Appointments

All appointments such as doctors or dentist appointments, should be made out of school time.  If you have an unavoidable appointment such as at the hospital, you must bring in a note from a parent and a copy of the medical letter.  All notes must be signed by your Head of Learning, prior to you signing out at reception.  A parent or carer must collect you from school and sign you out.  You are expected to be in school before and after the appointment, allowing for travelling time.

Assemblies

Assemblies take place every morning.  The whole year group gets together to focus on key Waterside Academy values. Assemblies are delivered by the Head of Learning, a member of Leadership Group or another member of staff. You will often be asked to participate. 

Assignments / Homework

All homework and assignments will be set by your teachers on the DPR. You can log on to the DPR through the school website.  All assignments and homework should be submitted as requested by your teacher on the DPR on or before the deadline.  All assignments and homework will be linked to a key objective as identified on your DPR.  You will be set different types of homework by your teachers. These are:

• ‘Flipped Learning’:  Homework that will require you to complete specific learning tasks at home, ahead of the topic or skill being covered in class. This will help you to become more independent in your learning as well as helping you to consolidate your learning more rapidly in class.
• ‘Exam Skills’: Homework that is in the form of a practice exam question to help you develop your exam skills.
• ‘Consolidating’: Homework that is an extension of something you have covered in class, to help you consolidate your learning.
• ‘Closing gaps in learning’: Homework that allows you to complete any work that may not have been completed in class.

Attendance

You are expected to be present in school every day.  You should only be off school if you are very ill. If you are ill, it should be a rare occurrence.  Anyone who takes a lot of time off school misses out on learning and it affects their grades and life chances.  Phone calls must be made to the absence line each and every day you are absent from school.  A parent who does not make sure their child has good attendance is referred to the Local Authority and faces fines and can possibly be taken to court.  Holidays are not permitted in school time and will not be authorised. 

Prohibited Items

The following items are prohibited in school:

• Mobile phones, smart watches and other electronic devices 
• Headphones 
• Chewing gum
• Non-standard uniform items
• Energy and high sugar drinks
• Large sharing bags of crisps, chocolate and other unhealthy food items.

These items will be confiscated and will either be disposed of or given to your student manager who will log the item and then return to your parent or carer at a time convenient to the school.

The following items are prohibited in school:

• Offensive Weapons such as knives or anything which is intended to cause harm to someone else
• Drugs
• Alcohol
• Fireworks, lighters, matches
• Tobacco products including E-cigarettes and vaping devices
• Stolen items 
• Pornographic images.

Items such as these will be reported to the police.  The Headteacher may add to the list of banned or prohibited items as appropriate.

Behaviour Expectations

It is expected that you follow our behaviour code.  We follow a Sanctions Ladder to sanction poor behaviours and a Rewards Ladder to celebrate good behaviours.  We expect all students to follow the Hackney Values, to give 100% and to:

• arrive on time to school and lessons; be in correct uniform; follow instructions straight away; engage in lessons fully; try hard to complete classwork, homework and coursework; treat other students and all of the school community with respect; follow instructions first time; be helpful, polite and honest; show care and compassion to others, use SLANT, STEPS and SHAPE.

The following are some examples of what we consider to be unacceptable behaviour: 

• defiance; swearing; violence or threatening behaviour; damage to property; being in possession of a weapon; rudeness; not following teacher instructions; distracting others; not completing class work, coursework or homework; bullying; discriminatory language such as homophobia; lateness to school or lessons; truancy from school or lessons; abuse of the school email or ICT network.  This applies in lessons, around the school and when you are outside of school.

These are the strategies we will use to deal with students who behave unacceptably:

•  a reminder of expected behaviour in and around school; sending students home to change their uniform; asking students to make up for lost time; recording a demerit on the school information system; detentions at lunch time and after school; removal from class; letter or phone call to parents; parental meeting; withdrawal from lessons on a temporary basis; confiscation of items; removal of privileges; Internal Exclusion; Fixed Term Exclusion; Permanent Exclusion.

