Useful Information

The School Planner

• Each pupil is given a personal organiser containing useful information about the school. The diary section is used for recording homework and reminders.
• Teachers sign or stamp the planner after every lesson as an indication that school expectations have been met. This is a simple but important process and allows you as a parent to see at a glance how the day has gone.
• There is also a space for teachers and parents to write comments; these might be praise for work well done or an early warning of a concern. At the back of the planner students record the subject merits that they collect.
• The planner is signed each week by parents and form tutors as an indication that it has been reviewed.

Attendance And Punctuality

• Parents are responsible for their children’s attendance at school each day. Punctuality is also the responsibility of parents. Biddick School places great emphasis on good attendance and punctuality, and recognition is given to those pupils who consistently meet our standards.
• If your child is absent you must contact the school within the first hour on the first session of an absence.
• When your child returns to school after an absence we need a brief written explanation.
• Any pupil who arrives at their form room after 8:50am for our morning session and after 1.20pm in the afternoon will be marked late. Pupils who are regularly late are kept in detention.

Illness At School

If a pupil becomes ill at school we contact home to ask for someone to collect them. Although there are staff who are qualified in First Aid and a visiting School Nurse, Biddick School has no facilities for looking after pupils who are ill.

Patental Contact

There may be times when we have to contact parents during the day - for example medical emergencies; we need an up to date Confidential Information Sheet for each pupil with at least two emergency contact telephone numbers.

Permission To Leave School During The Day

Any pupil who needs to leave the school site during the day must have a written request form their parent. We would only expect requests to be made for unavoidable circumstances.

Lunch Time Arrangements

All pupils are expected to stay on site at lunchtime. The only exceptions are students with written permission form a parent or carer to go home for lunch. These pupils are given a pass. No students should be buying lunch at local shops.

• School lunches are cooked on the premises and are served from 12.20pm to 12.55pm. Our ‘meal of the day’ is offered along with alternatives from a wide choice of fresh food, including vegetarian meals.
• Pupils are issued with a smart card and then use machines in school to put credit on the card.
• Pupils are encouraged to eat healthily, and parents are asked to work with the school to educate their children to select a healthy, balanced meal at midday.
• Pupils are welcome to bring a packed lunch to school and facilities are provided in the dining area from 12.20 onwards.
• After lunch pupils can choose to go outside or go to our library resource area for quiet reading and study.
• Parents are responsible for the conduct and punctuality of all pupils who leave the school site at lunch times.
• Year 7 - 10 needs parental permission to leave the premises at lunch time.
• Free school meals. Contact the pupil office or the Civic Centre for an application form. When the application is completed, the pupil office arranges for the lunch allowance to be credited to the pupil’s card.

School Buses

• Nexus provide special buses for our pupils who live in Rickleton, Harraton, Penshaw and Shiney Row and Teal Farm.
• Parents are responsible for the sensible behaviour of their children when travelling on these buses. Although Biddick School does not control these buses we work very closely with Nexus for the benefit of our pupils. The school and the Bus Company can stop pupils using these special services. Nexus have the right to withdraw any buses that are not used properly.

Charging Policy

• The school’s charging policy conforms to the requirements of the Education Reform Act 1998.
• For school visits which are a basic part of the curriculum there should be no charge. However, where this would amount to a cancellation on the grounds of cost, we may request a voluntary contribution from parents.
• No pupil will be excluded from a visit for not bringing a contribution. All teachers deal sensitively and discreetly with all such matters.

School Nurse

Mrs McHugh is our visiting school nurse. To arrange contact with Mrs McHugh parents should contact our school office.

Education Social Worker

Carole Bunney, our Education Social Worker, has an office in school and can be contacted by telephoning 0191 2193685. Her main priority is to ensure that all pupils have excellent attendance records.

Collective Worship

• Through assemblies, tutorial work and lessons we aim to create the opportunities for pupils to reflect, celebrate achievement, develop a sense of community, share and explore values, and appreciate other people’s beliefs, values and needs.
• Each Year Group attends one assembly each week.
• Senior staff lead assemblies and the themes are broadly Christian in content. They deal with social and moral issues and support our school philosophy and working practices.

Leave Of Absence For Family Holidays

• We are very proud that in 2006-2007 our attendance of over 93.8% was one of the highest of all Sunderland LA’s Secondary Schools.
• The granting of Leave of Absence during term time is entirely at the discretion of the Head Teacher. No parent can demand leave of absence for the purpose of a holiday as of right. In considering requests, each child’s attendance and punctuality record and their performance in lessons will be taken into account.
• It is unlikely that any request for Year 9 pupils prior to their SAT tests will be supported.
• Since Biddick School Sports College is firmly committed to helping each pupil achieve the highest academic success no leave of absence will be granted for holidays by pupils in Year’s 10 and 11.