welcome pack - test valley school

Welcome Pack Year 7, September 2021

Test Valley School | Roman Road | Stockbridge | SO20 6HA

Tel: 01264 810555 | Email: [email protected]

“In Pursuit of Personal Excellence”

A Warm Welcome to our new Pupils and Parents ...


A note from our Head Prefect Hi I am Archie, one of the head prefects at Test Valley school. I have been part of the school community ever since I started back in Year 7 (which feels like ages ago!), and have grown up with the support of the school and those around me. Although the change to secondary school may seem daunting, our small community is a brilliant place that provides a sense of security and family.

Our small community feeling is achieved by the large amount of opportunities you have to get involved in the life of the school. For example, courses like sports leaders allow you to develop teamwork skills and get involved with likeminded people to help host sporting events for other schools. If sport isn’t your thing then you could join one of the committees (such as the eco committee) and help to provide new ideas on how the school can improve for all pupils . There is no limit to what you can do so if you really want to get involved then you can join multiple groups all at once. Being of a rural background myself the animal and garden area on top field provides unique opportunities to learn by making use of our ducks, chickens and goats to help visualize certain aspects of our lessons. Moreover, having chickens and ducks walking around the school and a goat that will watch when you play football at break, helps to make school feel less like... well school!

Finally, the teachers we have are all extremely devoted to their work and treat everyone as an individual. Because of this, we all enjoy learning and want to listen and do well. As I am soon to experience a big change myself moving on to college, looking back on the memories I have of Test Valley School reminded me of the great experience that I have had here and the opportunities that it has given me. I know that you will find yourself doing the same in years to come and will feel the same sense of pride that I do, knowing I have been part of such a fantastic community. Good luck! Archie

A note from our Headteacher

It is with absolute pleasure I welcome you to the small, rural , high achieving Test Valley School. The move to secondary school is often a big step for individuals. Test Valley, as a small, rural school is well placed to ensure that this transition is smooth. We pride ourselves on knowing every child individually and ensuring they are both nurtured and stretched to ensure they unlock their potential. We are excited to welcome your child to our Test Valley ‘family’ and look forward to five years of working in partnership with you.

With best wishes,

Ms Wilden, Headteacher


A note from Year 7 Pupils

Year 7 has been a great experience for me. When you first join, you are taken to your tutors to meet new people and get to know your tutor group. You will also, over the next few weeks meet your Head of Year. A Head of Year is somebody who will oversee Year 7 and you can go to them if something has happened, and you need to share it with a teacher. At break and lunchtimes, you can run around, chat and eat lunch on the fields in the summer but in the winter, you must be off the field and in your Year 7 area. There will be plenty of people you can get to know, and you will share the same hobbies with some of them. When you first join you will receive a planner where you will write the name, time, and day of lessons. In the planner there are also pages containing boxes for the whole year, these are for the end of lesson stamps. At the end of the lesson the teacher will stamp your planner if you have worked well plus additional stamps if you have completed extra or finished all the work. If you receive a code, (it might be for not listening or not showing determination in your work) it will be recorded but the odd code isn't the end of the world, you can always improve. I have enjoyed being in Year 7 because the teachers teach you loads and are very welcoming.

Freddie, Year 7 Pupil.

Starting secondary school was a big leap in life for me. I was extra anxious about starting. I felt worried, upset and excited. It was an emotional rollercoaster, but I soon figured my way out of it. My life was going to change the moment I stepped in that new place.

That morning, I met my friends at the entrance and we walked up to the school together. Everything was organised and there was a place for everyone to go. Us three sat next to each other in a room full of strangers, but little did we know they would be our new family.

We were shown to our tutors and looked after amazingly, we were shown around the school by our mentors and given our planners that would hold our lessons for the next year.

It took about a week to get used to the new school but before we knew it, we were walking around like we had been there for years.

Secondary school is a big part of growing up and definitely is the best part. I’ve met tons of new people and have learnt/learning very exciting things. I can’t wait to see what it is like in the future.

Darcie, Year 7 Pupil.

Transition We know that this is a daunting time and we will be working very closely with you to make sure the transition is seamless

Key Contacts to Remember


Ms Wilden Headteacher [email protected]

Mr Page Deputy Headteacher [email protected]

Mrs Osborne KS3 Leader [email protected]

Mrs Wheeler SENCo [email protected]

Mr Pullinger Transition Lead [email protected]

Here at Test Valley School our motto is 'In pursuit of personal excellence', that is why we've called our transition programme 'Test Valley Pursuit'. We will shortly be coming to visit you in your primary school and discuss your hopes and fears about moving to secondary school. There will also be a number of opportunities for you to come and visit Test Valley School and familiarise yourself with the layout of the school and find your way around, as well as meeting and making friends with other pupils who will be coming to Test Valley School in September. We are really excited this year to be offering a programme of 'Pursuit' days and a 'Pursuit camp', where you can come to Test Valley School and have fun learning circus skills, making a marble run and making your own pizza, learn a new dance, create a tie dye T-shirt, as well as the opportunity to camp overnight with your new friends.


