Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

Lockdown Practice - Thursday 5th December 2024
At Townley Grammar School, we take safeguarding and the safety of your child very seriously.  It is important that we put procedures in place and plan, even for those events that are very unlikely to occur. We are writing to let you know that we will be practising this procedure on Thursday 5th December 2024.

A security lockdown procedure is a standard health and safety procedure, similar to a fire drill. Our security lockdown procedure would be used when there is a threat to the safety of our pupils, staff and others in the school, and when it’s safer for everyone to remain in school rather than evacuate. The aim is to keep people safe by confining them to a secure place of safety.

Situations where our security lockdown procedure may be used include:

• A potentially dangerous person or animal on the school site
• A disturbance or dangerous situation in the local community that could affect the school
• A nearby chemical incident or other risk of air pollution
• An incident related to terrorism

Prior to practising this procedure with pupils, staff will take time to talk to pupils about security lockdown procedures and explain why they are important. They will reassure pupils after the drill that they are safe and will emphasise that practising procedures like this will make sure that the school remains a safe place to learn. There will also be an opportunity for students and staff to provide feedback as part of this practice.  I must emphasise again that this is simply a drill, so that in the very unlikely event of such a situation in the future, our pupils and staff are fully prepared and can stay safe.  If you or your child have any concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s Learning Manager in the first instance.

Townley Mastery 2025
Townley’s Mastery sessions will continue in January 2025 as they provide a valuable form of intervention for students. Please see the attached schedule.  There will be some changes from January onwards so please could we ask you to read this letter carefully.

We will not be sending a link home for parents/carers/ students to sign up for Mastery sessions.  You will receive communication from Arbor only if your child has been identified as being someone who would particularly benefit from one of the sessions offered.  If you receive this communication with an invitation to attend a specific session, please could we ask that you respond promptly to confirm or decline the offer so that teachers know how many more places are available.

Parents/carers/ students may notice additional after school sessions on timetables before an Arbor notification is received - this is because it can take a few weeks to add all names to the system. There is no action required until you receive direct communication from Arbor.

In rare cases where a student would like to attend a Mastery session that they have not been invited to, they should speak directly with their subject teacher to discuss whether the session would be suitable for them and whether there is availability.  If students are able to attend the session, they will be added on Arbor at a later date.

All students will leave the school site at 4.45pm and make arrangements for their safe travel home directly with their parents/ carers.  The school will only supervise students at 4.45pm onwards in extenuating circumstances; in this instance, a request should be emailed to the Assistant Learning Managers:

KS3: Mrs Johal

KS4: Mrs Fitzgerald

KS5: Miss Baker

All sessions will be held at the end of the school day but please note the earlier finish at 4.45pm - this has been changed in order to ensure that students have left site before any lettings begin.

Townley Christmas Lunch - Tuesday 10^th December: Years 7, 8 and 6^th Form and Wednesday 11th December: Years 9, 10 and 11.
Tickets are now on sale until Monday 9th December, at the top till in Bytes only, and can be purchased using Squid/card - tickets are £4 per student.  Students must have enough funds on their Squid card otherwise we will not be able to sell a ticket and parents/ carers are advised to top up prior to purchase.  Students entitled to Free School Meals can purchase a ticket for the reduced price of £1.32

Please make sure you buy a ticket by 9^th December if your child would like a Christmas Lunch as no tickets will be sold on the day!  Students must make sure they are committing to eating a Christmas lunch as no refunds will be given and there will be no other food served in the canteen on those dates.  However, the Munch box will be open and breakfast and morning break will be as normal.  Students not eating Christmas lunch can purchase from the Munch box and/or eat packed lunch in a designated area.  Only students with Christmas lunch tickets will be able to eat in Bytes on those dates. 

Christmas Jumper Day 2024 - Thursday 12th December
On Thursday 12th December, Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day is back – and Townley will be part of it!  Students will be able to wear a Christmas Jumper over the usual school uniform. Please note this is not a non-school uniform day so normal school uniform rules will apply but with the addition of a Christmas jumper.

All students are encouraged to donate £1 to Save The Children, a charity donation box will be placed in the main school reception area.  Join millions of people across the UK and raise money for Save the Children.  And the best bit?  By having fun, you’re creating lasting change for children around the world.

Can you help? – Monday 16^th December
We are going to be walking a lot of students up to Christ Church, Bexleyheath on the morning of Monday 16^th December, for the Christmas Carol Service rehearsal.  We would be extremely grateful to any parents that may be available to help accompany and supervise the walk.

We will be leaving the school between 8.45am and 9am, and returning to school between 12pm and 12.30pm.  Any help would be gratefully received!  Please email Ms Troth, Head of Music if you can help.  Thank you.

Kind regards,

Miss H Mitchem
Deputy Headteacher