Roles and Responsibilities of Parents

• Expect your child to maintain a good standard of behaviour.
• Be a role model for your child, helping them to commit to a lifelong love of learning.
• Encourage your child to be open-minded, eager to learn and to develop and express new ideas freely.
• Ask your child for their opinions and discuss reasoned decisions with them.
• Value your child’s ideas and opinions.
• Encourage your child to listen in a respectful manner to both adults and peers.
• Encourage your child to be informed and respectful of other cultures and their values.
• Encourage your child to behave with respect and courtesy to others.
• Encourage your child to develop and understand the complexities of human relationships.
• Take an interest in what your child is learning at school.
• Take a close interest in the standards currently achieved by your child and any future educational opportunities available to them.
• Provide HeadStart School with feedback on how you feel your child is progressing.
• Support your child and help them create a positive self-image.
• Be prepared to assist and support HeadStart School.
• Engage with school; regularly checking for communication or notices.
• Ensure that your child is well organised and fully equipped for school.
• Ensure that your child attends school regularly and arrives punctually.
• Avoid taking pupils out of school during term time for holidays and other non-academic events.
• Provide an appropriate place and suitable time and assistance for your child to complete their homework assignments.
• Provide a suitable home routine that includes adequate time for sleep, a balanced diet and exercise.
• Keep your child at home when they are unwell. Let your child’s Homeroom Teacher know.
• Inform the School of any situation or change in circumstance that could adversely affect your child’s performance or behaviour so that they can receive support.

Term Dates

Please see the calendar on the HeadStart School website for all important school dates.
http://headstartphuket.com/calendar

Contacting School

The School Administration Office is open Monday to Friday from 7.30 am to 5.00 pm, and on Saturday mornings from 9.00 am to 12.00 noon.

Tel: +66-7661-2876
Fax: +66-7661-2877

The school’s address is:
HeadStart International School, Phuket
39/99 Moo 4, Soi Na-Seau 1,
Vichitsongkram Road,
Tambon Vichit, Amphur Muang
Phuket 83000

The school’s website is http://headstartphuket.com/

Contacting Teaching Staff

Email is the preferred means of all non-urgent contact. Your child’s Homeroom Teacher will provide you with their email address. You may also contact the School Administration Office who can pass on messages.

Admission, Placement and Withdrawal Policy

Admission

When a student is enrolled at the school, the parent or guardian is required to sign the School/Home Partnership Agreement. This document is the legal agreement between the school and the parent or guardian, and it should be carefully read, before signing.

Placement

Placement of a student is decided by the respective Head of School based on a number of factors. These factors include age, previous school records, test results and the student’s abilities and needs, including English language proficiency. Special cases regarding placement will be considered on an individual basis. HeadStart reserves the right to reassign a student at any time if it is felt that the initial placement was inappropriate. Parents will be informed prior to the reassignment.

We match children to the appropriate year group based on their date of birth. We are very careful to ensure that the curriculum which is delivered to our students is age-appropriate, and best meets the needs of children in our care. We do not, therefore, admit children to year groups that fall outside their actual age and we do not advance children to older year groups prematurely. We reserve the right to place a child in a lower year group than their chronological age where we feel that this would better meet their needs, such as language proficiency not being sufficient to access examination year groups.

Withdrawal

If a student is going to leave the school, please inform the School Registrar as soon as possible. Parents must complete a Student Withdrawal form and submit this to the school office at least one month prior to the last day of the academic year. Refunds are processed at the end of the school year. Any payments will be made to parents about two weeks after the last day of the academic year.

After withdrawal from the school, the Admissions Office will prepare the student’s transfer documents that consist of:

• School leaving certificate
• Student attendance record
• A summary of the last report card

The School Day

Times	Monday – Friday
8.00 – 8.20	Homeroom
8.20 – 9.15	Lesson 1
9.20 – 10.15	Lesson 2
10.15 – 10.35	Break
10.35 – 11.30	Lesson 3
11.35 – 12.30	Lesson 4
12.30 – 13.25	Lunch Break
13.25 – 14.20	Lesson 5
14.25 – 15.20*	Lesson 6
15.20 – 15.30	Break
15.30 – 16.20	Extra-Curricular Activities (ECAs)
16.30 – 18.00	Academies

Notes:
*On Friday, Lesson 6 is from 14.20 – 15.00pm with an earlier start and finish for ECAs.

