GCA Handbook

Welcome to Garstang Community Academy! As Headteacher, I'm delighted you are now part of our school community. Over the past three years, I've been privileged to work alongside dedicated students, parents, staff, governors, and local partners, all committed to ensuring every child achieves their very best. At Garstang, we’re on a journey of continuous improvement, guided by our core values: Grow, Care, Achieve. We foster a culture of high expectations through positive reinforcement and rewards, nurturing our students and making them feel valued.

Academic achievement is central to our work, complemented by innovative approaches like our Compass Curriculum. This flexible, student-centred pathway ensures every child, regardless of background, has the opportunity to succeed. We also actively develop student leadership, empowering them to shape the future of our school. While we acknowledge recent inspection challenges, we view them as opportunities for growth and are fully committed to addressing the feedback. The report also highlighted many of our strengths, testament to the dedication of our entire community.

Satinder Singh

 

School Address:	Bowgreave, Garstang, Preston, PR3 1YE
Telephone Number:	01995 603226
Email Address:	info@garstang.fcat.org.uk
Website:	www.garstangcommunityacademy.com
DFE Number:	8884160
URN:	137342
Chair of Governors:	Kim Carlyle
Headteacher:	Satinder Singh
Deputy Headteachers:	Laura Royds Joseph Brady
Assistant Headteachers:	Laura Cooper Ryan Smith
Fylde Coast Academy Trust Directors:	Estelle Bellamy
Headteacher's PA	Liz Macpherson

 

 

 

 

 

 

All Staff Unplanned Absence

Responsibilities of staff (this includes all teaching and non-teaching staff) 

If you are unable to be at work you must email cover@garstang.fcat.org.uk  before 07:30am on the day, or as soon as your absence is known to allow cover to be arranged in advance.  Please also include in your email if you have a duty that will be required to be covered during your absence. 

You also need to let cover@garstang.fcat.org.uk know each day if you will not be in school unless you provide a specific date for your return to work.  You may include your Line Manager into this email for information. 

Please refer to the policies below for further clarification of policy and procedures for sickness absence and special leave:

 

Attendance Management policy : 

FCAT Attendance Management Policy

 

Special Leave policy : 

FCAT Special Leave Policy

Summary Table of Minimum and Maximum Special Leave Available

 

Emergency Absence whilst at work:

There may be occasions when it is necessary for you to leave work due to an emergency or illness. Should this situation arise, you must speak to your line manager/SLT line manager and Cover Administrator before leaving school to allow arrangements to be made for the appropriate cover of lessons.  

You should complete a Special Leave Request eform retrospectively :

 

Special Leave Request Form

or attend a Return to Work discussion with your line manager for any sickness absences as soon as you return.

 

Teachers may be directed to cover, for unplanned activities, in their non-contact time.  

 

Return to work discussions

Report to your line manager following any sickness absence for a Return to Work discussion.

 

All Staff Planned Absence

Complete the Special Leave request eform in advance: 

Special Leave Request form

 

Setting Cover Work for Planned Absence

Cover work should be set by all teachers in conjunction with the Subject Leader 

• Work should be set and saved in the Cover folder on the Google Drive under the initials of the absent staff member

(A text message is not an acceptable way to send through cover work.)

• The quality of the cover work needs to be of a good standard to help minimise behaviour problems and it is to follow the GCA policy.  
• Work should always follow the GCA model. Answers should be provided where necessary in order to support the cover teacher.
• It is essential to notify the Subject Leader of this absence.

Setting Cover Work for Unplanned Absence

In the case of unplanned absences, the Subject Leader is responsible for ensuring high quality work is available for cover staff according to the above guidance.

 

Leaving School Premises

All staff must sign out at reception if leaving the building during the school day.

If you have any questions or concerns in regard to this procedure please do not hesitate to contact Laura Royds.

        

 

Good communication is essential to the smooth running of the school. Information may be brought to colleagues' attention through the following channels, amongst others:

• Senior Leadership Team Operational Meetings take place on Monday and Thursday mornings at 8am.  The focus of these meetings is day to day events for the week and upcoming weeks.

• Senior Leadership Team meetings take place on a Tuesday after school.  The focus of these meetings is strategic in nature.

• Staff Bulletin is sent by the Headteacher every Friday.

• Staff Briefings - held on Monday mornings 

• Inclusion briefing - these will be held either on a Wednesday or Thursday morning depending which Year Group you have as a tutor.  The meetings will be led by Year Leaders.

 

• Subject Development meetings are to be utilised for development.  Any factual or day to day information should go out in a briefing document.

• School calendar - Produced annually. Copy at the back of the booklet and on google

• E-mail - Email can be an effective use of communication for factual information.  

• Pigeon-hole - Royal mail post is distributed to pigeon holes.  Official HR or Finance letters/statements are sent via email to individuals.

• Face to face communication: All information that might cause some concern or needs clarification should ideally be communicated face to face and in private with sufficient time allowed for the discussion. All sensitive issues should be communicated in this way.

