End of term letter July 2025

Fri 18 Jul 2025
Dear Parent / Carer, 

Firstly, I would like to thank you for your ongoing support throughout the year.  There have been a number of successes for our academy that you have played a massive part in, most notably our Ofsted in December where we achieved ‘Good’ in all areas and a report that gave a really true reflection of what our school community is like.

I know that there has been uncertainty in the last half term and again I would like to thank you for your patience and for working with me and staff remaining in school as we tried to minimise the impact on students until a resolution could be reached.

The class of 2025 sat their GCSE examinations in summer and their results day is on Thursday 21st August. I hope that parents and carers will come in with pupils to share these results with teaching staff who will also be in on that day. Details of the arrangements will be sent out separately.

The arrangements for the start of the term are as below. 

Monday 1 September: Closed to pupils - Staff INSET Day 
Tuesday 2nd September: Closed to pupils - Staff INSET Day 

Wednesday 3 September: Open to Year 7 and Year 11 pupils only
Normal school day: 8.25am - 2.30pm 
Doors open at 8.10am 

Thursday 4 September: Open as normal to all year groups: 8.25am to 2.30pm 
Doors open at 8.10am 
 
Attendance
Attendance is very important for all our students. We have worked incredibly hard this year to improve our attendance and we want to ensure that we continue to do so in the new academic year.  We ask that your child attends school every day and is on time to ensure that they do not miss vital lessons or information which is given out during form time. 

This is particularly the case when we move to our new school day as our tutor time is where additional English and maths support, reading, careers education and financial education will take place. These are all elements that will enhance the educational experience of all our children and I’m really excited to start the new day. More information will follow in September about the finer details of the day.

Punctuality
The school day begins at 8.25am at which point students are expected to be in their tutor room. A majority of students are in school at a good time, however there are a number of students arriving at school at 8.25am or even later. Please could you reiterate to your child the importance of punctuality as this is an expectation that extends beyond school into whichever job your child decides to do in the future. Sanctions for lateness are given and if your child is routinely late for school, you will be invited in for a meeting with a senior leader to discuss the reasons for this so that we can support you.

Uniform & Equipment Standards
Please find attached a link to our uniform policy  

Please also support us with the following points and make sure that pupils are able to remove gel nails or false lashes prior to the September return to school.
  • No items of jewellery are allowed (other than a watch). This includes clear plastic piercing retainers. 
  • False nails / gel nails / nail polish are not allowed. 
  • Sometimes pupils tell us that they cannot remove gel nails or false eyelashes, or take out a piercing because it will heal up. These are not acceptable reasons as we have repeatedly made our position very clear, that these items should not be worn in school. I would suggest that any student intending to have a piercing, does so at the very start of the summer holiday, so that the piercing is established by the time that we return in September.

Additionally I ask that all pupils have a pencil case with a pen, pencil and ruler as the minimum equipment requirement. We sell full pencil cases at our Student Information Desk for £1.65 which can be paid for via iPay. 

School Help Advice Reporting Page System
Don't forget our SHARP (School Help Advice Reporting Page system) tool provides information and guidance on a range of topics relating to behaviour and attitude. It also enables users to report concerns to key staff at the academy - during the summer holidays this will not be manned at all times, however we will respond to you as soon as possible.

Facebook
We now have a facebook page as well as Instagram - please follow us @ Outwood Academy Hindley as we will be putting lots of information on during the school day as well as information about events that are happening within the community.

If you have any further questions, the easiest way to contact us is via email at enquiries@hindley.outwood.com. Please also use this email address to contact us and share a photograph of any items such as shoes prior to purchase if you wish to double check that they are acceptable.

Thank you once again for your continued support for our school and I look forward to welcoming you back in September.

Your faithfully, 
J Norman
Principal


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