Expectations and Admin

A good quality, broad education is a vital part of life and adds to our enjoyment of it. It is not just a stepping-stone to various professions; it also allows us to see things differently and helps to instil social skills and shared values. We learn in order to better ourselves, help others and realize our full potential. 

Whether your strength is in Maths, Art, or Animal Management, in Charleston we expect you to push yourself beyond your initial boundaries and to challenge yourself in everything you do in order to take advantage of what is on offer.

“Celebrate what you’ve accomplished, but raise the bar a little higher each time you succeed.”

Effort and attainment grades are published to students and parents approximately every three weeks at Bede’s and these are used to monitor progress and celebrate successes. 

If a student is underperforming in ‘Learning and Engagement’, it usually means that their ‘Independent Learning and Attitude’ is below expectation too (evidence has also shown that behaviour issues occur when the academic effort is low), so the Housemaster, Tutor and Head of Year will intervene to ensure that a student is performing to their personal potential level. 

Academic performance is monitored closely and Charleston House has very high standards in regard to effort, attainment and behaviour. It is vital that students, tutors and parents work together and communicate effectively to ensure a good foundation for academic success.

 If you know that you will be unable to attend school on any given day, due to a medical appointment or sickness, you must ask your parents to inform the House as soon as possible.  

Please email your child tutor and Mr Mpandawana. 

If you need to leave school during the day your parents should email Mr Mpandawana with information about the reason and the time you wish to leave. You must inform a member of House staff before leaving the school site and sign out at the Porters Lodge.  

Upon your return, you will again need to sign in at the Porters Lodge or alert a member of House staff that you have returned.  

We set out to promote and maintain honest, considerate and dependable behaviour amongst Bede’s pupils. Reflection on our successes and failures is a vital part of that effort to improve ourselves and become better people.

The core aim of the school is:

“to prepare students to lead a full and worthwhile life in the wider world as well-rounded, confident and balanced members of their communities”

A happy and productive life at school is based on good relationships with everyone around you and the ability to behave with consideration for others at all times is an absolutely vital ingredient of a harmonious existence. This requires inclusivity, tolerance and simple respect for others. The School rules (which Mr Mpandawana and your tutor will go through with you) are designed with this in mind. Inconsiderate and unkind behaviour, which includes bullying, is never acceptable. The School rewards good behaviour and applies sanctions, where necessary.

Should your daughter have any difficulties with their physical or mental health that may impact her ability to achieve, please get in touch with Mr Mpandawana and the tutor, and we will assist by seeking the support of the Health and Well-being Centre or our counsellor. Your daughter’s well-being is key to her ability to succeed and we all experience difficult times, especially when there are exams and deadlines involved, not to mention managing friends, relationships and events outside of school.

In Charleston House, the girls are sensitive to the many aspects of life and realise the importance of helping others and providing service to those beyond the school boundaries. We consider the work we do for charity and the wider community as an integral part of our contribution to Charleston House, Bede’s School and our local services. The Charity we have decided to support this year is UFULU. Period Poverty is defined as “the lack of access to sanitary products due to financial constraints”. This is why we started UFULU and why we give menstrual cups for free. Ufulu believes that sanitary products are a basic human right.

At the Senior School, the day concludes just before 5 pm with the option for all pupils to stay for prep or to attend a range of activities and masterclasses which take place during the evening.

Pupils opting to stay late, or day boarders who stay late three or four nights per week, are able to have supper before going home on the late bus at 7.15 pm. Activities, including sports training, is integrated into the School week, running on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. 

Additionally, whilst the Senior School does not have lessons on Saturday mornings, it does offer a full Weekend Programme of activities and enrichment, which all pupils are welcome to attend. Most fixtures also take place on Saturdays. We also have weekly assemblies and Chapel.

Saturday mornings are open to all students and have an ‘enrichment’ focus. We encourage all the girls to make the most of this opportunity and take advantage of the activities that are on offer. There will also be sports fixtures and the girls are expected to be committed to their team, should they be chosen to play. Revision lessons and workshops are also available during the run up to public exams.

In addition, there are many activities on Friday nights and weekends which the students are welcome to join by signing up on the My Bede’s system. Every week, there are events occurring all around the campus which are often open to parents such as concerts, shows, dramas and quiz nights so we look forward to seeing you at these as you share in the many wonderful and uplifting moments during your daughter’s time at Bedes school.

Charleston House moved into a new suite of rooms in the Perrins Block in 2017, above the Home Economics and Business classrooms. The space is warm and bright, with a common room for each year group, an office for the staff on duty, toilets, and a kitchen for sixth form use. 

