The Alice Smith School has been welcoming new students since 1946. From that time onwards, it has earned a well deserved reputation for being a warm and caring community, where students can settle quickly and move forward to develop their individual strengths and abilities. Equally, it is a challenging place in which everyone is encouraged both to enjoy their education and to give of their best in all things.
However, when you are a newcomer to a school, things are not always easy and, even for established students, returning at the beginning of the school year can seem difficult. If you do have any problems, we will help you to overcome them and we hope that you will soon build the confidence to reach for your ambitions and feel secure and content within your environment. We know that your happiness and self-esteem are essential to both successful learning and personal development and our goal is to ensure that these things take place.
The Social Code plays an important part in helping us to help you. It has been created by students, teachers, parents and governor representatives who have come together to provide you with a clear set of guidelines for living and working positively within the school community. In fact, if you read and understand the Golden Rules, we feel confident that you will have been given a strong foundation upon which to build a successful future at Alice Smith because you will begin to understand what we are all about and what our aims and expectations are. So, make a good start. Here are a few tips which may help you:
Pack your bag with the necessary equipment the night before school.
Make sure you always have the right equipment for your lessons.
Be punctual and reliable.
Listen carefully to what your teachers tell you and try to act on their advice.
Make a contribution to the lesson.
Be involved.
Be considerate and work co-operatively with others.
Present your work properly and as neatly as you can.
Take care that your work is completed and handed in as required.
Deadlines should be met.
Organise your free time. Make sure that you have set enough time aside to do your homework. Don't leave things until the last minute.
Take responsibility for your own education and be proud of your achievements.
It is not always possible to get all these things right all the time but do your best. We cannot ask for more than that.
Children are rewarded for following the Golden Rules through Golden Time (Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1) and Star Time (Key Stage 2).
These take place on Friday afternoons and involve free choice from a selection of activities. Children who have broken rules miss some golden/ star time.
To encourage positive behaviour children are also rewarded for good work and behaviour by stickers, house points, certificates and annual awards.
Minor infringements of the rules will be dealt with in school but for more serious issues, parents will be contacted so that we can work together to resolve any problems.
Awards
Children in Foundation Stage and KS1 might have their name entered in the "Golden Book" if they particularly impress their teacher with hard work or good behaviour. They then receive a certificate in assembly.
KS2 pupils have the opportunity to work towards bronze, silver and gold citizenship awards, as well as receiving certificates for reacting certain "milestones" in their collection of house points.
Year 6 pupils are also able to participate in the Year 6 Challenge Award where they are able to develop a range of service and personal skills.
We have a presentation Assembly at the end of the school year to which parents of Prize winners are invited.
The school enjoys the services of a qualified and experienced counsellor, who is in the primary school on a part-time basis. Students who wish to discuss any issues with the counsellor on a confidential basis can either contact the counsellor directly or ask a teacher to make an appointment for him/her.
Further information about the service offered is available from the school.
