Bad Weather Notice - Late Start on Monday 6th February
Posted 01.12pm 05/02/2012
Due to the fact that the weather forecast predicts more overnight sleet or snow and freezing conditions, we intend to open the school one hour later than usual on Monday 6th February 2012. Students should arrive for registration at 9.20am. Lessons will begin at Period 2 (09.50am). Please check this page regularly for any updates.
Important Dates - Letter to Parents
Posted 11.35am 02/02/2012
A copy of a letter to parents regarding important dates and early closures for Spring and Summer 2012 is available here.
Year 9 Options - Letter to Parents
Posted 10.15am 31/01/2012
Parents and carers of Year 9 students are invited to attend a Progression Evening on Tuesday 21st February 2012. Departments will be displaying information about KS4 courses in the dining area between 4.00 pm and 6.30 pm. There will also be two 30-minute presentations by the Headteacher and the KS4 team at 5.00 pm and 6.30 pm. A copy of the letter is available here.
Gas Supply Issues - Lunch Arrangements
Posted 12.25pm 26/01/2012
The school has had its gas supply switched off temporarily to investigate a problem with one of our boilers. While the issue lasts, we will be attempting to make alternative arrangements for supplying students with school lunches. If parents are at all concerned that the alternative food is inappropriate, please consider sending your child into school with a packed lunch.
Mobile Phones - Out of Sight is Safer!
Posted 13.35pm 18/01/2012
The Metropolitan Police have issued some advice regarding the use of mobile phones whilst travelling to and from school. For full details please click here.
Important Information and Update for Parents
Posted 13.05pm 13/01/2012
As you may be aware, details of an alleged incident at Beal High School have been disclosed via Facebook. This drew the matter to the attention of the students, their parents, the press and other social commentators causing considerable anxiety. We appreciate your patience whilst we have been dealing with the matter.
Although the details of the alleged incident are confidential, and the allegations have not been proven, we are now in a position to set the incident in some context for you.
A student made an allegation about another student in the same year group. The allegation was detailing an incident said to have taken place earlier this year. The Head of Year responded and managed the incident making relevant referrals, and taking the appropriate action, to safeguard both students and reduce any potential risk to others.
We have never had an allegation of this nature before, but we have considerable experience in dealing with incidents confidently and discreetly; working with students, parents and external support agencies to secure an outcome in the best interest and safety of all students. What has complicated this issue, which should be confidential at this stage, is the escalation and publicity resulting from discussion on Social Networking sites much of which was inaccurate, salacious and unpleasant.
The impact of this discussion was to intimidate both students involved in the incident, cause unnecessary anxiety and temporarily bring into question the reputation of the school.
In dealing with any matter of this nature, the school works within policy and protocol of a number of external agencies. On this occasion, these include: Child Protection, Educational Welfare and the Police. Because this matter involves abuse of the Internet, we have also taken advice from the Office of the Director of Education, Redbridge Press Office, Metropolitan Police Press Office, LBR ICT Advisor and CEOPS.
All of this action has been scrutinised by the Chair of Governors.
We have made the safeguarding of students our priority in this matter. The social commentary is harder to manage and social conversations tend to exist until a new topic takes priority. It is not possible to remove the conversation streams that exist across social media systems.
Although it is not the school’s responsibility to monitor Social Network Systems to look for inappropriate behaviour, it is correct for us to:
- guide the student community in appropriate Internet behaviour
- respond to inappropriate behaviour as it is reported to the school
The legal framework surrounding this matter would suggest that parents and students need to consider the following:
- Comments they make can be considered as defamation if they lower a person's/school’s reputation. When defamatory comments exist in a permanent form (online viewable by others can be considered as such) then it is libel and may be responded to by the authorities. Forwarding on defamatory comments is itself defamation.
- Comments that are perceived by others as being racist, homophobic or intimidating are also illegal and may be responded to by the authorities.
- When they comment in a 'public' social networking system it potentially has an impact on the way the general public view the school, and therefore students of the school.
Students should also be very clear that universities and employers make use of the Internet to make decisions about offers of a place or a job. Information on Facebook cannot be removed and is very likely to influence decisions.
This information is being reinforced with students through assemblies, form time and PSHE sessions. Where students have been identified as using the Internet inappropriately, we will be informing their parents.
Last year, our Parents Teacher Student Partnership hosted an E-Safety Advice Information evening for parents which, unfortunately, was very poorly attended. We would be happy to run this sort of evening again at parents’ request.
Thank you to those parents who have contacted us to discuss their concern rather than contributing to the gossip.
We hope that we have been able to reassure you that the moral and physical safety of your children is a priority for us.
It is essential that our students feel safe and happy so that they can continue to succeed. It is our ongoing endeavour to ensure this is a reality and we value the opportunity to continue to do so with your support and co-operation.
Year 7 Parents' Evening
Posted 12.25pm 12/01/2012
Parents of Year 7 students are invited to the Year 7 Parents' Evening on Wednesday 25th January 2012. A copy of the invitation letter can be viewed by clicking here.
