FAQs
What is the difference between Primary and Secondary School?
There are two main differences in these phases of education: age and content.
Age Group: Primary schools have children aged from 4 to 11 years old. Secondary schools have pupils aged from 11 to 18 years old. Clearly, the age difference of pupils influences the way children are taught, with secondary schools preparing pupils for GCSEs and A-levels.
Organisation and Content: In simplistic terms, primary schools provide the foundations and necessary skills to access education, and secondary schools build on this to deliver external examinations. Primary and secondary schools are different in organisation. For instance, in most primary schools, every subject is taken by the same group of pupils. For example, they all go to music lessons together. At secondary school, lessons are typically taught by subject specialists and there are more teaching groups, which means the groups of pupils in each lesson can change. For example, they may be with a different group of pupils for English and maths.
What is the difference between mainstream and special schools?
A special school is a school which is “specially organised to make special educational provision for pupils with SEN” (section 337 of the Education Act, 1996).
A mainstream school is a school which is able to support all pupils if their special educational needs and disabilities aren't recognised as being of the extent that something 'additional to' mainstream provision is required. These can be either state schools or Academies. Independent or Private schools are not classed as mainstream schools.
How does a child receive a place at the JMA?
This is dealt with through the Hertfordshire Requesting a Special School place process https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/microsites/local-offer/education-support/education-options/requesting-a-special-school-place.aspx. More details are provided in the admissions policy.
Do you have a school uniform?
We do not have a formal uniform. Our pupils should be comfortable in the clothes they wear to school, but they are not allowed to wear low-hanging trousers, short skirts, crop tops or clothing that contains explicit, derogatory or offensive pictures or slogans. If they arrive at school in inappropriate clothing, they will be asked to go home and change.
Is there any equipment and learning requirements a parent has to provide, e.g. do I need to pay for a laptop, text books, calculators, stationery?
The short answer is no. We provide equipment and resources, including text books, calculators, pens and pencils. It would be useful for a pupil to have a laptop or computer at home should they need to complete any work, but it is not essential, and we do not specify which one to choose. Each pupil is given a Google account, which enables them to access work on any device.
What to do if my child is ill?
Please call the main office on 01707 830950 to report your child's absence. If your child receives transport, please ring the transport team at Roman Fields on 01442 256915, so the taxi can be cancelled.
What will the school do if my child is ill for a prolonged period of time?
If your child is absent from school for a prolonged period, evidence will need to be provided. It is also essential that parents/carers engage in dialogue with the school until the pupil returns to school.
What should I do if my child has health needs and needs to have medication administered when at school?
Please ensure the school are aware of the details of any medication your child is taking, whether at school or at home.
If your child needs to have medication administered at school, please contact the main office, who will be able to provide you with the necessary forms and additional guidance.
Please do not give the medication to your child to have in school (even if it is to be kept in their bag and is 'over the counter' medication). All medication, including paracetamol, must be kept securely in the office.
What if my child needs access arrangements or reasonable adjustments for exams?
We are a specialist provision, with a very experienced SENDCo who will ensure that your child has access arrangements for examinations to meet their needs.
The school must adhere to the JCQ guidance for the deciding of access arrangements and reasonable adjustments.
What to do if I have concerns about the progress my child is making?
Before starting at the school, our Integration Manager will be your initial point of contact. Following the transition period, staff are allocated to each year group, who can provide additional advice and guidance about your child’s progress. If there is a question about a specific subject, please contact the member of staff who delivers the sessions.
What to do if I have behavioural concerns regarding my child, or another child? Who do I address these too?
Initially, speak to a member of staff associated with the year group your child is in. Alternatively, or if it is urgent, please contact reception and ask to speak to Scott Martin or Mark Reynolds.
If it is a safeguarding issue, please speak with the DSL: Scott Martin, or Deputy DSL – Mark Reynolds.
How will the school tell me how my child is performing?
We like to ensure the communication between school and home is frequent; the majority of our communication is through email.
Alongside this regular contact, you will receive a termly report. There are two parents’ evenings each academic year. One in the autumn term and one in the spring or summer term.
