Trinity SchoolWelcome to Trinity

Education for life in all its fullness

Please note

Our website www.trinitysevenoaks.org.uk will always contain the most up to date information.

For term dates, key diary dates and induction

events please see the website calendar.

Updated March 2017.

Introduction

Welcome to Trinity School. We are delighted you have chosen our school for your child’s secondary education. We pride ourselves in having strong relationships with home and aim to give you as much information about the school before your child starts with us. The purpose of this booklet is to provide you with key information in the hope that the transition process from primary to secondary school is a smooth one. We hope that you find this document useful. Please do not hesitate to contact the office if you are unsure or need any additional information.

School Contact Details

Address Trinity SchoolSeal Hollow RdSevenoaksTN13 3SL

Telephone number

01732 469 111

Email office@trinitysevenoaks.comWebsite www.trinitysevenoaks.org.uk

Welfare Concerns

In the first instance these should be directed to the form tutor or the classroom teacher. For urgent issues please contact our Pastoral Manager or Head of Key Stage. SEN queries should be directed to our Assistant SENCO. Staff email addresses are published on the school website.

Head of Key Stage 3 – Mrs TurnerPastoral Manager – Mrs GoulterAssistant Senco – Mrs Bentley

Transition ProgrammePrimary School VisitsThe school will visit students in Year 6 at their primary schools in May/June to talk through the induction programme and any issues arising. During this visit we will also speak with the SENCO/class teacher as appropriate. If your child is the only student joining Trinity from their

primary school, then we will invite them to attend a transition afternoon at Trinity. Further details on this event and the exact date will follow.

Transition DayWe would like to invite your child to spend the day with Trinity on Thursday 6th July 2017. This will be an opportunity for them to meet other members of their form group and to meet their form tutor. Further details about this event will follow at a later date.

Parent EveningWe want parents to be as involved as possible in the school community and at the beginning of your child’s first term at Trinity you will be invited to an informal parent evening. This will be an opportunity for you to meet key staff, including your child’s form tutor and ask any questions you may have.

School Day

Pupils should arrive by 0840 to ensure a prompt start to the day.

A typical timetabled school day at Trinity consists of five lessons of 60 minutes each. In total, students will have 25 hours of taught time each week. The normal school day will start with a time of Christian reflection, which will be whole school, in form groups or houses.

Site Open 0730Form 0845 0920Lesson 1 0920 1020Lesson 2 1020 1120Break 1120 1135Lesson 3 1135 1235Lunch 1235 1315Lesson 4 1315 1415Lesson 5 1415 1515Afternoon Registration 1515 1525After School Activities 1530 1630

School Closures: Adverse Weather

The school will stay open if at all possible when there is severe weather, including snow and flooding. Parents have the responsibility for getting students to and from school safely and need to decide whether the journey is safe when severe weather affects transport and/or walking conditions.

Information about school closure will be posted:● on our website www.trinitysevenoaks.org.uk ● via our Twitter account www.Twitter.com/trinity7oaks● on KCC’s school closure links: http://www.kentschoolclosures.co.uk

& http://www.kmfm.co.uk/ or listen to Radio Kent 96.7FM or KMFM 96.2FM

We will endeavour to inform parents by 0730

Reporting Absence

Students are required to be in full-time attendance at school and are expected to arrive on time. In accordance with national guidelines, students arriving to form after 0845, without a parental note, are considered to be absent or late.

All absence from school requires: 1. A telephone call before 0830 on the morning of each day's

absence, our absence line is: 01732 469444.2. Written confirmation of the reason for absence; this can be by

email.

Authorised absences are as follows: ● Illness (supported by confirmation from parent/carer) ● Medical/dental appointment/close family funeral (approval in

advance) ● Interview, e.g. prospective employer or new school

Please be advised that unexplained absences will be recorded as unauthorised. Unauthorised absences are not in students' best interests, are viewed negatively on their academic records, and in extreme circumstances could jeopardise their place at future academic establishments and with potential employers.

Following national guidance, the school will not authorise absence during term time for family holidays, etc.

First Day Absence Check As noted above, it is the responsibility of the parent/carer to notify the school of any absence. However, the school also endeavours to operate a first-day absence check, whereby if a student is absent without the

school's prior knowledge, the school will telephone or text the parent/carer to check the reason for non-attendance. If you receive a text message, you should telephone or email the school.

By operating this system, the school is aiming to ensure that students who have left home arrive safely in school. To facilitate this process, we would ask you to telephone the school every morning your child is absent. Messages may be left on the answer phone before 0830 or you may speak with a member of the office staff between 0815 and 0900. Name and form of student and details of reason for absence will be required.

