“The overwhelming majority” of parents, “are very supportive of the Academy’s work and the education it provides for their children.”
Ofsted, 2010

Communications - Keeping You Informed

We aim to keep you informed of what is happening at the Academy both with regard to your daughter’s progress and the development of the Academy. We do this by providing:

• Regular updates providing information on events, and activities on recent progress within the Academy, as well as celebrating the achievements of our students.
• The Belvedere Academy website  www.belvedereacademy.net
• Regular Electronic Messaging via our text messaging and e-mail communication system.
• Three short progress reports and one full written report each academic year.
• An initial Year 7 Tutor based Parents’ Evening in the first Term, followed by a full Parents’ Evening later in the year.
• Regular update letters from the Principal, on progress and developments in the Academy.
• Regular Parents’ Association meetings (optional) where developments in the Academy are presented by Mr Irwin, Associate Principal, and other members of the Senior Management team.
• An active local Governing Body and Academy Trust Board, who produce regular updates throughout the year.

Communications - Keeping Us Informed

We would ask that parents contact the Academy to keep us informed of the following:

• Changes of address or telephone number.
• Any occurrence which could affect your daughter's behaviour or ability to concentrate at the Academy.
• Absence from the Academy.

Contact information is particularly important in case of a medical emergency. Hospital treatment is usually withheld until a parent or carer is present. We must be able to contact someone named by you at all times.

Who To Contact

You may need to contact The Belvedere Academy for a variety of reasons. To ensure that you speak to the most appropriate person it may be helpful to use the following guidelines:

In most cases the first point of contact should be the Pastoral Office. The Pastoral Office is essentially a student services office, aimed at providing support, advice and communication for our students and their parents. The Pastoral Office also assists our Pastoral Team and other members of staff in dealing with all student issues.

The Pastoral Administrator and Assistant who are based in the office will be able to answer most queries that you may have or be able to advise you on which particular member of staff you need to speak to. Advice on this is offered below:

• If your call relates to a particular subject area then either telephone the Pastoral Office, and leave a message for the appropriate Curriculum Leader or e-mail the subject teacher direct via our Academy e-mail enquiries address. Please ensure that you mark clearly who the e-mail should be directed to.
• If your call relates to more general issues about your daughter at The Belvedere Academy then you should contact the Pastoral Office and leave a message for the Head of Year or Key Stage Manager, stating the nature of your enquiry. For specific SEN or Inclusion matters, parents should contact the Inclusion Manager, in the same manner.
• If you need to contact the Academy for an urgent matter, telephone or visit the Academy explaining the urgency of your call. You will be connected to an appropriate Senior Member of Staff.
• If you wish to speak to any members of staff in person, appointments must be made. To arrange this you should leave a message via the Pastoral Office for the member of staff who will contact you to arrange a convenient time.

Parents' Association

We would like to encourage any parents/carers who are particularly interested in learning more about the developments in the Academy, and would like to contribute views and ideas, to participate in the Parents’ Association. The Parents' Association is a forum by which we can improve home/school communication and take the Academy forward. The constructive views of parents/carers are very important to the Academy, and we welcome your support.

Meetings take place in the Academy Library, starting at 5.30pm until approximately 7.00pm. Tea, coffee, and biscuits are available upon arrival from 5.15pm.

The dates of the planned meetings for 2011-12 are shown below, and Minutes of previous meetings are also attached for information.

Parents' Association Meetings 2011-12

• Monday 14th November 2011, 5.30pm, Academy Library
• Monday 3rd March 2012, 5.30pm, Academy Library
• Monday 18th June 2012, 5.30pm, Academy Library

Previous Minutes