Weekly information - Wednesday 3rd April
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All - Community Afternoon Tea
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All - Easter holiday dates
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All - Hot Chocolate with the Head
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Y13 - Attendance
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Y12+Y13 - Exam Stress Support
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Y12 - External Problem Solving Course for A-Level Maths Students
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Y11 - Religious Studies, BBC Bitesize
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Y12 - End of Year Exams
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Y11 - Deadline for Hoodies and Year Books is soon!
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Y8 Parents Evening - 9th April
AFTERNOON COMMUNITY TEA
John Taylor Young Sporting Ambassadors would like to invite the "retired folk" of the local area to an Afternoon Community tea in the school hall on Tuesday 17th March from 1.45-3.00pm.
There are 25 places available,if you would like to attend please call reception on 01283 247800 to place your name, this is needed for catering purposes.
We welcome new retired people who have not visited school before, for tea, cakes and entertainment.
Please note that there is NO parking on the school site.
A reminder of the Easter school holidays:
School closes at 3.40pm on Friday 12th April
School starts on Monday 29th April
Each week, students are nominated for Hot Chocolate with the Head. These are students who have gone above and beyond, for example; achieving the Queens Award for Voluntary Services, competing in the UK cross country competition or acting as a mentor to support another student. If you feel your child is suitable to be nominated for this please email Dianne Whiting, PA to the Head at [email protected] with the information.
All students are expected to attend lessons until the exam has taken place in that subject. Please may I politely remind Parents and Carers to ring the absence line and give a suitable reason for their son/daughter’s absence.
If the school is not aware of the reason for the student’s absence, a text will be sent to the parent. Please take the time to respond by calling the absence line on 01283 247 858. This will ensure that our attendance records are accurate.
Please could you also remind your son/daughter that if they have a non-contact period that they need to sign in. This will avoid a text being sent home. Mrs A Spencer
Supporting your son/daughter to reduce exam stress:
As more and more students are starting to feel the pressure of the A level exams, the following link provides useful information about exam stress and how to cope with it.
It is important to reassure your son/daughter that it is very common and explore different techniques together to reduce the impact of stress.
What is exam stress?
For some people, the increased pressure around exam time may lead to them experiencing stress symptoms much more readily than others. Stress can be defined as 'the adverse reaction people have to excessive pressure or other types of demands placed on them'. It varies from person to person and in many ways a stress response is a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or that upset your balance in some way. However, we do know that prolonged stress can lead to illness, both mental and physical.
What causes exam stress?
Exam stress is a natural reaction to pressure caused by a number of factors including:
- Inability to accept failure or uncertainty
- Pessimism or negative self-talk
- Unrealistic expectations (either of the student or the parents)
- Unpreparedness
- Life transitions
- Family issues and/or relationship difficulties
- Financial problems
- Performance anxiety.
What are the known impacts of exam stress?
When a person is stressed over something, their body reacts accordingly. If adequate approaches for managing extreme exam stress aren't developed it can have negative results including lower grades than anticipated or required. Over the long term, various physical health problems such as digestive problems, eczema, as well as mental health issues such as anxiety or depression could develop.
For further information about how to deal with stress please review the link above.
Please see the following information about a “Problem Solving Matters” Course run by the Advanced Maths Support Programme (AMSP). This is an externally run course suitable for those considering Mathematics at institutions for which additional admissions tests are needed or in preparation for Maths at other. As this is an externally run course interested students apply directly themselves.
Dear Parent
Problem Solving Matters is a course for Year 12 students from state-funded schools, academies and colleges who are interested in applying for places universities where an admission test is either required or accepted as part of a student’s offer. The course is run by the AMSP as part of a consortium that includes Oxford University, Imperial College London, Warwick University, Durham University and Bristol University.
The course is based around materials that support the MAT and TMUA examinations. The course is particularly suitable for those students who wish to study Mathematics at Oxford University, Imperial College, Durham University and Warwick University. It is also suitable for students who wish to improve their mathematical problem solving skills in preparation for a university course. Please note that the course is not suitable for GCSE students.
Students applying for places to study Mathematics or Computer Science courses (including joint honours) at Oxford University and any Mathematics undergraduate course at Imperial College, London will be required to sit the Mathematics Admission Test (MAT) as one part of the admissions process. Students applying for Mathematics at Durham University or Warwick University may be required to sit the MAT or TMUA (Test of Mathematics for University Admission) examination.
Good results in the MAT and TMUA examinations can lead to reduced offers from other universities.
This course is designed to prepare students for the way they will have to think to achieve success in the MAT, TMUA and other problem-solving mathematics examinations by developing their mathematical thinking and problem solving skills.
The course consists of three face to face study days, three summer assignments and four online follow-up sessions.
Aims
To introduce mathematical problems of the difficulty level of the university admissions tests.
- To develop students' problem solving skills so they have confidence in applying for universities that require admissions tests or take them into consideration.
- To provide information about the requirements of applicants for a maths or maths-rich undergraduate degree.
- To provide support for students preparing for the MAT or TMUA admissions tests.
Who will benefit from attending?
Any student who wishes to apply for a university that requires or accepts the MAT or TMUA admissions tests will benefit from attending. The course also provides a good base for preparing for the STEP examinations.
If your students are interested in applying, and for more information, please click the following link: https://amsp.org.uk/events/details/5216.
BBC BITESIZE have finally updated the Religious Studies section - it is now compatible with the new GCSE. It is only for the religion paper which is the first exam (13th May). Make sure when you go on to it you click AQA as the exam specification and the religions are Christianity (not catholic Christianity) and Islam!
Following the Easter break, all Year 12 A Level students will have study leave until Thursday 9th May. Therefore, they will only be expected to attend school when they have an exam. Students completing a BTEC course do not have Study Leave and are expected to attend full time.
Normal lessons will resume for all students on Friday 10th May.
Results of ‘Year 12 End of Year’ exams will be published to parents via Go4Schools on Tuesday 11th June. This will allow students to experience a results day on Wednesday 5th June, during Tutor period.
Following the exams, Year 2 content of the A Level course will be delivered and BTEC course work will be continued with, therefore good attendance is very important.
The deadline for ordering Hoodies and Yearbooks is Thursday next week (11th April). Prom tickets will still be available. Please place your orders via ParentPay. We will not be able to process any orders for Hoodies/Yearbooks after this date.
A reminder that Y8 parents evening takes place on Tuesday 9th April from 4.30-7.30pm.
If you have a child in Y8, you will have received an email with a link that takes you to the online appointment booking system. There will also be a link to a guide for making appointments. There is also a tile on the Schoolzine app that will take you to the booking system.
Against each staff name, there will be a subject and class name(s). Please make sure you make appointments only with staff who teach your son/daughter. Please check your son/daughter’s timetable if you are unsure which group they are in.
Pupils may have more than one teacher in some subjects, but the appointment should be made with one teacher only.