Dear Parents and Carers
I hope you and your family have had a good summer break. It was a pleasure to celebrate GCSE, AS and A level results with our students over the summer break. It was wonderful to note the many individual successes, with good numbers returning to our Sixth Form. We wish those students heading off to university, apprenticeships, work, or college every success and happiness.
We are looking forward to welcoming all pupils back to school on Tuesday 3 September 2024. All pupils should be in school by 8.30am.
Pastoral Team 2024/2025
Mr Harrison (Assistant Headteacher) oversees Behaviour and Pupil Wellbeing and Mr Dickinson (Assistant Headteacher) oversees Safeguarding and Attendance. Our Pastoral Team for 2024/25 is:
Year 7 Mr Corke (Head of Y7)
Mrs Francies (Pupil Support Y7)
Year 8 Mrs Barton (Head of Year 8)
Miss Harding (Pupil Support Year 8)
Year 9 Mrs Buswell (Head of Year 9)
Mr Hopkins (Pupil Support Year 9)
Year 10 Mr Owen (Head of Year 10)
Mrs Manship (Pupil Support Year 10)
Year 11 Mrs Thomas (Head of Year 11)*
Miss Stewart (Pupil Support Y11)
*Mr Ross will cover for Mrs Thomas each Friday
Year 12/13 Mrs Croll (Head of Y12/13)
Mrs Davies (KS5 Support)
Our Attendance Officers are Mrs Loveridge, Mrs Matthews and Mrs Mordey-Jones.
We monitor attendance closely, as all children should aim to be in school and on time every day. Improving attendance and punctuality remains a key focus for our school from the first day in September onwards. Rewards for good attendance and punctuality will be readily available; sanctions for poor attendance and punctuality will be issued. Please note that all students are expected to be in school in good time for the start of the school day. The first bell rings at 8.30am and all students should be on site in readiness for assemblies and form time by 8.25am.
Thank you to those of you who have already donated good quality, preloved uniform items to the school. If you have good quality uniform items at home that your child has grown out of, we welcome these as donations to the school for us to share with those in need. We keep a good stock which our pupils can swap, borrow or take. Pupils should call into G1 and staff will help select and find. Thank you in advance for your donations. Please deliver any freshly laundered items to our school reception.
I wrote to you in the summer confirming the changes to our school uniform from September i.e. the number of compulsory badged items has been significantly reduced. There is only one badged item required now alongside the school tie. Our school uniform requirements fully comply with WG expectations, and our policy is on our school website. We will be insisting on the highest standards of uniform in September.
I would urge anyone who believes their child may qualify for free school meals to complete an application form so that your child can have a free meal each day as well as receive additional funding towards uniform and equipment. The Welsh Government grant, known as the Schools Essentials Grant, is for pupils who qualify for a free school meal and is additional financial support for uniform, sports kit and equipment. For new Year 7 pupils this year the grant is worth £200, and for Year 8-11 pupils the grant is £125. Details can be found on the Caerphilly council website. If you would like any assistance with your application, please contact your child’s Head of Year or Pupil Support Officer who will be happy to help.
In the coming weeks we will be writing to you to ensure the contact details we hold for you are correct. If your address or phone number has changed recently then please let our admin team know. We will also be renewing our privacy notice, the medical details for your child, and consent for photography and local visits / fixtures.
If your child qualifies for a CCBC bus pass, you should receive this from CCBC. We understand bus passes for new pupils have been sent out over the summer holidays. Please note all pupils are expected to travel on the bus that is designated to them by CCBC. Please contact CCBC direct if you have any queries about school buses or taxis, or if your child requires a replacement bus pass.
Congratulations to our Senior Student team on their appointment – Matthew Gooding and Molly Cotterill will lead the team as Head Boy and Girl. Imogen Jones and Annie Mae Bruton have been appointed as Deputy Head Girls, and Rhtdian Davies and James Ramsay as Deputy Head Boys. Kira Nutt is the Senior Prefect. Pupils in all year groups will have leadership opportunities as members of our Pupil Senedd, applications for which will open soon.
As you know, we expect all to Aspire and Achieve here at St Cenydd by making positive choices each day to be Ready, Respectful, Safe i.e. ready to learn by arriving on time, with the right equipment and positively contributing to their learning; showing respect for themselves, others and their environment; safe choices, behaving well and in a sensible manner.
Yours sincerely
Miss Collins
Headteacher
