All parents will be able to download new ‘Blended Learning Plans’ for their children.
This is our new approach to distanced learning and will become our established approach to learning throughout the next few weeks and beyond. Parents can download their Blended Learning Plans by year group (in PDF format) which will provide all of the work pupils will be completing across their curriculum. These have been designed to enable teaching staff to teach pupils whilst in school and also support them when they are at home. All of the activities and resources are available from the VLE as normal.
Students are ambassadors of the school and are expected to dress and behave in a way that reflects the standards we seek to achieve. The uniform should be smart with all items clearly marked. If students are unable to wear the uniform for any reason the school must be notified in writing by the parents.
Bag
A strong rucksack or holdall
Jewellery
1 wristwatch. 1 plain ear stud in each ear. 1 dress ring
The school cannot accept responsibility for jewellery worn to school
Hair
This must be one natural colour and of an acceptable style/length. No beards or moustaches.
UNIFORM
Autumn/Spring/Summer terms
Blazer
School blazer (Sixth Form Black Blazer)
Sweater
Plain black, knitted, V-neck
Blouse/Shirt
Plain white with collar suitable to be worn with a tie and a length that can be tucked in
Skirt/Trousers
Plain black, pleated, knee length or plain black trousers (no jeans, canvas or leggings)
Tie
Y7-10 clip on ties. Y11 may use standard tie until it needs to be replaced.
Footwear
Entirely black sensible shoes, leather or thick canvas, with no heel (not boots or trainers)
Outer Coats
Sensible, plain black. These should be removed before entering classrooms and when walking in corridors.
P.E Kits
Girls
Boys
School long sleeve top
School long sleeve top
School short sleeve polo shirt
School short sleeve polo shirt
School shorts
School shorts
School socks
School socks
Trainers
Trainers
Rugby boots
Mobile phones and headphones
Whilst mobile phones are permitted in school, they should only be used or seen before 8.45am at break time, at lunchtime and after school. No headphones should been seen or used during the school day. The exception to this is if either a mobile phone of headphones are a legitimate part of the lesson and permission is given by the class teacher. The school does not take any responsibility for valuables brought into school.
In the event of any disagreement regarding uniform, the Head and Deputy are the final arbiters.
SCHOOL DAY
08:50 - 9:00
REGISTRATION
09:00 - 9:15
ASSEMBLY / TUTORIAL
09:15 - 10:15
LESSON 1
10:15 - 11:15
LESSON 2
11:15 - 11:30
BREAK
11:30 - 12:30
LESSON 3
12:30 - 1:30
LESSON 4
1:30 - 2:20
LUNCHTIME
2:20 - 2:30
REGISTRATION
2:30 - 3:30
LESSON 5
SCHOOL MEALS
School Meal Pricing & Information
Parentpay
Adding and using Parent Account Credit
How to add a child to your account
Cashless catering – biometric consent form
Frequently Asked Questions
How to pay for items
Powys cashless catering privacy notice – English
How to set-up Email and Text Alerts
Pre-Admission – For parents who have an existing Parent Pay account)
We have had a number of enquiries from pre-admission parents who are trying to register in ParentPay, but are unable to set up their account as they already have one for their child/children at another school. They don’t need to set up another account. Here are the instructions to provide to anyone who enquires about this issue:
How to merge accounts for parents who have an existing login account in ParentPay from another school and would like to manage payments for their child/children at Brecon High School in the same account / email:
Log into Parent Pay as normal, with their existing account
Once logged in, om the left hand side select “Veiw Edit Profile;”
Click add child to your account;
In the activation Code 1/Username box, type the username provided by us;
In the activation Code 2/Password box, type the password provided by us;
Click search, select the child and click confirm.
Payers will now be able to see the relevant child/children in their normal ParentPay account alongside their existing list. They do not need to set up a second account in ParentPay with a different email address.
Its’ the most important meal of the day! come and join us everyday at 8am – 8.45am in Learning Support Room.
There are plenty of delicious items to choose from! Cereals, toast, fruit juices and cereal bars!
50p per day (FREE for FSM pupils)
Why is Breakfast so important?
Breakfast provides the body and brain with fuel after an overnight fast – that’s where its name originates, breaking the fast! Without breakfast you are effectively running on empty, like trying to start the car with no petrol! Nutritionists advise:
breakfast should be eaten within two hours of waking
a healthy breakfast should provide calories in the range of 20-35% of your guideline daily allowance (GDA)
Apart from providing us with energy, breakfast foods are good sources of important nutrients such as calcium, iron and B vitamins as well as protein and fibre. The body needs these essential nutrients and research shows that if these are missed at breakfast, they are less likely to be compensated for later in the day. Fruit and vegetables are good sources of vitamins and minerals so try to include a portion of your daily five at breakfast, whether that be a banana or glass of fruit juice.
