Weekly information - Wednesday 10th April

Notice for All Midland Classic Users

Midland Classic bus fares are changing from 29th April. Fares will generally rise by 10p. This does not affect the "Your Staffordshire" fare of £1.30 which is still available until the County stops that in August.

New prices of multi-journey tickets are as follows:

Classic Day ticket (Burton & South Derbyshire) £4.30 adult / £2.90 child

Classic Day+ ticket (entire network) £5.50 adult / £3.60 child

Classic week £16.50 adult, child is unchanged at £12

Classic 4 week £55 adult, child is unchanged at £40

There are also minor timetable changes taking effect from the same date, to improve the reliability of services. The route 807 will now be timed to depart John Taylor High School at 16:00. The route 812 towards Burton which departs at 15:48 from outside the Three Horseshoes will be starting from Barton Green rather than Lichfield to improve the reliability of that journey. The time at the Three Horseshoes is unchanged.

Full details and timetables will be on their website from Monday 15th April.

Each week, students are nominated for Hot Chocolate with the Head.  These are students who have gone above and beyond, for example; achieving the Queens Award for Voluntary Services, competing in the UK cross country competition or acting as a mentor to support another student.  If you feel your child is suitable to be nominated for this please email Dianne Whiting, PA to the Head at [email protected] with the information.

There has been a noticeable increase in the amount of forgotten equipment being brought into reception to be taken to children. It is not really manageable for our reception staff to be able to deal with this and so could we please ask that you are extra vigilant with supporting your children to remember all of the equipment that they need for each day. Thank you.

Following the Easter break, all Year 12 A Level students will have study leave until Thursday 9^th May. Therefore, they will only be expected to attend school when they have an exam. Students completing a BTEC course do not have Study Leave and are expected to attend full time.

Normal lessons will resume for all students on Friday 10^th May.

Results of ‘Year 12 End of Year’ exams will be published to parents via Go4Schools on Tuesday 11^th June. This will allow students to experience a results day on Wednesday 5^th June, during Tutor period.

Following the exams, Year 2 content of the A Level course will be delivered and BTEC course work will be continued with, therefore good attendance is very important.

On Wednesday, 15th May, there will be a World Challenge final itinerary meeting for Madagascar 2019. Students will need to bring medical cards to show the vaccinations already received.  The meeting will be in the 6th form area, from 4.00-5.00pm.  Parents are invited to join the meeting from 5.30pm, to ask any final questions.  Mrs Bond

Would parents please make sure your child's Lunch Account on ParentPay is topped up as there will be no lend facility in the canteen, after the Easter holiday.  Thank you.

Would parents of Y11 pupils, please read this important information about Y11 study arrangements.

We are very aware that the GCSE and ‘A’ Level season and the exams themselves can be very stressful and a cause of anxiety for many students.

I am running a Stress Busting Session during the Easter break, on Thursday 25^th April, from 12.00-1.00pm in U15. The session will include strategies to manage the days leading up to exams, breathing and mindfulness techniques to help to reduce exam day stress and signposting to websites and APPs for more advice, tips, advice and support. I am hoping that this will be a very relaxed and enjoyable session giving students the opportunity to share strategies that have worked for them and learn a few new tricks to get them through, what is for most, a difficult time.

The session will last for just an hour, and is open to any pupil in Years 11 or 13.  Some students are already in school on 25th for revision sessions. 

If your son/daughter would like to attend, I would appreciate an email, to give me an idea of numbers.

Thank you.

Mrs J Turrell SENDCo

A reminder that Y9 parents evening takes place on Thursday 9th May from 4.30-7.30pm.

If you have a child in Y9, the appointment booking system will open on Monday 29th April. You will be sent an email on Monday evening with a link to the bookings and you may start making appointments with staff you wish to see at Parents Evening.  There will also be a link to a help guide on making appointments.

A tile on the Schoolzine app will take you to the booking system once it is live.

Please make sure you make appointments only with one member of staff for each subject. Your son/daughter may have more than one teacher in some subjects, but the appointment should be made with the staff member allocated to your son/daughter's class. This is clearly marked against each member of staff's name. 

Please also consider prioritising those subjects which you son/daughter will be studying at GCSE. Hopefully you will manage to make appoinments with all subjects, however this is not always possible on such a busy evening.

Please check with your son/daughter if you are unsure of the class names.