Each student is placed in a tutor group at the start of the year.  The school operates a ‘vertical tutor group’ policy.  Vertical tutoring means the grouping of main school students of mixed ages together in tutor groups, as opposed to keeping them in groups according to their chronological age. Vertical tutoring was introduced because amongst other things:

• it plays a key part in our drive to improve students’ achievement. Two Student Managers, Mrs Sharon Ransome and Mrs Diane Scott, are responsible for day-to-day student management thereby enabling Heads of House and Key Stage Co-ordinators to focus on students’ achievement and to act as academic mentors;
• it reinforces the sense of caring for others and community spirit. Students working in mixed age groups look after and care for each other;
• it reinforces the House system and allows older students within each tutor group to take an organisational role;
• it has led to smaller tutor groups of approximately 20 students;
• evidence from here and other schools suggest that there are fewer incidents of bullying. Mixed aged groups in one tutor group breaks down barriers;
• there are more opportunities for developing student roles such as mentoring, buddying, coaching or peer supporting as students find themselves in groups where older students can provide this support. Older students develop a real sense of responsibility and take on these roles willingly e.g. supporting younger students with option choices and many other issues.

Students meet with their tutor for registration once a day.  Each tutor works with a Head of House under the guidance of Mrs Melhuish, Assistant Headteacher and Mrs Sizer, Key Stage Three Co-ordinator and Mr Buddle, Key Stage Four Co-ordinator.  The tutor is very much the first point of contact between school and home.   

Parents are asked to sign the Student Planner each week and to let us know if there are home or health circumstances, which might be affecting the progress of a student.  We are proud of our Home School Contract, written in collaboration with parents and students.  This states the expectations we have set for ourselves.  Two copies of this document are given to new students when they are allocated a place at the School, one to be signed and returned, the other retained for your own reference.

Each Form is allocated to one of four Houses named after important Norfolk people – Admiral Lord Nelson, the author Anna Sewell, the explorer Howard Carter and the nurse Edith Cavell.  Heads of House follow their students throughout their time at school and oversee the academic progress and pastoral well being of their students.  Mr Stewart Forton is Head of Sewell House, Mr Ben Phillips Head of Cavell House, Ms Phillippa Gawthrop Head of Carter House and Mr Drew Green Head of Nelson House. 

Inter-House activities will run throughout the year.  All activities are intended to engage students in a range of activities during the school day and as part of extracurricular provision.  It is hoped that these opportunities will encourage students’ sense of belonging to a House and increase their participation. Competitions and activities will be open to students of all abilities and reflect a variety of interests.

Parents are welcome to telephone the school and make an appointment with staff.  This will usually be with the form tutor in the first instance, Student Manager or Head of House.  Information about the school is publicised in the monthly Newsletter, which is sent home at the beginning of every month during term time. The Newsletter is also available each month to download from the school website.

Regular information on progress is given to parents through annual reports and parents' evenings.