Uniform
As ambassadors for Abbey Community College all students will be expected to take pride in their personal appearance by wearing the correct school uniform at all times and complying with all aspects of the College Uniform Policy.
It is our aim at Abbey Community College to bring each individual to their full potential in a school atmosphere of harmony and shared community values. For this reason, we insist on high standards in dress and appearance which prepare our students for successful careers in the wider community.
School uniform plays a valuable role in contributing to the ethos of our school and creating an environment for learning.
Uniform for Junior and Senior School
• Black Abbey Community College blazer with school badge
• White shirt (shirts must be tucked in). Top button secure.
• School Tie – clipped on.
• Grey V-neck jumper
• Grey V-neck jumper/cardigan
• Black trousers
• Black knee-length box-pleated skirt
• Black socks/black tights
• Plain Black outdoor coat
• No hooded tops, sweatshirts or hats are to be worn on the school premises. This includes break and lunch times.
Shoes:
• Plain black leather shoes. Black trainers ARE NOT permitted. Shoes with colour flashes or symbols are not part of the school uniform. For example – Adidas ‘gazelles’ are not permitted as they have gold writing. The only colour allowed is the small Kickers label. The VANS suede shoe is not permitted.
Uniform for Upper School: As for Junior & Senior School except for:
• Black Sixth Form blazer
• Sixth Form School Tie
PE Kit for Boys and Girls
• Abbey Community College maroon PE top
• Abbey Community College black shorts (boys)
• Abbey Community College black skort or shorts (girls)
• Maroon PE socks • Abbey Community College tracksuit (optional)
• Plain black sports leggings (Joma brand is available from uniform outlets)
• No jewellery of any type may be worn in PE or Games for Health and Safety reasons.
Attendance and Punctuality
All students are expected to come to school on time each day and do their best to have full attendance. This will ensure that valuable learning opportunities are not missed and each individual can make maximum progress.
Attendance and punctuality are monitored closely and parents are contacted should a student arrive late or be absent without explanation.
When a child of a compulsory school age is registered at a school it is essential that they attend their school regularly and maintain a pattern of good attendance throughout their school career. Excellent attendance at school is important to allow a child or young person to fulfil their potential.
Why attend school?
These are just some of the key reason why it is important children attend school:
- To learn.
- To have fun.
- To make new friends.
- To experience new things in life.
- To achieve.
- To gain qualifications.
- To develop new skills.
- To develop awareness of other cultures, religion, ethnicity and gender differences.
- To build confidence and self-esteem.
- To have the best possible start in life.
Young people who regularly miss school without good reason are more likely at risk of becoming isolated from their friends, underachieving in examinations and/or become involved in anti-social behaviour.
How parents can help:
- Establish a good routine in the mornings and evenings so your child is prepared for the school day ahead.
- Make sure your child goes to school regularly and follows the school rules.
- Ensure your child arrives at school on time.
- Arrange dental and medical appointments outside of school hours when possible.
- Always inform the school if your child is absent due to illness – this should be followed up with a written note when your child returns to school.
- Take truancy seriously – if your child is not attending school as you expect, they may be putting themselves at risk – Who are they with? What are they doing?
- Take family holidays outside of term time.
- Talk to your child about school and take an interest in their school work (including homework).
- Attend Parent Evenings and school events. Praise and reward your child’s achievements at school.
- Always support school staff in their efforts to manage difficult or challenging behaviour.
- Discuss any problems or difficulties with the school staff. We are here to help and will be supportive.
Family Holidays
You can demonstrate your commitment to your child’s education by not taking holidays during term time. Any child or young person who is absent from school due to a holiday will miss out on important learning and fall behind with their school work.
In each Academic Year there are only a maximum of 190 school days – this allows plenty of time for holidays to be arranged outside term time.
Holidays taken during term time will be categorised as an unauthorised absence.