Information for our new pupils ...

Your Tutor Group

The form tutor will be your main point of contact and support in school. We aim to keep you with your tutor throughout your Test Valley journey. You see your tutor and tutor group at the start of every day and for 30 minutes after lunch. Your tutor and the people in your tutor group will soon become well known to you.

You will be in tutor groups for some lessons and mixed with other pupils for some other lessons. This gives you a chance to make new friends.

The School Day

The school day starts at 8.50 am with registration. The school day ends at 3.20 pm

You will have five lessons a day. Each lesson lasts for sixty minutes. As you will have a different teacher for each subject you may need to change classrooms for each lesson. In Year 7 you study English, Maths, Science, Design Technology, Computing, PE, RE, History, Geography, Music, Art and Drama.

There are two breaks during the day. There is a 25 minute break in the morning and a 35 minute break at lunch time.

The school day

8.50am – 8.55am Morning register

8.55am – 9.55.am Period 1

9.55am- 10.55am Period 2

10.55am – 11.15am Break

11.15am- 12.15pm Period 3

12.15pm- 1.15pm Period 4

1.15pm- 1.50pm Lunch

1.50pm – 2.20pm Tutor and assembly

2.20pm-3.20pm Period 5

The Pupil Handbook

When you arrive in Year 7 you will be given a Pupil Handbook. It is

important to have this with you at all times. You will record your Home

Learning tasks in your Handbook and it will be the main communication

between school and home.

Each lesson you will receive a stamp if you have followed the PRIDE

expectations.

Each week your tutor will count your stamps and these will build upto

rewards. Each Friday our top stamp earners are invited to Hot Chocolate

Friday with the Headteacher. Stamps will also allow you entry to our end

of term events.

If you do not meet the PRIDE expectations, your teacher will place a

code in your Handbook. Your Year Leader and Tutor will work with you

to help avoid getting further stamps.

Punctual and ready to learn

Respectful of each other

Individually responsible

Determined and Ambitious

Enjoy our time at Test Valley


Getting Ready for Arrival

There are some things you need to do before you arrive here on your first day.

Obtain pens, pencils, maths set, coloured pencils, ruler and an eraser. This equipment is needed

every day so that you are ready to learn. Water bottle will be useful—you will get thirsty as you walk

around.

All pupils wear school uniform. As a Year 7 pupil you must dress as outlined on our website and show

that you are ready to learn—proud to be a member of our school.

Protective clothing—an apron is provided for Technology but would also be useful for Science

lessons.

Provide yourself with a ruck sack in which to carry all your books, equipment and clothing. Handbags

are not acceptable.

You will also need a PE kit—your parents will be told what is required. The uniform and PE kit can be

purchased from

Skoolkit, 15 Church Street, Basingstoke, Hants, online at www.skoolkit.co.uk or

Stitch a logo, 12 Glenmore Business Park, Colebrook Way, Andover, Hants, online at

www.stitch-a-logo.co.uk


Information for parents We want to work in partnership with you. Please never feel that any question or query is too little to

ask. The contact email for the school is Email: [email protected]

Absence Procedures

Attendance at school is crucial. We know there is a direct correlation between attendance and academic

performance.

We want your child in school every day. We know though that sometimes this is not possible.

If you son/daughter is absent from school or will be late due to an appointment, missed bus, etc, please

call on the usual school number and select ‘Option 1’ for the Pupil Absence Voicemail; this is

independent of the school switchboard so phone calls can be made at any time of the day. Messages are

retrieved from voicemail and logged on the attendance computer system. It would be most helpful if

messages could be left before 9.00am where possible. Please call on each day of absence.

When your child returns to school they should bring a letter signed by a parent confirming the reason for

absence. If they need to sign in late due to a medical, dental or orthodontic appointment they should

have the appointment slip (or a copy) to hand.

Parents Teachers Association

Test Valley School PTA is a registered charity run by parents, teachers and friends of Test Valley School.

The purpose of the PTA is to help enhance the activities and environment for students and staff by

running fun, fundraising activities to reinvest in the school. Our fundraising activities are numerous and

add to the community and social life of the school from movie nights, discos to hotdog stalls and raffles!

