This page contains information for the parents of pupils due to start at Balcarras in September 2023.

Pre-admission form

Letters have been posted to the Year 7 September intake.

Please fill in the following pre-admission form:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=UAgrq67UfUWiY1gTeHDMk5--hpjvehxEvjF_lnr4qLRUODc1OTlVQVJEWk5NQTNOSTQ0WUlQSjkwOC4u

We would be grateful if this form could be completed by Friday 28^th April. 

If you have any questions or queries about the form, please email chb@balcarras.gloucs.sch.uk 

Taster Day for Year 6 pupils - Wednesday 5th July 2023

Please can all parents/guardians complete this form once their child has been visited at their primary school by a member of the transition team by Friday 23rd June.

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=UAgrq67UfUWiY1gTeHDMk5--hpjvehxEvjF_lnr4qLRUQUxJVldVVTVCSzJHOVpCREhWUzVNNjNYWi4u

Timings for the day will be 8.50am - 3.20pm.

Important dates for the diary

Taster day for Year 6 pupils - Wednesday 5th July 2023

Parents Evening - Thursday 6th July 2023 - 6-8pm

If you have any questions about the Year 6 to Year 7 transition please email Mrs Cathryn Saunders on cs@balcarras.gloucs.sch.uk

Primary Visits

All Primary Schools and Year 6 pupils will be visited at their school.

Helping your child become secondary ready

If you were looking for information on how to help settle your child into Year 7, we have put together some resources to support and guide you. The presentations that follow are in four parts which can be watched with your child at your own convenience. There is also a useful BBC Bitesize quiz below.

Secondary Ready Meeting Information

Part 1  - Introduction – outlining relationship skills, making friends, meeting new people and being an inclusive school

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Part 2 - The importance of sleep and social media use

Part 3 - Sharing ideas to develop resilience skills in our child

Part 4 - The role of the tutor and supporting your child at home

Part 5 - What parents can do next to support their child

School Uniform Update & Knowing which House your child is in

Your child will receive a letter at the end of June / early July which will inform them which tutor group and house they are in. At the moment the only part of the uniform that will need to be in House colours, is the school badge. These are not only available from our uniform suppliers but are also available directly from Balcarras School (through reception).

Click here for a full school uniform list. 

New Skirt

Pupils joining Balcarras from September 2023 will now have to wear the new Tartan pleated skirt.

We have two uniform suppliers:

Monkhouse (formerly School Togs)

https://www.monkhouse.com/catalog/category/view/s/balcarras-school-urn-136474/id/5255/

252 High Street, opposite Wilkinsons

For further information click here.

The Schoolwear Company

https://theschoolwearcompany.co.uk/find-your-school/balcarras-school-uniform-cheltenham.html

Universal Uniform Ltd, Unit V1 Kingsville Road, Kingsditch Trade Park

***Please note this store will cease trading on 26th May - more information to follow on a new uniform supplier.

PE Kit

Click here for information on PE Kit including instructions on ordering a named Polo shirt. This is the one item of PE kit that has a deadline. The deadline for ordering this is Wednesday 12th July.

Any items ordered via scopay will be given to pupils in their PE lesson in September.

Music

Click here for information about Music Tuition for the upcoming academic year. All starter forms need to be completed, signed and returned with payment to Mrs S Davis in the Finance Office by Monday 10th July. If you have any questions, please email sed@balcarras.gloucs.sch.uk or Mr Dan Armstrong, Head of Music will be available at the new parents evening on Thursday 6th July.

Maths Kit, Lockers, Ties and Badges

Click here for information about ordering a Maths Kit, a Locker, Ties and Badges.

ONLINE ordering needs to be completed by 9.00am Tuesday 4th July as these items will be given to pupils on Taster Day.
Any order made after this time will need to be collected before the end of term.

Medical Information

All information regarding pupils with can be found here. 

PTFA

Balcarras PTFA is a committee whose purpose is to raise money to support the School.  The committee organises a number of events during the school year to raise the funds requires. We use these funds towards equipment and materials for departments and extracurricular clubs. In the past we have been lucky enough to provide every request made. In addition, we also each year provide financial assistance towards the Year 11 & Year 13 annual prom and the Year 11 leavers book.

The PTFA is a necessary & essential part of enabling the school to function at its current level.

We welcome further support and assistance from parents either as a member of the committee or just helping for an hour or longer at one or more of the numerous events we hold to raise funds.  All meetings are held in the staff room from 7pm on the following dates. We welcome all.

2023-2024 dates coming soon....