Issue 2 – June 2015
YIA:Insight
Achieving success through motivation, knowledge and skills
Dear Parents/Carers, In this second edition of YIA:Insight we wanted to take the opportunity to thank parents for both their welcome and support. Raising standards brings both challenge and excitement, yet ensuring decisions are student centered is the core aspect to our process of change. Apprehension is often accompanied with changes in a school, however the response from students, and indeed parents has been overwhelmingly positive. In the first edition of YIA:Insight we reminded parent/carers and students about uniform and made the expectations very clear. Since then we have seen a dramatic improvement in standards and moreover received a number of comments from both parents and visitors on the enhanced student appearance. Whilst we recognise the desire for students to express themselves as individuals we believe that upholding the uniform policy creates further unity and develops a sense of belonging amongst all students. Another significant impact has been the rise in attendance and increased punctuality to lessons. We are happy to report a 0.8% rise in attendance across the Academy in the last 8 weeks. This has been accompanied with a significant reduction in those students being either late to school in the morning or late to lessons. The overall punctuality has seen a 76% reduction compared to the 8 weeks before the Easter break.
Open evenings YIA Open Evening, Thursday 24th September WIA Open Evening, Thursday 1st October
Ensuring that poor behaviour is not inhibiting the role of classroom teachers has also been a key focus over the past term. Previously, a number of parents and students have Afternoon Tea th reported issues with low level disruption within some classes. Talk to the Principals of YIA on Tuesday 7 July at 4pm. Please share your views and discuss any aspects that The new behaviour guide and ‘warning system’ will you feel we still need to address. reprioritise the focus across the Academy to ensure that ‘Learning comes First’. This simple system, that allows teachers to teach and students learn has also proved to be a success. Data shows a 43% reduction of low level incidents, this is coupled with a range of feedback from students and a high number of positive comments from parents. It has been wonderful to see the impact of the initial changes and to start the journey to creating an Outstanding Academy. Creating the conditions for an outstanding learning environment is crucial, and whilst there may be challenges ahead, our aim throughout the process is to ensure the needs of every single student are met.
Issue 2 – June 2015
Teaching your child
Curriculum and Timetable
From September we will be creating a simple, yet enhanced framework for learning. Currently the length of midterm or long term plans is different from subject to subject. Assessments can be sporadic and the consistency of learning is variable. We are therefore introducing a ‘modular framework’, this means that students will follow five schemes of work, with each module being followed up by a bridging week. In these weeks staff will be able to take a personalised approach to learning and instead of teaching new topics, have the opportunity to revisit, revise and re-teach any of the concepts that students have failed to grasp.
Over the last term we have been working on the new curriculum and timetable for September 2015.
Each module will start with an assessment to enable staff and students to ascertain the level of requirements needed. As the module commences students will have the opportunity to self-assess against their personal learning checklist (PLC), this will enable students to map their progress whilst allowing staff to further personalise lessons. Modules will then culminate in a form of summative assessment, this will be based on the learning that has taken place within the previous six weeks. It is however, the bridging weeks that are a crucial part to this concept in learning. It is a time for teachers to use both the PLC’s and summative assessment results to ensure that all students have the opportunity to gain a further understanding into challenging material and to ensure all student meet their required targets. The modular framework will also allow parents to access more regular data. Data and information will be collected at the end of each module and be available to parents, allowing the Academy and parents a greater understanding of the needs of each individual. The sixth module is slightly different as it consists of five weeks. As this module concludes the academic year it will consist of a period of revision, end of year exams, transition weeks and enrichment week. We believe that this framework will significantly enhance learning and provide both the consistency and flexibility that many students crave. The increased amount of data will allow us to take a proactive approach to leaning and provide a much more enhanced student profile.
As you will be aware the government have introduced a number of changes to accountability measures over the last eighteen months, many of which need to be reflected in schools. It is our belief however that our curriculum has to reflect our body of learners and therefore some simple adjustments have been made rather than whole scale change. Due to the importance of English, Maths and Science we have slightly increased their contact time with students, whilst introducing Year 8 options in both the Arts and Technology. We are also building in flexibility within the individual set in which a student is allocated. This will allow a greater depth of learning for students that require extra support.
Staffing As you may be aware we currently have some regular supply staff teaching in classes. Whilst we are thankful for their input and work, we have been working hard to secure permanent appointments for September. We are pleased to announce that we have appointed a number of outstanding practitioners and are on course to meet our goal of a permanent staffing body for September. News of all the appointments across the Federation will be available in a new publication called Federation Insight due to be released soon.
Year 9 options confirmed You should have now received a letter confirming your child’s options for Year 9. If you have not nd received a letter by Monday 22 June, please contact the Academy. Changes to the Tutor Group Structure A reminder that Year 7, 8 and 9 students will continue in vertical Tutor groups, with Year 10 and 11 students in separate tutor groups to allow for greater intervention.
Issue 2 – June 2015
Sports News Big congratulations to all our athletes who competed at the ‘South Gloucestershire Athletics Championships’ on th Wednesday 10 June. Athletes ran, threw and jumped with maximum effort and their behaviour throughout the day was outstanding. Please see below a list of the children who took part – Well done to you all!
