December 06.Pub

CARRE’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL Issue No. 30 NEWSLETTER December 2006 Foreword by Mike Reading, Headteacher Inside this issue: There are times when you will have the chance to changing rooms. The realise that it's all too participate in working project has commenced KS Updates 2-4 easy to live one's life with together with peers from through the school’s blinkers shielding the Senegal to understand Partnership with the House Music Comp 4 eyes. Too many times we each other and their Football Foundation and have our wider respective needs, improve Lincolnshire County perceptions limited by their international Council. The result will China Trip 2006 5-6 the pressures around us; perspective and, in 2008, be a far-improved facility the short term need to we hope to start an for our students and the Sixth Form Information Eve 6 exceed targets, the exchange programme on wider community. pressures in our society a small scale. In Senegal, Incidentally, the surface Year 11 History Trip 7-8 that seems to demand education is not is superior to that which ‘more’ right now, the raft understood as a right, would have been Fundraising at Carre’s 9 of initiatives (not but as an opportunity of provided if the original restricted to education) achieving lasting change Lottery funded project Sportsmark 2006 10 that succeeds in taking in a personal, family and had been allowed to away elements of community context. I progress before funding professional initiative! have come to appreciate was withdrawn. H & Safety in the Workshop 10 Then, an opportunity that in Senegal, success Thank you to the many comes along. I had such is not measured only by parents who attended the News of Carre’s Old Boy 10 a moment this term. As a one person's progress, recent information Sports College, we have but through the gradual evenings for Key Stage 3 South Africa Rugby Tour 10 access to exciting acceptance of the and Key Stage 4. The chances by invitation, importance of learning to comments from parents one of which was the secure a more optimistic have been welcomed. As Can You Invent a New 10 request for the school to future for a far wider ever, please feel free to Game? participate in a receiving group. contact the school with Outstanding Student 11-13 programme called Education is concerned questions or concerns. Achievements Dreams and Teams. The with changing hearts and My personal email aims of the programme minds wherever it is remains Festival of Languages 14 are to develop the available, whether in a [email protected] leadership of students modern well-equipped s.sch.uk. The school’s Tesco Sport for School 14 through linking to school, where schooling website also contains another school abroad, is the norm, or in an area important information as School Christmas Lunch 14 be active citizens in their where education is the well as electronic copies community and value main change factor in of this and past and promote cross- moving a nation further newsletters. The website Cricket Nets 14 cultural understanding. in its development and is available at We were invited to join progress. Thankfully, www.carres.lincs.sch.uk. Messages from the office 15 the programme this year; those moments of one of only two schools in refocusing one’s mind May I take this Dates for Your Diary the county. The come and refresh our opportunity to wish you headteacher of Lycee perceptions and all a peaceful and happy Yr 11 Mock Exams begin 8.1.07 Ahmadou Ndack Seck in thoughts. Christmas. Thiès, Dakar in Senegal You will have noticed that Yr 7 Weighing & Measuring 12.1.07 and another teacher work has started on the We look forward to spent time with us at new All Weather Pitch at welcoming your son back Yr 11 Mocks End 16.1.07 Carre's before a return Carre’s. The result will be on Monday 8 January visit is made before both a market-leading Tallington Ski lesson 16.1.07 Easter 2007. Students provision and new Mike Reading AS & A2 exams begin 19.1.07 Key Stage Updates Curriculum Information Evenings These evenings were a first for Carre’s but we hope that they will be a regular event on our calendar as we seek to make our partnership with parents more effective. Key Stage 4 parents joined us on Thursday 23 November and were given information about how we set targets and monitor progress, how they can support their son’s learning and revision more effectively and the outcomes of the first review of Behaviour for Learning (BfL). Key Stage 3 parents joined us on Thursday 30 November and their information focused on setting target levels and monitoring progress, as well as understanding different learning styles, the Sex and Relationship Education Programme throughout KS3 and KS4 and the outcomes of the first review of Behaviour for Learning. If there are topics or issues that parents would like to see addressed in future information evenings please let us know. We remain very appreciative of parents and your support for the school and always welcome your feedback on our systems and procedures. Many of the comments were very constructive and will enable us to further improve the education we provide. Behaviour for Learning (BfL) The first statistical The recent curriculum information evenings provided us with predominantly analysis showed that 52% positive feedback regarding this initiative. There are still a few parents who remain of our students have to be convinced of the positive impact that this initiative has had but the vast majority share our view that the work ethic has improved as a result of BfL. Some faithfully been meeting further practical suggestions emerged from these meetings and will be included in expectations the next review in January. The first statistical analysis showed that 52% of our students have faithfully been meeting expectations and have acquired no C2s at all. We expect this percentage to increase as new habits take hold and students are more effective in managing their homework commitments. Summary of Autumn Review (period 5 Sept – 20 Oct 2006) 1 Incidence of Behaviour v Homework Logs Total C2 Events logged 619 Behaviour Logs 185 29.11% of all logs Homework Logs 434 70.11% of all logs (This represents 5.9% of all of the scheduled homework) 2 Incidence of C2s logged for individual students NOR KS3 + KS4 540 Boys Students receiving 5+ C2s 37 6.85% Students receiving 4 C2s 15 2.7% Students receiving 3 C2s 36 6.66% Students receiving 2 C2s 44 8.14% Students receiving 1 C2 126 23.3% The system has proved invaluable in identifying under-achievement and has enabled us to intervene very early and put in place support that has resulted in improved attainment and habits. Any student who has acquired a C3 (internal exclusion) for accumulating 3 C2s in a fortnight is automatically referred for support to the Learning Mentors. Parents are always involved at this stage so that we can be sure that we are aware of any mitigating circumstances. Rewards Update The next challenge is to redress the current imbalance between rewards and sanctions. Progress is being made in this area with Departments being asked to provide us with some “standard” commendation awards. We are also looking at how to reward progress via the commendation system. On 17 December the very first reward opportunity has been organised. We have booked the temporary ice-rink in Lincoln for the exclusive use of our students from 2 – 3pm. Boys who acquired the requisite number of commendations, or who had acquired an average point score of two or less in their progress grades were able to apply for one of the 100 tickets available. Page 2 Issue No. 30 Key Stage Updates - continued Meeting the Homework Schedule There has been some contention over students being given a C2 for not handing homework in on time, even when they have done it. We have clarified this via an email to all students, but are aware that many parents may be unsure of our policy in this area. Meeting the homework schedule is both doing the homework AND handing it in on time, to the agreed schedule. Students who fail to do so should expect a C2. If a teacher chooses to exercise professional discretion and allow a short extension, students should regard this as a bonus rather than a right. The only acceptable excuses will be those where circumstances beyond the control of the student have prevented him from meeting the schedule. “Forgetting” is not beyond our control. Where students are claiming circumstances beyond their control have prevented them meeting the schedule we would expect parents to provide a note to this effect. Students should also make every reasonable effort to speak to the teacher at the earliest opportunity to explain the difficulty. Right of Appeal If a student believes he has been dealt with unfairly, he is encouraged to make a responsible approach to his Key Stage Manager who will investigate and make the final decision regarding the C2. Likewise, if parents re- quire further detail as to why a C2 has been logged, they too are encouraged to contact the relevant Key Stage Manager who will investigate on their behalf. Year 11 Mock Exams The Year 11 mock exam period will begin on Monday 8 January and will continue until the 17 January . Whilst Christmas is a busy time, students need to use the two weeks holiday period effectively so that they are well prepared for the exams.

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