Each common room is equipped with a set of wall-mounted storage boxes, one for each student. If your daughter brings in any valuables, these can be stored in the office, which is locked when unstaffed.  In addition, fruit, biscuits and water are available to all students during break times. Regular fire drills are carried out for safety purposes. 

If your daughter chooses to stay after school for prep or extra classes, she must use the late stay procedure to sign up for late stay and register in House between 4.45 pm and 5 pm.

The School values the opinions of its pupils and, in addition to the informal mechanisms, there are several organised forums for garnering and promoting student views. Every student is able to raise concerns and make complaints without fear of being penalised or singled out. There is a School Council, House Councils, House Prefects, School Prefects, Peer Mentors and other representatives on various student bodies. The House Council is specifically charged with gathering and representing the views of those in the House on the operation and running of the House. 

Stage 1 

If a pupil has a worry or complaint, in most cases, they will be able to communicate that informally to an adult who knows them. Any pupil having a grievance can approach any of the members of staff within their House or indeed the School (their Housemaster/mistress, tutor or matron would normally be the person best placed to deal with the matter in the first instance). 

If a pupil feels that their problem has not been properly addressed or sorted out the following procedure is laid down whereby they can make a more formal complaint. A pupil will not be penalized for making a formal complaint in good faith. 

Stage 2 

If any pupil feels the need to make a formal complaint about a matter which is causing distress or a problem which cannot be otherwise resolved he or she should inform the Head of Boarding; the Senior Housemaster Day; the Chaplain; or a Deputy Head, either verbally or in writing. The complaint will be acknowledged within two days and a written record will be made of the complaint. 

Stage 3 

The complaint will be investigated by a mutually agreed, independent person, sanctioned by the Headmaster, and resolved either to the pupil’s satisfaction or with an otherwise appropriate outcome, which balances the rights and duties of those involved. The investigation will normally be completed within two weeks. The complainant will be informed of the outcome in writing. 

Stage 4 

If the pupil, or his / her parents or carers, feel that the procedure detailed above has not dealt with the complaint satisfactorily then a letter setting out the unresolved complaint should be sent to the Headmaster. The School will then follow Bedes Complaints Policy, which is available on the website. 

External agencies 

Pupils are also reminded that they have access to help outside of the School 

Childline 0800 1111 

NSPCC 0808 800 5000

Ofsted 08456 404040 

Office of the Children’s Commissioner 0207 7783 8330 info.request@childrenscommissioner.gis.gov.uk

Independent Listener: Mrs Sarah Paris-McLean 07807 156332

Info.spmcounselling@gmail.com

Monday 5th September   New Student and Parents Welcome Event

Tuesday 6th September Day Students return

Saturday 10th September Bede’s Fest

Saturday 18th September Open Morning

Friday 14th October  Half Term Begins

Monday 31st October Day Students return

Friday 16th December Term ends 

Charleston House 01323 356817 or 07702 883852

Porters Lodge 01323 356557

Sports Centre 01323 356570

School Nurse 01323 356789

Reception 01323 843252

Transport 01323 356671

When not face to face, students and house staff communicate via google classroom. Every tutor group in Charleston has its own google classroom, so to does the whole house. 

All pupils are expected to wear the Bede’s school uniform. Sixth Form and Pre-Sixth students to wear formal business attire.

Please find to follow information regarding Bede’s School uniform and how it can be purchased. Bede’s has two main suppliers of uniform; the main school uniform, including school blazer, is supplied by School Blazer. Our sports kit is supplied by Limitless, and links to both suppliers’ sites are below

Main School Uniform (Applicable to Years 9, 10 and 11) 

•    Bede's blue blazer - only available from www.schoolblazer.com
•    Bede's blue and green jumper - only available from www.schoolblazer.com
•    Bede's charcoal trousers - only available from www.schoolblazer.com
•    House Kilt must be no more than 5cm above the knee - only available from www.schoolblazer.com
•    Bede's house tie www.schoolblazer.com
•    White long-sleeved shirt
•    Black leather shoes (no suede)
•    Dark business-like waterproof coat (optional but must be long enough to cover the entire school blazer) 

