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School Life
Pastoral Care
All students at The Holy Family Technology College are members of a year group,
each in the charge of a Head of Year. On arrival, a student is placed in a
tutor group and this usually remains the social base for 5 years.
Form tutors have very special responsibilities for the students in their care, will get to know them very well and will take particular interest in their development as they progress through the College.
Heads of Year and the Senior Teacher for Pastoral Care lead and support their
teams of form tutors, work with the tutors to develop the PSD (Personal and
Social Development) programme, organise Assemblies and events for their year
group and deal with student matters that have been referred to them.
We are especially fortunate as we are able to call on the Deanery Youth Worker
and social workers from the Catholic Children’s Society and others from
the
Diocese of Brentwood to help us when necessary. Local Catholic priests and
ministers from other denominations visit the College and participate in the
spiritual and pastoral care of their students.
The School Journal
Every student is given a Journal in which he/she writes down homework, course
work deadlines and other things to remember. It is also a simple way for parents
and teachers to communicate with each other on letters sent home, reasons
for lateness or the non-wearing of uniform, and successes or problems concerning
a student.
In order to get maximum benefit from it, we ask parents/guardians to read and sign the journal weekly, and to use it to write their comments when appropriate. The Journal is also used to record merits gained, and the number of books read during the term.
Student-Progress: “Success at KS3 & KS4”
Booklets
Information about a student’s progress is sent to parents/guardians
every term. These “Success at KS3 and KS4“ booklets indicate grades
for effort, homework and behaviour, as well as the standard of work the student
has achieved.
The Progress File
Young people at the College use a Progress File to identify their strengths,
skills and qualities. The Progress File is a process to support learning,
personal
development and career planning. The Progress File kit enables young people
to manage their learning and development by acquiring thinking and planning
skills. Young people reflect upon their strengths, review their progress,
recognise their potential, identify goals and record their achievements. Young
people will manage their own learning and make effective transitions between
education, training and working life.
Discipline
We want the atmosphere of The Holy Family Technology College to reflect our
Catholic character. Our aim is to assist the development of self discipline
and mature, responsible, Christian behaviour and relationships.
The College has identified clear expectations for the students’ behaviour both inside the classroom and around the building. These expectations are printed in the College Journal and displayed in each room.
We place great emphasis on praising good behaviour and on expecting courtesy, consideration and hard work. A Merit system operates throughout the College and certificates ranging from Bronze for 20 merits to Double Platinum for 150 merits are awarded at Site Assemblies. Positive comments and notes in Journals are also regularly given as are letters of commendation. Certificates are awarded for 100% attendance and punctuality at the end of the term.
If a student behaves inappropriately, he/she would be liable to one or more
of the following penalties: up to 10 minutes detention without notice; a
longer detention with 24 hours notice to parents/guardians; extra work; withdrawal
from class/recreation for a limited period of time; being placed
‘on report’; interviews with senior staff; and/or consultation
with parents/guardians.
For very serious offences, or if all other measures have failed, the Headteacher
has the authority to exclude a student. There are two types of
exclusion: fixed- term exclusions for a limited period of time, until a meeting
with parents/guardians resolves the problem and sets conditions for reentry;
and permanent exclusion. For all exclusions parents/guardians have the right
to appeal to the Governors through the Chairperson.
Attendance & Punctuality
All students benefit from discipline and routine. Therefore, we promote self-discipline,
good study habits and a positive attitude to work. When students have the
right attitude to learning they will both enjoy their time at school and be
better able to achieve their full potential.
Attendance and punctuality are essential if students are to benefit from their educational experience at The Holy Family Technology College.
In most lessons at KS3 (Key Stage 3) the foundations for GCSE work are being laid, and at KS4 (Key Stage 4) an exam syllabus is followed in every lesson.
We therefore suggest that parents/guardians do not take their children out of school during term-time and ensure, as far as is reasonably possible, that students have full attendance.
Homework
Homework is regularly set in almost all subject areas and a homework timetable
is provided. Students record their homework in their Journal.We depend on
parents/guardians ensuring that students do their homework fully and regularly
and that their conditions for work are as quiet as possible.
We run a Homework Club on the Walthamstow House Site and various Study Clubs
on the Wiseman House Site several evenings every week from 3.30-4.30
p.m., and teachers are on hand to give help and advice when required. Staff
also organise study clubs in specific subject areas for students in Years
10 and 11, and parents/guardians are encouraged to ensure students attend
these if they find it easier to work in school.
The Library, and the Information & Communication Technology areas on both sites are available for students to complete research or other work at lunchtime. Parents are provided with a timetable of all extra-curricular activities which take place either at lunchtime or after school at the start of each academic year.
If a child is unable to complete his/her homework and parents/guardians feel she/he is getting over-anxious about it, please inform the college – a short note in the Journal will do.
Careers Education and Guidance
Young people today have more choices and the decisions they make can have
a major effect on their lives. They need to have confidence in their choices
knowing that these are based on realistic assessments of their potential.We
aim to create a partnership between young people, parents, and the college
to make the most of every aspiration. Careers education and guidance aims
to help prepare young people for adult working life by developing their knowledge,
skills and attitudes.
