Parents and Pupils Guide

Parents and Pupils Guide

Tower College Parents’ & Pupils’ Guide.

Inside cover, “Parents’ and Pupils’ Guide.”

The purpose of this Guide is to give more detailed information regarding the management, policies, organization and day-to-day life of Tower College than is given in the Prospectus, and to indicate ways in which parents, pupils and staff may co-operate to ensure the maximum benefit for the pupils. It has been developed in the light of the experience of the members of Tower College over many successful years.

We measure that success not only by the many years of high academic motivation and achievement, but also by the high standards of behaviour, willingness to help, kindness and courtesy shown by our pupils.

Following the rules procedures laid down in this Guide will ensure the continuity of these high standards. Many of the rules and procedures have a bearing on the Health and Safety, and the security of our pupils. As these are of the utmost importance to us, your co-operation in these matters is vital.

Constitution and development.

Mr & Mrs Charles Oxley bought the property known as The Tower, Rainhill in October 1947 to use as an independent Christian school. On 6^th April 1948, the school opened as Tower College with 84 pupils, boys and girls aged 4 to 11 years, despite such half forgotten difficulties as food rationing, clothing coupons, timber quotas, utility furniture and opposition from the local Council.

Tower College, from the start, earned a reputation for high academic standards, good conduct and genuine concern for all of the pupils. The school grew rapidly to over 300 pupils, aged 4 to 16 years and gained recognition by the then Ministry of Education.

In 1963 Mr Oxley appointed a Board of Governors and formed a non-profit making company, &160;Christian Schools Ltd’ to which he leased the property at a nominal rent.

Over the years, Tower College as a property has been greatly improved. New buildings have been erected, and adjoining land bought to provides tennis/netball/basketball courts, a coach park, parent and staff car parks and Nursery accommodation for the three year olds.

Mr & Mrs Oxley, as owners and occupiers of the property and founders of the school took a personal interest in every aspect of the school, which had nearly 400 pupils at the time of Mr Oxley’s death in November 1987. Mrs Muriel Oxley continued in a combined role as Principal and Bursar until her death in December 1993 at which time Tower College had a long established record of academic excellence, and a well-deserved reputation for good behaviour and a high level of care for the pupils.

Mr and Mrs Oxley’s daughter, Miss Rachel Oxley, took over as Principal of Tower College in 1993 having taught for 14 years in Christian Schools Ltd. The school continues to thrive and develop under her care, having over 560 pupils at the time of going to print. Miss Oxley is supported by the Board of Governors in achieving the Founders’ aims for the school.

Christian Character of the School.

Special emphasis is laid on the spiritual aspect of the education provided, which is to help the pupils acquire a reverence for the Bible, a faith in God and a belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour.

The school is not affiliated to any denomination, and pupils of any or no faith are accepted on the understanding that they will participate in Morning Assemblies and regular Religious Education lessons which are based on the Christian faith.

Pupils must show tolerance and respect for each other’s faiths, and kindness is all aspects of school life.

Accreditation.

Tower College is a member of the Independent Schools’ Association, and is an Accredited School. A condition of membership of the ISA, and all associations that constitute the Independent Schools’ Council, is that all its member schools are accredited by the Independent Schools’ Inspectorate, following rigorous inspection of all aspects of the provision offered by independent schools. All accredited schools have inspections every six years to ensure that standards are being maintained and improved.

Inspection reports are available on the appropriate websites, and are published to parents in accordance with the relevant bodies’ rules and procedures.

Pre-admission visits to school.

Open Afternoons are held annually in November / December for parents and pupils who wish to apply for admission to the Senior School the following September. Guided tours are given, and there are opportunities to meet the Principal and her staff.

All other prospective parents may visit the school, by appointment, at any time, to see school during a normal, working day. Senior pupils guide families around school and the tour is followed by a meeting with the Principal.

Admissions Procedures.

The Principal deals personally with all applications for the admission of pupils.

The main intake is at the beginning of the academic year in September, but Nursery pupils, who may join after their third birthday, may commence in January, or April. Mid-year applications for other ages are also considered, when circumstances dictate, subject to place availability.

Application is made by means of the Entrance Card and Registration Fee (as detailed in your prospectus). If a place is offered, a £500 deposit is requested to reserve the place on acceptance. The deposit is non-refundable but is deducted from your first term’s invoice.

Places are limited, and are allocated in order of application. If your child’s name is placed on our waiting lists, you will be informed by telephone, with confirmation in writing, immediately a vacancy occurs. Priority on waiting lists will be given to children whose siblings attend Tower College.

