Dame Alice Owen's School

School Prospectus

Our School Prospectus is designed for prospective parents and students who are interested either in Secondary Transfer to Dame Alice Owen's (joining the school in September of Year 7) or making an application for casual admission to the school (joining the school at some other time than Secondary Transfer or the start of the Sixth Form*). It is also useful for potential employees to read before making an application.

We provide an overview of the school and include information about our ethos and values as well as the school’s history and what it's like to study here. There are also details on the school’s specialisms and extra-curricular activities, including life in the Sixth Form. Copies are provided at our Open Afternoon in July and our Prospective Parents Evening in May - dates and times of these events can be found at Admissions, Secondary Transfer, Key Dates.

School Prospectus July 2010 (1.3MB)

Please note:

• School Results are published each year at: Results
• Admissions information can be found at: Admissions, Secondary Transfer, Admissons Info
  
• Information regarding our Sixth Form can be viewed at: Admissions, Sixth Form
• If you require a printed copy of the Prospectus, please contact the school office, thank you.

Additional General Information
The school also produces a Booklet for New Students and Parents each year which includes a list of school expectations (for the guidance of parents and students) - they are listed below:

1. General Appearance, Conduct and Attendance: in accepting the offer of a place at this school, parents agree to accept the requirements of the school for their sons and daughters. These include the wearing of the correct school uniform, a smart and acceptable general appearance, including conventional haircuts, orderly behaviour to and from school, and sensible and co-operative conduct at all times. Full attendance is expected and holidays must be taken in school holiday time.
2. School Uniform: must be correctly worn at all times unless prior permission has been given to the contrary (e.g. on a Field Studies Visit). Uniform details are given elsewhere. All items of uniform and games equipment must be clearly labelled with the student's name. Outdoor clothing should be left in lockers. 
3. Access to the School: all students should enter the school site via the Main Gate (unless advised otherwise) and either remain in the Main Playground or go to their year areas. Only students in the Sixth Form are allowed to use the Main Entrance to the school. All other students should use the Playground Entrances. Staff are on duty from 8.30 am each morning. Breakfasts are available from 8.15 am in the 6th Form Dining Room. Students carrying musical instruments should go directly to the Music Centre. 
4. Punctuality and Attendance: Registration is at 8.50 am each day. The end of the school day for all students is at 3.45 pm. There are five 1-hour lessons each day and lunch is from 12.35 to 1.35 pm. Students who are late for school or lessons on 3 or more occasions in a term will be required to serve a one hour after school detention. Students not present for registration, on arriving after 8.50 am, check in at the School Office. Registration closes at 9.10 am and arrival after this time must subsequently be explained by a parental letter. Students absent through illness should bring a letter (addressed to the Form Tutor) upon returning to school. Absence through illness should be notified to the School Office by letter or telephone. 
   
   Requests for absence from school in abnormal circumstances should be made in writing to the Head. The Governors do not approve of any requests for absence in term time for the purpose of taking holidays. 
   
   Requests for students to attend medical or dental appointments in school time (if such arrangements are unavoidable) should be made in writing to the Form Tutor. 
   
   Students leaving or entering the school during the day (other than at the usual times) must report to the School Office before leaving the school premises or upon arriving at or returning to school.
   
   For more details on Absences see Parents' FAQ's.
5. School Lunches: School lunches are prepared on the premises by a catering company, who operate a cashless system. Students may also bring a packed lunch to school.
   
