Charlton School

5^th April 2022

Dear Parent/Carer,

As we approach the end of the spring term, I wanted to provide you with an update on some staffing changes and about our school uniform plans for September 2022, considering the new DfE uniform guidance and following feedback from one of our parent groups.

With the support of the school governors, we have made the decision to move to a gender-neutral uniform, meaning that from September 2022 girls will be able to wear black trousers or a black pleated skirt.  For twelve months we will have a transition period allowing girls to wear either existing blue items or new black clothing.  All skirts or trousers must be black by September 2023.

In addition, working with our uniform supplier, Baker and Sons, we will be offering in the summer term, sew on badges for blazers.  This will allow non-branded blazers to be purchased from any supplier and a sew on badge added with the school logo.  We are also working with Baker and Sons to look at a range of non-branded sportswear, further reducing the financial impact of our school uniform.

We will still be running our uniform swap-shop in school, offering good quality pre-loved items for a voluntary contribution.  We are always happy to receive good quality uniform items, we are especially in need of blazers, PE kit and ties, should you have any in the house that are now too small or not needed, please drop any clothing donations into reception.

I would like to inform our school community that after 27 years of service to the school, Mrs Katrina Jones, Food Technology and DT teacher, will be hanging up her chef whites and taking early retirement at the end of April.  We are indebted to the commitment she has shown to a huge number of students and families over the years and the impact she has had on their lives.  We wish her the very best for her retirement.

Also leaving this term are teaching assistants Miss O’Brien and Mrs Herbert-Lade, again we are incredibly grateful to the care and support they have given to our SEND students and the difference they have made to them.  We wish them well in their new schools, they will be missed.  Mrs Preece has moved from her teaching assistant role and is now one of our cover officers.

Joining us after Easter will be Miss Lamsdell, teacher of Design Technology, teaching assistants Mrs Lane, Miss Watkins and Miss Whitford, and already joined us this week is Miss Doodson, our new exams officer.  I know you will join me in making them all feel very welcome.

You will have received a covid update from Dr Eatough, Learning Community Trust.  Cases remain high in our community, please continue to follow the updated guidance and try to avoid contact with others if you are unwell with a high temperature, or if you test positive.  We do not have any more test kits that we can issue to families.

After Easter you will receive information about an exciting project the school has been selected to take part in, one of only 30 schools in the West Midlands.  This is a project with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation, called Everyone’s Safer.  Please keep an eye out for further information.

Please remember the students finish for Easter on Thursday 7^th April, at the normal school finish time of 3pm.  Our staff have a training day on Friday 8^th April.  We will also be running many revision sessions over the Easter holiday for invited Year 11 students, please encourage your children to attend all the sessions they receive an invite to, time is quickly passing, and the exams will be starting on 16^th May!

Please find time over the holiday to do things you enjoy and some restful time to recharge the batteries.  We would like to take this opportunity to wish our community a happy Easter and Ramadan Mubarak from all the staff at Charlton School.

Yours sincerely,

Mr A McNaughton

Principal