Parent & Student Information
Tolerance. Aspiration. Achievement.
Good to know.
“In the beginning I thought it would be hard to make new friends, but in actual fact it’s really easy”
Yr 7 Student
2019 September Y7 Admissions
Admissions for September 2019 Year 7 places have now opened and the deadline for making “on time” applications is 5pm on Wednesday 31 October 2018 (during half term). Applications must be made to your home authority.
Warwickshire County Council guidance can be found by on their website Warwickshire Secondary School Admissions with guidance for those in Northamptonshire online at Northamptonshire Secondary School Admissions
For September 2019 Admissions, once the offer of a place has been made (1st March 2019), parents / carers must accept or decline the place as soon as possible with their home admissions authority and not school.
Whilst nothing is ever guaranteed, making an application before the deadline and selecting RFSS as your first preference school, will give the best chance of being offered a place with us in September 2019. We wish you the best of luck and hope you get the place you want.
“Everyone in the school is really kind and nice. There’s no bullying, no worries”
Yr 7 Student
Admissions Appeals
Admission Appeals
Warwickshire Admissions handle appeals relating to September Year 7 transfer places.
The team can be contacted on 01926 414143 or admissions@warwickshire.gov.uk – or the appeal can be lodged online – https://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/schoolappeals
The deadline for lodging an appeal with them is 29 March 2019.
For IN YEAR cases where we are unable to offer a place at RFSS, you have the right to Appeal. Please contact RFSS direct if this is the case.
“I wasn’t nervous on the first day because we knew the teachers from induction day”
Yr 7 Student
Top Tips for New Students
Our students have created their very own top tips for settling in quickly at RFSS.
- Always be yourself
- Be organised and hand in homework on time.
- Try your hardest in lessons.
- Always wear correct uniform.
- Get to know your timetable quickly.
- Make sure you get to lessons on time
- Be kind to everyone
- Never give up
- Don’t annoy your teachers
- Learn how to tie a tie
- Have fun
- Make new friends
- Do not leave PE with your trainers on
- Remember your PE kit
- Don’t say anything if you have nothing nice to say
- Treat people how you would like to be treated.
- Make sure you’re ready to leave the lessons on time
- Don’t rush to the dinner queue
- Don’t be afraid to express yourself
- Stay away from arguments
- Go to after school classes
- Come to school if you are only a little bit ill. You will feel better later in the day.
- Find things you have in common with other pupils to make new friends
- Don’t be too concerned about getting a boyfriend or girlfriend or having too many friends or being popular.
“Just be yourself — it’s the easiest way”
Yr 7 Student
Main Term Dates
Current Dates – 2018-2019
Training Day 1 – Monday 3 September 2018
Training Day 2 – Tuesday 4 September 2018
Autumn Terms Starts – Wednesday 5 September 2018
Half Term – 29 October to 2 November inclusive
Autumn Terms Ends – Thursday 20 December 2018
Training Day 3 – Friday 21 December 2018
Training Day 4 – Monday 7 January 2019
Spring Term Starts – Tuesday 8 January 2019
Half Term – 18 to 22 February inclusive
Spring Term Ends – Friday 12 April 2019
Summer Term Starts – Monday 29 April 2019
Bank Holiday – Monday 6 May 2019
Half Term – 27 to 31 May inclusive
Summer Term Ends – Friday 19 July 2019
Training Day 5 – Monday 22 July 2019
Future Dates – 2019-2020
Training Day 1 – Tuesday 3 September 2019
Training Day 2 – Wednesday 4 September 2019
Autumn Terms Starts – Thursday 5 September 2019
Training Day 3 – Friday 25 October 2019
Half Term – 28 October to 1 November inclusive
Autumn Terms Ends – Friday 20 December 2019
Spring Term Starts – Monday 6 January 2020
Training Day 4 – Thursday 13 February 2020
Training Day 5 – Friday 14 February 2020
Half Term – 17 to 21 February inclusive
Spring Terms Ends – Friday 3 April 2020