Students should arrive at school with enough time to get to their classroom and attend homeroom at 8.00am, ready and equipped for the day ahead. Students who arrive late (after 8.15am) should immediately report to the front office to be registered. Admin staff will issue the student with a late slip which they need to give to the class teacher upon arrival to class.

Leaving During the School Day

Secondary students may only leave during the school day if parents have requested and been granted permission, from one of the following people:

• the Pastoral Coordinator
• The Deputy Head
• Lower/Upper Secondary Secretary

If permission has not been received prior to a student wanting to leave, the student will need to seek approval from either the Deputy Head, Head of School or Principal; who will confirm with parents.

Procedure for student leaving during the school day after permission has been granted:

• The Lower/Upper Secondary Secretary will prepare an exit slip for the student, with the student’s name, date and time of departure.
• The student needs to take the slip to the school office.
• For Lower Secondary students, the parent who is collecting the child must sign the exit slip and the office staff will record the child’s name and time of departure in the exit book.
• If the parent of a Lower School student is unable to collect the child themselves, they must provide the name and details of the trusted adult that is collecting the child in place of them.
• For Upper Secondary students, the office staff will record the child’s name and time of departure in the exit book.
• Security will only allow students that have a signed slip to exit the school during the day.

Attendance and Absence from School

In the event of any absence e.g. sickness, parents should email the homeroom teacher and the relevant school secretary as soon as possible, including a reason for the absence, to keep teachers informed of their child’s condition and whereabouts.

The school year is not less than 180 days long. The teaching days are full and intensive. It is therefore important for attendance to be as near to 100% as possible. We would like to ask for your continued support in achieving this.

Students with less than 80% attendance can be asked to repeat the year, according to Thai law.

Student Pick-up Procedures

Standard School Pick Up Procedure – Secondary

Students who do not take part in after school activities should leave the school after the last lesson of the school day. School buses leave shortly after the last lesson and students should make their way to the appointed bus area if they are using this service. Students who are collected by parents should wait near the designated pick up areas for Secondary Students until parents have arrived to collect them.

Students Leaving School Site

All secondary students are allowed to leave the school site by themselves after the end of the school day (3.20pm Monday-Thursday; 3.00pm Friday). If students have an ECA or Academy after school and they cannot attend the session, they should let the person running the activity know so they can record their absence in the activity register.

The school and staff cannot take responsibility for students after the end of the school day unless they are in a supervised activity. We encourage students to use the onsite Café or bring snacks and drinks in from home. If parents give their children permission to leave school to buy food, snacks, etc., after the end of the day parents are responsible for the safety and welfare of their children.

Secondary students in ECAs and Academies

Students should get changed either using the student restrooms or the sports hall changing rooms. Students should leave valuable items in their personal lockers. School bags may be stored in either student lockers or in the bag drop-off and cubby holes area near the sports hall.

Students in Academies but not in ECA Programme classes may study quietly in the library until they need to get changed.

The ECA Programmes finish at 4.20 pm except on Friday when they finish at 4.00pm. Academies finish at 6.00 pm. Parents should pick up their child immediately after the ECA or Academy from the after school classroom or facility or the entrance of the school.

Secondary students picking up younger siblings

Secondary students may pick up a younger sibling in the Early Years to Year 6 classes provided you, as a parent, have given written permission. Written permission can be given by filling out a form which can be collected from the Nurse’s office next to the Library. The completed form should be returned to the Nurse’s office.

Once permission has been granted, additional information will be added onto your older child’s access card alerting staff to the fact that they are allowed to take their sibling(s) off the school premises after school. Please be reminded that Foundation and/or Primary pupils collected by a Secondary sibling must be supervised by the Secondary sibling and should not be left unsupervised at any time.

Student Cars and Motorcycles at School

Students are permitted to commute to school via their own transportation and park on the school premises provided they are of legal age and hold the appropriate document to ride / drive said vehicle.

