This document provides information for Year 12 students at Simon Balle Sixth Form. It includes the term dates for the 2013-2014 school year, details about the school's ethos of providing students with a fantastic educational experience to prepare them for further education and careers. It outlines expectations for independent study, attendance, dress code, and other policies. Emergency procedures are also summarized.

1. Simon Balle Sixth Form
Introduction to Year 12

2. Term Dates 2013-14
Autumn Term 2013
Monday 2nd September to Friday 20th December
All students in school on Tuesday 3rd September 2013
Half Term: Monday 28th October to Friday 1st November
INSET: Monday 2nd September 2013
OPEN DAY: Saturday 28th September 2013
INSET: Monday 30th September 2013
Occasional Days: Thursday 28th and Friday 29th November 2013
Christmas Break: Monday 23rd December to Friday 3rd January
Spring Term 2014
Monday 6th January to Friday 4th April
Half Term: Monday 17th February to Friday 21st February
Easter Break: Monday 7th April to Monday 21st April inclusive
INSET: Monday 6th January 2014
Summer Term 2014
Tuesday 22nd April to Wednesday 23rd July
Half Term: Monday 26th May to Friday 30th May
(Bank holiday: Monday 5th May)
INSET: Tuesday 6th May 2014
INSET: Friday 4th July 2014

3. Simon Balle School Ethos
At Simon Balle School are vision is clear and under
pinned by values of equity.
• Our students will leave us after having had a fantastic educational
experience.
• They will have achieved the highest possible grades that they can
and thus be able to go out into our globally competitive world
with the skills, attributes and behaviours equipped for 21st
century living.
• They will be self motivated to achieve their very best, be
resourceful and resilient, able to accept others for who they are.
• Our students will be positive people, creative in their thinking,
respectful and responsible in their actions.
• Simon Balle students will have discovered what they find
interesting and thus be passionate about their learning. They will
therefore possess confidence and have a sense of self worth,
empowered to make decisions and able to self improve.

4. Independent Study Expectations
• As 6th form students, independent study is an integral part of your
learning.
• You are expected to be spending at least 4 hours per subject, every week
doing private work and independent study.
• In order to help you complete your homework, we encourage you to
attend tutorials, at lunchtime and after school, and make good use of the
library and ICT facilities.
• Homework should extend and re-enforce your learning, and will help you
to get the results you want in the end.
• Reading around your subjects will not only help you to pass the exams, it
will help you gain a deeper understanding of the topic and to prepare you
for university.
• We suggest a maximum of 6 - 8 hours a week paid work.
• It is NOT permitted to undertake any paid work during school hours

5. Home-Sixth Form Agreement
• Read through this agreement with your parents
and return tomorrow morning

6. •

7. Important
• If a student misses a lesson it is his/her responsibility to complete the work set in that lesson and
arrive prepared for the next lesson.
Teacher Absence
• If your teacher is absent, they will set work for you. You should attend your lessons as normal. If
possible a cover supervisor will be present.
Attendance & Punctuality
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•
•
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You should register with your form tutor at 8.45am and at the end of lunch. After these times, you
will be marked late.
If you arrive in school after 9.00am, you must report to Reception and sign in. You will be marked
late in the register and will need a note to explain your lateness.
If you have a medical or dental appointment, please complete an Absence Request Form before the
appointment. These are available from the sixth form office. Remember to sign in and out at
Reception when you leave/return.
If you are unable to attend school you must inform the school as soon as possible with a reason.
Call 01992 410400 ext.252 or email sixthform@simonballe.herts.sch.uk.
It is vital that you catch up with any missed work.
Holidays
• Parents should not arrange family holidays during term time. Where this is unavoidable, requests
for leave of absence should be made on an Absent Request Form available from the 6th Form Office
well in advance of the date.
•
NOTE: Attendance is monitored in registration and lessons. A pattern of poor
attendance/punctuality will result in meetings with your tutor and the Sixth Form Management
Team

