Weekly information - Thursday 24th January
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All Years - CEOP- Parent Information
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All Years - PE Kit
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Y13 - UCAS Applications
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Y12 - Parents Evening on 7th February
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Y13 and Y11 - Exam Information - please check
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Y11- English Literature Mock Exam
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Yr 11 - National Citizen Service
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Y11 & Y10 History information
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Y12 & Y10 - Exam information - please check
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Y9 - History visit to Staffordshire Regimental Museum
Parent Info is a collaboration between Parent Zone and NCA-CEOP, providing support and guidance for parents from leading experts and organisations. See the link below.
PE Kit
The weather forecast is predicting an extended period of colder weather. With this in mind, may I remind families of our expectations regarding PE kit and specifically the range of optional items available to students to be worn.
PE kit forms a valuable part of our identity and gives students a sense of belonging to their individual house. As such we expect students to wear their PE kit with pride.
COMPULSORY
- School specific polo shirt in House colour (there are 2 versions available) for all indoor/summer lessons
- School specific skirt or shorts in House colour
- School specific longed sleeved shirt in House colour (for rugby and football lessons only)
- School specific rugby shorts with school logo (recommended for rugby lessons)
- Black knee length socks
- White ankle socks
- Sports trainers (NOT fashion trainers) with non-marking sole
- Shin pads and gum shields as directed by activities
- Football boots
OPTIONAL
- School specific ¼ zip sweatshirt in House colour
- School specific plain black tracksuit trousers with school logo (Oct-Easter, not for hockey, football, rugby or gymnastics – apart from supporting religious beliefs)
- Plain black ‘skins’ or equivalent
- Plain black skort
- There will be strictly no use of any other aspect of fashionable PE clothing.
- It is advised that students have their kit NAMED.
- All jewellery should be removed for PE lessons.
- Items of value are advised to be left at home when students have PE lessons.
We recognise that PE kit can be expensive therefore if you have older children who have out-grown PE kit it is perfectly acceptable to pass this down to a younger sibling.
Additionally, a number of hand basins and showers are available should students wish to bring towels to clean themselves following PE lessons and maintain their personal hygiene.
Mr N Forden, Head of PE
UCAS Applications:
You will be aware that the deadline for applications to University through UCAS was the 15th January. Therefore, I thought I would update you on what happens next:
- Universities and colleges have until 2nd May to make decisions on applications received by 15 January. UCAS will email applicants if something changes in Track, so it’s vital they regularly check their emails. They may also get invited to an interview, or asked to undertake an assessment by their chosen University. It is important that students regularly check their e-mails as some Universities will set their own deadline for students to confirm whether they wish to accept their offer. If the student does not accept their offer by the deadline set, then the offer will automatically be declined.
- It is essential that students keep their details up-to-date in Track, to avoid delays, and to ensure their application progresses as smoothly as possible. This includes information such as:
- Their home address, phone number, and email address. If any of these have changed, or change in the future, they need to sign in to Track and update them in the ‘Personal details' section. Then, they’ll need to contact their chosen Universities to update them too.
- Making sure their name appears on the application exactly as it’s written on their exam entries. For example, if they’ve applied as ‘Katherine’ but on their exam papers they use ‘Katie’, it’s best to change their name on the application to avoid any confusion when the results are published. To do this, students should get in touch with UCAS as soon as possible.
- Changes to qualifications and exam details applicants have entered in Apply. Make sure your son/daughter lets UCAS know straightaway if any of their exam details change, by completing their qualifications amendment form – they’ll also need to let their chosen universities and colleges know too. It's important they tell UCAS, as it could delay the processing of results if they are not updated. If results can’t be verified, students might not get their place. This also includes the Extended Project Qualification. We have lots of students who have entered this qualification on their application but have then requested not to be entered. This also includes the results of any GCSE Maths resit. It is the responsibility of the student to contact UCAS and inform them of this change.
