Success at PLS

Starting secondary school means taking a big step up in how you manage your own learning. Homework isn’t just about extra work; it’s about building great habits that will help you succeed over the next five years. By staying on top of it now, you’ll find that exams and bigger projects later on become much easier to handle!

✍️ Staying Organised

In Year 7, you are in charge of your own schedule. You must record every piece of homework in your school planner so you never miss a deadline. This is your "to-do list" for the week.

⏰ How Much Time Will it Take?

Every student is different—some subjects might be easy for you, while others take a bit more focus. On average, you can expect about 5 hours of homework per week in Key Stage 3 (Years 7–9).

🗓️ Your Weekly Homework Schedule

Here is a breakdown of what you can expect from your different subjects:

• English: You will get two homework tasks every week.

• Maths and Science: You will get at least one task every week (sometimes a second one if needed).

• History, Geography, RE, Art, MFL, and Technology: You will get one task every two weeks (a fortnight).

• Drama, Music, and PE: You will get two tasks every half-term.

💡 Top Tips for Success

• Build a Routine: Try to do your homework at the same time each day.

• Use the Homework Club: Remember, we have Homework Club after school in room 112 from Monday to Thursday. It’s a great place to get things done before you even get home!

• Check Class Charts: Your teachers will also post your tasks on the Class Charts Student App so you can stay organised on your phone or computer. Make sure you learn how to submit homework correctly so you can get CARES points for completing it each week.

Learning how to work independently now is one of the most important skills you'll learn at school. You’ve got this!

It is totally normal to feel a bit nervous about the work getting harder—everyone feels that way when they start secondary school! The most important thing to remember is that we don't expect you to know everything right away. School is a place for learning, and we have a whole team of people ready to cheer you on.

If you ever feel stuck or overwhelmed, here is your support team:

🎒 Your Form Tutor

Your Form Tutor is the person you will see every single day. They are like your "school anchor." If you are worried about a lesson or finding a subject tough, they are the best person to talk to first. They can give you tips or even check in with your other teachers for you.

🌟 Your Year Leader & Pastoral Manager

Every year group has a Year Leader and a Pastoral Manager who are experts at looking after students.

• Pastoral Manager: They are there specifically to make sure you are happy, safe, and feeling good about school. If something is bothering you—inside or outside of class—you can go to them for a chat before or after school, or during your break or lunch.

• Year Leader: They keep an eye on how your whole year group is doing. They want to see you succeed and are there to help if things get a bit tricky.

🏠 Other Places to Get Help

• Just Ask Your Teacher: Your subject teachers are experts! If you don’t understand something, put your hand up or chat with them at the end of the lesson.

• Homework Club: If a specific task feels too hard to do alone, head to Homework Club in room 112 after school (Monday–Thursday 3:10-4:00pm). There are staff there who can help explain things.

• Class Charts: Sometimes teachers put extra helpful hints or links in the Class Charts description to help you get started.

Remember: Building great habits takes time. Whether it’s your Tutor, your Pastoral Manager, or your Year Leader, someone is always there to help you find your way.

We want you to know that our school is a safe learning environment where everyone is treated with respect, and we believe that bullying is never acceptable. While bullying doesn't often happen at our school, when it does, we are committed to dealing with it as fast as we can to stop it and support everyone involved.

Here is what you need to know about our principles and what you can do.

🛡️ Key Principles of Our Policy ✨

• Safety and Respect: You have the right to feel welcome, comfortable, and safe from intimidation. Our school community is built on "CARES" expectations, which means treating everyone with respect, fairness, and kindness.

• What is Bullying?: We define bullying as repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another, where there is an imbalance of power. This can be physical, verbal, or happen online (cyber-bullying).

• Fairness for All: We celebrate diversity and ensure fair treatment for everyone, regardless of their background, culture, or identity.

🆘 What to do if you are being bullied 

If you feel you are being bullied, please do not keep it to yourself. You are encouraged to take any of these steps:

• Tell a teacher or an adult at school whom you feel you can trust, such as your Form Tutor or Year Leader.

• Tell a friend or your School Council representative.

• Tell your parents or an adult at home.

• If it's happening online: Do not retaliate or reply. Block the person behaving badly, save the evidence (like screenshots), and tell an adult.

• You can also ring Childline (0800 1111) or visit the school safeguarding website for advice.

👀 What to do if you see someone being bullied 

We all have a responsibility to look after one another. If you see someone else being bullied:

• Don’t just stand there: Support the victim and report the bullying to a member of staff immediately.

• Take a stand: If it is safe, make it clear to the bully that you disapprove of their actions.

• Be a friend: Encourage the person being bullied to join in your activities and groups so they don't feel isolated.

Remember, your well-being is our top priority, and we use restorative approaches to resolve conflicts and repair any harm done so that everyone can move forward in a positive way

In a big school like ours, you might wonder who to talk to first if you have a question or need some help. Think of it like a team of people all working to make sure you have the best time at Prendergast Ladywell!

🎒 Your Form Tutor (The Person You See Daily)

Your Form Tutor is your "number one" person at school.

• You will be part of the same Tutor Group for your whole time here, which means you’ll really get to know each other.

• You meet with them every single morning for registration.

• Because you see them every day, they are the person who will know you best!

• If your parents need to send a quick note, they can use your Student Planner to message your tutor.

🌟 Your Pastoral Manager (The Well-being Expert)

Every year group has a Pastoral Manager.

• Their main job is to look after your well-being and behavior.

• If you or your parents have a worry or a concern about how things are going, they are a great person to speak to.

📈 Your Year Leader (The Progress Expert)

Your Year Leader is like the "captain" of your entire year group.

• They are experts in helping you grow and learn.

• They keep an eye on your achievement (how well you are doing in lessons), your attendance, and making sure you are on time.

• They also plan the fun and interesting things you do during tutor time!

💡 Who do I talk to first?

If you just want to pass on some information or you have a small worry for the first time, your Form Tutor, Pastoral Manager, or Year Leader are your first points of contact.

Good to Know: For really serious things, our Headship team (the school leaders) are always there to help too.