Important Information

Useful Information - Please click the sections below to expand the content.

Attendance and Times of the School Day

The Autumn Term at Moulton School begins on Wednesday, 4th September. Please be aware that our term dates are different from those listed on the WNC website. For accurate term dates and a printable calendar for the 2024-25 academic year, visit our website at www.moultonschool.co.uk/dates.

The school day runs from 8.45am to 3.15pm. Students are welcome to arrive from 8am onwards, with the school library open and supervised from this time for quiet study. Please ensure your child is not dropped off before 8am. Punctuality is crucial; students arriving in their first lesson after 8.50am will be marked late. Accumulating two or more late marks in a day will result in a detention. We recommend aiming for arrival between 8am and 8.40am to ensure a prompt start.

High attendance is essential for academic success, and we have set a target attendance rate of 98% or above for all students. There is a significant, proven link between regular attendance and achieving academic goals.

Please note, the school does not authorise term time holidays and will refer to the Local Authority (LA) for possible fines if a child is taken out of school for 5 consecutive days for a holiday.

Regarding sickness, only the first three absences in an academic year will be authorised. Subsequent absences will be unauthorised unless your child has an ongoing medical condition.

If your child is unwell, please inform us before 8.50am either by calling the absence line (01604 641600 - Select Option 2) or by emailing the Attendance Office at attendance@moultonschool.co.uk. It is important to use these specific contact methods to ensure your message is received and processed promptly.

Cashless Catering / Online Payments (SCOPay)

We use SCOPay for processing online payments for school-related expenses like meals, trips, music tuition, and more. Our caterer, Impact Food Group, employs a cashless system, enhancing efficiency and quality of service. This technology does away with the need for students to carry cash. You can add money to your child's online account, which will be used for food and drink purchases.

You'll receive an email from SCOPay (donotreply@scopay.com) in late August with setup instructions. Note that account crediting starts from September 1st. Please use the SCOPay website or mobile app for transactions, as cash or cheques are not accepted.

For the cashless system, we're adopting an 'Opt In' policy for biometric registration, as per current legislation. If you prefer not to use biometrics, a 4-digit PIN can be assigned, though it's less secure and your child must remember and safeguard it.

Key Points:

Students can check their balance at two locations around the school.:

Communication

We communicate with parents and guardians electronically via email and text/SMS. For this, we use SCOPay, the same system utilised for school meal payments. The contact details you provide on the Form 1 - Admissions Form are used for all communications.

For day-to-day correspondence, including letters, we contact all individuals marked as having Parental Responsibility. These communications will be sent to your provided email address.

We understand the importance of being able to reach the right person quickly in emergencies or if your child is unwell. Therefore, you can provide multiple contact persons and prioritise them from 1 to 3, with 1 being the highest priority. We will always attempt to reach the priority 1 contact first in urgent situations. Please inform us of any special arrangements or notes you'd like us to keep in our system for your child's care.

In addition to SCOPay, we also utilise Go4Schools for specific notifications, such as detentions. Go4Schools enables you to receive push notifications through its mobile app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. This platform also provides access to your child’s attendance records and reports. For more information about Go4Schools and how to use it, please refer to the Go4Schools section of this page.

Equipment

It is essential that all students arrive to school properly equipped to learn. Failure to have the correct equipment will be treated as failure to have the correct uniform, and will be sanctioned accordingly. The following items are compulsory for all students:

The following items are advised, but not compulsory

Free School Meals + Holiday Food Vouchers

Free School Meals (FSM) are an important provision for eligible students, ensuring they have access to nutritious meals at school. For students transitioning from Primary to Secondary School, West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) will automatically transfer current FSM claims to Moulton School. If your child didn’t claim FSM at Primary School but you believe you may be eligible, please apply online before your child starts at Moulton School. You can do this through the following link: www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals.

Students can check their SCOPay account balances at two designated locations within the school:

It’s important to note that the FSM allowance is allocated daily and is separate from any funds you add to your child’s SCOPay account. The FSM allowance doesn’t reflect in the general balance but is solely for purchasing meals.

We recommend that students bring a refillable water bottle to school. Staying hydrated is essential for concentration and overall health, and they can easily refill their bottles at the cold water coolers located around the school.

Free School Meals - Holiday Food Vouchers

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) provides holiday food vouchers for students who receive free school meals. This program is part of the Household Support Fund from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

WNC are changing how they deliver these vouchers to make the process faster. Instead of sending them to the school first,  WNC would like to email the vouchers directly to you using the Huggg.me platform. 

To receive vouchers directly from WNC by email, please give WNC permission to use your email address by completing this short form. If WNC don't receive your permission, they'll continue to send the vouchers to the school for re-distribution. This process is slower.

You can change your contact information or preferences anytime by emailing HSFFSM@WestNorthants.gov.uk"

Go 4 Schools

Parental Engagement with Go 4 Schools

Go 4 Schools provides parents online access to information about their children's education. Parents can access live data on assessment, attendance, homework and behaviour information as well as their child's timetable and progress reports. They have everything they need in one place and, crucially, what they see is in step with the latest information available within the school – not just a progress report from 6 weeks ago.