Children of six to ten who wish to join our Junior School may attend a &160;trial day’. This can be arranged by appointment on any school day .The prospective pupil will spend the day with their future classmates, having a test in English and Maths and enjoying their lessons and playtimes. A school lunch will also be provided and costs for this are covered in the Registration Fee, which should be sent with the Entrance Card either before or on the day. During the day the class teacher will assess the child to ensure that he/she will cope with the standard of work.

Prospective pupils wishing to join our Senior School in the September in which they are eleven must sit the Senior School Entrance Examination in Mathematics and English, which takes place in late January / early February each year. Tower College J4 pupils also sit the examination. Places will be offered to the top achievers in this examination, which can be reserved by sending the non-refundable deposit as stated, and which will be deducted from the first term’s fees. Parents are informed if their child is on the reserve list, and will be informed immediately should a definite place become available. As we are always heavily oversubscribed for places, parents who do not wish to accept the offered place are asked to let us know as soon as possible in order that the place may be reallocated.

Candidates achieving over 95% in both subjects will be offered a scholarship which is a fees reduction of 25% throughout the first three years in the Senior School. This may be continued in S4 and S5, at the discretion of the Principal.

Pupils aged 12 and over who wish to join the Senior School may also have a &160;trial day’ as described above. During the day the candidate will sit a Mathematics paper and an English paper.

Delete section on Cancellation charges Accounts

School accounts are payable on the first day of each term. Payments may be made by credit card, cash or by cheque which should be made payable to &160;Tower College’. Please do not come to the Office on the first morning of term to pay your fees in person. Our priority at that time is the settling in of new children. Credit card payments can be made over the telephone. Receipts for all payments are sent home with the pupils.

An invoice will be sent out at the end of the preceding term, and will include tuition fees, termly charges for lunch, and after-school care and coach travel if appropriate. Charges for Kindergarten and Junior trips and swimming will be added to the invoice.

Senior pupils’ charges for the Leisure centre, and GCSE exam fees will also be added. Senior pupils join the Independent Schools’ Careers Organization (see careers section) and the termly fee for this service is added onto the invoices during S4 and S5. ( Remove Levy section)Senior pupils also pay a termly levy of £5, which is refunded in full when the pupil has completed the course, at the end of S5. It is not normally otherwise refundable. A levy may be withheld if text books are not returned to school.

The Tuition Fees, as given in the prospectus, cover the cost of all exercise books, text books and stationery. Pupils do need to purchase a Dictionary, Atlas, School Hymn Book and Bible. For convenience, the required texts are sold through the Uniform Shop. Exercise books remain the property of the school and are not given to pupils who leave before the end of the course.

The school reserves the right to increase fees on giving no less than one full term’s notice.

If you feel that there is an error in your invoice please telephone the office. Please do not alter your account. Late payment of fees will incur an interest charge of 10%. In the event of payments being refused by the payer’s bank, an administration charge will be made. In cases where the fees account remains unpaid, pupils may be suspended or excluded from school.

School Uniform

Our uniform is sold from school, for the convenience of parents. All necessary items are stocked with the exception of socks, shoes and boys’ trousers. Lists of items required and prices are available from the office. New parents are invited to telephone for a uniform appointment in the term prior to their child’s starting school. Replacement items can be purchased by sending a letter in with your child, or by telephoning the office. A receipt for the correct size of the item will be sent home by the Uniform Salesperson, and, on receipt of payment, the item will be sent home with the pupil. Refunds will not be given on any item which has been washed, ironed, altered or named. Faulty items should be returned with an explanatory letter giving details of the date of purchase and the nature of the problem. The Uniform Shop is not open during school holiday time.

All items of uniform and P E Kit must be clearly named with your child’s full name. There are a lot of children here – so your child may share the initials of several others!! The school cannot take responsibility for unnamed items of lost property. If unnamed items remain unclaimed after initial checks, then they will be sent to Tower College in Kamatuuza, Uganda: a school for orphans funded by our termly charity events.

If items are named then lost property should be easy to return. If, however, items are left on one of the coaches we cannot guarantee their return. In this situation, parents should contact the coach firm directly for their possible return.

Pupils must adhere to the standards set in the uniform requirements. Current requirements can be found in the back of this booklet. If changes are made parents are informed well in advance and a &160;change-over’ period is allowed.

Uniform Regulations

Pupils must wear their full uniform. Outdoor uniform should be worn when traveling to and from school. Items of non-uniform clothing must not be worn, and will be confiscated if worn. Pupils wearing extra tee-shirts under their uniform in winter must ensure that they are not visible.

