Jump to: admission to St Ivo, attendance, equipment, insurance, lunchtime, PE kit, procedure for dealing with suspected cases of child abuse, school nurse, the school day, transport or uniform.
St Ivo School is one of the largest county comprehensive schools in Cambridgeshire with some 1,450 students in the 11 to 16 population and 350 students in the Sixth Form.
The published admission number (PAN) for St Ivo is 296. St Ivo School serves Hemingford Abbots, Hemingford Grey, Holywell, Needingworth and St Ives, but is usually heavily oversubscribed by requests for admission from outside this catchment area. The criteria of the Local Education Authority (LEA) which are used for the allocation places are as follows:
In cases of equal merit, priority will go to children living nearest the school as measured by a straight line.
The criteria set out above have been agreed with the school's Governing Body.
Parents/Carers of prospective Year 7 can click here to apply online for places at the school.
Transfer Process
For further information about the admissions and transfer process to Cambridgeshire Secondary schools, please visit the Cambridgeshire Transition Advice Website from which you can download leaflets etc for transition information and advice.
Form Tutors work closely with parents/carers, Heads of Year, our Attendance Officer, the Education Welfare Officer and students to achieve a high rate of student attendance and punctuality.
Absence
What action should I take if my child is too unwell to attend school?
All absences must be reported by 9.30am on a daily basis.
How do I register an absence?
Either,
Telephone the 24 hr Absence Line 01480 375459 and leave a message including your child’s name, tutor group, reason for absence, your name and a contact telephone number.
Or,
Send a message via the attendance page on IvoOnline giving all relevant information as above.
The school should be advised of any medical condition. A doctor’s certificate may be requested if it affects your child’s attendance.
Do I need to send a note on my child’s return to school?
Yes please, either as a letter or a note in their planner. This must be brought into school on their first day back.
If my child is late for school, what should they do?
Registration takes place in tutor rooms from 8.30am – 8.45am. If your child arrives after 8.45am they MUST sign in at Reception.
Persistent lateness will not be tolerated and further action will be taken. If there is a valid reason for lateness, or a change in your home circumstances that is affecting your child’s attendance at school, please advise us immediately.
My child has a medical appointment?
Appointments should be made outside of school hours. If this is not possible, please notify the school in advance by telephone, note or e-mail.
Can I take my child out of school for a holiday?
Holidays should be arranged outside of term time. School policy at St Ivo is that holidays in term time will not be authorised.
Will I be made aware if my child is a low attendee?
Yes. If their attendance falls below an acceptable level, a meeting will be arranged with you to discuss this. If there is no improvement, the matter will be referred to the Education Welfare Officer.
Registration closes at 8.45am. Persistent lateness will be reported and may result in referral to the Education Welfare Officer.
Lateness
Parents/carers are asked to support the school by ensuring that their child arrives at school on time. The school has electronic registration with a register being taken every lesson. If a student arrives late to school he or she must sign in at reception. In the afternoon tutor period they will need to explain their reason for lateness and have their planner signed. The electronic registration system will, within a few minutes of the lesson beginning, flag up any students who are absent. (Parents/carers may be informed automatically be telephone, e-mail or SMS message of their child's absence). Any student with several late marks, without a valid reason, will be required to attend a late detention after school. Lateness is classed as unauthorised absence until a note of explanation is received from home.
Signing in and out
A student who has to leave school for a medical or dental appointment or other valid reason needs an absence note. He/she reports to reception to ‘sign out’ of school, and ‘signs in’ on returning to school. Any student without an appropriate absence note cannot be allowed to leave school.
Basic Equipment
Pens (blue/black), pencils, ruler, rubber, pencil sharpener, protractor, compasses, calculator and glue stick.
All the above items can be purchased from the school Business Centre at cost price. In addition they may purchase other items such as art sketch books and SATs revision booklets.
Many students find it useful to have the following items: coloured pens/pencils, scissors for cutting paper (particularly if left-handed), and a USB pen.
Students will need a sturdy bag in which to carry equipment and books. They will be issued with a number of text books, which should be looked after and returned in reasonable condition. All students are allocated a locker, which may be shared with one other. Students provide their own padlock and key which can also be purchased at the Business Centre.
All clothing and equipment should be clearly marked with the owner’s name. Very expensive items should not be brought to school.
There is no insurance policy to cover compensation for accidental injury during normal school time; for example, there is no compensation for injury sustained on the sports field unless that injury arises through negligence. Parents/carers requiring such cover should take out a policy for themselves. There is also no insurance for personal property lost or stolen in school; any valuable items (e.g. personal stereos, mobile phones etc) should not be brought to school.
Parents/carers are asked at the beginning of the year to indicate whether their child will go home or remain in school at lunchtime. Any alteration to this arrangement should be notified to the school in writing.
The school dining hall is open before school, at break and at lunchtime, and sells a range of hot meals as well as filled rolls and snacks. Those on free meals are currently allowed to spend up to £2.10, and this is ample to buy a full meal and drinking water. We operate a cashless card system, which has a daily limit set by parents.
PE KitBoys:
Green polo shirt with the St Ivo logo***
Maroon reversible rugby shirt***
Plain black shorts (2 pairs)
Rugby/football boots
Maroon rugby/football socks***
Trainers (non marking)
White socks
Swimming trunks/shorts (not Bermuda type)
Girls:
Green polo shirt with the
St Ivo logo***
Grey sweatshirt with the St Ivo logo***
Plain black shorts (2 pairs)
Maroon hockey socks***
Trainers (non marking)
White socks
One piece swimsuit in any colour (no two piece
swimsuits)
Optional PE Kit
Tracksuits
(outdoor work only, at discretion of PE staff)
Towel (shower facilities are available for
all students)
Gum shield (recommended for rugby and hockey)***
Shin pads (recommended for rugby, football and
hockey)***
All clothing and equipment should be clearly marked with the owner's name. Items followed by *** are available from the St Ivo Business Centre.