How Do I Register

New Parent/Guardian Setup - register from 5th September

Follow the instructions below to get started

1. Visit www.go4schools.com

2. Click the Parents button located in the top-right corner.

3. Click the First-Time User?

4. You must provide the same email address you have registered with the school for communications. Click New Password 

5. You will receive an email containing your login password from Go 4 Schools to the email address you provided.

6. At this point, you can sign in. Go 4 Schools will ask you to change your password on your first login.

Existing Parent/Guardian Setup 

Go 4 Schools will automatically add your child starting Moulton School to your existing account. You have the ability to switch between the children's accounts to see their associated data.


Go 4 Schools - Parent App Quick Start Guide

The GO 4 Schools Mobile App keeps you informed about any of your children who attend a school that subscribes to GO 4 Schools and ensures you can see how they are performing at school. 

The App currently allows you to: 

You will also receive a summary of new homework tasks for your child at the end of the school day.

For more information please visit the Go 4 Schools Mobile App - Quick Start Guide for Parents

Home School Agreement

HOME SCHOOL AGREEMENT THE MOULTON WAY

ASPIRE - Strive for Great Things

Respect- Safety- Co-operation - Positivity - Kindness 

Students + Parents + Staff= Success

Students - I will:

Parents/Guardians - I will:

The School - We will:

Lockers

Independent Locker Solutions (ILS) provides lockers for Moulton School & Science College students. 

The lockers are owned by ILS and are available for students to rent on an annual basis. Rental costs are £25 per year allowing use from September through to July.  We recommend waiting until your child has been told their form group (8th July - transition day) so that you can book a locker closer to their form room. 

Please note all bookings terminate at the end of the school year in July. We apologise but there is no discount for lockers booked late in the year.

The locker size is as follows:

REBOOKING PERIOD  - Existing lockers can be rebooked (where applicable) during May every year.

NEW BOOKINGS - Available from June 7th, please visit the ILS website and enter the school name for specific booking dates & times

Lockers are subject to availability please book early to avoid disappointment.

All available lockers are shown online

All rentals are subject to ILS' terms and conditions which are available during the booking process. 

Please note ILS are a separate entity from the school. All locker queries should be directed to ILS, not the school. Lockers cannot be reserved or booked via telephone. The booking process is online only.

Lunch and Break Menu

We are pleased to offer our students a diverse and nutritious range of dining options. Our canteen caters to various dietary preferences, ensuring all students have access to delicious and healthy meals. Our catering suppliers are preparing next years menu. As soon as we have it, we'll make it available on this welcome website

Breakfast Offerings: Our canteen provides a classic breakfast selection, including options like Bacon or Sausage Baps, Croissants, Pain au Chocolat, and a Fruit Platter. We also have an Instant Coffee, Tea, and Juice Station for a refreshing start to the day.

Lunchtime Delights: For lunch, students can choose from a wide variety of dishes. Our menu rotates weekly, offering meals such as Chicken Tagine with Lemon Couscous, Beef Lasagne with Garden Salad, and Chip Shop-style Fish and Chips. We also provide vegetarian and vegan options like Harissa Roasted Sweet Potato & Chickpea Tagine and Goan Potato & Spinach Curry.

Special Dietary Requirements: Understanding the diverse needs of our students, we offer both halal and non-halal options. Our vegetarian and vegan recipes are approved by the Vegetarian Society, ensuring inclusivity and respect for all dietary practices.

Healthy and Hydrating Options: To promote healthy eating habits, our canteen offers a selection of salads, fresh fruit salad, and hydration stations. We encourage students to explore the range of nutritious choices available.

We take pride in our commitment to providing quality, varied, and enjoyable meal options for our students.

Term Dates and Timings

The Autumn Term at Moulton School begins on Wednesday, 4th September. Please be aware that our term dates are different from those listed on the WNC website. For accurate term dates and a printable calendar for the 2024-25 academic year, visit our website at www.moultonschool.co.uk/dates.

Pupil and Parent/Guardian Acceptable Use Policy

Digital technologies have become integral to the lives of children and young people, both within schools and outside school. These technologies are powerful tools, which open up new opportunities for everyone. These technologies can stimulate discussion, promote creativity and stimulate awareness of context to promote effective learning. Young people should have an entitlement to safe internet access at all times.

The forms for both the Pupil and Parent/Guardian Acceptable Use Policies need to be completed in order to use the internet and computer systems within the school. This is all contained within the Admission Form.

Alternatively, you may fill in a printed copy of the policy and return to the school. This can be found on the Supporting Documents page.

Music Tuition

The Music Department at Moulton School & Science College is delighted to offer Year 7 students an enriching opportunity for private instrument tuition starting from September 2024. This program is part of our commitment to providing diverse musical experiences, including various extracurricular activities. Click here for full details.

For the 2024/25 academic year, we are offering two options for music lessons:

Each option includes a total of 33 lessons scheduled throughout the academic year. The lessons are rotational, ensuring that students do not miss the same class or part of a class each week.