Percentages
Attendance percentages can be misleading:
100% = 0 days missed - Excellent
95% = 9 days missed - Satisfactory
90% = 19 days missed - Poor
85% = 28 days missed – Unsatisfactory (student will be referred to Education Welfare Service when their attendance is below 85%)
80% = 38 days missed - Unsatisfactory
75% = 46 days missed – Unsatisfactory
Homework
We believe that homework is a valuable means of supporting and enhancing learning beyond the confines of the school day. This enables students to develop good study habits, develop their independence and take responsibility for their own learning.
A Homework Schedule and a Student Planner helps students plan their work to meet deadlines.
Homework Schedule
Key Stage 3
Students will receive homework at KS3 in the following subjects:
|
Subject |
Homework set
|
|
Maths |
1 per week |
|
English |
1 per week |
|
Science |
1 per week |
|
French/Spanish |
1 per week |
|
History |
1 per week |
|
Geography |
1 per week |
|
RE |
1 per week |
|
Technology |
1 per fortnight |
|
HE |
1 per fortnight |
|
LLW |
1 per fortnight Year 10 ASDAN Continuous Assessment |
|
Performing Arts |
1 per fortnight |
|
Art & Design |
1 per month |
Key Stage 4
At Key Stage 4 students will follow either a GCSE course or a BTEC/Occupational Studies Course. The regularity of tasks set may differ between subjects but students will still have work to complete in every subject every week.
|
Course |
Subjects |
Homework set |
|
GCSE Core Subjects |
English Maths Science RE (full course) |
2 per week |
|
GCSE Option |
Art History PE Technology |
1 per week (+ 1 learning)
|
|
Learning Community Day |
1-2 per fortnight
|
|
|
BCS |
1 per fortnight
|
|
|
Vocational Courses/Btec |
ICT Sports Studies Travel & Tourism Child Care Hospitality Health & Social Care Business Studies Science ASDAN/LLW |
Coursework based/Research On-going Assessment with evidence of regular feedback given to students |
KS3 Homework Rota 2016-17
Year 8 Homework will be set in the following subjects on the day indicated below:
|
Class |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday
|
|
8A |
Maths (Mr Brock) Creative |
Science (Mrs Winchester/Dr Chambers) Geography (Mrs McConnell) RE (Mrs Gregg)
|
History (Mrs McQueston) LLW (Mrs Butler) Creative |
Spanish (Mr Morton) English (Mrs Kennedy/Mrs Bartlett) Creative |
Science (Mrs Butler) Creative |
|
8B |
LLW (Mr Gracey) Creative |
Science (Mrs Winchester/Dr Chambers) Maths (Ms McNaghten) RE (Mr Scullion)
|
Spanish (Mr Morton) History (Mrs McQueston) Creative |
Geography (Mrs Seath) English (Mrs Kennedy/Mrs Bartlett) Creative |
Science (Mrs Butler) Creative |
|
8C |
Maths (Mrs Winchester) History (Mr Watkins) Creative |
RE (Mrs Kirkpatrick) Geography** (Mrs Flynn) |
Science (Mrs Cromie) English (Mrs McQuillan) Creative |
Spanish (Mr Morton) English (Mrs Kennedy) LLW (Mrs Clarke) Creative
|
Geography** (Mrs McConnell) Creative
|
|
8D |
Maths (Mr Black*) Science (Mrs Winchester) Geography (Mr Kyle) Creative
|
History (Mr Watkins) RE (Mr Scullion) |
English (Miss McQuillan) Creative |
English (Mrs Kennedy) LLW (Miss McQuillan) Creative |
Spanish (Mr Morton) Creative |
|
Creative Groups 8A-D |
Students rotate between their Creative subjects during the week in mixed classes. Performing Arts, H.E. and Technology will set Homework once per fortnight on the day the class is taught. Art will set Homework once per month.
|
||||
*Mr Black’s Maths class are aware of an alternative approach to Homework during the week. ** When a class is shared between two teachers the Homework will alternate fortnightly between the teacher and day it is set.
