FAQs
What is the difference between Primary and Secondary School?
Age Group - The most obvious difference between primary and secondary schools is pupil age. Primary-school ages range from 4 to 11. Secondary school pupils generally range from 11 to 18. Clearly, the age difference of pupils can determine the teaching approach. In simplistic terms, primary schools provide the groundwork and necessary tools to access education, and secondary provision builds on what has been learned.
Organisation and Content- Primary and secondary schools are different in orientation. For instance, in primary schools, every subject is taken by the same group of pupils. For example, they all go to music lessons together. Once pupils enter secondary school, there is more variety in the groups of pupils they have lessons with, for example they may be with a different group of pupils for English and maths. As pupils move into year 10 and 11 they will have some choices in the subjects they study, giving them a degree of focus and allowing for greater subject breadth to be covered. Secondary schools prepare pupils for college, university and apprenticeships.
Mainstream or Special?
A special school is a school which is “specially organised to make special educational provision for pupils with SEN” (section 337 of the Education Act 1996).
A mainstream school is a school which is able to support all pupils if their special educational needs and disabilities aren't recognised as being of the extent that something 'additional to' mainstream provision is required. These can be either state schools or Academies (section 83 CAFA 2014). Independent schools are not classed as mainstream schools.
What are the uniform requirements - if any?
We do not have a formal uniform. Our pupils should be comfortable in the clothes they wear to school, but they are not allowed to wear low-hanging trousers, short skirts, crop tops or clothing that contains explicit, derogatory or offensive pictures or slogans. If they arrive at school in inappropriate clothing, they will be asked to go home and change.
What are the equipment and learning requirements for me as a parent e.g. do I need to pay for a lap top, text books, calculators, stationery etc?
The school provides equipment and resources, including text books, calculators, pens and pencils. It would be useful for a pupil to have a laptop or computer at home should they need to complete any work, but it is not essential.
What to do if my child is ill?
Please call the main office on 01707 830950 to report your child's absence. Please see the attendance page for more information. - link below.
What will the school do if my child is ill for a prolonged period of time?
If your child is absent from school for a prolonged period, evidence will need to be provided. It is also essential that parents engage in dialogue with the school until normal access resumes.
What should I do if my child has health needs and needs to have medication administered when at school?
Please ensure the school are aware of the details of any medication your child is taking, whether at school or at home.
If your child does need to have medicine administered at school, please contact the main office who will be able to provide parents with the necessary forms and all additional guidance. Please do not give the medication to your child to have in school (even if it is to be kept in their bag and is 'over the counter' medication). All medication, including paracetamol must be kept securely in the office.
What if my son/daughter needs access arrangements?
We are a specialist provision, with a very experienced SENDCo who will ensure that your child has access arrangements for examinations to meet their needs.
What to do if I have educational concerns - who do I contact reference educational progress?
Upon arrival at James Marks Academy, our Integration Manager will be your initial point of contact. Following the transition period, staff are allocated to each year group, who can provide additional advice and guidance about their progress. If it is a question about a specific subject, please contact the member of staff who delivers the sessions.
What to do if I have behavioural concerns regarding my child, or another child ie: bullying, safeguarding etc and who do I address these too?
Initially, speak to a member of staff associated to the year group your child is in. Alternatively, or if it is urgent, please contact reception and ask to speak to Scott Martin or Mark Reynolds.
If it is a safeguarding issue, please speak with the DSL - Scott Martin, poor Deputy DSL - Mark Reynolds.
How will the school tell me how my child is performing?
You will get weekly calls from your child's mentor to regularly discuss all elements of your child's progress as we like to ensure the communication between school and home and is frequent.
You will receive a termly report from the subject teachers; two parents evenings are also scheduled on the 26th September 2023 and 13th February 2024.
How can I say thank you?
We appreciate you taking the time to supply us with feedback whether this is via email, card or letter. Thank you notes are put in our 'Good News Folder' anonymised, so that we can share pupils' journeys with others.
When will parents' evenings take place?
We have two parents evenings a year; one in the Autumn term and one in the Spring term. The first one is Monday 30 September with the second on Monday 3 February. There will be a parents' evening specifically for year 13 pupils in the second half of the spring term in preparation for their A-level examinations in the summer.
What are the school rules which I should uphold and expect my child to adhere to?
At James Marks Academy, we expect everyone to treat each other with respect at all times and staff model this behaviour. We do not tolerate vandalism, violence, fighting, or abusive language. We expect pupils to complete the work during class time. If your child did not meet these expectations, we use 'catch up' to complete the learning and reinforce expectations and help them to meet them in the future.
How can I communicate concerns?
Please contact the school is you have any concerns, as stated above this can be a one of the members of staff assigned to the year group or the person who delivers the subject.
If there are any concerns about members of staff, please direct these to the Executive Head teacher: exechead@jamesmarks.herts.sch.uk
If there are any concerns about the Executive Head teacher, please direct these to the Chair of Trustees: eugene.billeter@romanfields.herts.sch.uk.
What happens at lunch time and are there any food restrictions (e.g. nut allergies)?
Your child can bring in a packed lunch; we just ask that it does not contain any nut substances (actual nuts, peanut butter sandwiches, or cakes with nuts in etc)
We encourage healthy eating. We provide free fruit in the dining hall for pupils to help themselves if they get hungry throughout the school day.
What do parents need to pay for?
The school pays for most of the day to day educational activities and parents will be invited (free of charge) to community events to celebrate their child's achievements.
Parents will be asked to make voluntary contributions towards some of the trips and extension activities. Letters will be sent out in advance of all events.
We hold fundraising events which your child may wish to be involved in. Please see our news feed of activities that take place to give you an idea.
How does the school deliver Pastoral Care?
Initially, when your child arrives, the Integration Manager will be the main point of contact. After a few weeks, the Integration Manager will introduce your child to their colleagues assigned to the year group. Scott Martin is the pastoral lead for the school and he can also be contacted.
What does the school day look like eg start times, break times, end of school?
Does the school run clubs or extra-curricula activities?
- Yes, these changes each half term and are publicised in the dining room.
- How is lost property dealt with?
Lost property is handed into the main school office. If your child has mislaid something, please contact the office in case the item has been handed in. The office will usually send a message to all staff if something has been handed in. Alternatively, the office are happy to send an email to all staff to keep their eye out for any item that has been mislaid.
Travel arrangements
When your child joins the school you will be asked to complete a transport application form, if you live over 3 miles from the school site and require transport to get your child to and from school. Please hand this to our Transport Liaison colleague, Tony Gott, who will forward this to the Local Authority transport team. Tony will monitor the progress of the application to ensure that transport is in place for you when your child is due to start.
If you live less than 3 miles from the school site, the local authority expect that your child get themselves to the school site.
Is there parking for parents who need to come to the school site?
We are very fortunate that we have a large site with ample parking facilities for staff and visitors.
What happens at transition points?
Stage 1 - When your child joins the provision, you will be looked after by our Integrations Manager who will work with you and your child on integrating them into James Marks Academy.
Stage 2 - The Integrations Manager will introduce your child to year group staff who will support them through their journey at James Marks Academy.
Stage 3 - Our Careers and Transition team will start to get involved with your son/daughter in Year 10/11, with supported work experience opportunities and college transition programme where appropriate. They will work with you and your child to prepare them for their onward transition, whether it be university, college, mainstream school or employment.
