Penistone Grammar School

On behalf of students, staff and members of the Governing Body, I would like to officially welcome you to our learning community.

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As parents and carers, the decision about where your children will undertake their secondary education is a significant one and I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for putting your trust in Penistone Grammar School … it is a decision you will not regret.

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I am incredibly proud to be Principal of Penistone Grammar School and of all that our school continues to achieve. We have a dedicated team of teaching and associate colleagues who work tirelessly to provide an excellent educational experience for our young people. I am constantly overwhelmed by the lengths our staff will go to, to ensure every one of our students can flourish.

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I believe an effective, open and transparent partnership between home and school is central to delivering the best for our students. We have an innate drive to deliver nothing short of the best. This is only achieved if students, staff and parents work in close collaboration; something which we will encourage and embrace as we move forward together.

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Above all, our school is a happy and welcoming place. We are a supportive community where students are encouraged and enabled to become independent, well-educated citizens with the ability and confidence to make good choices, contributing positively to the world around them. I look forward to working with you for the duration of your child’s time with us and cannot wait for us to witness together all the great things they will achieve.

I am privileged to be Assistant Principal here at Penistone Grammar School. My portfolio is diverse but my main responsibilities are to have strategic oversight of our HeartSpace provision and Transition.

As an experienced practitioner and school leader, having been fortunate enough to work in three different authorities thus far; teaching and supporting students between ages 2-18, I recognise how important the Transition journey is. It is a crucial element of each young person’s life and we must get it right for them.

Whilst the Transition journey begins in year six, it continues throughout your child’s time with us at PGS I will be there every step of the way, alongside a dedicated team, to ensure our young people have the best possible offer. Continuity of the key stage two curriculum, catch-up, nurture sessions, THRIVE approach, Achievement Leader and a dedicated Student Support Officer are amongst a few of the transition elements we provide. The package is very bespoke to individuals and we strive to continually improve and adapt our programme.

I honestly feel I have the best job in the world and I am honoured to work with such an amazing team and incredible students every day.

Mrs E Smith (PA to the Principal), the Transition team and myself work very closely to ensure our students receive the best possible Transition offer.

As a parent myself, I would like to reassure you that you will never regret your decision to send your children to PGS. It is a truly remarkable place that gives students the best possible education.

I am Mrs Smith, the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator at Pensitone Grammar School.

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I have worked at Penistone for 20 years and have always worked within the Inclusion team. My role has changed over the years and I have been fortunate to be able to work with our students on very different levels. I have supported students to help remove barriers to learning from both a learning and pastoral perspective in many different ways.

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What I love most about working at Penistone Grammar School with our wonderful student is that the SEND team is so supportive of our students and each other, and some days can be challenging for both students and staff. The good behaviour of our students stands out, it is often the first comment of visitors in school. The lengths that all our school staff go to in order to make coming to Penistone a positive experience. I have never worked with such a committed team.

My name is Mrs Butler and I am proud to look after Attendance at Penistone Grammar School.

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I believe strongly that our young people grow in their education and in their lives by being in school and being exposed to all the different aspects of learning that this brings to them.

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We are a very supportive school and work closely with our families to ensure that all students attend school on every day possible. Our Attendance Team consists of me and Mrs Atkinson and we are both available to help. We have a strong team of experts in school who are able to help with any issues which are impacting on school attendance and we will enlist their help when it is needed. We also have a LA Education Welfare Officer working with us in school and where appropriate we will ask her to become involved so that the best package of support is available to our families.

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The most important thing I would like to say is that we are here to help. Young people have been at home too much over the past year and now it is vital that we get them successfully into school. PLEASE talk to us if you are facing any issues around school attendance. We will always contact you if we see anything that concerns us. The key is that we talk to each other, openly and honestly.

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If your child does have to be absent from school, for safeguarding reasons please inform us on each and every day of the reason for the absence.

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Mrs Atkinson and I can be contacted on attendance@penistone-gs.uk or by phoning 01226 762114 Option 1. It can be busy in the mornings so if you have to leave a message, we will return your call if necessary.

I have another role in school which I am equally proud of: Pupil Premium Champion. Again, this is a supportive role, looking to offer practical help wherever necessary for students for whom school receives the Pupil Premium from the government. This largely applies to families where Free School Meals have been accessed in the last 6 years or there is a Looked After Child.

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We know this has been a very difficult time for some of our families so if there is practical support we can offer you, please do get in touch with me at school. Please do not be offended if I cannot do what you ask, I will always try to find an acceptable compromise if this is the case. By working together to address identified needs, we can ensure that your children have the best possible experience at Penistone Grammar School which will lead to their best possible outcomes and life chances.