   Food may not be eaten on the school premises other than in the Dining Hall or in designated areas out-of-doors. Chewing gum is forbidden at all times and must not be brought on to the school premises. 
6. Illness at School: students taken ill during lessons should request permission to report to the School First Aid Officer in the Medical Room and should enquire at the School Office if for any reason the First Aid Officer cannot be located. At other times, students should report directly to the First Aid Officer. On no account should students telephone their parents requesting that they be collected from school because they are unwell. The First Aid Officer will decide if a child should go home, in which case she will contact the parents to arrange this. 
7. Discipline and Sanctions: 
   1. School Prefects - all wear distinguishing badges and are on duty at various times in different parts of the school. Students are expected to follow Prefects' instructions and may be reported to the Form Tutor or the Head of Student Progress if they fail to do so.
   2. Staff Detention - students may be detained for part of their lunch time on any school day. For any detention which is after school time, parents will be notified using a standard form, twenty-four hours beforehand, via the student. Students must bring back the reply slip confirming parental knowledge of the detention.
   3. Uniform Detention – where students are regularly not conforming to uniform regulations they will be placed in lunchtime detention. Persistent offenders will be placed in an after school detention
   4. School Detention - is for serious offences and parents are always notified in advance. This is held one evening each week (if necessary) for at least one hour after school. There is also a detention for anyone caught smoking.
   5. On Report - for poor effort, progress or conduct, students may be placed "On Report", involving a daily assessment by subject teachers. The Head of Student Progress issues an "On Report" card which must be taken home each evening and signed by parents. Students remain "On Report" until some evident improvement is noted or a further assessment takes place.
   6. Senior Leadership Team call out – if a student seriously disrupts a lesson a member of the Senior Leadership Team may be summoned to remove the student for the remainder of the lesson. A letter will then be sent to parents.
   7. Internal Exclusion - where students are causing continuous problems they may be subject to a departmental exclusion e.g. with the Head of Department or they may be kept by pastoral staff for all lessons over a set period as co-ordinated by the Pastoral Committee.
   8. Pastoral Support Programmes (PSP) - In line with the Student Support circular, students at risk of exclusion will have a formal PSP which will last for 16 weeks and be set up by the Head of Student Progress, Senior Leadership Team and outside agencies.
   9. Fixed Period Exclusion - for varying periods of time, depending upon particular circumstances.
   10. Permanent Exclusion - may be considered in extreme cases.
8. In bound - out of bounds: if the weather is fine, at Break and Lunchtime, the main Playground, the Tennis Courts (if not in use) and all other hard surface areas are In Bounds, except those at the front of the school or those from time to time excluded for safety or other reasons.
   
   Play Areas - students are restricted to playing ball games in the following areas:
   
   

   Years Seven and Eight	Playground
   Year Nine	Tennis Courts
   Years Ten and Eleven	Artificial Pitch

   
   If Games Practices are taking place on the Tennis Courts or on the Artificial Pitch, students in these areas must move away from any area required by Staff, and must not, under any circumstances, go on to those areas without permission. In particular, if a ball enters a "Practice/Games area" students must wait for the ball to be returned.
   
   Rules for the use of the Tennis Courts and the Artificial Pitch (e.g. trainers only; no eating; no litter) must be obeyed at all times.
   
   Grass Areas - most grass areas, other than marked pitches and grids, are In Bounds if the weather is fine. If not, a notice at the Main Playground Entrance Doors will indicate whether or not the grass areas and playing fields are Out of Bounds. The paths and wooded area around the lake are in bounds so long as the ground is suitably dry. The grass areas at the front of the School are Out of Bounds at all times.
9. Movement through the School: students are not to run in any part of the school, especially along corridors or up or down stairs. They should walk on the left. Bags and other equipment must not be carried at shoulder height or in a dangerous or careless manner. Books should be collected from lockers at the beginning of the morning, at morning break and at lunchtime for the rest of the day. Fire Doors should be used only in an emergency.
10. School Buildings and Equipment: the buildings, furniture, equipment, books and other items should be carefully looked after at all times. Any instance of deliberate vandalism will be regarded as a very serious offence and parents will be required to contribute towards the cost of repair or replacement. Windows (and curtains or blinds) are not to be opened or closed by students at any time unless at the request of a teacher.
11. Litter: all students are asked to do their best to keep the school site looking attractive, tidy and pleasant. Any student seen depositing litter casually (other than into the Litter Bins provided) on or near the school site will be placed on "Litter Duty", losing free time.
12. Smoking: is not permitted at any time, either on the school premises or whilst travelling or walking to and from school.
13. Fireworks: are not permitted at any time, either on school premises or whilst travelling or walking to and from school.
14. Chewing gum: is banned from the school at all times. Sweets, whilst discouraged, may be eaten only during Break or Lunchtime, and not during lessons.
15. Personal property: The Governors cannot accept responsibility for lost or damaged possessions, and parents are advised to insure any items of value (watches, calculators, etc.). Any sums of money which students may have to bring to school should be taken immediately to the School Office for safe keeping. Enquiries regarding lost property should be directed to the School Office in the first instance.
16. Badges and other items: inconspicuous badges (Scouts, Swimming Awards, etc.) may be worn but not larger motto badges.
17. Jewellery and Ornamentation of any kind is not to be worn. Such items have proved to be dangerous for school wear and are expensive to replace if lost. See Uniform Regulations.
18. Mobile phones and personal music listening devices must be switched off throughout all school activities unless instructed otherwise by a member of staff.
19. Weapons: the carrying of any offensive weapon (or any object which may be construed as such) is strictly forbidden and parents will be notified immediately should this occur.
20. Illegal substances: Any activity involving illegal substances will result in the school contacting the police and parents will be informed immediately.

Back to top

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader 5 or a higher version to open PDF files. If you don't already have Acrobat Reader you can download it free from Adobe's web site.