Pastoral Organisation

The College is organised with Year Group Managers and Key Stage Learning Co-ordinators. Year Group Managers have overall responsibility for the students in their year group. Year Group Managers also lead a team of Achievement Tutors who monitor student progress as well as looking after their general care and welfare.

Key Stage Learning Co-ordinators have the overview of student progress and a responsibility to co-ordinate student support and intervention programmes when required.

Parents needing information or who have a problem concerning their child should contact the Achievement Tutor initially..

If helpful or necessary, a meeting with the Year Manager can easily be arranged by phoning the College. The Headteacher, Deputy Heads and Assistant Heads are always ready to meet parents if required. .

We encourage parents to contact us about any matters or concerns as soon as they arise and about any unusual difficulties experienced by their children. This means we can usually sort things out before they become too troublesome.

Planning for the future

Sedgefield Community College works closely with a range of external agencies to provide a comprehensive programme of Careers Educational Guidance for all years. Students can expect a range of individual careers interviews, group sessions, lessons and visits. Careers interview rooms and a large Careers Library Including computer-aided guidance packages provide up to date Careers Information. We are proud that we have an exceptionally high rate of students remaining in education / training after they have left us.

Conduct and Discipline

A major aim of Sedgefield Community College is to develop in every student a sense of responsibility, self discipline and respect for the rights of others. This begins with the building of good relationships between staff and students and among students themselves.

The college aims to treat all students with understanding and recognises fully the need to give our students the opportunity to develop personal and social skills.

Within this framework we expect a very high standard of behaviour and a willingness to follow the rules of the college and all instructions given by staff. The vast majority of our students understand this and behave in a responsible manner, obeying the college rules on conduct, discipline, attendance, completion of work, including homework and the wearing of uniform.

Anti-Bullying

Sedgefield Community College recognises that bullying is a major concern for many students, parents
and teachers and that it can affect a child’s college attendance and performance. Bullying affects
everyone: not just the bullies and victims. It also affects other children who may witness the aggression
of the bully and the distress of the victim.

At Sedgefield we believe that all forms of bullying (verbal or physical) are unacceptable and will not be
tolerated. We encourage our students to talk about bullying, not only in the classroom but on an individual
basis. We want them to feel confident in telling an adult and not to feel they are ‘telling tales’. The
college also has a Peer Support system, which runs a ‘listening post’ where students can discuss
problems with older students.

If you think your child is being bullied or involved in bullying in any way, we can only take appropriate action
if we receive this information. Every reported incident is dealt with promptly.

Attendance - an absolute priority

Sedgefield Community College’s policy on attendance is quite simple. Every student is expected to attend on every occasion the college is open. The only acceptable exception is when illness or injury is so serious that it prevents the student from attending college. Every absence at Sedgefield Community College is followed up and checked.

Parents should be aware that daily attendance at school is compulsory for all children between the ages of 5-16 and that is their legal responsibility that their children attend college on a regular basis. Failure to ensure attendance can result in instant ‘fines’.

Research carried out both nationally and within Sedgefield Community College shows that daily attendance is the biggest single factor in helping students to achieve above average examination results. To allow your child to miss college for any non-medical reasons is not in his/her best interest and likely to have an unnecessary negative effect on their progress. Non attendance also places children at risk and in some cases can result in students being drawn into anti-social or criminal behaviour.

There are of course isolated special circumstances for absence such as attending a funeral or keeping a specialist hospital appointment.

We ask parents to consider very seriously the educational consequences of taking children on holiday during term time. Any financial saving is unlikely to outweigh the educational cost to your child. Hays Travel currently offer 10% discount on any holiday taken during Holiday Time.

What to do when your child is unavoidably absent

Let the college know by telephoning before 8.30am. On return, give your child a signed, dated note indicating the length of absence.

If the college is unaware of the reason for your child’s absence they will make every effort to contact you on the first day your child is absent either by telephone or by letter. It is absolutely essential that you let the college know as soon as possible of any absence – most parents phone college (01740 625300) before 8.30am to inform us.

Education Welfare Assistants work with the staff to ensure good attendance.

Attendance Officer is Lisa Bell on Ext. 102043