FAQ
Please find below our FAQ and miscellaneous information section.
At Tytherington School, we believe that all students should be provided with a challenging and tailored education designed to help them achieve at their highest level possible. This differentiation encompasses our most able students. We aim to give all of our Advanced Learner students the opportunity to reach their full potential and in doing so, create benefits for their fellow learners, the school and the wider community. In line with our school’s belief in Growth Mindset, we refer to our students as Advanced Learners in recognition that ability is not fixed and key to outstanding progress are a positive work ethic and resilience.
We believe all students should be challenged, inspired and empowered by learning and that the classroom should be an engaging, inspiring place to learn.
Identification
At Tytherington School, our Advanced Learners are identified by teachers, parents and the students themselves on an individual learner level. Identification is based on specially designed departmental criteria, data and through discussions with the learner and colleagues. Year 7 students are placed on our ‘watching list’ and monitored closely as they are increasingly challenged in class before being added to the list.
Challenge
At Tytherington School we strive to provide outstanding learning environments for all learners through high quality differentiation. Furthermore, each department seeks to promote excellent approaches for Advanced Learners and flags up enrichment opportunities in their subject area. Our in class provision centres around the following teaching and learning approaches which are promoted to teachers:
- Providing relevant, engaging, learning opportunities and interesting stimuli where possible.
- Maximising ownership of learning by providing opportunities for choice and a variety of learning pathways in the lesson. Challenge options are flagged up to students.
- Students are also encouraged to take leadership roles in the lesson and foster collaboration
- The use of high order questioning to encourage analysis and creative thinking
- Signposting opportunities for students to develop their knowledge further through independent study
- High quality feedback focused on how to achieve the top grades.
Enrich
High quality challenging classroom teaching is supplemented by the opportunity for students to extend their understanding beyond the curriculum at enrichment sessions and trips run by departments. The opportunities offered are diverse and advertised by departments, but they include:
Rose Day News Challenge
On our first Rose Day in October, two teams of Year 7 Advanced Learners competed in an Apprentice style challenge to produce a newssheet covering all the events of the day.
Year 7 Secret Mission Challenge 1 “My Greatest Briton”
Students were given the task of researching and presenting a case for their greatest Briton. Prizes were given out for the best responses
Headteacher’s Inaugural Short Story Challenge
Mr Botwe launched a Short Story Competition to write a 500 word story on the theme of Christmas. The winners read out their stories in assembly, and were awarded book tokens.
Jodrell Bank Trip
A group of year 7 students visited Jodrell Bank of December 15th to witness the launch of Tim Peake into space to join the International Space Station, and to celebrate 70 years since the establishment of the Lovell telescope at Jodrell bank.
Bucket List Challenge
Year 7 students were given a Bucket List challenge to complete over the Christmas period; it included a range of challenges including learning a song on an instrument, offering practical help to a member of the community, cooking a two course meal and making a short film.
Masterclasses
We have started to offer masterclasses on a range of topics offered by members of staff. The first two were a class on IPA ( a method for planning longer written answers to exam questions called Ideas – Plan – Action) and Politics and Ethics: Become Prime Minister for the Day run by Mr Botwe. We are also planning more of these next term, including a Mathematics masterclass and an Art History class.
Bollington Live Project
A group of Year 7 Advanced Learners worked with the editors of Bollington Live to produce a double page spread for the magazine. They wrote a series of different articles, interviewed staff and learnt all about the editing and printing processes involved in creating a magazine. They also had the opportunity to visit the printshop to take part in the design process, and helped to deliver the magazine.
War and Conscience: Then and Now
Year 9 Advanced Learners took part in a project run by Macclesfield Quaker Society and Macclesfield Library entitled War and Conscience: Then and Now. They worked with the Cheshire Poet Laureate John Lindley to produce poems exploring the theme of conscientious objection. Their poems were displayed in Macclesfield Library in February. There is a possibility they may also be published in an anthology.
