Welcome Booklet

The School Day

Students should arrive at school by 8.27am and be in their form room by 8.30am, following the warning bell.

Students should be dropped in Wharf Road if travelling by car. Please do not drive into the school campus.

Students arriving late must sign in at the student entrance with the Attendance Officer up until 8.55am. After that time the students will need to sign in late on the Chromebook outside the Medical Room. Students arriving after 9:00am will be marked as late (U code - absent for the whole morning session) in accordance with DfE guidance and this should be avoided.

Tutor Groups

Students are placed in mixed ability tutor groups, which are carefully arranged by our admissions team, who also take into consideration information provided by your child’s primary school. Your child will find out before they start which group they are in. 

In the overall education of each student, the Form Tutor is very important, being directly responsible for the general welfare of all of the students in their group and for monitoring and encouraging their academic progress.

Each tutor group is placed under the guidance of a Head of Year, who oversees the Year Group. We urge parents not to hesitate in contacting us if there is any area of concern and the initial way of doing this is through the Form Tutor. 

Alternatively, you or your child may contact one of our Student Support Officers (SSO). The SSOs are able to assist students/parents with a wide variety of issues from attendance, behaviour and attitude, to problems at home, health and emotional well-being. Students may contact the SSOs during the school day and they are all available during break and lunchtimes. Parents/carers may contact them via the school office, either by phone or email.

Good behaviour and a positive attitude to learning are essential from the outset, and this is reflected in our Recognition and Consequences system. When difficulties occur, the student is supported by the pastoral system, the behaviour team and by the Learner Support Department.

All parents/carers are invited to meet teaching staff twice a year. The first meeting will be the parent information evening in July. The second meeting, around March 2027, will be with the different subject teachers. You will also receive an academic progress report each term.

Parents and students are also asked to read the Home School agreement and the ICT Code of Conduct. You will be asked to confirm that you have read, understood and agree to these on the electronic admissions form.

House System

Every member of the John Colet Community, students and staff, belong to one of our houses:

• Jade

• Topaz

• Zircon

• Amethyst

• Citrine

• Garnet

The aim of the House System is to give students a sense of belonging to their school community so they take pride in the school environment. The system is designed to give some healthy competition between students (and staff!) and allow them to develop a wider skill set.

Safeguarding Statement

At JCS, the health, safety and well-being of every child is our paramount concern. We listen to our students and take seriously what they tell us. Our aim is that children will enjoy their time as students in this school.

We want to work in partnership with you to help your child to achieve their full potential and make a positive contribution.

On rare occasions our concern about a child may mean that we have to consult other agencies even before we contact you. The procedures which we follow, have been laid down by the Buckinghamshire Area Child Protection Committee and the school has adopted a Child Protection Policy in line with this for the safety of all. A copy of this policy is available here.

Privacy Policy

Please take the time to read our Privacy Notice

Image Consent

Please see information regarding image consent. You will be asked to indicate your image consent preference on the electronic admissions form.

Using Images of Children Consent Form

School Counsellor Support

We are fortunate to be able to access the services of a fully qualified counsellor here in school and referrals for counselling can be made by either the student or through a member of staff. Details of this support can be found here.

Subjects

Please see our Curriculum pages for full details of the Curriculum offered at John Colet School.

Special Needs

The Learner Support Department aims to meet the specific learning difficulties of particular students who would otherwise struggle to achieve their potential. Teachers and Learning Support Assistants work in collaboration to ensure students are supported both inside and outside of the classroom. Parents/carers who have children on the special needs register or concerns regarding their child’s learning should contact the SENDCo, Miss Bendel, by completing and returning the attached form.

Homework

We attach a lot of importance to homework for the following reasons:

• It helps to reinforce the idea that education is a process that cannot be confined to school hours.

• It allows the student time to pursue work started at school to a greater depth at home.

• For the student who is actively involved in his/her education, it should be enjoyable to do work at home.

All homework is published on Google Classroom which can be accessed by students at home using their school username and password. Parents will be emailed to sign up to receive daily or weekly email updates on work which has been set.