8. 6th Form Dress Code
• Sixth Formers at Simon Balle are expected to set a suitable example of smart appearance to their
peers and other year groups. The dress code is essentially smart office wear and the requirements
are as follows:
Girls
• Blouse or top
• Knee length skirt or trousers
• Jacket
• Smart shoes (not trainers or canvas shoes)
Boys
• Shirt with tie
• Trousers and jacket or suit
• Smart shoes (not trainers or canvas shoes)
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Caps, hooded tops, and inappropriate hair styles or piercings are not acceptable.
Students not following the dress code should expect to be sent home to change.
Smoking Policy
• Simon Balle School is a no-smoking site. Smoking on or near the school site is strictly prohibited.
Food and Drink
• The Coffee shop beside the school canteen is available throughout most of the day for Sixth form
students to purchase food or drink. At lunch time, the canteen is also available.
• Students can also leave the school premises during lunch to get food and drink or for other
purposes.
Any student leaving the school site should sign out in the main reception

9. Car Parking
• Sixth Form students are NOT permitted to park their cars on the school site.
• Cycle racks are provided close to the Sixth form for the storage of bicycles.
• If you are using consortium transport, it is important that you arrive at the pick-up
point for the taxi at the correct time.
Driving Lessons
• Driving lessons should NOT be arranged within school hours (study periods are
allocated to students for private study)
• Students should not arrange to meet Driving Instructors on the school site.
• The school site must not be used for any part of a driving lesson or test (eg.
parking practice)
• Driving tests (theory and practical) should be arranged outside school hours if at
all possible.
Electronic Items
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•
Electronic items such as MP3 players and mobile phones are allowed on your
person at school. However you are a model for lower years and as such they are
not to be used or seen during lessons or in the corridors.
The School is not liable for the misplacement or any damage of your possessions.

10. Sixth Form Common Room
• Please keep the area tidy. It is for you, after all.
• Excessive littering may result in a form cleaning rota being set up.
• Food and Drink are allowed, as are electronic items.
• The area is mainly for study. You may be asked to do work if you appear to not be
doing any. Cards or other games are not to be played during private study periods.
Lockers
• A limited number of lockers are available for Y 12 and 13 students. One payment
will secure you a locker for the two years, but the lockers are on a first come- first
served basis. £10 is required for the acquisition of a locker. Please apply via the
sixth form office.
Work Experience
• Simon Balle School runs a work experience for all Year 12 students. We believe this
gives students an idea of possible career opportunities. The ‘launch’ of work
experience takes place in January.
• Students are recommended to see Julie Calder if they have difficulty with this. The
deadline for the work placement forms is March and the work experience runs in
June, after the AS exams. There will be assemblies with more information nearer
the time.

11. Emergency School Closure Procedure
• In the event of severe weather conditions or emergency situation arising during the night:
• The Headteacher will make the decision to close the school by 6.45am and will contact local radio
stations so please tune into the following for information:
Chiltern Radio (97.6 FM 828 AM)
BBC Three Counties Radio (103.8 FM / 95.5 FM or 630 MW / 1161 MW)
1017 'Ten Seventeen' (101.7 FM) Mix 96 (96.2 FM)
Hertbeat FM (106.9 FM)
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire (96 FM)
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You can also check the school website for information.
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The school will endeavour to provide work for students via email and website
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If you do find out that the school is closed please pass the message on to any friends that may not
yet know. You may wish to organise a phone chain amongst your friends.
•
In the event of severe weather or other emergency situation requiring school closure during the
school day:
Please ensure where possible that you know how to get home using public transport and that you
have access to your house or a friend’s house. No students will be left unsupervised in school.
•

12. Emergency Procedure
• In an emergency the alarm will
sound. If you hear the alarms
follow the emergency code:
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Leave all your belongings where
they are and close all doors and
windows.
•
Leave the building by the
nearest marked fire exit in
silence.
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During lessons go to the
assembly point in the area
behind the dining room.
•
During lunch or break go to the
area designated to your year
group.

15. ‘Our students will leave us after having had a
fantastic educational experience’.
Enjoy your time here
Enjoyment will come through
involvement
and
achievement