I hope everyone has had an enjoyable summer break. We are very much looking forward to welcoming all students back to school next week. Whilst the usual AHS Newsletter and Parent Bulletin with updates from each Head of Year will return next week I thought it would be useful to share key pieces of information about the start of term. Some of this was sent before the summer break but sometimes a reminder can be helpful.

Wellbeing Newsletter

Each week we send a Wellbeing Newsletter home as part of the Parent Bulletin, I hope the latest one (link below) will be useful as we begin the new academic term.

Wellbeing Newsletter 23

Covid controls to support a successful start to term

I would like to thank parents for all the positive feedback about Enrichment Week at the end of the last academic year, and in the months ahead we look forward to the wide range of extra-curricular and enrichment activities available at school progressing as planned. This is an integral part of all the AHS Journey for all our students. However, as you would expect the school will continue to have in place the robust Covid-19 systems of control that worked effectively last year. We have also decided in the early weeks of term to continue to take a cautious approach as students move around school.

As such we are strongly recommending that all students wear a face covering when moving between lessons and we will be reminding students to put their masks on when they enter the building.

I would like to thank you in advance for your support with this and in ensuring that your children bring a mask to school each day. This is not a precaution that I see lasting throughout the term but is one that I feel will be beneficial when we first return and the new term settles.

Tuesday 7th September – Start of term arrangements for Year 7 and 12

Year 7 – I know Miss Kincell and her team are looking forward to seeing everyone on Tuesday and are putting lots of top tips on their transition twitter feed @AHS_Transition. We also have a wealth of useful information that can be accessed via the homepage of the website. https://archbishopholgates.academy/

Year 7 students should go to the Main Hall at 8.30am, there will be lots of staff available to guide them and support them with hand washing before they enter. All AHS operated buses will run as timetabled from this day. Our catering team will be providing all Year 7 students with a free snack for break time and their biometrics will be completed in time for them to purchase lunch on 7th September.

Year 12 – A huge congratulations to our new Year 12 for their GCSE results that have put them in a strong position for the start of their Post-16 career. I very much enjoyed the transition meetings that I was part of after results day. I know that the Sixth Form Team continued to meet students and their families of both our new Year 12 and Year 13 cohorts throughout the summer. A huge thank you to all those that attended, we appreciate your time and the effort made in supporting your son/daughter in planning the year or two ahead. Mrs De Lashley and her team are really excited about the year ahead.

Year 12 students should go to the Sixth Form Foyer, the Sixth Form team will be there to greet them and ensure that they have washed their hands before entering.

Wednesday 8th September – Start of term arrangements for all year groups

All year groups in school with an 8.35am drift in for an 8.45am start; all students should go directly to their new form room. There will be lots of staff available to guide students and ensure that they wash their hands before entering the building.

New Year 8

  • If you were in:7CAd, you have now become:  8Ap and your new form room is: IT3
  • If you were in:7Bl, you have now become:  8CBr and your new form room is: Hi3
  • If you were in:7CMp, you have now become:  8CMp and your new form room is: MA5
  • If you were in:7Mr, you have now become:  8ECe and your new form room is: Gg2
  • If you were in:7Hv, you have now become:  8GBl and your new form room is: Sc3
  • If you were in:7Gr, you have now become:  8Ob and your new form room is: Sc2
  • If you were in:7Cy, you have now become:  8LP and your new form room is: MFL4
  • If you were in:7Cm, you have now become:  8LWs and your new form room is: En8
  • If you were in:7NTh, you have now become:  8NTh and your new form room is: Sc1
  • If you were in:7Hf, you have now become:  8KCe and your new form room is: En4
  • If you were in:7WNo, you have now become:  8WNo and your new form room is: Sc5

New Year 9

  • If you were in:8ABt, you have now become:  9ABt and your new form room is: En11
  • If you were in:8NAm, you have now become:  9EWh and your new form room is: Ma9
  • If you were in:8JHe, you have now become:  9JHe and your new form room is: RE1
  • If you were in:8Di, you have now become:  9KGn and your new form room is: MFL1
  • If you were in:8KMd, you have now become:  9KMd and your new form room is: Ma10
  • If you were in:8MHe, you have now become:  9MHe and your new form room is: MFL2
  • If you were in:8Pi, you have now become:  9Pi and your new form room is: Ma7
  • If you were in:8Pl, you have now become:  9Pl and your new form room is: Gg3
  • If you were in:8WBn, you have now become:  9RDn and your new form room is: En5
  • If you were in:8MDn, you have now become:  9RPR and your new form room is: Hi6
  • If you were in:8MLn, you have now become:  9SLa and your new form room is: Re6

