Weekly Parent BulletinWeek Commencing 06 May 2024

This Week:

• A Level Art Exam – Tuesday 7 May to Thursday 9 May

• Mental Health Awareness Week – from Tuesday 7 May

• Year 11 & 13 Group Photos – Tuesday 7 May

• GCSE and A Level Exams Begin – Thursday 9 May to Wednesday 19 June

• Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Practice Expedition – Saturday 11 May to Sunday 12 May

• Year 10 Work Experience – Tuesday 21 May to Thursday 23 May

We have an awesome new NFS Student Press Team for 2024.  Ed Collard (Freelance BBC TV news producer, university lecturer and documentary filmmaker) came into NFS on Thu 2 May and trained four Year 8 Student Leaders on video production. The girls now have the know-how to capture great footage of our school, to be shared within our school and Nova Education Trust in the future.

As you are aware, the final payment for the Prom were due on Friday 3rd May. However, Year 11 had their final achievement assembly on this date, and found out what discounts they have received off their prom ticket. This discount has been applied to ParentPay and will adjust your remaining payment. Therefore, we have extended the final payment deadline by one week, to Friday 10th May. Please only pay the final balance once the discount has been applied. For those who have already paid the full balance, the discount will be processed as a refund later this week.

A reminder that discounts are based on REACH points earned throughout this academic year. The following discounts will be given, based on REACH points earned:

• Top 5 students = £15 off ticket price
• Next top 10 students = £10 off ticket price
• Next top 15 students = £7 off ticket price
• Next top 25 students = £5 off ticket price
• Next top 25 students = £3 off ticket price
• Everyone else = £1 off ticket price

Miss N Harmer-Weston - Head of Year 11

Year 11 Leaver's Hoodies are now available for purchase via the link below. The first names of all Year 11 students will be displayed within the number '24' on the back of the hoodie (as shown in the online example). Please complete the form on the link below to give consent for your child's first name to be used, even if you are not purchasing a hoodie, by Friday 10th May. The final date for hoodies to be purchased is Monday 20th May. Hoodies will be delivered to school and distributed to students during Leaver's Assembly on Friday 21st June.

Link to consent form due 10th May: https://forms.office.com/e/trFns748bD

Link to order by 27th May: https://just-schoolwear.co.uk/shop/nottingham-free-school/nottingham-free-school-leavers-hoodie-2024/

Please get in touch if you have any further questions.

Miss. Weston - Head of Year 11

We are having an increasing number of students being late for school this half term. All students have been reminded that our first bell rings at 8:28am. This allows for students to be ready in their classroom by 8:30am. Students are classed as late once the first bell has rung at 8:28am and are issued with a detention that same day.  Students who are late are missing vital information that sets them up for the day.  Please contact your child's tutor if you need support in ensuring that your child attends school on time. 

Attendance Team

Music tuition is available for all students at Nottingham Free School. Payments for tuition were due on Monday 22 April. Any outstanding payments must be made as soon as possible.

• £116 per term for 1:1 tuition
• £58 per term for 2:1 tuition
• £39 per term for 3:1 tuition.

If your child is interested in learning a new instrument or would like to pick up an instrument they have previously played, please contact lwilson@nottinghamfreeschool.co.uk for any further information.

Miss L Wilson - Head of Music

When?

• Tuesday 21st, Wednesday 22nd, Thursday 23rd May 
• All Year 10 students will be doing work experience. 
• There will be no Year 10 classes on in school.

How do you find a work experience placement?

Once your young person has decided what they would like to do, they will need to look for placements by:

• Asking around personal contacts
• Googling local companies
• Looking at the Safety Measures website. (log on details are on Satchel One)

Are there any limitations?

• The placement must have Public Liability Insurance.
• Parents must be happy for their child to attend this placement.
• Students cannot work directly with parents or at home or at their own primary school.

What should you do you if you can't find a placement?

It takes perseverance to find a placement and we will help where we can, but unfortunately, we are unable to provide every child with a placement.  If you are struggling after trying for some time, please do get in touch with Mrs Barrett at pbarrett@nottinghamfreeschool.co.uk

What happens when my young person has found a placement?

• Check you are happy with the placement.
• Submit the details to the Mrs Cockayne in the school office - kcockayne@nottinghamfreeschool.co.uk
• The office will contact the employer and then the risk assessment company, Safety Measures, will check that the company has Employer’s Liability Insurance. 
• Checking placements can take several months - so this is now urgent.

Mrs Barrett - Head of Careers