Middle & Upper School Parent Guide

Welcome

Since our founding in 1948, countless pupils have benefitted from a Tower College education. They have been welcomed into the best sixth-form colleges and then studied for degrees at prestigious universities. They have managed to make a difference in every imaginable field and endeavour. I am constantly amazed at the contributions they have made and continue to make to the world around us.

Everything we do here is guided by our core values of Resilience, Integrity, Scholarship, and Enrichment. These values are evident in our pupils’ GCSE exam results, extracurricular achievements, charitable fundraising, and the many enthusiastic endorsements we receive from current and former parents.

At Tower College, we provide our pupils with the opportunities to achieve not only academic excellence but also to gain fundamental life skills such as finding their own strong voice, being kind and considerate, being an effective listener, being creative, and solving problems both individually and as part of a team—skills that are necessary for them to thrive in an ever-changing world.

It’s no secret that we emphasise favourable class sizes and the standard of teaching as these are proven to have the largest impact on a child’s progress.

A structured curriculum is delivered by qualified and caring staff who inspire and challenge, enabling every pupil to achieve their full potential. Pupils certainly benefit from a tailored learning experience delivered in a secure and nurturing environment that encourages a lifelong passion for learning and a genuine interest in the world.

Reading this guide, you will discover more about Tower College and what sets us apart. When you’re ready to learn more, please get in touch with our Registrar to arrange a visit. We look forward to welcoming you and sharing more about what makes our school remarkable.

It is an exciting time and an honour for me to be part of this wonderful school, and I hope you are interested in being part of our family.

But I shouldn’t be surprised. Our past pupils’ inspiring achievements are a direct reflection of their Tower College experience.

At Tower College, Middle School begins in Year 7, when pupils are supported in moving to a more traditional secondary school setting. Pupils take more responsibility for their learning. Our transition coordinator and form tutors ensure the transition is smooth and new pupils are welcomed with great care and attention.

Staff take great care in supporting the pupils as they discover their strengths and interests and enter Upper School and Year 9, when they must begin to decide on their GCSE options.

Pupils continue to develop core skills in literacy, numeracy and scientific investigation. National Curriculum elements are supplemented to give our pupils a solid educational foundation for life inside and outside school. Our pupils are encouraged to strive for excellence, and by providing an inspiring curriculum and carefully designed enrichment programme, we hope that our pupils become their best selves.

Ms Bingley – Principal

Our Values

Staff

School Day Timings

Pupils that arrive after 8.50 must enter via the main office and sign in as Late Attendance. Children who have not been picked up from the main car park at 4.00 pm will be taken into after-school care and supervision, for which charges are applicable.

Wrap Around Care

Please drop off your child at the Jubilee Building entrance, where staff members will kindly greet and supervise them.
The Breakfast Club Afterschool Club is staffed by trained professionals who will ensure a safe and secure environment for the pupils. Our dedicated team will supervise the pupils during breakfast, providing support and fostering a positive social atmosphere.
To use the Breakfast Club and/or After School Club, please contact office@towercollege.com. The club operates on a paid basis, with fees set out in the table below.

Curriculum

The curriculum is designed to provide a broad and balanced education that equips pupils with the knowledge, skills, and understanding required for their future lives. The curriculum aims to inspire a love for learning, foster intellectual curiosity, and promote personal, social, and moral development. It will challenge pupils academically while also enriching their understanding of the wider world, culture, and society.

The curriculum reflects a carefully sequenced and structured approach, enabling pupils to build upon prior knowledge and understanding. The curriculum is tailored to meet the needs and aspirations of all pupils, offering a wide range of subjects and pathways. It is inclusive and provides opportunities for pupils to pursue their interests and talents, regardless of their background or ability. The school provides a supportive and nurturing environment that enables pupils to thrive, fostering positive attitudes towards learning and the development of skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and resilience.

The school provides a wealth of extracurricular activities and enrichment opportunities that complement the curriculum. These include trips, visits, workshops, and clubs that broaden pupils’ experiences and deepen their understanding of subjects. These activities also promote the development of social skills, teamwork, and leadership qualities.

Pupils will be set homework each night that is proportionate, enriching and developing their understanding. You and your child can see the homework that has been set on Epraise, please email mrsouthward@towercollege.com if you do not have access. Parents and pupils can log in to the system to view homework instructions. Homework can be monitored more closely, and all pupils have clear instructions for completing homework activities.

Homework tasks will vary from subject to subject and will consist of a range of practical, creative, and paper-based activities. For homework to be an effective tool to support each pupil’s progress, the type of homework activity will be at the discretion of the subject specialist teacher, in accordance with the curriculum demands and the work that pupils are completing in class.

Homework is typically set and due the following morning. However, there may be occasions when staff allow additional time to complete homework, for instance, if it is a more creative project. If a pupil cannot complete a piece of homework, they must bring in a signed parental note explaining the reason. They must still complete the homework as soon as possible.