We offer an optional homework and study club from 2.55pm until 3.55pm each day. This is fully staffed with adults to support students to complete their homework. 

Attendance

All students are expected to attend school regularly, and we aim for an attendance of 97% or above for all students. Absence should only occur for personal medical reasons, and students should not be absent for leisure activities, avoidable appointments and family commitments. To ensure your child misses as little valuable lesson time as possible, please adhere to the following guidelines:

Reporting Illness

In the event of an absence due to illness, parents/carers must log the absence via the Arbor parent app before 8:30am. This must be done for each day of the child's absence.

Medical and Dental Appointments

We ask that all medical and dental appointments be made outside of school hours whenever possible, particularly as the school day finishes at 2:55 pm. Please note that routine optician or dental appointments will not be authorised during school hours.

If an appointment during the school day is unavoidable:

• Notification: Notify the school via the "absence" button on the Arbor parent app on the morning of the appointment.
• Evidence: Valid evidence of the appointment must be provided for the absence to be authorised. Please email proof of appointments to attendance@johncolet.co.uk
• Timing: Students are expected to attend school before and/or after their appointment; they should only be absent for the duration of the medical visit itself and reasonable travel time (up to one hour for local appointments)

Collection and Return Procedures

To minimise disruption to learning, please follow these steps for collecting your child:

1. Student Responsibility: Your child is responsible for excusing themselves from class at the appropriate time and meeting you at Reception.
2. Parent Collection: Parents/carers must come into Reception to meet their child. Students will not be permitted to leave the premises unaccompanied.
3. Signing Out/In: Students must sign out when leaving and sign back in via the Chromebook located outside the Medical Room immediately upon their return.

Our Attendance Officer is responsible for monitoring attendance and can be contacted with any questions or queries, by calling the main school number and selecting option 2. Additional attendance information can be found here. Parents can also monitor their child’s attendance using the Arbor App.

Medical Problems

If your child has any medical problem or condition which could have an effect on their life in school it is very important that we should know. Please see our policy on Supporting Students with Medical Conditions.

If your child has a medical condition, please complete and return the electronic Health Care Plan. Obviously, the staff will respect the confidentiality of parent/carer and child over such matters.

Should it be necessary for medication to be administered, we will require written permission stating dosage, timing etc and you should complete and return the attached form. The medication must be supplied in the original packaging.

The electronic admissions form will ask you for medical consent and for paracetamol consent. Please also complete and return hard copies of medical forms to the Medical Officer. 

Should a problem or condition arise after you have completed the initial admission paperwork, we ask that you advise us as soon as possible and complete the medical forms.

Lunchtime Arrangements

We have a lunch service where students can buy hot and cold meals through a cashless system. A sample menu can be found here. We do not encourage students to eat in any part of the school building other than in the hall, but they may eat outside if they wish.

Details of our cashless catering system can be found here. Consent for your child’s biometric data to be collected will be sought on the electronic admissions form. Students will be set up on the system within the first week of starting, and should bring a packed lunch with them until they have confirmation that they are able to use the system.

Payments for meals are made via parent mail:

Parent Mail Registration

We do not allow students to go home for lunch or leave the school premises at lunchtime. The only exception to this rule are Sixth Form students who are able to leave the school site should they wish.

Please note that packed lunches should not contain nuts or peanuts or products containing nuts/peanut.

Free School Meals

Children whose parents/carers are in receipt of Universal Credit are entitled to apply for Free School Meals.
However, please be aware that the UK Government has made the following changes to the ongoing eligibility of individuals receiving Free School Meals:

Since 2018, if a child became eligible for FSM, they were "protected" and kept their meals even if the family's income rose. The government will end these protections in September 2026 alongside the new Universal Credit expansion. This means eligibility will be re-checked more strictly and regularly for everyone, including at the end of each educational phase. This means that if your child received Free School Meals in primary school, they may no longer be eligible if you are currently not in receipt of Universal Credit.

The Pupil Premium is a Government scheme that provides additional funding to schools of pupils whose parents receive a qualifying benefit. The school can use this money to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils and close the gap between them and their peers. Money can also be allocated to subsidise trips, equipment and uniform.