School Dinners

Meals provided by the school:We work with Independent Catering to ensure that a healthy menu is provided. We provide a café style menu which is prepared on site. This includes a range of hot and cold options including:● Main meals● Hot paninis● Jacket potatoes● Hot pasta dishes● Soup● Sandwiches● Salad and fruit

We operate a cashless catering system and do not accept cash at school.

Free school meals:Your child is entitled to these if you receive Income Support. You will need to notify your child’s transfer from Primary to Secondary school. Application forms are available from Kent County Council if you wish to apply for free school meals. Children will be able to purchase food to the value of £2.40. You will need to email www.freeschoolmeals@kent.gov.uk

Packed lunch:In the interests of health and safety, glass bottles, fizzy drinks or breakable containers must not be brought to school. Additionally, sweets are not allowed. Although we are not a nut free school we do have some students with severe allergies, and would ask you to be mindful of this when preparing a packed lunch for your child.

SubjectsStudents follow a varied curriculum which, in Year 7, includes:● Maths● English● Science● Humanities (Geography, History, RE)● Design Technology (Food, Resistant Materials, Graphics)● Music● Art● Computing● Languages (French and Spanish)● Drama● Physical Education

There will be a small charge for materials in Design Technology.

The Trinity Way

As a Christian community we want all members of the community to be happy and to thrive. To achieve this, we have a code of conduct for all members of the community: ● Show one another respect and consideration● Have high expectations of ourselves and others● Promote the school and act as ambassadors

We call this code of conduct ‘The Trinity Way’. It comprises five concepts which spell the word ‘TELLS’:● Truth: integrity, honesty and openness● Excellence in everything including academic work, arts and sport● Love exemplified in quality relationships, nurture, and ‘tough’ love

that expects the best ● Leadership: taking responsibility for myself and others and leading

my own learning ● Service: serving each other and our wider community.

Rewards

When students do something well their teacher can recognise this by speaking to them in class, writing comments in their book, phoning home or:

House PointsAchievements can be rewarded by house points. They will be rewarded in the following categories:● Good work ● Great work● Good homework● Great homework● Great citizen

VIP LunchEach term, students who have received zero negative behaviour logs will be invited to a VIP lunch with the Headmaster.

Attendance AwardsEach fortnight the form with the highest attendance will receive a prize. Students who receive 100% in the fortnight also receive house points.

Headmaster CommendationStudents and teachers can nominate exceptional students for a Headmaster’s commendation.

Praise PostcardsThese can be sent home as appropriate to celebrate student achievement and success.

Celebration AssembliesAt the end of terms 2, 4 and 6 the Heads of Key Stage will hold a celebration assembly to celebrate all the achievements of the Key Stage and to present certificates.

House AwardsDuring each academic year a number of competitions will be run within the house system which will allow students to be recognised for achievements. Awards will be presented to Houses at the end of each academic year.

School UniformWe expect a high standard of uniform at all times from all our students, who are expected to travel to and from school in full school uniform. Uniform can be purchased from our school uniform supplier Horncastle’s School Outfitters, 66 High Street. Sevenoaks. Uniform is available to purchase on line www.horncastles.co.uk

Uniform ExpectationsWe expect students to wear the Trinity uniform with pride and be smart and well presented at all times, whether in or out of school.

From our uniform supplier● School blazer with purple trim

and embroidered school badge ● School tie (please purchase

from the school supplier) ● Knee length tartan skirt (girls)● School bag● Trinity rugby jersey● School tracksuit bottoms

(optional)● School jumper (optional – no

other jumpers can be worn)

Other Suppliers ● Black school trousers ● Boys to wear black school

shoes with black laces and no logos or coloured stitching

● Black or blue socksGirls to wear black school shoes (heel must be less than one inch) and black tights OR knee length socks in the winter Black ankle socks OR skin coloured tights may be worn in the summer. Trainer socks are not permitted.

Hair and makeup● Must be neatly arranged and

tied back with a black or purple ribbon or any discreet dark clasp

● Must be of a natural colour● Must not be ‘extreme’ e. g.

tramlines etc.● No make-up or nail varnish

may be worn

PE Kit● Boys purple & black panel polo

shirt● Girls purple & black panel polo

shirt● Purple & black panel PE shorts ● Purple & black panel skort● Purple & black rugby jersey● Purple & black zip neck jersey● White sports socks● Black football socks● Football boots● Trainers (indoors)no blacks

soles ● School tracksuit bottoms must

be bought from our suppliersOther Hoodies must NOT be brought onto the school site.

