Year 6
Headteacher Message
Miss Marston
"I am really pleased that you will be joining us in September to take the next steps on your educational journey at Saint John Wall Catholic School. We are a Catholic School For All and we welcome pupils and their families from all cultural and faith backgrounds, whilst encouraging you to actively participate in our Catholic Ethos. Click here to see my full message about the school's mission and ethos".
Your Head of Year
Mrs Ellis
"Hello! My name is Mrs Ellis and I will be your Head of Year from September. I am really excited to meet each and every one of you.
You'll be able to find me in school within the Head of Year Office which is close to our main Reception and the playground. You are always welcome to come and see me for a chat and to help me get to know you better. Don't forget if you have any questions about what school life is like you can email us on formtutor@sjw.bham.sch.uk and we will do our best to give you the answer that you need!"
Staff you will see on a regular basis
Miss Timmins
"Hello, my name is Miss Timmins and I am the Designated Safeguarding Lead and one of the Assistant Headteachers. I make sure that you are safe in school. Part of my job is to look at your behaviour and uniform. I work with the Pastoral team to ensure you are following the school rules".
Miss Guest
"Hello, my name is Miss Guest and I am one of the Assistant Headteachers at Saint John Wall Catholic School. I work closely with Mrs Crooks and the pupil coaches to support our SEND pupils".
Miss J Hanson
"My Name is Miss Hanson. I help pupils and parents with their attendance and punctuality. I put competitions and prizes together for pupils who have excellent attendance. I also speak with pupils and parents who may need support with getting to school every day on time. One of my other jobs is looking after trips and visits. Pupils are able to come to see me in the reception area if they have any questions. I really enjoy working at the school and I am looking forward to seeing you all in September".
Miss Chohan
"Hello, my name is Miss Chohan, I am the Office Manager and I work in the school office. I work very hard in the background ensuring that when you arrive here in September, everything is in place for a smooth transition. I hope that you will enjoy your time here at Saint John Wall Catholic School".
Miss Lally
"Hello, my name is Miss Lally and I am one of the Assistant Headteachers at Saint John Wall Catholic School. I work alongside Ms Hanson, the attendance office, and the pastoral team to support pupils and parents/carers to achieve excellent attendance and punctuality. Sometimes I may meet with pupils and parents/carers to discuss how school can support families to ensure they can attend school every day. Alongside this, I oversee the rewards system we have in place at school to positively recognise pupils who are doing well at school.
Important Information
At Saint John Wall Catholic School, we take time to educate the whole child not just academically but in life skills too. We strive to be eloquent, compassionate, generous and truthful. These are just some of the St John Wall Values that we practise with our pupils encouraging them to grow into successful members of the community.
Here at Saint John Wall Catholic School we take attendance very seriously. We have had excellent attendance figures for many years and are proud to say that we are ahead of our target again this year. Our excellent attendance figures go hand in hand with excellent pupil progress and outcomes.
Attendance
To ensure that we continue to meet our weekly and yearly targets, and to ensure you reach your full potential, we need your parents/carers help:
- If your child is absent due to sickness, please call the school on 0121 554 1825 before 8.40am.
- If your child needs a medical appointment, please try your best to make it outside of school hours.
- Holidays are not allowed in school term time, so please do not book them! If you need to know term dates, please check the school website or contact the school office.
Punctuality
Punctuality is also important at Saint John Wall Catholic School. The law requires you to ensure you are in school on time. Registration starts at 8.50am, so you should be in the school grounds before 8.45am. If you arrive late, you will be given a late mark and a 15-minute detention at morning break time. Two or more late marks in one week will result in a one-hour detention on a Friday after school. If you accrue 10 late marks, you will join the 75 Club, where you will serve break time detention, and an hour after school, each day you are late. Members of the 75 Club will also not be allowed on trips, until punctuality shows a significant improvement. If you arrive after 9.30am, this will be recorded as Unauthorised Absence for the morning, in accordance with government guidelines. Please ensure you leave home in plenty time for a punctual start to the day.
How to get to school - click here for directions
Uniform and Equipment
Saint John Wall Catholic School is a uniform school. Pupils are expected to wear full school uniform at all times. Pupils are likely to be sent home to change if they are not correctly dressed for school, sent to the St Francis Centre or given spare uniform in school to borrow.
We all come to school dressed for the business of education. This is explained to parents at their induction interview. We are proud of our school and of our uniform. When we wear our uniform correctly, it is an outward sign that we are proud to belong to the Saint John Wall School community.
Gogna Schoolwear
School Uniform can be purchased from Gogna Schoolwear which is located on: 67/69 Rookery Road, Birmingham. B21 9QU - Email:info@gognaschoolwear.co.uk Tel: 0121 523 5572 Fax: 0121 681 6828
St John Wall Catholic School | Uniform | Gogna
All pupils are encouraged to take pride in their personal appearance. The Leadership team and the Pastoral team reserve the right to take appropriate action to ensure all pupils dress appropriately (including makeup, jewellery, hairstyles) to enhance the reputation and reinforce the ethos of Saint John Wall Catholic School.