Please note the school has made a decision to move away from the white shirts previously used for PE lessons because some students continued to wear them around school. There are hygiene issues with wearing the same clothes for exercise followed by continued wear in normal lessons. Similarly, the grey sweatshirts have been introduced for girls to wear in PE lessons to stop this happening with the maroon school sweatshirt.
Procedure for Dealing with Cases of Suspected Child Abuse
It may be helpful for parents/carers to know that the law (Children Act 1989) requires all school staff to pass on information which raises concern that a child may be at risk from non-accidental injury, neglect or emotional or sexual abuse.
This procedure is intended to protect children and schools are encouraged to take the attitude that where there are grounds for concern it is better to be over-cautious than to risk a child’s safety. In some cases they therefore have an unavoidable duty to contact Social Services without reference to parents. On other occasions, the school will contact parents prior to contacting Social Services.
Occasionally, this duty on Headteachers means that they must risk upsetting some parents/carers by reporting a concern which, on investigation, proves to be unfounded. In these circumstances, it is hoped that parents/carers will appreciate how difficult it is for schools to carry out this delicate responsibility and accept that the Headteacher was acting in good faith and had to take these steps in the best interests of children. The designated member of staff with responsibility for child protection is a senior member of staff.
There is a school nurse in attendance during school hours to deal with emergencies and health problems that occur during the school day. We ask all parents/carers to give, in confidence, information about illnesses, infirmities or disabilities. This should include children with nut or any other severe allergies and if they require an Epipen or any other medication in school, which needs to be supplied by parents/carers. It should be emphasised that the School Nurse should not be regarded as a substitute doctor and children who are unwell should not be sent to school to see the School Nurse.
The School Nurse can arrange hearing, vision or speech screening for any child if parents/carers so request. We cannot express too strongly the need for parents/carers to contact their family doctor to arrange anti-tetanus protection for students before they take part in environmental courses or activities involving animals.
The structure of the school day is as follows:
|
Tutor Period Period 1 Period 2 BREAK Period 3 Period 4 LUNCH Registration Period 5 |
8.30
- 8.45 8.45 - 9.45 9.45 - 10.45 10.45 - 11.05 11.05 - 12.05 12.05 - 13.05 13.05 - 13.55 13.55 - 14.00 14.00 - 15.00 |
Buses
Bus transport for students is arranged by the Local Education Authority. Students whose homes are three or more miles from the school and in the school’s designated catchment area are currently entitled to free transport. Free transport is available for secondary school students from low income families to one of the three nearest qualifying schools where they live more than two miles, but not more than six miles. Students qualify on the grounds of free school meals or where parents are in receipt of the maximum level Working Tax Credit will only be agreed for the current year and will need to be reviewed each year.
Free transport is also available for students living outside the catchment area in Somersham which is provided by Kiddles and Stagecoach, and in Colne which is provided by Stagecoach, and for students living in Bluntisham and Colne which is provided by Dews Coaches. Subject to the availability of seats, children who travel from Hemingford Grey, can purchase tickets from the Local Education Authority, for the Hemingford Service.
When students bring cycles into school, they should observe road safety rules and maintain their brakes and lights frequently during the winter months. Helmets are strongly recommended. Bicycles can be left in the racks provided for cycles in the school grounds. They are left at the owner’s risk and students should lock them and remove possessions from them. The police inspect the bicycles from time to time. Riding of cycles in the school grounds is not allowed. Students should not leave their bikes at the Leisure Centre.
Car
If you bring your child to school by car, please do not bring the car on to the premises. The best place to drop your child off is in the Leisure Centre car park, to avoid congestion in the streets around the school. Visitors cars are not allowed onto site between 8.10 and 9.00am in the morning and between 2.45 and 3.30pm in the afternoon.
Our over-riding aim is that student clothing should be clean, tidy and safe. It should also be suitable for a school environment, and the school may refuse to accept any item of clothing, which is considered inappropriate.
Boys
White polo shirt with school logo
Plain trousers (black or dark grey)
School sweatshirt (maroon)
Plain socks (neutral shades)
Plain shoes (black or brown)
Girls
White polo shirt with school
logo or kameez (in white, black or medium grey)
Plain skirt, trousers or shalwar of acceptable design (black or dark grey)
School sweatshirt (maroon)
Plain socks or tights (white, grey, black or natural)
Plain shoes (black or brown)
School sweatshirts, embroidered with the school badge, are obtainable from the school Business Centre. Sweatshirts should be worn properly or kept in student’s bags. White polo shirts with the school logo, green PE polo shirts and grey sweatshirts are also available from the Business Centre.
Training shoes are not considered appropriate.
Outdoor clothing such as coats and anoraks should be of a sensible style and in plain colours without badges, slogans or decorations. Denim or military-style jackets are not acceptable.
Jewellery and make-up: Students may wear one plain finger ring but any items of adornment considered dangerous or offensive will be removed for the term. Students may wear only simple sleepers or studs, one per ear. Girls below Year 11 are not allowed to wear nail varnish or make-up in school, and senior girls’ make-up must be discreet. Jewellery must not be worn in PE lessons, and hair should be tied back during practical work.
All clothing and equipment should be clearly marked with the owner's name. Very expensive items should not be brought to school.