Pastoral care

As part of our ongoing commitment to pupil wellbeing, we have made some changes to our mobile phone policy. We are noticing that large numbers of pupils are spending excessive time on their mobile phones and this is not conducive to learning, building social relationships, or to positive mental health.  

From September 2022 Year 11, Lower Sixth & Upper Sixth will be permitted mobile phones but not in corridors, the canteen, lessons (unless instructed by a teacher to aid a lesson) or outside of their form room/ common room. 

Years 7-10 are not allowed to have their mobile phones out at any time during the school day

If a pupil in Years 7-10 needs to contact you urgently, then they can do this either through Reception or a member of the pastoral team. Equally, if you need to get an urgent message to your child, then you can do this by emailing reception (reception@twggs.kent.sch.uk) or by telephoning 01892 520902.

If a pupil in these year groups is seen with a mobile phone during the school day, then the following sanctions will be followed:

• First offence: phone removed and to be collected by the pupil at the end of the school day.
• Second offence: phone removed and to be collected by a parent at the end of the school day (whenever is convenient to them)
• Third offence: phone removed and to be collected by a parent at the end of the following week

The above sanctions will also apply to any pupil in Year 11 and the Sixth Form who is seen using their mobile phone outside of their designated areas.

• Excellence – excellent standards of classwork or homework
• Effort – recognition of significant effort towards completing a task
• Community – courtesy, volunteering, supporting the school, fulfilling responsibilities well
• Contribution – contribution in class, inspiring others
• Ambition / Resilience – readily tackling difficult tasks, rising to challenges

Pupils are given stickers as merits, and each sticker has a unique code that can be logged using 'My Stickers'. Each pupil has been given an individual username and password. Prizes are then awarded to pupils and forms with the highest number at the end of each main term. Parents and carers are also able to view their child's progress of these merits by logging into the Parent Portal of Carrot Rewards and linking their accounts to their child's username and password. Access to the parent portal can be found here:

Carrot Rewards Portal

We have introduced two new behaviour ladders for this academic year to ensure there is consistency and clarity amongst staff and pupils for sanctions given as a result of any misbehaviours. The first ladder is focused on an academic point of view, and the second is from a general behaviour perspective for pupils around the school. Both are based on a triage system with escalation for repeated or more serious offences. The ladders are visible in various locations around the school, as well as in pupil planners. 

TWGGS Behaviour Ladder TWGGS Academic Progress and Support Interventions

Your child's Form Tutor is your first point of contact if you have an enquiry about any aspect of their school life or wish to discuss anything of concern.  All staff can be reached by phone on 01892 520902, or by emailing admin@twggs.kent.sch.uk and your email will be forwarded to the appropriate person.

Additional pastoral support is available through the Head of Pastoral Care, the Year 7 Transition Co-ordinator, the Directors of Key Stages 3 and 4, and the Pastoral Support Assistant.

Mrs Miller, Assistant Headteacher, Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and Head of Pastoral Care - ahtpastoral@twggs.kent.sch.uk

Miss Pérez, Year 7 Lead and Transition Co-ordinator – transition@twggs.kent.sch.uk

Mr Walker, Director of Achievement Key Stage 3 – keystage3@twggs.kent.sch.uk

Ms Hogben, Director of Achievement Key Stage 4 – keystage4@twggs.kent.sch.uk

Miss Mitchell, Director of Achievement Sixth Form – sixthform@twggs.kent.sch.uk

Mrs Rogers, Key Stage 3 Pastral Support Assistant - pastoralsupport@twggs.kent.sch.uk

Mrs Barclay, Key Stage 4 Pastoral Support Assistant – pastoralsupport@twggs.kent.sch.uk

Mrs Brown, Key Stage 5 Pastral Support Assistant - pastoralsupport@twggs.kent.sch.uk

Personal Safety

Although the days are slowly getting longer we are acutely aware that many of our pupils travel to and from school in the dark. With this in mind, the following has been shared with pupils to help keep themselves safe:

• Keep to well-lit and busy areas as much as possible

• Avoid wearing headphones or looking down at your phone whilst walking

• Find a local shop / populated area and ask for help 

• Make sure someone knows your route and an approximate time you should be arriving home or to your destination

• Keep your mobile in close proximity to be able to make a call

• Ultimately, call 999 if you feel you are in danger

Further information can be found from the following two websites: 

• Kent Police: Personal Safety: https://www.kent.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/personal-safety-how-to-stay-safe/ 

• Crime Stoppers: Keeping Safe https://crimestoppers-uk.org/keeping-safe/personal-safety 

Drug Use

The local Police Schools' Team has recently been made aware of information regarding the rise in the use of edible drugs and their promotion on Snapchat and Instagram.

Please see the following letter from the team, giving more details:

Information on Edible Drugs