Shirebrook Academy

Thomas Cook Holidays
Shirebrook School Ad

At Shirebrook Academy we are always striving to improve attendance and enable our students to fully achieve their academic potential. From September of this year we stopped allowing holidays in term time. Although, we realised that this was an issue for some of our parents who find booking holidays in the summer to be too expensive, it was also having a detrimental affect on the education of many of our students. To maintain the excellent relations that we have with the parents of Shirebrook, we sought to try and help ease some of the financial burdens of a summer holiday. As a result we have forged a partnership with Thomas Cook in Shirebrook to offer discounted summer holidays for all of our student’s parents. Thomas Cook are offering a 8% discount for all summer holidays over £500. This is open to all the parents of Shirebrook School. We hope that this will enable parents and students to enjoy time away as a family in the summer and promote good attendance and better results in term time.

Staying safe on line – advice for parents/carers
The internet is such an integral part of children’s lives these days. It opens up so many educational and social opportunities, giving them access to, quite literally, a world of information and experiences.
Whether on a computer at school, a laptop at home, a games console or mobile phone, children and young people are increasingly accessing the internet whenever they can and wherever they are.
As you would protect your child in the real world, you will want to make sure that they are safe whatever they are doing. Like learning to cross the road, online safety skills are skills for life. If your child understands the risks and can make sensible and informed choices online, they can get the most from the internet and stay safe whilst doing so – particularly from those people who might seek them out to harm them.
How can you protect your child online?
The answer is simple. If you understand the internet and understand what the risks are, there are a number of things you can do that will make your child safer online. You can find out more on the CEOP website.

Is your son or daughter eligible for free school meals?
For further information on eligibility and how to apply for free school meals please download the attached document.

Free School Meals

Career Planning
The Careers Education programme at Shirebrook Academy runs from Y7 to Y11, helping students to evaluate their skills and interests, explore career opportunities and plan for progression from Y11 into Further Education, apprenticeships or employment.
Key decisions are taken by students at the following times:
• Y9 – choosing subject options for Key Stage 4
• Y10 – choosing and securing a work experience placement
• Y11 – choosing and securing a place at 6th form, college, or in employment or an apprenticeship
In addition to the careers work delivered on super learning days, students will be able to use a range of other sources of help and information to help with these key decisions:
Connexions Service
Our personal advisor is in school every Tuesday to see Y11 students individually, and is available for a drop-in service to all students in the library at lunchtime
Connexions advisers are also available at parent events such as target review day, along with local college representatives
You can contact Connexions outside school for information and advice. Contact Chesterfield Connexions Centre on 01246 201581 or visit their website
Connexions in Nottinghamshire will also have information about local education and employment opportunities – Other sources of help
Heads of year, heads of department and form tutors are available to support students with choices, for example with information about Post-16 courses at the Academy, information about predicted grades, and in writing references for applications.
Students are encouraged to visit colleges and 6th forms for open days. Information is circulated in school about these dates.
The internet is a great source of information about jobs and careers, but check that information is up to date and relevant to your local area. For further information about researching careers, with some recommended websites. Researching Careers