7 February 2020
Secondary Newsletter
Southern Entrance
We would like to remind parents and carers that the gate at the southern entrance will be locked at 08:23 each morning. Students arriving after this time should enter via the main entrance in Cricklefield Place.
Safeguarding The welfare and safety of our students is our priority. We do everything possible to ensure our students’ safety, both within the school community and outside of school, including working with relevant agencies to address any issues related to child protection. Students are informed of who they should go to should they have a concern about their own safety or the safety of others. At INA, all staff have regular safeguarding training to ensure that they are able to meet their statutory responsibilities. We also have a number of staff who are designated to respond to any child protection concerns and to liaise with social services: Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Leanne Abbott-Jones Vice Principal Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) Tam Broadway Primary Headteacher Sugra Alibhai Head of Sixth Form Designated Child Protection Officers Patrick Ball (Online safety) Amreen Patel Pardeep Chaggar Jag Singh Gareth Marshall-Jones David Wilson Mariam Mayet You can find the INA Safeguarding policy, Child Protection policy and other related policies and procedures on the Academy’s website.
2
Secondary Newsletter
7 February 2020
Dear Parents and Carers, We are looking forward to meeting all parents/carers of Year 8 students at the progress meetings on Thursday 13th February between 2.30 and 6.30pm. Further details are included later in the newsletter. Data from the recent Year 11 mock exams is currently being reviewed and we will have a clear picture of where each student is at in relation to their targets by the end of this half term and what they need to do to maximise their progress over the eight remaining school weeks before the GCSE exams begin in earnest. We will be sharing the mock results with students at a special assembly on the first Monday after half term. Your son/daughter will be bringing their report home at the end of the day. Interventions for targeted Year 11 students in English and maths will take place on Friday 14th February. Further details can be found later in the newsletter. The 14th is an Ark-wide INSET day for staff who are not involved in delivering interventions and school will be closed to all students, apart from those Year 11s who have been invited to attend an intervention. We have had a record number of applications to sixth form this year. All of the Year 11s who have applied will be invited to attend an interview with their parents and a member of the sixth form on Thursday 5th March. We look forward to welcoming you then.
With all best wishes,
Jo Spencer
Lost Property
KS3 reception has a large amount of lost property. This is the last reminder for your child to collect/check for any lost items e.g. coats, trainers, PE kit etc. All lost property will be laid out in KS3 hall for children to see, after school on Tuesday 11th February 2020. Anything unclaimed by 5pm, 14th February will be disposed of.
Cover Photo: Careers Fair 7 February 2020 Secondary Newsletter
3
Year 11 News Supporting your child through GSCEs Key Dates
Date
Event
24th February 2020
Year 11 students receive reports
5th March 2020
Sixth Form Interviews
10th March 2020
GCSE Exams meeting (all parents and students required to attend) 5-6pm
11th May 2020
GCSE Exams begin
A full calendar of all Year 11 key dates and subject deadlines can be found on the website under ‘Community and Carreers\Resources for Parents’. We look forward to continuing to work in close partnership with you to support your child as they approach their GCSEs and beyond. Ms Abbott-Jones, Vice Principal
Year 11 Master Classes will be running on Friday 14th February. Year 11 students will be strategically targeted and will receive a letter directly from curriculum teams. An outline of the day is below:Time 9:00-11:00 11:15-12:45 1:00-4:15 1:00-3:00 Various times throughout the day – no clashes
4
Subject English Maths Exam Stress Workshop Science Music
Secondary Newsletter
7 February 2020
Year 8 Progress Meeting Thursday 13th February 2020 2:30 – 6:30pm Year 8 Progress Meeting is calendared for Thursday 13th February 2020 from 2:30-6:30pm. All students will complete lessons P1 – 4a (Year 10 and Year 11 students will complete lesson 4a as per KS3 timings). P4a will finish for all students at 1:05pm. Students who are eligible for Free School Meals who request lunch in advance (via form tutors) can collect a lunch bag from the KS3 desk area as they leave. Tutors will escort students to the KS3 gate at 1:15pm where students are expected to go directly home and return between 2:30-6:30pm with parents/carers. Students are expected to attend with an adult family member in full school uniform. The last appointment is 6:25pm for a 6:30pm finish. Staff will set Independent Learning for Years 7, 9, 10 and 11 in advance for P5 and 6. The school will be closed to Years 7, 9, 10 and 11 from 1:15pm. Enrichments and detentions will not take place. Mr M Crowther-Green Assistant Principal
7 February 2020 Secondary Newsletter
5
EXP
What is Exp
Testing or trialling to something.