School shoes must be black, and practical for playing out; neither too flimsy nor too high. Neither boots nor patent leather shoes are allowed, and &160;designer’ labels and attachments should not be visible. If your child comes in unsuitable footwear, please do not complain about the expense of replacements. The rules are made clear before purchasing!

There is an absolute ban on pupils’ wearing make-up, nail varnish or jewellery. Hair must not be highlighted, dyed, or gelled. Boys’ hair should be short and tidy – off the collar and off the ears, but not in a &160;wedge’ or shaved. Girls’ hair must be neat and tidy. If long, it must be tied back. Ribbons and &160;scrunchies’, if used, must be either pale blue or maroon. Slides must be plain brown.

A serious view is taken of pupils who contravene the school uniform rules. Any pupil who repeatedly breaks these school rules will jeopardize their place at Tower College.

Terms and Holidays.

There are three terms in the academic year:

Autumn Term from early September to Christmas.

Spring Term from early January to Easter.

Summer Term from Easter to mid-July.

A specially printed calendar indicating term times and holidays is issued annually. Term usually commences on a Tuesday and finishes on a Thursday.

Permission is not granted for holidays in term-time. Pupils must not leave early for holidays or return late. Pupils who take time off for holidays without permission will be required to leave the school.

New starters’ first day.

All pupils arriving at Tower College for their first day should be brought to the Main Front Door. Arrangements for collection will be confirmed, and pupils will be shown through to their classes. At the beginning of the Spring and Summer Terms all new pupils commence at 8.50am on their first day, but as the Autumn Term intake is usually large, the process is made less daunting by staggering the starting time. Senior and Junior pupils still arrive for 8.50am, but those joining Kindergarten (pupils of 4-5 years) arrive for 10am and Nursery pupils arrive for 10.30am.

To help the pupils settle smoothly into school life, parents are requested not to arrive too early on the first day, nor too late! The &160;goodbyes’ should be brief, cheerful and matter of fact. Please do not make false promises, as did the mother who told her fretting four year old that she was going to get some petrol and come back to take him home. The child did not want to move from the hall – for lessons, lunch, playtime or toilet time in case she would not know where to find him. Hometime was a long time in coming and he was an unhappy little boy!

Once in school, the children are kept busy with lots of exciting activities and so soon settle down. Parents can be assured though that if a child were genuinely distressed during the day, we would contact them.

To assist in the settling-in process, Nursery, Kindergarten and Junior pupils may visit their classroom on the day of their uniform fitting appointment on request. Pupils joining the Senior School enjoy an Induction Day in the Summer Term before starting.

Daily Routine.

The school day commences at 8.50am in all departments. Pupils should all be in school ready for a prompt start. The school day finishes at 3.30pm for the nursery pupils, and 3.40pm for Kindergarten, Juniors and Seniors. Pupils are never detained after lessons as a punishment.

The Nursery, Kindergarten and Junior pupils have three &160;playtimes’ during the day, and the Seniors have a long morning break and a lunch break. The pupils have access to drinks of water at all of their breaks, and have drinks served at lunchtime.

The Nursery, Kindergarten and Junior children have juice and fruit during the day. Senior pupils have access to a vending machine during their break.

Daily arrival and departure of pupils.

Parents who bring their child to school by car should enter by the Lodge gate, and follow the drive down to the pupils’ walkway, between the two staff car parks. Parents are asked not to stop on the first roundabout as delivery lorries leave through this route and we want the children to be safe. Prefects are on hand at the walkway to escort Nursery and Kindergarten pupils to their classes and older children can of course make their own way. Parents should then follow the one-way system along the drive which will bring them back onto Mill Lane. Parents must give way to coaches entering the Coach Park, to avoid blocking Mill Lane.

Parents collecting their children at home-time should use the bottom gate on to the field and must park in the parents’ car park. Nursery pupils leave their classes at 3.30pm and are met by the tennis courts. All other departments finish at 3.40pm and should be met at the Main Front Door. Parents are asked to walk up the drive, leaving the walkways free for pupils going for their coaches, and for parents and pupils walking back down to the car park.

Pupils are not allowed to make their own way to the Car park, so please do not make an arrangement with them to do so.

Cars must not be left on the driveway, or parked inconsiderately on Mill Lane or on Stonecross Park.

Coaches.

We have a network of coaches transporting pupils from our wide catchment area. Route details are included in the prospectus. We endeavour to meet the requirements of as many as possible with regard to our routes and timetables, but safety is a priority. Any requests for additional stops must be made to the Principal, not directly with the coach company. Stops will not be included unless the pick-up / drop off point is considered safe.