Students are permitted to use their own vehicle on the school campus provided they have the following documentation and abide by Thai law:

• A full Thai Driving Licence appropriate for the use of their vehicle
• Valid insurance and tax for said vehicle
• Appropriate safety equipment such as helmets for motorcycles.
• You cannot drive a car until you are 18 and you require a temporary car licence.
• You cannot drive a motorbike until you are 15 and you require a temporary motorcycle licence
• At 15 years old you can drive a motorcycle up to 110cc
• At 18 years old you can drive a motorcycle more than 110cc

It is the responsibility of parents to ensure that the child has all the necessary valid documentation and licences to use their vehicle to commute between their residence and school.

When students legally drive / ride their vehicle onto school premises, they must ensure they are courteous, driving / riding respectfully and safely, and wearing the appropriate attire. If a student is found not to be following these instructions, they will no longer be permitted to park their vehicle on the school premises. In such events, you as their parent will be contacted to inform you of this decision.

Parents can, and should ;

• Encourage young people to do all of the above and abide by the rules of the road.
• Never let your child drive or take a ride in a vehicle that they or the driver are not legally able or competent to drive.
• Ensure that your child is competent and can handle safely, any vehicle that you allow them to ride.
• Make sure that your children wear a strapped, good helmet and other protective clothing when riding on a motorbike as a driver or passenger.
• Not let your children be on motorbikes late at night, in the early hours of the morning, or when road conditions are treacherous.

In addition to the above, we strongly recommend that if you are allowing your children to drive a motorbike or car, they get the best training you can for them. We would recommend the courses that are offered at the Honda Safe Riding Centre on the Island as an excellent way for young people to learn how to control a motorbike https://www.facebook.com/HondaSafetyRidingParkPhuket/ . We are aware that it can be quite confusing at times to be sure of what is legal and what is not in terms of driving statutes in Thailand and that some young people and families may be unaware of what they can and can’t do in terms of driving laws.

School Bus Procedures

The school operates bus services to different parts of the island in the morning and afternoon. Full details, including routes, times and fees are available at the front office and on the website.

All HeadStart buses are equipped with seatbelts, which students must wear at all times, and a supervising adult will be present at all times.

The Secondary School Curriculum

Our curriculum is based on the National Curriculum for England. In accordance with the philosophy of Cambridge International Education examinations, we aim to stimulate students’ minds, as well as to encourage them to push beyond perceived traditional academic boundaries.

GL Progress Tests

GL Progress Tests are used at the end of each academic in Year 7 – 9. The tests are used to measure attainment in English, Maths and Science. These assessments are then used at the end of the year to measure progress, and then year-on-year as a longitudinal measure.

The tests are marked by GL Assessments and provide schools with an external international benchmark for student performance. GL Progress Tests enable feedback to be provided on a learner’s strengths and weaknesses in key curriculum areas.

Feedback of this kind is an invaluable source of information. We will be able to make strategic decisions, drawing upon a pool of information and specialist reporting tools built into GL Progress Tests.

IGCSE, AS Level, A Level Exams and Pearson BTEC

HeadStart International School uses Cambridge International Education and Pearson IGCSE examination boards. It is the world’s most popular international curriculum for 14 – 16 year olds. It develops successful students, giving them excellent preparation for their next steps in education, including progression to the Cambridge International and Pearson A/AS Levels. IGCSEs are recognised by universities and employers worldwide. Year 11 students sit their IGCSE examinations at HeadStart School during May and June.

In Years 12 and 13, HeadStart students study for, and sit AS level and A level examinations or complete BTECs.

Reporting, Consultation and Assessment

Reporting Cycle

Reports are issued to parents up to five times throughout the school year, at intervals which depend on the Key Stage and Year group. For each subject these reports will contain a level of Effort and a Progression Marker or Grade. Comments are also included from Teachers and Homeroom Teachers at certain times of the year.

Attainment: “Progression Marker” (PM) and “Grades”

“Progress” in a learning sense can be defined as how quickly a student is learning new information and describes improvement in their skills or competencies. For each age group there is an “expected” level of progress that students usually make. “Attainment” is more of a measure of how well a student knows ideas and concepts, and how competent they are in any given skill.