Canteen

The school canteen offers healthy and nutritious hot and cold food at break and at lunch time.  To pay for your food from the canteen, your Parent Mail account should be topped up with credit online. Details of how to do this are available on the school website or from info@watersidecst.org

If you think you may be entitled to free school meals, ask your parent or carer to apply online. If you need support to do this please contact our Admissions Officer: gracemodi@watersidecst.org

All students and staff clear their own plates after they have eaten, making it a friendly and clean environment for everyone. If you have comments or suggestions about how to improve the canteen, please email info@watersidecst.org

We use biometrics to ensure students can pay for their food, and other items, quickly and safely. 

Careers

Do you know what you want to do when you leave school?  Most people need help and guidance with this and thankfully we have members of staff on hand to help.  For information and advice on colleges, university and jobs please contact our appointed Career's Lead Mrs. S. Ahmed on careers@watersidecst.org about careers.  All students will receive a careers interview and have the opportunity to do careers activities and workshops. 

Clubs

We run a range of clubs at Waterside Academy. Breakfast club runs each morning, and homework club runs after school each day.  Please see the Clubs timetable for more details. 

Computers

All students have a computer account and access to computers during school time. By arrangement you can access a computer at lunchtime at Homework club. When using the computers, you agree to abide by the ICT and Safe Computer User Agreement.  Never share your password with someone or leave your computer logged on. If you do so, you will be responsible for any activity on your account including any emails that are sent.

Corridors

You should move around the corridors quietly and without fuss, following the corridor rules.  The corridors rules which are:

• Use of STEPS at all times
• No littering
• No mobile phones or headphones
• No physical contact
• No shouting or inappropriate language
• No running
• No lingering 
• No uniform infringements

On the rare occasion a student decides not to follow safe corridor rules, they will receive a slip which gives notice of a detention.  You will be awarded a merit for positive behaviours such as holding doors open, letting people through and picking up litter.  Thank you for being polite and courteous.  It really makes for a pleasant environment.

Detentions

Sometimes students are given detentions.  They are obligatory to attend.  If you have been given a detention, make sure you make a note of the date, time and location and inform your parent/carer so they know where you are after school hours. Daily detentions take place every lunchtime for students who are late and after school each day for other infringements of the rules. Each detention issued lasts for 20 minutes.  Detentions are posted at break time in the playground so you can check if you have one.   It is your responsibility to be present on time.  The school has the power to set detentions for up to one hour after school and parents/carers can’t object. It is the law!

DPR

Our school uses the Dynamic Progress Reporting (DPR) software to describe the curriculum you will learn and to monitor and report on your learning in different subjects.  You will have key objectives, which you must work towards securing.  You will be assessed regularly and will be awarded the following:

• E: Emerging
• D: Developing
• C: Consolidating
• S: Secured

You can access the DPR from school or from home.  Please make sure you login to the DPR regularly (daily) and check the feedback your teachers are giving. In addition, you should share your DPR login details with your parents/carers and private tutors so they can support you with your learning.  You can also upload evidence of your work to show how you are achieving the key learning objectives in your different subjects.  As a school we also monitor how frequently you login to the DPR in order to check the level of your learning engagement and self-regulation.

East Side Young Leaders Academy

EYLA develops the leadership potential, health and wellbeing of children, especially BAME’s, empowering them to become the next generation of successful leaders.  If you are interested in becoming part of our cohort of East Side Young Leaders speak to your Head of Learning. 

Equipment

Successful students come to school ready to learn.  It is expected that you bring with you a black pen, pencil and ruler.  You should have all the books for the subjects you have that day.  You must also have a reading book at all times.  You should have a mathematics set and small dictionary, and a green pen for peer-marking and redrafting.  Don’t forget your PE kit on PE days! If you forget any of your equipment you can buy pieces of equipment cheaply at school, either before school or at break time.

Family Support Worker

Our Family Support Officer is laurapurcell@watersidecst.org  If you or your parents/carers need help with a matter at home, she is on hand to help you.  You can also go to the student managers office at break and lunch if you need help, advice, or to write a statement. 

