Dear Families,
I hope you have all had a relaxing, enjoyable and safe summer; it really does seem to have flown by! As we approach the return to school, I wanted to take the opportunity to particularly welcome the families joining us for the first time, as well as to provide a couple of important updates.On Monday, we welcome all students back to Preston School, ready for our usual start time of 8.30am. It is important to note that 8.30am marks the start of registration, so students should be on site comfortably before this point. Our updated breakfast club runs from 7.45am each day, when the main gate into school will open and students can purchase food from The Hub. All students are welcome to this, regardless of whether they purchase food, with The Hub providing a warm space for those who get dropped to school a little earlier. Students who are part of Targeted Free School Meals are eligible for a free breakfast item and drink each morning. The rest of the school site will open at 8am, with all students required on site before their tutor time bell at 8.30am.On Monday, students in Year 7 will head straight to the Main Hall for a welcome assembly, while students in Years 8-11 will go to their tutor base. Staff will be available to help direct students in the event that their tutor base has moved over the summer.Students will not require PE kit or DT ingredients on Monday, but will be provided with their printed timetables, which will outline kit requirements for the rest of the week.Yondr PouchesOn Monday, all students will be provided with a Yondr mobile phone pouch, which they will need to place their phone into and lock before entering the site each day. There are ten locking/unlocking stations located on the fence at the front of the school, with additional stations for those students getting a bus to school. This is now part of the Children’s Wellbeing Act 2026 and something all schools are being expected to implement. As such, it will apply to all students without exception. I have a small number of alternative pouches for students with Type 1 Diabetes, who use their phones to monitor blood-sugar levels, and would ask that those students see me on Monday.Uniform As outlined in my letter home before the end of last term, it is important that we ensure a positive return to school for all students, by ensuring they are prepared with the correct uniform:
All students require a school blazer and tie, purchased from School Wear and MoreStudents require a pair of smart mid-grey trousers, smart mid-grey shorts or a pleated navy skirt worn just above the kneeShoes should be plain, formal and black, without branding or logos. Nike, Adidas and other similar trainer shoes are not appropriate, even if the logo is black. All students should wear black socks.Students can wear a single earring in each ear. Nose, lip, eyebrow and other facial piercings cannot be worn. This includes clear studs, which are not acceptable. Any piercings undertaken over the summer will need to be removed now that we are due to return to school.Students should not have extreme hairstyles, unnatural hair colours or patterns/lines in their hair. Any style choices along these lines will need to be removed now that we are due to return to school.
Data FormsThe Arbor App allows families to update the data that we hold about them and their child. It is important that this is reviewed from time to time, particularly if addresses, phone numbers or email addresses have changed over the summer. Please do login and ensure you update any information that is now out of date.It also allows you to update the medical information that we hold about your child. Benedict’s Law has updated the responsibility of schools around allergies and anaphylaxis, and it is vital that you make us aware of any medical conditions that may impact your child while at school. If you have not done so already, please do login to the Arbor app and ensure any conditions and related treatments are up to date. Site UpdatesStudents will notice a number of site updates when they return to us on Monday. Room 36, a ‘temporary’ hut that had been on site for nearly 40 years, was demolished over the summer break. Building works have begun on a replacement at the rear of the school, with a view to a new classroom opening at October half term. This is part of a longer term development of five new classrooms, that we were delighted to receive planning permission for over the summer break. Temporary additional parking space was created over the summer, which will replace the parking removed when building work begins on our new Main Hall next month. We have worked hard to install a significant hardcore base on this parking, with the view to creating a new play area for students on this space, once the building work is complete.In addition, over 125 new computers were installed across four IT rooms over the summer, our MFL block was updated with a new graphic wall, and our DT rooms continue to receive updates to bring them into the 21st century. Pictures of these updates will be available via our Facebook page.
I look forward to seeing all students on Monday 7th September and thank you for your support in ensuring a positive return for all students.
Thank you,Matt Doble