Update 14th May 2026

We have received many queries from Parents/Carers regarding emails going straight to Junk and Spam folders, we have been advised by Applicaa to ask Parents/Careers to whitelist the following email domains within your personal email settings. If you are able to please whitelist @aapplicaa.com, @sendgrid.com and @balshaws.org.uk.  

If you use ICloud please add the email domains above as company contacts within your phone.

If you use Gmail please see guide below:

  • Here’s a guide on how to whitelist the email in Gmail (desktop):
  • Open Gmail on a desktop
  • Select the Gear icon (Settings) in the top right, then select “See all settings”
  • Go to the “Filters and Blocked Addresses” tab
  • Select “Create a new filter”
  • In the From field, enter the email address or domain (e.g. example@domain.com or @domain.com)
  • Select “Create filter”
  • Tick “Never send it to Spam”
  • Select “Create filter” again to confirm

On Wednesday 22nd April, the following information has been emailed to families of our New Intake students from September 2026. (Please check Junk/SPAM folders if you cannot locate the email).

Dear Parent/Carer,

Password: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Please bring the original long certificates (not photocopies) to the main school reception by Tuesday 30th June 2026. The reception is open between 8am and 4pm Monday – Thursday and 8am – 3.30pm on a Friday. We will take a copy of the certificate/s and hold it on your child’s school file for their time at Balshaw’s in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This process should take no longer than 5 minutes.

We use ParentPay for our cashless school meals system and for arranging school trips and paying for lockers etc. In June you will receive an email with details of your personal login in details for ParentPay. You will need to activate the account using these details. If you have already used ParentPay at your child’s Primary School you can follow the instructions to adapt your existing account.

School Synergy

Once your child has started at Balshaw’s we will use a system called School Synergy to communicate with you. We will send you login details once your child has started in Year 7.

Laptop Scheme

We run a laptop scheme for all children at Balshaw’s. The children use laptops in lessons to enhance their learning. Details of how you can purchase a laptop will be sent out as soon as the company confirms the details.

The school operates a cashless system for the Restaurant. Every student is given their own account which can be topped up with money to pay for food and drink . There are two ways to top up an account.

1. Pay money in via an online payment system, ParentPay. - see above

2. Pay cash (notes and coins) into a revaluation machine. The reval machines will take £20, £10, £5 notes and all coins except 1p and 2p’s.

To pay cash into the machines and to purchase food from the Restaurant, each student will need a unique identifier. The school offers two options:

1. Biometrics

2. 4-digit pin code

Biometrics is where a sophisticated computer system converts a thumb print into a 256 alphanumeric code. The thumb print is not stored so there is no risk of your print being lost. The biometric registration will be organised for the first day of the Autumn term when your child starts at Balshaw's. Please see the UK GDPR - protection of biometric information policy for further information, this is available through our website here and a copy is attached to the admission form. If you do not wish for your child to have their thumb print taken please let us know.