Supporting Your Child

Parents & Friends Association

All Parents automatically belong to the ‘Parents & Friends Association’ (PFA), but being a ‘Friends’ association, membership is not confined to Parents, but is extended to include other family relations and members of the public who have been approved by the Committee.

The Role of the Parents & Friends Association in School Life
The objective of the PFA is to support the school and its students, and to allow the children to enjoy their time at WGSG to the greatest extent possible.

The PFA organises a varied programme of events during the year for the students and parents, including fund-raising events to provide additional resources for the benefit of the students, over and above those that would be available from existing school funds.

In addition to one-off events (which can be found on the school calendar here), the PFA have a number of ongoing fundraising initiatives including:

• Easyfundraising & Amazonsmile – By signing up and using the following link when you shop online with more than 3,300 well-known online stores such as Amazon, eBay, John Lewis will earn free donations for WGSG at no additional cost to you. Please click here for further information and to sign up
• Sponsorships and Donations – We would appreciate any support that you can offer by way of sponsorships, grants, ‘match funding’, raffle prize donations, etc. Please contact us (link below) if you can help support the PFA in this capacity.
• ‘Nearly New’ School Uniform Shop – We have a range of second-hand uniform in excellent condition for sale at very reasonable prices and any donations of surplus school uniform are most gratefully received. For details & price list or to make a uniform donation, please contact [email protected]
• WGSG Monthly Draw – Full details and Standing Order Forms are found on our webpage.

We are always looking for new ideas for fundraising events, so please get in touch (link below) if you feel there is something we should try.

In addition to organising fund-raising events, we also support the School by:

• Providing refreshments at school events – e.g. Open Evenings
• Providing special recognition in awards ceremonies for Year 11 and Year 13
• Sponsoring learning programmes – e.g. Bookbuzz

Supporting the PFA
The PFA is only possible with the active help and support of the parents, friends and relatives.
We are a relatively small, friendly group but we do need more people. If you are able to spare some time, we urge you to become more involved in the PFA – and help make a difference. You could choose to be either a regular member (as part of the PFA committee), or a volunteer and help out occasionally at events. There are no minimum time commitments.

We hold five to six Committee meetings a year and our Annual General Meeting is in October. Everyone is welcome to attend any of our meetings. Dates and times can be found in the school calendar, blog and twitter.

Chair: Jayne Warrington

PFA Documents

School Meals

Pabulum are WGSG’s caterers, and they feel strongly about educating the younger generation on healthy eating by providing fresh and wholesome food, as it’s through a balanced diet and healthy food choices that students can maintain higher classroom concentration levels. 94% of our food is freshly prepared in the school’s kitchen with 75% of the food is British and locally sourced. At Wilmington Grammar School for Girls the Pabulum team is led by Yannick Fausse, he and his team will provide fresh food through the provision of morning break and lunch service.

A cash-less payment system is operated reducing the problems of cash in the school and encouraging healthy eating. Payment can be made online via ParentPay.

Students’ credit balance is debited each time they purchase food items from the cafeteria at breakfast, break and lunch.

An average daily spend is estimated at £4.00 per day, although your daughter may spend more than that if they purchase food and drink at breakfast and break too. The Main Meal and Dessert of the Day at lunchtimes is £2.68.

To keep track of your ParentPay balance and ensure your child has sufficient Dinner Money, the school strongly recommends you set up a Low Balance Alert. Note that this is FREE if the Alert via email option is used. Please click here for more information.

The daily spend limit per student is currently set at £7.50 as a default to allow for students to buy food at breakfast, break, and lunch. 

If you need to contact the kitchen please do so at [email protected]

Our Menu follows a three week cycle and can be viewed by clicking the button below:

Uniform and Equipment

Having a smart uniform forms part of our high expectations and we appreciate parents supporting us with this.
All articles of uniform must be clearly named.
Items marked * should be purchased through the School’s official outfitter, SchoolShop. They are a completely online service that deliver directly to you, with the ability to order online 24/7 at your convenience.