JewelleryOne pair of silver or gold stud earrings may be worn (one in each ear of no more than 4mm). A suitable watch may be worn. No

other jewellery may be worn except a cross and chain.

The Headmaster reserves the right to make the final decision on whether a student is in breach of the uniform expectations.

School Equipment

It is important that students are well equipped for their lessons.

School Bag ● Pens (black or blue)● Purple pen● Pencils● Ruler● Eraser● Pencil sharpener● Glue stick● Coloured pencils● Highlighter pen ● Water bottle

General● English dictionary● Thesaurus

Maths ● Geometry set● Calculator

For Modern Languages● Bilingual dictionary (English - French) can use iPads for this ● Earphones for computer use.

Mobile Phones Mobile phones can cause disruption to lessons. If a student is seen with an electronic item a member of staff will confiscate it, and it will be put in the school safe. On the first occasion it will be returned to the student at the end of the day. If there are repeat occurrences parents will be required to collect the mobile phone.

Phones that are turned off and remain in a school bag will not be confiscated. Phones may be used to contact parents outside AT THE END of the school day.

Home LearningHomework makes a difference to progress within every subject. It is an opportunity to:● Extend and reinforce class work● Promote self-confidence and self-reliance● Provide possible indications of underachievement

● Involve parents in the learning process● Encourage good organisational skills

We do not operate a ‘homework timetable’ as part of the purpose of homework is to encourage organisation. For core subjects’ students will receive one or two pieces of homework a week. For non-core they will receive one piece of homework. They will usually have a week to complete homework.

Teachers put all homework on ‘Show My Homework’ which allows students to track and plan their homework.

Working in PartnershipAt Trinity we believe that parents play an important part in their child’s education and development. We work with you to ensure that your child achieves success. One way that parents can participate is to oversee the work done at home.

We also encourage parents to:● Speak with their child regularly about homework and discuss the

importance of doing homework● Provide a suitable environment in which homework can be done● Contact the school if their child is having difficulties with

homework or if there are extenuating circumstances which would prevent the return of homework

● If their child is absent, ensure that they catch up with any uncompleted class work or homework

● Respond to any communication on the non-completion of homework and discuss this with their child

As a school we will:● Set homework● Ensure that homework supports and extends learning● Make it achievable, so it can be done well and on time● Mark it in accordance with our marking and assessment policy, so

students can see and feel it was worth doing well!

Groupings in Year 7

When students join us from primary school, they will be placed in a form group in one of four Houses. Form groups will be identified before the induction day.

For teaching purposes students will be set for their subjects in KS3. At the start of the academic year students will sit CAT tests. The results of

these tests, outcomes from KS2 and student work in term 1 will be used to decide teaching groups. All students in year 7 will be taught in mixed ability groups while we gather all this information and make a decision on where to place students. Sets do not define our students, and we regularly review the sets students are placed in, and will make changes where we feel this is necessary.

Monitoring Student Progress

Student progress is monitored regularly in all subject areas. Reports are published throughout the year which detail current progress, the progress a student is making towards their target, and the attitude to learning for different subjects. There is at least one Parent/Carer Evening each year, when you will be invited to make appointments with subject teachers to discuss your child’s progress. In addition, we hold a Year 7 form tutors evening before Christmas to review how students are settling in.

If there are any concerns at other times, you are free to contact the form tutor.

Sharing Information with Parents & Carers

All parents and carers are equally valued as part of our school community. Children’s learning is improved when we work in partnership with their parents or carers and their whole family. We therefore believe in close co-operation with all families and in regular consultation between home and the school. We communicate with parents by:● School website● Texts● Email● Telephone● Letter

We aim to acknowledge all communications within 24 hours.

Identifying Concerns● In the first instance please contact your child’s form tutor or for

specific subject enquiries the classroom teacher. ● If your concerns are not addressed, please contact your child’s

Head of Key Stage.

Getting to SchoolWalking and CyclingWhere possible, we hope that most children will walk or cycle to school. There is a secure area for bicycles.

Children who cycle to school should wear a helmet and bring a bicycle lock. During the winter it is important that bicycles have appropriate lights.

Public TransportThe County Council have advised us that the children will need to purchase a Kent Freedom Pass. This will enable them to use the existing public bus services. For further information on the Kent Freedom Pass please visit http://www.kent.gov.uk.

Traveline (www.traveline.info) is a dedicated local transport website. You will be able to input your location and your destination. All route options are displayed.

The drop off point for most of the services is Trinity School. Go Coach provide a ‘link’ service between Knole Academy and Trinity School.

