3 November, 2024
Letter from the Headteacher (2024-25) 2
Money, money, money...
On 30 October, the Chancellor announced the UK government's budget for the financial year beginning 2025. The budget is the point at which the amount of money the government spends on public services - like education - is decided.
Funding for schools in England is set to rise by £2.3billion next year. This money will begin to address shortfalls in spending on high needs and provide new investment in the workforce. What this means for schools is Wales is yet unclear, however we might reasonably expect to see additional funding to buttress our core and essential work - especially that work designed to support those with additional learning needs. Welcome news indeed!
Despite this investment, Headteachers in Wales still have difficult decisions to take on how best to manage increasing need with dwindling resources. St Teilo's is not immune to these challenges. However, as 13th century Islamic scholar Rumi said, "Where there is ruin, there is hope."
Last month, I published the report of our Section 50 (church) inspection. This outstanding report captures something of the essence of our great school: despite all of the challenges, all of the difficulties, ours is a happy, cohesive and loving community where children flourish and thrive. The backdrop may be one of 'ruin' yet hope, faith and love prevail. You can read all about our inspection here.
St Teilo’s is a school led with open minds, open hands and open hearts. It provides a special Christian mission-based education that is both life-affirming and life-enhancing.
Keeping in touch
Parents and carers are encouraged to be in regular contact with us. The principal points of contact are:
- Year 7, Mr Evans (r.evans@stteilos.com)
- Year 8, Mrs Phillips (j.phillips@stteilos.com)
- Year 9, Mr Smith (n.smith@stteilos.com)
- Year 10, Miss Hallett (k.hallett@stteilos.com)
- Year 11, Mrs Pitt (r.pitt@stteilos.com)
- Years 12 and 13, Mrs Owen (e.owen@stteilos.com)
You are also invited to contact me directly by emailing headteacher@stteilos.com. Please do remember that staff are unlikely to be available without notice in person or by telephone (they are busy working with children); email is by far the most effective way to contact us.
Flu vaccines
The school immunisation team will visit St Teilo's on 19 November 2024 to offer children in Years 7 to 11 a nasal spray flu vaccine. The NHS recommends all eligible children should have a flu vaccination every year. To enable your child to take part, you will need to provide your consent online before 13 November 2024 by clicking here. Information is provided in Arabic, Bengali and Urdu at the bottom of the page.
Staying up to date
We provide regular updates to parents and carers by SMS (text message). Please do let us know if your telephone number has changed so that you do not miss out. You will find a copy of all updates here and key dates here. We recommend that you regularly visit our website to remain as informed as possible about the school.
Reporting your child's absence
Supporting the national agenda to improve school attendance is a high priority for St Teilo's. Parents and carers must be sure to report their child's absence online straight away. Simply complete the form found here or click on the 'Absence' link in the main menu. You do not need to telephone the school to report absence. The school strongly discourages holidays during term time. You can find our more about your rights and responsibilities here.
Catering services
A new rotation of the school's menu begins this half term. We have taken a great deal of feedback from learners and are encouraged by the excellent take up of school dinners. Please do check if you are eligible for free school meals by clicking here - especially if you are a parent of a Year 7 child who benefitted from the universal free school meal offer in primary schools. You can also find some great family meal recipes here.
Uniform
We have now completed the full roll out of the new uniform and our school uniform shop is up and running. Remember, children can wear anything they wish from within our 'brand' and uniform can be complimented with classic school trousers or skirts to keep costs to a minimum. You can read all about our unique approach to uniform here. Please help us to ensure compliance by providing your child with completely black shoes and checking that they are attending school in uniform each morning.
Cost of living
I know that many families will be deeply concerned by the increasing cost of living. If you are struggling, please reach out to us and we will help however we are able. If you haven't done so already, please check to see if you can claim the School Essentials Grant by clicking here. You may wish to find out a little more about our free family food pantry provision, ‘Puffins’, by contacting us.
Frequently asked questions
As always, I have compiled a list of ‘frequently asked questions’ to inform you of our plans for the year ahead. You will find these below.
With every blessing,
Mr I Loynd, Headteacher
- Autumn 2: 4 November 2024 – 20 December 2024
- Spring 1: 6 January 2025 – 21 February 2025
- Spring 2: 3 March 2025 – 11 April 2025
- Summer 1: 28 April 2025 – 23 May 2025
- Summer 2: 2 June 2025 – 18 July 2025
You will find all important dates here.
- INSET 3: 4 November 2024
- INSET 4: 6 January 2025
- INSET 5: 10 March 2025
- INSET 6: 21 July 2025
You will find all important dates here.
Pupils should be on site no later than 8.30am, ready for registration at 8.40am. Parents and carers must make every effort to ensure children are in school and ready to learn before the start of the school day.
You may drop you child off in the morning on the school site by pulling up to our safe drop-off zone. Please do not exceed the 5mph speed limit and please do not attempt to overtake another vehicle. Your patience will keep children safe. You will not be allowed onto the school site for collection in the afternoon. Instead, you should park sensibly and legally on the roads surrounding the site.
Mobile phones are strictly not permitted inside the school. This is one of our ‘non-negotiables’. If a child is seen to be using their telephone inside the building, it will calmly be removed from them and returned at the end of the school day. Pupils are able to use their telephones in the designated outdoor ‘phone zone’ for their year group. Parental support on this issue is critical.
We expect all student to comply with uniform arrangements. The approach at St Teilo's is unique and offers a great deal of choice and flexibility. You can read all about the requirements for uniform here. Uniform can be purchased at any time from the school uniform shop, located at main reception. Please note, in particular, that shoes must be entirely black and plain.
Good school attendance is a high priority at St Teilo's. If your child is absent from school, you must let us know straight away on the first day of absence. All absence must be reported online here. Please do not telephone us to report absence.
We provide a range of progress data for parents and carers, including checkpoints, written reports and standardised scores. Note that National Curriculum Levels are no longer used in Wales. You can read about the assessment arrangements across each year group here.
Progress meetings take place online. If you have a question or concern, please do not wait. You are able to contact your child’s Achievement Leader by email at any time.
- Year 7 pastoral meetings - 7 November 2024 (new date)
- Year 12 and 13 progress meetings - 14 January 2025
- Year 11 progress meetings - 4 February 2025
- Year 10 progress meetings - 11 March 2025
- Year 9 progress meetings (before options) - 1 April 2025
- Year 8 progress meetings - 29 April 2025
- Year 7 progress meetings - 13 May 2025
Our fantastic caterers offer a range of wholesome, tasty food every day. You can find out more about what we do here. Importantly, parents and carers must ensure that they have charged their ParentPay account in good time, and at least 24 hours before funds are required. It can take up to one day for monies to transfer to the school and be available for children to use in the dining hall. We do not have the facility to 'lend' monies for meals but will provide a free alternative for those pupils who do not have enough on their account.
School transport is managed by Cardiff Council on behalf of children across the city. You can read more about school transport arrangements and make contact with the council's school transport team here. The school does not directly have oversight of school transport arrangements.
Children can speak with their Achievement Leader, Assistant Achievement Leader(s), Form Tutor or a member of our Wellbeing or Inclusion Team. Our team of Youth Workers are available every day in the student hub.
Please contact us and a member of staff will reply as soon as possible. As always, you will receive regular letters and updates via SMS text message throughout the year. All letters are published here.