PTSP January Boot Sale
Posted 3.45pm 05/01/2012
The PTSP will be hosting an indoor boot sale on 22/01/2012. For further details and a booking form, please view the following document:
Introduction of Student Progress Trackers
Posted 2.45pm 15/12/2011
At the end of this term you will receive an Autumn Term Progress Report. This marks the start of a new system for communicating progress information. For full details please view the following letter:
Beal High School Expansion - Discussion
Posted 12.45pm 15/12/2011
We would like to invite parents, governors and PTSP members to an information and discussion evening concerning the future expansion of Beal High School.
The meeting will be held on Tuesday 10th January 2012 at 6.30 pm on the upper floor of the new Sixth Form building.
Beal High School Expansion Programme
Posted 08.45pm 12/12/2011
Parents of Beal High School students and residents living in the local area should be aware of the latest developments in the expansion plans. For up-to-date information and an opportunity to comment on the plans, please visit the following pages:
Year 8 Parents' Evening
Posted 10.50am 03/11/2011
Parents of Year 8 students are invited to the Year 8 Parents' Evening on Thursday 17th November 2011. A copy of the invitation letter can be viewed by clicking here.
Year 10 Parents' Evening
Posted 08.25pm 31/10/2011
Parents of Year 10 students are invited to the Year 10 Parents' Evening on Tuesday 29th November 2011. A copy of the invitation letter can be viewed by clicking here.
Communication and Learning Prospectus
Posted 04.45pm 11/10/2011
The Communication and Learning Department have just released the 2011-12 prospectus. Click here to download it.
Year 10 Information Evening
Posted 4.30pm 04/10/2011
Parents of Year 10 students are invited to the Year 10 Information Evening on Thursday 3rd November 2011. A copy of the invitation letter can be viewed by clicking here.
Continuing ParentPay Issues
Posted 21.24am 24/09/2011
Our Cashless Catering software providers have identified an issue causing unsynchronised ParentPay accounts for some of our Year 7 students. Students who topped up their fingerprint accounts and then purchased food on the 8th or 9th September have not had these transactions reconciled in ParentPay thus causing ParentPay and the balances displayed in the canteen to differ.
The company has been attempting to fix this problem over the last week but so far they have had no success. We will keep you informed of their progess!
P.T.S.P. Boot Sales
Posted 11.29am 22/09/2011
The P.T.S.P. will be holding Boot Sales in October and November. Information and booking forms can be viewd here:
Year 11 Parents' Evening
Posted 14.30am 20/09/2011
Parents of Year 11 students are invited to the Year 11 Parents' Evening on Wednesday 19th October 2011. A copy of the invitation letter can be viewed by clicking here.
Year 7 Open Evening - Wednesday 14th Sept.
Posted 14.35am 13/09/2011
Parents of pupils eligible for entry into Year 7 in September 2012 are invited to visit the school between 4.00 pm and 6.30 pm for guided tours.
Presentations by the Headteacher will take place in the School Hall at 5.30 pm and 6.30 pm.
Some documents of interest to prospective students/parents/carers:
Issues with ParentPay (Monday Evening Top-Ups)
Posted 14.30am 13/09/2011
Yesterday, at 3pm, the fibre optic internet cable used by Redbridge schools was severed at the junction of Ley Street and Eastern Avenue. BT engineers have now fixed the cable but credits added by parents on Monday evening were only registered in our canteen after lunch today. The system should be correct for tomorrow.
Issues with ParentPay and M.L.E. Websites
Posted 09.50am 08/09/2011
Please note that both the ParentPay and Fronter (M.L.E) websites have been unable to cope with the start of the school year due to high demand. Here is the latest news
- ParentPay claimed on Friday 9th September that their site is now showing some improvement in performance. Therefore we will attempt to upload Year 7 data early next week and then distribute username and passwords to parents.
- Fronter (our MLE company) claim that it is now possible to upload academic data. We will be attempting this upload early next week and hope the site will be fully operational shortly afterwards.
First Day Back (07/09/2011) - Arrival Times
Posted 09.28am 04/08/2011
Details of timings for the first day of the Autumn Term can be viewed by clicking here.
Important Events and Dates 2011-12
Posted 15.45pm 14/07/2011
A list of important events/dates for next academic year has been published. Click here to view/download it
Important Information for New Year 7 Students
Posted 01.45pm 07/07/2011
- Autumn Term begins for Year 7 students at 10.00 a.m. on Wednesday 7th September 2011.
- Year 7 Information Evening: Tuesday 20th September at 6.30 pm.
Start of Autumn Term 2011
Posted 12.15pm 20/06/2011
First day of school for students is on Wednesday 7th September 2011. Please check this website nearer this date as there will be a staggered return to school for students.
MMR and Measles Outbreaks
Posted 12.15pm 18/05/2011
The Health Protection Agency has sent a letter to all schools alerting parents to recent outbreaks of measles and providing information about the MMR vaccination. Click here to view the communication.
HMI Visit
Posted 12.45pm 16/05/2011
Last week we received a visit from an HMI team led by Mr R Blatchford. Below is a transcript of the letter he sent to us after his visit:
"You know that I visit many schools all over the UK and internationally. It is rare to visit a secondary school and witness such exemplary behaviour and attitudes to learning as we did on Friday. You must all be very proud of what you have at Beal High: a harmonious, multicultural community where to be a student is a real pleasure. And staff enjoy their company. Good wishes with all your current and future work as a school."