Year 9 Homework will be set in the following subjects on the day indicated below:
|
9A |
English (Mrs Turley) Geography (Mrs McConnell) Science (Dr Chambers) Creative
|
Maths (Mr Brock) RE (Mrs Gregg) LLW (Mrs Clarke) Creative |
Science (Dr McIvor) Creative |
English (Miss McQuillan) History (Mrs McQueston) Creative |
Spanish (Mr Morton) |
|
9B |
Science (Dr Chambers) English (Mrs Turley) Creative |
Geography (Mrs McConnell) Creative |
Maths (Mrs McN) Science (Dr McIvor) Creative |
Spanish (Mr Morton) English (Miss McQuillan) RE (Mrs Gregg) Creative
|
History (Miss Mulholland) LLW (Mrs Chambers) |
|
9C |
LLW (Mrs Mornin-O’Neill) Creative |
Maths (Mr Brock) Science (Mrs Winchester/Dr Chambers) Geography** (Mrs Flynn) Creative
|
English (Mrs Bartlett/Miss McQuillan) Creative |
Spanish (Mr Morton) RE (Mrs Gregg) History (Miss Mulholland) Creative |
Geography** (Mr Shields) |
|
9D |
History (Mrs Magill) Geography (Mrs Chalmers) Maths* (Mr Black) Creative
|
Science (Mrs Winchester/Dr Chambers) Creative |
English (Mrs Bartlett/Miss McQuillan) Creative |
Science (Dr McIvor) RE (Mr Scullion) Creative |
Spanish (Mr Morton) LLW (Mrs Butler) |
|
Creative Groups 9A-D |
Students rotate between their Creative subjects during the week in mixed classes. Performing Arts, H.E. and Technology will set Homework once per fortnight on the day the class is taught. Art will set Homework once per month.
|
||||
*Mr Black’s Maths class are aware of an alternative approach to Homework during the week. ** When a class is shared between two teachers the Homework will alternate fortnightly between the teacher and day it is set
Year 10 Homework will be set in the following subjects on the day indicated below:
|
10A |
RE (Mrs Gregg) Creative |
Maths (Mrs McNaghten/Mr Watkins) English (Mrs Bartlett) Creative
|
Geography (Mrs Seath) Spanish (Mr Morton) Creative
|
Science (Dr McIvor) |
History (Miss Mulholland) Creative |
|
10B |
Geography (Mrs McConnell) RE (Mr Scullion) Creative |
Maths (Miss McNaghten/Mr Watkins) History (Mrs McQueston) Science (Mrs Winchester) Creative
|
English (Mrs Turley) Creative |
|
Spanish (Mr Morton) Creative |
|
10C |
English (Mrs Verner) Geography (Mrs McConnell) Science (Dr McIvor) Creative
|
RE (Mr Scullion) Creative |
Maths (Miss McNaghten/ Mrs McConnell) History (Mrs McQueston) Creative |
English (Mrs Turley) |
Spanish (Mr Morton) Creative |
|
10D |
English (Mrs Verner) Creative |
Geography (Mrs Flynn) Science (Mrs Butler) Creative |
Maths (Miss McNaghten/ Mrs McConnell) RE (Mrs Gregg) Creative
|
Spanish (Mr Morton) English (Mrs Turley) History (Miss Mulholland) |
Creative |
|
Creative Groups 10A-D |
Students rotate between their Creative subjects during the week in mixed classes. Performing Arts, H.E. and Technology will set Homework once per fortnight on the day the class is taught. Art will set Homework once per month. LLW ASDAN in Year 10 is Continuous Assessment and Homework will be set regularly.
|
||||
Lunchtime and After School Clubs
At Abbey Community College the educational experience of our young people will not just be confined to the classroom or the normal school day. Students have the opportunity to become involved in a variety of sporting and other activities which give valuable academic, personal and social development experiences. An outline of the range activities available are outlined below.
