Year 12 Parents’ Information Evening

      Tonight’s Aims For you to leave with a better understanding of: 2012/13 results Key Stage 5 Ethos Target Grades Assessment, Recording & Reporting (ARR) Desired student behaviours Student Support, Care & Guidance

• New teaching staff – – – – – James Dunn, Head of History Scott Hynds, Head of Technology Andrew Grace, Head of Business Studies and Extended Project Samantha Amos, teacher of Spanish with French Michelle Justice, part-time PE • Welcome back – – Anna Leonce, part-time English/Media Shencyn Hughes, part-time geography

SUMMER WORKS

       Astro-turf seating English Block make-over – part 2 Library soft seating and reprographics relocation New roofs: art studio, Augusta and DT/Art Block Heating upgrade in Gravesend, Buckingham and Augusta Windsor prep PCs have been upgraded but look the same Augusta prep PCs have been upgraded and look different

Gordon’s School

Year 11 GCSE Headlines Listed in the Daily Telegraph's 30 top non-selective state schools for the last 10 years

 A Level results consistently in the top 5 in Surrey  Over half all entries are in facilitating A Levels: maths, sciences, English, humanities and modern foreign languages  Over half of all university places are to top universities – Russell / 1994 Group

ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT IN 2014-15  SUBJECT-BASED OPPORTUNITIES  PERIOD SEVEN OPTIONS a) Extended Project (EPQ) b) c) d) Career-Industry Talks Camel School Magazine Yearbook e) f) g) h) i) j) k) Chess Latin Debating Presentation skills Award in Personal Finance, two-day course (by application, free to all Y12) TEFL Level 2 Qualification, two-day course (by application, free to all Y12) LAMDA lessons free to all Y12 by application for those involved in (g) and (h)

 Careers Speed Dating Year 12  Work placement  Free Morrisby test in June  Careers interview and Morrisby debrief Sept-Oct 2015  Career Industry Talks

Autumn Timetable       All the following talks will take place from 3.50-4.50pm: Tuesday 16th September - A Career as a Pilot Tuesday 30th September - A Career in the Sports Industry Tuesday 14th October - An apprenticeship with British Airways Tuesday 4th November - A Career in the Secret Service Tuesday 18th November - A Career in Social Policy Tuesday 2nd December - A Career in Law

Value Added Results - AS level

2014 Results Students made progress equivalent to the top 5% nationally 2012 - 14 Results Students have made progress equivalent to the top 20% nationally

Value Added Results - A level

2014 Results Students made progress equivalent to the top 15% nationally 2012 - 14 Results Students have made progress equivalent to the top 15% nationally

Student 1 Student 2 Student 3 Student 4 Student 5 Student 6 Student 7 Student 8 Student 9 Student 10 Student 11 Student 12 Student 13 Student 14 Student 15 Student 16 Student 17 Student 18 Student 19 Student 20 A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A AS level Results – Top 20 students A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A B B B A A A A A A A A A A A A B B B B B B B B A A A A A A A A A A B B 10% of students = AAAA Average Effort Grade Profile Top 20 students = 1 1 1 2 Bottom 20 students = 2 2 3 3

The Key Stage 5 Ethos Achievement Work Ethic Securing the future Balance

Student Support, Care & Guidance School Helping students’ realise their potential Learning Student Home

School

The fundamental learning process at Gordon’s

Clear, specific targets related to students’ work

What are my next steps?

What level am I working at?

‘Position’ Statement

How do I know?

Assessment events

School AS level Target Grades

School A B AS Level Grades C D Year 12 Target Grades Represents top 10% student performance Represents ‘average’ student performance D C B A A* Average GCSE Grades

School Student 1 2 3 4 AS Results 2014 GCSE Pts 5.5

5.7

7.4

7.1

Effort Grades 1 - 5 Average Effort Grade

AS Target Grades B/C

1.5

B/C A/B

3.2

1

A/B

2.5

AS Grades ACCC DDUU AAAA ABCD GCSE Pts A* = 8, A = 7, B = 6, C = 5

School     High quality teaching and learning - Lesson observations, student voice, data analysis Regular ‘next steps’ advice in lessons - Tri weekly feedback & half termly ‘Key Assessments’ Department reviews - Triennial Work sampling - Students’ books/ folders audited

School  Prep/ Self study timings - Year 12 = Minimum 6 hours/subject/week - Year 13 = Minimum 8 hours/subject/week

  School Assessment, Recording & Reporting (ARR) Gordon’s ARR Philosophy - Little & Often (Every half term) - Conversation is better than written dialogue - Teacher’s judgement is valued

 Effort Grades 1 = Outstanding 2 = Very Good School 3 = Good but occasionally inconsistent 4 = Cause for concern 5 = Unacceptable

School Each half term there is a progress report sent home including: • Target Grade • Working Grade • Effort Grade • Next Steps advice – alternates half termly

Reporting

Target Grade Working Grade Effort Grade A statistically generated AS grade that is personal to each student and subject.