Summer Term Starts – Monday 20 April 2020
Bank Holiday – Friday 8 May 2020
Half Term – 25 to 29 May inclusive
Summer Term Ends – Friday 17 July 2020
Training Day 6 – Monday 20 July 2020
Archive Dates – 2017-2018
Training Day – 1 September 2017
Autumn Term Starts – Monday 4 September 2017
Half Term – 23 till 27 October 2017 inclusive
Autumn Term Ends – Wednesday 20 December 2017
Training Day – 21 December 2017
Training Day – 22 December 2017
Training Day – 5 January 2018
Spring Term Starts – Monday 8 January 2018
Half Term – 19 till 23 February 2018 inclusive
Training Day – 26 February 2018
Spring Term Ends – Thursday 29 March 2018
Summer Term Starts – Monday 16 April 2018
Bank Holiday – 7 May 2018
Half Term – 28 May till 1 June 2018 inclusive
Summer Term Ends – Thursday 19 July 2018
Uniform
We are delighted to have secured a second supplier of our school uniform. In addition to Webb Ellis Limited in Rugby, Scallywagz Schoolwear in Daventry now stock our RFSS Logo’d items
All other compulsory items can be purchased from high street retailers. A full list of compulsory items is noted below.
If you feel you may be entitled to assistance towards the cost of logo’d items, please contact our Finance Department for advice.
| Main School Uniform |
|---|
| RFSS grey school blazer (Boys’ or Girls’ style) |
| RFSS purple v-neck jumper |
| RFSS school tie |
| White, long or short sleeved shirt |
| Black school trousers or skirt. (Skirts must be to the knee and trousers must NOT be skinny fit or leggings. Slim fit tailored trousers are acceptable) |
| Black school shoes (leather or patent leather only. NO canvas shoes, trainers or logo’d footwear) |
| Girls: Black or white socks/black tights |
| Boys: Black socks |
| RFSS bag |
| P.E. Kit | |
|---|---|
| Indoor Kit | RFSS grey and purple polo shirt (boys’ or girls’ styling), RFSS purple and grey shorts, black or white trainers. |
| Outdoor kit: | RFSS Rugger top (boys only) RFSS grey and purple hoody (girls and optional for boys), RFSS leggings (girls), plain black tracksuit bottoms purple football socks black or white trainers. |
| RFSS P.E. Bag |
Blazers/outdoor coats
Students need their blazer in school every day.
Students will need an appropriate outdoor coat to be worn on top of their school blazer when the weather requires this. This should be black or grey.
“In 20 years time we are going to be able to say, ‘We built this school’”
Yr 7 Student
Parent Pay
We’ve gone cashless!
RFSS uses the Parent Pay platform to enable payments for all things school related. We find this system removes the challenges and simplifies all things associated with cash payments. To login in and take advantage of this system click the following link:
“The teachers give you more independence”
Yr 7 Student
School Transport
For further information on school transport services please click the following link:
“We have peer mediators — if you have arguments they help you sort it out”
Yr 7 Student
Complaints Procedure
Should you wish to make a complaint or an allegation in respect of Rugby Free Secondary School, you have the right to contact our Chair of Governors, Nathan Siddle. Please contact him via School.
GDPR
You may be aware that from 25 May 2018, the rules around data protection are changing. The ‘General Data Protection Regulation’ (GDPR) will change how we can use your personal data and keep it safe and will also strengthen your rights over your own data.
The point of this is to make sure sensitive or private information about yourselves and your children stays safe. Whilst it is similar to the current Data Protection Act in many ways, there are a few differences, so we need to make a few changes at the school in order to ensure we remain compliant.
Our new policy can be found via this link LT2 Data Protection Policy. An additional change is that the Trust have updated our Privacy Notices and these are also on their website – LT2 Privacy Notice.
Paper Copies
On request, RFSS is happy to provide paper copies of information and documentation free of charge.
Please contact us on 01788 222060 for assistance.