Staff and Senior Prefects take responsibility on the coaches to ensure that all pupils behave well. There is to be no eating or drinking and pupils must remain seated at all times. All of our coaches are fitted with seat belts which must be worn at all times.

The transport charges are calculated on a daily return fare, as given in the Routes list. The termly amount will therefore vary according to the number of days in a term. One-way fares cannot be arranged as the fare is calculated on the numbers of children using a particular route. It is not possible to give refunds in respect of non-use through absence, since the absence of a pupil does not diminish the operating cost.

Changes to transport arrangements should not be made without prior notice to the Office Staff. Pupils using the coach service on an occasional basis e.g. for sleepovers etc. must have written parental permission, and send in the appropriate fare.

For the efficiency of the transport system, and the safety of the children, we must insist that parents are punctual when dropping off or collecting their children. Pupils who are continually late will be barred from using the coach service.

Every effort is made to ensure that coaches run according to the timetable. If parents feel that there are unwarranted delays or problems, we would ask that they telephone the school office.

The school takes no responsibility for pupils’ belongings that are left on the coach, and parents should ring the coach firm directly for the return of forgotten items.

Breakfast Club.

Pupils of the Junior and Senior departments who need to arrive early are served with a hot drink and toast in the Dining Hall between 8am and 8.35am.The Dining Hall must be vacated by 8.45am.

This facility is available between the October half-term and the February half-term. There is no charge for this facility.

Morning Assembly.

Each of the three departments has their own Morning Assembly. Our Assembly themes have their foundation in the Christian faith. Bible stories and moral issues will be discussed as we encourage our children to adhere to Christian values such as respect for self and others, tolerance, kindness, honesty and thoughtfulness.

We are a non-denominational school, and staff of several denominations lead and take part in Assemblies. Pupils of all faiths must attend Assembly which is a vital part of school life.

School lunch.

All of our pupils have a school lunch in the dining hall, where they are supervised by the teaching staff. Sample menus are included in your prospectus pack, and show a sensible balanced diet. We feel that it is important that the pupils have a cooked lunch, as many have a long day with coach travel or attendance at Breakfast and After-school Clubs. Pupils are not allowed to bring packed lunches.

A vegetarian option is available for those who request it in writing. Pupils who are on special diets for health reasons will be catered for if details are made known to the Principal.

Lunch charges are added to the termly invoice. Refunds are not given if a child is absent.

After-school club.

We have an after-school club which runs from 3.30pm to 6pm. Nursery and Kindergarten pupils are escorted by the teaching staff to the Lodge by the Main Gate where they supervised by the After-school staff. The children are served sandwiches, fruit, crisps, a biscuit and juice and can participate in a variety of play activities.

Junior and Senior pupils may attend the After-school club in the Dining Hall, where they are served a similar snack tea, and may do their homework, watch television or participate in play activities.

There is an hourly charge for the After-school club, which is calculated and charged at the end of term. Parents &160;sign their child out’ on collection to enable us to calculate the time used.

The Main Office closes at 4.45pm but direct telephone contact with the After-school staff is available on 0773 0979549.

Parents collecting children from the After-school clubs should not use the main parents’ car park, but pull into the top Staff Car Park

Attendance / Absence.

We are required by law to keep a day-to-day register of attendance and to ascertain reasons for absence.

If your child is absent due to illness you are required to inform us by telephone between 8.45am and 10.30am, stating the reason. For absences of three or more days, or when a child is absent on the first or last day of term, a letter to the Principal is also required. An oral message conveyed by the pupil is not acceptable.

If pupils are absent without notification from a parent, then the absence will be marked &160;unauthorized’. The repeated taking of unauthorized absences will jeopardize your child’s place at Tower College, whether in Nursery, Kindergarten, Juniors or Seniors.

Absence for dental/medical appointments.

Parents are asked to make routine dental/medical appointments etc. outside school hours. If appointments do have to be made in school time, permission will only be granted if a written request (letter, fax or email) is sent to the Principal at least three days prior to the appointment. If time off is taken for appointments without permission, then the absence will be marked &160;unauthorized’. If an appointment is an emergency, please telephone the Office. When collecting or returning your child before and after appointments, please ring at the Main Front Door.

Communications with staff, progress reports, appointments.

Teachers are not available for discussions with parents on arrival or departure as their priority at these times is the supervision of the children. If parents wish to discuss an urgent matter in the morning concerning their child, then they should park on the parents’ car park, and ring at the Main Front Door to leave a message.