Feedback: In-Class Feedback:

You will be provided with feedback regularly by your teacher.  Live marking is used in all subjects with target codes that are used by your teacher to focus your efforts on areas to improve.  Make sure you know what these target codes mean.  After you have received feedback, you should improve it using a green pen.   Make sure you act on your teacher’s feedback for improvement and try to achieve the target you have been assigned.   Often you will be required to peer assess someone else’s work.   Think carefully about your feedback and the important role you have in helping your peer or yourself to improve. 

Feedback: DPR

Your DPR is updated by your teachers and you should check the progress of your learning on a regular basis.  You may upload pieces of work as evidence for your teacher to consider, so that you can move from ‘Emerging’ to ‘Secured’.  Your teacher may provide feedback on your DPR; you should respond to this feedback so that you are engaging in developing specific key learning objectives.

Hackney Value of The Week

There are 10 Hackney Values which all of our school community try to embody every day, that means all staff and all students.  Each week we focus on one of the values in assembly time, during PSHE lessons and during our own reflection time.  Students who embody the Waterside Academy values are recognised and rewarded.

Intervention

All students will receive some form of extra intervention while they are at school.  Sometimes it is during the school day and often it is after school.  When you are in Year 11 you will attend Exam Skills most evenings for targeted support with your work.  This is a privilege and something that would cost a lot of money if you had a private tutor.  It will help you get a better job in the future.  Thankfully in school it is free.  It is your responsibility to make sure you arrive on time and are prepared.  Make sure you have reminded everyone at home where you will be and what time you will be finished. 

Learning

This is the reason why we are here.  If there is anything that is affecting your learning, please speak to your Student Manager or Head of Learning. 

Letters to and from Home

Most letters will be sent home by email.  It is essential that we have your parents or carers up to date email addresses. We will sometimes send letters through the post and sometimes you will be given a letter to take home.  Please make sure your parents receive the letter as it will contain important information.  Most letters are placed on our website too.  If you have a letter about your absence, please make sure it is handed to our receptionist.  Any other letters from home, please give to the person it is addressed to.

Lost Property

Lost property should be taken to the reception where it will be logged and returned to its rightful owner. If you have lost anything, please go to the reception during break time.  To avoid misplacing items, please make sure all uniform items are marked with your name.  All unclaimed lost property will be displayed at the end of each term. Any items remaining by the holidays will be donated to charity.

Lunchtimes

At lunchtime we advise all students to eat a delicious freshly cooked meal from our school canteen. Parents and students must ensure that Parent Mail accounts are topped up with enough money to purchase lunch and/or a breaktime snack each day.  A school meal lunch is £2.70 per day.

Master Mission

All students are encouraged to take up the challenge of Master Mission. The programme is designed to give students the opportunity to develop their independence, kindness and cultural capital.  Each mission, bronze, silver and gold, sets out a series of interesting and unusual activities which students complete in order to gain their award.

Medical

If you have medical needs, please make sure your parents or carers have informed the school.  Any medication that you have to take during the school day should be placed in a sealed named bag and given to the receptionist and First Aider, Ms Collymore. We will discuss your needs with your parents and if necessary, a care plan will be put in place.  If you hurt yourself or fall ill during the school day, a teacher will contact First Aid and a First Aider will come to you to help you.  Most of the time the ailment can be treated in school and you can carry on with learning.  If you are really hurt or ill, your parents or carers may be called to accompany you home. Please make sure all phone numbers on the system are up to date and there are at least three contacts available.

Merits

Merits are awarded for effort and achievement.  You may also get a merit if you are helpful or contribute to wider school life.  As you build up your number of merits, you will be rewarded in line with our Rewards ladder.  Rewards include certificates, different coloured lapel pins and texts home, as well as trips out. 

Mobile Phones

Mobile phones are not permitted to be seen or heard in school.  If a member of staff sees a mobile phone at any time on the school premises, it will be confiscated and you will receive a detention.  Your phone will only be returned to a parent or carer and this will be done at a time convenient for the school.

Presentation of Work

Neat work is really important. It shows that you have taken care and given the right amount of attention.  It also helps your teacher read what you have written! Neat, well-presented work is easier to revise from and easier for an examiner to mark.  Please make sure you have a black pen, pencil and ruler.  