We are a friendly and inclusive group who meet regularly and always encourage new additions. Any help

you are able to offer—big or small, organisational or practical—is warmly welcomed.

mailto:[email protected]


Information for parents

Uniform for Year 7 2021/22 Sports kit for Year 7 2021/22

Skoolkit

Stitch a logo

Skoolkit

All kit is essential for boys and girls

Navy Eco Blazer with Silver Trim

Navy Plain White Unisex Shirt

Grey Girls Trousers

Grey Boys Trousers

Grey Knitted Sweater with Bottle Trim

Green Tartan Devonport Skirt

Bottle Green Woven Clip on Tie

All kit is essential for boys and girls

Navy school rugby shirt

Navy short sleeved t-shirt with school logo (name on

back optional)

Navy blue shorts

Navy blue football socks

Shin pads

Trainers with non marking soles

Football boots either moulded or with safety studs. Not

astro trainers

Gum shield (for boys)

Swimming trunks or shorts for boys, one piece swimsuit

for girls—towel (any colour)

A single earring in the lower lobe of each ear, i.e a single pair of small studs or sleepers may be worn. No

other piercings are acceptable. One neck chain with a religious symbol may be worn if out of sight (on

receipt of a note from parents). No other jewellery should be worn to school, except for one charity band

if desired.


All belongings should be clearly marked with the pupil’s name. Named items of lost property can usually be retrieved from Lost Property, however the school accepts no responsibility for lost property. Valuables, large amounts of money, cameras, headphones, ipods etc, should not be brought into school.

Mobile Phones

Pupils must not have mobile phones, iPods, etc out during the school day, including break and lunch time, unless specifically agreed by a class teacher and if being used as a tool for learning in lessons.

Responsibility cannot be accepted by the school for any items mislaid, lost or stolen.

Home School Partnership and Agreement

Are punctual and attend everyday

Adhere to the School’s uniform

Work with determination and commitment; complete home learning tasks and meet deadlines

Take responsibility for your own learning, organisation and behaviour

Are kind, honest and polite, showing considerate behaviour at all times

Show respect for others, their possessions and the school environment

Participate to the best of your ability in all school and House activities

Tell us if you are worried or concerned about something

Follow without question, the School’s safer use of IT policies

Do not have your mobile phone/iPods etc out during the school day unless asked to use it by a teacher as part of learning

The school is entitled to expect that:

As a Pupil, you:

As a Parent, you:

Support the School’s ethos and policies—working in partnership with us

Respect the roles and right of individuals in school

Avoid using forums like social media (including Facebook) to air your concerns/disagreement

Engage with the school in a way that reflects our expectations of pupils acting as positive role models in communication

Ensure regular and punctual attendance by your child, avoiding holidays in term time

Try to avoid making appointments for your child during the school day

Ensure your child comes to school in full uniform and with appropriate equipment

Do your best to provide the space and time at home to enable your child to complete their home learning tasks

Endeavour to support school activities (parents’ evenings/concerts/events)

Advise the school directly of problems/achievements/issues as they arise and work in partnership with us to resolve them

Reply to school communications and supply information about the absence preferably by phone immediately or by note in the Pupil Handbook for Learning

Read and sign the Pupil Handbook for Learning

Ensure that your contact details and medical information about your child are always up to date

Avoid using mobile phones to contact your child during the school day: please use reception for messages

Pupils and Parents are entitled to expect that we will:

Provide a happy, safe and caring environment for learning

Provide effective teaching

Effectively monitor your child’s progress

Acknowledge your child’s efforts, achievement and progress

Set appropriate home learning tasks

Provide up to date information about school events

Communicate (in a timely way) any concerns that may arise

Deal with challenges in a professional, fair and consistent manner

Make ourselves available to discuss any concerns you may have

Report to you every day regarding your child’s punctuality, participation, home learning and uniform via our stamp system



KEY DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Monday 12 July 2021 - New intake Parents’ Evening 6.30pm -

7.30pm. Skoolkit in school 5.30pm - 8.00pm for uniform sales.

Monday 12 July 2021 - Stitch a logo/Skoolkit onsite sale at Test

Valley School between 5.30pm and 8.00pm

Tuesday 13 July 2021 - Induction Day 8.50am - 3.20pm.

Wear your Primary School uniform and bring your PE kit.

Monday 26, Tuesday 27, Wednesday 28 July 2021—Pursuit Days

10am—2.00pm

Wednesday 25, Thursday 26 August 2021- Pursuit Camp

12.00pm—10.00am

Monday 6 September 2021 - Term begins.


Recent Feedback from Parents

“We have been so pleased we chose Test Valley school for our son! It’s a small school with a real community feel and is size means the staff get to really know the children as individuals. Recent changes have been put in place which have shown the school is on a very positive journey! Most importantly our son is happy and enjoys go-ing into school each day!”