TOP TIPS: Students
• Try revising a top reflect on which w • Take on board oth of view during dis written and oral r • Experiment with • Challenge yourse within your class • Design your own
Shankar Abaji Bhisey Shankar Abaji Bhisey was a pioneering Indian inventor of the 19th Century. He was responsible for a dazzling array of inventions including an electronic sign, a device for curing headaches and the first automatically flushing toilet. However, his most significant invention concerned newspaper printing, this was the Bhisotype, a printing device that promised to revolutionise the printing industry. Today India is a hub of innovation with extensive high-tech equipment. However, when Bhisey was growing up in Bombay (now Mumbia) there was very little technology and very few organisations to support and nurture inventors. Because of this Bhisey relied on reading scientific magazines and was entirely self-trained. In order to develop his understanding, he set up a club to bring together other inventors. Within this club they trialed different gadgets and tested ideas. Using experimentation, Bhisey defied the odds, and grew to be a successful inventor.
6
Secondary Newsletter
Students wh
Natalia 13 Nottingh
7 February 2020
PERIMENTATION
perimentation?
o improve your understanding of
pic in several different ways, then was most successful and why her people’s ideas and points scussions and use them in your responses. different learning partners. elf by taking on a different role e.g. lead learner, note-taker. learning resources.
Behaviours
Trying out new ideas and ways of doing things that perhaps you have not tried before, finding out how something works or why something happens in a particular way, viewing experimentation as an opportunity to learn, not being afraid to try or test new ideas for fear of failure, relishing the opportunity to learn.
Parents
• Discuss with your child different revision methods. • Encourage your child to take part in an enrichment activity that they wouldn’t normally choose. • Discuss famous scientists/inventors who only discovered great breakthroughs after hundreds of failed experiments e.g. Thomas Edison who made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked, “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.” Henry Cavendish was a British natural philosopher, scientist, and an important experimental chemist and physicist. His experiments led him to the law governing electrical attraction and repulsion, and calculations of the density (and hence the weight) of the Earth.
ho have shown great Experimentation at INA
a ham
Natalia is excellent at being highly methodical during her experimentation in Science. She tests strategies in turn and adapts her plan accordingly. Her Biology lab book shows clear evidence of her careful thought process through detailed annotations to methods.
Hana 7I
Hana is quick to consider variables during Science experiments. She ensures practical methods are followed carefully. Hana is enthusiastic about trying new ideas and practical techniques when investigating a scientific question.
INA BRIDGES 7 February 2020 Secondary Newsletter
7
Calling all students interested in a career as a Doctor, Dentist or Vet
National Healthcare Weekend for Years 10,11 and 12 students – it’s free to take part! Brought to you by Medic Mentor, the UK’s Mentoring Organisation for Doctors, Dentists and Vets, Medical Awards Body for secondary school students and provider of the UK’s largest Medical University Scholarship Programme. Day 1: Insight into Medicine - A variety of talks for each specialty looking at experiences from university and leading to life as a fully qualified professional. Day 2: Medicine only UCAS Lectures - full day of lectures covering work experience, personal statements, interview techniques etc, led by our team of doctors. Doctors will provide invaluable insight and network with your students. Guest medical students will deliver presentations about their application experience and their lives at medical school. Dates for London; All held at the University of East London (Docklands campus) London 21st and 22nd March London 25th and 26th April London 18th and 19th July Please register with the coupon careersnetworklondon for free places as you proceed through checkout. This will clear the balance in your basket as you register. Students can register and find out more information here: https://medicmentor.co.uk/national-healthcare-weekend/ Here is some info for your students about the events and a link to our student and parent testimonials; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y25HGs8G85s You can contact us by ringing the Mentor Helpline number on 07454704204 if you have any questions and would like to speak to a Doctor, Dentist or Vet.
8
Secondary Newsletter
7 February 2020
Coronavirus Advice The government is closely monitoring the spread of the Coronavirus and is taking action at home and abroad. The overall risk of Coronavirus to the UK remains moderate. However we understand that people may be concerned where there are children, students or staff returning from or visiting China. Public Health England and the Foreign Office have issued advice for anyone travelling to the area. This can be found at: • •
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china https://www.gov.uk/government/news/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-and-avian-flu-advice-fortravel-to-china
NHS ADVICE
If you have recently travelled to a high-risk area - or if you've been in contact with somebody who has - and you develop symptoms, you should contact NHS 111 for advice. You should not go to the doctor or to hospital, as if you have the virus, you may risk spreading it to others. The NHS is asking anybody who has recently travelled to Wuhan to self-quarantine themselves for 14 days. Latest information and advice can also be found at: • https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/wuhan-novel-coronavirus/ • https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
ADVICE FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS
You should not be unduly worried about the possibility of your children catching the Coronavirus. There is no reason why your children should not continue to attend their early years, school or further education setting as normal. We recognise that some families or children may be planning to travel to China during the forthcoming half term period. If so, please refer to the FCO’s latest travel advice via the link above.
