Organisational Matters
Academy communications
Tutors forward routine information to students during the tutor period and this is reinforced
during assemblies.
The Academy calendar and list of events is provided to each student at the beginning of the
year and is available through the website.
Parental communications are usually issued through the students; however, individual
communication to particular parents on specific matters will be via letter or e-mail as
appropriate.
Other documents
All official/statutory documentation that
applies to the Academy is available to be
viewed, upon request, from the Principal's
office. Schemes of work and syllabuses
relating to the whole Academy are
available for inspection by consultation
with the Vice Principal responsible for the
curriculum and for particular subjects with the appropriate Head of Learning Zone.
Saint Paul's Academy online
Saint Paul's Academy operates a
comprehensive website which provides
general information for anyone interested
in the Academy as well as providing
resources for staff and students. The site
includes:
Chaplaincy
 The Saint Paul's Catholic School's mission
was to witness and to grow in Christ.
Chaplaincy played a vital role in sustaining
the purpose and identity of the school
particularly with the demands and pressures
placed upon teaching staff. This mission
is the same in the Academy. The role of
the Chaplaincy Team was to serve the
personal and spiritual needs of the school
community. Within the Academy we
maintain a chaplaincy service to support
those young people who, through their
faith, can benefit from what it has to offer.
Some of the ways in which the Chaplain
serves the school are organisational and
easy to define; for example supporting and
encouraging the prayer life of the school
and helping to encourage an awareness
of wider issues of justice and peace, as
well as fostering links between the school,
parishes and the neighbourhood. Other
areas of the Chaplain's role are less tangible
but equally important; being aware of and
willing to respond to an individual's need
is particularly important and a fundamental
way of ensuring all members of our school
community are supported.
Attendance
Saint Paul's had an excellent attendance record.
Levels of actual attendance at school and
absences which have been authorised by
school/parents consistently reach 99.4%.
Unauthorised absences (those where no
satisfactory explanation is provided by the
home) stand at just 0.6%. The Academy
is intent upon maintaining and improving
upon this data. Parents are expected
to share our aim of achieving 100%
attendance.
Attendance is carefully monitored within the
school and family holidays should only be
taken during the scheduled school holidays.
Assessment, recording & reporting
Students' work will be regularly marked and commented upon.
The comments will offer guidance on
how to improve and develop the work
and advise upon any necessary revision
or additional references which may assist
understanding. The frequency of marking
work will vary according to the tasks the
students undertake, formal written work,
practical, project work or research activities
all require different types of responses
from the teaching staff. We would expect,
therefore, that each student should receive
some structured response from the teaching
staff in each subject studied at least once
a fortnight. This feedback may be oral or
written depending upon the task.
Testing will form a key feature of the
monitoring of student progress. There will
be a variety of practical, written and oral
tests which will explore and examine each
student's understanding of what has been
taught in each subject across the curriculum.
The outcomes will assist the teaching
staff to evaluate the effectiveness of their
teaching and generate any appropriate
changes to achieve greater learning. The
frequency of tests will vary according to
what is being taught and they will usually
occur at the end of a module, topic or short
course.
Reports are provided to parents on two
occasions each year. Other formal contacts
with parents are through the regular
programme of parents' consultative
evenings. These evenings are phased,
for different year groups, throughout the
year and this means that the staff hold
one evening each half term. The timing
for the year group relates to key periods
when parental involvement is essential e.g.
Year 8 options, Year 7 induction, Year 11
exam entries. When the Academy moves
to the Abbey Wood site with its greater
space for parking etc. it is visualised that
'Parent Days' will become available. These
are occasions when parents can visit
the classrooms and meet the staff 'as it
happens' thereby giving them a greater
insight into what and how their children
learn.
Saint Paul's is, increasingly, involving the
students in self-evaluation processes.
Creating an environment where students
can make realistic assessments of their
progress and set themselves learning targets
are important developmental stages in the
preparation of 'the complete person'.
Any parents who have particular concerns
relating to the progress of their children can
contact the appropriate Head of Learning
Zone to arrange a special meeting.
Examinations
We intend to support all examination entries of the students subject to satisfactory preparation work
Students, in particular circumstances, such as those who fail to attend an examination or those who sit additional entries may be levied pro rata charges. Examination entry may be withheld for students who fail to attend lessons without a good reason.
Music tuitions
The Academy Governors support, through a small subsidy, tuition for students who wish to learn to play a musical instrument but some payment may be required.
Students who maintain their tuition are advised to consider the purchase of an instrument because Academy instruments are shared amongst several students.
After Year 11
Year 12 students can continue their studies at an educational establishment of their choice but the academy has special links with the providers who worked successfully with Saint Paul's Catholic School, Christ the King Sixth Form College, Lewisham,
Saint Luke's Sixth Form College, Sidcup and G+ Network within Greenwich. The courses on offer cover a range of subjects at A1 and A2 Level, GNVQ, GCSE, City and Guilds, as well as other vocational courses, particularly in Business Studies and Travel & Tourism.
Saint Paul's students are given priority admission to these institutions.
Most post 16 providers give students opportunities to participate in a number of activities to enrich their leisure and recreational abilities. In addition to Games and P.E. they may choose from a wide selection of voluntary activities and clubs. They also maintain a pastoral programme, in which all students participate. This provides them with tutorial advice, career guidance, study skills appropriate to their course and health and safety education.
Charging policies - meals
All students can purchase breakfast and lunch at the Academy. The charges for a
standard breakfast and lunch are fixed. Payments must be made in advance and
swipe cards are credited. Meal costs are deducted daily from the swipe card. The
loss of a swipe card does not mean a loss of money. Students who are in receipt
of meal subsidies will have their cards credited daily to the cost of one standard
lunch. Any extras such as breakfast must be credited to a swipe card as above.
The Academy has a Charging Policy which is in line with the DfES guidelines and is available from the school office.
Uniform and sport clothing
Academy uniform is worn by all students. Uniform sports clothing is required and this is available from the Academy outfitters, Matthews. There is a variation in the tie worn by students in years 10 and 11.
Trips and visits
and visits are offered to the students. These include tutor group or
departmental visits to plays, theme parks and sports centres. In each case there is a small cost but no
profit is generated. Other trips or visits, which are optional but could enhance a student's curriculum
experience, are subsidised at the discretion of the Academy but students are expected to contribute.
Strict guidelines apply to all trips and visits to ensure student safety. Trips and visits that equate to
holidays such as foreign visits and ski trips will be held during school holiday periods.
Remissions
Parents in receipt of either jobseekers allowance or income support are eligible
to claim for free lunch, uniform grants and essential trips. Completion of the
appropriate claim form is required and should be accompanied by official
confirmation of receipt of benefit. The form is obtainable from the Academy
finance office. Academy benefits are payable from the date of receipt of the
application form. This registration is absolutely confidential and the smart card
method of payment for meals ensures that no one except the finance officer and the
Principal is aware of benefits being paid. For those trips that are not an essential
part of the curriculum there may be some assistance given in very exceptional cases
at the discretion of the Academy.
A full sports uniform will be provided
when students who qualify for benefit
join the Academy. Subsequent uniform
requirements are negotiated between the
parents and the Academy finance officer.
Loss of Academy property
Students who lose or damage Academy property which has been allocated to them (e.g. books or smart cards) are charged for replacement of these items.
Complaints procedure
The Academy has a complaints procedure which is in line with DfES guidelines. Copies are available from the reception office.
Admission procedures
A detailed account of the procedures and process required to gain entrance into Saint Paul's Academy can be found under
Admission Arrangements.
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School Information 
