Partnership with Parents

We put a lot of emphasis on parental involvement in their child’s education. Educational research shows the beneficial effects it has. A positive partnership between the school and parents, with active parental involvement, will help pupils personal, academic and spiritual development during their vital years in school.

Parents are as important as teachers in:

• monitoring learning – regularly discussing learning, homework and attainment with their child
• fostering values and good character –supporting their child’s personal development and encouraging them to develop a positive character
• supporting organisation – helping their child to be organised for success, by having all the right equipment including their reading book and uniform and by being in the right place at the right time
• motivating and raising aspirations – motivating their child and encouraging them to fulfil the potential with which they have been blessed.

We believe that our partnership approach to working with parents plays a big part in the success of the Star educational model. Our commitment to pastoral care and to ensuring that every pupil gets personal attention means that parents can be assured that their son will flourish in our safe and secure learning environment.

Home-school agreement

All parents and guardians are asked to sign a home–school agreement. This clearly states our commitment to their son. It also sets out what we expect in return, in terms of commitment, attendance and behaviour.

Click here to view the home-school agreement.

Regular communications

An effective partnership is dependent upon good communication and we are committed to regular, accurate, useful communications with our parents.

We welcome parents contacting the school and will do all we can to help with your questions and enquiries. This website is updated regularly and is the main source of news and information about the school. As well as this we have:

Newsletters

We produce half termly Micosoft SWAY newsletters to keep our pupils, staff and parents updated on school life. A Pupil Newsletter Al-Qalm (The Pen) is produced every term. To visit our latest Pupil newsletters click here.

Text Messaging Service

Text messages are used by the school to remind parents of important information and deadlines. These include revision classes or after-school clubs that their child should attend. We also send messages to let parents know when we send a letter home with their child. If the school needs to remain closed (eg due to snow), we will send a text message by 7.30am in the morning and will also text if the school needs to close early for any reason.

The text messaging service is a quick and easy way to provide key information to parents in a timely manner. It is therefore important that parents provide the school with a preferred mobile phone number and update us of any changes.

Communicating Progress

Pupil success is achieved through robust and aspirational target setting and close tracking of progress at all levels – supported by real-time attainment, attendance and behaviour data. In order to keep parents informed of their child’s progress and behaviour and attendance, the school will organise:

• Regular report cards with results of regular tests in each subject. These are posted to homes.
• A one-to-one meeting with the Head of Year in the first half term to talk parents through the school’s expectations, procedures and processes and to allow them to share any concerns or ask any questions.
• A parents’ evening in the first term of Year 7 to meet individual teachers and other staff who support each child’s learning.
• A parents’ evening in the final term to review progress and set targets.
• A performance review meeting with a senior leader regularly to review each child’s progress, if their grades are below nationally expected averages.

We expect all parents to attend the parents’ evenings to which they have been invited.

Homework

All homework is set using Microsoft Assignment. Pupils are able to seek support with any homework using the chat function in each term.

Concerns or Complaints

Each boy’s welfare is the responsibility of all of our staff. The school is committed to listening to parents’ concerns and handling them in a sensitive way. Heads of Year should be contacted in the first instance. A member of the Senior Leadership Team can be approached if parents are still dissatisfied. It is always the aim of the school to resolve issues and concerns informally but a school Complaints Policy exists for parents who feel that any issues have not been satisfactorily addressed. The complaints policy is available to download here or can be obtained from the School’s Administration Office.

Visiting the School

During a normal working day all visitors, including parents, should report to Reception. Visitors will be requested to sign in upon arrival, and sign out when leaving. Visitors must wear a visitor badge. They will be directed to the appropriate offices, or asked to wait in the reception area until the member of staff has been notified of their arrival. Visitors wishing to meet individual members of staff are requested to make appointments beforehand.

Friends of TIBHS and Parent Shura (Council)

As part of our home-school partnership, we want parents to be actively involved in the life of the school so that they can help us make the right decisions for their son. The Friends of TIBHS and Parent Shura are ideal ways to get involved. To find out more about Friends of TIBHS and how to join, contact the school.