Sports Clubs and Teams
School Closure
Remote Learning Parent Guidance.pdf
Remote Learning Pupil Guidance.pdf
Remote pupil guidance slides.pdf
Downloading Free Microsoft Office for students - EN082.pdf
MySchool can be accessed by following this link http://www.c2kschools.net
Student Council
Youth Club
Bridge Youth Club will operate for local children and young people of all ages in the evenings over the course of the week. Details are outlined below:
• ADD TABLE
Examinations Winter 2023
Exam Week W/C Monday 27/11/23
Formal school exams will take place during the week beginning Mondayday 30/05/22, the schedule below indicates the days and times when you need to attend school to complete your exams. You need only be in school on the days you have exams, the other days should be used for revision and preparation. Each day school will start at 09:00 and school buses will be available to transport pupils into school. Pupils will complete all exams in their normal class groups and they will remain in the same classroom each day. There will be a short break after each exam has finished. School will end on each day at 12:45; there will be no school buses or canteen lunches available on these days but the canteen will operate as normal over break.
Please make sure arrangements have been made to collect pupils from school at the end of each exam day. The importance of proper revision and preparation for all school exams cannot be underestimated as they provide important information to teachers concerning progress and understanding as well as a vital opportunity for pupils to judge their own progress and celebrate success. Please make sure you come fully prepared for each exam bring spare pens, pencils, ruler, rubber and a calculator.
Revision
Click here to download your Study Letter
A video on how to revise can be viewed here https://youtu.be/WDKQxi0_Ogc
Parent guide to revision and exam stress - https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zckydxs
Revision timetables can be downloaded here.
Week starting Monday 8th May
Week starting Monday 15th May
Week starting Monday 22nd May
Week starting Monday 29th May
Week starting Monday 5th June
Week starting Monday 12th June
Week starting Monday 19th June
Complete Exam Overview
Mobile Phone Policy
MOBILE PHONES/DEVICES
Abbey Community College recognises mobile phones/devices as being an integral part of youth culture. However, the duty of care for each and every child in the school is paramount and this policy will attempt to weigh the balance between child protection and the safe use of mobile phones/devices in school. The following is a synopsis of the Policy, the full policy is available on the website or from the school office on request.
Definitions:
Camera phone: A mobile phone or device which can record still and/or moving images and audio recordings.
Text bullying: The use of text, picture or video clip to harass or bully another student either directly to their phone or spread to other phones or internet.
Bluetooth/Infra-red: Proximity transfer of information between phones using wireless or infra-red technology.
Smart watches: Watches that have the ability to do everything a mobile phone or device can do.
Mobile phone/devices use in school
- Students are permitted to carry mobile phones/devices into school, in their bags or internal blazer pocket.
- Abbey Community College does not accept responsibility for damage to, nor loss of, a mobile phone/device regardless of the circumstances.
- Mobile phones can only be used to make and receive calls up to 8.45am, during break time and at lunch time.
- They must not be used in class or in corridors between lessons.
- Under no circumstances is any student permitted to take a photo/video/sound recording on the school premises. Students who do this will be the subject of a disciplinary enquiry.
- Any student found to be up-loading recordings to the Internet depicting the College brand, or involving staff or children in school uniform, will be the subject of a disciplinary enquiry. The College reserves the right to suspend or expel a student for this action.
- The use of mobile phones/devices is strictly prohibited in the examination hall. This means they should be switched off and handed to the Invigilator. According to exam regulations, if students are found with mobile phones/devices they run the risk of being disqualified from public examinations.
Guidelines on adherence to this policy
- Students who use their mobile phones/device inappropriately in class will firstly be given a warning and asked to put it away.
- If a student continues to use their phone/device inappropriately in class he/she will have it confiscated until the end of the day. The phone/device will be sealed in an envelope and left in the school office.
- If a student refuses to hand over the phone/device the teacher will make a direct referral to the Head of Year.
- Where a student has used their phone/device inappropriately (taking photos, videos etc) the Head of School or Deputy Principal will be informed. The phone will be held and a letter issued to the Parent/Guardian. The phone will be returned to the Parent/Guardian at an arranged interview.
- Serious inappropriate use of mobile phones/devices may result in the involvement of the PSNI or Social Services.
Advice to parents
Please avoid communicating with your child on their mobile phones during the day. If there is an emergency situation where you must contact your child at any time, please phone the school on 90 867431 and we will contact your child immediately.
