Letter to parents – Start of term arrangements | September 2023
Dear Parents/carers,
As another academic year closes, like us, you will have seen your children grow and flourish as they have moved through the school year. The end of the year gives us all the opportunity to reflect on the journey our young people are on and the people they are shaping to be.
The many celebrations, performances and assemblies of the past weeks have highlighted our young people’s academic and personal achievements and I would like to heartily congratulate them all for what they have accomplished in the last year.
I would like to express my thanks to you for your continued support this year; whether it has been through attending school events or the day-to-day support you give to ensure your child is in school, set up for the day ahead and ready to give their best, it makes our work together all the more impactful in supporting our young people to achieve.
I take this opportunity to thank our staff who show complete commitment to ensuring our students have a safe and nurturing school environment in which they can thrive – once again, the support of my colleagues across the school has been invaluable to me.
Particular thanks go to colleagues who are retiring this term: Mrs Russell leaves after 37 years at the school, working in the capacity of teacher of Dance and English, Head of Year and Director of Student Development and CEIAG. Mrs Jessop, who has been part of the SRS team for 19 years, joined us after a former career in the city to work as our KS5 (sixth form) co-ordinator, and Ms Cilia, who leaves us after 6 years as primary teacher and member of the primary leadership team, with many years of service in the borough. I wish them all long, healthy and happy retirements, with our thanks for everything they have done for our school and our students during their years of service. I would also like to thank colleagues who are leaving SRS for pastures new and wish them every success and happiness in their new ventures.
Summer holidays – uniform purchasing and summer activities
Uniform will be available for purchase at the following times during the summer holiday:
- Monday 7th August – 10:00-12:00pm
- Wednesday 9th August – 10:00-12:00pm
- Monday 14th August – 10:00-12:00pm
- Wednesday 16th August – 10:00-12:00pm
- Monday 21st August – 10:00-12:00pm
- Wednesday 23rd August – 10:00-12:00pm
- Tuesday 29th August – 09:00-3:00pm
- Wednesday 30th August – 09:00-3:00pm
- Thursday 31st August – 09:00-3:00pm
- Friday 1st September – 09:00-3:00pm
Summer activities available in the local area were included in last week’s newsletter and sent via Edulink. We also urge you to encourage your children, no matter their age, to read as much as possible during the summer break. We have published a fantastic guide to high-quality age-appropriate texts for your children to enjoy (see Edulink and the school website).
A great way to stay motivated in your reading is by joining the Summer Reading Challenge 2023! You can sign up for FREE and get access to lots of books, activities and resources as well as track your progress in the challenge! https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/
You will find a suggested reading list on our school website, detailing books which can be easily sourced from your local library. You can also access FREE books and magazines through Press Reader using your library card details, take a look at https://www.pressreader.com/
Summer online safety
Please continue to be vigilant of your child’s online activity throughout the summer break – please check their social media and messages to ensure they are behaving appropriately online. We strongly encourage a ‘digital sunset’ – a time in the day when phones/digital devices are put away/no longer used by children, to ensure they have sufficient breaks from screens. More guidance can be found in last week’s newsletter.
A reminder of arrangements for A-Level & GCSE results days
| Thursday 17th August | A-Level results | 8.30am – students can collect their results Staff will be available throughout the day to support with destinations |
| Thursday 24th August | GCSE results | 8.30am – students can collect their results Sixth Form registration will begin at 9am. Staff will be available throughout the day to support with destinations |
Looking ahead to the new academic year
Once we have had a good break, our thoughts will turn to the new year ahead, and there are a few points I ask you to note:
- To ensure we always maintain the highest standards of behaviour across the school, we have revised our behaviour policy to include updated compulsory items of equipment and an update to our mobile device strategy – both documents can be found on the school website and via Edulink, please read them carefully.
- All students are asked to note that a reading book is a compulsory part of school equipment. For primary and KS3 students, this is a book from their reading scheme (including the accelerated reader programme). For students in Years 10-13, this can be an appropriate (see guidance on our reading lists) fiction or non-fiction book which can be sourced from our school library, home or a local library.
- During the summer holiday, we are having vape detectors installed in toilets used by students in Y3-Y13 as we work to ensure students are deterred from engaging in this harmful activity and fully comply with our school rules.
- In the year ahead, one priority of the School Improvement Plan (SIP) will focus on developing students’ independent learning skills – ensuring our students are complementing their lesson time with focused and purposeful independent study to enhance their learning and retention of key knowledge.
