Some frequently asked questions

How many pupils will there be in a tutor group?

Don’t worry, there could be more Year 7 students than you had in the whole of your primary school! However, students are always in tutor groups of between 20 and 25 students.‍

How are students grouped in Year 7?

We will gather lots of information from your primary schools. In some subject areas you will be placed in a group based on your performance, but in some areas you will be with your form group which has a mix of students.

How will my child be rewarded at school?

Rewarding students is extremely important to us and all members of the Academy community encourage positive behaviour and reward students on a daily basis. We are constantly looking for students who are ‘getting it right’ to reinforce positive behaviour. We use an on line system called Class Charts which allows you and parents and carers to see all of the positive interactions that you are having in school in ‘real time’. ‘Praise Points’ can be awarded for the following, although this list is not exhaustive.

• Excellent attendance and punctuality
• Having a consistently good attitude to learning
• Excellent classwork and homework
• Positive contribution in lessons
• Being a positive role model to other students
• Achieving targets in assessments and examinations
• Contributing to the Academy community through extra-curricular activities

 When students achieve certain thresholds with their ‘Praise Points’ they are eligible for particular rewards, which include:

• Postcards and certificates sent home from their Cathedral Leader, Class teacher and SLT and phone calls home
• Blazer lapel badges for the Gold (350), Diamond (600) and Principal (1000) award
• Early lunch passes
• Principal’s Brunch
• Recognition in rewards assemblies and entries into prize draws
• Options to trade in ‘Praise Points’ at the half-termly Rewards Shop
• Prom ticket discount
• Annual reward trip
• Sports Award Ceremonies
• Award Ceremonies at the end of the year
• Promotion of sustained excellence on the Cathedral notice board

What is the policy on mobile phones and electronic devices?

We do not allow any mobile devices to be used in the school building. If you do have one, then it needs to be in your schoolbag and switched off until you leave the school premises at 3.00pm. The best advice is to get a locker and leave your phone in it.

There is a mobile phone contract in the Student planner.