Welcome to the academies weekly newsletter, rounding up the events of the past week and keeping you informed of coming events and information to support you and your daughter in school and beyond.

This week we:

• Share the news of our HPL reaccreditation,
• We reflect on this academic year
• Share information of summer activities available for all
• We look at the What Parents & Educators Need to Know about: AI – enabled scams and
• update the School calendar.

We hope you enjoy reading this weeks news.

We started our journey of high performance learning (HPL) in 2020 and was accredited as a World Class School after 2 years of adopting the high performance philosophy and implementing the framework in lessons.

We are delighted that after 3 years of holding this title and continuing to develop our high performance learning ethos we have been reaccredited. Our assessor commented that: HPL is deeply embedded in the school’s vision, culture, and values, underpinning its mission to unlock a thirst for learning for all. Leaders, teachers, students, and stakeholders operate with the assumption that high performance is a possible outcome for the majority. The school actively uses the “language of not yet,” which has significantly impacted learning by fostering a belief in students’ capabilities and promoting a “can do, will do” mindset.

HPL is not seen as an add-on but as integral to all senior-level activities, staff awards, and weekly communications, promoting a collaborative ethos and positive school environment.

 We are an accredited HPL World Class School using the High Performance Learning philosophy and framework to provide enhanced teaching and learning. World Class status indicates that we are one of the leading schools in the world. The ethos of HPL mirrors our school’s own belief in the benefits of developing each child’s individual values and skills, rather than relying on a broad approach across a whole class or entire year. This means that we believe that all the students can be high performers, and we teach with these expectations in mind. Using the research-based High Performance Learning approach developed by Professor Deborah Eyre, helps us to systematically build the cognitive competencies that lead a young person to thrive in school and later life. Through a combination of our curriculum and the HPL approach, we are able to raise the performance of every student. We embed the HPL philosophy throughout our school to create globally-minded enterprising learners, advanced performers, and accomplished leaders.

Reflection is an intellectual virtue.

As we come to the end of the school year, use this as a time for some personal reflection. Think of the wonderful opportunities that you have embraced, all of the fantastic clubs and trips you have been on and all of the excellent hard work that you have completed.

What challenges will you set for yourself next year?

Handsworth Association of Schools presents Kids – SOS Playscheme. Secure your places now!

We would like to let you, your parents/carers and students know that Bike Right are providing FREE cycle sessions in the School Summer holidays all funded by Birmingham council.

Click here to book your child’s place today!

Absence disrupts the education of the individual pupil and the whole class. Are you aware those children who do not attend regularly:

• do not achieve well in exams
• find it difficult to maintain friendships
• are more likely to become involved in crime
• miss out on opportunities in further education and the world of work?

Please be advised that term-time holidays are very unlikely to be approved. If families ignore this the absence will be unauthorised and you will be at risk of receiving a £160 Fixed Penalty Notice per parent on your return.

Last term, 36 parents have received Penalty Notices for taking students on unauthorised leave in term time.

Please note that, Birmingham City Council strongly discourages pupil leave of absence during term time. The expectation is that such leave would only be authorised in the most exceptional circumstance.

Please ensure that leave is taken in the school holidays only.

Frequent absence can add up to a considerable amount of lost learning and can seriously disadvantage your child in adult life.

• 5 minutes late every day means around 3 ½ days of education are missed
• a score of 90% in a test would be a good result but 90% attendance means that a child
• will have missed around 100 lessons over a school year.

The majority of our students are on time to school every day. Thank you for your ongoing support in ensuring that your daughter attends school on time every day. Lesson 1 begins promptly at 8:45am, which means that your daughter needs to be in her seat waiting for the register to be taken by 08:40am.

Students who are late, without a valid reason, will sit in a 30 minute after school detention on the same day.

The only method for reporting your child’s absence is now through the Arbor Parent Portal App.

Using the Arbor Parent Portal App is quick and easy, and it is now our preferred way for parents to communicate absence reasons to the school.

For step-by-step instructions on how to report an absence, please visit our online guide.

Benefits of the Arbor Parent Portal App:

• Update student/parent details
• Top up dinner money
• Sign up for trips and clubs
• Check your child’s attendance
• Access school reports
• and now reporting absences

Additionally, our new school app, KEVI Handsworth Wood Girls (via Reach More
Parents), will be our primary platform for sharing school-related updates and information.

Please note that the absence reporting feature will no longer be available on other
platforms, and we will no longer monitor absences reported via Studybugs, even if you still have access to it.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Welcome to all of our new and existing students. Thank you to all who continue to support your daughter attending school every day and arriving on time. We have seen a dramatic improvement in morning punctuality, and attendance overall is way above the National average for Secondary schools. In fact, at the end of the Spring Term 2024 we were recognised as being in the top 25% of all FFT secondary schools for secondary attendance.

Please take some time to view the letters pertaining to Attendance and Punctuality at King Edward’s VI Handsworth Wood Girls’ Academy that were sent to you by email in September 2024. If you didn’t get the email, then we have attached the letters here too.

• 18th July – Students will be dismissed at 2PM
• 1st September – Staff Training Day
• 2nd September – Staff Training Day
• 3rd September – Induction for Year 7 students starting at 08:45 and Year 12 students starting at 9:00 in The Sixth Form Centre

We are thrilled to announce that HWGA has achieved the prestigious Wellbeing Award! This incredible achievement highlights our commitment to ensuring that the wellbeing of both staff and students remains at the heart of everything we do.

We want to remind families that we offer a range of in-house support for students, so if you feel your child needs someone to talk to, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we are here to help.

