Recommended Equipment

Your daughter will require the following equipment:

• Writing equipment - a pen, pencils, a selection of coloured pencils, rubber, pencil sharpener, ruler - all contained in a named pencil case.
• A calculator - preferably a CASIO Scientific calculator.
• A good standard English Dictionary that can easily be carried around for quick reference. We recommend the Collins Gem English Dictionary published by Harper Collins Publishers.
• A pair of in-ear headphones for use with school computers in computing lessons.
• Rough book for making notes.
• Students must have a reading book with them at all times.

Care of Books

Your daughter will receive a number of textbooks which are lent to her, usually for the duration of the school year. These books should be cared for so that they are returned in the same condition as when they were issued. Parents/carers may be charged for lost or damaged books. In choosing a bag in which students will carry their books, parents/carers should have regard to the safety of other students in narrow corridors, and their daughter’s health, as well as its suitability in helping to preserve the books. All Year 7 students have a locker where textbooks may be kept so that not all books need to be carried around school.

Your daughter will have the opportunity to borrow library books but these must be returned by the designated date or fines will be charged.

Care of Property

Your daughter’s uniform and other property should be clearly marked with her name. Students are responsible for their own property and considerable care must be exercised. Only small sums of money should be brought to school, and none must be left in coat pockets, or elsewhere, away from the owner. If in exceptional circumstances, larger sums have to be brought to school, they should be handed in to the Office for safe keeping.

Cashless Catering

All students will be given a blue fob when they join Ribston Hall – this can be used in the canteen and also for the various printers around the school. Parents/Carers are able to add funds to the fob, using Arbor. Arbor details will be issued over the Summer Term.

School Meals

Students may purchase food from the school canteen before school – a breakfast service, at break or at lunchtime – when a variety of hot and cold food is available. The food offer is:

• Compliant to the government’s food-based standard, and proposed nutrient based standards.
• Made with only the best raw ingredients.
• 95% prepared from scratch in our kitchen.
• Designed to reflect the needs of a wide-ranging customer base, satisfying cultural, religious and dietary requirements.

Free School Meals

Students currently entitled to free school meals can purchase food at breakfast, breaktime or lunchtime, depending on their preference. The current allowance is £3 per day, so if it is spent at breakfast or breaktime, it will not be available at lunchtime unless their Arbor account is topped up with more funds.

All breakfast items are available before school. Please note the food choices will be greater at lunchtime. For a full list of food combinations please visit our website.

Transport

A number of buses are provided for Ribston Hall students; however, they are not arranged through Ribston Hall and are shared with other schools. A full list of school transport can be found on our website under the ‘Join Us’ section or please click here. Parents/carers are asked to encourage their daughters to behave responsibly en route to school, whether on foot or on public transport. Cyclists are reminded that they should not cycle on pavements and may not cycle on the school site. The bicycle racks are situated by Tech. 4. Students are not permitted to access the School through our Reception area unless this has been granted by their Head of Year. Parents/carers may not drive onto the school site (unless collecting for an appointment during the day).

Music Lessons

We have a number of peripatetic teachers who visit Ribston Hall to deliver regular music lessons across a range of instructions. If you wish your child to begin lessons, please have a look at 'Parent Information' on our website to view what is on offer and how to contact the peripatetic teachers. Although peripatetic teachers use the school facility, the arrangements and communication should be established upon the contract made directly between the peripatetic teachers and parents and not the school.

School Events

During the school year there are a number of school events that take place outside the normal school day, including Celebration Evenings, Open Evenings, and The Cathedral Service. Students are expected to attend.

Trips and Visits

During the year, the staff at Ribston Hall arrange a number of trips and visits. We seek your support in ensuring that your daughter makes the most of all the opportunities we offer. Where costs are incurred, such as coach fares and admission charges, parents/carers are asked to make a voluntary contribution in line with Department for Education guidelines. Parents/carers are invited to contact the Head Teacher on these occasions if their financial circumstances make it impossible to contribute in this way.

There will be lots of opportunities for trips and visits throughout your daughter’s career at Ribston Hall, including ski trips and sports tours.

INSPIRE Residential: Year 7 Outdoor Activities Trip to Croft Farm: 25th - 27th September 2024

We are delighted to be able to offer Year 7 students the opportunity to attend a 2-night residential trip to Croft Farm, Tewkesbury. Students will take part in two days of water sports (sailing, katakanuing, paddleboarding, raft building, kayaking, windsurfing) and one day of land activities (pedal boats, archery, inflatables, team building, pedal karts). The evening activities will consist of orienteering and a disco.

