Frequently Asked Questions
Absence from School
Should your child be absent from school please call the absence line, by 8.30am, on 0208 398 7161 option 1. This should be done each day your child is absent.
Appointments
If the appointment is first thing in the morning, please call the absence line on 020 8398 7161 option 1, or if the appointment is during the school day, please write a note in the student planner that can be shown in the lesson and when signing out at the attendance office.
After School and Lunchtime Clubs
Timetables for after school and lunchtime clubs can be viewed via the Calendars tab above or click here for a direct link.
Confiscated Items
Items will be confiscated from students at school if they are a threat to others; a threat to learning; against the uniform rules; a threat to health and safety; illegal; undermining the ethos of the school eg production of material in paper form or via the Internet which might cause tension between one community and another or one student and another.
Please see below information for the confiscation of mobile phones. Other confiscated items will be taken to Student Reception who will keep a record of the items confiscated and they will be returned after school on a Friday. If a student brings in or uses the banned item then further sanctions will be applied.
Holiday/Term Dates
The holiday and term dates are available on this website via the Calendars tab above or click here for a direct link: Term Dates at a Glance.
Inoculations Records and School Nurse Service
Student inoculation records ARE NOT kept by the school. However, they are available from the Immunisation Team (East):
Tracey Smith, Immunisation Administrator, Immunisation Team (East), Children and Family Health Surrey:
Tel: 020 8394 8153 or email csh.eastimmsadmin@nhs.net
Please click here for information on vaccinations given in school.
Leave of Absence – Can I take my child out of school during term time?
The school strongly advises against parents/carers taking their children out of school during term time. However, it is understood that on occasions it is unavoidable. In exceptional circumstances the Headteacher may, at their discretion, authorise up to five school days leave of absence a year. Any requests should be made at least two weeks before the proposed absence. There are certain times, however, when absence would never be authorised, for example during public examinations. For the full Attendance Policy please click here. Leave of Absence Application form click here. Please download the form, complete and give to our attendance officer.
Please click here for the Penalty Notice Letter as referred to in the January 2024 School Newsletter.
Locker and Lost Property Enquiries
For locker queries and lost property please call Student Reception between 10.00 & 13.00 (020 8398 7161) or email info@hinchleywoodschool.co.uk. Alternatively, students can enquire in person at Student Reception.
A locker can be purchased in September each year for £20 for the year. For lost keys, there is a charge of £10 and this can be paid on Parent pay or by cash at Student Reception.
If any items/PE bags are lost at school, please encourage your child to retrace their steps and look in all their classrooms, followed by Lost Property bin in the Sports Hall under the stairs by the PE Office.
Music Lessons/Facilities Hire
For information on Music lessons available through the school please click here. To find out about hiring the Music Centre facilities please click here.
Mobile Phones in School
Mobile phones should not be used inside the school buildings, i.e. in corridors or classrooms, without permission. If a student is seen using a mobile phone without permission in any school building (including the canteen), the phone will be confiscated and handed in to Student Reception. Confiscated mobile phones can only be collected by parents/carers.
Smart Card Procedures
Payments onto smart cards must be made via Parentpay, a paypoint card or by direct debit. We will only accept cash or cheques in exceptional circumstances (eg when a student is new to the school). Click here for the direct debit mandate form.
If a new smartcard is required this can be done via email to: info@hinchleywoodschool.co.uk or putting a request in the finance letterbox or completing a request form at till one in the canteen.
Please allow 24 hours for a new card to be produced. New smart cards must be collected from the canteen (Till One) at breakfast, end of break, or at first lunchtime between 1.15pm and 1.20pm or second lunchtime between 1.35pm and 1.40pm.
Low balance email alerts are sent daily if there has been activity on the account and the balance is £5 or less. Students are also informed of this when at the till.
The balance can be checked at anytime on the Parentpay website.
Please ensure that there are sufficient funds on the smart card account if a student wishes to purchase food.
If a student does not have sufficient funds or they have lost/forgotten their card, they will only be able to buy food at first lunchtime between 1.15pm and 1.20pm or second lunchtime between 1.35pm and 1.40pm.
Student Reception
Student Reception is where students collect forgotten items and sign in and out of school when they have doctor, dentist etc. appointment. Parents/carers are requested to drop off items or collect students from this area. It is located at the end of the building by the ‘church entrance’ to the school. Please note that we are unable to deliver forgotten items to students during the school day.
Student Reception is open to students at the following times: before school (8.25 am), morning break (10.40 am), lunchtime (1.00 pm) and after school (3.00 pm) – on Fridays the opening times are 8.25 am, 10.50 am and 1.30 pm.