The Office is manned between 8.40am and 4.45pm. If you have any concerns about your child’s progress, health, friendships etc. please telephone the Principal who will be pleased to discuss any matters with you, either by telephone or at a mutually convenient appointment time. The Principal deals personally with all matters arising, so please do not hesitate to telephone, email or write in if you have any concerns. Appointments are not made with the teaching staff, as they all have a full schedule with their teaching, planning, marking and supervisory duties. Seeing the Principal on all visits also gives a continuity of care, and good working relationships can be built up between home and school.

Parents meet the staff at our regular Parents’ Evenings, which are held at various times throughout the year. Parents are notified well in advance regarding Parents’ Evening dates, but if they cannot attend, then a written report will be sent on request. We also hold an Options Evening for Senior Three pupils before they embark on their GCSE courses. End of term reports are issued three times a year, and in the Senior School, Progress Cards give additional information throughout the terms. Parents are requested to sign End of Term Reports and initial Progress Cards before returning them to school on the due date.

Absent parents may have copies of reports forwarded each term, if requested in writing. There is an annual charge for this service.

Curriculum.

Pupils in the Nursery and Kindergarten (age 2+ to 5+) are taught by their class teachers, with the help of Classroom Assistants. Specialist tuition is given for Music and P.E. / Dance. The morning lessons are usually Mathematics and English, and the afternoons are devoted to activities, topics and lessons in Science, Art, Scripture, History and learning to share when playing! The pupils are read to at the end of each day, and read to the teacher daily, following the Oxford Reading Tree Scheme. The pupils enjoy many educational visits to Zoos, Museums etc. During the Summer months, the younger children also take advantage of our lovely grounds, and spend time on Nature Walks, in our Adventure Playground and with sand and water play!

The Junior children (aged 6 – 10) continue with their class teachers and classroom assistants, following the same subjects. The pupils continue to read to the teacher each day, and do &160;Checkpoint’ comprehension tests. I.T. and French are added to their weekly timetable, with our specialist subject teachers. Art is also taught to all ages by the Senior school’s specialist Art teacher.

All of the Senior School pupils of S1(Year 7) to S3(Year9) take the following subjects: Mathematics, I.T., English Language, English Literature, French, Latin, Music, Art, Scripture, History, Geography, Biology, Physics, Chemistry, and P.E.

At the end of S3, pupils and their parents meet with the subject teachers to choose which GCSE’s they will take. All of the above subjects except Latin are available as GCSE courses, and Spanish is also available. A team of well-qualified, experienced staff guide the pupils to success. The pupils are encouraged to follow as broad a course as possible, but to be sensible in their choices and know their limitations where appropriate.

Homework.

Homework is an integral part of our course, reinforcing what has been learnt during the day. It also enables parents to see what their children are doing in school, and to praise and encourage their children.

Pupils in the Kindergarten have reading practice, spelling lists and multiplication tables for their homework. The pupils of Transition and Juniors continue with this learning homework, and also have written homework ranging form 20minutes per evening in Transition to one hour every evening in J4.

The Senior pupils have a homework timetable of three subjects per evening, totaling one and a half hours in S1, S2 and S3. In S4 and S5 pupils will be expected to do two to two and a half hours each evening.

The Junior and Senior pupils have a Homework Diary in which all their allocated work should be listed. Parents will be able to check from this what their child should be doing. Parents are requested to ensure that their children have every opportunity for concentrated effort. Although we appreciate parents’ assistance with reading practice and the learning of spelling lists and multiplication tables, parents are asked not to do a child’s written work if they are “stuck”. It may seem like a quick solution in hectic family life, but does not help the child in the long term. If a child is having problems with any aspect of their work, please do not let them work longer than the allocated time but write in the Homework Diary how long the child has spent on a particular subject. If there are regular or serious problems please contact the Principal.

Outside Tutoring.

Many pupils have outside tuition in subjects such music, dance, sport etc. This is to be encouraged. However, we would ask parents to contact us before taking on tutors for academic subjects for their child. There can be a conflict of teaching approach and methods, and evening or weekend tutoring can be a tiring commitment for pupils who have a busy school day and homework.

Assessments and Examinations.

Pupils in the Kindergarten have regular spellings and multiplication tests throughout the term.

Weekly spelling and tables test continue in the Junior department, and twice yearly assessments are set. Parents of J1 – J4 pupils receive the results in their end of term reports. Key Stage Two SATs are taken in J4(Year 6) only. Results are issued to parents as soon as they are available. The J4 pupils also sit the Senior School Entrance Examination in the January before entering Seniors. More detail is given in this regard in the Admissions Procedures section of this Guide.

The Senior pupils sit occasional tests throughout their course and have twice yearly examinations. Results are issued when all examinations are completed, and are also recorded on the pupils’ Progress Cards and end of term reports. S3(Year Nine) pupils take the Key Stage Three SATs tests.