WGSG Uniform
● Maroon blazer*
● Maroon skirt or tailored, plain black trousers*
● Maroon V-necked jumper – with stripes and embroidered school logo*
● Pale blue blouse with a revered collar (e.g no top button and a v-neck)
● Plain white, maroon or black socks or black/natural colour tights
● Year group lanyard.
For details regarding our ‘Nearly New’ uniform shop, please view the PFA page (here)for further information.

Footwear
● Smart black shoes. They should be low-heeled (no higher than 1 1/2″) and below the ankle. No canvas shoes, trainers, peep-toes, sling backs or boots
● Winter boots, plain black for walking to/from school – not to be worn in school

Make up, Jewellery and Accessories
● The only jewellery permitted is: one watch, one ring, a plain gold/silver chain, but no pendant and one pair of small, plain, stud/ sleeper earrings (1cm diameter maximum for sleeper earring). Earrings should be worn in ear lobes only. No other piercings are allowed.
● Make-up is not allowed in Years 7-9 but may be worn discreetly in Years 10 &11.
● Nail varnish, nail extensions and false nails are not allowed.
● False eyelashes are not permitted.
● Scarf in school colours for the journey to and from school.
● Winter boots, plain black for walking to/from school – not to be worn in school.
● Hair should be natural colour and accessories should be discrete, plain and in school colours.
● Extreme Hairstyles are not permitted.

Equipment
● A school canvas bag to carry books in the morning – purchased through the school
● A pencil case marked with her name
● Several blue or black pens of reasonable quality
● A green pen for making corrections and giving feedback to work.
● A plastic 30cm ruler, marked in cm and mm
● An eraser, pencil sharpener and glue stick or similar
● A selection of pencils including coloured pencils in basic colours
● A fine-tip dry-wipe pen and mini whiteboard eraser for use with your daughter’s contact book.
● A set of compasses and an angle measurer or protractor
● A scientific calculator (ideally a Casio FX 85GT Plus)
● A reading book
● An inexpensive English dictionary (Collins or Oxford and Chambers)
● An inexpensive set of weighing scales to be kept and used at home for Food Technology
● Apron with bib for Food Technology – purchased through the school.

Physical Education Uniform
● Black P.E. bag with printed school logo
● Yr11 Maroon polo shirt with printed school logo, Y7-10 Maroon/Blue polo shirt
● Y7-10 Maroon/Blue Skort
● Optional Black leggings with printed school logo
● Optional Black ¾ zip jumper with printed school logo
● Shorts – black with printed school logo
● Y7+8 Maroon/Blue long football socks. Yr7-11 white ankle socks.
● Yr 7-11 Trainers (non-marking sole), Yr7+8 football boots with non-metal studs and shin pads
● Games skirt and polo shirt must have initials embroidered in sky blue on the outside, positioning on the polo shirt to be top left front in line with the buttons.
NB: No jewellery must be worn for lessons. Earrings cannot be taped so please ensure ears are not pierced in term time. This is for the safety of all students and staff. Hair must be tied back.

Optional Uniform Items
● Plain, dark coloured outdoor coat/jacket (no logos, hoodies etc. permitted)
● Tennis racket, etc. (must be clearly marked)
● Purse belt, maroon
● Bags – cotton bag purchased through the school, no other bag permitted to be used during morning. All other bags to be kept in a locked locker.

All articles of uniform must be clearly marked with SEWN ON name tapes. (Cash’s name tapes or indelible marking ink only).

Attendance

To report your child absent or to notify the school of any medical appointments please click this link to report your child Absent. Please ensure you report your child absent by 8am on the morning of each absence.

Why is it important for children not to miss school?
It is more important than ever to have a good education behind you if you want opportunities in adult life. Children only get one chance at school, and your child’s chances of a successful future may be affected by not attending school or alternative provision regularly.

If children do not attend school regularly they may:

● Struggle to keep up with school work. In a busy school day it is difficult for schools to find the extra time to help a child catch up.
● Miss out on the social side of school life – especially at primary school. Poor attendance can affect children’s ability to make and keep friendships; a vital part of growing up.

