WELCOME

WELCOME

Freddie's Focus

For Parents & Carers

Freddie's Focus

For Parents & Carers

Things to celebrate

  • This week, a group of our Year 9 students have been involved in the ‘Just Join In Inclusive Festival Primary’. The student leaders were sent to run the event for primary students, many with disabilities. Our students were a credit to the school with fantastic feedback given from all the parties involved. We are incredibly proud of them.
  • Our Year 11 students are now well and truly in the thick of their GCSE examinations. We are incredibly impressed with the way in which they have conducted themselves this week, and we will continue to support them every step of the way.
  • Last Friday, as part of our ‘Curious Citizens’ project, a group of our Year 9 students attended a photography exhibition at Manchester Central Library and the City Gallery.  The day ended with a visit to the ‘Candlelight Concert’ which was also held in Manchester.  A wonderful time was had by all, and the behaviour of our students was, once again, exemplary.
  • This has been Mental Health Awareness week. As a school, we continue to raise awareness of mental health, sharing strategies to stay well and providing support for those who need it.
  • A message from our school dog, Chester: This week, I have been helping a lot of students – Year 11 in particular to keep calm and positive as they start their exams.
Year Group / Team
Year 9 - Athletics (at Leigh Harriers and Athletics Club) Leadership Programme - This was delivered by Freddie's students who were outstanding. This was recognised by other schools who also attended. The students were a credit to the school.
Year 9 - Rugby Team Hosted at Golbourne High School: FLHS 36 Hindley 12; FLHS 30 Bedford 30

School Reminders

  • School Closure - Half Term

    School will be closed for May Half Term Monday 29th May - Friday 2nd June. All students will return on Monday 5th June.

  • School Meals Payments

    Owing to our new cashless catering system, please remember that we are now fully cashless therefore all payments need to go through ‘Wise Pay’ online.

  • General Reminder

    Could we please ask all parents and carers to support us in ensuring that your child does not come into school wearing trainers unless they have a medical condition. A note must be provided if students need to wear trainers.

School Reminders

  • School Closure - Half Term

    School will be closed for May Half Term Monday 29th May - Friday 2nd June. All students will return on Monday 5th June.

  • School Meals Payments

    Owing to our new cashless catering system, please remember that we are now fully cashless therefore all payments need to go through ‘Wise Pay’ online.

  • General Reminder

    Could we please ask all parents and carers to support us in ensuring that your child does not come into school wearing trainers unless they have a medical condition. A note must be provided if students need to wear trainers.

Homework and Self-directed study

Please see below for this week’s ‘Spell it’ examples and our reason for setting this type of homework task.

Satchel:One

You can keep track of your child’s homework using Satchel:One. It is advisable to remind your child to get into the habit of checking their homework on Satchel:One regularly. Relying upon notifications is not the right approach and we advise students to turn off notifications so that they are not disturbed by them.

Homework Club

Please remind your child that homework club is available to all students Monday-Thursday in the Library (apart from Monday week B) where support and IT equipment is is available.

Attendance

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are very keen to ensure that as many of our students as possible have good attendance. Please see the information below on the importance of good attendance.

Why is attendance at school so important?

When students are not frequently absent, their grades and reading skills often improv – even among those students who are struggling in school. Students who frequently attend school feel more connected to their community and develop strong social skills and friendships, which are important life skills.

How does attendance affect achievement in UK schools?

When students are not frequently absent, their grades and reading skills often improv – even among those students who are struggling in school. Students who frequently attend school feel more connected to their community and develop strong social skills and friendships, which are important life skills.

Does attendance affect GCSE results?

Students whose attendance drops below 94% will have missed 2 weeks of school. This has a significant impact on GCSE results. Students with no absence are over twice as likely to achieve 5 or more GCSEs at grades 5-9 including English and Mathematics.

Is attendance truly important?

Missing 10 percent, or about 18 days, of the school year can drastically affect a student’s academic success. Students can be chronically absent even if they only miss a day or two every few weeks. Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child do well beyond school and secure employment in later life.

Message from the Headteacher

Dear Parents and Carers,

Year 11 have made a tremendous start to the GCSE exams and to the students’ credit, there has been a very tangible positive and studious atmosphere around school. Keep this up Year 11!
 
I’d also like to mention the fantastic conduct of our Year 9 Sports Leaders who took part in the Just Join In Inclusive Festival this week. Around 30 of our students were working with primary aged pupils with a range of disabilities. Our students’ attitude and work ethic in supporting the pupils was exemplary. They were a real credit to their families and the school. Well done to all.
 

Regards,

Mr Davies.

How Yondr Works

Frequently Asked Questions

We want our students to be engaged in their learning. A child at high school should not really have a reason to contact a parent during the day; however, if there is a genuine reason e.g. they have forgotten their packed lunch, a phone call can be made home from the school office. If a parent needs to contact their child in an emergency, they should contact the school office. If you need to contact your child during the school day, contact the main office on 01942 883796.

In case of a school emergency, we direct our students to safety first, following our school emergency procedures.

 

Students are in possession of their phone - in their Yondr pouch - for the entire school day. We will advise students to store the pouch safely in their school bag or blazer pockets.

If a student damages their Pouch or is caught on their phone, we will confiscate the phone and issue a sanction which is likely to be a suspension.

Note: Damage consists of any signs that the physical integrity of the pouch has been compromised, whether intentional or unintentional, as determined by the school or Yondr staff.

Damaged pouches will be charged to parents at a cost of £20.

They will be searched and wanded with a handheld scanner by a member of SLT. If they are found to have their phone on their person they will be expected to place it in their pouch. Refusal will be met with suspension.

If a student forgets their Pouch, their phone will be confiscated.

As per our previous mobile phone policy;

  • Confiscated phones will be taken to reception where the phone will be secured in the school safe.
  • Parents will be alerted to the phone confiscation via the school office.

Parents will have the option to collect the phone at the end of the day. If parents do not collect the phone, the phone will remain in school until the end of the week or until the student has their pouch.

In Yondr’s experience, this almost never happens. All students funnel past the unlocking stations at the exits, they want their phones back and don’t forget to unlock their pouches. If they do arrive home with a phone in a pouch, they can either come back to school to unlock it, or have a phone free evening!

The unlocking process is quick and takes under a second per student. 

As a privilege, Year 11 will be able to unlock their phones as they go off site at lunchtime; however, they will be expected to put their phones back into their pouches when they return to school for period 5.

Yes. There is an adapted version of the pouch which uses a Velcro fastener instead of a magnetic lock. This means the student still follows the policy, but the adapted pouch gives them easy access to their phone when required. If the student abuses this, they will face a sanction. We are already aware of these students.

Your Office 365 account username is your school network account username followed by @flhs.wigan.sch.uk 
The password is the same password that you use in school to access computers.