HOLIDAYS
It is against school policy to take holidays during term time. If a girl needs to miss
school for any occasion other than illness or an emergency, permission must be
sought by writing to the Headmistress in advance. The school has the authority not
to authorise a request for a student to miss school for any reason.
ABSENCES
Please note that written confirmation is required for any and every absence
during normal term time. This applies even when an absence has been reported
over the telephone. Letters should be given to the Form Tutor or the School Office
on your daughter’s return, confirming the reason for the absence. If absence is likely
to be prolonged, please inform the School Office as soon as possible and certainly
within three days.
If your daughter is in school but not going to be in registration (am or pm) e.g.
because of a sporting event/club, music lesson, meeting with a teacher etc, she must
inform her Form Tutor or the School Office.
PUNCTUALITY AND ATTENDANCE
Watford Grammar School for Girls sets high standards of attendance. Students
must leave home early so as to arrive on time, thus avoiding any unexpected
problems with buses and trains.
It is a good idea to be in school by 8.30am, but a bell rings at 8.40am to tell girls
that they should be in their form rooms for registration. Morning registration takes
place at 8.45am.
If girls arrive at school late (i.e. after 8.55am), they MUST report to the School
Office to sign in before they go into class. Your daughter must bring in a letter to
her Form Tutor the following day explaining her lateness. Failure to do so will
result in an “unexplained/unauthorised” absent mark on her register.
It is your child’s responsibility to check the PE notice board concerning sports
fixtures and to inform you of the date, venue and time for collection.
Please only telephone to leave a message for your child in a real EMERGENCY. It
is not possible for office staff to deliver non-urgent messages to students.
Please ask your daughter to come into the Office if she has forgotten anything that
you subsequently bring into school. The Office cannot deliver items to
individual children, but will look after them until they are collected.
APPOINTMENTS
Please avoid making dentists, opticians, doctors or hospital appointments during
school hours if possible. Appointment cards/letters must be provided beforehand if
the appointment is during school hours and parents must sign in/out at the school
office. Please also make sure that your daughter is aware of the appointment (make a
note/reminder in her planner if necessary). It is not possible for office staff to
look for your daughter to remind her of her appointment.
Girls in Years 7, 8 and 9 MUST be collected by an adult. Please note that we do
not permit any junior girls to leave the school premises alone and
appointments will be missed if no one arrives at school to accompany her.
ILLNESSS AND MEDICAL CARE
Mrs Duffy is the school Matron. She can be contacted on 01923 223403 Ext 227,
should you wish to discuss any health issues or concerns regarding your daughter.
Please note that Matron cannot administer medication to students unless it is
provided by a parent/guardian in the original package with a letter giving
permission for her to do so. All medication given into school is stored in a locked
cupboard.
If your daughter is prescribed an inhaler or epipen, she should carry one in her bag
and give a second one to Matron (clearly named). A passport-size photograph is also
requested for girls with epipens.
There is a small medical room available for the girls to receive treatment for minor
injuries sustained in school and to rest if feeling unwell. If your daughter feels too
unwell to continue with her lessons, a parent/guardian will be contacted and asked
to collect her. Please ensure that we have your current and up-to-date contact
details and also ensure that you have contingency arrangements in place for a third
party to collect your daughter if you are unable to do so for any reason.
No girl below Year 10 is allowed to leave school on her own either to go home
unwell or to attend an appointment. She must be met by an adult and signed out of
school by Matron or office staff.
PLEASE NOTE THAT if your daughter is unwell, you must contact the School
Office as soon as possible to inform us that she will not be able to attend school. On
the day of her return to school, she MUST bring in a letter explaining the reason
for her absence.
Immunisation to protect against Tetanus, Diphtheria and Polio takes place when
your daughter is in Year 10 and information and permission slips will be sent home
to you three weeks prior to the immunisations taking place. If the Health Authority
proposes other immunisations, parents will be notified in the same way.
There are two counsellors available for the girls to talk to, in confidence, should the
need ever arise. This is a confidential service provided by outside support agencies.
Appointments are made via Matron.
UNIFORM
All girls are expected to wear correct school uniform. The school maintains a stock
of very good quality second hand uniform at very reasonable prices, many items
hardly used. Please contact Mrs Duffy at the school office for further details.
LOCKERS
Every pupil in the school has her own locker and padlock with two keys (one spare
kept separately) in which to keep, safely and securely, her school equipment and
personal possessions. Once these keys are lost, she will not be issued with another
set and a new padlock will need to be purchased. The lockers need to be kept clean
and tidy at all times. Food and drink should not be stored overnight.
Girls are responsible for the security and privacy of their lockers and for
taking proper care of the keys at all times.
LOST PROPERTY
It is each girl’s responsibility to CLEARLY name all her possessions (i.e. uniforms,
PE kit, books, files etc) and store any valuable items in her locker. Please stress to
your daughter that she must always look after her purse and refrain from bringing
valuable items into school. The school cannot be held responsible for the loss of
money or personal property (e.g. mobile phones, iPods, MP3s etc.) that goes
missing on the school premises. The girls can see Matron should they wish to keep
certain items in the “valuables box” (also located in the PE department – see PE
staff).
Named lost property is returned to the girl when handed in to the School Office.
MOBILE PHONES
If it is necessary for your daughter to have a phone, it must be turned off and kept
in her locker. She must not use it in school. Staff will confiscate any mobile
phone found in school and hand it to the Headmistress who will confiscate it
for a week. Girls are not allowed to use their mobile phones in school for any
reason whatsoever – if they are unwell, have any concerns or need to contact parents
in an emergency, they must see Matron in the School Office and she will make the
necessary arrangements. The school will not be held responsible for lost or damaged
phones.
CHANGE OF DETAILS/CIRCUMSTANCES
Please inform the school office of any change in circumstances, ie change of
address/contact numbers/mobile/emergency contact details etc ASAP so our
records can be updated accordingly. This includes changes to a parent's
circumstances that do not seem directly to affect the girl: for example when a parent
changes surname following marriage or separation, and the daughter retains her
original surname, we still need to know about the change so that we address you
correctly when writing, and know who to ask for by telephone.
(Detailed notes of all the above and additional guidelines can be found in the
PARENTS’ HANDBOOK given to all parents before they start school in Year 7)
Mrs S Dabiran – PA to Headmistress
Mrs P Duffy – Matron
Mrs C Hodgkinson – Sixth Form Secretary
Mrs M Humberstone - Reprographics Technician
Mrs V Mensah - Office Manager
Mrs S Welsh – Receptionist & Attendance Secretary
Mrs L Withers – Admissions Secretary
The Office Team
