Simon Balle Sixth Form

Introduction to Year 12

Term Dates 2013-14

Autumn Term 2013Monday 2nd September to Friday 20th December

All students in school on Tuesday 3rd September 2013Half Term: Monday 28th October to Friday 1st November

INSET: Monday 2nd September 2013OPEN DAY: Saturday 28th September 2013

INSET: Monday 30th September 2013Occasional Days: Thursday 28th and Friday 29th November 2013Christmas Break: Monday 23rd December to Friday 3rd January

Spring Term 2014

Monday 6th January to Friday 4th AprilHalf Term: Monday 17th February to Friday 21st February

Easter Break: Monday 7th April to Monday 21st April inclusiveINSET: Monday 6th January 2014

Summer Term 2014

Tuesday 22nd April to Wednesday 23rd JulyHalf Term: Monday 26th May to Friday 30th May

(Bank holiday: Monday 5th May)INSET: Tuesday 6th May 2014

INSET: Friday 4th July 2014

Simon Balle School EthosAt Simon Balle School are vision is clear and under

pinned by values of equity.

• Our students will leave us after having had a fantastic educational experience.

• They will have achieved the highest possible grades that they can and thus be able to go out into our globally competitive world with the skills, attributes and behaviours equipped for 21st century living.

• They will be self motivated to achieve their very best, be resourceful and resilient, able to accept others for who they are.

• Our students will be positive people, creative in their thinking, respectful and responsible in their actions.

• Simon Balle students will have discovered what they find interesting and thus be passionate about their learning. They will therefore possess confidence and have a sense of self worth, empowered to make decisions and able to self improve.

Independent Study Expectations

• As 6th form students, independent study is an integral part of your learning.• You are expected to be spending at least 4 hours per subject, every week

doing private work and independent study.• In order to help you complete your homework, we encourage you to attend

tutorials, at lunchtime and after school, and make good use of the library and ICT facilities.

• Homework should extend and re-enforce your learning, and will help you to get the results you want in the end.

• Reading around your subjects will not only help you to pass the exams, it will help you gain a deeper understanding of the topic and to prepare you for university.

• We suggest a maximum of 6 - 8 hours a week paid work.• It is NOT permitted to undertake any paid work during school hours

Home-Sixth Form Agreement

• Read through this agreement with your parents and return tomorrow morning

•

Important• If a student misses a lesson it is his/her responsibility to complete the work set in that lesson and arrive

prepared for the next lesson. Teacher Absence• If your teacher is absent, they will set work for you. You should attend your lessons as normal. If possible a

cover supervisor will be present. Attendance & Punctuality • You should register with your form tutor at 8.45am and at the end of lunch. After these times, you will be

marked late.• If you arrive in school after 9.00am, you must report to Reception and sign in. You will be marked late in

the register and will need a note to explain your lateness.• If you have a medical or dental appointment, please complete an Absence Request Form before the

appointment. These are available from the sixth form office. Remember to sign in and out at Reception when you leave/return.

• If you are unable to attend school you must inform the school as soon as possible with a reason. • Call 01992 410400 ext.252 or email sixthform@simonballe.herts.sch.uk. • It is vital that you catch up with any missed work.

Holidays• Parents should not arrange family holidays during term time. Where this is unavoidable, requests for leave

of absence should be made on an Absent Request Form available from the 6 th Form Office well in advance of the date.

• NOTE: Attendance is monitored in registration and lessons. A pattern of poor attendance/punctuality will result in meetings with your tutor and the Sixth Form Management Team

6th Form Dress Code• Sixth Formers at Simon Balle are expected to set a suitable example of smart appearance to their peers

and other year groups. The dress code is essentially smart office wear and the requirements are as follows:

Girls• Blouse or top • Knee length skirt or trousers• Jacket • Smart shoes (not trainers or canvas shoes)Boys• Shirt with tie• Trousers and jacket or suit • Smart shoes (not trainers or canvas shoes) • Caps, hooded tops, and inappropriate hair styles or piercings are not acceptable.• Students not following the dress code should expect to be sent home to change. Smoking Policy• Simon Balle School is a no-smoking site. Smoking on or near the school site is strictly prohibited. Food and Drink• The Coffee shop beside the school canteen is available throughout most of the day for Sixth form

students to purchase food or drink. At lunch time, the canteen is also available. • Students can also leave the school premises during lunch to get food and drink or for other purposes.

Any student leaving the school site should sign out in the main reception

Car Parking • Sixth Form students are NOT permitted to park their cars on the school site. • Cycle racks are provided close to the Sixth form for the storage of bicycles. • If you are using consortium transport, it is important that you arrive at the pick-up point

for the taxi at the correct time.

Driving Lessons• Driving lessons should NOT be arranged within school hours (study periods are allocated

to students for private study)• Students should not arrange to meet Driving Instructors on the school site.• The school site must not be used for any part of a driving lesson or test (eg. parking

practice)• Driving tests (theory and practical) should be arranged outside school hours if at all

possible.

Electronic Items

• Electronic items such as MP3 players and mobile phones are allowed on your person at school. However you are a model for lower years and as such they are not to be used or seen during lessons or in the corridors.

• The School is not liable for the misplacement or any damage of your possessions.

Sixth Form Common Room• Please keep the area tidy. It is for you, after all.• Excessive littering may result in a form cleaning rota being set up.• Food and Drink are allowed, as are electronic items.• The area is mainly for study. You may be asked to do work if you appear to not be

doing any. Cards or other games are not to be played during private study periods.

Lockers• A limited number of lockers are available for Y 12 and 13 students. One payment

will secure you a locker for the two years, but the lockers are on a first come- first served basis. £10 is required for the acquisition of a locker. Please apply via the sixth form office.

Work Experience• Simon Balle School runs a work experience for all Year 12 students. We believe this

gives students an idea of possible career opportunities. The ‘launch’ of work experience takes place in January.

• Students are recommended to see Julie Calder if they have difficulty with this. The deadline for the work placement forms is March and the work experience runs in June, after the AS exams. There will be assemblies with more information nearer the time.

Emergency School Closure Procedure• In the event of severe weather conditions or emergency situation arising during the night:• The Headteacher will make the decision to close the school by 6.45am and will contact local radio

stations so please tune into the following for information:

Chiltern Radio (97.6 FM 828 AM) BBC Three Counties Radio (103.8 FM / 95.5 FM or 630 MW / 1161 MW)1017 'Ten Seventeen' (101.7 FM) Mix 96 (96.2 FM)Hertbeat FM (106.9 FM)BBC Radio Cambridgeshire (96 FM)

• You can also check the school website for information.

• The school will endeavour to provide work for students via email and website

• If you do find out that the school is closed please pass the message on to any friends that may not yet know. You may wish to organise a phone chain amongst your friends.

• In the event of severe weather or other emergency situation requiring school closure during the school day:

• Please ensure where possible that you know how to get home using public transport and that you have access to your house or a friend’s house. No students will be left unsupervised in school.

Emergency Procedure• In an emergency the alarm will

sound. If you hear the alarms follow the emergency code:

• Leave all your belongings where they are and close all doors and windows.

• Leave the building by the nearest marked fire exit in silence.

• During lessons go to the assembly point in the area behind the dining room.

• During lunch or break go to the area designated to your year group.

‘Our students will leave us after having had a fantastic educational experience’.

Enjoy your time here

Enjoyment will come throughinvolvement

and achievement