Year 7 students nd th -‐ Josh Bell (200m): 2 in heat and 6 in the final nd -‐ Jack Boulton (1500m): 2 rd th -‐ Shayla Bennett (100m): 3 in heat and 6 in the final nd th -‐ Somer Gedik (200m): 2 in heat and 4 in the final nd -‐ Jasmin Bull (1500m): 2 th -‐ Dylan Prendergast 4 Javelin -‐ 4 x100m girls relay team: Jasmin Bull, Shayla st Bennett, Somer Gedik, Alesha Davidge: 1 in heat nd and 2 in the final Year 8 students th Kieran Sullivan (Hurdles): 4 rd Chloe Coleman 3 Shot
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Year 9 students th th -‐ Matt Mills (300m): 5 in heat and 8 in the final th -‐ Jordan Miles (800m): 5 th -‐ Emilio Lewis (1500m): 6 st -‐ Ammar Nazrali (Shot Putt): 1 rd th -‐ Mollie Boulton (100m) : 3 in heat and 6 in the final th -‐ Dove Strachan Wills (1500m): 4 st -‐ Maia Boucher White (Shot): 1 8.20m (New PB) nd -‐ Sophie Bull 2 in Javelin th -‐ Curtis Haynes 4 High Jump Year 10 students st nd nd -‐ Shannon McClurg (100m) : 1 in heat; 2 in final, 2 in Shot nd nd -‐ Jamie Lee Lewis (300m) : 2 in heat; 2 in the final st -‐ Milan Cacacie 1 High Jump -‐ 4x100m girls relay team (Girls): Shannon McClurg, Milan Cacacie, Jamie Lee Lewis, Dove Strachan st st Wills: 1 in their heat and 1 in the final rd -‐ Joe Shutt 3 800M nd -‐ Callum Seaward 2 High Jump
Super 6 Athletics Competition -
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Almerio Soares 4 best athlete, 2 place in long jump th Jack Boulton 8 Best athlete, won 800M th nd Jasmin Ball 10 best athlete, 2 place in 800M th Chloe Coleman 7 Best athlete, won shot put Ammar Nazrali, Number one ranked athlete, won rd shot put (massive distance of 11 m 34 cm), 3 in 300M th Matt Mills, 4 ranked athlete, won 300M rd Milo Lewis 3 in 1500M st Year 9 Boys 1 Place Ammar Nazrali, Matt Mills,Milo Lewis, Jordan Miles, Jordan Gibbs and Curtis Haynes they will now go on to represent the academy at the level 3 school games on the th 8 July at Bath University. th Year 9 Maia Boucher White 5 best athlete, won shot put rd nd Year 10 Shannon McClurg 3 best athlete, 2 in 100m and first in shot put
Additional Guild As previously mentioned in the first edition of YIA:Insight, we have introduced a fifth Guild into the Academy – Aquila. Students will be informed if there is a change in their Guild by next week. We are also going to introduce Guild ties. These will be provided free for current Year 7 and Year 8 students. Year 9 and Year 10 will keep their current tie. More details to follow.
Issue 2 – June 2015
Rolls Royce Fan-Tastic Challenge Competition – Science Class with Mr. Matthews nd
12 students have designed and built their own fan powered model cars and will be racing them on the 22 June at SS Great Britain against 5 other Bristol schools to win a real life titanium fan blade from a jet engine. Good Luck! Intermediate and Junior UKMT Math’s Challenge Well Done to; Mason Wakley and Rhiannon Jones who achieved a Silver and Jamie Walden, Lonika Earp, Ethan Clack and Jodie Clarke who achieved a Bronze in the Junior Math’s Challenge. Exams Congratulations to all the Year 11, 12 and 13 students for (almost) completing their exams. The commitment and determination these students have shown over the last couple of months has been fantastic, and we hope they achieve all the results they have worked so hard for. Over the last two months we have been able to fund over sixty hours of extra revision classes and booster sessions, thus ensuring all students have been fully prepared. To ensure the Year 10 students are preparing in the best possible manner, we are going to run th an end of year exam week for them in the week beginning Monday 29 June. The exams will take place in the Auditorium under GCSE conditions. This will allow students to mentally prepare and become more accustomed to the conditions they will face next year. Year 10 th students will then receive their results in a ‘results assembly’ on Friday 17 July. Uniform Grey Trousers and Skirts
YIA Activities Week: th Monday 13 July – Thursday 16 July
We would like to remind Parents/Carers and students that in the original uniform policy when your child joined the Academy, it clearly states that trousers and skirts should be a mid-grey colour.
Following the success of last year’s activities week, students at YIA are now ready for a range of cross curricular activities to bring an end this academic year.
The Academy has recently noticed a number of students wearing inappropriately short skirts. Skirts need to be just above the knee in length, and either an A-line shape or pleated. Please ensure your child comes to the Academy wearing the correct uniform, any child entering the Academy dressed in the incorrect uniform will be escorted to the duty room until the matter is resolved.
On-site activities will include comedy, music, multi sports, gaming, hairdressing and kite making. Also, a large number of students have opted to travel outside of the Academy to experience activities including; a cultural trip to Bath, an outdoor pursuits centre in Devon and a languages experience in Paris. All of these activities will allow students to broaden their experiences and develop transferable skills for the future. Here’s to another great week!
Contact Us All staff can be contacted using their firstname.surname@trfyia.org.uk. i.e. john.smith@trfyia.org.uk If you wish to contact someone regarding your child, your first point of call is their mentor, for further assistance your child’s Head of Guild would be the next point of call. For operational matters regarding YIA (Primary Phase) Woodlands site – Please contact Mrs. Sarah Findlay-Cobb on 01454 866535 or email primary@trfyia.org.uk For operational matters regarding YIA (Secondary Phase) – Please contact Mr. Paul Skipp on 01454 333560 or email office@trfyia.org.uk For matters appertaining to policy and practice of any of the phases within The Ridings’ Federation of Academies, please contact Mrs. Beverley Martin on 01454 252000 or email office@trfyia.org.uk