Poetry Trials
A selection of Advanced Learners from Years 7, 8 and 9 also entered the national Poetry Trials competition for 11- 19 year olds. They wrote a variety of poems on the themes of Emotions and The Future
Tenner Challenge
Year 7 and 8 students are currently completing the Tenner Challenge run by Young Enterprise, in which they are given £10 to start a business in groups. Students run the business for one month, to see how much profit they can make. The students have set up a range of businesses, including a Hire a Help service for teachers, running a disco at a local primary school, a car washing service and a stationary shop in the refectory.
Secret Missions
We have been running a series of Secret Missions for Advanced Learners in Years 7, 8 and 9. These include:
- Design a Train Seat (Year 7)
- Create a Landmark (Year 8)
- Design a Toy (Year 9)
All contributors receive certificates and winners receive book tokens. Examples of their work can be seen on the website and in the entrance hall.
Heroes and Villains and Approaching Writing about Conflict
Ailsa Holland and Barbara Evans, parents of students at our school, completed two workshops. Barbara, who works in International Relations explored some of the issues surrounding conflict in a workshop on this topic, and Ailsa, who is a poet, ran a poetry workshop on the theme of Heroes and Villains for Year 7.
Inspire
Helping our students to achieve their full potential is at the heart of our provision. It is therefore critically important to us that we track, support and enrich the academic experiences of our Advanced Learners throughout their time at Tytherington School.
If you would like to find out more about our Advanced Learners programme please e-mail our Leader of Advanced Learners, Mrs Burke, on cburke@tytheringtonschool.co.uk.
Tytherington is very much a community school, and with this in mind Tytherington School Network aims to connect our current community with our wider community of former pupils who may be situated around the globe.
In comparison to 1965 when the school was established, this century will be the globally connected era. Students may not follow a single career path which they navigate until retirement, but will most probably be required to change their career and role as the global market place dictates. Tytherington School Network provides a non-elitist online community focused on enabling and supporting career development by allowing former students to stay in touch while connecting current pupils with potential role models, mentors, or work placement providers.
Tytherington School Network provides and wide range of support to the current school community:
- inspiring career and education role models
- volunteers
- work experience
- providers
- governors
- donors
- mentors
Additionally the network also provides benefits for our former students:
- an opportunity to reconnect with former fellow students
- a way to link professionally with other former students to help with career development
- a way to keep abreast of what is happening at school
Tytherington School Network is accessed via online networking platforms which operate outside the control of the school. These groups are moderated by former pupils and are not controlled or monitored by Tytherington School. However, there is a school member who may post requests for mentors, speakers or work placements. Those requesting membership need to have accounts with Facebook, LinkedIn, or both, and instructions on how to create these accounts can be found below. All requests to join the groups will be authorised by the moderators who will request your name when you were at the school, your date of birth, your last form tutor, and your year of leaving. If you are interested in becoming a member then we invite you to join our LinkedIn and Facebook groups using the links attached.
Network Group Rules
All members will show respect and focus on information of value to the Network when posting to the groups
All offers of help will be made in good faith and should comply with relevant legislation at all times
Any offensive comments will be taken down and the member posting the comments may be excluded from the group(s)
The school accepts no liability for the content of opportunities presented through the groups
All members are required to confirm that they have read and understood Facebook and LinkedIn’s privacy policies and community guidelines
Instructions
You must be a member of Facebook and/or LinkedIn before you can join the respective Tytherington School Network closed group. Please see the links below on how to join up:
Follow the online link from the Network page to join the groups
Send a request to join
You will receive an email from one of the moderators requesting your name whilst at Tytherington School, your date of birth, your last form tutor and your year of leaving
Once you have sent this information you will receive an acceptance email confirming your membership of the group/s
Links
Tytherington School Network on LinkedIn
Tytherington School Network on Facebook
This is your Network; please help to make it thrive
Site Gritting Arrangements in Bad Weather
We have produced the attached zoned gritting plan as a common sense approach to the clearance of ice on the school site during periods of bad weather. The plan advises the order and time by which the paths will be cleared.
Please note that the side and back gates will remain closed until the paths have been cleared.