Permission will not be granted for routine dental, optical or medical appointments during examination time. Pupils who miss examinations due to illness may be offered an opportunity to resit, dependent upon practical circumstances.

G.C.S.E.’s.

Pupils sit their G.C.S.E. examinations in the May and June of their final year. Options are chosen at a meeting of staff, pupils and parents during the Summer Term of the pupils’ third year in Seniors. Pupils are encouraged to follow a broad curriculum and take as many subjects as their abilities allow.

Many of the subjects offered at G.C.S.E. level include Course Work. It is important that pupils adhere to the schedules given by their teachers, as leaving it all to the end makes life difficult for everyone.

The external examination timetable varies each year, and exams often finish well before the end of the Summer Term. If S5 pupils wish to leave after the exams they are free to do so, if parental permission is given in writing. Pupils who remain in school will be gainfully occupied, assisting in all departments and working on various projects with the staff. A fees refund cannot be given to pupils who choose not to remain until the end, as costs do not diminish by their absence.

The examination results are issued in August. Parents and pupils are notified of the date and invited into school for their results. Staff are on hand to celebrate and advise.

There is an examination fee for each subject, of which parents are notified well in advance. A fee is also charged if a remarking of an examination paper is requested. If the paper is remarked at the request of the subject teacher who may feel that the result is not as expected, then the school pays for this service. If the remarking is at the request of the parent, although the subject teacher feels the mark to be appropriate, then we will return a paper for remarking at the expense of the parent.

G.C.S.E. course work is returned to school during the Autumn Term. S5 leavers are informed when it is ready for collection.

Music

Pupils are encouraged to become involved in the musical activities of the school. A team of peripatetic teachers gives lessons in all instruments to Junior and Senior pupils. The lessons are arranged on a rota system so that pupils do not always miss the same academic lesson – or their breaks. We have a school band, a woodwind group and two choirs. The pupils sit Grade and Theory examinations, as well as entering local competitions. Musical pupils are encouraged to perform in front of the school in Assemblies and at Speech Night and Musical Evenings in front of parents and guests.

Games / P.E.

All of our pupils are taught Games and P.E. by specialist staff. A range of activities is provided, according to the age of the child, and they are: &160;music and movement’, dance, rounders, hockey, netball, football, five-a-side, basketball, tennis, badminton, squash, trampolining, high jump, long jump, shot putt, discus, hurdles, flat racing, cross country, orienteering and swimming. Most of these activities take place at school on our playing fields and courts but for swimming etc. the pupils are taken to Huyton Leisure centre and Kingsway Leisure centre.

Fully qualified first-aiders and life-saving staff are on hand at the Leisure Centres.

A high standard of behaviour is always expected of our pupils, but particularly so at the Leisure centres. Pupils whose behaviour may be detrimental to the safety of others during swimming and Games lessons will be banned from participating.

We take part in sporting competitions and matches with local schools, and schools in the I.S.A. regionally and nationally.

Pupils must wear the appropriate Games kit for their Games / P. E. lessons, and for sports’ meetings and matches. All items must be clearly named, and taken home for washing after each Games/ P.E. day.

Pupils who cannot attend their Games /P.E. lesson due to ill-health must bring in a letter signed by a parent on the day of the lesson. If longer exclusion from Games is required please contact the Principal.

House system.

Pupils of the Junior and Senior departments join one of the four Houses. In each, two Staff members are House Leaders, and four pupils are House Captains. Departments and genders are equally represented! Kindergarten pupils join their House in their final term before joining the Juniors so that they can enjoy cheering their House on in the sporting events of the Summer Term. Siblings join the same House and pupils whose parents are on the staff join the same house as their parent. The aims of the House system are to encourage participation and healthy competition in all spheres of school life, and to encourage close working relationships between Junior and Senior departments.

Points are awarded for achievement in academic work, music, art, sport, citizenship, helpfulness and kindness. Junior pupils who receive &160;stars’ or Merit badges gain points for their House, as do Senior pupils who help with Parents’ Evenings, Open Mornings etc. Point totals are announced each Monday, and prizes are awarded at the end of the Summer Term.

Alexander House takes its name from Mr Charles Alexander Oxley, one of our schools’ Co-Founders. Cholerton House takes its name from Mrs Muriel Oxley nee Cholerton, another of our Co-Founders. Merlewood House takes its name from the house of Mrs Oxley’s sister, where a late night discussion amongst the family about good schools for a niece led Mrs Oxley to suggest the opening of a school. Baxter House takes its name from the family, industrial chemists from Widnes, who built the original building; &160;The Tower’. Their initials can be seen in the Main Hall carvings and stained glass windows and their family crest became our school crest.

