Administrative matters

The school day

0845 Registration

0855             Assembly in hall

           Monday Headteacher - whole school

           Tuesday      Years 5 & 6

           Wednesday Year 7

           Thursday     Year 8

           Friday          Deputy Headteacher - whole school

0905             Period 1             

1005             Period 2                    

1105             Break                       

1120             Period 3                     

1220            Lunch           

1310            Registration                        

1315            Period 4

1415            Period 5                     

1515            Day ends               

On Wednesdays there are only four periods and the day ends at 1415

The school year 2001/2002

Autumn Term 2001

Wednesday 5^th September -Wednesday 19^th December

Half term: Monday 22^nd October - Friday 29^th October (inclusive)

NB: additional day closure - 30 November (Literacy Across the Curriculum)

NB: additional day at Half Term - 29 October (City Re-Organisation)

Spring Term 2002

Monday January 7^th - Friday 22nd March

Half term: 8^th February - 15th Febraury inclusive (to include a City Re-Organisation)

Summer Term 2002

Tuesday 9^th April - Friday 19^th July

Half term: 3^rd June - 7th June

NB: additional day closure - 8th April (City Re-Organisation)

NB: additional Holiday - Friday 3rd May

NB: Bank Holiday - Monday 6th May

[Check any changes on our dates page]

General information

Behaviour

All pupils are expected to behave in a sensible and responsible manner at all times. They should be thoughtful and considerate to others. General rules of good behaviour apply at all times. There are however some specific rules, which are clearly displayed in classrooms and around the school:

Classroom rules

1. Arrive promptly and fully equipped to lessons
2. Listen in silence when the teacher is talking to the class
3. Allow everyone to work:: don’t disrupt lessons
4. Don’t leave a lesson without permission
5. Treat other people, their work and belongings with respect
6. Complete homework and hand in on time
7. Do not eat in class

Around the school

1. Walk quietly on the left when moving around inside the building. No eating, running or shouting.
2. Games equipment such as footballs should be carried sensibly.
3. Hang your coat on the peg provided. Coats should not be worn in classrooms.
4. You should not enter the school before the before morning registration, break or lunchtime unless supervised by a member of staff.
5. Stay within the school boundaries during the school day unless you have permission to leave.
6. The car part and bike sheds are out of bounds during the day.
7. Treat the school environment with respect. Use the litter bins and keep the walls free of graffiti.

Lunchtime rules

1. Be polite and courteous
2. Queue properly in the dining room
3. Eat your food sensibly
4. Stay on the school premises unless you have permission to go out.

Rewards and sanctions

Pupils receive Merits for achievement in one of four categories:

•               High achievement
•               Sustained effort
•               Progress
•               General

These work towards bronze, silver, gold and platinum certificates for 25, 50,75 and 100 merits.

Although we maintain a positive approach to discipline, there are inevitably occasions when pupils stray outside the bounds of acceptable behaviour. We use a variety of strategies for dealing with these situations ranging from a ‘Debit’ for a low level misdemeanor, through withdrawal of privileges at break, putting pupils ‘on report’ to the ultimate sanction of exclusion from school. Parents are always contacted early if there are problems so that we can work together and support the pupil.

Where we consider it an appropriate punishment we have the right to keep pupils in after school for up to 10 minutes without informing parents in advance. We are also entitled to keep a pupil in detention for up to an hour after school. In this case we always inform parents at least 24 hours beforehand.

School uniform

All pupils wear school uniform. It is designed to be practical and hard wearing and versatile.

• Maroon Marston Middle School sweatshirt (available from the school £10.00)
• Plain white shirt, T-shirt with sleeves
• Plain black trousers, skirt or shorts of sensible length
• Sensible shoes, including trainers (no bright colours)

PE Kit           

• Plain black shorts
• Marston Middle School white T shirt
• Jogging bottoms and sweat tops in plain colours can be worn in cold weather
• Change of trainers

Equipment

All pupils are expected to carry a school bag and have a pen, pencil, ruler and rubber. For Years 7 sand 8 a simple calculator is also recommended.

Please mark all items of clothing clearly with your child’s name.

Special Educational Needs

Information from First Schools helps us identify pupils with special educational Needs. Similarly we welcome information from parents of pupils who may have special needs. This helps us provide information to staff and support early on where it is most needed.

As far as possible, pupils with marked special needs, particularly those with Statements of Special Educational Needs are supported by trained Learning Support Assistants, either in lessons or on a one–to–one basis in the Special Needs resource base.

The progress of pupils with special needs is regularly reviewed and parents are consulted over all actions taken. Parents of pupils who are on SEN Stages 2 and above help draw up an Individual Education Plan, which sets targets for the next term.We also have the assistance of outside agencies such as the Educational Psychology service, the Education Social Work service, the School Health Service and the Counseling Service.

The provision for the special needs of more able pupils occurs mainly in the classroom through use of more challenging targets and extension work. We also set pupils by ability for Maths in Years 5 & 6 and in most subjects in Years 7 & 8.

We are fortunate in having the Hearing Impaired Unit and the Chinnor Unit for Autistic Pupils linked to the school. We aim to integrate pupils from the Units into school life as much as possible.

Religious Education and Collective Worship

Our RE programme follows the Oxfordshire Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education.

The aims of the Religious Education Programme are to help pupils develop knowledge and understanding of religious belief and practice and an understanding of the influence and impact of religion on people’s lives. Also to develop the ability to discuss and consider some of the issues arising from the study of religion.

Although our assemblies are of a broadly Christian nature, stories, thoughts, presentations and celebrations from other religions and are included so that we may value the diversity of race and culture represented by the pupils at Marston.  We do not ask pupils to pray but usually include a thought at the end of an assembly where pupils can reflect quietly on the words being spoken.

Parents have the legal right to withdraw their children from Religious Education and Collective Worship but we hope that the approach at Marston will enable everyone to share in these occasions with confidence.

Sex Education

We believe our pupils are entitled to learn about human sexuality as one aspect of their own development and experience of adult life.We believe this leaning is a life long process, should be positive and needs to be set within a moral framework. Parents are primarily responsible for this area of learning but we recognise the important complementary and supportive role that schools can play.

Sex education is taught to all pupils within lessons in PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) and Science. In Years 5 and 6 class teachers teach both PSHE and Science. In Years 7 and 8, Tutors teach PSHE and specialist teachers teach Science. In both areas the teaching is set within wider topics. This ensures that sex education is integrated and not over emphasised or presented out of context.

Parents have a legal right to withdraw their child from the Sex Education Programme.This right does not extend to the Science requirements, which are statutory. Any parent wishing to withdraw their child should contact the Headteacher.

Charging policy

School trips

Parents are invited to contribute to the cost of educational visits.The school will attempt to subsidise a trip if the total contributions are less than the actual cost. However as funds are limited, if the difference is more than 5% of the cost, the trip will be cancelled for all pupils.

Music tuition            

Charges will be made for all instrumental music lessons provided by Oxfordshire County Council. Parents who choose to have their children taught by private teachers on school premises must pay the teacher for such lessons. The school makes no charge for this facility.

Ingredients and materials

If parents or pupils wish to own a finished product in Art, D&T or Food, they will be asked to bear the cost.

Complaints procedures

We hope you will never need to complain but if you do you should first contact the Headteacher.We will attempt to resolve the problem informally and to the satisfaction of all concerned. If you are still unhappy you can refer the matter to the Governors or the Local Education Authority.