Students, parents, school staff and visitors to the site should wear footwear and clothing appropriate for the conditions.
If heavy snowfall occurs clearance time will be longer; on these occasions further guidance will be posted at the school gates and in reception.
See our Site Gritting Plan here
School Closure Arrangements
In extreme weather conditions every effort will be made to keep the school site open. However if there has been heavy snowfall overnight it may be unsafe to open the school for staff and students.
Any closure will be posted on the school’s website by 7am. Silk FM Radio (106.9) and Heart Radio* (105.4) will also be notified of the closure. *previously known as Century FM/Real Radio
The school website will also be used to provide up to date information about any closure or changed arrangements for the school day.
If the school is open, our hope is that school buses will be able to make the journey into school and we shall handle any late registration procedures to ensure we know who is on site at any time. During the day we shall keep in contact with the transport companies and make decisions as appropriate about early departure from school if conditions are worsening.
We would ask that you have contingency plans for the care of your child/children if snow or ice prevents the official transport from being used and, of course we shall understand if this means that they are not able to be in school on that day. We hope that these arrangements can also extend to emergency supervision should we have to dismiss students early. If you are keeping your child at home during bad weather, please notify this absence in the usual way.
Guidelines for Parents Whose Children Travel to School on Buses
Advice for parents during bad weather – please:
- Ensure that your child knows that, should the bus be late, they should remain at the bus stop. If it is more than half an hour late they should ring the school to find out if/when it is expected to arrive.
- Ensure your child knows or has the school telephone number.
- Ensure your child has your contact telephone details.
- Ensure that your child has credit on his/her phone.
- Ensure that you have made contingency arrangements should the weather conditions be so extreme that the bus is unable to reach the bus stop.
- Ensure that, on the rare occasions where the bus has broken down or is held up in very bad traffic, your child knows that they should remain on the bus. For information, the bus driver will make contact with the school when the bus is stationary to advise us of the estimated time of arrival of the students.
At Tytherington School we are proud to open our facilities to the local community and create a space for learning, sports and special events.
Our facilities include both indoor and outdoor sports venues, performing arts venues, conference and meeting spaces, and halls for special events/birthday parties.
Please see our policy list here, including Educational Visits policy.
Please see our page on Examination Information here.
To access Firefly, the online homework distribution and submission system, click here, or click on the Firefly Icon 
in the header at the top of the page for quick access.
If you’re a student who is unsure about the process of logging in, please follow this link containing a setup guide.
If you’re a parent who would like to view your child’s progress with their homework, please contact our IT team who will help get your account activated and provide relevant details. Our email address is ithelpdesk@tytheringtonschool.co.uk.
Guidance
Please refer to the following guidance and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) to set up your Freedom Technology Chromebook, obtained through the Freedom Technology Chromebook Offer for Tytherington School students:
Requests
As mentioned in the FAQ document, please do feel free to send any requests into school via email to – chromebookrequests@tytheringtonschool.co.uk – We will review the request and judge whether or not it is possible within safeguarding, BYOD and acceptable usage policy and respond to you. If it is possible, we will make the adjustment that will then apply to all Freedom Tech Chromebook owners.
How does Tytherington School do Catering?
Innovate by name and nature. Food choice, flexibility, quality and speed are at the heart of what we do. Inspired by the best and most fashionable high street concepts, we pride ourselves on fusing fantastic quality food with quick service.
Everything has to start with fantastic quality and responsible food. Across our wide, diverse and ever-changing menus, we ensure that everything is safe, sustainable and tastes great. We only source from farmers, wholesalers and catering butchers that are audited to UKAS accredited standards and meet the highest possible assurance levels.
We have a huge variety of really exciting dishes to try! We’re talking about global street food, our famous curry Thursdays, modern vegetarian and vegan, and traditional fish and chips. There’s something for everyone to enjoy at all times of the day.
In addition to great food in great environments, we are committed to becoming an ‘Impact Organisation’ and doing whatever we can to create a better world. We operate a sustainable and responsible business model, minimising packaging (especially plastics), food waste and energy consumption, whilst maximising recycling and composting.
