Whole School Bulletin

For the most up-to-date news and information like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter: @oxtedschool
If you have updated your email address recently please contact Claire Kent, Communications Officer

 When sending an email to a member of staff, please copy Claire Kent, Communications Officer: claire.kent@oxted.thpt.org.uk 

Whole School Calendar - w/c 11 December (Week One)

Whole School Notices

If there is something that a member of staff at Oxted School has done which you are happy with,
please do let them know (thankstaff@oxted.thpt.org.uk)

Report a Student Absence

To report a student absence please telephone the attendance line 01883 718707 by 9.00am or as soon as possible thereafter, or email to attendance@oxted.thpt.org.uk on each day of absence

Contacting your child during the day

We are seeing a small but increasing number of students who are using their phones to contact their families during the day, for example to arrange to be collected if they are not feeling well.

We have a zero tolerance on mobile phones and the trend is leading to some challenging yet avoidable situations. Please do not message or call your child during school hours.

If you need to contact your child, please phone the school and we will pass on the message. If your child needs to contact you, they should go to their Year Team. Thank you for your cooperation.

House Bulletin - 08/12/23 new post

Safety of our Students - new post

We would like to remind parents and carers that you should not be dropping off or picking up your child within the vicinity of the school on Bluehouse Lane. We would ask that you do not park on or near the zebra crossing or wait in the Barn Theatre or the United Reformed Church car parks.

Oxted School Christmas Day – Wednesday new post

Christmas Jumper Day

To coincide with Christmas lunch, we are also doing Christmas Jumper Day. Please note – this is NOT an own clothes day – students who would like to wear a Christmas jumper on Wednesday can do so with their uniform. They do not need to wear a blazer if they are wearing a Christmas jumper. Students must also have their normal PE uniform for their PE lesson on this day.

Donations should be made using the online payment system. All monies raised will be going to Young Lives vs Cancer in memory of Abi (former student). 

Arrangements for the last day of term: new post

8.45am-8.55am           AM Tutor
8.55am-9.00am           Movement Time
9.00am - 9.40am        Period 1
9.40am - 9.45am        Movement Time
9.45am - 10.20am      Period 2

10.20am - 10.45am    Break

10.45am – 10.50am   Movement Time
10.50am - 11.25am    Tutor Time for Foyles, Grants and Stocketts
                                  Detillens House Christmas Assembly (Main Hall)
                                  Tenchleys House Christmas Assembly (Eden Hall)

11.25am – 11.30am   Movement Time

11.30am - 12.10pm   Tutor Time Detillens and Tenchleys
                                  Foyles House Christmas Assembly (Sports Hall)
                                  Grants House Christmas Assembly (Main Hall)
                                  Stocketts House Christmas Assembly (Eden Hall) 

12.10pm                    All Students Dismissed

Early Closure Transport Arrangements (12.10pm)

Where possible students should try to arrange for a lift home.  All contract buses/coaches will be at the rear coach park at 12.10pm ready to depart at 12.20pm.  

• 611 (Caterham) WILL NOT RUN AT LUNCHTIME
• 609 (South Godstone, Blindley Heath, East Grinstead) WILL NOT RUN AT LUNCHTIME
• 612 (South Nutfield, Smallfield and Burstow) WILL NOT RUN AT LUNCHTIME 

Metrobus is a timetabled public service; therefore, students may need to make alternative arrangements for getting home.  The following buses run from Oxted, but they are likely to be over-subscribed: 

• 410 (Godstone, Bletchingley and Nutfield) departs outside Pizza Express at 12.30pm
• 410 (Hurst Green) departs outside Sainsbury’s at 12.30pm
• 594 (Limpsfield Chart/Westerham) – departs at 12.37pm outside Sainsbury’s
• 595 (695) (Tatsfield) departs outside Sainsbury’s at 1.37pm

Catering Account Balances - new post

Please note that as of 1 September 2023, the process of purchasing food from the canteen has been amended to reduce waiting times for students who are queuing. If your child has no money on their account at first break (10.55am – 11.20am) and they go to purchase food, they will not be allowed to have anything; however, they will be allowed to purchase food at lunchtime (13:15 – 13:50). If a student does not have any credit on their account at lunchtime, the canteen staff will always check to see if they have eaten that day and will, if necessary, give them credit for a hot lunch or sandwich which will be subtracted from their balance when they next top up. 

We are aware that this may seem quite strict, but unfortunately, we have had to introduce a revised payment process due to the high proportion of students that this is affecting. It is important to note that when you top up your child’s account, it can take up to two hours to show on their account. Therefore, if your child has no balance on their canteen card, please ensure you top up their card no later than 08:30 on the day, if your child wishes to purchase food at first break. 

If there are instances where you have topped up at the last minute and you are concerned, please contact Mrs Partridge at Charlotte.Partridge@uk.issworld.com and financesf@oxted.thpt.org.uk who will ensure that your child can be served food. 

If any parents or carers feel their child may be eligible for Free School Meals, please contact Mrs Mullen at Kim.Mullen@oxted.thpt.org.uk who will be able to provide you with further information.

Communicating with Oxted School

School life is very busy, and we are not always able to reply to emails straight away. However, we will aim to respond to your email within 2 working days. 

Parent meetings with staff are by appointment only, and normally require 2 working days’ notice. If you wish to speak to a member of staff, in person, please contact them directly to book an appointment. 

Our staff work very hard, and it is important that they are allowed to have a personal life as well. We are encouraging staff to try and have a better work/life balance. Therefore, please be aware that they are unlikely to look at emails before 7.30am and after 6pm during the week, and not at all at weekends or during holidays. 

Please copy our Communications Officer Mrs Kent into the emails that you send. This helps us to have an overview of what is happening across the school.

School Car Park, Barn Theatre and
United Reform Church Car Parks

We would like to remind parents and carers that you are not permitted to drive onto the school site to drop off or pick up students, unless you have received express permission from a member of staff, or you have an appointment (in which case you may use the visitors car park at the front of school).

We would also like to remind you that you should not be using the Barn Theatre or the United Reform Church car parks to drop off, pick up or wait for students. Thank you for your support. 

Attendance

The vast majority of students have made an excellent start this year and we are delighted that most students’ attendance is looking very positive. We would like to take this opportunity to remind parents of the importance of attendance at school and remind you to please telephone the school to alert us to your child’s absence for every day that they are off. Any days which are not accounted for by you (via telephone or email) will be counted as unauthorised absence.

As per Surrey County Council guidance, we will also issue fixed penalty notices (which can lead to fixed penalty fines) for extended periods of unauthorised absence. Please see the attached letter from Surrey County Council for more information about fixed penalty fines.

If you have any queries regarding attendance at Oxted School, please do contact our attendance team (attendance@oxted.thpt.org.uk) or Miss Bergamo, Assistant Principal and Attendance Lead (alexis.bergamo@oxtedthpt.org.uk)

Access to School Site – Out of Hours

There have been recent incidents whereby students are accessing the school site out of hours to play football on the Astro.  Please would you remind your child the school site is not open to students out of hours in the evenings, at weekends and during the holidays as we cannot guarantee or be responsible for their safety.

PE Fixtures - 11/12/23 

Enrichment Programme 

Inter-House and Christmas Events