Revision Guides
Year 8 Guides
- Year 8 KS3 Revision Guide.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for Art year 8.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for English year 8.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for Geography year 8.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for History year 8.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for Home Economics Year 8.pdf
Junior school assessment Guidelines for Maths - Year 8.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for RE Year 8.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for Science Year 8.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for Spanish Year 8.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for Technology Year 8.pdf
Year 9 Guides
- Year 9 KS3 Revision Guide.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for Art year 9.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for English year 9.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for Geography year 9.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for History year 9.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for Home Economics year 9.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for Maths year 9.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for Modern Languages year 9.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for RE Year 9.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for Science Year 9.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for Technology Year 9.pdf
Year 10 Guides
- Year 10 KS3 Revision Guide.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for Art year 10.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for English year 10.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for Geography year 10.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for HE year 10.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for History year 10.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for Maths year 10.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for RE Year 10.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for Science year 10.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for Spanish Year 10.pdf
Junior School Assessment Guidelines for Technology year 10.pdf
Drop Everything And Read
Here at Abbey we believe that reading really does change lives, and as part of our mission to develop lifelong reading habits in our students, we’ve introduced a segment of DEAR ( D rop E verything A nd R ead) time into the school day. During form time, we put down what we’re doing and lose ourselves in a book that we’ve brought into school to read purely for pleasure. It’s a low stress, high value activity, and one that we hope will encourage a culture of reading in every corner of the building. There are books of all shapes, sizes and genres, and the adults in the room often join in too! So take our advice, and remember that next time it suddenly goes quiet round your part of the school there’s no need to panic - just open your book and start reading instead! We believe that the best books for DEAR Time are the books you choose for yourself, but we’re also happy to recommend books we like. Here are a few of our recent favourites, grouped into categories we think might be useful:
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Blame My Brain: Nicola Morgan
Mind Your Head: Juno Dawson
Why Your Parents Are Driving You Up the Wall: Dean Burnett
Go Big - The Secondary School Survival Guide: Matthew Burton
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens: Sean Covey
The Art of Being a Brilliant Teenager: Andy Cope
Making a Difference
Girls who changed the World: Michelle Roehm McCann
Boys who Made a Difference: Michelle Roehm McCann
Suffragette - The Battle for Equality: David Roberts
I Am Malala - How One Girl Changed the World: Malala Yousafzai
This Book is Anti Racist: Tiffany Jewell
Greta's Story - The Schoolgirl Who Went on Strike: Valentina Camerini
More Challenging Books for Confident Readers
Becoming: Michelle Obama
1984: George Orwell
The Book Thief: Marcus Zusak
Life of Pi: Yann Martel
The Worst Journey in the World: Apsley Cherry-Garrard
Educated: Tara Westover
Books with Hooks for Reluctant Readers
Lark: Anthony McGowan
TJ and the Hat Trick: Theo Walcott
Dork Diaries: Rachel Renee Russell
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series: Jeff Kinney
Big Nate Boredom Buster: Lincoln Pierce
Tyranny: Lesley Fairfield
Sport and Adventure
Unbelievable Football: Matt Oldfield
The Boy Who Biked The World: Alastair Humphreys
What If I Had Never Tried It: Valentino Rossi
Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Aron Ralson
Fierce - How Competing for Myself Changed Everything: Aly Raisman
The Racehorse Who Learned To Dance: Clare Balding
Fiction
Orangeboy: Patrick Lawrence
The Girl of Ink and Stars: Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Noughts and Crosses: Malorie Blackman
Harry Potter Series: JK Rowling
Flying Tips for Flightless Birds: Kelly McCaughrain
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian: Sherman Alexie
Non Fiction
A Really Short History of Nearly Everything: Bill Bryson
101 Things You Need To Know (and Some you Don’t): Richard Horne
Stuff That Scares Your Pants Off - Glenn Murphy
Be Your Best Self - Life Skills for Unstoppable Kids: Danielle Brown
Honor Girl: Maggie Thrash
We Should Hang Out Sometime: Josh Sundquist