• Line management meetings: Line managers at all levels should aim to have informal discussions with the people they line manage on a regular basis. Other more formal meetings will take place at various points of the year as part of the appraisal process or to discuss other significant issues relating to the job role. 

• Bulk texts – In the event of emergency school closure staff can also be notified by text. Please ensure the main office has your up to date mobile number if you wish to receive these texts.

• All letters going out of school must be submitted to Louise Banks and Satinder Singh for checking and then to the main office for formatting and sending.

Staff Addresses, Telephone Numbers and Car Registrations

Staff are requested to complete a Change of Personal Details form which is obtained via Liz Macpherson to  change  address, telephone number, car registration number/colour/make and model banking details etc.

A Staff data collection trawl will be carried out early in the Autumn term 

 

Car Parking

Staff should park either by the sports hall car park or in the main car park. Please note that when it is parents evening cars will need to be moved from the main car park to the back of Parlick building.

 

Minibus

All drivers of the minibus should be MIDAS trained and have completed the FCAT declaration if carrying Students.

Reception 

Reception is open from 8:00 until 4:15 Monday to Thursday and 3:30 on a Friday. The switchboard is staffed during term time within these hours. An answer phone is in operation outside of office hours and when all lines are busy. 

Students requiring medical attention should go to Reception accompanied by another pupil, if possible or Reception are called for to the area of need. Reception staff administer first aid.  A list of other first aiders in school (and their location) is available from Reception.

Major injuries should be reported to Reception immediately where assistance is organised.

Reception staff and Teaching Assistants are aware of Students with medical needs, e.g. diabetes, allergic reactions and asthma.  Medication is kept in Learning Development under Teaching Assistants supervision in a locked cupboard for those students.

 At Reception enquiries here include:-

• Signing in of all visitors (Inventry system) to site including students who are late and who leave site for medical appointments. Students must bring appointment cards or a letter from Parents/Carers.
• Medical and First Aid Issues
• General enquiries

 

Parent Consultation Evenings

Parent consultation evenings for all year groups (see calendar for dates) take place in the Hall, Dining Room, Gym, Library and C2/3.

During the progress evening any problems should be referred to the senior member of staff on duty. Please use this facility if an appointment is over-running.

 

Academy  Improvement Plan

The school has a three year Improvement Plan which sets out its improvement priorities for that period. The plan is updated each year to identify specific targets and milestones for the current academic year.

 

 

Welcome to Team FCAT

 

 

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

This means that we have a detailed Child Protection Policy and clear procedures in place.  All staff (including supply staff, volunteers and governors) must ensure that they are aware of these procedures. Parents and Carers are welcome to read the Policy on request.

Our Designated Safeguarding Leads are:-

 

Laura Royds Designated Safeguarding Lead

Lee Baker  Safeguarding Person

David Porter Safeguarding Person

What do I do if I’m concerned about a pupil?

• Add the information in CPOMS
• Outline your concern
• Do not do your own investigation

What do I do if a pupil declares a safeguarding issue?

• Receive - Listen actively, open body language, accept, non judgemental
• Reassure - ‘You’ve done the right thing by coming to me’, reassure the child/pupil you have listened and hear what they are saying; 
• Don’t promise what can’t be delivered.  
• Always state that you can’t keep this information to yourself and will be speaking to LR

• Respond - Tell the child/pupil what you are going to do and do it.
• Report – immediately to LR 
• Record – using CPOMS  (Vital – facts, no opinions – When? Where? Who? What?)

What do I do if a pupil makes an allegation about a member of staff?

• Receive - Listen actively and be non judgemental
• Respond – Tell them you are now going to speak to either SS or LR
• Report – immediately to LR or SS 

In the event that the allegation or concern involves the DSL or Deputy DSL then the matter must be reported directly to the Head Teacher. Should the allegation or concern involve the Head Teacher then the matter must be reported to the Chair of the Governing Body and/or FCAT Chief Executive. 

• Record – by email to the person that you report to (Vital – facts, no opinions – When? Where? Who? What?)
• Do not speak to the member of staff about the allegation or other members of staff

Please note that all allegations made by either Students or parents have to be investigated. 

 

 

Year 7

 

 

 

 

 

We encourage student voice throughout Years 7-11.  Each tutor group has Student School Leaders attached to them.  During tutor time, there are discussions on how we can develop the school and this feedback is used in half termly discussions with SLT.  The School Leaders drive the student voice and are widely involved in contributing to the school community by bringing together the years through a variety of activities.

Student School  Leaders

The executive leaders are given a specific focus and are ably supported by a team of 25 Student School Leaders, some of whom are special project directors with a whole school specific briefs, including communication, the environment, anti-bullying and well being.

Year 11 Executive Student Leadership Team consists of:

Head Students GROW	Head Students CARE	Head Students ACHIEVE	Head Students TOGETHER
Evony Herd	Charlotte Jennings	Esme Beesley	Fern Barnett
Izzy Jackson	Riley Cornall	Lily Atkinson	Jessica Squires