Bellemoor School | Southampton

Collection for the Homeless

Every year we combine our Harvest Festival with a collection for the homeless. In that week our assemblies consider the plight of the destitute, while giving thanks for the Harvest. Boys are encouraged to donate cans of food and a huge pile accumulates on the stage. The cans are donated to St. James' Shelter and the Sunday Lunch Project. Our other main charities are UNICEF, the British Legion Poppy Appeal and Dr Barnados. Money is raised through sponsored events and non-uniform days.

Documents (Freedom of Information Act)

Parents are entitled to obtain copies of Dept. of Education circulars, Inspection Reports, and schemes and syllabuses; please contact the school for such information. All school records are marked "Confidential" as they are not open in the sense that a pupil's records may be consulted by anyone. They are "Confidential'' to the school and to the child's parents or guardians. They are important in enabling teachers to communicate in a helpful and constructive way about how well a child is progressing in learning. Parents may, within the arrangements made by a school, ask to see their child's School Records, but it will probably be most helpful if progress is discussed in a general way with the child's teacher(s), when fuller explanations can be given than it is possible to record on official records. All records including those held on computer (SCOPE and SIMS) are covered by the Data Protection Act.

Work Permits

 On reaching the age of fourteen pupils may take part-time employment, providing they comform to the bye-laws. Application forms are obtained from the Schools Career Department. No pupil without a permit may legally be employed.

Further Education

A very large proportion of Bellemoor pupils proceed to further education. If, after completing the courses at this school, your son wishes to continue with full-time or part-time education, you may obtain detailed information from:

The Schools Career Department or any local Further Education establishment.

Complaints

If you have a concern you should take up the matter with your son's tutor, Head of Year or the Headteacher, depending on the seriousness of the matter. If you are not satisfied, you can take up the matter with Governors, the City Council Education Officer, and the Secretary of State, in that order. Information about how to make a complaint according to arrangements established under Section 23 of the Education Reform Act is available at the school's general office.

Music at Bellemoor

Music at Bellemoor provides an opportunity for each boy to express themselves in a different way. Music lessons within the classroom give boys an insight in to the wider sphere of different styles and genres which are covered both practically and theoretically. Outside the classroom there are a number of ensembles which provide boys with the experience of making music with others and performing to an audience. A number of boys play in Southampton city orchestras and bands and some receive county awards. There are a large number of boys receiving instumental tuition on instruments ranging from orchestral to keyboards, electric guitar, bass and drum kit. Pupils regularly go on to study music at sixth form college and university.

Bellemoor Band

The quality of the Bellemoor band is a traditional feature of Bellemoor School. The standard of playing and  performance is one of the best in Southampton schools. The band gives many concerts and is booked to play at events around the city. We also have been visiting infant and primary schools in Southampton to do workshops.

Rewards

We delight in celebrating outstanding work and achievements of all types. We encourage and reward achievement by means of a system of merits, credits, improve-ment certificates and commendations. These are recorded in the Daybook, which parents are asked to sign weekly. Commendations are awarded in the form of certificates and are presented in assembly. All certificates gained are placed in Records of Achievement which boys take with them when they leave. We also reward sporting and cultural achievements with certificates or colours

Information and Communication Technology

Our staff have now completed their ICT training and are making increasing use of ICT in their lessons. Consequently, ICT is used across the curriculum in all subjects to reflect its use in those subjects outside school. We have improved facilities by increasing the number of computers and projectors for use with whole classes. Our equipment has been upgraded providing a modern whole school network, which offers across school communication, access to software, individual network storage areas for staff and pupils, plus broadband internet access for all machines. The use of data logging in Science has been extended and a new 2 computer controlled milling machine has been installed in technology.

Religious Education

Religious Studies follows the Hampshire Agreed Syllabus, "Living Difference". This is a legal requirement of the Education Act (1966). The programmes of study explore aspects of all the major world faiths and seek to raise an awareness of the multi-cultural community in which we live through the development of empathy with the beliefs and practices of others.

The teaching will reflect the fact that the religious traditions in Great Britain are in main Christian, while taking into account the teachings and practices of the other principal religions in Great Britain. It is not designed to convert pupils, or to urge a particular religion or religious belief on pupils. During Key stage 3, pupils will build up an understanding of the six major religions and recognise how behaviour, experience and belief relate to each other. Within this framework, opportunities are created for pupils to reflect on life experiences and develop skills of critical appraisal and thoughtful evaluation. In this way, R.S. plays an important role in contributing to pupils' own spiritual and moral growth. As well as the option of studying Religious Studies to (full) GCSE level, all pupils follow a course in Key Stage 4, that leads to a (short course) GCSE Examination. Parents may request withdrawal from R.S. by writing to the Headteacher.

Local Education Authority

Bellemoor School is maintained by the Southampton City Council. Any information that is required from the Education Authority should normally be obtained from the Local Education Office, whose address and telephone number are as follows:

Southampton City Council, Education Office, Frobisher House,

Commercial Road, Southampton. Telephone: (023) 80 833 300

The City Council Education Authority directorate includes:

Chair of the Education/Employment Committee: Councillor Calvin Horner

Director of Education: Ian Sandbrook.

Senior Management Team:

Head of Policy and Planning: Andrew Hind

Chief Inspector: Rosemary Tong.

Governors Officers:

Mr. J. Green CHAIRMAN

Mr. P. Bray VICE CHAIRMAN

Contact via the school