Expectations

Fitzharrys is a school with high expectations and standards. In line with our ethos: Aspiration, Opportunity, Integrity, Fitzharrys students are expected to come in each day with a positive approach to learning, keen to participate in lessons, and take responsibility for their behaviour in class and around school. 

We place great importance on celebrating and rewarding achievement to encourage students to make the right choices and invest in their learning. To support this, we use an effective Behaviour for Learning system to encourage and acknowledge good behaviour. Our behaviour system is used consistently across every classroom, making rewards and consequences very clear to every student. We work on the principle of doing ‘the right thing, in the right place, at the right time’, and our pupils respond to these clear expectations.  

Please read the parent guidance leaflet below for more details on our Behaviour for Learning system:

Behaviour for Learning - parent guidance

As Ofsted recognised, “Leaders have high expectations for pupils' learning and behaviour. As a result, pupils learn in a calm and purposeful environment.”

Full details on Fitzharrys’ behaviour expectations are set out in our school policies.  

Attendance

Attendance at Fitzharrys is at record levels because students enjoy coming to school. We want to encourage students to aim for 100% attendance as research shows there is a clear link between excellent attendance and high achievement, and good attendance will be a basic expectation for all our students in their future careers. Students track their attendance on a chart in tutor time, as regular monitoring helps each student to aspire to their very best attendance.

The school has produced a comprehensive guide for parents to help support students' good attendance.

Attendance Guide for Parents

We work hard to recognise good attendance, with rewards given to students at the end of each full term to celebrate the commitment and determination that comes with 100% attendance.

All absences will detract from a student's 100% attendance record but we do understand that occasionally students must have time away from school in cases such as illness, medical appointments or bereavement. We recognise 100% attendance at achievement assemblies not only at the end of the year, but after each full term; winter, spring and summer.

Further guidance can be found on our Absence & Illness and Policies pages. 

Equipment

Students should have the following essential equipment at school each day so they are prepared and ready for the day's learning activities:

  • Mathematics set - including ruler, protractor, compass
  • 30cm ruler
  • Pencils
  • Eraser
  • Pencil Sharpener
  • Black, blue & green pens
  • A dry-wipe pen
  • Coloured pencils (these are more useful than felt tips)
  • Scientific calculator – (recommended: CASIO FX-83GTCW or Casio FX-85GTCW)
  • Large, strong bag/rucksack to carry school books and equipment (strictly no handbags)


It would also be useful if students have the following items to support their learning: 

  • Glue stick (i.e. Pritt stick or similar)
  • A separate bag for P.E. kit on required days
     

Please ensure all items are named for ease of returning to owners if lost. 

Valuable items should not be brought into school and we would discourage students from bringing in expensive electronic devices; Fitzharrys cannot accept any responsibility for any belongings that are damaged or go missing.  On unavoidable occasions, valuable items or large sums of money brought in to school must never be left unguarded in coats or bags; instead, they should be passed directly to Reception at the start of the day for safe-keeping.

We appreciate that some parents and carers would like their child to bring a mobile phone to school for reasons of personal safety.  Please read our Mobile Phone Policy for guidance. 

Students are advised to make use of school lockers to safely store belongings. They are available for £25 for a student’s school career. £2.50 will be paid on return of the locker key at the end of Year 11. Refunds are available if students leave Fitzharrys School before this time. Payments for locker hire are made through ParentMail accounts. Please contact the school office with any queries.