Setting good attendance patterns from an early age, from nursery classes through primary school, will also help your child later on. Employers want to recruit people who are reliable. So children who have a poor school attendance record may have less chance of getting a good job.

Being on time is also vital. Arriving late at school can be very disruptive for your child, the teacher, and the other children in the class. Some parents may be trying but finding it hard to get their children to attend school.

Make Every Minute Count

Authorised Absences
It is at the discretion of the Head Teacher, acting on behalf of the Governing Body, the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 as to whether leave of absence is authorised. The regulations make clear that Headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances relating to that application. Each case will be judged on an individual basis as outlined in guidance from the Department for Education. Taking your child out of school during term time is detrimental to your child’s learning, progress or overall achievement.

What Does The Law Say?

By law, all children of compulsory school age (between 5 and 16) must get a suitable, full-time education. As a parent, you are responsible for making sure this happens, either by registering your child at a school or by making other arrangements which provide a suitable full-time education.

Once your child is registered at a school you are responsible for making sure he or she attends regularly. If your child fails to attend regularly – even if they miss school without you knowing – the Local Authority (LA) may take legal action against you.

The LA is responsible for making sure that parents fulfil their responsibilities. Parents are responsible for making sure that their registered children regularly attend school and any alternative provision arranged for them.
If you think you might need to take your child out of school, discuss the reasons with the school as soon as possible.

Reasons such as family bereavement or taking part in an agreed religious observance would be acceptable for short absences. Unacceptable reasons for missing school include shopping and birthdays.

Punctuality

Being on time:
● Gets your day off to a good start and puts you in a positive frame of mind, so that you can make the most of your learning opportunities.
● Sets positive patterns for the future. You can’t expect to keep a job if you’re always coming in late;
● Leads to a good attendance record and means you don’t miss any morning notices;
● Leads to better achievement because you attend the WHOLE of all of your classes;
● Leads to understanding that school is important and education is valuable;
● Helps you develop a sense of responsibility for yourself and towards others and is a sign of good character;
● Is respectful to your teacher and to your classmates and builds good habits for later in life when your employer pays you to be on time;
● Is very important indeed. Research shows that attendance and punctuality are the single most important factors in school success

Being late for school reduces learning time
If your child is 5 minutes late every day they will miss three days of learning each year.
If your child is 15 minutes late every day they will miss is 2 weeks of learning each year.

What Happens If Your Child Does Not Attend School Regulary?

Your child’s school is responsible by law for reporting poor attendance to the LA. As a parent, you are committing an offence if you fail to make sure that your child attends school regularly, even if they are missing school without your knowledge. You run the risk of being issued with a penalty notice or being taken to court.
For further guidance and information follow the link here

What Might The Impact of Poor Attendance Be On Your Child?

Research has shown that children who are not in school are most vulnerable and are easily drawn into crime. Those children who play truant are more likely to offend than those that do not.
Research also shows that less than 40% of pupils in secondary schools with an average of 17 days or more absence get 5 good GCSEs (grades 5 -9) compared to more than 90% in schools with an average of less than 8 days absence.

Attendance in Numbers

Attendance figures are not like examination results: an attendance percentage needs to be in the high 90s before it can be considered good.

What About Authorised Absences?
Of course there may be times when your child has to miss school because she or he is ill. This is to be expected and for the odd day off sick you should follow the school’s procedures for notifying illness. Children may also have to attend a medical or dental appointment in school time. However, you should try to make routine appointments such as dental check-ups during the school holidays or after school hours. Any absence must be requested as far in advance as possible. Absences can only be authorised by the school.

An Example

Consider the following example: –

Jane is in Year 7.
Her attendance is around 90%.
She thinks this is fairly good, however….
● 90% attendance means that she is absent from lessons for the equivalent of one half day every week.
● If it stays at 90% in Y7, she will miss the equivalent of one four whole weeks
● If Jane then continues the pattern over the five years she will miss the equivalent of about one half of a school year.

What impact might this have on Jane’s life….?

