Home School Agreement - Mulberry School for Girls

We greatly value our relationships with our parents/carers and recognise that our pupils benefit when we work together as partners. We arrange regular meetings throughout the year with parents/carers to discuss their daughter’s needs and have an ‘open door policy’ at all times to discuss any concerns.

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	Mulberry School for Girls has a broad based curriculum, which satisfies National Curriculum requirements in which all pupils shall participate. Teaching staff for all subjects will be from both genders. Mulberry School is an Arts Specialist School. Where there is a choice of subject, for example between Spanish and Bengali in Year 7 and for Options at Key Stages 4 and 5, pupils will be enabled to make a guided and informed choice. 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.
Parents/Pupils	Pupils will participate fully in all aspects of the curriculum. All pupils are expected to participate regularly in dance at Key Stage 3, Study Support, National Curriculum trips and visits and extracurricular activities.

2. HOMEWORK

School	Homework will be set each day in accordance with a planned timetable in order to support the progress and attainment of each pupil. Every pupil will be given a planner to record all homework given and assist organisation. Sometimes, pupils may be required to under-take Prep, supervised after school by qualified staff, if they are not making appropriate progress
Parents/Pupils	Parents/guardians should check that pupils are completing their homework and sign their planner each week to indicate that this has been done satisfactorily. Comments are invited.

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 pupils can work undisturbed by others.
Parents/Pupils	All pupils are expected to show concern and consideration for others and this shall be reflected in their behaviour at all times. Pupils are required to demonstrate a commitment to all aspects of their education in order to achieve their maximum potential. Parents are expected to co-operate with the school in matters of discipline and expectations.

4. ATTENDANCE, PUNCTUALITY AND SCHOOL HOURS

School	Pupils’ attendance and punctuality will be checked at registration a.m. and p.m., and at each lesson. Parents will be informed as quickly as possible given the demands of the school day on admin staff of unexplained absence and any concerns reported to the Educational Social Worker. The school will keep up to date information of pupils’ addresses and telephone numbers. All this is to ensure the safety of pupils at all times. Pupils will only leave the building or grounds with written permission from her Head of Year. Pupils are expected to report to the General Office to be signed out before leaving school during the school day. If returning to school before the end of the school day pupils must sign back in at the General Office. Detentions – Normal school hours are from 8.45am to 3.30pm. However, pupils may be detained at the end of school until 4pm without advance warning being given. Parents/guardians will be notified in writing in advance of longer detentions. Detentions will be given for recurring lateness and reasons relating to conduct and work.
Parents/Pupils	Parents/guardians will comply with the Governors’ Extended Leave and Leave of Absence policy which does not allow such absences and ensure that their daughter attends school full time until the end of Year 13. Pupils 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 have telephoned the school prior to this. Pupils are expected to arrive at school on time for both sessions and for all lessons. Personal information – Parents will report any change of address and telephone, or change in family circumstances, immediately to the Head of Year in order to update records and enable the school to contact parents/guardians.

5. EQUIPMENT, UNIFORM AND PERSONAL BELONGINGS

School	Lockers are provided with keys for pupils’ use and all reasonable care is taken to secure the safety of personal belongings. Appropriate facilities and equipment are provided for all on-site activities and the National Curriculum. Mobile phones should not be brought into school and if a pupil is seen using a mobile phone it will be confiscated and a parent/carer will need to come into school at the end of the week in order to collect the telephone. This also applies to iPods, MP3 players, digital cameras and any other electrical equipment. Pupils will be provided with a laptop for use during school. This can be charged in pupils’ lockers. The laptop should never be removed from school. The laptop is the pupil’s responsibility and therefore should this be damaged the school reserve the right to ask for money to cover any replacement/repairs.
Parents/Pupils	It is essential that pupils come to school fully equipped for all lessons. This should include two pens a pencil and a ruler, a calculator, a pocket dictionary and appropriate mathematical equipment. Uniform and Physical Education kit are compulsory (see appendix for details). With regard to the enclosed uniform policy, pupils and parents should be aware that if pupils choose to wear a Mulberry coloured hijab it should be plain and not have any tassles, 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 may be raised with your daughter’s Head of Year. Uniform grants are available to families on certain benefits. Jewellery must not be worn in school, except for small studs for pierced ears. 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. Pupils are responsible for all personal property. The school is not responsible for money or valuables as they should not be brought to school. It is recommended that only small amounts of money should be brought in to cover the pupil’s daily needs. If it is necessary to bring a large sum of money to school, it should be given into the care of the Pupil Reception for safekeeping.

6. THE ENVIRONMENT

School	Mulberry school aims to maintain a safe secure, and attractive working environment.
Parents/Pupils	Pupils will ensure that the school is kept free of litter, graffiti and chewing gum.