7 February 2020 Secondary Newsletter
9
INA Attendance and Punctuality Regular attendance is a crucial factor in students’ educational development and success in achieving their full potential. Missing out on education and learning leaves students vulnerable to falling behind, putting them under unnecessary pressure. At Isaac Newton Academy every student is expected to maintain 100% attendance.
Punctuality
All students need to be present on site and ready for line up no later than 8.25am each day and as such we advise students to be through the school gates (side entrance and southern entrance) no later than 8.23am.
Reporting of child’s absence
In line with INA attendance policy it is the parent/ carer's responsibility to phone the school by 8.15am on each day of an absence. If you fail to contact the school to inform us of your child’s absence we may take the necessary steps to ensure your child is safe. Please take the time to familiarise yourself with the INA Attendance policy.
Year group and form attendance for last week
Tutor 7A 7C 7E 7I 7N 7S 7W Total
% Tutor % Tutor 97.3 8A 97.2 9A 96.9 8C 91.9 9C 95.8 8E 92.0 9E 96.2 8I 97.8 9I 94.3 8N 96.8 9N 93.5 8S 98.5 9S 97.2 8W 93.0 9W 95.9 Total 95.2 Total
% Tutor % Tutor % 92.3 10A 93.5 11A 94.0 96.5 10C 94.2 11C 95.5 94.6 10E 93.5 11I 97.1 94.8 10I 97.3 11N 91.1 96.4 10N 89.6 11S 92.3 93.2 10S 94.8 11T 87.5 97.2 10W 97.5 11W 94.4 95.0 Total 94.3 Total 92.9
Absences immediately before or after a school holiday If your child is absent before or after a school holiday we must see evidence for the absence. This may be medical evidence if your child is unwell, or evidence of flight delays or circumstances beyond your control. We cannot authorise any absences before or after a holiday without this evidence and you risk being issued with a penalty notice.
10
Secondary Newsletter
7 February 2020
STEM Scholars Programme What does Imperial STEM Scholars involve? General STEM Scholars is a new Key Stage 3 programme that aims to inspire young people in KS3 to study STEM subjects through learning about coding, programming and the application of these skills in the sciences and engineering. The programme is currently open for applications from Year 8 pupils who meet our eligibility criteria.
2019/2020 The programme consists of eight days of activity during 2020. Six days during the school Easter holiday, followed by a full weekend in June. Participants must be willing to attend all eight days of the programme to take part. All sessions are held at our South Kensington Campus.
Programme dates: Monday 6 April - Wednesday 8 April 2020 Wednesday 15 April - Friday 17 April 2020 Saturday 20 June – Sunday 21 June 2020 Each day will run 9.30 to 16.00pm at Imperial College London’s South Kensington Campus. During the programme participants will gain valuable coding skills using the BBC micro:bit and other technologies. The programme also aims to provide participants with a feel for university life as they work closely with Imperial academics and students.
How do I apply? Please read our FAQs below before completing your application. Once ready, apply here https://imperial.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_57L0BfglbCiEV2B to start your application. Applications for Year 8 students will close on Wednesday 12 February 2020. Good luck with your application! 7 February 2020 Secondary Newsletter
11
Spring Term 2020 Monday 6th January –Friday 3rd April 2020 INSET Days
Friday 14th February
Independent Learning Day Thursday 5th March Key Dates Thursday 13th February
Year 8 Progress Meetings - 2:30–6:30pm
Friday 14th February
INSET - No school for students
Friday 14th February
Sixth Form interviews
Monday 17th – Friday 21st February Monday 2nd March
HALF TERM
Monday 2nd March – Friday 6th March Thursday 5th March
Family Week - (no after school events)
Thursday 12th March
Years 7-10 - Assessments begin
Independant Learning Day – students study at home Year 11 - Drama GCSE - Live theatre review trip
Friday 13th March
Years 7-10 - Assessments end
Friday 13th March
Year 10 & 12 - Geography trip to Walton-onthe-naze
Thursday 19th March
Year 10 Progress Meetings - 2:30–6:30pm
Friday 20th March
Year 10 - Geography trip to Walton-on-thenaze
Monday 30th March
Year 8 Awards Assembly @ 9:00am
Monday 30th March
Year 7 Progress Meetings - 2:30–6:30pm
Thursday 2nd April
Spring Concert
Friday 3rd April
End of Term Awards Assemblies
12
Secondary Newsletter
7 February 2020