If you believe your child is entitled to Free School Meals please complete the Free School Meal & Pupil Premium Application Form.

School Uniform and PE Kit

Our uniform is intended to give a sense of pride and identity with the school. It is also designed not to cause any financial difficulties for parents/carers. It may be obtained from PL School Wear, Unit 1, Goodchild Parkway, Sir Henry Lee Crescent, Aylesbury, Bucks, HP18 0PE. Email aylesbury@plschoolwear.co.uk.

Please read our School Uniform Policy before purchasing any items. Please also refer to the guidance on the types of football boots required.

We also have a Nearly New Uniform Shop, which offers a selection of second hand blazers, jumpers, trousers, skirts, white shirts and PE kit items. The shop is open to students before school. Parents/carers and students can also request items via uniformshop@johncolet.co.uk and if in stock, can collect it from school. 

There will be no charge for any items, but if parents/carers would like to make a voluntary contribution this can be made via Parentmail, please see ''Uniform Donation 2025'' under the Payments/Shop section. Please wait until you have received the items before making any payments. This money will help cover the running costs of the shop and is greatly appreciated.

A shopping checklist for uniform, PE kit and equipment can be found here:

Please note that students are permitted to come to school in their PE kit on the days they have PE. PE lessons are subject to timetable rotations. You will be given advanced notice, via the PE department, as to when swimming kits and football/rugby boots and gum shields will be required. Students must not come to school in their PE kit if they do not have PE. 

Form tutors will check uniform and jewellery every morning and ask students to rectify any issues.  Any issues will result in a C1 consequence.

Three uniform C1s will lead to a C3 detention .

ALL ITEMS OF CLOTHING SHOULD BE CLEARLY NAMED

Equipment

We expect that students will start school with those items that will help them to work well in each lesson.

This should include the following:

We expect that students will start school with those items that will help them to work well in each lesson.

This should include the following:

A Chromebook

We expect that students will start school with those items that will help them to work well in each lesson.

This should include the following:

A Chromebook 
2x black/blue pens
1x red pen
pencils
rubber
sharpener
30cm ruler
highlighter
scientific calculator (Casio fx-83GTCW)
protractor
pair of compasses
dictionary
notebook
earphones for music lessons - with jack connection (not bluetooth)
mini whiteboard and whiteboard pen
a reading book at all times
coloured pens or pencils are also useful, but not essential.

Lockers

School lockers are available to hire via ILS.

School Travel

At John Colet School we work with all schools and child care providers on site to promote a car free campus. Where possible we encourage students to walk to school, to use public transport, cycle, or where the only option is to travel by car, car share with another student, drop off away from the school and walk the last part of the journey. This walking bubble might help. If you do need to park near the school we would ask that you park legally, safely and with respect for our neighbours and local residents and do not leave engines idling.

Our aim is to alleviate parking issues around the school, to improve air quality, to encourage our students to live active and healthy lives, to alleviate congestion around the school and to ensure the campus is safe for all our students, staff and visitors. 

Students who wish to cycle to school will be pleased to know that we have the facility of a locked, covered bike shed, where bikes can be left securely throughout the school day. Students are encouraged to bring their own bike lock, must wear a helmet and use lights during the darker months. We ask that students show consideration to other members of the community, especially on the cycle paths and pavements around school. Students who wish to cycle to school are required to apply for a bike permit and this can be applied for once your child has a school account. Allowances will be made in the first few weeks for new starters to cycle to school while they await the issue of their permit.

Supporting the School

There are a few main ways that we seek parental support at John Colet School.

John Colet Development Fund:

Firsty, we ask for your help in providing a higher level of opportunity outside of the classroom to enhance your child’s education. Public funding contributes to this, but will not allow us to provide everything that we think your child needs and deserves.

