Astrea Academy Dearne Aspiration Ambition Achievement
Astrea Academy Dearne Aspiration Ambition Achievement
Associate Principal’s Message
Associate Principal
Family Handbook
Please see the link here for the Family Handbook for 2024/2025.
Term Dates
Term dates for the 2024/2025 academic year can be found here.
We do have spare paper copies in the academy reception if you would like to collect one.
Key Dates
- Monday 9th September – Year 8, Year 9 and Year 10 return to school
- Wednesday 11th September – P6 starts for all Y11 scholars.
- Monday 16th September, Tuesday 17th September and Wednesday 18th September – Geography Hornsea Trip
- Wednesday 25th September – Y6 Open Evening
- Thursday 26th September – School photographs for all scholars
- Saturday 28th September – Dearne Arts Festival
- Wednesday 16th October – Tutor Review Evening (All year groups)
- Monday 21st October – Y11 Climbing the Mountain Event
- Monday 28th October – Friday 1st November – Half term
- Monday 4th November – INSET Day
Uniform Policy
Please see the link here for the academy Uniform Policy which has been updated for the 2024/2025 academic year.
Barnsley Hospice Fundraising
A huge well done to Paige Williams and Ella Arnold who completed a 16km walk during the summer to raise money for Barnsley Hospice. They raised over £600!
THC
There is a growing concern regarding the use of vapes and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) among children in the community. Several incidents have highlighted the urgent need to address this issue with families and remind families that we have a zero-tolerance policy towards vaping and other drug related paraphernalia on school premises.
Vaping, particularly among young people, has become increasingly prevalent. While some may perceive it as a safer alternative to smoking, the reality is far more concerning. Vapes often contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development. Additionally, many vapes are found to contain THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis, which poses significant health risks.
Research has shown that vaping THC can lead to severe health issues, including anxiety, depression, and even cardiac arrest. A study by the University of Bath found that some vapes are laced with synthetic drugs like Spice, which can cause dangerous side effects such as “zombie-like paralysis”. Furthermore, the presence of THC in vapes has been linked to increased risks of addiction and impaired cognitive function.
Concerns highlighted from the Bath University study
- Unlabelled bottles containing vape liquid were 85% more likely to contain spice and refillable vapes were 50% more likely.
- There is no particular brand of refillable vape that is of specific concern. Vapes of this kind have a removable ‘head’ and can be refilled through a rubber port.
Examples of the vapes that produce positive THC and Spice results are shown in the images below: –
Please continue to be vigilant with your children around the use of any vape, be reminded that children should not be using vapes and in emergency situations contact 999 and inform the paramedics of suspected Spice or THC consumption so that your child receives the correct care.
Given the serious health risks and the negative impact on our school environment, we have a zero-tolerance policy towards any substances relating to drugs and alcohol. This means that any scholar found in possession of, or using vapes on school premises will face an immediate sanction. Our goal is to ensure a safe and healthy learning environment for all scholars.
We understand that this may be a challenging issue for some families, and we are committed to providing support and resources to help your children make healthier choices. We encourage you to discuss the dangers of vaping with your children and to reach out to us if you need any assistance or have any concerns.
Scholars who are suspected of being in possession of a vape, or other banned items, will be subjected to a search. This will always take place with two members of senior staff. The search will involve a series of questions for the scholar including the scholar being asked to empty their pockets and bags. No members of staff will physically touch any child during the search process. For further information on this please refer to the Positive Behaviour & Relationships policy on the website. If a child refuses to participate in a search we will assume they are in possession of a banned item.
Scholars who are found in possession of prohibited items will follow a risk assessment, which includes a programme of planned searches, as per the table below.
| Days 1 – 5 | Daily searches, before entering school. |
| Days 6 – 10 | Daily random searches, at some point through the day. |
| Days 11 – 15 | Spot check searches (may or may not be daily). |
Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our school community safe.
Nut free school
Please note that our school is a nut free zone. We have scholars and members of staff in school who have serious nut allergies. Please do not send scholars into school with any products which may contain nuts.
Absence reminder
What should I do if my child is absent from school?
Students are legally required to attend school every day and should only be absent in real emergencies. If your child is not in school, they must have a justified reason.
If your child is absent from school, please contact school before 8.30am and leave a message clearly stating the reason for the absence.
Telephone our dedicated absence lines 01709 892211 (Option 2)
Send a message via the ‘My Child At School’ app
- Year 7 Mrs Parkin – Clare.Parkin@astreadearne.org
- Year 8 Mr Crew – Gary.Crew@astreadearne.org
- Year 9 Mrs Wheatcroft – jocelyn.wheatcroft@astreadearne.org/Mrs Laycock – Lindsey.laycock@astreadearne.org
- Year 10 Mrs Mason – Julie.Mason@astreadearne.org
- Year 11 Mrs Dickinson – Keeley.Dickinson@astreadearne.org
Vacancies at Astrea Academy Dearne
We currently have vacancies to join our team at Astrea Academy Dearne. Please see below for a link to the My New Term recruitment site. Please contact school if you would like any further information.
Astrea Academy Dearne – MyNewTerm
Communications
You can contact us by calling reception on 01709 892211 or emailing info@astreadearne.org
We use the My Child At School (MCAS) to communicate with our parents and carers. MCAS is the online platform that allows us to share information live with you. It enables families to view live data including a student’s timetable, list of teachers, number of rewards and behaviour points and so on. If you have not yet registered for MCAS and would like some support to do so please contact school reception or you can follow this guide MCAS and Communication – Dearne Academy (astreadearne.org)