“Hi, just want to say thank you it’s been great online learning this time round. I have three sons at different schools and yours is by far the best, the encouraging emails, the teachers on hand to help, everything has been so helpful.”

“A has had a very positive start at Test Valley School. Please pass on our thanks to all your staff for making her feel so welcome and helping to integrate her into the secondary school environment in what are strange times for us all.”


For the DfE

http://www.gov.uk/data-protection-how-we-collect-and-share- research-data

If you are unable to access these websites we can send you a copy of this information. Please contact the LA or DfE as follows:

Data Protection Team Chidren’s Services Elizabeth II Court (North) The Castle

WINCHESTER SO23 8UG

Website: http://www3.hants.gov.uk/learning email: [email protected] Telephone: 01962 835212

Public Communications Unit

Department for Education Sanctuary Buildings Great Smith Street London SW1P 3BT

Website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ department-for-education email: http://www.education.gov.uk/help contactus Telephone: 0370 000 2288

In addition for Secondary Schools

Once you are aged 13 or over, we are required by law to pass on certain information to the providers of youth support services in your area. This is the local authority support service for young people aged 13 to 19 in England.We must provide the name and address of you and your parents (and your date of birth) and any further information relevant to the support services’ role.

However, until you are aged 16 or older, your parent(s) can ask that no information beyond your name, address and date of birth (and their name and address) be passed on to the youth services provider. This right transfers to you on your 16th birthday. Please inform the Sims Manager if you or your parents wish to opt-out of this arrangement.

For more information about young peoples’ services, please go to the National

Careers Service page at: https://nationalcareerservice. gov.uk/. For more information about the Youth Support Services in Hampshire please go to http://

www3.hants.gov.uk/childrens-servic-es/youthtube.htm

We at The Test Valley School are the data controller for the purposes of the Data Protection in accordance with GDPR 2018. We collect

information from you and may receive information about you from your previous school, Hampshire County Council and the Learning

Records Service. We hold this personal data and use/share it to:

Collecting personal data* - Lawfulness, fairness and transparency We will only process personal data where we have one of 6 ‘lawful bases’ (legal reasons) to do so under data protection law:

The data needs to be processed so that the school can fulfil a contract with the individual, or the individual has asked the school to take specific steps before entering into a contract

The data needs to be processed so that the school can comply with a legal obligation

The data needs to be processed to ensure the vital interests of the individual e.g. to protect someone’s life

The data needs to be processed so that the school, as a public authority, can

perform a task in the public interest, and carry out its official functions

The data needs to be processed for the legitimate interests of the school or a third party (provided the individual’s rights and freedoms are not overridden)

The individual (or their parent/carer when appropriate in the case of a pupil)

has freely given clear consent.

This information includes your contact details, national curriculum assessment results, attendance information **, modes of travel and personal characteristics such as your ethnic group, any special educational needs and relevant medical information. If you are enrolling for post 14 qualifications we will be provided with your unique learner number (ULN) by the Learning Records Service and may also obtain from them details of any learning or qualifications you have undertaken.

We will not give information about you to anyone outside the school without your consent unless the

law allows us to.

We are required by law to pass some information about you to the Local Authority and the Department for Education (DfE).

We also have local arrangements in place where the school exchanges information with the school nurse, the extended schools provider, the PSA, Tucasi, School Comms, Parent Evening Booking,

Target Tracker, Medical Tracker, Group Call and SIMS Online. All of which we have third party data sharing agreement. Their privacy

notices can also be found on their respective websites.

If you want to see a copy of the information about you that we hold and/or share, please contact The Sims Manager via the main school

number.

If you require more information about how the Local Authority (LA)

and/or DfE store and use your information, then please go to the following websites:

For Hampshire County Council: The County Council has their own privacy notice, which can be accessed via the following link: http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hcc_csd_privacy_notice_-_generic sept_2014-2_.doc

To see how your information is used by the LA: http://www3.hants.gov.uk/education/schools/ schoolsdataprotec-tion.htm#section242880-3 and

**Attendance is not collected for pupils under 5 at Early Years Settings or Maintained Schools as part of Censuses for the Department for Education

* For further information please see our Data

Protection policy on the school website.

Data Protection

http://www.gov.uk/data-protection-how-we-collect-and-share-

http://www3.hants.gov.uk/learning

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/



http://www3.hants.gov.uk/childrens-servic-

http://www3.hants.gov.uk/childrens-servic-

http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hcc_csd_privacy_notice_-_generic

http://www3.hants.gov.uk/hcc_csd_privacy_notice_-_generic



welcome pack - test valley school

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