If you have any questions about the local bus service in your area you can also contact the companies directly. Their contact numbers are as follows: Arriva: 0844 8004411 www.arrivabus.co.ukGo! Coach 01732 668090 www.go-coach.co.ukNu Venture 01622 882288 www.nu-venture.co.ukRedroute 01474 353896 www.redroutebuses.co.uk Kent County Council will only provide transport to children who meet their school transport criteria. If you would like to be considered for transport under these terms you will need to apply to KCC transport department directly. Further information is available on the school website.

Private TransportWe understand that it will be necessary for some children to come to school by car. We would encourage parents to consider car sharing. Private cars are not permitted to drop off or collect from the car park nearest the school at any time. Please make use of the furthest car park, which is where the busses drop off. There is plenty of space, and means we avoid antagonising those who live near the school. If your child has a disability, please contact student services who will issue a permit.

Design Technology

Your son/daughter will be undertaking food tasting and cooking at school as part of their Design Technology lessons. Students will be focusing on a variety of different projects that will require completing food practical sessions.

We would appreciate your co-operation in providing ingredients for your child. The finished dishes will then be taken home or, on occasions, be eaten and evaluated by your child during the lesson. We aim to keep the cost as low as possible for all projects and where possible give notice of the required ingredients a week ahead so that they can be purchased. If, at any time, this proves to be difficult, then please contact your child’s technology teacher directly and we will try to make special arrangements.

Ingredients can be brought in using sturdy re-usable bags. A suitable plastic container will also be required to transport the cooked produce home. Each student will have an introduction to food technology followed by a block of cooking lessons for approximately 5 weeks before the end of Year 7, which will consist of both practical and theory. This will be scheduled at a future point in the year.

Food tasting would be in the form of trying other student’s work for evaluation purposes or as samples during demonstrations in lessons. Usually this is fun and a good form of investigation. No student will have to try anything that they do not wish to.

Our aim is to ensure that your child enjoys studying Food Technology and gain skills for life. If there are any problems with preparation for practical sessions, please do not hesitate to contact the Design Technology department.

Special Educational Needs Support at Trinity School

We undertake a comprehensive transition process for all new children coming into the school. All children are visited at primary school by a member of our staff, and during these visits, they will speak to Year 6 teachers, SENCOs, and the children themselves. Where necessary we build individual transition plans and inform teachers of specific needs.

As part of teacher training all teachers are trained in meeting the needs of all children within their normal teaching practice. In addition, all staff receive regular training in a range of special and additional educational needs, and our expectation is that the majority of special needs are met through classroom practice. Teachers routinely plan their lessons to ensure that the needs of dyslexic, ADHD and Asperger’s children are met. This includes:● Excellent knowledge of students and the strategies that work for

them

● Well differentiated and well planned lessons which engage all learners

● Scaffolding and other appropriate support to enable all students to learn

● Outstanding behaviour for learning● Regular assessment and monitoring of progress

Only where the SENCO feels that the needs cannot be met through normal differentiated learning will the SENCO put in place additional guidance for staff or direct Learning Support Assistants to support the lesson.

In most cases we find that good classroom practice ensures that all students make good progress. Our regular assessments ensure that we identify any issues quickly and then able to put in place additional small group or individual sessions, for instance literacy, cognition, basic maths skills, social development, counselling, etc. We also work very well with the full range of external agencies (CAMHS, Early Help, Social Services, Educational Psychology, etc.), brokering support where needed for individual students.

We will always communicate with you if we have any concerns about your child’s progress, whether academic or social, and your child’s form tutor should always be your first point of contact should you have any concerns.

Chaplaincy

Trinity is a non-denominational Christian school, and as such we try to be as inclusive as possible, for students on any stage of their faith journey, of other faiths and of no faith.

The school Chaplain, Alice, is available for students to talk to if they have any worries or concerns, and is available at break and lunch times when she is often outside with the students.

Worship is an important part of the day at Trinity. Students take part in a form worship in the assembly hall once a week, and at least one form time is dedicated to worship. These both include formal and informal elements and are designed to be accessible for all. Prayer or reflection is included to give students a chance to take time and space to think.

Service

As you are aware the school is committed to service, which is an important part of the Trinity Way. Service is an opportunity for children to get to know and give back to the local community. We believe that this gives them an opportunity to learn things they would not learn in school. It is a chance to develop an understanding of Christian service as well as displaying that attitude of service in their daily lives.

During the course of year every child will have this opportunity which usually takes place off site. We currently serve at 11 different service placements in and around Sevenoaks including primary schools, residential homes and a local resident’s association. These could change over the course of the year as we are always looking for new ways to serve the community.

