Ferryhill Business and Enterprise College

Thought for the week: It always takes two to make up after a quarrel.
Word of the Week: Apprentice – Someone who has agreed to work for a skilled person for  a particular period of time and often for low payment, in order to learn that person’s skills

Uniform/Haircut
Our uniform rules are very straightforward and designed to prevent envy, copying, subgroup culture bullying, undue expense to parents and hopefully to make our young people feel part of the school.  This also applies to extreme haircuts- they are not acceptable in school and should a student arrive in school in an unacceptable manner they will be sent home until the situation is remedied.  During that time the student will be marked unauthorised absent and if the situation continues or is repeated it is likely that the student will be excluded from school.  Regrettably I have now had to do this on two occasions.  Can I therefore clarify to parents and students we will not accept unnaturally coloured hair or extreme hair style including scrolling patterns and lines cut into the scalp. P. Bowden

Incidents concerning facebook and other social networking sites
We like other schools are facing increased problems with the inappropriate use of social networking sites. These are not accessible at school. Often the traded insults, threats and extremely anti- social, personal comments that are made by a small but significant minority of students cause significant problems in school. I would draw the attention of parents to the e safety document on our website and I strongly advise all parents to monitor internet usage. Should your son/daughter be subject to any abuse and you are sure the abuse is one way. I advise you to print out the relevant facebook page. We will then work with you in order to help resolve the problem.  P. Bowden

Smoking on school site
Any student caught smoking on the school site will be given an after school detention as a punishment and is likely to be reported to the local authority for follow up action. P .Bowden

Big Learning Day
Year 7 will be doing an Enterprise Activity called Duck Day and will be in the Hall all day. Classes will be registered at 8.30 in the Hall. Lunch will be at the normal time. Mr Elliot will take the register

Year 8 will be on a geography/history trip. They are to meet at the following venues
        8BCA        Rm 35       Register taken by SLM
        8DAT        Rm 34       Register taken by LHA 
        8LGI         Rm 33       Register taken by PCO
        8SLM       Rm 32       Register taken by SMC
        8ESI         Rm 31      Register taken by ESH
Year 9 will be doing an Enterprise Activity at Middlesbrough FC. All year 9 are to meet in the Old Sports Hall at 8.30am. Year 9 students need to take a packed lunch. Appropriate non-uniform clothing to be worn. Mr Mortimer will be taking the register

Year 10 will be doing an Enterprise Activity at Nissan. Year 10 are to meet in the New Sports Hall at 8.30. This includes 10V who are normally at college that day. Miss Gibson will be taking the registers

Year 11
11D1 and 11D2 will report to Mr Cutts in Rm 52
Mr Sixsmiths group to report at 8.30am to the LSU
Mrs Metcalfes Basic Skills group report to Rm 5
The rest of Year 11 go to room 15 at 8.30am. This group will be doing an Enterprise Activity at Middlesbrough FC. Mr Simpson will be taking the registers. A. Furniss

Creative writing competition
A second creative writing competition is taking place right now! All you need to do is create a poem. It can be about anything of your choice. Try to be original and include some of the techniques on the display board in the English corridor. The most original and interesting will win a fantastic prize! Enter – it could be you! Miss Barnaby

Student Council Meetings
The next Student Council Meetings are: lower council P.2 on Thursday 11th March and upper council P.3 on Friday 12th March. Both meetings will be held in R15 thanks.  L Edgar 

Students travelling on school buses
Just a reminder that only students who have been issued with a bus pass from Durham County Council are eligible and insured to travel on our contracted school buses. 

It has come to my attention that a number of Year 7 students, who have been unable to obtain concessionary bus passes for the contracted Ferryhill buses, are getting on these buses without a bus pass.  Travelling on a school bus without having first obtained a bus pass is contrary to Durham County Council regulations.  Parents need to be aware that those students travelling on a school bus without a bus pass are putting their child’s safety at risk as they are not insured in these circumstances.  Please ensure that your child only travels on our contracted school buses when they have been issued with a bus pass from DCC. The above information does not apply to our late bus which the school directly funds and not DCC. Students with passes are required to carry them with them. If a student does not have or has lost their pass the bus company has no obligation to transport them.  L Edgar

School Menu week commencing 8th March
Monday – Mexican Chilli Beef with Rice, Trio of Vegetable Money with Champ Mash, Lancashire Hot Pot, Golden Sweetcorn, Fresh Sliced Carrots or Seasonal Salad selection, Warm Dorset Apple Cake with Vanilla Sauce or Fresh Fruit selection.
Tuesday – Calypso Chicken served with Pasta, Vegetalbe Samosa, Savoury Minced Beef with Dumplings, Fresh Cauliflower, Swede or seasonal salad selection. Jelly Yoghurt Whip or Fresh Fruit selection.
Wednesday – Roast Beef in Gravy served with Crispy Roast Potatoes, Quorn and Vegetable stir fry with black bean sauce, Turkey casserole served with Champ mash, Fresh sliced carrots, green beans or seasonal salad selection.  Apple & Rhubarb crumble with custard or Fresh fruit selection.
Thursday – Lasagne served with Tomato & Garlic Bread, Vegetable Risotto, Minced Beef cottage Pie with beans, fresh courgettes, mixed vegetable or seasonal salad selection, Chocolate Mandarin Sponge with Chocolate Sauce or fresh fruit selection.
Friday – Battered Cod Portion with Chunky chips, quorn vegetable& potato layer pie with oven baked jacket wedges, Fish jambalaya, garden peas, baked beans or seasonal salad selection.  Crunchy fruit crumble with custard or Fresh fruit selection

Home Access
As you are probably already aware Home Access is an initiative aimed at helping low income family’s gain access to a computer and/or the internet in order to raise attainment and achievement levels within education. Further information on the scheme and/or application forms for parents, should be requested from Janine Docherty on 0191 370 8957 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Please note that application forms can only be issued to parents that meet the following eligibility criteria:
Are you eligible? Have a look at the eligibility requirements below. You may be able to qualify for a Home Access grant if you: Answer yes to three questions in section one and answer yes to at least one question in section two.
 
Section one: Are you a parent or guardian responsible for and living with a child…

• ….Who is in school years 3 to 9?
• ….Who attends a state maintained school in England full time?
• ….Who has not already had a computer from Home Access Grant or similar programme, such as computers for pupils.

Section two:  Do you receive at least one of the following?

• Income based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income Support
• Child Tax credit but not Working Tax Credit and an income of less than £16,040
• Guaranteed Pension Credit(Not savings credit)
• Income based Employment support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999