At HeadStart we report on students’ progress and attainment using a series of different scales, using letters and/or numbers. This depends on which Key Stage of the school, and also on the subject area being considered:

• Key stage 3 (Years 7 to 9): PM 5 times per year, Grades twice (end Term 1 and Term 3)
• Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11): Grades only (number or letter grades depending on subject)
• Key Stage 5 (Years 12 and 13): Grades only (number or letter grades depending on subject)

At Key Stage 3 we communicate Attainment and Progress in reports using a four point scale, with abbreviations:

• E – Exceeding age group expectations
• M – Meeting age group expectations
• WT – Working Towards age group expectations
• B – Below age group expectations

In each case, this “marker” of progress and attainment is relative to (compared with) the expected level for a typical child in that age group and key stage in that subject. We expect that children are “meeting” age group expectations usually and so would most likely have an M on their reports. Students who are making more progress than expected will be marked as Exceeding for a given subject. Students who are making progress slower than expected for a given age group, and who may be finding a subject difficult would be given a Working Towards marker. Only students who are making little or no progress, or who are struggling to work at the expected age group level in a subject would be marked as Below for that subject. We will always include a written comment from a teacher with advice and explanation if a student is considered to be “below” year group expectations, and would follow up with interventions to further support the student.

Effort level

At HeadStart we feel that it is important to record and report how much effort a student puts into their studies. This idea includes their attitude to learning, how they persevere and how they apply themselves to any learning task. We communicate Effort in reports using the same four point scale as is used for Attainment, with the same abbreviations:

• Exceeding, E
• Meeting, M
• Working Towards, WT
• Below, B

Student Led Conferences

Conferences are scheduled at least twice per academic year to allow parents, students and teachers to formally discuss progress, effort, attitudes and skills of the student. The appropriate Heads of School will contact parents with conference appointment details.

Informal Conferences

Parents are encouraged to contact homeroom teachers to schedule meetings when they have any concern regarding their child’s progress either emotional or academic. Problems should not be left until the next scheduled parent conference to be resolved if parents believe it to be an important matter.

Homework

Homework is an important aspect of the curriculum at HeadStart. Your child will be given a homework timetable at the start of the year which is intended to provide a structured framework that will support students in their development of well-organised work and study habits.

The main system of communicating the homework to parents is via the Google Classroom. Teachers will set assignments on the Google Classroom and students will be instructed to check this regularly for details of the tasks they are required to do, along with the deadlines for completion. Students who are absent from school must seek out what homework and classwork they missed whilst off school via the Google Classroom. Absence is not an excuse for incomplete homework activities. Students need to manage their homework schedules appropriately.

KS3 students receive homework in the core subjects; English, Maths and Science. Students studying a first language programme will also receive regular homework. Key Stage 4 students would be expected to complete 60 minutes of homework per week, per chosen IGCSE examination subject. Homework should be handed in at the next lesson or agreed submission date. Year 7 & 8 may occasionally receive additional project work to complete from time to time.

The School Library

The Library is located on the ground floor of the school and is open from 7.30am to 4.30pm, including lunchtimes. All students are issued with a personal bar-coded card, which they can use to borrow books from the library.

The Library offers quiet and relaxing reading areas as well as computer and internet access areas. There is a librarian available to help, give advice and support learning. Students have scheduled Library lessons as part of their English curriculum learning. The School Library is a quiet area and as such, mobile phones should not be used in the library.

Academic Honesty

At HeadStart, we place a great deal of importance on students completing their own work. Students cannot learn properly if someone else is doing their classwork, course work or homework for them. We encourage parents to help their children to act in a responsible, ethical and honest manner towards intellectual property and authentic authorship.

Responsibilities of parents

Parents should encourage their children to try to do their homework on their own and to write in their own words. Any help given by parents should be clearly stated in writing on the work itself. If a parent knows or suspects that their child has been academically dishonest, then they should inform the school.

Consequences of academic dishonesty for students at HeadStart

All students are expected to follow both the letter and the spirit of this policy. The level of proof required for the school to take action on the grounds of academic honesty is reasonable suspicion and it is the responsibility of the student to demonstrate that they have not acted dishonestly. The consequences for any student found attempting malpractice, collusion, plagiarism or duplication might range from a simple verbal warning to having an examination certificate being withdrawn by the examination board or the school.