Research suggests that: 17 missed school days a year = 1 GCSE grade
DROP in achievement.

Each year, a number of our students in every year group achieve 100% attendance records, showing that this is an achievable target. In addition, a number of students have achieved this level of attendance in successive years.

To make an Authorised Absence request please complete the Application for Leave of Absence form which can
be downloaded by clicking the button below:

Online Safety

During Computer Science lessons and indeed across our school community we embrace the the digital age via lessons and during our own free time. The Internet and related technologies, including mobile phones, blogs, podcasting and social networks are becoming increasingly important in all of our daily lives and have many positive benefits. At WGSG we seek to create responsible digital citizens.

Socially young adults often use the Internet for entertainment, interaction, and communication with ‘friends’ and these interacts are becoming part of their identity. Access to the Internet can take place anywhere and at any time so we need to make sure our students are able to use the Internet safely. Many online users are unaware of the risks for example by having many online friends (who could be strangers), uploading inappropriate images, viewing unsuitable content or even becoming addicted to the Internet.

Our programme of online safety guides your child through the benefits and dangers of having a virtual presence. Through assemblies, dedicated tutor programmes and bespoke PHSE sessions we actively prepare our students to be responsible digital citizens. It is imperative that we all have a role to play in keeping students safe online.
If you have any concerns we encourage you to contact your daughter’s Student Support Manager for advice and guidance or report it to CEOP (Child exploitation and Online protection Centre).

What Parents/Carers can do
● The Internet of Things: 9 ways to make your connected home more secure
● Seasonal Netiquette: 5 new parenting rules for screen time and when tech families gather (Parent info)
● UK Safer Internet Center
● Digital Wellbeing

How to be safe
The following links will give students advice and guidance on how to be safe online as well as how parents/carers can protect their children too.
● Visit the THINK U KNOW website
● CEOP Information. 

The internet can be great fun. You can chat to your friends, play games and learn about new things. But sometimes things happen which can make you upset. People may say mean things which make you feel sad, or you may see something that you don’t like. If this happens, you must remember it’s not your fault. You can also tell us at CEOP what is happening so we can help you. If there is an adult you trust, like your mum, dad, carer or teacher, get them to help you fill out the form. Click here to get the form.

Transport

A great number of our students live some distance from the school, certainly too far to walk.
● Parents should ensure that students know their own way to and from school by public transport should this ever be necessary.
● Enquiries can be made at local railway stations about rail season tickets to Swanley or Dartford.
Your Education Authority may pay for transport to the School and if you feel you qualify you should apply direct to them.
● London Borough Residents should contact Transport for London – Tel: 0207 222 1234 or via their website. (London free ‘Oyster’ Cards apply on some Public Transport Routes through Dartford (to Bluewater)
● Young Person’s Travel Pass scheme for Kent resident students on public transport is now fully operational and further details can be found on the KCC website.

A comprehensive list of transport options, including private coaches is available here (including a link to various options from most of the areas where students live)

The following is a précis of the information available on the website;

ARRIVA Public Transport buses service all the schools from various areas and details of routes and weekly/monthly bus passes can be obtained from Arriva offices, or on their website.

West Kent Buses, Go-Coach, and 1st Bust Stop all run dedicated School Public Transport buses, which accept Kent Freedom Passes, from various KCC Areas to Dartford and Wilmington, and full details are available on their websites.

A parent organised private coach service also runs to the Wilmington Grammar Schools from the following Essex areas; Thurrock, Stanford Le Hope, Fobbing, East Tilbury, Grays & Chafford Hundred. Contact information is available on NKST website under ‘transport information’ and will also be included on the transport leaflet sent to you by the school when you are offered a place.

Pastoral Structure

At Wilmington Grammar School for Girls, we support and value the abilities of all our students. We firmly believe it is our responsibility to provide equal opportunities for every young person in our care, ensuring a safe and well-equipped learning environment that caters to each student’s individual needs. We are dedicated to fostering inclusion within the school curriculum and encouraging participation in all aspects of school life.