Student Welfare

Ferne Dower Wellbeing Lead DOL for Criminology & Sociology f.dower@harrispurley.org.uk	Laura Phare School Counsellor   l.phare@harrispurley.org.uk	Celina Grant Wellbeing Consultant   c.grant@harrispurley.org.uk

From the moment they arrive here at the beginning of September, we want our Year 7 students to feel welcome, safe and cared for. By feeling settled early on they can begin to grasp all that we have to offer; academic, social and extra-curricular.

In their first week here, every Year 7 is given a tutor who coaches them, sets goals with them and makes sure they settle in well. Class sizes are kept as small as possible. We also have a culture of mutual respect between students and staff – and zero tolerance of bullying in any form.

Through our Faculty system, we encourage friendship and healthy competition. Students are placed in a tutor group which belongs to one of our six faculties (Blue, Green, Orange, Purple, Red and Yellow). Each Faculty contains at least one tutor group from each year group (Year 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13). By putting students into these smaller communities, they feel a greater sense of belonging.

We run all manner of inter-faculty competitions and students are encouraged to win points for their faculty through good attendance and behaviour. We want parents to feel involved and informed about their child’s progress. This is why we send reports home every six weeks and regularly welcome parents to come and meet with their child’s teachers

The Academy has a range of policies and procedures in place that ensure the welfare of all of our students. Several of these policies set out expectations about good behaviour.  This means everyone feels safe and can learn. This includes good learning behaviour around the Academy and in lessons and also expectations about how to communicate and behave appropriately towards other students and staff.

Excellent attendance is the expectation at Harris Academy Purley. The expectation is that students attend every day unless they are unwell, in which case parents or carers are expected to contact the Academy before 9am on each morning of absence.

To report a Harris Academy Purley student absent, you can email us at the address below or call our main telephone number and choose option 1 (Attendance) from the automated answering system.

02086081141

info@harrispurley.org.uk

---

Wellbeing

The health, happiness and mental wellbeing of our students is, as always, our first priority. Our Mental Health & Wellbeing team (MHWB) is always available to assist students with any issues they feel they need support with. If the team is unavailable, for example during a time when school is closed, we encourage you to make use of the resources below:

• Mind www.mind.org.uk
  This website has ideas for staying indoors, as well as suggestions for ways to take care of your mental health and wellbeing.
• ChatterPack www.chatterpack.net
  Chatterpack have an amazing list of free boredom-busting resources to keep you busy and entertained while you're at home.
• NSPCC www.nspcc.org.uk
  The NSPCC website has a section on helping children with depression and anxiety.
• Kooth AppStore/GooglePlay
  This is an app for your phone that offers immediate support.

We also encourage you to get as much fresh air and exercise as you can. If you would like to get in touch with our MHWB team, you can find their email addresses at the top of the page. If you are concerned about somebody you know, please tell our Safeguarding team, who will make it their priority to reach out to them.

The documents listed below may also be helpful to families at this time.