September 2023
Dear Parents/Carers
It is a pleasure to welcome you all back to a new academic year. I trust everyone has had a safe and enjoyable summer break, and I look forward to speaking with students about their experiences and holidays over the coming weeks.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you all back to the new academic year, one which I am full of optimism for, for all our students.
Our year 11 students who left us in the summer achieved excellent results, please follow the Year 11 results for an overview, and I am ambitious for all our students and passionate about ensuring your children’s futures are both safe and successful at Erdington and beyond. I will look forward to working with you to move the Academy forward.
Change to Communications
We are always working to improve communication at the academy. Last year we launched My Child at School app, which is the academy platform for all communications. Thank you for signing up. This year we will launch additional functions, which will include assessments, behaviour, rewards and attendance. We will send more information about these changes in due course.
Parents/carers will receive regular communication from Heads of Year and Faculties. Heads of Year will be writing to you separately to inform you of key information and events relevant to your child’s year group, and will make regular contact throughout the year. Please can I encourage you to follow our social media accounts to stay in touch with events in school.
School Uniform
As we start the new term, to ensure that we all work together in a positive and productive manner can I thank you for your support in ensuring that our tradition and high standards regarding uniform are maintained. Over the past few days we have had visitors from other schools and employers and all have commented on how professional our students look and behave. This strong reputation we are developing will support students once they leave the academy in securing employment and college places. Excellent uniform equates to unity and that message of unity is important at a time of great uncertainty in the world. Our expectation sheet is available from the Uniform Expectations.
Behaviour Expectations
Key information for the new term has been shared with students in assemblies. Expectations of behaviour is a focus, both in and out of the classroom. I will be discussing with students the importance of good behaviour in classrooms and around school, and their responsibility to be polite and respectful to staff and each other. In addition, I will discuss littering of the school site, as last year we saw an increase.
With a focus on the importance of respecting the environment both in school and in the wider local community, can I remind you that single use plastic bottles are not allowed in the academy, and we encourage you all to ensure students have a re-useable drinks container. Students found littering will be required to litter pick as a sanction to keep the school premises clean and tidy. Again, I trust I have your support on this, as it is important our students understand the importance of respecting their environment.
RAAC
I am sure you have been aware of the issue in the news regarding Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete. Can I allay any concerns that you may have regarding this and our buildings, we have completed all the required DFE documentation and had surveys of the buildings. The results of these surveys have not raised any concerns with our site, as such all our facilities are open as normal.
Site Developments
We have had a range of developments to the site over the summer term. One of the most noticeable is the upgrading to our Astro-Turf facility. These are open to students to use at break and lunch times but students must bring appropriate additional footwear.
We are educating our students to make progress academically, but to also be respectful young adults, who contribute positively to society. Students have been given a competition calendar booklet which includes extra curriculum activities timetable and I would encourage you to speak to your child in participating in some of these activities. School is more than just the lessons taught in the day and the knowledge and experiences gained in these activities will help them all the way through their lives, living the Trust vision of Enriching Lives; Transforming Futures.
Yours sincerely
S. 
Mallett
Principal
