For the last few months we have been working on a project to improve security at the school. New gates and fences have been put up and are in place as a safeguarding measure to control the access of people into the school site during the school day and at other times.The full system will be operational on Monday 6 February.
The main access gates for students will be:
- the top playground (from the Washington Road footpath)
- reception forecourt (at the top of the drive). This is also the main visitor entrance.
- large tennis court gates (on the school drive)
Normally, during term time, these gates will be automatically opened and closed at the following times:
Open from 08:00 until 08:50 – and – 15.05 until 16.00.
The entry gates are operated by a video & audio access control system linked to our reception. When the gates are shut students can request entry from the top playground or reception. Visitors to the school need to go to the reception gates to be allowed in.
Anyone still in the school after the gates have shut, for example for an after school club, can still get out of the school by pressing the gate release buttons from the inside.
Please note that the tennis court gates cannot be opened from the inside and the only way for pedestrians leaving the school is via the reception forecourt or the top playground.
Other information.
- Vehicle gate into the staff car park
Open from 07:30 until 08:45 – and – 15:05 until 16:30. When shut visitors need to buzz and request access. The gates automatically open from inside the car park when you approach in a vehicle. - When the gates at the top playground and reception are shut the access is via the smaller pedestrian gate. The pedestrian gates close automatically once you are through.
- Separate arrangements will be in place for clubs or organisations hiring the school premises and when there are specific events on at the college.
- If you are used to using the school campus as a shortcut from Washington Road to Appledore Gardens or the Albemarle Drive then we now have a new footpath that goes around the top playground and around the back of the school. This footpath will only be open Monday to Friday during the school term.
- If you use the school campus as a shortcut from Appledore Gardens to West Common we have kept this route open at all times. Neither of these routes are public footpaths and we respectfully request that you do not use either footpath during the school day.
- Please note that there is no access from the Scrase Valley nature reserve and anyone entering or leaving the school via this route is trespassing.
As you will appreciate this will be a new way of operating for everyone. We will keep all of these arrangements under review. Thank you for your cooperation.
