As we approach our half term holiday, I wanted to write to remind everyone about dates, starting times and expectations in connection with our move to the new school.

As you know, all students are returning to school in the week beginning 1 March:-

All students should meet outside the main entrance of the new Joseph Rowntree School and then we will be entering the school as a year group, starting with an assembly and a tour of the building.  Students will be directed to the current Carillion site entrance of the school from Haxby Road, as well as pedestrians being able to enter the school site by walking past the bungalows at Park Lodge – as our normal main entrance will no longer be in use.  Any parent driving will also use the current Carillion site entrance – as this now becomes the school’s car park.  Buses will also use this car park.  I would urge any parent picking up students at the end of the day to do this at 3.30 p.m. to avoid traffic congestion. All bikes will use one entrance/exit which is adjacent to the pedestrian crossing.

As always we expect the best from all of our students and as we make our plans for moving, I would like to take the best of our routines with us.  This includes our smart uniform (with the tie properly fastened at the collar).  I know the bad weather has played havoc with footwear, however, I would like all students to return with appropriate black school shoes and black socks.  Trousers should be black (girls and boys) and girls should be in black or flesh coloured tights (not leggings) along with a black straight or pleated school skirt of appropriate length – not tight fitted lycra/jersey skirts.  There shouldn’t be denim or frills added to the skirt.  The school jumper should be black with our school logo.  Any family who has a problem with funding uniform, do get in touch with me.  I have had many letters into school, congratulating our students on their appearance with the new school uniform and I want this to continue.

In our new school, every student will have a locker.  The locker will be free of charge (a £5 fee will be charged however, if a student should lose a key!).  The lockers will be located near to each student’s Tutor Room and students will be expected to place coats (excluding blazers which should be worn around school), scarves, trainers, mobile phones and MP3 players in their lockers.  Students can use phones and MP3 players at break-time and lunchtimes – however no mobile phones are allowed in lessons and will be confiscated by staff if they are out in a lesson.  We have found that mobile phones in lessons are an unnecessary cause of friction and teaching time is being lost as a result.

I know that students in Years 10, 11, 12 and 13 have been given work to complete during the two week period whilst not in school and a letter was sent to all parents by Mr Hatch informing you of this.  I urge all students to make use of this study time and independent learning.  It is expected that students will have completed all their set work when they return to school.

Finally, once we have settled into our new school building.  I will be inviting you to have a look around.  It is really a building to be proud of and I am sure you are all going to be impressed with it.  Carillion are working very hard to get it ready for us and I am confident our move will take place at the times we have planned.

Thank you for your continued support.

Just about everything in the old school is for sale - CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE

Following the success of the 2008 - 09 programmes for able students, in which almost 1500 young people participated, we are back with a range of masterclasses which are free to you wherever you go to school in York. This is a great opportunity to experience new challenges and to do something interesting and different.

Masterclasses take place on Saturdays in February and March and unless otherwise stated morning sessions run from 9:30 to 12:45 and afternoon sessions run from 13:30 to 16:45 – check individual class details for exact dates and times.

Note that Masterclass 10 has a Sunday lunch-time session, Masterclass 17 has an additional evening session and Masterclass 9 involves a full day at Flamborough Head.

To take part in a masterclass please print out and fill in the form which is available to download HERE and return this ASAP to Mr Day in the Maths Department.

Parents and guardians can now access information about their children online, this includes the ability to view attendance levels, academic achievements and targets, school reports and much more.

Register Now