Pupils are expected to bring to school every day the following equipment in a suitably sized bag/rucksack:
pens, pencils, ruler, eraser, exercise books and equipment/kit relevant to a particluar subject.
Lunchtimes
There are only two options:-
- Stay for school dinners on site
- Stay for packed lunch on site
Please note pupils are not allowed off site at lunchtime
The school canteen provides lunch for the majority of our pupils, and a place to eat their own packed lunch should they wish. Items of food are individually priced and £3.00 will be sufficient for lunch and may even provide a snack at break-time. Pupils will still be able to bring in money and use their finger print to add money to their account.
If your child qualifies for free school meals, s/he will be issued with a daily amount of £2.53 which will be put onto their account. Please contact the school office for details if you do not currently receive free school meals and feel that you might be eligible.
In an attempt to remove all cash and cheques from school we are asking all parents to only use our e-payment method ‘ParentPay’ to pay for your child’s dinner money. This can be done online using a very secure website or in cash at local stores where you see the PayPoint logo. You will be given more information and a log in when your child starts the school.
Frequently asked questions:
What Do I Do If...
If my child is ill
Please telephone the school immediately and leave a message with the school secretary. Kindly send your child with a letter explaining their absence when they return.
If my child will be late for school due to a medical appointment
Please telephone the school immediately and leave a message with the school secretary.
If I am concerned about my child’s welfare
Contact the school and arrange through a school secretary for an appointment to see a teacher. This may be the Head of Year in the first instance. If you just call in at school, the chance of you seeing a teacher would be very rare as they spend most of the week teaching and cannot leave class.
If I am concerned about my child’s progress
Although there will be a parent’s consultation evening in the first term and a further one in May after you have received a report, please contact the school. The Head of Year can arrange an interim report (allow 2 weeks) if needed and will be available to meet with you.
If I am concerned about my child’s uniform
Please send your child to school with a note if any item of uniform is missing. It will help if you can give a date or time by which the missing item will be replaced. We will lend your child items of uniform if they have either lost it or left it at home.
If my child has lost an item of equipment
A lost property service is available and your child should consult with the member of staff responsible. We cannot be held responsible for the loss of items of clothing or equipment by your child but will do our best to assist if time is available.
If I have any complaints about the Curriculum
If parents have complaints about the curriculum they should in the first instance refer them to the Headteacher who will deal with them in accordance with procedures of the 1988 Education Act.
If my child brings a mobile phone to school
If your child is caught with a mobile phone it is likely to be confiscated for five school days or until a parent collects it. Your child must ensure that their phone is switched off and put in their bag.
Is my child allowed to wear jewellery and make-up to school
Jewellery is not allowed to be worn. If ears are pierced, only ONE small plain gold or silver stud in each ear, in the lobe and no other part of the ear. Nose/eyebrow studs and any other body studs/rings/bars are NOT allowed. Make-up, nail varnish and long/false nails are NOT allowed. Tattoos are NOT allowed.
Items banned from school
Certain items are prohibited in school these are – knives or weapons whether real or replica, alcohol, illegal drugs and stolen items whether real or replica. This includes a member of staff reasonably suspects has been, or is likely to be, used to commit an offence, or to cause personal injury to, or damage to the property of any person. If for any reason pupils need to be searched, school staff can search pupils with their consent for any item which is banned by the school rules. Pupils can be searched where there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that they are in possession of a prohibited item (see above). Pupils can be searched on the school premises or, if elsewhere, where the member of staff has lawful charge of the pupil (e.g. on a school trip or at a sporting fixture). This information is taken from our Behaviour Policy.
Any headwear unless it is for a religious observance, Baseball caps, Tight fashion trousers/skinny trousers, Hooded tops, Logos on clothing/decoration on trousers, Skirts with slits/tight fashion or stretchy skirts/zips at the back, Studded/decorative belts, Trainers, Boots, unless they can be worn under trousers, Pouches. Hats and hoods are NOT allowed to be worn indoors.
SCHOOL POLICIES
You can view our school policies which are available by clicking here
How to help with those first few weeks - information for parents/carers
- Show your confidence in your child so that they believe in their own confidence. Avoid taking over tasks that they can do themselves – it can sometimes be hard to hold back on trying to help.
- Be ready to listen, but don’t expect your, “how has your day been?” end-of-day question to be answered. Just be there when your child wants to talk, so that if they have a tough day or a worry, they know you are available.
- If your child feels they are being bullied or tells you of a circumstance that you consider to be bullying, contact the school for a confidential conversation to deal with this.
- Welcome their new friends into your home and make them feel at ease
- Subtly increase your child’s independence with practical experiences such as popping out to the shops or getting them to take more responsibilities like getting their own school uniform ready.
- Practise the journey to school, particularly if it involves public transport or a new route to walk.
- Make sure they get to bed in good time without any electronic devices, and they have a water bottle and a healthy snack for topping up during their school day too – the first week will be very tiring.