Dear Parents, Carers and Students,

Advance Warning - Thames Water Works affecting the local area and no access to Upton Close
You will already be aware of the extensive mains replacement works being carried out in the Bexley borough by Thames Water. The programme has affected many local roads with full road closures, temporary lights and roadworks, and diversions in place.

We have been given notice that from Monday 27th April until 12th June 2026, these works will be in the immediate vicinity of the school, with no access to Upton Close and slower traffic when accessing/leaving the A2 slip roads. I would ask and highly recommend that if parents must drive students to school, that they park well away from Upton Road/Townley Road to allow students to walk to the school site. Despite previous requests, I am aware that some parents are still dropping their children off in Upton Close and this will no longer be possible. Upton Close will only be accessible to residents and for access to our car park and even this will be restricted when heavy machinery is in use.

I urge parents to avoid this area if possible and drive with extreme care, particularly if using the A2. Thank you in advance for your full cooperation in keeping the roads passable and, most importantly, our students and local pedestrians safe.

We must remind parents, carers and students that GCSE and A level exam start times will not be adjusted because of traffic around the school. Therefore, students should plan their journey and ensure they arrive to school on time.

Dual Profiles – Chromebooks
Please be advised that, effective immediately, students will no longer be permitted to maintain dual profiles on their school-issued Chromebooks. This decision follows recent instances of misuse where the secondary profile feature was used to circumvent our internal security measures. Specifically, we have noted students using personal mobile hotspots to bypass the school’s filtered Wi-Fi, allowing them to access unmonitored personal accounts during the school day. Our primary responsibility is to ensure a robust safeguarding environment, and such actions create significant gaps in our ability to protect your child from inappropriate content and unverified third-party applications.

By streamlining access to a single, school-managed account, we can ensure that all online activity is filtered through our specialist safety software, allowing us to proactively manage risks such as cyberbullying, data privacy breaches, and exposure to harmful material. Online safety is a collaborative effort, and removing these loopholes is a vital step in maintaining a secure digital classroom where technology remains a tool for learning rather than a risk to student wellbeing. Consequently, dual profiling will no longer be accessible to any students. Year 11 students have been given some time for moving work to their school accounts this weekend.

WhatsApp
We fully recognise that WhatsApp groups can, on occasion, be useful for the parents/ carers of our school community- WhatsApp is often, for example, invaluable for sharing quick reminders about non-uniform days, organising lost property or coordinating lovely social events for the children. However, we must kindly ask that all parents/ carers ensure posts on group chats remain appropriate and respectful at all times. Unfortunately, messages posted to air frustration can inadvertently lead to upset which often then fuels rumours and unnecessary arguments for the students within our school community.

We are not in a position to manage parent/ carer conversations but do have to address the consequences of such conversations in school if it impacts our students and this can be incredibly time-consuming for our staff. We feel we should not really have to send a message of this nature, so we hope you will support us in maintaining a positive, digital environment that sets a good example for the students.

Key Stage 3 Assessments – Tuesday 28th – Thursday 30th April
We wish all Lower School students good luck with their end of year core exams in Maths, Science and English. All relevant information has been shared with parents before Easter and subject information is also in student Google Classroom hubs.

Year 8 HPV Vaccinations – Wednesday 6th May
The Bexley immunisation Team will be in school on the above date to deliver the important HPV vaccination programme. Please see the attached letter for information and the parent consent link – the online consent link will close at midnight on 29th April.

The team remind parents to inform the school on the day if their child is unwell, and this information is passed to the lead nurse on arrival before the session begins.

Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse
Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (CAPVA) describes repeated patterns of abusive behaviour by a child or young person towards a parent or carer. It can include physical violence, emotional and psychological abuse, coercive control and financial abuse. It is not the same as challenging adolescent behaviour: CAPVA involves an intentional pattern through which a young person exerts power and control over a parent, often leaving them living in genuine fear of their own child.

The scale is likely far greater than reported figures suggest. Research from London's Violence Reduction Unit found that 40% of parents experiencing CAPVA do not report it, driven by shame, self-blame, and fear that their child will be criminalised or removed from the home. It is estimated to affect as many as one in ten families, yet there is no agreed national definition, no comprehensive data collection, and no clear professional ownership of the response.

Our safeguarding contact details are:
Safeguarding email - safeguarding@townleygrammar.org.uk - which is monitored by our team of safeguarding leads, although not 24/7
Safeguarding phone number: 020 3884 1777. Please be aware that it is not monitored 24/7.
Further information relating to the safeguarding services and policies is available here .

If you or a child is in immediate danger, you should always call 999.

For further information:
Support for child to parent abuse (College of Policing)
CAPVA (with practitioner directory and training information)

Emotional Based School Avoidance (EBSA)
The Bexley Educational Psychologists are hosting a support group on Wednesday 13th May, to provide a space where you can share your experiences, connect with other families, and gain support through a local network. Limited spaces are available so please see the attached flyer for more information.

Kind regards,

Miss S Totty
Headteacher