Numeracy Booklet
At RFSS, we are determined to ensure all of our students leave school with the tools needed for the world of work. As a result, we have developed this booklet with some quick hints and methods that you could utilise with your child to support them with their work at home with any task that involves numeracy.
Exam Information
School Day
Our school day is longer than the average day, with a taught week of nearly 27 hours plus enrichment activities around the taught day. As such, while our pupils will have a degree of independence, we will still take account of parents/carers and family life with a range of opportunities included in the before and after-school activities including supported homework sessions. This approach ensures that we will have enough time to deliver our curriculum offer and fulfil the high expectations for the school in terms of student achievement and personal development.
Current enrichment activities are detailed here – Autumn 2018 Extra Curricular activities
Our school day looks like this:
| 08.00 – 08.45 | School site open to Students |
| 08.45 – 09.05 | Tutor Period |
| 09.05 – 10:05 | Lesson 1 |
| 10:05 – 11:05 | Lesson 2 |
| 11.05 – 11.25 | Break |
| 11:25- 12:25 | Lesson 3 |
| 12:25 – 13:25 | Lesson 4 |
| 13.25 – 14:00 | Lunch |
| 14:00 – 15:00 | Lesson 5 |
| 15:00 – 15.10 | Tutor Period |
| 15.10 – 16.30 | Enrichment activities and homework clubs |
“I like all the subjects. Well, there are a couple I don’t like, but the teachers encourage you to do your best”
Yr 7 Student
Homework
Using the latest advances in technology and the web we have signed up to the Show My Homework scheme which is an invaluable resource for parents and students. With clear to do lists and visual prompts this system makes keeping on top of homework a breeze.
Follow this link to login to your own student profile.
https://www.showmyhomework.co.uk/
“My favourite subjects would be art, biology and physics”
Yr 7 Student
Lunchtime
Students will have the opportunity to purchase a healthy well balanced meal, or, they will be able to bring a packed lunch to school. The lunch period will be well supervised by staff and there will be a range of activities taking place to stimulate and occupy the students. Students will not be allowed off site at lunchtime. Our weekly menus will be available for parents to view on the website. We will operate a cashless system so parents do not need to worry about students bringing money to school. The same system will allow parents to pay for trips and activities.
Our current menu – Lunch Menu Sept 18
“If it’s tomato pasta, my hand is straight up”
Yr 7 Student
Free School Meals & Pupil Premium Funding
Pupil premium funding is an important additional resource that helps us to ensure that all students are provided with the resources needed in order to succeed at school. To find out if your child is eligible for pupil premium funding, or to apply, please visit: www.warwickshire.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals Annually we report on how RFSS have utilised this funding. You can read the report for the previous academic year by following this link – Pupil Premium Report for Governors and Parents 2018
“Our school dinners are amazing! At my old school there were flies in the drinks”
Yr 7 Student
Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award
Rugby Free Secondary School were very excited to announce the launch of the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award this year for the current Year 9 cohort.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award, founded in 1956 by Prince Phillip, is delivered in over 130 countries worldwide. The award aims to inspire, guide and support young people in their self-development and recognise their achievements. It is a fantastic opportunity for young people to get involved in.
The award requires young people to complete four sections:- Physical, Skill, Volunteering and Outdoor Expedition (two days, one night). Students will be expected to complete two sections for three months, one section for six months and a practice and final expedition.
Students have a wide range of activities to choose from to complete each section. Ideas can be found on the DofE display board in school or by typing ‘Duke of Edinburgh Programme Ideas’ into Google Search. Rugby Free has a variety of extracurricular activities on offer which would allow students to complete all of their sections with help from school.
At Rugby Free, students will have the opportunity to complete their Bronze Award in year 9, Silver Award in year 10 and Gold Award in year 12.
If you would like more information about the Duke of Edinburgh Award, please contact Miss Probert on: Rachael.probert@rugbyfreesecondary.co.uk
SCHOOL CONTACT INFORMATION
Rugby Free Secondary School
Anderson Avenue
Rugby
CV22 5PE
01788 222060
Or email us here.
