Register Opening and Closing Times
Morning tutor time starts at 8.45am. Our morning register opens at 8.45am and will remain open until 9.15am. Students who arrive to school after 8.45am but before 9.15am will receive a late mark, recorded as an L. Students who arrive to school after 9.15am will receive an arrival after registration mark, recorded as a U. A U code is classed as an unauthorised absence due to being absent when the register was open and therefore will impact a students attendance.
Our afternoon register is taken at 1pm and will remain open until 1.30pm. Any students who arrive to school once the afternoon register has closed, i.e. after 1.30pm, will receive a U.
Attendance Policy
At LHS we value our partnership with parents and carers. We understand that from time to time, you may have questions, concerns, or feedback. We believe that most issues can be resolved quickly through open and respectful dialogue.
In line with advice from Parentkind, the UK’s leading charity for parents in education, we encourage a "solution-focused" approach. Before raising a formal complaint, we ask that you first identify whether your issue is a query, a concern, or a formal complaint. Please read this guide first:
Who Should I Contact?
A common misconception is that the Headteacher handles every issue. To ensure your concern is dealt with quickly and by the person with the most direct knowledge, please follow this hierarchy. Start with the person closest to the issue. They often have the facts at hand to resolve things immediately without the need for escalation.
| Level of Concern | Who to Contact | Examples |
| Pastoral Level. |
PM, Tutor or Subject Teacher.
|
Homework, friendship issues, or general pastoral concerns. |
| Learning Level |
Subject or Year Leader
|
Repeated issues in one subject or ongoing progress concerns |
| Whole school |
Senior Leadership
|
Issues spanning multiple subjects or serious behavioural incidents. |
| Serious |
Headteacher
|
Significant safety concerns or complaints about staff. |
If an informal discussion does not resolve the matter, our school follows a staged formal process:
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Stage 0 (Informal): Discussion with the relevant staff member (as listed above).
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Stage 1 (Formal): A formal written complaint to the Headteacher. They will investigate or ask another member of the senior team to investigate and provide a written response (usually within 10–20 school days).
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Stage 2 (Governor Review): If you are dissatisfied with this response, you can write to the Clerk to the Governors. A panel of governors will then meet to review the process.
Important: What the School Doesn't Handle
Some specific issues fall under different legal procedures and are not handled through the standard school complaints policy:
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Admissions & Exclusions: These have their own statutory appeal processes.
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Special Educational Needs (SEND): While we deal with day-to-day support, legal disagreements regarding EHC Plans are often handled via the Local Authority or a Tribunal.
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Staff Grievances: We cannot share details of internal disciplinary action against staff with parents due to employment law.
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Safeguarding: Matters regarding child protection follow our Safeguarding Policy and involve the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and other agencies.
Parent A–Z
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The Parent A–Z is a handy guide for Longbenton High parents. It provides a full directory of school information, policies, and day-to-day guidance.
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Topics include:
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Absence and Attendance – how to report absences.
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Behaviour & Rewards – expectations and recognition systems.
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Catering – details about school meals and payment.
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Homework & Support – resources for study.
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Safeguarding – how the school keeps students safe.
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Uniform – rules and guidance.
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Communication – how to contact school staff.
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The Parent A–Z is the go-to reference guide for almost everything you might need to know about life at Longbenton High School.
We use Bromcom, a cloud-based Management Information System, to help us manage student data securely and efficiently. For parents and carers, this is accessed through the MyChildAtSchool (MCAS) portal and mobile app.
This "one-stop shop" allows you to stay updated on your child’s school life in real-time, reducing the need for paper letters and multiple login accounts.
By using the app or the web portal, you have instant access to:
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Attendance & Punctuality
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Timetables: See your child’s daily schedule, including subjects and teacher names.
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Behaviour & Achievements: Track house points as well as any sanctions or detentions.
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Online Payments: Securely pay for school meals, trips, and clubs.
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Academic Reports: Download termly reports and assessment data directly to your device.
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Communication: Receive "Push Notifications" for urgent announcements and school letters.
Why We Use It
With 1,000 students, effective communication is a priority. MCAS ensures that information doesn't get "lost in the school bag." It empowers you to support your child’s learning by knowing exactly what they are studying and how they are performing at any given moment.
How to Get Started
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Download the App: Search for "MyChildAtSchool" in the [Apple App Store] or [Google Play Store].
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Registration: The school will send an invitation email to the address we have on file for you.
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Login: Follow the link in the email to set your password. You will need our School ID and your registered email address.
Top Tip: Please ensure your notifications are turned ON in your phone settings. This is our primary method for sending urgent updates, such as school closures or important reminders.