The AS grade that a student is currently working at.

The grade that reflects how hard a student is working. It is not a reflection of academic ability or performance.

 School Curriculum - 5 x 55 min. lessons per subject per week  Examinations - Linear (taken at the end of Year 12) - Controlled Assessment through KS5

Student • There is no ‘magic dust’ at Gordon’s • Those students who achieve great grades: - work very hard and are resilient - have 100% attendance do the ‘simple things well’ - prioritise their studies & make sacrifices see Sixth Form as their ‘full time job’ - spend the right amount of time on prep.

Student  Some ‘case studies’ - University places and GCSE results - Sacrificing part time work - Sacrificing a hobby - Making a choice; Easter & anticipate hindsight  Gordon’s is full of healthy distractions but, given we deliver such an academic Curriculum and students are assessed predominantly at the end of Year 12, at some point they do become just that.

School Sixth Form Agreement (new 2014 - 15)  Sixth Form Agreement (new 2014 - 15) - Designed to support students academically - Involves a commitment from Gordon’s to our Sixth Form students and vice - versa

School Sixth Form Agreement (new 2014 - 15)  Gordon’s Sixth Form will provide: - Guidance time (8.20 – 8.40am) - AS/A level Target Grades - Quality teaching & ‘Next Steps’ advice - Regular reporting - Facilities & resources - Work Experience & Career guidance - Clear communication channels - Extra Curricula activities

 School Sixth Form Agreement (new 2014 - 15) Gordon’s Sixth Form students will prioritise: - Attendance & Punctuality - 100% at lessons & registration* - Effort - Average effort grade profile of 2.0 or better - Achievement - Meet ‘Next Step’ targets - At AS achieve no more than 1 grade below TG - At AS achieve no lower than a grade D - Volume of subjects - Follow 4 AS levels Students who meet this criteria will be ‘on track’ to achieve their potential. Those that fall short of this criteria are in danger of ‘underachieving’ and extra self study sessions will be prescribed.

Home • Think of Year 12 as ‘Year 11 who have had a 10 week holiday’ • Check books/ folders for quality of work/marking & organisation • Regularly discuss school and ‘Next Steps’ advice • Ensure students prioritise prep & get into good study habits • Reward/ sanction consistently and regularly (accountability) • Think ahead to career aspirations including University and/ or employment . www.ucas.co.uk

Miss Connery Head of Sixth Form & Assistant Headteacher: Developing The Skilled Sixth Former

        Interviews with senior staff Heads of House & private study facilities Assessment Month in September to identify any concerns & changes New Year: new start, new demands Building new relationships Independent Learning: study skills support Induction in and out of the classroom Planners & contact with home

           Heads of House, Head of Year, Teachers & Tutors Elevate: planned programme throughout the year Intervention: practical strategies to support success Library Induction & Wider Reading Extension and Learning Support Private Study Facilities Admin Weeks Clinics & Revision Guides Outside Speakers & organised events U-Explore & Uni-Frog Reward & Celebrate

    Student evaluation reveals they are positive and happy because they enjoy good relationships with staff and other students. As well as formal calendar meetings the pastoral team operate an open door policy for both students and parents. We recognise the individual needs of students including the full range of Learning Support needs.

We recognise the stresses of AS Level studies and have an experienced pastoral team including professional counsellors.

         Period 7 Volunteering Opportunities: 20 hours Leadership roles Inter-Form & Inter-House Extension activities Careers & Higher Education events Trips & visits Work Experience Evaluation

            Admin Week: W/B 15 th September Study Skills Session: Friday 19 th Open House: Saturday 20 th September 10.00am-12.00pm

Target Grades issued W/B Monday 29 th September Work Experience Parent Talk: Wednesday 24 th Exeat begins Friday 26 th September September Assessment month ends & Last Day To Change Subjects: Friday 3 rd October Open Evening for new students: Wednesday 9 th October Inter-Form Debating Final: Thursday 16 th Progress Report sent home: Friday 17 th October October School Parade & Harvest Festival: 19 Half-Term Begins Friday 24 th th October October

Thank you for listening