Standards and Expectations
LEARNING AND PROGRESS
The core purpose of Epping St. John’s is for students to be able to learn, make progress and achieve their full potential in a stimulating and safe environment.
- We expect students to engage fully in the learning process to maximise their performance and to improve their life chances when they leave school.
- We will work closely with parents and carers to provide information on progress and attitudes to learning and achievement to ensure that every child can make the most of the learning opportunities provided by the school.
- We will work closely with parents and carers to provide information on progress and attitudes to learning and achievement to ensure that every child can make the most of the learning opportunities provided by the school
- Each term pupils receive their current level of achievement, effort and behaviour which allows parents and pupils alike to track and monitor progress. Student progress report is usually sent to parents prior to parents evening. This gives parents an opportunity to set targets with their child with teacher support.
BEHAVIOUR
At Epping St. John’s we emphasise behaviour fit for learning in classrooms and promote the following non negotiables:
- Be on time
- Respect your environment – litter in bin, no graffiti, no chewing gum.
- Be fully equipped for learning
- Be focussed on learning in the classroom
- Respect others and the school environment
- Wear the correct school uniform
Electronic devices switched off and out of sight for the duration of the school day.
As a Church School, we promote the Christian values of respect and tolerance and have high expectations of how children and adults should engage with one another in and around school. This also includes demonstrating respect within the local community, when students wearing the Epping St. John’s uniform are making their way to or going home from school.
The key priority for the school is that students can feel happy and safe within the school environment and every member of the school community respects these basic principles.
We want students to understand that Christians acknowledge when things go wrong, ask for forgiveness and accept the consequences. That is our way of supporting their growth.
ATTENDANCE
Students should aim to achieve at least 97% attendance each year (the national average). Students with attendance below will be required to meet with their Head of Year to discuss ways of improving their attendance.
The current law does not give any entitlement to parents to take their child out of school during term time. The Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 prohibits Headteachers granting leave of absence to a pupil except where an application has been made in advance and the Headteacher considers that there are exceptional circumstances relating to the application. If you do take your child out of school and the leave has not been authorised or a leave of absence application not been completed, the Education Welfare Service may issue a penalty notice to each parent of £60 for each child to be paid within 21 days. If the penalty is not paid within the time scale the penalty will increase to £120
If the higher penalty is not paid within 28 days, the Local Authority will then institute legal proceedings against you in the magistrate’s court under Section 444 of the Education Act 1996 for failing to ensure your child attends school regularly.
UNIFORM
School uniform is one way in which we can display the school’s identity and values to the community. All students are therefore expected to wear the correct uniform at all times.
The following uniform rules must be adhered to in school, on the way to and from school and when out on school extra-curricular activities if stipulated:
Regulation black blazer with school badge: this is to be worn at all times within the building of ESJ unless permission is given from ESJ SLT
Regulation plain black trousers with an optional plain black belt or regulation calf-length ESJ skirt
Plain white shirt or blouse always tucked in and buttoned to the top
School tie worn correctly with top button done up
Black or white socks (ankle length) or black tights- no patterns.
Optional black V-necked jumper/sleeveless jumper or cardigan with school badge
Plain face covering / mask (exceptions for students with medical exemption cards)
Years 7 & 8 should have the ESJ regulation backpack (available at our uniform suppliers)
Years 9 to 11 should have a black backpack that is large enough to hold an A4 size book
No tote bags or handbags.
Shoes
Only plain black leather or leather/look shoes are acceptable. Trainers of any colour (including black) are unacceptable. Students wearing incorrect footwear will be provided a pair of black ESJ shoes to wear instead. We will only accept signed medical notes as dispensation. Failure to put on ESJ shoes will result in further sanctions in line with school policy.
Other points to note
- Hair colour must be natural.
- One small stud per ear to maintain pierced ears and one watch (no smart watches) may be worn. Rings, bracelets and body piercings are unacceptable. Necklaces/chains with religious symbols are permitted but must not be visible.
- Make-up is not permitted.
- Nails: varnish or false nails are unacceptable (this includes but is not limited to gels, acrylic, white tip, shellac and chemical treatments).
- Treated eyebrows and eyelashes (including chemically treated/tinted).
- Outdoor coats should be plain and principally dark in colour (black or blue) without extreme or excessive logos. Outdoor coats must not be worn within the school building without prior permission from ESJ SLT.
- Scarves are not permitted in the school building.
- Full school uniform must be worn at all times, including to and from school. Permission must be given by a teacher/leader for students to remove blazer (e.g. extreme weather conditions)
PE KIT REQUIREMENTS
- Fitted black polo shirt from our uniform provider (compulsory)
- PE shorts from our uniform provider (compulsory)
- Optional plain black jogging bottoms or leggings
- Optional black tracksuit/sweatshirt from our uniform provider
- Rugby shirt from our uniform provider
- White/black sports socks
- Trainers
- Football/Rugby boots
- Absolutely no jewellery is to be worn in PE lessons
- All students are required to wear PE kit during PE lessons – even if injured or unwell, so they can take on an appropriate role
- Students are encouraged to wear black base layers under their P.E. kit during the cold weather for warmth
- No hoodies allowed
Points to Note
Students are permitted to wear their school blazer over their P.E. kit during other lessons. As the weather turns colder, we would encourage you to purchase the ESJ PE Jumper as this can be worn both inside and outside of the school building. Only the ESJ PE Jumper or School Blazer can be worn over PE Kit. Any other item of non-ESJ PE kit clothing is not permitted, and any student wearing it will be sanctioned in line with school policy.
School uniform suppliers:
Fosters Schoolwear
12 Birchanger Industrial Estate
Bishops Stortford
Hertfordshire
CM23 2TH
Telephone number: 01279 653865
E-Mail: info@fosterschoolwear.co.uk
Website: www.fosterschoolwear.co.uk
Forest Casual and Schoolwear
144 Loughton High Road
Essex
IG10 4BE
Telephone number: 020 8508 2848
E-Mail: info@forestcasualwear.co.uk
Website: www.forestcasualwear.co.uk