Experienced instructors will ensure the activities are safe for students and the Year 7 Tutor team will support your child every step of the way. Students will sleep in dorms of up to 4 people, eat as a Year group in the communal dining room and have access to private toilets and shower cubicles.

The trip is designed to encourage students to step out of their comfort zone, build resilience and grow in confidence. It will allow students to develop their social skills, helping them to forge stronger friendships and ease the transition to secondary school.

We depart from school at 9am on Wednesday 25th September and return by 3pm on Friday 27th September. The trip will cost £185 payable via Arbor (logins will be provided), where consent for the trip needs to be given. The three instalments are as follows:

01/07/2024 - £65

01/08/2024 - £60

01/09/2024 - £60

The trip cost covers all activities, accommodation, food, travel and insurance. Your child may want to bring pocket money for the tuck shop which will be open during the Disco. We suggest bringing no more than £5.

We recommend that valuables are left at home as we cannot take responsibility for loss or damage to valuable items. Mobile phones will be stored at school for the duration of the trip to encourage students to interact with each other whilst away from home. An emergency contact will be provided should you need to contact your child urgently.

Please note that if a student withdraws from the visit, it will not be possible to return any sums paid once we have made payments to external providers. This trip is organised directly with Croft Farm, and we are bound by their terms and conditions.

We encourage all children to attend this trip to help ease the transition from Primary to Secondary School. To secure a place, please complete the online form here and pay the first instalment on 1st July. Arbor log in details will be provided to enable you to pay the instalments. A kit list will be provided nearer the time.

Code of Conduct

All girls are encouraged to behave in a responsible and self-disciplined manner and to display sensitivity to the needs and feelings of others.

Mobile Phone Policy

Students are allowed to bring mobile devices to school, but once inside the school gates they must be switched off. Students should not contact parents during the school day other than if absolutely necessary and this should be done through the Wellbeing Hub under supervision of a member of the pastoral team. If students are caught using their mobile phone without permission, sanctions will apply. Please click here to read the full Mobile Phone policy.

For a full list of school policies please click here.

The Home School Agreement

Students of Ribston Hall High School agree to:

• Always behave in a way that will not endanger others both within and outside the school.
• Understand and adhere to the school Behaviour Policy, Anti-Bullying Policy and Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy and Procedures. All policies can be found on our website.
• Be punctual and have full attendance during school hours, including all timetabled lessons, and registration.
• Honour all work and study commitments and meet all deadlines.
• Complete all independent study tasks and make full use of the information on Satchel:One.
• Adhere to the procedures set out by their form tutor.
• Adhere to the Ribston Hall High School uniform regulations.
• Have the right equipment and resources for school.
• Take responsibility for all personal possessions and resources provided by Ribston Hall High School.
• Discuss with parents/carers progress and future plans.
• Contribute to the Ribston Hall High School community to maintain a pleasant and safe student environment.
• Agree to respect other people’s property, personal space and opinions during lessons and social situations in a calm and sensible manner.
• Always aim to understand and respect the cultural heritage of other students.

Parent/Carer(s) of a student at Ribston Hall High School will:

• Ensure that students will have the best possible attendance at school making non-essential medical and dental appointments outside of school hours.
• Where an absence occurs, inform the school on each day of an absence.
• Ensure that students catch up with work missed due to absence.
• Support and encourage students to achieve their potential, discuss progress and preparation for the future.
• Avoid taking a family holiday during term time.
• Request holiday permission for a planned absence from the Head of Year at least two weeks in advance if this has to occur during term time.
• Not to drive onto the school site between the hours of 7.30 am and 9.00 am, 3.30pm and 4.00pm.

Ribston Hall High School will:

• Provide students with the opportunities to participate fully in academic and extracurricular activities, encouraging students to achieve their best.
• Review and report on progress and invite parents/carers to an annual Parents’ Evening.
• Support students, through the pastoral system, to look after their safety and wellbeing.
• Facilitate student progression from Year 7 to Year 13 in preparation for Higher Education/employment.
• After initial discussion/warning with students contact and inform parents/carers when individuals are causing concern.
• Provide opportunities for parents/carers to be involved in the life of Ribston Hall High School.

Security

The trustees and staff would like parents/carers to know that we take issues of security and personal safety very seriously.

Visitors on site: we would like to ask for your co-operation in this:

• All visitors must report to Reception during school hours.
• All visitors will be required to wear a badge.
• After hours visitors will not be permitted to enter the school buildings without being met by a member of staff.
• Present identification to Reception.

Please note – parents/carers are regarded as visitors, and so we ask that you do not attempt to gain access afterhours unless you are expected. Doors will be locked promptly at 4 pm.

We hope that you will understand the necessity for this procedure, and will co-operate in the interests of the safety of your daughter and her peers.