I hope you are all well, and that the last few days of your child’s summer holiday go well. For those of you returning, welcome back and this letter recaps things that were said at the end of last term. To those of you joining Greenshaw for the first time, particularly new students and families in Years 7 and 12, I hope the information below is helpful. 

Back to school dates – a reminder 

• Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd September: school staff only return to school, for two INSET days. 
• Wednesday 4th September: induction days for Year 7 and Year 12 students only. 
• Thursday 5th September: partial day for all years (see times below). This allows us to share timetables for the coming school year, pupils to have an assembly with myself and their Head of Year, meet their tutors and get set for the coming year. 
• Friday 6th September: all year groups are in for full days from this day on. We open the school from 8:20am on Friday, and at that time each school day for the rest of the year. Please see the tables below for full details of these arrangements. 

Uniform and equipment 

I am sure that you will already have ordered school items as needed, but for reference please check the school website for our uniform requirements here. 

Please also be aware that Sutton Children Services have a free school uniform shop to support families in Sutton with children aged 4 to 18 years. Previous families of Greenshaw have donated used uniform and this is available to all families: there is no criteria for using this service and anyone with a child who needs some school uniform can contact them, regardless of income. 

Please contact them via email suttoncommunityuniform@sutton.gov.uk to book an appointment. Here is also a link to their website: https://www.suttonhealthandcare.nhs.uk/uniform-shop and their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/suttonBrowse Serverherehealthvisiting.

Increase in fines for missing school 

Many of you may be aware that attendance to school has been much lower over the last few years. Luckily, at Greenshaw it is always higher than the average attendance for all schools, but we absolutely know regular attendance is a key part of students being successful. The key change that the Department for Education (DfE) brought in is to increase the level of fines for holidays taken during school term time, as well as greater emphasis on lateness and absence generally. A summary of the changes is outlined on our school website here. 

Mr N House, Headteacher