3. Extra – available from 25 February
Students who have used all five choices and don’t receive any offers, or decide to decline any offers they’re made, can use the UCAS Extra service from 25 February to add another choice.
4. Direct contact service
All students should sign up to the UCAS direct contact service. By signing up, universities and colleges with spaces on courses similar to those they have applied for, can contact them with an offer – they don’t have to accept it, but it gives them more options in case they find themselves without a place. All students should sign up to the service just in case they don’t meet the requirements of their Firm and Insurance choices on results day.
Students Not applying to University
For those students who have decided to apply for an apprenticeship, employment or are planning a gap year and need some additional support, they should contact Mr Knight [email protected] as they have the use of an external Careers Advisor, Elaine Tomlinson. Please remind these students that they can also search for apprenticeships on the UCAS website. They need to select the ‘Alternatives’ tab.
As per the school calendar, please be advised that the Year 12 Parents Evening will take place on Thursday 7th February. Appointments will be available from 4.30pm to 7.30pm. Students should now make appointments directly with staff . This is an important opportunity to discuss your son/daughter’s progress directly with the subject teacher and Mrs Spencer and Mrs Sharp will be available to see parents about general enquiries/concerns.
A “Statement of Entry” was given to all pupils during Tutor period on Wednesday 23rd January 2019.
It is really important the both you and your child check the following information:-
- Pupil Name(s) This will appear on their official examination certificates
- Date of Birth
- Entries Are they entered for the correct subjects & tiers?
Are there any examinations/subjects missing?
Individual timetables will be given to pupils after the Easter term, however, there is a generic timetable on the school website showing dates etc. which is continually updated
Please Note: All pupils MUST remain available until Wednesday 26th June 2019 should an Awarding Body need to invoke its contingency plan
Year 11 will be sitting an English Literature mock exam on Monday 28th January. The mock exam will take place during their timetabled English lesson.
Students have been revising the Power and Conflict poetry but should be encouraged to revise thoroughly at home.
The mock is one of three mock exams that students will be sitting over the run up to the summer exams.
We hope that a structured and early start to the revision process will give students purposeful targets and the confidence to be successful.
National Citizen Service visited our school recently and gave our students information about the fantastic opportunity that is waiting for them in summer 2019.
NCS is a 4 week programme for 15-17 year olds that includes staying away from home, exhilarating challenges and the ability for your teenager to make their mark and build skills for work and life.
NCS has been running since 2011 and now has more than half a million graduates across the country! Summer 2019 is your son/daughter’s opportunity to get involved and really shape their future.
This is a once in a lifetime experience that your child will never forget. GCSEs will be over and NCS is the perfect way to celebrate and learn new skills outside of the classroom. Thanks to government support, the most you'll ever pay for this unbeatable experience is £50, but this cost could be less or even free depending on your circumstances.
If you want to find out more information or to sign up please visit:
The NCS team will be in the hall on Friday lunchtime to take payment for this summer's programme which is £40 if students sign up this week.
History GCSE Revision guides for year 11 and year 10 are available on Parentpay to purchase for £7.50.
If your child in year 11 has had an letter inviting them to an after school History Max Your Grade session on either Monday 21st January or Tuesday 29th January, please would you encourage them to attend.
Thank you. The History department
A “Statement of Entry” was given to pupils who are due to take either a unit or qualification, during Tutor period on Wednesday 23rd January 2019.
It is really important the both you and your child check the following information:-
- Pupil Name(s) This will appear on their official examination certificates
- Date of Birth
- Entries Are they entered for the correct subjects & tiers?
Are there any examinations/subjects missing?
Individual timetables will be given to pupils after the Easter term, however, there is a generic timetable on the school website showing dates etc. which is continually updated
Please Note: All pupils MUST remain available until Wednesday 26th June 2019 should an Awarding Body need to invoke its contingency plan
A reminder that contributions be completed on Parentpay by 1st February, please, for the Year 9 pupils History visit in February, to the Staffordshire Regimental Museum. Thank you.