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Frequently asked questions
| What do I do if I have concerns about my child? |
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If you have any worries, questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact your child’s Company Adviser in the first instance. They are experienced in supporting children through the transition to Senior School both in terms of their general wellbeing, changing friendship patterns and academic progress. Alastair Phillips, Assistant Head (Pastoral Care) and the Heads of Year are also responsible for supporting all students within their care and can be contacted directly by email. |
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Who do I need to tell if my child needs to leave for a medical appointment? |
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If parents would like to request their child miss school for half a day or less for a medical appointment, this request can be made by the parent to their child’s Company Adviser or Head of Year. If a student has an appointment during the school day, they need to sign out and back in again with the Pastoral Assistant in the Mulberry Building. Parents can come to the Main Reception to meet them. |
| What do I do if my child is going to be late to school or is off ill? |
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If a student is ill and going to be absent from school or is running late, parents must email attendance@stchris.co.uk and copy in the student’s Company Adviser, before 9.00am. Absence can also be notified by My School Portal which will inform the Pastoral Assistant. Lateness should be avoided whenever possible; it disrupts a child’s learning routine and the school day as a whole. Late arrivals should report to the Pastoral Assistant in the Mulberry Building. |
| How do I request time off during term time for my child? |
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Unplanned absences, due to an emergency or sickness, should be reported to Joanna Pitts (joanna.pitts@stchris.co.uk) in the Junior School Office before 9.00am. Please copy your class teacher in to your email. Absence can also be notified by My School Portal which will inform the Office. We follow-up on any absences that we have not been notified about. Lateness should be avoided whenever possible; it disrupts a child’s learning routine and the school day as a whole. Late arrivals for the Junior School should report to the Junior School Office. If your child is unwell and unable to participate in a PE or a swimming session, please ensure that the class teacher is informed in writing or by e-mail beforehand. |
| How do I request time off during term time for my child? |
| If parents wish for their child to miss school for any reason other than illness or an emergency medical appointment then they should write to the Head of the Junior School, Katie Wright, in advance, requesting permission for the absence: katie.wright@stchris.co.uk. You can also request time off via My School Portal. |
| How do I book the school bus? |
| St Chris has a partnership with a bus company so that students can travel from a number of areas directly to school. For more information about bus routes and prices, or to book a space on the bus, please visit the website of our School transport provider Ride Kura www.ridekura.com/st-christopher/ Bus bookings for September open in June and the Admissions Team will contact parents/carers new to the school to let them know when bookings are open, and the process for booking a place. After school, coaches leave from the swimming pool car park and there are staff on hand to ensure students are on the correct bus. |
| What happens if my child misses the school bus on the way home? |
| Before 5.30pm students who miss their school bus should go to the Mulberry Building, where there will be a member of staff on Late Duty. Parents/carers will then be contacted to make alternative arrangements. |
| Is there a late bus if my child wants to stay for After School Activities? |
| There is a Late Bus which leaves school at 5.30pm which can be booked for students wanting transport to the train station or into London. For more information about bus routes and prices, or to book a space on the bus, please visit the website of our School transport provider Ride Kura www.ridekura.com/st-christopher/ |
| How do I visit the School to see a member of staff? |
| If you wish to meet with a member of staff, please contact your child’s Company Adviser in advance, to arrange a convenient appointment. All visitors (including parents) must report to the Senior School Reception on arrival at the School, where they will be signed in and given a visitor’s badge and made aware of our safeguarding and fire procedures. |
| My child has SEND and I have further questions about them starting at St Chris |
| For all students with SEND, there is a full handover between the Admissions Department (for new students) or the Junior School team (for Year 6/D Group students) and the Senior School Individual Needs and Pastoral Care Departments during the Summer Term. In consultation with parents/carers and, where appropriate, previous schools, students who may experience difficulty transitioning to St Chris will be offered support in joining the school. This may include meetings with the SENCO or Head of Year in advance of the student starting at St Chris. There are opportunities for visits prior to the start of their first term; these would be arranged directly with the SENCO, Head of Year or through the Admissions Team. On rare occasions, there may be a need for a more graduated start to attending full-time, and concerns of this nature should be discussed in advance with the Admissions Team. Please contact Kirsten Rockey, Senior School SENCO, with any further questions you may have via individualneeds@stchris.co.uk. |
| My child is going to be boarder, will you send me more information? |
| We will be sending further information about life in the boarding house, packing lists, arrival and departure and induction details in the Summer Term. |
| Where can I find our more information about the PSHE curriculum? |
