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Last updated: February 26th, 2024

Communication with parents

Communication with parents

LETTERS HOME

All written communications to parents are sent via email. All emails to large groups of parents MUST be sent by the school office so that we can monitor bulk communications home and ensure that parents aren’t being bombarded! Any communication sent to a large group of parents will be emailed by the school office using Arbor.

If you would like to send a letter home to more than 35 students then please email the text you would like to send to office@sjb.surrey.sch.uk where it can be picked up by any of the front office staff.

We aim to minimise bulk communications to parents to only the essentials otherwise they simply don’t read them! We aim to send one bulletin to all parents every week on a Thursday so as to minimise the frequency of bulk emails. If your communication is addressed to all parents then it must be with the office by midday on Wednesday so that it can be included in the weekly bulletin.

As a rule we won’t send several reminder letters to parents about the same thing. Instead we will use social media to remind parents of an event in the week before it happens.

SOCIAL MEDIA

We have three main SJB social media accounts:

If you’re into social media then please follow us!

Anna Kitching is in charge of the whole school social media presence. Her role is to filter posts, support with graphics and ensure that there are regular posts highlighting the wide variety of activities and rewards going on in school each week.

If you would like anything posted on the SJB social media channels then please email it to office@sjb.surrey.sch.uk where it will be picked up and posted at an appropriate time. For us to post we will need at least one picture or short video clip and a short catchy blurb to go with it.

Rules on posting images of students:

  • Please ensure you have permission from any student / member of staff before posting their image on social media.
  • Please ensure that full names are not used alongside an image of the child (ie. just use forename alongside a photo, or if there is no photo then you can use their full name).
  • Please ensure that the photos are appropriate and that school uniform/dress is correct (ie. skirts knee length, top buttons done up etc.)

CONTACTING INDIVIDUAL PARENTS

Email is a really easy way to contact parents of individual students. You can access parent email addresses and phone numbers quickly via Arbor or you can send messages directly from within Arbor. You are welcome to contact parents as and when appropriate (unless the HOY/LK/MAH have given other information in pastoral briefing or via email). Please always take heed of any notes written on Arbor regarding contact arrangements. If you are emailing the parents of more than one student then please either send via Arbor, or send separate emails or bcc them so that personal email addresses are not shared with other parents.

Parents do have access to the email addresses of their child’s teachers and frequently use it as a means of making contact. This can be a really positive way of building a relationship with some parents. But remember, if you ever receive an email that you are not happy about then pass it on to your Curriculum Leader or Head of Year as relevant.

PARENTS EVENINGS

Parents evenings happen once per year for each year group. They all run virtually using School Cloud. Dates are in the calendar / academic planner. Timings vary for each year group:

  • Year 7 & 8 parents evenings run from 3-7pm with lessons finishing early at 2.15pm to facilitate the early start.
  • Year 9 to 13 parents evenings run from 4-7pm (school day as normal)

Years 7-11 parents can book 5 minute appointments, Year 12 and 13 book 7 minute appointments. It is expected that all staff will attend the evenings for the year groups they teach.  Appointments are booked by the students/parents in the fortnight prior to the evening.