Must / Must not

a.    School blue tweed blazers must be worn at all times.
b.    School grey trousers (purchased from School Blazer) must be worn with a white shirt (with top button done up) and house tie or with a collared blouse and house tie. Shirts must always be tucked in.
c.    Kilts must not be altered (including rolled), must be of an appropriate length, recommended to be no more than 5cm above the knee and must be worn with a white open necked collared blouse / shirt and be tucked in.
d.    Jumpers must be the blue v-neck jumper with green trim (purchased from School Blazer). The jumper must be worn in addition to the blazer and not instead of the blazer. House hoodies and other jumpers or sweatshirts must not be worn.
e.    White or black ankle length socks must be worn with a house kilt or neutral, plain blue or black tights or no socks must be worn with a house kilt. White socks should not be worn with school trousers. Knee length socks must not be worn.
f.    Shoes must be all black, must be leather or leather look and must be a traditional shoe that can be polished.  Canvas shoes, trainers and any boots must not be worn. Sliders must not be worn.
g.    Pupils must not have nose piercings, eyebrow piercings, tongue piercings, lip piercings or septum piercings.
h.    Headphones must not be worn or on show around the school site.

Should / Should not

a.    Coats should cover the suit jacket and should only be navy or black.  They can be made of waterproof or wool material.  New Balance Sport Jackets can be worn as a school coat.
b.    Tights should not be ripped and will need to be replaced as soon as possible.
c.    Jewellery should be discreet. Makeup should be discreet.
d.    Hair should be discreet in style, worn tidily and in a natural tone.  Makeup should be discreet, Junior pupils should be clean shaven.
e.    Nail length and style should be discreet and should be practical for school.

Sixth Form and Pre Sixth Uniform

With the exception of the house tie (which is available from School Blazer) Sixth Form uniform can be purchased from any retailer or supplier but must conform to the following: 

•    Conservative, dark, business-like suit (no corduroy or suede). Suits can be any colour and either plain or patterned. They must be tailored suit jacket and skirt or dress. Skirts and dresses should fall to an appropriate length ('appropriate' is at the discretion of an AH and defined by the Bede's interpretation of a business dress code). Trousers must be suit trousers and not jeans or leggings and they must not have patch pockets on the back. Suits do not have to match in colour or pattern but both the top and bottom half should be of a traditional suit style and there must be no lycra in any of the material.

•    Plain or Striped Shirts (light colours)

•    Bede’s house tie or scarf*

•    V-neck jumper (optional)

•    Black leather shoes (no suede)

•    Long dark waterproof coat

Shoes 

All pupils should wear black shoes which must be leather or leather look and must be a traditional shoe that can be polished. Canvas shoes, trainers or trainer style shoes (including for example VANS and Nike Airforce) and boots are not acceptable. Dr.Martens shoes may be worn but not ankle or high boot types.

Must / Must not

a.    Blazers must be worn at all times.
b.    Jumpers must be worn in addition to the blazer and not instead of the blazer. Hoodies (including House Hoodies), sweatshirts, track suit tops or cardigans must not be worn.
c.    Coats must be worn in addition to the blazer and not instead of the blazer.
d.    Collared shirts or collared blouses must be worn with trousers. Otherwise, collared or non-collared blouses either patterned or plain must be worn. Vest tops (for clarity, a top that has straps), low cut tops, T-shirts, polo shirts or crop tops must not be worn.
e.    Pupils must wear some form of house identity with their senior outfits – this can be in the form of a tie, scarf or badge at the discretion of their Hm.
f.    Skirts or Dresses must be appropriate and professional office attire. Skirts must not be Denim or look ‘stretchy’ eg. Lycra. Shorts must not be worn. Dresses must have sleeves (for clarity, not a top that has straps or no shoulder covering)
g.    Trousers must not be Denim or look ‘stretchy’ eg. Lycra and for clarity, must not be jeans or leggings.
h.    Knee length socks or fishnet tights must not be worn.
i.    Shoes or boots must not be canvas or trainers. Shoes or boots should be suede, leather or leather-look. Sliders or knee-high boots must not be worn.
j.    Nose piercings or septum piercings must be discreet (with a small clear or skin colour stud / bar).
k.    Pupils must not have eyebrow piercings, tongue piercings or lip piercings.
l.    Facial hair must be tidy, of even length and no longer than 5mm in length.
m.    Pupils must have no visible tattoos.
n.    Headphones must not be worn or on show around the school site.

Should / Should not

a.    Jewellery should be discreet. Makeup should be discreet.
b.    A plain coat which should cover the blazer, the New Balance sport coat may be worn.
c.    Hair should be a natural colour, clean and tidy.
d.    Nail length should be practical for school.

Sports Kit

Our sports kit is available through Limitless, via Schoolblazer. Simply log in at www.schoolblazer.com and you will be able to source all uniform for the School, including sportswear. You may also find this fact sheet and video of use.