A Welcome from the Headteacher

Welcome to Pewsey Vale and thank you for showing an interest in our school.  I hope you will find our website interesting and informative.  Please use it to get to know us better.

I started as Headteacher in September 2006, having worked in a number of schools in Southampton and Hampshire and I have been impressed by the genuine warm welcome I have received from staff and students.

Pewsey Vale is a comprehensive school, serving the community of Pewsey and the nearby villages.  There is a unique ‘feel’ to the school, which is centred on the belief that every student is special and should be encouraged to make the most of their talents.

As a small school our staff, both teaching and non-teaching, know our students and their families very well.  They encourage individual students to develop and achieve in all areas of the curriculum and beyond.  We encourage, recognise and celebrate the achievements of all our students.

Pewsey Vale School benefits from a beautiful, well-equipped site, which we share with Pewsey Primary School, Pewsey Swimming Pool and Leisure Centre and the 'Shak', our very successful Youth Centre.  This flexible accommodation, excellent facilities and resources enables us to maximise the opportunities and challenges we offer our students.

Building on the school's many strengths, we are always looking for new ways to develop the learning experience for our students.  We recognise the importance of our impressive variety of extra-curricular opportunities for students and are now seeking recognition for these as an Extended School.   We are also investigating the most appropriate area to focus on in our bid for Specialist School Status.

If you would like to know more about the school, or to take a tour of the site and see 'Learning in Action', please do not hesitate to contact me.

We look forward to working closely with you to support your child and ensure they have a happy and successful time with us at Pewsey.

Absence from School

Please inform us of the reason for any absence on the first day of absence by telephone or email and each day thereafter.  A letter/note should be brought to the school office on the first day of return.

It is essential that every student’s absence is accompanied by either a written comment in the Student Planner or a letter/note on return to school.  All schools are required by law to publish attendance rates for each year group on a termly basis.  Any absence not accompanied by a note is regarded as unauthorised, in effect - truancy!  Please help by always writing a letter/note to explain absence.

A note/letter is required for occasional non-participation in any special activity.  These are considered part of the school education whenever they are held.  They include all representative activities and excursions.  A parent's/carer’s note is not sufficient to regularly miss PE or Games lessons.  Non-participation is only possible with a doctor's certificate or ‘an acceptable reason’.

A note/letter is also needed for any special reasons such as family holidays, medical consultations.  In cases where it is known a child will be absent, permission should be requested before the absence, and if necessary, the appropriate documentation provided.

Up to a maximum of 2 weeks in term time may be allowed for family holidays, though removing a child from his/her studies is not recommended.

Discipline

One of the core aims of the school is to foster the development of students' self-discipline.  We know that from self-discipline and self-respect emanate the attitudes we hope young people will acquire – at homes and with family, among their friends, in leisure time and at school.

In any school community, there may be a minority of students who are disruptive and so it is necessary to provide a clearly understood and reasonable system of discipline.

Please note that sanctions will be set for students who do not meet our expectations.

Detentions

Students may be detained over lunchtime or break time. For after school detentions, parents/carers will be informed in advance so that they can arrange transport as necessary.

Please note that although we seek parental/carer involvement and support in this process and we may alter the day of detention, parental/carer permission to attend a school detention is not required.

Report

Students causing concern may be placed on Report by their pastoral leader or tutor at the request of members of staff or parents/carers.  A student on Report will receive a slip on which members of staff will make comments on class work, conduct and homework/independent study.  This will be monitored and signed by the tutor and parents/carers each day.  At the end of the week the pastoral leader/tutor will consider the comments and decide whether the Report is continued.

Exclusion

Serious misbehaviour can result in a student being excluded by the Headteacher from lessons or school, in the interests of his/her own discipline or other students' or staff’s safety.

The school’s procedures are detailed in the Behaviour Management Policy available from the school office.

The full policy is available upon request