News

 

 

Monday 11th March

Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

Welcome to our newsletter for the ninth week of the Spring Term 2024. It’s Week A, so whole school assemblies are taking place. The theme this week is a celebration of International Women's Day which took place on Friday 8th March and is being led by students and Ms Edwards.

Ramadan has also just started and below there is key information about how we support members of our community to observe this month.

We look forward to welcoming all Y7 families to school on Tuesday 19th March for their Celebration Evening. The event begins in the canteen where there will be a chance to talk informally with staff over refreshments and then we move to the Hall for the presentation of awards.

This week sees a number of students in Y9 taking part in a residential visit to Jamie’s Farm in Wiltshire for the whole week. They will experience life on a working farm and undertake a number of educational opportunities while there - we look forward to hearing their stories on their return next week.

Y11 Parents’ Evening takes place on Thursday 21st March from 4pm. Again we look forward to seeing all families present at this event as it is the last event for staff to give detailed feedback on students’ progress prior to the summer examinations.

A final reminder of a very important notice. To safeguard every student in our school community we need to have at least two home contact details in place on SIMS. If you know that currently your child has only one emergency contact, please inform the school by emailing Ms Dhir on adhir@lampton.org.uk and provide an additional contact. We will be auditing this data in the coming weeks and will be contacting families who need to provide the additional data. Thank you for your support with this matter.

With best wishes for the week ahead.

Stephen Davis

 

Safeguarding Briefing 

Lampton School has a zero tolerance policy on bullying. In whole school assembly this week, students have been reminded that bullying is behaviour that is:

• repeated

• intended to hurt someone either physically or emotionally

• often aimed at certain groups, for example because of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation

It takes many forms and can include:

• physical assault

• making threats

• name calling

• cyberbullying - bullying via mobile phone or online (for example email, social networks and instant messenger)

Bullying is always taken seriously - and the sanction can include time in the Reflection Room, suspension and permanent exclusion. Students who have been bullied will also be supported to protect their social, emotional and mental health. 

Students have been encouraged to report any instances of bullying to a trusted adult, including the Safeguarding team. Students may also self-refer by going to see your Head of Year, or to the Safeguarding office, before school, at break, lunch or after school.

As a parent, if you have any concerns about bullying please contact your child’s Head of Year or the safeguarding team via  safeguarding@lampton.org.uk. 

 

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Applications for London West Alliance ITT are now open!

If you’re interested, or you know anyone who may be, please visit our website for more information: https://www.lwaitt.org.uk or contact us on getintoteaching@lwaitt.org.uk

 

Ramadan

Many students and staff in our school community will be marking the month of Ramadan. We note that under the Public Sector Equality Duty (Equality Act 2010) that we have a duty to promote equality of opportunity and foster good relations between different groups of individuals. Also at Lampton, we believe that it is important to promote the British value of mutual respect and toleration, individual liberty and indeed Respect is a core value of the school community. We note that any reasonable adjustments should not hinder the efficient functioning of the school in terms of its core duty of educating students. 

We also note that for a variety of reasons, there are differences of belief and practice within the Muslim community, and it should not be assumed that all students who identify as Muslim will wish to partake in all traditions associated with Ramadan, and that aspects of how Ramadan is marked will vary. Our aim through this guidance is to remove barriers to education or working throughout the Ramadan period. We have drawn together the following advice for staff and students, drawing on this guidance, endorsed by LB Hounslow and Hounslow Central Mosque to help determine any reasonable adjustments to the life of the school.

Supporting students and staff who are fasting  

We aim to support students and staff who will be observing their fast. We promote understanding about Ramadan through our Religious Studies curriculum, and through the assembly programme. 

All staff and students are to be reminded about being mindful of the observance of the fast, in line with being respectful to others.

We are clear that for some students with additional medical needs, observing the fast may not be appropriate given medical needs. 

Where students who are fasting receive free school meals, they may collect a 'grab bag' lunch to take home for later. 

Consideration will also be given to adjusting the timings of parents evening, and in particular the scheduled breaks to allow students, parents and staff to break their fast. 

Prayers

We know that Ramadan is traditionally a time when Muslim students are more likely to observe prayers.  

The prayer room has now moved to the old Dining Hall, so that we can accommodate larger numbers of students praying - students can access the prayer space during their break time, lunchtime and after school.  

A supply of prayer mats are kept in the dining hall, however students may wish to bring in their own prayer mat as they wish. 

Prayer times may not always align with the school day. Where they do not, students and staff should pray at the next available opportunity (i.e. break / lunch / after school). 

Throughout Ramadan, the prayer room will be supervised by a member of staff who will ensure that the space remains a calm and orderly environment for the purpose of religious observance. 

Adjustments to the curriculum

The starting point is that the school’s set curriculum should be observed throughout Ramadan. However, it may be necessary to adjust the curriculum to avoid certain activities such as singing or dancing in music and drama. 

In Physical Education, students are encouraged to participate as fully as possible. All students will be required to change into PE kit as usual, however if the physical activity is too exhausting then students may choose to sit out these aspects of the lesson. 

Religious leave for students 

As per section 6.6 of our Attendance Policy:

We recognise that students of certain faiths may need to participate in days of religious observance. Where a day of religious observance: 

• falls during school time and  

• has been exclusively set apart for religious observance by the religious body to which the student belongs

The absence from the School will be authorised.

We ask that parents/carers notify the School in writing in advance where absence is required due to religious observance by emailing absence@lampton.org.uk.