Learning Today, Leading Tomorrow (LT2) is a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England & Wales No: 09027131. Registered office: c/o Rugby Free Primary School, 1 Bailey Road, Rugby CV23 0PD.
RFSS TWITTER FEED
Chief Executive https://t.co/GGWwK0lUbf
Angela, Nick feel free to visit our STEMM school in Rugby and see how we’re doing it.
@mrnickharvey Good morning Nick, thanks for raising this with me, I strongly support music as part of an holistic education curriculum
Post Edited: Teacher of English https://t.co/RNEFLzlu2P
New post: Teacher of English https://t.co/RNEFLzlu2P
RFSS Facebook Feed
We are delighted to announce that Ms Samirah Roberts, Senior Vice Principal at the Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ Holyhead School in Birmingham, has today started in post as Acting Headteacher at Rugby Free Secondary School.
Ms Roberts has already met all the staff and several parents today, all of whom have given her a very warm welcome. She will be working alongside Brenda Mullen, the Trust’s Chief Executive Officer, over the summer break. From the start of the new academic year, Ms Roberts will join Mrs Heather Roberts (no relation!), who will continue to support the school on a part-time basis.
Ms Roberts has progressed from teacher of psychology to deputy headship at this highly regarded inner-city Birmingham academy where, despite students entering with attainment levels significantly below the national average, more students than at other comparable schools go on to employment, higher education and apprenticeships.
Ms Roberts also has four years’ experience of leading the school’s sixth form, which has expanded considerably from 50 students to over 260 and is now one of the most successful non-selective institutions in Birmingham. As a result of a number of initiatives, such as the Competitive Courses Programme for disadvantaged students, almost all students achieve a place at a university of their choice, including Russell Group universities.
Committed to raising standards and unlocking the potential of every student, Ms Roberts has worked alongside national organisations such as ALPs and PiXL and also facilitates a range of National College Leadership Programmes.
We are delighted that Holyhead School has agreed to this seconded support for as little or much time as needed. Trustees are confident that Ms Roberts’ exceptional track record of delivering excellent outcomes for students will further accelerate the improvements that are already well under way and provide our students with the first-rate education they deserve.
We look forward to introducing you all to Ms Roberts!
Dear Parents and Carers,
We have been overwhelmed by the positive response and messages of support we have received from parents and students in light of the disappointing result of the recent Ofsted inspection. We would like to say a huge ‘thank you’, as your words of encouragement have been a source of great comfort to all members of staff at the Trust and have literally brought tears to our eyes.
We are extremely proud of our school community where children, staff, and parents are the core strength of the school’s foundations. We built our school together and we will continue to work tirelessly to deliver the excellent education that each and every child deserves.
Ofsted’s report confirmed its faith in the Trust by recognising that it has “…begun to address the weaknesses at the school and is well placed to continue its improvement work”, and we give you heartfelt reassurance from the CEO and Chair of the Trust that no stone will be left unturned to deliver the school that we promised in 2015. We are confident that inspectors will see a very different school to that inspected in May during the next monitoring inspection, akin to the high expectations and standards, good quality of the teaching, and the safe and caring culture of the school that we aspire to.
We will be holding a series of meetings for all parents and carers in the first week of September. These will give the opportunity for parents and carers to ask questions, and for the Trust to provide reassurance that the actions taken since the inspection are having an impact and share a clear statement for the plans of rapid and sustainable improvement. We will also be emailing monthly updates starting in September to keep you informed of progress.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email info@learningleading.org as we are closely monitoring this throughout the summer break and will endeavour to respond within three working days. This will also ensure that we cover all FAQs for everyone at the meetings.
Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to welcoming you back on Thursday 5th September when we will begin the next school year with renewed confidence.
Learning Today Leading Tomorrow
Friday 19 July 2019
Reminder today is a non uniform day and school closes for summer at lunchtime.
School reopens for all students on Thursday 5 September 2019.