Frequently Asked Questions:
Please find below the answers to the most commonly asked questions at this time of year. If you cannot find the answer to your query within these FAQs, please contact the school office who will help you.
How are form classes arranged?
We work closely with our feeder first and middle schools, especially in the summer term. Key staff met with all the Year 4 and Year 8 teachers to discuss our new pupils. We then ask the Year 4 and Year 8 staff to recommend small groups of pupils based on their knowledge and expertise of them. We then use all this information to assign students to a form group.
My child is very shy. How will they be supported in their transition?
We have a very kind and friendly Key Stage 2 and key Stage 3 community. All our Year 5 and Year 9 form tutors are approachable and caring. In the first half-term, we focus on coming together as a year group and have lots of PHSE lessons and form-time focused on building friendships and developing independence and confidence. Our Student Support Leader also runs Nurture Group and Games Club for students who may need extra support settling in and making friends.
How do I speak to my child’s Year 5/Year 9 form tutor?
Your child’s school planner is the first point of contact between home and school. However, you can also contact the school office and a member of staff will get back to you as soon as possible. In the first ½ term, we also run a Meet the Tutor event so you can find out how your child has settled in.
How can my child travel to school?
Due to the locality of our school, many students choose to walk to school. This is often an exciting milestone for our Year 5s. We recommend you practice it first with your child so they can do it safely and, ideally they would have a friend who could join them. Others get a bus to school, dropping off at the Regent Centre which is a two minute walk from school. Local bus schedules can be found here: Go North East Bus Times. Alternatively parents/carers at drop their children off at school by car, there is a small car park at the front of the school. Please note this gets very busy at drop-off and pick-up times. Monday to Thursday, students can attend extra-curricular clubs that run in school until 3:45pm.
My child can’t decide between packed lunch or a school dinner. What should they do?
Yes they can try both options; both are eaten in the Dining Hall and students eating a packed lunch can still ‘top up’ with items from the canteen. We use a biometric system and meals can be paid for via the office or online.
If my child has a problem, who can they speak to?
Firstly, their form tutor is their main point of contact, but they will also have some subject teachers too, if the issue is subject related. Miss Billingsley is the Assistant Principal and there is additional support offered by Miss Readman. GPA is a very caring school and all staff members are approachable and will point your child in the right direction of help!
Can my child bring their phone to school?
We appreciate that some parents want their children to have a mobile phone for the journey to/from school and so for this reason only, we allow phones. They must be turned off and left in bags once students come onto the school site. Any phones seen/heard during the school day, will be confiscated and must be collected at the end of the school day.
What support is there for children with SEND?
Our SEND support team will meet with first schools in the summer term to collect personalised information regarding additional needs. We also attend any EHCP meetings in this term to support with transition. Miss Readman may also contact parents/carers ahead of September to discuss personal circumstances.
My child takes daily medication. How is this organised?
Before they start with us, we would ask that you to come to school to meet our First Aider and complete the medical paperwork. Then we could arrange for whatever was required.