Dear Parents and Carers,

As we look forward to the upcoming academic year, I wanted to take a moment to share something directly from the heart: we are in this together.

Whether you are joining our Townley Grammar School community for the first time or returning for another year, please know that we remain deeply committed to fostering an environment where every young person feels seen, supported, and safe. Our aim is to ensure they have everything they need to flourish academically and grow as well-rounded individuals. This does not happen by accident; it is achieved through genuine partnership, clear communication, and trust.

To explain what this means in practice:

1. Relationships at school matter, and we are dedicated to getting them right.
At the core of everything we do is the belief that young people learn best from those they trust. You may have heard a favourite subject teacher, form tutor, or pastoral lead mentioned at dinner. These connections are not incidental; they are intentional, nurtured, and vital.

Across our entire team - teachers, pastoral leads, tutors, and support staff - we continually work together to prioritise these relationships. We know that the academic, emotional, and social progress we all want for your child is rooted in strong connections with safe, trustworthy adults.

We are not perfect, and we will not always get things right. However, we are fully committed to learning and growing, just like the students we serve.

2. We continuously invest in our team to deepen trust and maintain clear professional boundaries.
Every adult in our school is expected to be a safe, supportive presence - someone your child can turn to for guidance, encouragement, challenge, or reassurance. We provide our staff with regular training and guidance focused on fostering strong working relationships while maintaining healthy, professional boundaries.

This means we prioritise:

• Building trust - through consistency, transparency, and compassion.
• Maintaining professional boundaries - to ensure all interactions remain safe, appropriate, and focused on our student's personal and academic growth.

We also support one another in communicating effectively with families, addressing concerns professionally, and identifying when additional pastoral or safeguarding support is required. This is not a one-off exercise; it is a collective, ongoing commitment.

3. What you can expect from us.
As advocates for your child’s future, here is what you can expect from our school community:

• We will treat your child with dignity and respect.
• We will communicate clearly, consistently, and within appropriate boundaries.
• We will uphold our school policies and standards.
• We will assume good intentions, seek to understand, and respond with care.
• We will create opportunities for your child to stretch themselves, take healthy risks, and build resilience.
• We will value you as an essential partner in their educational journey.

Our promise is not perfection, but commitment, professionalism, and care.

4. What we hope to expect from you.
We recognise you as the true expert on your child, and we ask that you view us as experts in education and adolescent development. When we work together - with mutual respect and clear expectations - we create the strongest possible foundation for your child.

To support this, we kindly ask that you:

• Ensure your child gets sufficient rest and arrives at school punctually each day.
• Reach out to the school if you ever require support or guidance.
• Ensure all communication with the school remains respectful, courteous, and within appropriate professional boundaries.
• Support and uphold our school policies and standards, working with us to maintain a consistent environment for your child.
• Read school communications (such as letters and bulletin updates) and respond promptly where necessary.
• Speak positively about the school and our staff; young people pick up on our attitudes, and a constructive approach helps them thrive.
• Give your child space to develop independence, build resilience, and learn from life’s natural consequences.
• Avoid contacting your child directly during the school day so that learning is not disrupted (emergencies can always be handled via the main school office).
• Attend parents' evenings, pastoral/expectation evenings, school productions, concerts, and other school events whenever you can.
• Encourage your child to reach out to trusted adults at school whenever they need support.

In closing, I hope you take this letter as a reassurance that behind every confident, capable student is a dedicated network of adults - parents, carers, teachers, and support staff - working side by side.

Please see below start times for all students for Friday 4th September.

We are truly privileged to be supporting your child on this stage of their journey and we look forward to welcoming them back this week.

Warmest regards,

Sarina Totty
Headteacher/CEO

Download/view pdf of this parent/carer letter

Friday 4th September Start Times

Please note that Abbey Bus service will only operate at normal times on Friday 4th September – there will be no additional buses.

Year 7 – Students will need a packed lunch on Friday 4th September – no catering facilities will be open on Friday 4th September only. (Please note we are a nut free school)

Year 12 – Students will need to bring their own drinks/snacks for break on Friday 4th September – no catering facilities will be open on Friday 4th September only. (Please note we are a nut free school)

Monday 7th September 2026 - Normal school day – all students in lesson from 8.30am