2nd May 2012 - Yr11 Exam Arrangements 

Dear Parent/Carer

Your son/daughter will by now have received their individual exam timetable with the dates, days, times and seating for each exam. Students should arrive in full college uniform, 30 minutes before the scheduled start of the exam and should report to Mrs Hudson (student manager) to register their attendance.

Normal lessons will continue until Thursday 31st May and students will be expected to attend all their subjects. Once an exam is completed students should still attend their normal lessons but will revise for their other subjects.

The second half of the term starts on Monday 11th June and from this date the Year 11 timetable will be suspended. Students will then need only attend for their exams, unless a specific revision class has been arranged by a subject teacher. For those students who wish to study at college during the day or between am and pm exams the library will be available for quiet individual revision.

We would be grateful if you would ensure that your son/daughter arrives 30 minutes before the start of their exam, in uniform and with all the necessary equipment. Pens, pencils, and calculators will NOT be provided. Clear bottles of water are permitted in the exam room and we would recommend them on hot days, together with a good breakfast, which will be available to purchase from the canteen if required.

GCSE results will be available for collection by students on Thursday 23rd August between 09.00 and 10.30. If students are unable to collect their results we would ask that a stamped addressed envelope is provided for us to post the results.

In their envelope of results will be notification of the date students can collect their GCSE certificates, a date in late October/early November, and we ask that students do collect their certificates as we are not allowed to post them.

We wish all our students, and their families, good luck in this final countdown to their exams.
Yours sincerely


Ranjit  Verghese
Assistant Head

 30th April 2012 - All Years 

Dear Parent/Carer

We are now in GCSE exam season and our Year 11 students are making final preparation for their exams. Our afternoon exams start at 1.00 and in order to ensure that we have a quiet start to the exams we are changing the times of lunch for the period of 5  college weeks. There will be no change to the service offered by the kitchen staff, and we are very grateful to Liz Christian, our canteen manager, and her team for their flexibility to allow this to happen.

The times shown below will be in place from Monday 14th May to Friday 22nd June.  

11.05 – 12.05 Period 3 no change

12.05 – 12.40 LUNCH 

12.40 – 1.45 Period 4 [afternoon exams 1.00pm start]

1.45 – 2.45 Period 5 no change

End of college

Normal lunchtime arrangements will resume from Monday 25th June.


Yours sincerely


R. Verghese
Assistant Head

 27 February 2012 

Dear Parent/Carer
Re: INSET Days

This is to let you know the dates of our planned INSET Days between February and July 2012, and to inform you of an additional date in July to enable our students to take part in the Olympic Torch events.

Friday 30 March
The Bourne is closed to all students, except for all Year 11 students who will have an Intensive Revision Day at school, and for some Year 10 students who will be sitting Science exams (these students will receive an invitation from their Science teacher).

Friday 1 June
INSET Day. This is the last day of our 2011/2012 academic year as we start our new 2012/2013 academic year on Monday 11 June.

Monday 16 July
Extra INSET Day – Olympic Torch Events across West Sussex which you may like to attend with your children.

Friday 20 July
INSET Day (as planned)

Yours sincerely

Margaret M Eva (Mrs)
Headteacher

Dear Parent/Carer

We are continually looking at ways we can improve the learning opportunities for our students and as part of this we regularly review the curriculum. As part of this review we have decided to make some small adjustments to the way the college year is managed.

The change of college year will be brought forward to midway through the summer term, so students in any one year will move to their next year group immediately after the summer half term. We see a number of benefits for our students by making this change:

a)   Key Stage 4 students will have longer on their Key Stage 4 programme of study – a full 6 terms.

b)   The time between students deciding their Key Stage 4 Pathways subjects and starting those subjects is reduced.

c)   Students can commence their new timetable for 6 weeks in June/July and will then transfer seamlessly to the Autumn Term in September knowing what timetable they will be following, having started it before the summer holidays.

This change of Academic Year will be for the whole college.

On Monday 11th June:

Year 9 ends        Thursday 31st May    (Friday 1st June College INSET)

Year 10 starts     Monday 11th June     immediately after half term

Students will start their KS4 timetables in June 2012 and this timetable will continue uninterrupted the following September.

Year 7 become Year 8 students

Year 8 become Year 9 students

Year 9 become Year 10 students and start their Key Stage 4 courses

Year 10 become Year 11 students and therefore have 3 full terms before they complete their studies and sit their exams.

In September 2012, new Year 7 students will start their Key Stage 3 courses at Bourne Community College.

I am sure we will see the benefits to our students’ learning and to the smooth running of the college. If you have any questions about this change do email or write to me I will happily answer them.

Yours sincerely

Margaret Eva
Headteacher

 10 January 2012 - All Year Groups 

Dear Parent/Carer

Re: Girls’ Uniform

As you are aware, Bourne Community College is a uniform school and we have a clear policy on what items of uniform are acceptable.  At present girls are expected to attend in a plain black, knee length skirt of a suitable style (obtainable from Ricara School Outfitters in Chichester, or Skoolkit in Havant).  Very short, stretch black skirts are not suitable or permissible.   There are a number of students, however, who are choosing not to comply with this request and are having to be repeatedly reminded about the need to dress appropriately.

We also have an issue with the increasing use of heavy and bright make up, false plain/patterned nails and excessive jewellery.  Students are only permitted to wear very subtle make up.   False nails of any description are not permitted for Health and Safety reasons.  Jewellery is confined to one pair of small plain ear studs and a watch.  Extremes of hair colours and styles are also not permitted.

Therefore, we expect all our girls to return and, from January, to wear the appropriate length of skirt (no more than 2” above the knee) or black trousers, and to comply with our rules concerning their appearance.

As I am sure you will agree, a uniform helps to give unity and identification to a school and is also a way of encouraging students to dress appropriately in preparation for the workplace.

May we also take this opportunity to inform you that from September 2012 all girls in Years 7, 8 and 9 will be required to wear a Bourne navy pleated skirt, and in Years 10 and 11 a Bourne navy blue senior skirt which will need to be purchased from either Ricara School Outfitters in Chichester, Skoolkit School Outfitters in Havant, or can be purchased online from www.skoolkit.co.uk.  We have taken care to ensure the cost of this item is affordable.

Thank you for your support in this matter.

Yours sincerely

Margaret M Eva, OBE
Headteacher

 13^th January 2012 - Year 11