penalised, providing they present this ticket to their teachers and arrive to lesson within 5 minutes of the time they arrived on site. Truancy will result in a 1 hour after school detention, on the next day. You will be notified of this by a note in your childs planner. Students found outside of lessons without the Yellow Exit Pass, or a Time Out Card will receive a 30 minute after school detention. Be prepared Your childs planner is now even more important as we will be using it to notify you of any detentions your child may receive. All uniform and equipment will be checked on entry to the Academy, and at the start of every lesson. Failure to bring correct equipment or a planner will result in a 10 minute same-day detention after school. Those without planners will receive a day-sheet for recording homework and for messages home to you. Repeat offenders will receive more serious consequences. Be responsible Mobile phones, electronic devices or headphones are not permitted in the buildings and if seen or heard will be confiscated and securely stored. You will need to provide a note in your childs planner to have the item returned the following day. Again, repeat offenders will receive more serious consequences. Students may continue to use these items sensibly outside of the buildings. P.T.O.

Smoking on site is a criminal offence, and smoking in the vicinity of the Academy in uniform damages our reputation. A first offence will result in a 1 hour next-day detention. For a second offence a student will be internally excluded and any further offences will result in exclusion from school and potentially police involvement. We will offer support and smoking cessation classes in place of the first offence consequences and to any other students who request it. Be considerate Disruption to learning will not be tolerated. Staff will use a range of behaviour strategies that may involve detentions from 10 minutes up to 1 hour. Be Positive Students must be positive in their words and actions. Swearing at staff will not be tolerated and will result in external exclusion. Be an ambassador Incorrect uniform or appearance, (including hoodies, more than 1 pair of earrings, more than 1 bracelet, more than one ring, unnaturally coloured hair, and other piercings without clear retainers), will result in a 10 minute same-day detention. Non-uniform items will be confiscated, to be returned the following day, or if this is not possible, the student will be placed in isolation.

We firmly believe that structure and high expectations are key in running a well-ordered and successful school. Issues with behaviour, uniform, attendance/punctuality and attitude affect students learning and progress. With your support we can challenge these areas and focus on providing excellent lessons and support students to be the best they can be. We will of course apply emotional intelligence and professional judgement in dealing with individual students and situations that may occur. However, students must understand that repeat offenders will receive more serious consequences for their poor choices. If there are any reasons why your child may need assistance with any of the items concerning uniform or equipment, please contact their Family Leader to discuss this further. I would remind you that to keep students safe during break and lunch times and to limit the amount of on-site traffic, both sites will now be closed to visitors between 10.30am and 10.55am, and 12.55pm and 1.35pm. If your child needs to leave the site during these times for any reason, please give your childs Family Leader advanced notice and we will have your child ready for collection. Please communicate regularly with the Academy and attend all key events. If you have any queries or wish to discuss any concerns, please use the student planner, contact your childs Family Mentor in the first instance, or the relevant Family Leader: Mr Fogg Abbey Mr Greenfield Harty Mr Meaning Shurland Mr Barrett Brabazon Ms Francis Sixth Form @ Sheerness

Written communication from us, like this letter, will continue to come to you via your child. We will update our website with all parental letters, and advise you of any postings via Facebook and via text message. To ensure we can always contact you, please check that we have your up to date contact information. We look forward to working in close partnership with you to ensure your child receives the best possible education, support and guidance which will enable them to have the chances and successes they deserve in life. Yours faithfully

Mr David Millar Executive Principal