Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

Ballot result for new Parent Trustee

Thank you to all parents that engaged in the recent ballot for our new Parent Trustee.  Your votes have been verified and we are delighted to announce that Professor Steven Cummins received the most votes.  We are very pleased to welcome him to the Trust Board.

We received some excellent nominations and would like to thank all our nominees for the enthusiasm and passion they have for Townley.

AMBIT Extracurricular Activities – September 2024

We are pleased to share details of the activities and courses that will be available from September to December 2024.  Please see the attached letter which provides the link and information on how to register to secure your place.  The deadline for registrations is midnight on 8^th July.

Mental Health Research Projects

Recently, Emma Garavini, an alumnus of Townley Grammar,  spoke to us about her work in mental health and research. She works at The McPin Foundation where they want to help young people build skills and confidence, whilst co-creating mental health research projects. Young people interested in helping to shape the future of mental health should get in touch with them. They have a Young People’s Network made up of young people aged 13-28 years old interested in being involved in mental health research.

Please do speak to your children about the assembly that Emma offered and If you think this sounds like something they would want to be a part of, please do encourage them to sign up to the network. When an opportunity comes up, we’ll send the information directly to the inbox of the email address offered when individuals register.  It’s free to sign up and the opportunities are often paid!

By joining, students will get to hear about the latest opportunities to get directly involved and have a say in mental health research either with McPin or their partners.  Students can find out more and sign up here: Young People’s Network | The McPin Foundation

Free School Meals and Pupil Premium

We are very aware that the financial circumstances of families change. If you think your child may be eligible for free school meals, please use the link below to make your application: OFSM Application Form.

Please read the information here which will enable you to ascertain if your child attracts pupil premium. If you have any queries or questions, please email: pupilpremium@townleygrammar.org.uk .

Knife Crime Awareness

We would like to draw your attention to the following notice that has already been shared with parents/ carers as part of our commitment to raise awareness about knife crime and how one decision can change your life forever. Please could you ensure your children are aware that if they bring any item into school, intentionally or otherwise, which has a blade or is sharply pointed, as listed below, this would be a serious breach of our Behaviour Policy and could result in a permanent exclusion.

Below outlines the laws around carrying a knife and offensive weapons:

• It is an offence to carry a knife* in a public place (such as a road or in a school) or to carry any article which has a blade or is sharply pointed.
• It is also an offence to carry an offensive weapon in a public place. This includes any article made, adapted or intended for causing injury as detailed below:
  • Made: Made to cause injury, such as a knuckle duster or bayonets
  • Adapted: Something innocent that has been adapted to cause injury, such as a broken bottle or a chair leg with nails
  • Intended: Anything else, such as an umbrella or pen that is intended by the person to be used to cause injury to others
• Carrying a knife includes: in your hand, a pocket, in the boot of your car or if someone else is carrying a knife for you.
• Exceptions include if you are carrying the knife as part of your job, such as a tool for a trade. However, forgetfulness, ignorance to the law or general self-defence are not reasonable excuses if you are caught carrying a knife.
• It is an offence to use any knife in a threatening way (even a legal knife)
• It is also an offence to sell a knife to anyone under 18. If you are concerned that your child has been sold a knife, you can contact the Citizen’s Advice Bureau to report the trader to Trading Standards. * Unless it has a folding blade 3 inches long or less. A list of illegal knives can be found here: gov.uk/buying-carrying-knives

Anyone can safely dispose of a knife or any other bladed article anonymously via your local police station. There are no questions asked, whatever the reasons for handing them in.  Further reading: The unseen effects of knife crime on children from The Children's Society  and

Parents & Carers: Knife Crime Awareness workshops.

Oz Schoolwear Uniform Orders

Please see the attached letter from Jon and the team at Oz Schoolwear.  With a busy uniform shopping period in full swing, please do follow the advice on ordering uniform and appointment booking.

Treatment of Head Lice

Although there tends to be a peak in head lice outbreaks when children return to school in the Autumn / Winter months, there can be an outbreak at any point in the year. It is advisable for you to check your child’s hair regularly because anyone can catch head lice regardless of the condition, length or type of hair.  There are two treatment methods if head lice are discovered:

• one is to wet comb the hair over a period of two weeks.
• the other method is to use a lotion specially made to kill lice and their eggs quickly and safely.

Additional guidance can be found by clicking on the following NHS website here.  Please find attached a copy of the information the NHS provide, which contains more specific details about detection and treatment.

Finally, please read this week’s Townley Bulletin here, for recent athletics and Jack Petchey successes and some important information about young people and gambling.

Kind regards,

Miss H Mitchem

Deputy Headteacher