We are inviting all parents/carers to make a monthly donation by standing order for the 5 years your child is at John Colet. Our Development Fund has charitable status and so parents/carers can Gift Aid their donation. This is how it works:

• A parent/carer donates £5 per month (total £60 in the year).
• We can claim an extra £15 in tax meaning that we get £75.
• Higher rate taxpayers can reclaim £15 back in tax on their self-assessment form meaning that the donation actually costs £45 to the parent/carer

Alternatively, you may prefer to set up a standing order to: John Colet School Fund, Lloyds Bank, Sort Code: 30-90-38, Account No: 06012704.

All donations of any size will make an enormous difference to the opportunities on offer to your child here at John Colet. Previous purchases from this fund have included IT provision in Modern Foreign Languages and Science and the purchase of a new 17 seat lightweight school minibus. Please be assured that all students are treated equally irrespective of parental financial contributions and all gifts are valued by the school.

Voluntary Contributions:

Technology - In previous years, the Technology Department has been able to provide pupils with free materials in their lessons. With escalating costs of essential equipment, this has become very difficult to sustain and maintain the high quality practical outcomes that the students produce. We are therefore asking for a voluntary contribution of £5.00 per household to cover some of the costs.

Medical - The school provides various medical supplies such as Paracetamol, plasters, ice packs and bandages and is facing ever increasing prices in order to sustain these supplies. We are therefore asking for a voluntary contribution of £1.00 per household to cover some of the costs.

Mobile Phone and Electronic Devices Policy

We are aware that students have phones for emergency reasons so we have opted for a gate to gate “No Use, No See, No Hear” approach. We supply all students with a branded JCS phone pouch and phones are to be in the locked pouches throughout the school day, they can be unlocked once they have left school at the end of the day. It is required that mobile phones/electronic devices are switched off whilst in the pouch. 

If a mobile phone/electronic device is seen or heard in school (including break and lunchtime) then the item will be confiscated and kept securely in the school office until a parent/carer is able to come in to collect it. It is the student’s responsibility to inform a parent/carer that an item needs collecting. Staff are not able to look after mobile phones/electronic devices for students at any time.

If a parent/carer needs to contact their child during school hours, they must phone the school office, and must not contact them via a mobile phone, as this runs the risk of the phone going off during a lesson and the child facing a sanction as a result. Messages left with the office will be passed on to the student promptly and they will be able to come to the Student Reception to phone a parent if required. Please refer to our Mobile Phone Policy for more information. 

School Trips

Students are able to take mobile phones to help with communication if travel arrangements are changed at short notice.

The student’s mobile phone should not be used otherwise as one of the aims of residential trips is to help the student to become more independent. For residential visits, parents/carers will be given the school mobile phone number which the group leader will have and any contact with the trip should be through this number.

Other electronic devices must not be taken on day trips.

Other electronic devices may be taken on residential trips with the Trip Leader’s prior permission to help with the journey. Parents/carers/students must be aware that it is highly unlikely that secure storage for such devices will be available at any centre/hotel/hostel and that staff will not be able to look after them. As such items are not stored securely, they would not be covered by the trip insurance and so are taken completely at the student’s own risk.

Mobile phones/electronic devices have many positive uses. However, they can also be abused, for example, the unsuitable use of a mobile phone or other electronic device would include:

• taking photographs or making recordings (other than where authorised by a teacher for academic purposes)

• placing photographs or recordings on the internet (e.g. on social networking sites) without the permission of those in the photograph

• any activity connected with text/cyber-bullying

• gaining access to inappropriate internet sites

These are not acceptable at John Colet. If a member of the staff of the school has any suspicion that a mobile phone has unsuitable material stored on it, students will be required to hand over the phone to a member of staff and the content looked at. In such instances the student concerned will be dealt with accordingly. In some cases, the Police may become involved.

Parents/carers need to be aware that mobile phones/electronic devices are not covered by school or school trip insurance. Any item brought into school is at the student’s own risk.

Charging and Remissions for Educational Activities

Please take the time to read our Charging and Remissions Policy for Educational Activities.

Next Steps

Thank you for taking the time to look at this transition information for your child. We hope that it has answered any questions you may have. We would ask that you now complete the Admissions Form which has been emailed to you and we very much look forward to welcoming your son or daughter to John Colet School.