Therefore, from September we will be resetting expectations and ways of working for homework across the school. Parents will be provided with full details of the homework they can expect their child to be set and the deadlines for its completion, all of which will be communicated to parents via Edulink (and/or Class Dojo for primary). I look forward to sharing further details on this and other school improvement priorities in September.
September 2023 – start of term arrangements (please check the website from 31st August for updates)
| Monday 4th September – school closed to pupils (Staff INSET day) | |
| Tuesday 5th September – Primary: Y1 to Y6 | |
| 8.30am 8:40am 3.00pm | School gate (Parsloes Avenue entrance) opens School starts, registration then Right Start programme begins End of school day (parents to enter the playground via the Parsloes Avenue entrance) |
| Tuesday 5th September – Secondary: Y7 only | |
| 8.35am | Y7 start of day (students may arrive earlier but must be in school by 8.35am) Y7 Right Start programme begins |
| 3.00pm | Y7 end of day |
| Wednesday 6th September – start of autumn term – normal school day times for all students (Y1 – Y13) | |
| Primary – gate opens from 8.30am, registration at 8.40am Secondary & 16+ – school open for students to arrive for breakfast from 7.30am, students must be on-site by 8.35am. Right Start programme. EYFS phased start begins (see details sent) |
Right Start programme
Our annual Right Start programme enables students to settle back into school ways of working, focusing on personal organisation, school routines and expectations and setting goals for the year ahead. This takes place on the first day back for all students.
Right Start Parents’ Evenings provide parents with the information and guidance they need to best support their child at each stage of their education. You are required to attend the session for your child.
| Year group | Date of Right Start Parents’ Meeting | Time | Venue |
| EYFS | 21st September | 9-10am | Primary |
| Year 1 | 20th September | 9-10am | Primary |
| Year 2 | 19th September | 9-10am | Primary |
| Year 3 | 14th September | 9-10am | Primary |
| Year 4 | 13th September | 9-10am | Primary |
| Year 5 | 12th September | 9-10am | Primary |
| Year 6 | 11th September | 9-10am | Primary |
| Year 7 | 14th September (Introduction to secondary and Key Stage 3) | 6 – 7pm | Secondary |
| Year 10 | 12th September (Introduction to Key Stage 4) | 6 – 7pm | Secondary |
| Year 12 | 12th September (Introduction to Sixth Form and Key Stage 5) | 6 – 7pm | Secondary |
I also take this opportunity to draw your attention to next year’s term dates and an outline of key dates for school events for the year ahead which can be found below.
As we close for the summer holidays, if there are any urgent concerns which you need us to be aware of, or if you need school support in any way, please email office@sydneyrussellschool.com
Finally, I wish you and your families a wonderful summer holiday – I hope you get to relax and enjoy much needed time for yourselves and with your loved ones. I look forward to seeing you recharged and ready in September for a great year ahead!
Yours faithfully,
Clare Cross
Principal
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School term dates 2023-2024
Autumn term: Monday 4 September 2023 – Thursday 21 December 2023
(Half term holiday: 23 – 27 October 2023)
Spring term: Monday 8 January 2024 – Thursday 28 March 2024
(Half term holiday: 19 – 23 February 2024)
Summer term: Monday 15 April 2024 – Friday 19 July 2024
(Half term holiday: 27 – 31 May 2024)
SRS calendar dates 2023-24 – Please note, additional events/dates may be added. Parents will be notified via the weekly newsletter, Edulink and email.