Speech Night & Awards.

At Tower College we believe in rewarding excellence. At our Annual Speech Night awards are presented for Musical, Artistic, Sporting and Citizenship achievement. The Junior school pupils are presented with certificates for &160;Top of the Class’ and Effort and Improvement. Senior pupils are awarded Certificates for passing all subjects in the twice yearly examinations. A Charles Oxley Memorial Prize is awarded to a pupil who shows achievement in all spheres of school life. The Muriel Oxley Memorial Prize is awarded annually for Citizenship.

G.C.S.E. certificates are distributed, and all pupils obtaining six or more G.C.S.E. passes at Grades A* to C are awarded a Shield of the School Crest, bearing our motto “ Labore et Honore”.

Pupils’ visits / events; in and out of school.

All departments participate in educational and entertaining visits, suitable to their age and curriculum. The Nursery and Kindergarten have visits in school from the Fire and Police Services, and all under 11’s are entertained by visiting theatre/drama groups, poets, potters and the Bird Man!

Nursery, Kindergarten and Junior visits off-site include Farm World and Gullivers’ World, and historically themed activities at Wigan Pier, Dunham Massey, Styal Mill and Tatton Park. Visits are regularly made to Ellesmere Boat Museum, the Catalyst Museum, Skipton Castle, Formby Squirrel Reserve and Chester Zoo.

The Seniors enjoy their trips of educational and cultural interest to theatres, museums & art exhibitions and scientific visits to Sellafield and university lectures. Field trips and career exhibitions also form part of the school year.

Pupils of the Senior school have the opportunity to travel abroad with the school every year. Travel is usually by coach to venues in Europe, during school holiday time. Details are given to parents well in advance. Risk Assessments are completed for all activities and a strict code of behaviour is required from participating pupils. (See Health and Safety Section.)

Health and Safety.
The Health and Safety policy of Tower College encourages all staff and pupils to be aware of risk at all times. Staff of all departments are vigilant regarding health and safety hazards. Risk assessment forms are completed regarding the premises and regarding all activities undertaken, whether in school or off-site. We deal only with venues and companies who have high standards of Health and Safety Risk assessment for our coach travel and school holiday accommodation and excursions.

Pupils are made aware of the health and safety implications of silly, inconsiderate or aggressive behaviour whilst on school premises, when using the school coaches, when at the Leisure Centres and when on school trips or holidays. Pupils who repeatedly behave in a manner that puts others at risk will jeopardize their place at Tower College.

All departments have trained first-aiders who continually update their training. In the event of an accident to or illness of a pupil, first aid is administered. If it is thought necessary to attend hospital, parents will be informed without delay and pupils taken to Whiston Hospital, Merseyside.

It is essential that parents provide us with all medical details concerning their child’s illnesses, conditions, allergies, special diets etc. A Contact/Medical form is provided, and parents are earnestly requested to inform us of any changes to contact details. It is very worrying for staff and pupils when parents cannot be contacted in an emergency.

Parents of pupils who take medication, whether regularly or in an emergency, must complete a Medicine Authorisation Form, and abide by its procedures. Without it staff cannot administer medication.

For the security of our staff and pupils, the school is monitored by closed circuit television both inside and out. In accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, the images on all tapes are wiped clean on a weekly basis. All visitors to the school must sign in and out, and wear an identifying badge if not attended by staff and will be observed on the monitors throughout the school.

Sex and Relationship Education.

The pupils of Tower College receive sex education appropriate to their age. The physical aspects of reproduction in various species are taught in Science and Biology lessons. The moral aspect of sexual relationships is taught in R.E and within our PSHE framework. Our aim is to encourage the pupils to develop positive values and a moral framework that will guide their decisions, judgements and behaviour.

Special Needs

Our aim at Tower College is that all pupils should fulfil their own individual potentiality. Our course is academic and our expectations are high and some pupils require more assistance than others. Our small classes and high level of care allow us to do our best for all our children.

Amongst our pupils we have those with varying special needs. Teaching staff and classroom assistants spend time with those who need additional help and parents are kept informed of any concerns that staff may have. Advice will be given if staff feel that sight / hearing / dyslexia tests / speech therapy are needed.

Gifted children will be given every assistance and encouragement to excel.

Staff of all departments work closely together to ensure continuity of care. Pupils’ progress is monitored and strategies are reviewed regularly. It is important that school and parents liaise fully regarding pupils with special needs – whether educational, medical, physical or emotional.

