Announcement

Headteacher - Letter

Dear Parents and Carers, 

 

Please read this information carefully and keep it ready for the beginning of next term. This letter will also be on the school website, where it can be translated into different languages. 

 

Arrangements for the last day of term: Friday 4th April 2025

 

Students should come to school at the normal time in full school uniform. All normal rules and procedures apply.

 

Year 7, 8 & 10 students have a schedule of events including on-line safety, a House University Challenge and a celebration of their achievements in assembly. They should bring their school bag and stationery. They do not need their normal lesson books.

 

Year 9 students will have a schedule of events, including a Celebration Assembly, but they will also have their one-to-one option interviews with a member of the School Leadership Team.

 

Year 12 students will be following a schedule of activities addressing the important matter of study skills and a session on preventing harmful sexual behaviour. They will also have a Celebration Assembly. They are expected to be in school as normal.

 

Year 11 and 13 will have normal lessons and should bring their books and equipment.

  • This is to ensure that these groups have continued teaching and learning until the end of term – they must attend school as normal.
  • Year 13 students with study sessions will be expected to be in their study lessons

 

End of the school day: Years 7, 8 & 9 will be leaving school between 12.40pm and 1pm. Year 10, 11, 12 and 13 will leave the site at 1pm. Students who usually have a free school meal should buy their lunch at break time – especially those students in KS4 or KS5. Years 7, 8 & 9 can also buy lunch at 12.10pm (normal KS3 lunch time).

 

 

Start of term - Tuesday 22nd April (Week B) at 8.20am.

Tuesday 22nd April 2025 is the first day of term.  It is Week B. Everyone should be on the school site at 8.20am. Students must be at the classroom door at 8.25am for a prompt start to teaching at 8.30am. 

 

The vast majority of our students are on time for school and lessons. As such they form a wonderful positive student body that engages in learning and are part of a rich and harmonious community. Well done to you all! 

 

However, a small group of children remain persistently late to school – they miss out on being a full member of this great school community. National data also shows that students who do not attend school or miss parts of school do not achieve as well in their exams in Year 11 and Year 13. If a child is not in the classroom we cannot teach them.

 

Therefore, please ensure your child is in school and is on time for school. Help us to help them – don't miss the learning!

 

Please consider these points below to ensure your child’s good punctuality and attendance: 

  • Travel arrangements: Please ensure that over the holiday you check travel arrangements, especially buses, and ensure you and your child plan for busy bus times. Please consider if it is sometimes quicker to walk for part of a journey. Students should be through the gates and on the site at 8.20am. Students must not be late for school as they will miss teaching during the first lesson. 

 

  • Punctuality to school: Both sets of gates will close at 8.25am promptly. Students who arrive after 8.25am will be deemed to be late to school and will need to report to the Caterham Avenue gate. This enables us to start learning promptly at 8.30am. Please remind your children that punctuality to school is very important. 

 

  • Breakfast club: Every student can attend Breakfast Club, so setting off in good time and arriving at school before 8.20am is not a problem. There is a free toasted bagel for every child in the morning – with jam if preferred! This means that no child has a reason to arrive after 8.20am. Breakfast club runs from 7.45am until 8.15am. Students must enter by the side car park gate in Heathcote Avenue and walk down to the Youth Centre. Entry is via the ramp to the Youth Centre. Students will stay in the Youth Centre under the supervision of staff unless they are participating in one of the staffed extracurricular clubs. 

 

  • Sixth Form students can access morning study sessions and breakfast in the Lower Study Area from 7:00am each day ensuring that they are ready for learning from 8:25am. If not attending the 6th Form breakfast facility, all other Year 12 and 13 students must arrive to school as normal, ensuring that they are present at the classroom at 8:25am, ready for classes to begin at 8:30am. 

 

  • The end of the normal school day: Lessons finish at 3pm. Students can leave by either gate. If you are picking up your child, please ensure you know which gate they will use to exit the school.  

 

Detentions start at 3pm. 30 minutes “no notice detentions” finish at 3.30pm (please see the school Behaviour Policy). Parents and carers are notified of other longer detentions, that finish later than 3.30pm.  

Attendance: You may be aware from the news that the government is worried about school attendance. The government has therefore issued guidance for schools to encourage and enforce better attendance. I would like all families to be aware that we take attendance, and punctuality, very seriously at Caterham High. Therefore, please be aware that we will follow guidance from the government to dissuade families from taking “in term holidays” or where there is unauthorised absence.

If you are having difficulties in ensuring your child comes to school, you should contact us to see how we can support:  attendance@ecaterham.net    

This term has been busy and focused on learning. Our students have been fantastic as always, and our staff show their commitment and dedication every day in their hard work and diligence to provide a safe, learning-rich environment in which your child can thrive.

Thank you, as always, to all the parents and carers who are supportive of the school, the ethos and values, expectations, and aspirations that we have for all our students at Caterham High. 

I wish all our Caterham families a peaceful and enjoyable Spring Break. 

 

Yours sincerely, 

Ms Chapple

Headteacher 

 

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