The homework timetable and expectations for year groups are available on our website. If your child cannot attempt or complete a piece of homework, please email the teacher directly. If your child cannot access their Microsoft Teams account, email Mr Glover.

Form Time Activities

Assessment

Assessment is an incredibly useful tool in education, and teachers will assess your child’s progress in various ways specific to the subject being taught.

Our school aims to ensure that every pupil achieves their very best. To support our pupils in achieving this, we need to collect quality data about the progress each child is making. The most effective way to gather this information is through formal assessments.

The school has two formal assessment points across the academic year.

Spring Half Term 1
Summer Half Term 2

The assessment week will consist of one assessment in each subject.

Teachers will mark your child’s assessment and then provide detailed feedback. The mark your child is awarded and how this reflects their progress will be reported to you in the next School report. The data gathered will further be used to inform the development of teaching and learning across the school.

Assessment is a critical element of teaching and learning key to enhancing your child’s education. Assessments provide pupils with the opportunity to:

Identify any misconceptions they may have
Identify topics or areas of learning where they need to improve
Test the revision strategies they are using to make sure they are working
Build up confidence and resilience with sitting assessments

We ask that you encourage your child to revise so they are prepared to sit the assessments. Teachers will provide pupils with a revision list on E-Praise. This will give pupils several weeks to prepare for their assessments. Teachers will no longer set homework activities in the weeks leading up to Assessment Week, as pupils will be expected to use this time to revise. This will be communicated to you via email from the Head of Teaching & Learning. We would recommend that pupils follow the homework timetable to structure their revision.

We know some pupils may have anxiety surrounding assessments, but we want to reassure all parents that teachers are here to provide appropriate support. Pupils will have a study skills session to provide useful advice and guidance on how to revise in form periods.

If you have concerns about assessment anxiety or your child’s wellbeing, please contact Ms Gregory (msgregory@towercollege.com).

If you have any general questions about the assessments, please contact Mr Taylor (mrmataylor@towercollege.com).

Extra-Curricular

Our provision of after-school clubs changes on a termly basis to engage and enrich a broad spectrum of activities, sports, and pursuits.

Parents are notified via ParentMail when the new provision has been announced, and you can sign your child up for these activities via our website. Please note that pupils cannot attend individual sessions—only block sessions can be booked. Once the booking is confirmed, parents will be invoiced in the usual way. We will award the places on a first-come, first-served basis.

After-school clubs run from 3.40pm to 4.30pm, unless otherwise stated.

Music Tuition

A timetable of the lessons and ensembles will be arranged, and children will be allocated a specific time, which is theirs until the end of the term. If this needs to be changed, we will require one week’s notice via email. Children can be collected from the main school building after the lesson or ensemble. Unfortunately, the lesson will not be refunded if your child is absent. If the music teacher cancels the lesson, a credit will be raised.

Lessons are priced as follows and are payable in full and in advance. Please note that lessons cannot be refunded once they have been paid for.

Per lesson Spring Term (10 lessons)

20-minute lesson (beginners to approximately grade 2) £140
30-minute lesson (grades 3 to 5) £180
40-minute lesson (grades 6-8) £ 240

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide instruments at this time. However, it is usually possible to hire musical instruments from local music shops or from www.musicalinstrumenthire.com (who also offer an option to purchase the instrument at a discounted price)

If you have any questions or would like to discuss matters further, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Brown.

School Trips

We greatly emphasise learning outside the classroom, from our excellent outdoor learning spaces to school trips, both near and far! We encourage all children to broaden their horizons and attend these trips where possible.

From Geographical fieldwork to Space telescopes, our specialist subject teachers arrange many opportunities for learning on locations in many fields.

Our Residential Weekends, such as Willersley Castle, are well attended and enjoyed by pupils of all year groups.

We are also fortunate to run a number of international trips each year, such as Kenya, Barcelona, Paris, Skiing in Italy, Iceland, and New York, all over the next two academic years.

Places on school trips are subject to excellent behavioural expectations, and students may be withdrawn if these expectations are not met.
We regret that places on school trips cannot be arranged for pupils while school fees are in arrears.

Medical & Allergies

The majority of Middle & Upper school teaching staff are first-aid trained. It is important that we have the correct medical and allergen information for your child. Please notify us of any changes via email to office@towercollege.com.

Children may not carry or self-administer over-the-counter or prescription medication unless Ms Gregory has authorised this. Pupils that require an inhaler or other emergency relief medication should ensure that they are in possession of this at all times and that an appropriate adult is aware that they have it. Any other medication should be left at the main office.

Lunches

Tower College partners with Thomas Franks to make lunchtime special for each child, catering to a wide variety of special dietary requirements. Pupils who have health issues, allergies and intolerances are catered for, as are vegetarians and those who make religious dietary choices.

We work with our parents, children, and Thomas Franks to provide a well-balanced diet that will be enjoyed by children of all ages. Pupils and parents are regularly asked to complete questionnaires that provide feedback, suggestions, and ideas.

