Dear Parents

We approach the final week of what has been a long term.  We have achieved a great deal in this term.  There have been many successes. A new rewards and behaviour system has been introduced which has seen a huge increase in punctuality and in positive interactions with teachers and students.  Next week, for example, we have a Year 10 and 11 awards event happening in school.  These are all to celebrate the successes of students and their achievements over the term so far.  We have had a huge focus upon respect and tolerance this term. This will continue to ensure that students that leave us do so as well-rounded individuals that have positive attitudes and can contribute positively to society. (As well as having good GCSE results of course!). 

With reference to Year 11 and GCSE results, we held a very well attended evening last night to talk about study skills and to give out students’ GCSE results.  It is in true partnership that we achieve great things.  The support of you as parents working in partnership with us in school is what makes for successful outcomes at the end of Year 11.

I will write next week with information about the start of the new term and draw your attention first, to the arrangements for the end of this term which are below.

With very best wishes

Mr S Greiff

Our traditional Christmas Lunch will take place on Friday 22nd December.

Students will eat with their tutor group and House in the Dining Hall, regardless of whether they are having the school Christmas Lunch or a packed lunch. The lunch is a key part of our end of term celebrations, and an opportunity to socialise with the rest of the tutor group. 

• Tickets will be issued to those students who have chosen a Christmas Lunch on the morning of the last day of term.
• Water will be supplied on tables but no other drinks (or food) will be available to purchase on the day from The Hatches or other food serving areas. 
• Students are welcome to bring their own drinks or purchase them from the vending machines (energy drinks are not allowed).
• There will be no break service on this day in order to allow the kitchen to prepare Christmas lunches.
• Anyone who has not purchased a Christmas meal will need to bring a packed lunch – please remember, we are a nut free school.

The events at the end of the autumn term are a celebration of the year, the festive season and involves festive jumpers and fun. It is great if as many students as possible take part in the Christmas lunches, with their House enjoying a real team spirit and musical entertainment.

Students and staff are invited to wear a festive jumper or outfit, however silly, on the last day of term in exchange for a £1 donation which will be given to The Red Cross appeal.   Payment can be made on School Gateway or by cash on the day.

We teach our pupils right up to the end of term, including Session 1 on the last day, which will be normal lessons. Attendance at school is expected every day. 

• After break, all students will spend time together in their tutor groups, as well as enjoying their Christmas lunch.
• The school day will finish a little earlier than usual: students will be dismissed from 2pm.
• Our after Study Centre will close at 3:05pm.
• The Manor High buses and free school transport will depart at the earlier time of 2.15pm.  
• It is our intention that all students are safely dismissed and off site by 2.15pm.  
• School returns after the break on Monday 8th January 2024.  Thank you for your support with this.

We have asked students to ensure they have submitted their applications via the PS16 site by today (Friday 15^th December). We are grateful to all who have done this.

Students should have already put their personal statement onto their PS16 site and then made their applications via the site too. They then have to submit (send) these applications on the PS16 site. At this stage, all applications come to us at Manor High School. This allows us to check applications before we then send them on via the PS16 site – from here they then go to schools and colleges.

We as a school are uploading predicted grades into the qualifications section. Students, therefore, do not need to worry about grades/qualifications being empty. They should still submit their applications. We are also uploading references for students too.

Some students are having their 1-1 with Mrs McCarthy next week. These students do not have to submit applications before their meeting if they do not want to.

The 15^th December is our internal deadline. We ask that all students submit their applications here, so we can check them all. For any students who have not had their 1-1 meeting yet, we can accept these applications later. If any students need an application sent back to them (for editing purposes etc), they simply have to email Mr Croucher, who will then process the application back to them.

We will be sending all applications off to schools and colleges by Tuesday 9^th January – this means we will still be ahead of most schools in Leicestershire for submitting applications, as we were last year. We therefore need all students' applications submitted (the sooner, the better please).

Thank you so much for your help and support.

If you have returned a work experience form, we have set up payment for you on the school gateway. Please can you make the payment promptly, so we can process your forms with the LEBC. Thank you.

It was heart-warming to meet the wonderful volunteers from the Oadby Foodbank. Members of the student leadership team handed over the first week of goodies for the Christmas food packs. Thank you to all our families for your support with this. Please keep donating next week.

This programme is for families/parents living with conflict that is having an impact on children & young people.

These groups are useful for parents experiencing relationship conflict where their children are being adversely effected by this conflict (frequent conflict, poorly managed conflict).

• This support service is not for families experiencing Domestic Abuse.
• The groups are FREE for city & county residents.
• Heads Up cannot support with transport costs, for face-to-face groups.
• Parents can refer themselves or professionals can refer with consent via website: www.headsupleicester.org.uk/gettingonbetter
• Groups start in January 2024 and February 2024. The face to-face group begins in April 2024.

As a school, we are always looking at ways to improve. Our reception is open from 8.00am-4.30pm to take calls. However, many calls they receive are queries that need directing to others in the school, for example, the class teachers or tutors. To enable us to support a quick response to all queries, we would like to support parents with details on the best way to contact the school, depending on your query. To do this, we have produced this flow chart which give examples of some of the calls we receive and the most efficient way to get an answer. Often, emailing the relevant person directly will elicit a quicker response than calling reception. All key staff and tutors email addresses can be found on our website. Please see our Contact Us page.

In order to ensure the phone lines in Reception stay as open as possible, please help us by ensuring the following:

• Your child’s ecard is topped up, or they have a packed lunch.  Reception spends a lot of time on the phone chasing funds and helping children to access food.
• If you have to make an appointment for your child on the day, please arrive early.  It will take time to get your child from their classroom, as Reception cannot always leave their desk. Please be patient.
• Please tell the school if your child has an appointment and not just your child.  Reception can leave a message for the classroom teacher, and they can then confirm your child can leave the classroom.  Please note there are no telephones in classrooms and email messages can only be delivered before the lesson starts.
• Reception cannot give you an explanation as to why your child has received detention or why they have an absence mark.  Please contact their tutor by email if you would like this information. 

Thank you for your support.

Here are the standings as we approach the end of term:

1. Clarendon
2. Bradgate
3. Knighton
4. Watermead

Keep up the great work everyone!

HOW TO CONTACT THE SCHOOL

Your child’s tutor, also known as their trusted adult, is often your first point of contact. However, the following emails are also useful for parents to know:

• General enquiries:  admin@manorhigh.leics.sch.uk
• Exam enquiries:  exams@manorhigh.leics.sch.uk
• Finance and School Gateway enquiries:  finance@manorhigh.leics.sch.uk
• School bus enquiries:  buspass@manorhigh.leics.sch.uk
• SEND enquiries:  send@manorhigh.leics.sch.uk 

If you are not sure who to contact, please refer to our Who to Contact flow chart on our Contact Us page.