As an Impact Food Group caterer, our vision and values are entirely aligned to working with our schools to create a positive food culture and helping more students eat better food.
Costs
Please see the files below relating to the costs of our school meals.
Menus
Please see the menus for our 2023/24 school year below. There is a different menu for each week, weeks 1-3 – please use the toggles to view each week’s menu.
The 2013 regulation amendments make clear that head teachers may not grant any leave of absence (holidays) during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances. The amendments give parents no entitlement to take their child out of school for a holiday in term time. The head teacher and the governing body will determine what the exceptional circumstances are. Please take time to fill in this form, before returning it to the school office.
All Students at Tytherington School have access to Office 365 systems, such as Outlook emails, Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, and Teams calling.
This is activated once the pupil has logged into a school computer for the first time. Once the student has logged from a computer on the school site, they should then be able to sign into Office 365 using their school email address and password.
Click this link to be forwarded to the Office 365 website. If you’re having trouble accessing Office 365 systems, please visit our IT staff in person to validate your identity before receiving assistance.
To access ParentPay, the online education payment system, click here, or click on the ParentPay Icon 
in the header at the top of the page for quick access.
We hold an annual review of our strategy regarding pupil premium that takes place across the end of September and into October, as part of reviews of students’ performance and the our whole school self-evaluation. The ‘Pupil Premium Review’ that we publish is an outcome of that review process that is then presented to our governing body.
Please see our Pupil Premium Statement here.
Please also see our Supporting Pupil Premium Students document that explains strategies that we adopt at Tytherington School.
For information regarding school locker rental, please see the information posters below. For further detail, please visit the lock rentals website, or email enquiries@locker.rentals.
Families can donate and/or request items of uniform via the new Tytherington School Uniform Swap Shop.
Donating Items
To donate your uniform items, please leave the donations, freshly laundered and folded, at the drop-off point in the school reception area.
Requesting Items
Requests can be made using the form available to collect from the school reception area or by completing this online form.
You will be contacted when your item is ready to collect.
Good for the planet and your pocket!
Please email info@tytheringtonschool.co.uk for further information
The following supporting documents and recordings are available in order to help in making the decisions as part of this process:
- Guided Choice Booklet for 2024-26
- Access to our Unifrog Careers Platform
- Access to the Unifrog Student Guide
- Slides from the Guided Choices Evening
- Year 9 Guided Choices Selection Form (coming soon).
Dates | Process |
|---|---|
Tuesday 9th January 2024 | Year 9 Guided Choices Booklet Published. This booklet is published and emailed out to parents to share with their Year 9 children. Also made available on FireFly with other resources to support the process. Click here to access. |
Thursday 11th January 2024 6:00pm – 7.30pm | Year 9 Guided Choices Evening. An in-school open evening for students and parents/carers, opening the process. The evening will consist of a presentation in the Main Hall and opportunity to visit teachers and course leaders in classrooms. Click here to download the Evening Guide. |
Thursday 25th January 2024 | Year 9 Assessment & Monitoring Reports Sent Home. |
Tuesday 30th January 2024 | Non-KS3 Subject Taster Lessons.
Taster lessons available for Business Studies, Child Development, Classical Civilisation, Physical Education Theory and Psychology. |
Thursday 1st February 2024 4:00pm – 7:00pm | Year 9 Parents’/Carers’ evening, providing an opportunity to discuss performance and possible choices with teachers. |
Monday 5th February 2024 | Guided Choices Consultation Meetings.
A day that provides opportunity for parents and students to come into school for a guidance appointment to discuss and finalise their choices. |
Friday 9th February 2024 By Midnight | Choices Form Submission Deadline
Final date for submission of students’ online “Year 9 Guided Choices”. |
March/April 2024 | Guided Choices Review.
If additional consultations are required, they will take place between selected students and a senior member of staff before final allocations are confirmed. |
April/May 2024 | Confirmation of Choice Allocation. A confirmation letter informing you and your parents/carers of the choices that have been allocated is sent home. |