In addition to your School Students Planner, here are some guidelines that will help you in and around the school:

The School Council

Each House has two elected pupil representatives from each year on the School Council.

The Council meets regularly with a senior teacher to discuss ways in which we can improve our school community.

'THS LIFE'

Our half-termly magazine, THS Life, has articles about past, present and future events. It is written by pupils, students and staff and keeps you and your parents up-to-date on what is happening at our school. Every member of the school community receives a copy of this newsletter.
THS Life is published in colour on the school’s website.

The School Association

The School Association is a group of parents who volunteer to organise activities to raise extra money for the school. Fashion shows, discos, quiz nights and bingo are just a few of the events that you, your parents and your teachers can enjoy during the year. They are always advertised in THS Life. All money raised is for your benefit, so please encourage your parents to become involved.

School Governors

School Governors include teachers, parents, politicians and members of the local business community. They meet regularly to oversee what is taught in school and make major decisions that should improve the education and welfare of all pupils. Your parents are notified when there are vacancies for Parent Governors as they may wish to stand for election.

Complaints Policy

The school has an official procedure for dealing with complaints. A copy of our Complaints Policy can be obtained from Reception or the school’s website.

Attendance

There is a very strong relationship between good attendance and high attainment. You should always aim for 100% attendance. If it falls below 95% it is a cause for concern.

If you are unable to attend school on a particular day your parents should contact the school as soon as possible in the morning.  If no explanation for your absence is obtained your parents will receive a courtesy telephone call  from us to inform them that you are not in school. A response to this ‘Truancy Call’ will be required.

Furthermore, when you have been away your parents should ideally either write a letter to your Form Tutor on your return to school giving reasons for your absence or complete the Absence Notes section on pages 16 and 17 of this Planner. This section can also be used to inform us about known future absence.

Parents are encouraged to avoid taking their children on holiday during term time. Any request to authorise absence for holidays in term time should be made by your parents, in writing, to the Headteacher via your Head of House.

If you are frequently absent or your absence is not authorised by the school, the matter will be referred to your Head of House, who may decide to inform the School Attendance Panel, which includes members of the Governing Body and the Education Welfare Officer.

Lunchtimes

At lunchtimes your bag should be left in your Form Room. If it is placed anywhere else in school it might be removed.

You will be allowed out of school during lunchtime only if a written request from home has been made and it has been approved by the school. You can obtain an Agreement Form from your House Office for your parents to complete and return. Your parents must confirm that you will be going home for lunch because you live sufficiently close to school, and that they will accept responsibility for you whilst you are off the premises. If you are allowed out of school by your Head of Key Stage your name will be registered at your House Office and a pass, valid until the end of term, will be issued. You must have this pass with you every lunchtime. If you fail to show your pass to a member of staff when requested you will not be allowed off-site. Only Sixth Form students have the privilege of leaving school at lunchtime without going home. 

You need to make a new application on another Agreement Form just before the end of the current term if you wish to continue going home at lunchtimes.

You must stay outside at breaks and lunchtimes when it is fine weather, unless supervised by a teacher. Food and drink purchased from the school must be eaten in the Refectory. If you choose to bring a packed lunch you are encouraged to eat it in the Refectory, although you may decide to use the picnic benches outside in good weather. Please help to keep the school clean and tidy by not eating and drinking in the corridors and by disposing of used packaging in the litter bins.

During wet weather an indoor space will be made available for you to use. Normally, this will be in the Assembly Hall, which will be supervised by a member of staff.