Start of the Autumn Term

We hope you have all had a wonderful and restful summer break. We are so excited to welcome our students back to Redmoor Academy next week and to get a new academic year under way.

Whether your child is joining us in Year 7, returning for another year, or beginning their GCSE year in Year 11, we want everyone to start the term feeling prepared, confident and ready for a successful year. To help with this, we have brought together the key information and reminders you will need ahead of the first day back.

Start Dates and Arrival Times:

  • Tuesday 25th August: Year 7 and Year 11 only
  • Wednesday 26th August: All year groups
  • Arrival: All students need to arrive by 8:35am at the latest, as registration begins promptly at 8:40am.
  • Monday 31st August: Bank Holiday – the school will be closed.

A special welcome for Year 7

We are particularly looking forward to welcoming our new Year 7 students on Tuesday 25th August. Following their successful transition days, our staff and student helpers will be waiting at the gates to guide them to where they need to go. This first day with Year 7 and Year 11 only gives our new students plenty of space and time to become familiar with the building and settle into their new routines.

Uniform and appearance

Our students wear their uniform with pride, and consistently high uniform standards help establish a sense of fairness and high expectations across all year groups. A smart uniform brings our students together and sets a calm, purposeful tone for the school day.

Please make sure your child is fully prepared and familiar with the following expectations:

  • Hair: Hair must be a natural colour only. Any dyed hair must be returned to its natural shade before the first day back.
  • Make-up: KS3 students must not wear make-up. KS4 students may wear minimal, natural-looking make-up only.
  • Piercings: Students may wear plain, discreet stud earrings only – one per ear, with no hoops or large earrings. No other piercings are permitted. Clear retainers and tape are not allowed, so any new summer piercings must be ready to be removed for school.
  • Jewellery and artificial nails: Jewellery and artificial nails are not appropriate for school. Please do not allow students to wear bracelets, necklaces or similar items, or to come to school with acrylic nails or false eyelashes.
  • Watches: Watches are allowed, with the exception of smartwatches.
  • Footwear: Footwear must be sensible, plain black only, with no white or coloured soles or logos.

We know that settling back into school routines after a long break can take a little adjustment, and we really value your support in keeping these standards high.

You can find full details about our expectations in our Behaviour and Relationships Policy on the school website.

Essential daily equipment

Having the right tools every day helps students feel confident and organised. Every student should bring a suitable backpack or handbag containing:

A pencil case – this is an essential daily item and should include:

  • Black or blue writing pens
  • A purple pen
  • Pencils
  • An eraser
  • A sharpener
  • A ruler
  • Highlighters

For Year 7 students, a purple pen will be provided on their first day, so there is no need to purchase one specifically for Tuesday.

A water bottle – a refillable bottle that can be topped up at break and lunchtime is essential every day, not just during warm weather.

Mobile phones and social times

Redmoor Academy is a phone-free and smartwatch-free school. These devices must be switched off before students enter the school gates and kept inside school bags throughout the day.

We want social times to be active, fun and engaging, helping students to build friendships and enjoy time together. We will be launching a wide range of extra-curricular clubs early in the Autumn term and will share the full timetable with you as soon as it is finalised.

Students are very welcome to bring in small games, such as Uno, to play with friends during break and lunch.

Drop-off and parking

To keep our students, staff and local community safe, please keep the following in mind if you drop off or collect your child by car:

  • Please do not drop off or collect students at the top of the drive or directly outside the main gates, as this creates a serious risk to pedestrians.
  • Only parents and carers with pre-arranged mobility permission may drive onto the school site.
  • Please be courteous to our neighbours by avoiding blocking driveways or using private roads.
  • Please remind your child about road safety, including wearing a helmet when riding bikes or scooters and dismounting on footpaths and across driveways.

Year 7 Welcome Evening

We are delighted to invite all Year 7 parents and carers to our Welcome to Year 7 Information Evening on:

Thursday 10th September, 6:00pm–7:30pm

The evening will provide you with information about how you can best support your child’s transition to Redmoor and help set them up for a successful five-year journey with us.

Looking ahead

Thank you so much for your ongoing co-operation and support. We are incredibly excited to welcome our students back and to see them embracing the opportunities, challenges and experiences that the new academic year will bring.

We look forward to another fantastic year as we show the Redmoor DNA – Respect, Resilience and Responsibility – in all that we do.

Warmest regards,

Katy Nichols
Head of School
Redmoor Academy