Language Options

Students who are Thai would be strongly encouraged to study Thai as a first language. Students holding passports for other countries must choose from the following list of subjects:

• Mandarin First Language
• Russian First Language
• Mandarin Foreign Language
• French Foreign Language.

At the start of the school year, students have the possibility to change the language they study. From week 3, students would be expected to study their chosen language for the remainder of the academic year.

EAL

For students identified as requiring additional English support, EAL is a compulsory academic provision integrated into the weekly timetable. This targeted support includes four hours of specialised lessons and mandatory after-school sessions designed to strengthen phonics, decoding, and reading fluency. For full details on fees, curriculum integration, and the 5 Stage Model of Language Acquisition, please refer to the EAL Parent Brochures below. The folder with the different versions of the brochure can be found here : EAL Brochure

Student Support Referrals at HeadStart

As a parent you may wish to raise a concern regarding your child’s development and wellbeing. If you do have a concern, please discuss it with your child’s homeroom teacher first. Following that conversation, the homeroom teacher may refer the matter to the relevant Deputy Head.

The Deputy Head will review the concern and if the matter requires additional support, they will discuss it with the Head of Learning Support. The Head of Learning Support may speak to you as a parent and follow the ‘Plan, Assess, Do, Review’ cycle of Additional Educational Needs.

Some students may be referred to HeadStart’s clinical psychologist for further assessment. However, please note these cases must have been reviewed by a Deputy Head, and the Head of Learning Support before being referred to HeadStart’s clinical psychologist.

Our school clinical psychologist also operates a private practice. Please note any referrals made through the school must be made through your child’s Homeroom Teacher first as explained above. All work completed for, at, or on behalf of the school must be approved by a Deputy Head. All other self-referrals by parents are considered a private matter and may incur additional fees to be agreed between the parents and the clinical psychologist.

If you have a safeguarding concern related to your child, please contact a Designated Safeguarding Lead (shown on the school website and on posters around the school).

Safeguarding

At HeadStart International, the safety and well-being of every child in our care is our highest priority. We are committed to providing a secure, supportive environment where children feel valued and protected. Safeguarding is integral to everything we do and is at the heart of our school ethos. Our safeguarding policies and procedures ensure that children are safe, supported, and able to thrive. All staff are trained in child protection and recognise their responsibility to identify and respond to any concerns about a child’s welfare. We work in partnership with parents, carers, and external agencies to promote the physical, emotional, and social well-being of all children. If you have any concerns, our Designated Safeguarding Leads, Annie Cusworth is available to offer support and guidance. Together, we can ensure that every child is safe, happy, and empowered to learn.

Parent Conduct

We pride ourselves on being a community school where all stakeholders are treated with politeness, courtesy and dignity. In order to achieve this, it is important that all members of our community, whether staff, students or parents treat each other with respect, and that all interactions are handled calmly.

As an international school, we do not tolerate any form of abuse between members of our community, whether verbal or physical, and whether in person or online.

Student behaviour policies and staff discipline policies address issues where students or staff conduct falls below our expectations. In the case where parents’ conduct fails to meet these reasonable expectations, the school reserves the right to issue warnings to parents regarding their conduct, or impose sanctions on parents which may include preventing them from entering the school facilities.

Where a parent is verbally aggressive to another member of the community, they may be banned from the school site for up to one term. Where verbal aggression is repeated on more than multiple occasions, the parent may be banned from the school site for up to one year. Where they are physically aggressive towards another member of the community, they may be banned from the school site for up to one year. Where the action is against a student, these sanctions may be increased, and reported to relevant authorities.

Behaviour Policies

HeadStart’s underlying approach to managing student behaviour is based on the expectation of active, mutual respect for all. Our students and teachers are expected to demonstrate respect for themselves and for each other. Lapses of respectful behaviour and differences between individuals or groups are resolved using a restorative approach, which aims to “set things right”. Repeated failure to respect others or behaviour which is damaging to others and is considered serious enough to make restoration inappropriate or impossible, will be communicated to parents and may result in a student’s enrolment being terminated, at the direction of the CEO and in consultation with appropriate staff.

