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Holyrood Community School
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'TOP TIPS' to assist you with your studies, have been added to the 'SUBJECTS' page of this website.

	Link to the Somerset Racial Equality Council website

	Link to the Holyrood Learning Centre Newsletter
	CHICS SUMMER NEWSLETTER Please click to access you online version of the Newsletter. Hard copies are available fro the school office or from CHICS (01460 54129). CHICS Community Learning Partnership – Schools & Communities working together in Chard, Ilminster, Crewkerne & Stanchester
Parent and Student Questionnaires Thank you to all Parents / Carers and students who completed the school questionnaire last term. 494 students responses (from a sample of 500) and 245 parent responses will help the Governing Body and staff to make further improvements to the school in 2007/08. The responses are very positive and the organisation who analyse the responses states *‘The survey results reveal that the school has reason to be happy with most of its activities’. Full details will be published on the school website shortly. In the meantime here are a few headlines……. School Security -* Parents / carers identified this as an area for further development. Plans for perimeter security fencing are now complete and construction should take place later this year. CCTV cameras have also been fitted to main entrance areas. School Facilities - Parents / carers and students have identified the facilities at Holyrood as ‘outstanding’, particularly those for ICT. School Discipline - Both parents / carers and students identified this as very good. Sixth Form Provision - This was also identified as a particular strength - especially by Sixth Form students! Features of the school also identified as ’Excellent’ or ’Good’ include - Community spirit Quality of teaching Happiness of students Caring teachers School meals Extra curricular activities Written reports Parents evenings Choice of subjects Collectively the questionnaires failed to identify any real weaknesses, however the Governing Body is not complacent and is preparing ambitious plans for development in 2007/08. These include— Improvements to school security Improvements to arrangements for setting homework Improvements to our anti-bullying arrangements *Maurice Hicks*

The Visit by HRH The Countess of Wessex

Friday 11th June 2004

HOLYROOD COMMUNITY SCHOOL - UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS

Parents are required to send their children to school wearing the school uniform. We expect all students to respect our uniform policy. Form tutors check on the appropriateness of the dress of their tutor group each morning and in the event of a student coming to school inappropriately dressed, we will contact you and send the student home to change.

1. Sweatshirt Black with school logo only (available from school).

2. Trousers / Skirt Plain black or charcoal classic tailored school trousers, plain school skirt of appropriate length.

3. Shirt Plain white school shirt / blouse or polo shirt, with collar and short or long sleeves. Shirts to be worn tucked in.

4. Shoes Plain black traditional school shoes (leather / leather effect)

No trainers or trainer style shoes

In hot weather the school sweatshirt becomes optional.

Trainers are not acceptable except for PE lessons, PE clubs and fixtures.

JEWELLERY

It is not appropriate to wear jewellery to school, and in many school activities jewellery is a health hazard. Students may however, wear a single small stud or sleeper in the lobe of each ear. Nose studs and other studs are not to be worn to school.

Students may also wear a single, discreet finger ring or a wrist watch. Other rings, bracelets, necklaces or similar jewellery are not to be worn to school.

Extreme hair styles are not acceptable for school and parents/ carers should contact the school if in any doubt before the hair is styled.

PE KIT

Shirts School games shirt (purchased from school)

School maroon ‘T’ shirt (purchased from school)

Shorts Two pairs of black shorts

Socks White ankle socks for Gym

Long maroon football socks essential (purchased from school)

Footwear Training shoes (Black soles not permitted – this is very important)

Studded football boots (essential for boys)

Astro Boots (Optional)

Swimwear Trunks (not shorts) for boys / Swimming Costume (not bikini) for girls

Leotard No specific colour (optional girls only)

Tracksuit Optional - Plain black (not the designer "popper" bottoms)

Towel and Washing Kit.

Shin Pads

No jewellery is to be worn during P.E. lessons.

Gum shields are strongly recommended for Rugby and Hockey.

Marking of Clothes

Please ensure that all clothes, PE kit and other articles are clearly named.

Order forms for sweatshirts and PE kit can be obtained from the School Office.

TECHNOLOGY COLLEGE STATUS

AWARDED TO

HOLYROOD COMMUNITY SCHOOL

Award Winning School

Charles Clarke MP, Secretary of State for Education awards Holyrood £650,000 and 'Regional Centre of Excellence' status.