Additionally, families should know that period products are provided free of charge at the academy. We are dedicated to ensuring our girls feel seen, valued, and confident, with no shame in asking for what they need.

We are proud of the way our students support one another, and we celebrate the
uniqueness and superpowers each girl brings to our school community.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us!

We know how challenging it can be to balance all the demands parents and carers have to cope with. That’s why NSPCC have put together some tips to help. All children need boundaries and discipline, and this guide helps you develop what works for you and your child.

If your family is in need of any support for any of the following issues –

• money advice,
• special educational needs,
• disability,
• food,
• housing,
• parenting groups,
• relationships,
• sexual health & family planning,
• under 5’s support,
• bereavement,
• mental health,
• leisure activities,
• physical health
• & much more.

Please see download the family action leaflet here.

Our Healthy Lifestyle Checklist:

• Exercise – 60 minutes a day
• Hydration – Drink 2 litres of water a day
• Nutrition – Eat a balanced Diet
• Sleep – 8-10 hours a night

Please find a range of helpful medical factsheets put together by the School’s First Aid Medical Lead.

If you would like to see these factsheets in an alternative language, please get in touch.

We use the High Performance Learning philosophy and framework in our school. This means that we believe that all the students can be high performers, and we teach with these expectations in mind.

Using the research-based High Performance Learning approach helps us to systematically build the cognitive competencies that lead a young person to thrive in school and in later life.

We embed the HPL philosophy throughout our school. We never tell our students they cannot achieve; it is just they are not doing it yet but with practice and persevere it will happen.

You can support your child with developing the High Performance Learning skills at home.

There are 30 skills which are broken down into the two categories of Advanced Cognitive Performance Characteristics (ACPs) and Values, Attitudes and Attributes (VAAs). These help students how to think, and how to behave.

HWGA will be sharing a some HPL key competencies (VAAS & ACPs) strategies with you weekly.

Using the HPL framework at home will help you to enhance your child’s academic
achievement and personal development.

Home Challenge:

• Quiz your child on the ACPs and VAAs. How may of each can they remember?
• Ask them to quiz you? Can you beat your child?
• Select 3 VAAs and ACPs at random. Can your child tell you what they mean?

Not there yet? Repeat the challenge – can you both beat your previous attempt?

✓ Model being open-minded yourself.

✓ Encourage your child to try new activities and experiences, giving them opportunities to broaden their interests and develop their talents.

✓ You could encourage them to debate things that they dislike. By providing alternative views or suggestions they are exposed to different views that can make them think about the opinions of others.

✓ Watch programmes together which articulate responses to different questions e.g. The Big Questions on BBC1.

✓ Choose current news issues to debate and discuss. Make this into an activity where you make a point, and they must provide a counter argument and vice versa.

QUESTIONS:

• Do you have a concern that a student is being physically, sexually or emotionally abused or neglected?
• Has a child/young person made a disclosure to you?
• Are you concerned that a student could be living in a private fostering arrangement?

REMEMBER:

• Please do not ask the student leading questions
• You must report concerns relating to FGM,CSE, FM, HBV and Prevent
• Do not ask children to remove items of clothing and do not ask them to write anything down or sign anything you have written
• Allegations against staff MUST be referred directly to the Headteacher (or to the Chair of Governors if about the Head)

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The Safeguarding Team will gather all of the information, link with multiple agencies and the decision will be made whether a referral to Children’s Services or an Early Help Assessment (or other action) needs to be made. Any information the Safeguarding Team are able to share with you will be shared. If you have any questions or a ‘gut feeling’, then please do not hesitate to seek advice and support from the Safeguarding Team.

What Parents & Educators Need to Know about: AI – enabled scams

AI can be an amazing tool for education and creativity – sadly, it’s also become a tool for online scammers 💻🚨 This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide shines a light on the dark side of using AI, including phishing emails, fake voice calls, and influencer-based frauds targeting younger users ⚠️🎭

From deepfake videos to romance scams powered by chat bots 💔🤖 the tactics are getting more convincing – and the consequences more serious. If you’re looking to help children and young people navigate the online world with confidence and caution, this guide offers key insights and practical advice to keep them safe 🔍🛡️

• All students must wear jumpers.
• Skirts if worn should be black and pleated.
• Hoodies are not permitted in school.
• The school uniform consists of a jumper, a white revere blouse, and a black skirt or trousers.

Students are not permitted to wear trainers unless medically required to do so School shoes should be below the ankle.

Boots should only be worn in severe weather (snow).

Jackets/coats should be plain and Hoodies should not be worn in school.

• No nail polish/ false nails
• Make-up if worn should be natural looking
• False eyelashes are not permitted in schoo
• Pins are not allowed to be used for headscarves. Please use a safer style fastening to secure headscarves.

Jewellery:

• One stud in each ear
• One small nose stud – not a ring
• No rings,
• No bracelets – unless for religious purposes
• No necklaces.

We collect preloved but good quality uniform throughout the year. If you would like to donate preloved items, please bring them to the School reception.

if you would like to receive preloved items for your child, please contact the pastoral team at pastoralteam@hwga.org.uk

We are now using the Free School Meals Eligibility Checking Service in School. If you think that your child may be entitled to Free School Meals, please complete a ‘New Application’ on the following link: https://www.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/birmingham

Just registering your child for Free School Meals means that the School gets extra funding – register now to make sure we don’t miss out!

Get notifications on your phone by using the King Edward VI Handsworth Wood Girls App available in your phones app store to download today.

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Visiting our website, you will find the news feed on the homepage with quick links to our most up to date news and information.