| Date | Event | Time | Venue |
| Autumn term | |||
| 04 September | INSET – school closed to all students | ||
| 05 September | Y1 – Y6 & Y7 start of term | ||
| 06 September | Y8 – Y13 start of term. | ||
| 08 September | EYFS phased start begins | ||
| 11 September | Y6 Right Start Parents’ Meeting | 9-10am | Primary site |
| 12 September | Y5 Right Start Parents’ Meeting | 9-10am | Primary site |
| Y10 Right Start Parents’ Meeting | 6-7pm | Secondary site | |
| Y12 Right Start Parents’ Meeting | 6-7pm | Secondary site | |
| 13 September | Y4 Right Start Parents’ Meeting | 9-10am | Primary site |
| 14 September | Y3 Right Start Parents’ Meeting | 9-10am | Primary site |
| Y7 Right Start Parents’ Meeting | 6-7pm | Secondary site | |
| 15 September | EYFS begin full time | ||
| 18 September | Year 6 Open Evening (for prospective Y7 Sept 2023) – early finish for secondary students (1.30pm) | 5–8.30pm | Secondary site |
| 19 September | Y2 Right Start Parents’ Meeting | 9-10am | Primary site |
| Late start for secondary students (9.40am) | |||
| 20 September | Y1 Right Start Parents’ Meeting | 9-10am | Primary site |
| Year 6 Open morning | 9am | Secondary site | |
| 21 September | EYFS Right Start Parents’ Meeting | 9-10am | Primary site |
| Year 6 Open morning | 9am | Secondary site | |
| 27 September | KS3 production – Brokenville | 7pm | Secondary site |
| 28 September | KS3 production – Brokenville | 7pm | Secondary site |
| 03 October | Y7 Parents meet the tutor day (1-1 meeting online) | Online | |
| 06 October | School early closure (1.30pm) – staff training | ||
| 12 October | School photographs | ||
| Monday 23rd – Friday 27th October Half term holiday | |||
| 30 October | INSET – school closed to all students | ||
| 31 October | Return to school – normal school day times | ||
| 02 November | 16+ Open evening (for prospective Y12 2024) | 4.30-7pm | Secondary site |
| 06 November | Primary Parent Consultations begin (2 weeks) | Primary site | |
| 16 November | Y11 Parents’ Evening | 4.30-7pm | Secondary site |
| 07 December | Prize Giving ceremony (by invitation) | 6.30-9pm | Secondary site |
| 12 December | Christmas jumper & Christmas lunch (Primary & KS3) | ||
| Winter Showcase | 6-7.30pm | Secondary site | |
| 13 December | Christmas jumper & Christmas lunch (KS4 & KS5) | ||
| 14 December | GCSE mock exams begin | ||
| Y13 Parents’ Evening | 4.30-7pm | Secondary site | |
| 19 December | Drop Everything and Read | ||
| 21 December | End of term – school finishes at 12pm | ||
| Thursday 22nd December – Friday 5th January Christmas holiday | |||
| 08 January | Start of term – normal school day times | ||
| 25 January | Y7 Parents’ Evening | 4.30-7pm | Secondary site |
| 15 February | Y11 Parents’ Evening (2) | 4.30-7pm | Secondary site |
| Monday 19th – Friday 23rd February Half term holiday | |||
| 20 February | Return to school – normal school day times | ||
| 04 March | Careers week | ||
| 07 March | Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) – World Book Day | ||
| 11 March | Primary Parent Consultations begin (2 weeks) | Primary site | |
| 14 March | Y8 Parents’ Evening | 4.30-7pm | Secondary site |
| 19 March | SRS Musical Show Night 1 | 7pm | Secondary site |
| 20 March | SRS Musical Show Night 2 | 7pm | Secondary site |
| 21 March | SRS Musical Show Night 3 | 7pm | Secondary site |
| Y12 Parents’ Evening | 4.30-7pm | Secondary site | |
| Y9 GCSE Subject Taster days begin | |||
| 28 March | Y9 Parents’ Evening (online – School Cloud) | Online | |
| Monday 3rd April – Friday 14th April Easter holidays | |||
| 15 April | Return to school – normal school day times | ||
| 16 April | Y9 GCSE Options Evening | 4.30-7pm | Secondary site |
| 19 April | Y9 GCSE Options deadline | ||
| 25 April | Y10 Parents’ Evening | 4.30-7pm | Secondary site |
| 06 May | Bank holiday – school closed to all students | ||
| 07 May | Y6 SATs begin | ||
| GCSE & A Level examinations begin (exact dates tbc) | |||
| 22 May | Primary class photos | ||
| Monday 27th May – Friday 31st May Half term holiday | |||
| 02 June | Y6 Residential trip | ||
| 03 June | Return to school – normal school day times | ||
| 14 June | House Cup Results Day | ||
| 21 June | Y11 Prom (details tbc) | ||
| 28 June | Y13 Soirée (details tbc) | ||
| 01 July | Y10 A-Level Subject Taster days begin | ||
| 02 July | Summer Showcase | 6-7.30pm | Secondary site |
| 08 July | Rewards trips begin | ||
| 12 July | Secondary Sports Day | Secondary site | |
| 15 July | School early closure (12pm primary, 12.30pm secondary) – staff training | ||
| 16 July | Primary Sports Day | Secondary site | |
| 17 July | Y6 Graduation party | Primary site | |
| 18 July | Ariston Awards Ceremony (by invitation) | 6.30-8pm | Secondary site |
| 19 July | End of term – school finishes at 12pm | ||
| Thursday 20th July – Friday 31st August 2024 Summer holiday |