All behaviour is considered on a case-by-case basis and individual needs are taken into account. Although the School attempts to understand difficult behaviour and make reasonable adjustments for behaviour symptomatic of disability, it does not accept persistent transgression or endangering the wellbeing of other members of the HeadStart community.

HeadStart International School has a strict policy of no corporal punishment.

Note: A student may be asked to leave the school at any point if the safety of other children is at risk.

Detentions

Teachers may give detentions over any break time/lunch period. Parents will be notified of this via the Parent Portal. Students will be allowed to eat and have a toilet break before the detention commences.

If an after school detention is given, parents will be given 24 hours’ notice. It is the responsibility of the parent to arrange for the student to be picked up from school after the detention. This will be recorded on Engage as a behavioural incident. Serious breaches of the school rules, or continued poor behaviour will result in parents being called in for a meeting and students being part of an improvement contract. This will also be recorded on Engage. Students regularly receiving detentions may be excluded.

Student Improvement Contract

If there are repeated issues with any student who has been disruptive to the teaching and learning process at the school, the management has the option to put the student on a weekly report.

The report is designed to help the student focus on improvement in every lesson.

The student will report to the Head of Faculty, Pastoral Coordinator or appropriate Deputy Head at the start and the end of each school day, with the report correctly filled out by teachers, parents and the student. Failing to do this will be a breach of the contract.

If the student completes the report successfully, then they will be taken off the report. If there are any lapses after the report then they will be required to complete a further weekly report period.

If the student completes this second report successfully then they will be taken off the report. If there are lapses after the second report then they will be required to complete a third and final report/contract period. After successful completion of the third reporting period, the student will be taken off the reporting system. Any further lapse will be considered as a breach of the student / school contract.

During the reporting periods, any misconduct in school will be considered a breach of the contract. The student will be immediately referred back to the appropriate Head of School for further sanctions.

The final decision regarding the permanent exclusion of a student from HeadStart will be made by the School Board. It is clearly understood by all parties that being placed on a final report/contract is a final warning. No further warnings will be issued.

The student improvement contract must be signed by the parent, the student and the Deputy Head.

Drug Policy and Procedures

As a school, we want our students and their families to live safe and drug free lives, especially during term time. Our drugs policy is embedded within our Pastoral Care department, allowing us to exercise discretion and thus making it more likely that students who need help will come forward and seek help. We carry out whole cohort testing of students from Year 9 to Year 13 at random times during the year. All students must comply with the request for a urine sample.

Definition

• All illegal drugs (those compiled by the Narcotics Control Act 1976), including vaping
• Volatile substances/solvents (those giving off a gas or vapour which can be inhaled) for example, ketamine, khat, kratom and alkyl nitrates (known as ‘poppers’)
• Misuse of over-the-counter and prescription medicines and so-called ‘legal highs’.

Disciplinary Procedures

If a student is suspected of taking drugs or being under the influence of drugs at school, the school will exercise the right to require that student to undergo an immediate urine test. If the grounds for suspicion are deemed to be sufficient, a student will be required to take a urine test or other suitable test straight away. In the event of a positive urine test, a second urine test will be immediately offered. A positive test result may cause the student to be suspended from school until the 6-hour counselling course has been arranged and paid for. Any student testing positive for drugs twice in one academic year would be grounds for immediate expulsion at the Board of Directors’ discretion.

Electronics & Mobile Phone/Device Policy

Device use during school hours:
Laptops and tablets may be used in classrooms with the explicit permission of a teacher. The use of any device is permitted only when a teacher specifically asks a student to do so.

The use of personal electronic devices (including mobile phones, tablets, laptops, MP3 music players, smart watches and headphones/similar personal listening devices) is strictly prohibited for all students up to and including Year 13, from the moment of entry to school until the end of the school day (3.20 pm; 3.00 pm on Friday).

Confiscation Policy (No Warnings):
Any mobile phone or personal electronic device seen in use or visible during school hours will be immediately confiscated. Students may collect confiscated devices at the end of the school day. In cases of repeated confiscation, parents will be required to collect the phone instead of the student.

Downloads

Please find below important documents available for download.