Posted on: December 17th 2020

End of Term

Dear Parents/Carers

It has been a real pleasure working with your children across my first term at Chichester High School. The students here are a real credit to their parents/carers in their conduct, kindness and potential.

Despite the obvious turbulence caused by factors outside of our control, we have had a very successful term in terms of students complying to our basic expectations. We have a very significantly reduced number of negative class charts points. Even when factoring in the amount of time lost to COVID and other absences, the numbers are still about 40% less than this point last year. This is in part due to our systems and teaching but much credit is due to parents/carers for your support and students for their adherence to our expectations. Next term we will continue to follow the same policies and procedures and with your support I am sure conduct and behaviour will continue to improve.

In terms of uniform and equipment we have had a good term too. However, we know that over the holidays young people will grow, want haircuts and some may experiment with things like piercings and nail art. Please bear in mind the school rules on uniform. From the 4th January, we will expect to see none of the following:

Trainers, plimsolls, canvas shoes and boots (including all black trainers such as Nike Force 1s).
Extreme hair styles, hair colour or accessories.
Make-up, nail polish or false nails. Acrylic nails are not permitted at school and all nails must be filed to a suitable length and not be significantly pointed.
Jeans, chinos, tight trousers or very short skirts.
Sweatshirts, hoodies and cardigans.
Any jewellery other than a watch and one pair of small plain stud earrings worn in pierced earlobes.

Students who are wearing any of the above may expect to be asked to work in isolation from other students or wear borrowed items of clothing. We do not want to ask our staff to confiscate items of clothing or jewellery at present so please support us by not allowing your child to wear them to school.

Additionally, we have asked more this year of our students' personal organisation and equipment. The students have largely risen to this challenge but if you need any last minute Christmas gift ideas, the school equipment each student requires is:

Suitable school bag or rucksack, capable of holding A4 size books and folders.
Writing equipment including as a minimum 2 pens, a pencil, ruler and rubber.

We will reissue all students with a timetable and a planner for the spring term on the 4th January. Our most effective students keep these safe, pack their bags the day before and know what lessons they have each day. If you want to support your children in school even further this would be a simple and highly effective way to do so.

In terms of the journey to and from school please also be mindful of a couple of things. Firstly, if it is at all possible for you not to come onto the school site either by car or on foot please avoid it. This reduces the number of people congregating in one place. Please remind those of your children who get the bus/train about face coverings and good conduct both on school and public transport. Finally, we have had a couple of students this term arrive on electric scooters. In advance of the spring term, and possibly Christmas shopping, I would draw parents’ attention to the legal advice that “currently, you can buy one but you cannot ride it on a UK public road, cycle lane or pavement. Anyone who does is committing an offence. The only place an e-scooter can be used is on private land, with the permission of the landowner.” Consequently, they are banned from our premises from the start of next term. Any student attempting to enter the site with an electric scooter will be refused entry.

Finally, we feel rightly proud of the pastoral care we have been able to maintain despite COVID 19. If you should have any worries or concerns to do with issues in school or from outside of school that will impact on the safety or wellbeing of our students, please get in touch. Our Heads of Year's contact details are:

Year 7 - Miss Taylor

Year 8 - Mr Shove

Year 9 - Mr Faulkner

Year 10 – Mr Carroll

and our Pastoral Support Managers are:

KS3 - Mrs Diplock

KS4 - Mrs Honey

For year 11 queries, please contact our Deputy Headteacher:

Naomi Lewry

Wishing you all a great Christmas and Happy New Year.

Yours faithfully

Mr T Brixey
Deputy Headteacher