On 1^st July, the Secretary of State for Education announced Government approval for Holyrood Community School’s bid to become a Regional Centre of Excellence in the teaching of Mathematics, Science, Information Communication Technology (ICT), and Design Technology. The School will gain additional funding of £650,000 to provide state of the art teaching and learning opportunities, new equipment, staff and training. Funding is also available through the scheme for all nine of the local Primary Schools to work with Holyrood to develop their provision in the specialist subjects.

Holyrood's ambitious and exciting plans gained strong support from local industries who collectively raised over £50,000 towards the project. Oscar Mayer, Air Control Systems and Swiss Net plc are among a long list of companies who have backed the school’s bid. The school will take up Specialist School Status as a Technology College in September, when students will be able to tap into state of the art teaching and, facilities and learning opportunities. Highly developed computer systems will support learning throughout the school.

High-tech science labs and new Food Technology rooms will incorporate computer technology to aid learning. Students will also access CAD/CAM technology, using industry standard facilities to design and manufacture. A range of additional courses are planned for learners of all ages, many delivered at the Primary Schools with whom the new resources will be shared. The status also provides Adult and Family Learning opportunities which the school has planned with Chard's Healthy Living Centre and with the Chard Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Head teacher Maurice Hicks, who had the agonising task of keeping the bid's success secret until the Government authorised its release, is delighted that Holyrood will now have the resources to secure these exciting plans. 'The school is committed to working with our partner Primary Schools to provide the very best possible education for all our students, along with resources and learning opportunities for the whole community' said Mr Hicks. "Our aim is to give community access to the full range of outstanding resources which will be developed here at Holyrood from September. Work has already started on building a new 'Learning Centre' complete with the latest computer technology, media resources, and conventional book resources. In addition, three additional suites of computers will be developed during the next few months.

'This award is the perfect end to a highly successful year for the school' said Mr Hicks. In the past few months the school has gained no fewer than four major awards. Sports Mark, Arts Mark Gold, Investors in People, and now Specialist School Status. 'These achievements are down to the dedication and hard work of the staff and the support of the local community' said Mr Hicks.

	Congratulations to Mr Ingrams who built this new foyer display unit. Congratulations also to Mr Ingram's talented Year 11 students who have mounted a display of their excellent technology work made during Year 10. Amazing quality; well done!

TOP MARKS FOR SPORTSMARK SCHOOLS
THOUSANDS of school students are celebrating as more schools than ever before receive a national Sportsmark award from Sport England. This year, a record breaking 709 schools have received a commendation from the country’s leading sports development agency, in recognition of their commitment to physical education and sports provision. Holyrood Community School, Chard is one of 590 school to be presented with Sportsmark, in the seventh year of the scheme. A further 119 schools in England have received Sportsmark Gold. Sport England chief executive Roger Draper, praised the school for ensuring that physical education and sport remain a priority. He said ‘ We are finding more and more of our young people are becoming overweight as a result of their diet and sedentary lifestyle. We need to re-emphasise the benefits of physical education, sport and physical activity to children and young people through positive first experiences at school’. ‘This school has been awarded Sportsmark for doing just that. They have shown a dedication to bring PE and sport to the fore of the school’s focus and have encouraged their students to be active both in and out of lessons and within the community’. Sportsmark is awarded to school that have policies and practices for the provision of a well-balanced physical education programme; for developing and out-of-school-hours programme that offers a range of opportunities to students and for enabling young people to move from school sport to sport in the community. Sportsmark and Sportsmark Gold are national awards, which are valid for three years, and schools are encouraged to celebrate their award with students, staff, parents and other organisations. Already, 2,560 awards have been given out to school in the past six years – 1410 schools currently hold a Sportsmark / Sportsmark Gold award including 71 special schools. Headteacher, Maurice Hicks said ‘ News of the award has given the school a real sense of achievement. PE and sport has always had a high priority in our school but this recognition by Sport England gives us a special credence that we can shout about. I believe we must continue to reinforce the benefits of keeping active and fit to our young people, as they are the next generation and sport is a key building block to a healthy adult life’.