Discipline

Discipline at Tower College is &160;firm but fair’. The pupils and staff enjoy an excellent rapport, based on mutual respect and trust. The general level of behaviour is excellent, and House points are given for many aspects of good behaviour within our school community. The rules, and breaches of rules, are consistently applied and addressed.

We insist on good manners and considerate behaviour, towards staff and pupils alike. Pupils must take care of their own belongings and those of others. Care must be taken of the school’s belongings and premises; litter and damage are not acceptable. Pupils who damage books, equipment etc. will be expected to pay a nominal fee. Parents who insist that miscreants pay out of their own pocket money reinforce the lesson to be learnt. Lost books must be replaced.

Our uniform regulations have already been listed, and the need for sensible behaviour on trips and holidays has been outlined under &160;Health and Safety’.

Pupils must not bring mobile phones, walkmen, electronic games or playing cards into school. Chewing gum and drinks must not be brought to school, and pupils must never eat on the daily coach run to and from school. Cigarettes, alcohol and drugs are, of course, absolutely banned and the consequences of bringing them on to the premises will be suspension/expulsion.

Punishments are relevant to the age of the child, the nature of the bad behaviour and the number of previous warnings. Nursery or Kindergarten pupils usually respond to a simple reprimand from the class teacher, but will be sent to the Head of Department or Principal if their behaviour is serious.

Junior pupils may be kept in a lunchtime detention, during which time they will complete a worksheet relevant to their misdemeanour and the reasons why it was wrong. The number of detentions during a term will be recorded on your child’s report.

Senior pupils may be given an essay to write as an imposition. Collecting litter is only used as a punishment if the misdemeanour was to drop litter. &160;Order marks’ are given in the Senior school for bad behaviour and these too are recorded on the pupil’s termly report.

Certain types of behaviour will not be tolerated; they include unkindness to others, laziness, deceit, defiance, vulgarity, aggression and immoral behaviour. Pupils of all ages who are continually in trouble may face suspension or expulsion. School fees will not be refunded to any parent whose child has been expelled.

Child Protection

Tower College recognizes its legal and moral duty to work with other agencies in protecting children from harm and responding to abuse. Parents can feel confident knowing that all teaching and non-teaching staff are &160;police-checked’ before joining the staff, as are all helpers who join our school trips. The staff all take seriously their role in the pastoral care of the pupils.

Data Protection Act

The Data Protection Act 1998 came fully into effect on 24^th October 2001. In common with virtually every other business and organization that holds personal information on individuals, Tower College is required by the Act to process and store information in a particular manner.

Specifically, such information should be used for relevant purposes only. It should be accurate and up to date and it should be stored only for as long as necessary. Tower College complies fully with the requirements of the Act.

The Act also gives individuals the right to access the personal information held on them. Any member of staff, parent (or child if they are old enough to understand the nature of the request) can make a request in writing or by electronic means to obtain a copy of the personal data held by Tower College.

The fee for such a request is £10.

Complaints

It is to be hoped that parents will never need to refer to this section, but should

you find yourself dissatisfied with some aspect of school life, please contact the Principal, either in writing or by telephoning for an appointment. Problems cannot be solved unless we know about them. Parents are requested not to criticize the College or a staff member adversely in the presence of a pupil. Such criticism may destroy a child’s confidence in and loyalty to his teachers and his school and without respect, confidence and loyalty true education is impossible.

Withdrawal of pupils

Parents are required to give a full term’s notice in writing when a child is being withdrawn; otherwise a full term’s fees in lieu of notice will be due to the school as a debt. In certain circumstances, the requirement of fees in lieu of notice may, at the discretion of the Principal, be waived.

Formal application for admission implies a promise on the part of the parent to provide for the child’s continuance throughout the course.

Careers

The pupils of S4 join the Independent Schools’ Careers Organization. (ISCO) which gives constructive advice(up to the age of 23), interview practice, and Morrisby testing. From S3 onwards, pupils will be taken to Careers fairs and

events of interest. The Head of Careers ensures that information and advice are on hand in school regarding choice of Sixth-Form and University as well as career choices.

Tower College Past Pupils’ Association

The Past Pupils’ Association was founded in 2001 by Ramsey Faragher and

Andrew Dutton, who left Tower College in 1998, with the assistance of Miss Oxley, the current Principal, who left Tower College as a pupil in 1973. We have been very pleased by the response from past pupils, young and old whom we have managed to trace. Annual Dinners, Christmas parties, sporting and fun events are our way of keeping people in touch with one another and with news of school. It is not only good to hear of former pupils’ successes, but also to hear their memories of school. They tell us that it is only after they have left that they really appreciate what Tower College means to them, and has done for them.