At Abbey College, we believe in helping all students to be challenged, in all aspects of their learning and to help them to be aspirational and recognise that they are capable of anything they put their mind to.

The Abbey College Spirit is the set of virtues that underpins our school community. The spirit comprises of three key virtues: humility, intuition and passion, which we expect all members of our school community to work towards. The schools’ reward system is based around the virtues. 

Our aim is to focus on the positive. We reward students in many different ways:

• Verbal praise
• Written praise
• Phone call home
• Postcards home
• Achievement points
• Badges
• Certificates
• Prizes, such as: Vouchers
• Sweets or treats
• End of term whole-form reward

Lessons

Unlike at primary school, you will be taught in different classrooms and move from one classroom to the next for lessons and could be taught be five different teachers per day. You will be given an individual timetable which tells you all your lessons, which teacher it is with, and which classroom it is in.

Your lessons will be on both the North and South Sites, you will be given a tour of the school during your transition days and tutors will help you find your way around.

Each teacher has their own classroom, and you must go to them for your lesson. It normally takes a few weeks to remember teachers names and which subjects are taught where, but this is normal when you start secondary school.

At Abbey College we address staff as ‘Sir’ or ‘Madam’.

What to bring with you

As you will be taught in different classrooms, you must take everything with you, and nothing can be left anywhere in the school. You are responsible for your property. We suggest having a large school bag to ensure you can fit everything you need in it. You will need to bring PE kit in a separate bag, on PE days you come to school in full school uniform and get changed at the start of your PE lesson and then back to school uniform at the end of the lesson, even if PE is the last lesson of the day.

Only bring your PE kit to school on the days you have it as you have to carry it with you, we do not have lockers.

You will need to bring the correct books and equipment every day, arrive promptly, unpack what you need for the lesson, settle down quickly and be ready to work.

Ready

Respectful

Responsible

Lesson Check list

• Pencil case
• Ruler
• Pens
• Green pen
• Rubbers
• Pencils
• Scientific calculator
• Set of colour pencils
• A compass
• A protractor
• A sharpener

Jewellery, Hair and Make up

You may wear a watch to make sure you are not arriving late to lessons. Abbey College allows one pair of plain stud earrings (1 in each ear maximum), one ring per hand and no bracelets.

Make up is discouraged at school. If you wear makeup, it must be discreet. If makeup is obvious you will be sent to the student support hub to remove it.

Nail varnish, including acrylic or shellac nails are not permitted.

False eye lashes are not permitted

Hair must be one natural colour and no shaved lines are permitted.

Mobile phones

Mobile phones are not allowed at school. As you enter the school site through the main gates, phones must be turned off and in your school bag for the whole school day. If you have a mobile phone and it is seen or heard by a member of staff, it will be confiscated and an after school detention will be set. Phones are collected at the end of detention from the student support team.

The school accepts no responsibility for a phone which is lost or damaged on site. If you need to contact your parents or carers during the school day, please speak to the student support hub.

Lunch Arrangements

Lunch can be eaten in the South Hall or outside the South Courts, which is the Year 7 area.

You can bring a packed lunch or use the school canteen. Parents and carers will receive information on how to set up parent pay which is the cashless system used at Abbey College.

If you receive free school meals, this should carry over from primary.

If you bring a packed lunch this may also be eaten in the hall or outside South Courts.

We advise all students to carry a water bottle as water is available at water coolers throughout the school.

Form Time

Your form tutor is the person you contact if you have any worries or issues at school. If it is subject specific, you will need to talk to your subject teacher, however, your form tutor is there to ensure you have a good experience of school life, as well as guiding and supporting the personal, academic and wider achievement of each individual student within their form.

We look forward to meeting you soon.

Miss Lane

Raising Standards Lead Year 7 and Transition

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Frequently Asked Questions 

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What time does school start and finish?

Students line up on South Courts, Year 7 area, at 0835 in form groups and in alphabetical order

Students and tutors leave the courts at 0840-0845 and go to their form rooms, which are the teachers teaching rooms.

The school day finishes at 3.10pm, there are clubs after school, including homework club that you might want to join. If you wish to attend a club and need to get the late bus home, you must sign up for a place on the late bus outside the student support hub.

Which entrance do I use?

All students must use the student entrance which is clearly signposted, there are also members of staff outside the front of school in the mornings and afternoons directing students where to go.

Don’t worry, there are plenty of staff on duty during the school day wearing high vis jackets, you won’t get lost.

Will I be with my friends?

In lessons, students will be mixed and there are lots of opportunities to make friends, which is one of the best things about secondary school, you will begin to find other people with similar interests, ideas or sense of humour!

You will have someone from your primary school in form with you, but we cannot guarantee it will be one of your best friends.

Will I get lost?

Maybe, however it will not take long for you to get used to the buildings and classrooms. You will have a tour of the school on transition days in June and again when you start in September.

There are also lots of staff around school to help you.

The most important thing to do is ask – if you are unsure of anything.

What happens if I don’t understand the work?

Just ask. No-one will be cross with you for asking if you are unsure. We would much rather you ask tan struggle or miss out on learning something. Don’t be scared to put your hand up and ask, that is what our staff are there for, to guide you with your learning.