Breakfast also restores glucose levels, an essential carbohydrate that is needed for the brain to function. Many studies have shown how eating breakfast can improve memory and concentration levels and it can also make us happier as it can improve mood and lower stress levels. In studies amongst children, breakfast can improve attainment, behaviour and has been linked to improved grades. Just like any other organ in the body, the brain needs energy to work at it’s best!
If your child is going to be absent from School we need to know!
Please ensure the School is informed before 8.45am. You can let us know by telephone on 01874 620353 or via our email address office@brecon-hs.powys.sch.uk
COVID-19 Related Pupil Absence - A Guide for parents -CLICK HERE
If you do not inform us then the absence will be marked as unauthorised.
If you know in advance that your child is going to be absent then you can inform us at the School on 01874 620353, in writing or just let RECEPTION know the dates/times.
Medical/Dental appointments
Written or verbal information must be provided, otherwise the absence will be recorded as unauthorised.
Why attendance matters!
Encouraging regular school attendance is one of the most powerful ways you can prepare your child for success—both in school and in life. When you make school attendance a priority, you help your child get better grades, develop healthy life habits and avoid dangerous behaviour.
When pupils are absent for fewer days, their grades and reading skills often improve—even among those students who are struggling in school. Pupils who attend school regularly also feel more connected to their community and develop important social skills and friendships.
As a parent, you can prepare your child for a lifetime of success by making regular school attendance a priority.
The school has a duty to keep a record of the amount of Leave of Absence, both authorised and unauthorised, taken to monitor the extent of the issue and its effect on overall attendance levels. This could be published by the Governors in the report to parents, giving the absence figure excluding Leave of Absences during term time.
Please be aware that any unauthorised attendance will be investigated by the School Attendance Officer & Education Welfare Officer.
What constitutes good attendance?
Attendance percentages are not like examination results: an attendance percentage needs to be in the high nineties before it can be considered good. Consider the following examples over the course of a school year (188 days).
10 days absence = 95% attendance = 50 lessons missed
20 days absence = 89% attendance = 100 lessons missed
29 days absence = 85% attendance = 145 lessons missed
38 days absence = 80% attendance = 190 lessons missed
47 days absence = 75% attendance = 235 lessons missed
Research states that having 20 (89%) days off school every year means that a pupil will probably obtain a whole grade lower in their exams than they are really capable of.
Pupils with less than 85% attendance are unlikely to gain 5 A*-C GCSE qualifications.
Term-Time Holidays
Please read the below advice if you are considering requesting a leave of absence for your child(ren) in term time.
Only the HeadTeacher or their representative can authorise absence
Each request will be considered on its merits, taking into account factors such as the child’s overall attendance record
Permission will not be given for more than 10 days Leave of Absence in a school year, other than in exceptional circumstances
Applications should be made at least 2 weeks in advance and arrangements for catching up on missed work agreed with the school. The school would not normally supply work for the pupils to complete during the Leave of Absence.
Leave of Absences taken without the permission of the school will be recorded as Unauthorised. An application for any leave of absence MUST be made on the request form at the bottom of the page.
Links & Downloads for more information about absence from School
Powys County Council guidance and information for parents about penalty notices and the code of conduct:
Download and complete this form (Or collect a copy from Reception) if you want to book time off during term time. Return back to the School BEFORE being absent from School:
Admissions to Brecon High School is managed by Powys county Council, on behalf of the School. Details regarding school admissions can be found in the attached booklet. Further information, guidance and contact details can be found on the County Council website, the link is below
If you wish to visit the school, please do make contact with us and we can arrange a time for a meeting and tour. Buddy days for pupils are also available.
The death of a student can be traumatic for both school staff and pupils. A student’s death can unnerve other pupils and challenge any feelings of security they might have felt prior to the death.
It is likely that many of the students will have questions and will want to know details relating to the death. Our School staff should endeavour to answer all questions in an open and honest manner, using language that is appropriate to the students’ age and level of understanding.
Any specialist help school staff believe would benefit the young person will need to be discussed with their family before any referral is made.
For the majority of children or young people whose life has been turned upside down the routines of school life can give a sense of normality. Everything else may have fallen apart but school and the people within it are still there, offering a sense of security and continuity.
How Adolescents and teenagers deal with grief At this stage of development, young people are developing their own ideas about who they are and what is important to them in their lives. They are more aware of their future. Death may cause them to reflect on the meaning and purpose of life, or they may not want to reflect, and hide their feelings. As adults our job is to let them know that we are there if they need to talk, or that we can find someone else to help if necessary. Although the grieving process at this age is much like adults, teenagers are still developing emotionally, and need support. By now young people are much more aware of the finality of death, and the impact that the death has had on them. The death of someone important may make them feel different, at the very time that they want to be the same as everyone else. They are aware of the longer term impact of their loss, when future milestones will not be shared with the person who has died. Relationships with others are becoming increasingly important, and any loss can lead to feelings of anger or severe distress.
We are pleased to announce that the school has been designated ‘Champion Status’ for Class Charts, a new pupil provision system that will be in use from the start of the new term…