All dietary requirements are catered for, and pupils are not allowed to bring a packed lunch, except in very special circumstances and only with specific permission from the Principal.

“Food is at the heart of what we do. We source with care and cook with passion, anticipating forthcoming culinary trends and supporting small and local producers and suppliers.

We believe in an innovative and seasonal approach to food, using fresh ingredients and cooking from scratch for all of our clients every single day.”

— THOMAS FRANKS

Uniform

We hope that all Tower College parents will gladly accept the uniform requirements and that the pupils will take pride in the wearing of it. All pupils are required to wear the uniform when travelling to and from school whether by coach or car.

Pupils must wear a Tower College waterproof, available from our usual supplier, in the event of rain. Please note: this rule was relaxed last academic year owing to the availability of stock; however, this has now been addressed, and all pupils are expected to wear a Tower College waterproof in poor weather.

Pupils of all ages must wear the correct uniform as specified for their age group.

Footwear must conform to the standards set. There must be no boots, high heels, slingbacks, or logos. Shoes must be black and made from a polishable material. If your child is unable to wear the correct school footwear due to injury, please email Ms Gregory.

Items of non-uniform must not be worn.

The Parents’/Pupils Guide and school website clearly define appearance rules, which must be followed.

Dyed or gelled hair, makeup, and nail varnish are not allowed. Jewellery is also not allowed and will be confiscated if worn. Pupils’ hair must be tidy and, if long, tied back. Ribbons/scrunchies, etc., must be blue or maroon.

The lists on our website show the appropriate uniform item for each age group.

It is essential that your child’s name is clearly sewn into all his/her clothing, belongings, and bags. Tower College takes no responsibility for unnamed items that go missing. Unnamed items that are not claimed are passed to Charity.

Ordering School Uniform

Option 1 – Place your order online – www.whittakersschoolwear.co.uk

Ordering your uniform online means you don’t have to leave your home. On our website, you will need to click on the SHOP tab and then click on ST HELENS. You will then be able to locate your school uniform. Please order as soon as possible to avoid not having your uniform in time for the start of term in September. Option 2 – Make an appointment to shop in-store, 38 Bridge Street, WA10 1NW.

Equipment

Pupils are expected to bring to school each day:

School bag
Pencil case (including pens, pencils, eraser, ruler, compass, protractor)
Calculator
Books/folders for the day’s lessons
Reading book
Refillable water bottle
Morning snack
P.E. kit (when required)
Lab Coat (When required)

Behaviour policy

We have high expectations for the manner in which our pupils conduct and present themselves. To meet these expectations we clearly communicate to pupils and parents when behaviour or uniform requirements are not being met, and ask that you support in contributing to the school’s high standards.

Our behaviour management policy is available on the policies page of our website.

Mobile phones

Pupils are not permitted to have or use mobile phones on school grounds. If your child requires a mobile phone for travel safety purposes to and from school, they must bring it to the main office before the start of the school day and collect it at the end.

Pupils found to have mobile phones in school will have them confiscated, and sanctions may follow in line with the behaviour management policy.

Communication

We work closely with the families through close partnership and clear communication.

Parents are encouraged to engage with their child’s teachers directly via email, however we ask that you are mindful of their teaching commitments and duties, and allow up to two working days for a response. All staff email addresses are available on our website.

Parents are to contact the school office at office@towercollege.com for instances of lost property and absences due to medical appointments with 3 days’ notice and illness notification by 10 a.m. on the day of each absence. Any changes to home-time collection should be communicated before 2 p.m. where possible.

For all fees and account enquiries, don’t hesitate to contact mrspotter@towercollege.com. For admissions and withdrawals, contact Ms McNamara (msmcnamara@towercollege.com).

Our Assistant Principals, Mr Glover, Mr Taylor, and Ms Gregory, are happy to meet with you by appointment via email.

ParentMail is available via email and app and will be used for all whole-school communication. To be added to ParentMail, please contact Ms McNamara.

Epraise.co.uk is an award-winning Housepoint and Homework system. You and your child will be assigned an account and login details to view your homework instructions.

Please contact our Principal, Ms Bingley (msbingley@towercollege.com), to request absences for funerals, religious observances, personal family matters, travel, etc. Notification of changes in family circumstances—bereavement, etc. Health and safety issues, reporting serious behavioural breaches, complaints, allegations about staff, and personal and private issues.

School Reports

Your child will receive 6 reports throughout the academic year, informing you of the progress that your child is making.

Parent’s Evenings

Parents are invited to meet with our teachers online for Parents Evenings. However, we do also encourage Parents to email Teachers directly to arrange a conversation at any point in the academic year.

Online appointments are limited to 5 minutes, and if you experience technical difficulties or require more time with any of our teachers, please do not hesitate to arrange a phone call via email.

There are two parents’ evenings in years 7 and 11 and one parents’ evening in years 8, 9, and 10. Parents of pupils in Year 9 are also invited to attend Options Evening in the Autumn term.

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