Parent Briefing 27/1/25
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Welcome back to Week 4 of 6!
EGSpectations
Here at school, we expect EGScellence from our children at all times—think excellence with an EGS twist! As part of achieving EGScellence, we have EGSpectations (expectations). These are routines and behaviours that we expect from all members of our school community.
Calm Corridors
Recently, we have been focusing on our EGSpectation of Calm Corridors.
All children are expected to walk down our corridor in a calm and orderly manner. This keeps our corridors safe for all.
Please watch the video which explains our Calm Corridors EGSpectation.
Year 9 Parents Evening
Please watch my most recent Principal’s Post regarding the importance of Year 9 Parents/Carers attending this event.
The evening runs from 3.30pm to 6.30pm and appointments are made in advance online.
Free chip cobs and refreshments will be available. Click here for more information.
Evacuation and Invacuation Practice
This week we will be reminding pupils how to keep safe in the event of a critical incident by practising our evacuation and invacuation procedures. Our children have performed EGScellently in past practices, demonstrating an EGScellent understanding of how to keep themselves safe.
Ramadan
If your child is observing Ramadan and you would like them to be included in the arrangements here in school, please ensure you complete the online form in the letter below by Monday 20 February.
CURRICULUM & ASSESSMENT
A huge thank you to all parents/carers for supporting our Key Stage 3 pupils thoughout the last few weeks of Pre Public Exams! Our Year 7, 8 and 9 pupils have now completed their assessments and will receive their grades soon. These assessments give us a great picture of strengths and weaknesses of your child and allow us to address any gaps in knowledge.
Our Y10 pupils will complete their first GCSE Mock exams during the week beginning 10th February.
Please support your child with a quiet space for revision and encourage them to be actively revising at home to achieve the best results possible!
ATTENDANCE MATTERS
Miss School… Miss Out!
Last week we joined Nottingham schools in the Attendance Week of Action – ‘Miss School, Miss Out’ campaign. It was an opportunity to get the whole school community talking about all things attendance and the significance of being in school every day.
You can find out more here about all the activities that took place.
Our average attendance last week was 90.28%, which is 2.63% higher than the same week last year. We are currently 1% behind the average attendance for Nottingham City Secondary Schools. We will continue to promote and encourage good attendance and close the gap with our local schools…. 1% to go!
80 Guilford Gold for 100% Attendance this Week!
Each week students can earn an increasing amount of Guilford Gold for turning up to school every day that week, starting with 20 Guilford Gold for 100% attendance in Week 1 and rising to 120 Guilford Gold for 100% attendance in Week 6.
Students can spend their Guilford Gold in our Swap Shop or save for bigger rewards in our Swap Shop including the first Rewards Trip of 2025 to Tenpin Bowling. The deadline for buying tickets for Tenpin Bowling is Monday 3 February.
Don’t forget Year 11 have their own Attendance Rewards with 2 pairs of cinema tickets to be won every week, and entry to our Pre-Exam Draw to win an iPad. The more 100% weeks completed, the more chances to win!
For a reminder of our Attendance procedures and how to contact the Attendance Team, please visit: Attendance – Ellis Guilford School.
SAFEGUARDING
The terrible events that occurred in Southport in July 2024 have featured in the news in the last week.
Please be reassured that Ellis Guilford School has a detailed and up-to-date Preventing Radicalisation and Extremism strategy and risk Assessment (known as the Prevent Strategy). This includes:
- A CET Preventing Radicalisation Policy
- A fully trained Prevent Duty Lead (Mr Williams – Designated Safeguarding Lead).
- Preventing radicalisation and extremism contacts in the local authority.
- Whole staff Prevent training.
- Pupil Prevent training
- Robust critical incident lockdown procedures (which we are practising this week)
- Pro-active promotion of British Values (Rule of law, democracy, individual Liberty and mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs) in the curriculum.
- Robust online safety monitoring and screening systems
- Extensive site safety resources and procedures
Please click on the image below for supportive information from Childline about talking to your child and reassuring them about the Southport attacks.
If you have any Safeguarding concerns, please email: john.williams@ellisguilfordschool.org.uk
SCHOOL REMINDERS
Ellis Electives: Timetable 7 January to 4 April 2025
If your child would like to take part in our range of after-school Electives (clubs), please sign them up through the Arbor Parent App. You will find the full schedule along with details of how to sign up here: Extra-curricular Activities – Ellis Guilford School.
Pre-Owned Uniform Shop
A reminder that we have our pre-owned uniform shop available to purchase current uniform for Years 8 to 11 at low cost.
Please do pop in to our pre-loved uniform shop during its opening times , or ask at Main Reception if these times are not suitable.
25 Guilford Gold will be rewarded for any donations being dropped off at Reception.
KEY DATES & EVENTS
Click on the image below to view our ‘live’ calendar of key dates and events. Click through the pages to find out what’s happening this month or next! Year 9 Parents’ Evening on Wednesday 29 January will be followed by Year 9 Options Evening on Wednesday 12 February.
