Home School Agreement - Mulberry School for Girls

Welcome to Mulberry School for Girls. The school aims to ensure that all students are given equal opportunity to fulfil their potential. This agreement recognises the importance of the partnership between parents, carers, pupils, governors and staff. This Home School Agreement works alongside the school’s other policies, including the Anti-bullying Policy, Attendance and Punctuality Policy, and Behaviour Management Policy.

The ‘Home School Agreement’ is a commitment from both parents/carers and the school, to ensure that every child is valued as an individual and encouraged to develop to their full potential.

We welcome the views of parents/carers and love to hear about the things we are doing well and also anything that parents think that we could do better.

Mulberry School for Girls aims to ensure that all pupils are given equal opportunity to fulfil their potential. Our Home School Agreement recognises the important partnership between parents/carers, pupils, governors and staff.

1. CURRICULUM

School	All students participate in Mulberry School for Girls’ broad-based curriculum, which meets the requirements of the National Curriculum, and promotes the arts across all key stages. All subjects across the school are taught by gender diverse staff. In Year 7, students can choose to study either French or Spanish, and in Year 9, students are supported in making informed choices about the subjects they wish to pursue for their GCSEs. Some subjects will include fieldwork and other off-site activities which will take place in lesson time and be supervised by staff. This includes theatre trips, enterprise education, work experience and other National Curriculum work such as careers events.
Students, Parents and Carers	Students will participate fully in all aspects of the curriculum. All students are expected to participate regularly in all subjects including Dance, Drama, Music and PE at Key Stage 3, Study Support, National Curriculum trips and visits and extra-curricular activities.

2. HOMEWORK AND INDEPENDENT LEARNING

School	Homework is set each day in accordance with a planned timetable in order to support the progress and attainment of all students. Every student is given a planner to record homework tasks and support with the organisation of their learning. Sometimes, students may be required to attend additional sessions after school to revisit their learning, and support them to make better progress in their studies.
Students, Parents and Carers	Parents and carers should check that students are completing their homework and sign their planner each week to indicate that this has been done to the best of their ability. Families are encouraged to use this to communicate with Form Tutors and to make comments where appropriate.

3. CODE OF CONDUCT

School	Mulberry School for Girls aims to provide a safe and ordered environment where everyone is expected to show respect, courtesy and consideration and where all students can work undisturbed by others.
Students, Parents and Carers	All students are expected to show concern and consideration for others and this should be reflected in their behaviour at all times. Students are required to demonstrate a commitment to all aspects of their education in order to achieve their maximum potential. Parents and carers are expected to co-operate with the school in matters of discipline and expectations.

4. ATTENDANCE, PUNCTUALITY AND SCHOOL HOURS

School	Students’ attendance and punctuality is recorded during morning and afternoon registration, and at the beginning of each lesson throughout the school day. Parents and carers are informed as quickly as possible of any unexplained absence, and concerns are reported to the Attendance Welfare Officer, who may make referrals to the local authority or other external agencies. The school requires accurate and up to date information detailing a student’s home address, telephone numbers and emergency contacts, to ensure the safety of students at all times. Students can only leave the building or school grounds with written permission from their YLC. Students are expected to report to the Main Reception to be signed out before leaving school during the school day. If returning to school before the end of the school day, students must sign back in at the Main Reception. School hours are from 8.45am to 3.30pm. However, students may be kept in school at the end of the school day until 4pm for detentions, without advance warning being given. Parents and carers will be notified in writing in advance of longer detentions. Detentions are given for recurring lateness and reasons relating to conduct and work.
Students, Parents and Carers	Parents and carers are expected to comply with the Governors’ Extended Leave and Leave of Absence policy which does not allow such absences and ensure that their child attends school on time, full time, up until the end of either Year 11 or Year 13. Students are expected to attend school each day unless there is a very good reason for being absent. A written explanation for any absence is always required on the day of return, even if parents and carers have telephoned the school prior to this. Parents and carers are expected to immediately report any change of address, telephone number, or change in family circumstances, through the school’s website ‘Change of student’s details’ form.

5. EQUIPMENT, UNIFORM AND PERSONAL BELONGINGS

School	Lockers are provided with keys for students’ use and all reasonable care is taken to secure the safety of personal belongings. Appropriate facilities and equipment are provided for all onsite activities and the delivery of the school’s curriculum. Mobile phones should not be brought into school and if a student is seen using a mobile phone it will be confiscated and a parent or carer will need to come into school at the end of the week in order to collect the mobile phone. This also applies to headphones, AirPods, MP3 players, digital cameras and any other electrical equipment. Students’ personal belongings remain their responsibility on school trips and visits, and care should be taken to ensure that they do not risk the loss of personal and valuable items. Uniform, including the school’s PE and Dance kit are compulsory (please see the school’s website for more information). If students choose to wear a Mulberry coloured hijab it should be plain and not have any tassels, decorations or sequins. No denim, leisure wear or leather should be worn at any time. Shoes should be flat, strong and supportive. Trainers must be worn for PE. Any hardship in relation to uniform should be raised with a student’s YLC; uniform grants are available to families on certain benefits. Jewellery must not be worn in school, except for small plain studs for pierced ears. Nose studs and other body piercings other than ears are not permitted in school. This rule is for the safety of pupils and to safeguard against loss of property. If the rule is disobeyed, the jewellery will be confiscated.
Students, Parents and Carers	It is essential that students come to school fully equipped for all lessons, wearing the correct uniform. This should include at least two pens, a pencil, a ruler, a calculator, a pocket dictionary and appropriate mathematical equipment. Students should also have a reading book, either brought in from home or borrowed from the school’s library. Students are responsible for all personal property. The school is not responsible for money or valuables as they should not be brought to school. Students are not required to bring money to school as the school operates a cashless system through ParentPay for those who pay for school meals, school trips and any specialist equipment the school provides. The school will not accept cash payments and will not collect in money from students or parents and carers for safekeeping.

6. SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT

School	Mulberry School for Girls aims to maintain a safe secure, and attractive working environment.
Students, Parents and Carers	Students are expected to keep the school free of litter, graffiti and chewing gum.