Private Music Lessons

Students have the opportunity to continue their current instrumental training, and/or are encouraged to commence a new instrument in order to enhance their musical education.

We offer a variety of private or small group music lessons including;

● Piano● Voice● Acoustic guitar● Electric guitar● Bass guitar● Ukulele● Banjo● Drums● Trumpet● Trombone

● Tuba● French horn● Clarinet● Oboe● Recorder● Bassoon● Violin● Viola● Cello

Lessons are termly and are paid for in advance. Prices vary from £15-£18 per 30-minute lesson.  Lessons are timetabled on a rotation throughout the term.

Student Email

All students at Trinity have a school email account. The first part of the email address is the same as their logon for the website and computers, followed by @trinitysevenoaks.com e.g. 15jsmith@trinitysevenoaks.com.

It is possible for students to use their school email account to message other students and staff, but at KS3 it is not possible for them to send or receive email to or from anyone external. All year 7 students will be learning about how to use email appropriately in their computing lessons at the start of the academic year.

Show My Homework

We use “Show My Homework” to record the homework for each lesson. This can be accessed from the student page on the school website. You do not need to be logged onto SMHW to access the homework, as you can see everything and also filter down by clicking the “Homework Calendar” button.

It is possible to logon to SMHW. This is useful if a student wants to see the homework that is just for them. If your child has been set homework to complete within SMHW e.g. a quiz, then they will be required to logon to complete it. The easiest way for them to do this is to select “Logon” and choose the “Office 365” button to use their school email address and password.

You will receive a parent logon in September. This will also enable you to see the homework your child has been set. If you forget your parent logon, your child’s form tutor can give you a PIN to enable you to re-set it.

Behaviour Notifications

We log all incidents of positive and negative behaviour on Behaviour watch. This will automatically notify you of any after school detentions that your child needs to attend, as well as giving you updates on the positive logs that are recorded. It is important the email address we have recorded for you on the system is correct.

School Fund

Our aim at Trinity is to be a school that is able to help students discover their God given talents, which they are able to develop and use to benefit others. We are passionate about helping students lay a solid foundation at school so they leave as empowered and confident individuals, possessing the freedom to make choices of their own about what they do in the future.

To help make this a reality, it helps to have financial capacity to carry out projects or invest in resources that we feel would make a difference. State funding only goes so far and with increasing pressure on budgets, we are exploring all avenues to ensure we do not compromise on our educational provision. We ask parents/carers to consider making a financial contribution of either a one off payment of £50 or a monthly payment of £10 by standing order.  There is the option of giving more and we recognise that some families might struggle altogether. Any donation would be gratefully received regardless of how small. Our preferred method of payment is via ParentPay; all parents/carers will be given a login and password for this.  Currently payments will still be accepted by cash or cheque. Cheques should be made payable to Trinity School Fund with your child’s name and form on the reverse. If you are paying by cash please enclose this in an envelope clearly marked with your child’s name, form and that it is a donation for the school fund. Your child can post the payment in the student payment box outside G32 Business Services.  For monthly standing order payments please pay: 

Caff BankAccount Name:          Trinity School FundSort Code:                   40 52 40Account Number:      00024175 

Please remember to also complete and return the gift aid form so we can further increase your donation by reclaiming the tax on the payment (if you are a UK taxpayer). Your support is greatly appreciated and we hope as many of you as possible will contribute. We will report at the beginning of each academic year on how the fund has been spent and our plans for future years.

Charity Gift Aid Declaration – For All Donations

In order to Gift Aid your donation you must tick the box below:

I want to Gift Aid my donation of £______________ and any donations I make in the future or have made in the past 4 years to:

Name of Charity ____________Trinity School Sevenoaks Ltd - ______________________

I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax in the current tax year than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations it is my responsibility to pay any difference.

Student’s Name: Form:

My Details:

Title _________First name or initial(s) _________________________________________

Surname ______________________________________________________________________ Full Home address_________________________________________________ _______

____________________________________________________________ __________

______________________________________________________________________

Postcode ____________________________ Date ______________________________

Please notify the charity if you: want to cancel this declaration change your name or home address no longer pay sufficient tax on your income and/or capital gains

If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rate and want to receive the additional tax relief due to you, you must include all your

Boost your donation by 25p of Gift Aid for every £1 you donateGift Aid is reclaimed by the charity from the tax you pay for the current tax year.

Your address is needed to identify you as a current UK taxpayer.

Gift Aid donations on your Self-Assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue and Customs to adjust your tax code.

Company Registration Number 07949294 A company registered in England and part of the Sevenoaks Christian Educational Trust (SCET).