Frequently Asked Questions

 What should I do if my son or daughter is not enjoying school?

From time to time your son or daughter may develop worries, anxieties or friendship issues. Please keep your son or daughter’s form tutor notified of any problems you become aware of and we will communicate with you in the same manner. In rare cases, where bullying occurs, we deal with incidents quickly and seriously. If your son or daughter discloses anything about bullying behaviour, please contact your child’s Student Support and Progress Leader as soon as possible.

What should I do if there is a problem with my child’s uniform?

 Excellent uniform is a key part of our approach. If there is a major mishap with your child’s uniform and it is impossible for them to wear an item, please provide a note for your child to show their form tutor. Depending on availability, we may be able to supply substitute items on a short-term basis. Should you be unable to replace an item of uniform due to financial problems, please write to Mr Ogden outlining your situation including any benefits you are in receipt of and we will consider offering financial assistance.

What should I do if my son or daughter is ill?

It is important to try to send your son or daughter into the Academy wherever possible. Excellent patterns of attendance lead to strong performance and young people can easily enter a pattern of missing school through minor ailments such as colds. If your son or daughter is not coping with lessons, we will arrange to contact you to have them go home. A supervised sick bay is available at the Academy. If it is not possible for your son or daughter to attend, please contact the student absence line on 01553 779688. A written absence note on return is also required on returning to the Academy and a doctor’s note where the absence is for three days or longer. Concerns about ongoing health/sickness should be shared with your son or daughter’s Student Support and Progress Leader.

How do I secure a place at the Academy?

Please see our Admissions page: click here.

How much homework should my child be doing?

 On average, 30 – 45 minutes per night for Years 7 and 8, extending to between 1 – 1.5 hours in Years 9 – 11. Sixth form private study will be around two hours per day but some of this may be completed within non-contact lessons. A homework timetable is available and issued to parents as a guide to which subjects should be setting homework each night. In some cases your son or daughter may be set longer projects with the expectation that it will be worked on each week. Any issues with homework should be brought up with your child’s subject teacher and then the head of subject if necessary.

How do I know if my child is making enough progress?

Your child should have a progress chart showing current grades, next steps and target levels/grades in each of their books or folders. Books and folders should show written feedback and a summary level or grade for each course or half term module. In addition, a progress check will be sent home six times in each year to show the current situation and next steps for improvement. There are also parents’ evenings for each year group where you may meet with your child’s teachers and an academic review day where you will be invited to discuss your child’s overall progress with a senior member of staff.

How can I contribute to the work of the Academy?

 You may have a skill or job role which may be of interest to a class. Let your child’s form tutor know of your willingness to help or the appropriate subject teacher. You may wish to assist with class trips or events, or have prizes to donate: again, contact your child’s form tutor or Mr Ogden. In order to assist with student learning you may need to complete an enhanced CRB check.

What are the arrangements for detentions?

Subject teachers set breaktime or lunchtime detentions for missing homework or poor behaviour. If missed or the behaviour in detention is poor, it is to the teacher’s discretion as to whether they offer another chance to sit the detention or to refer them to the nightly detention. The subject leader level detention is held for 30 minutes at the end of each day Monday to Thursday. For more serious incidents or for missing an after-school detention, students are given a Friday detention for up to an hour with a member of the Academy Leadership Team. Where we feel a detention is required we will contact you by telephone and where possible get your permission for the detention to take place on the same day. If not, the detention must be taken the next day – 24 hours is the set notice period. The Academy has the legal right to set and enforce detentions. Where there are issues of transport to consider after a detention, these can be discussed with the appropriate Student Support and Progress Leader on an individual basis.

What are the arrangements for rewards?

A group of student parliamentarians are currently working with senior staff to review the rewards scheme. More news will follow soon.

What are the arrangements for lunches?

The canteen offers a range of healthy options at great prices. Lunches from the canteen are eaten in the dining hall and payment is through the ParentPay system – click here for further details and to load money onto your child’s account. For reasons of space, those bringing packed lunches are asked to eat in the North Hall. Both areas are supervised throughout.

How do I request financial assistance for meals, uniform, a trip or materials?

If you are in receipt of benefits it is highly likely that your child is eligible for Free School Meals. Contact the Academy and ask for the Finance Office, who will be happy to send the forms to you. Each letter advertising a trip will detail the arrangements for requesting financial support. If there are any queries, contact Mr Ogden. Where you qualify for financial assistance we will do our best to support your son or daughter through activities but may not be able to support their participation in all events in an academic year. Where your son or daughter qualifies for Free School Meals, these will always be provided to them on trips away from the Academy as a packed lunch.

What are my responsibilities in terms of attendance?

Can we take holidays in term-time? It is the responsibility of a child’s parent(s) to ensure that they attend school regularly and stay on site throughout the learning day. Any absence must be authorised, either through a medical note for absences of more than 3 days, or by permission of the Principal. We expect all students to attend every day and no students should fall below 95% attendance unless there are exceptional circumstances. The Academy will issue penalty notices and fines through the County Council and will engage in the fast-track to prosecution process where parents are failing in their duty to ensure that their children attend school. Holidays in term time are not allowed unless there are exceptional circumstances. There are ample holidays built into the academic year and we ask that you use these – please see term and holiday dates here. Where you believe there are exceptional circumstances to warrant missing days in term, please request a holiday form from reception.

What should I do if my child is going to be late?

If your child will be slightly late, please write a note in their diary explaining the reasons. If there will be significant lateness, please ring the absence line on 01553 779688. We will contact you if your child is persistently late and detentions will be arranged.

How do I make a comment about the school buses or apply for school transport?

The buses are operated by Norfolk County Council. Should you need to make a comment about the services, wish to apply for a pass or have a query about lost property, please call 0344 800 8003.

How do I contact the governors?

 Should you need to contact the governing body, please write to Tessa Breeze, Clerk to the Governing Body, care of King’s Lynn Academy, Queen Mary Road, King’s Lynn, Norfolk, PE30 4QG.

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