New Year 10

  • If you were in:9BMo, you have now become:  10BMo and your new form room is: L37
  • If you were in:9Br, you have now become:  10Br and your new form room is: En6
  • If you were in:9Gs, you have now become:  10Gs and your new form room is: PE1
  • If you were in:9Hu, you have now become:  10Hu and your new form room is: Ma12
  • If you were in:9CAL, you have now become:  10KPe and your new form room is: En2
  • If you were in:9Kx, you have now become:  10Kx and your new form room is: Hi5
  • If you were in:9Mb, you have now become:  10Mb and your new form room is: Ma11
  • If you were in:9MSt, you have now become:  10MSt and your new form room is: Ma8
  • If you were in:9EMl, you have now become:  10Ps and your new form room is: IT2
  • If you were in:9SMr, you have now become:  10SMr and your new form room is: Ma2
  • If you were in:9Wb, you have now become:  10Wb and your new form room is: Sc8

New Year 11

  • If you were in:10EMo, you have now become:  11AL and your new form room is: RE2
  • If you were in:10BDu, you have now become:  11BDu and your new form room is: Ar2
  • If you were in:10By, you have now become:  11By and your new form room is: En1
  • If you were in:10RMe, you have now become:  11CR and your new form room is: En10
  • If you were in:10ERo, you have now become:  11Ero and your new form room is: RE3
  • If you were in:10MPe, you have now become:  11Ev and your new form room is: En12
  • If you were in:10IMa, you have now become:  11IMa and your new form room is: En3
  • If you were in:10JLi, you have now become:  11JLi and your new form room is: Sc4
  • If you were in:10RGi, you have now become:  11RGi and your new form room is: MFL3
  • If you were in:10LBr, you have now become:  11RMr and your new form room is: En7
  • If you were in:10Wa, you have now become:  11Wa and your new form room is: SC6

New Year 13

  • If you were in:12BKi, you have now become:  13BKi and your new form room is: Ma4
  • If you were in:12GSw, you have now become:  13GSw and your new form room is: L16
  • If you were in:12HGa, you have now become:  13HGa and your new form room is: L32
  • If you were in:12Lv, you have now become:  13Lv and your new form room is: SC9
  • If you were in:12Nc, you have now become:  13Nc and your new form room is: Ar1
  • If you were in:12Os, you have now become:  13Os and your new form room is: L25
  • If you were in:12Kt, you have now become:  13SL and your new form room is: BS2

School Uniform

 We would like to remind parents and students of the expectations for school uniform from September

  • All items of uniform should be clearly labelled with the student’s name.
  • School bags should be fit for purpose and large enough to fit an A4 folder and text books inside.
  • Hairstyles should be neat and not follow extremes of fashion. Only natural hair colours are allowed.
  • Students may wear one plain 3mm stud in each ear. Due to health and safety issues, no additional piercing is allowed.
  • Heavy makeup is not allowed. We would prefer Year 7 students to not wear any makeup.
  • Nail varnish, gel/acrylic and false nails are also not allowed.
  • Unacceptable school trousers: skinny, super skinny fits are not allowed. No leggings or jeans. No material containing viscose/polyamide/elastane mix, cotton/elastane mix, lycra or jean material. Trousers should have no decorative zips, studs or pockets.
  • Unacceptable school skirts: no skinny, tube or bodycon or other tight fitting lycra, elastane mixed material skirts.

Our school uniform supplier is Keal Teamwear, 105 Walmgate, York YO1 9UA. Please visit the school website page for full guidance: https://archbishopholgates. academy/parents/school-life/school-uniform/ If you are unsure, please contact the school, we will be only too willing to help.

Covid Controls

It remains crucial that no child attends the school site if they are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19.

  • A high temperature
  • A new, continuous cough
  • A loss or change to your sense of smell

Any child displaying symptoms should book and attend a PCR test and remain at home until they receive the result.

Our COVID risk assessment remains as important as ever and therefore students will be encouraged to wash their hands on arrival using soap and water and will have opportunities to sanitise throughout the day. Additionally, we will ensure that all classrooms remain well ventilated to limit the spread of transmission.

Children will be welcome to and are encouraged to continue using face coverings in corridors and social spaces where they feel it is appropriate to do so.

Final thoughts

As ever I am excited about the start of term and all we will collectively achieve in the months ahead. I will continue to prioritise regular communication each week and families should not hesitate to contact school if they have any questions, concerns or feedback. I know that all the staff are looking forward to seeing students and supporting them to make the most of the year ahead and the next stage of their AHS Journey.

Kind regards,
Andrew Daly