Please note, the first instalment for either option is due by 3rd June 2024. Payment can be made by bank transfer, card at the school reception, or by cash/cheque. Subsequent instalments will be payable via our online payment system, Scopay, once your child has registered with the school in September.

For parents interested in enrolling their child for these music lessons, please let us know by completing the admissions form, along with your first instalment and a signed copy of the tuition contract, by 3rd June 2024. Detailed information and the necessary forms are included in the Music Tuition Welcome Letter. If you have any questions or require further details, please don’t hesitate to contact the Finance Office.

Student Mobile Phones

Any student (years 7 - 11) who uses a mobile phone or electronic device (including smartwatches) without permission, or whose mobile phone goes off in school, will have the phone or device confiscated. (Note: The sight of earphones will result in the confiscation of the phone/electronic device).

The school operates a ‘See it, Hear it, Take it’ policy. This will simply mean that the phone will be confiscated if it is seen or heard in school grounds (including phones visible in pockets), or if earphones are seen (whether or not the earphones are actually in-ears at the time).

This restriction is in place at all times between 8.45 am and 3.15 pm. Phones should be turned off and put out of sight by the first bell, and not accessed again until after students have left their final lesson of the day.

It is the responsibility of each student to have a paper copy of his/her timetable. Should a student need to check Go4Schools for any reason then he/she must do this with the permission of, and whilst being supervised by, a member of staff.

Occasionally, a teacher may wish a class to use their mobile phones for a learning activity. The teacher will make clear when this is the case. All phones must then be switched off and placed out of sight when the activity is complete.

Confiscation of Phones
If a member of staff asks a student to hand across his/her phone, then the student is expected to immediately comply with this instruction. 

Any student who refuses to hand his/her phone to the member of staff who asks for it will be placed out of circulation for the rest of the day, and also placed in Internal Exclusion the following day for defiance.  The student will also be immediately referred to the Headteacher or Deputy Headteacher. Any student who then continues to refuse to hand his/her phone over will receive a fixed-term exclusion of 2 days. 

Confiscation – First Occasion in an Academic Year
The student may collect his/her phone at the end of the day.

Confiscation – Second Occasion in an Academic Year
The phone will only be returned to parents/carers.

Please refer to our Positive Behaviour Policy for more information.

Transport

The local authority are responsible for providing school transport and will not provide transport from Northampton town. The only way to get a bus pass is through an application from the local authority (see www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/schooltransport)

School Buses from the linked villages

Students that live in the following  linked villages are eligible for free school transport - Althorp, Boughton, Brixworth, Buckton Fields, Chapel Brampton, Church Brampton, Hannington, Harlestone, Holcot, Old, Pitsford, Scaldwell, Upper Harlestone and Walgrave. 

WNC send all the bus passes to Moulton School and we give these out to students on the first day of the Autumn term. As new passes are issued each academic year, all students will be able to travel without a pass on the first morning. 

If your child was allocated a late school place, after the initial allocation on 1st March, you will need to apply for a bus pass on line. www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/schooltransport. You must contact WNC to arrange a bus pass. The school can not arrange this on your behalf.

Please note WNC no longer accept paper applications.

Public Buses

WNC does not provide free transport from Northampton. If you live in Northampton, you are responsible for arranging transport for your child. There are public buses from some areas but please note not all routes stop in Moulton Village and the times the public buses run may not fit in with the school day. You will need to check with individual providers to see if there is a suitable bus service from where you live. 

Cycling

Over the last couple of years, we have had an increasing number of students coming to school by bike. Whilst this is good for the students in developing independence and getting valuable exercise, it has raised questions regarding keeping the children safe. To this end, the governors decided to implement the following  three requirements for students who wish to come to school on their bike.

We also recommend bringing a bike lock as bicycles can then be secured in our bike sheds.

Car

If students are being dropped off by car we ask that you do not drive up Pound Lane please due to the congestion with the school buses.

Walking

If students are walking to and from school please explain the importance of walking sensibly and showing respect for themselves and others. Some of the paths in the village are quite narrow so they need be aware of traffic and road safety.

Uniform

Moulton School uniform can be purchased from The Schoolwear Shop, 40-42 Abington Square Northampton.

Please note girls must wear tailored black trousers (straight or bootcut) or the Moulton school tartan skirt. 

Each year group is identified by a colour and must wear the appropriate coloured tie. Year 7 September 2024 will have SILVER as their year colour so will need the maroon and silver striped tie. 

The Schoolwear Shop  run an appointment booking service which is recommended for all new students at Moulton. Please see the videos below on how to register an account, and on how to book and cancel an appointment. 

Jewellery

Students are not allowed to wear jewellery in school apart from discreet studs in a piercing which must be removed for PE. If your child needs to wear an item of jewellery for medical or religious reasons then please let us know. Watches are permitted with the exception of smart watches.

PE Kit

Refer to our uniform policy for a complete list of PE items. 

The PE kit should be brought in in a clearly named drawstring bag.

Please note that all jewellery, including piercings and body modifications, must be removed for PE. Failure to do so for any reason will be treated as defiance. Thus any new piercing should be done at the beginning of the summer holiday, and be removable by the beginning of the autumn term.