Punctuality

You must be in school by 8:20am.  If you arrive after this time, you will be marked as late.  This will have an effect on your learning and will result in a detention for you. Be on time! 

Saturday Intervention

The school is sometimes open on Saturdays for students to do exam intervention with teachers by prior arrangement.  If you are in school on a Saturday, you must enter via reception and sign in.

SHAPE / SLANT / STEPS

At Waterside Academy we use SHAPE to ensure our interactions with others are clear and confident.  We use SLANT in our classes in order to ensure we are focused on the teacher in class and are responding to questions positively.  We use STEPS in order to ensure we are polite and respectful and positive at all times.

SHAPE, SLANT and STEPS are key aspects of the school’s approach to learning and behaviour.  They are used by all staff and students.

Click here to read SHAPE, SLANT and STEP 

Sports

At Waterside Academy we offer sport as part of the curriculum and a range of clubs before school, at lunchtime and after school.  For more information, see our clubs noticeboard; ask your PE teacher or check on the website.

School Trips

School trips happen throughout the year.  At the end of the year there is an educational trips day that all students attend.  Have a look at the school calendar on the website for planned trips for your year group.  You must make sure you bring in the permission slip and any money required in plenty of time. 

Uniform

Personal presentation is important in the world of work and we want to make sure that you develop a sense of pride in how you look. Research suggests students behave better in school uniform and therefore your learning will benefit. Remember you are ambassadors for Waterside Academy and your behaviour when in uniform, including going to and from school, reflects on the school.

The school uniform supplier is: 

Trutex Hackney (Crossbow)
31 Broadway Market
Hackney E8 4PH
Tel: 020 7923 9313

https://www.trutexhackney.com/collections/waterside-academy

Uniform items must be plain, without accessories, logos, decoration or any other colours. Below is a list of acceptable uniform:

• Blazer: Grey blazer with logo
• Shirt: Plain white shirt with collar
• Tie: tie, worn to the waist
• Jumper (optional):  V-Neck with logo
• Trousers: Plain matt navy blue, tailored, regular fit (no denim, coloured pocket zips)
• Skirt: Plain matt navy, knee-length
• Socks or tights: Plain black
• Shoes: Plain black leather school shoes, providing adequate protection and support (no casuals, fabric, canvas, trainers, sandals, pumps, ‘work’ type shoes e.g. Doctor Martins, high heels, boots, coloured laces, coloured stitching)
• Coat: Plain black, to be removed in class (no leather, suede, denim, hoody, sweatshirt, sports top, body warmer, gillet)
• Hijab, abaya, prayer cap, turban, parka: plain matt black.

Jewellery, Decoration and Other Items

• A single necklace or bracelet for religious reasons
• Hats: Plain black woollen hat, only to be worn outside the buildings during cold weather (no bobbles, visors)
• Hair fasteners: Plain black or plain white
• Earrings: Small plain studs, matching pair or single 
• Belts: Plain black, plain buckle (no oversized buckles)
• Make-up: To be modest and discreet (no lipstick, false eyelashes, acrylic nails)
• No body jewellery, unnatural coloured hair, tattoos, visible undergarments.

PE Kit: Required Items

• Shirt: Blue polo shirt with logo
• Shorts: Blue football shorts with logo
• Socks: Blue football socks.

PE Kit: Optional Items

• Tracksuit bottoms: Blue bottoms with logo or plain navy bottoms
• Sweatshirt: Blue sweatshirt with logo or plain navy sweatshirt.

Useful Links to Support your Learning

GCSE Bitesize

Skillswise

Tassomai

MathsWatch

Water

It is important to keep hydrated through the school day.  Students can access our water fountains based in the playground, before school, during break and lunch time and after school.

Wellbeing

Something on your mind? 

Please contact reportit@watersidecst.org if you are experiencing, or know someone who is experiencing bullying issues or have any other concerns for yourself or others.  We are here to help.   Alternatively, contact your Head of Learning with your concerns.