| Personal, Social, Health and Economics Education (PSHE) is delivered in weekly lessons, following a programme created with the PSHE Association. Each year, we explore a range of topics under the three themes; Health & Wellbeing, Living in the Wider World and Relationships. These are taught in a spiral curriculum, building in an age-appropriate way, to cover the knowledge and skills needed by young people to make safe, well-informed choices. Lessons encourage students to reflect on topical issues and develop social skills through discussion. Signposting to support is also a key element of PSHE so that children and young people know how to make healthy decisions and seek appropriate help with difficulties. Further information about PSHE and Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) can be found in our policies on the school website and through regular newsletters which update parents on what we have been learning about. |
| What is the Silence? |
| The Silence is a tradition at St Chris where the staff and students take a moment together to pause, think and listen. It’s an important part of our Morning Talks and school meetings. |
| What are the School’s bank details? |
| Account Name St Christopher School (Letchworth) Limited Account Number 90800643 Sort Code 20-41-38 The bank details are the same for all payments to the School, so please include a reference for your payment e.g. SURNAME FEES or SURNAME TRIP. |
| How do I contact the Governors? |
| The Chair of the Governors may be contacted in confidence by email at jakub.kozlowski@stchris.co.uk or c/o the main school address: Chair of Governors, St Christopher School, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire SG6 3JZ. |
| Where do I find the School’s policies? |
| A comprehensive list of our policies and procedures can be found on the school website. www.stchris.co.uk/about-us/policies/ Alternatively, please contact the Head’s PA, who can send you a digital or hard copy: toni.warner@stchris.co.uk. |
| How do I make a complaint? |
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The open climate of St Chris encourages parents, along with students and staff, to voice their concerns. Usually discussion of the matter allays or removes the worry without the need for formal procedures. All complaints are carefully considered and it is usually helpful for there to be a discussion at an early stage about the issue, the procedures and the possible outcomes. In the first instance, please contact the Head: head@stchris.co.uk A copy of our Complaints Policy can be found on our website. https://www.stchris.co.uk/about-us/policies/ |
| Where can I find staff contact details? |
| Staff contact details and an up-to-date staff list are available on our website https://www.stchris.co.uk/about-us/staff/ |
| Can I bring my dog to pick my child up from school? |
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Yes but other than guide or hearing dogs, dogs are not allowed in the school buildings. Please keep dogs on a lead at all times and under your direct control, and be aware that some in our community are scared of dogs. |
| Is there a PTA? |
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All parents and guardians are automatically enrolled as members of the Parents’ Circle – our name for the PTA. The St Chris Parents’ Circle has a long history within the School having played an active role since 1920. The group provides a welcoming environment where parents can get to know one another, share ideas, socialise and have fun! They also run fundraising initiatives for their chosen charities. Throughout the year the Parents’ Circle organise a number of events including quiz nights and a stall at the Summer Fair. Such occasions provide a school-wide “inclusive” environment to get to know other parents and support the sense of community that St Chris provides. For more information about the Parents’ Circle, or if you have any questions, please email jenny.savage@stchris.co.uk or keep an eye on the weekly Roundup mailing each Friday. |
| Can I book additional swimming lessons for my child and can our family use the pool? |
| Parents can book additional swimming lessons through the St Chris Swim School; these take place after school hours and at the weekend. You can find further information on our website. www.stchris.co.uk/swim-school We also run regular weekly Family Swim and Adult Swim sessions for those families who have a child at St Chris. Further information is sent out in The Roundup at the start of each term. |
| Where can I park when dropping off or collecting my child? |
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Please find below a map indicating where car parking is available at the start and end of the school day. As we grow as a school, and as the size of our cars increase, we are aware that the car parking and drop off situation is not ideal at busy times. Our location in the middle of a residential area also increases the complications with access to our site. Please do not park or wait on the main roundabout at the front of the school where there are double yellow lines, or where there are “no parking” signs at either the start or end of the day. A brief pause as you drop off or pick up in this area is OK, but please do not park or wait in these areas: if your child is not waiting there to be picked up, please park your car in one of the car parks indicated in green on the attached map. Please do not park in the loading bay car park, on any double yellow lines or in any of the areas indicated in red on the attached map. When turning into Barrington Road using the Main Entrance to school, if there is no room for both you and the car driving in the opposite direction, please wait at the top of the road and do not mount the pavement so that you can drive down the road towards school. In addition, please:
A member of staff is on duty every morning and afternoon in the Cloisters Entrance carpark, in the morning at the Junior School playground carpark, and every afternoon at the Main Entrance carpark next to the roundabout. These members of staff are there to monitor and remove any unsafe parking practices on our campus at peak traffic times and to support the safety of the site for pedestrians. Please do follow their guidance. |
| Who do I contact if I have further questions? |
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If you have any additional questions, or wish to discuss anything further, please do not hesitate to contact us. Before your child starts at school, please contact Sarah or Lucy in the Admissions Team via admissions@stchris.co.uk or call +44 1462 650947. We aim to respond to all emails within two working days. |