When will parents' evenings take place?
We have two parents’ evenings in an academic year. The first one in 2025–26 is Thursday 9 October from 2.00 to 5.30pm. The second is split depending on a pupil’s year group. For pupils in year 7 – 9 it is Thursday 12 March from 2.30 – 5.30pm, and for pupils in year 10 and 13, it is Thursday 19 March from 3.30 – 5.30pm.
What are the school rules which I should uphold and expect my child to adhere to?
We expect everyone to treat each other with respect at all times and staff model this behaviour. We do not tolerate vandalism, violence, fighting, or abusive language. We expect pupils to complete the work during class time. If your child does not meet these expectations, we use 'catch up' to complete the learning and reinforce expectations and help them to meet them in the future.
How can I communicate concerns?
Please contact the school if you have any concerns. As stated above, this can be one of the members of staff assigned to the year group or the person who delivers the subject.
If there are any concerns about members of staff, please direct these to the Head teacher.
If you feel that your concerns have not been addressed, please refer to the Complaints Policy on the James Marks Academy Trust website.
What happens during social times, i.e. break and lunch?
Every day there are activities for pupils to engage in during lunchtime. These are outlined on the pupil information page. We find that in time, some of the pupils just like to either go to the library for a quiet space or socialise with their friends.
What are the arrangements for food, are there any restrictions, e.g. no nuts?
We do not provide hot food as the majority of pupils have a specific diet that they eat. Your child needs to bring a packed lunch in; we just ask that it does not contain any nuts or nut products.
We encourage healthy eating, as outlined on the pupil information page.
What do parents need to pay for?
The school meets the cost for the majority of the day-to-day needs a pupil has. End-of-term events are open to parents, who will be invited free of charge.
Parents need to provide lunch for pupils. If your child is entitled to free school meals, please see the information in the catering section.
For educational trips or excursions, we will ask parents for a voluntary contribution towards the cost. These will be outlined in the letter sent to parents before the trip happens.
How does the school deliver pastoral care?
Initially through the Integration Manager. Over the first few weeks, the Integration Manager will introduce your child to other members of staff and our experience is that pupils form relationships with them quickly.
Additionally, staff are assigned to a year group and are a point of contact for parents.
What does the school day look like?
Schools starts at 9.30am and finishes at 3.30pm. The structure of the day is shown in the pupil section.
The school day and breaks have been structured around the primary school next door so that when our pupils are outside, the primary school pupils are not. This means it is much quieter and our pupils can go outside if they want.
There are five lessons each day. Morning break is at 11.30am and lunch starts at 1.45pm.
How is lost property dealt with?
Lost property is handed into the main school office. If your child has mislaid something, please contact the office in case the item has been handed in. The office will usually send a message to all staff if something has been handed in. Alternatively, the office is happy to email all staff to keep their eye out for any item that has been mislaid.
Travel arrangements
The majority of pupils live more than three miles from the school and are transported to and from school. When your child joins the school, you will be asked to complete a transport application form. Please return this to the main office. The local authority will decide if you are eligible for home to school transport.
The Trust’s transport team is based at Roman Fields and if you have any questions about your child’s transport, please contact them on 01442 256915.
If you live less than three miles from the school site, the local authority expects your child to get themselves to and from school.
Is there parking for parents who need to come to the school site?
We are very fortunate that we have a large site with ample parking facilities for staff and visitors.
What happens at transition points?
Stage 1: When your child joins the school, you will be looked after by our Integrations Manager who will work with you and your child on integrating them into James Marks Academy.
Stage 2: The Integrations Manager will introduce your child to other staff who will support them through their journey at James Marks Academy.
Stage 3: In year 10 and 11, our careers and transition team will start to work with your child. This includes visits to local further education colleges and sessions on requirements for particular courses of study. They will work with you and your child to prepare them for their onward transition, whether it be university, college, mainstream school, training or employment.
How can I say thank you?
We appreciate you taking the time to supply us with feedback, whether this is via email, card or letter, but even a simple thank you if you are dropping off or collecting your child is appreciated.
