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Message from the Principal
“The trouble is, learning requires re-thinking and re-thinking hurts.”
Whatever year your son/daughter is in, the journey to the next stage will - on occasion - present not only a hurdle to them and to the member staff supporting them, but also to you as a parent/carer. A key drive in 2017 and beyond is for us as a school to develop resilience in all students. Having the ability to become unstuck when facing barriers and not giving up when challenged with a range of issues, whether they be academic or personal, is what we are trying to address as a school. This week, Mrs Boughton (Assistant Principal) will explain one important approach the whole school is taking to support a wider educational programme to ensure our students are at best prepared for the challenges, whether educational or preparing them well for the next phase of their life. Mr O’Neill (Acting Vice Principal) has also been working hard to map out our second PSHE collapsed morning on February 14, which will also develop that “glue”. I would like to take a moment to focus on the recent PPE for Post16 and Year 11. The feedback highlighted many strengths but equally areas for development. My message to the students was simple: “this is where you are now, but it is not where you will be (unless)..”. Learning from the process, putting in the hard work will go a long way to closing the gap next round of pre public or by the final public examinations. The same principle applies to any student in Years 7-10 as they will find themselves being formally assessed either in the classroom or in the Assembly Hall over the next few weeks and months. So I urge students to:
After school provision There are a number of after school booster sessions for Year 11 which I would like to publicise; I would urge your son/daughter to take up these opportunities. A published booster provision is being worked on; I hope to publish the February half term provision by next week. The Easter and summer half term 1 opportunities will follow very soon. Parking concerns I have received a number of complaints from the residents of Fox Covert Way regarding the number of vehicles blocking their access in and out of their drive ways at the end of the school day. Despite repeated requests by myself and residents, this issue is becoming an increasing nuisance to the residents. I would ask that you do not pick up from this area but instead use the Tesco car park. Please could you respect that the residents do need to enter and exit their residency and this is causing a great deal of unnecessary stress to their daily lives. Parents Forum Presentations Following the Parents’ Forum meeting held on Wednesday evening, I would like to share with all parents the presentations made by: 1. Mrs Boughton on the PIxl Edge – Please see the letters home section 2. Ms Martin on the new GCSE English Language and Literature – Please see the letters home section Best wishes
Bryan Erwin This weeks Letters Home
GCSE Revision Guide Letter Year11 2016 Post 16 Update
The key message delivered in Post 16 assembly this week was "Be Like Cliff". This was inspired by Cliff Young, a 61 year old Australian potato farmer who won the inaugural Sydney to Melbourne Ultramarathon. Few gave Cliff any chance of winning but due to his preparation, hard work and personal belief, Cliff defied the odds. This inspirational story is one we hoped our Post 16 students can apply to their own preparations for the forthcoming second round of PPEs. The timetable for these is attached to this newsletter. The second key message of the assembly was "If we keep doing the same things we will get the same outcomes". In light of this, we are asking Post 16 students to review everything they are currently doing and evaluate what they need to stop doing or do differently. Some of the key questions posed were: * Are you attending all lessons and revision sessions? Are you punctual? * Are you fully prepared and up to date with homework and coursework deadlines? If not, how can you change this? * Are your personal revision methods effective? If not, what might be a 'smarter' way of working? * Do you know which areas of your Personal Learning Checklist you need to focus on? How do you plan to 'close the gap' in your understanding / technique? * Do you make every study lesson count? Can your trips to Tesco take place outside of study lessons? * Do you currently work too many hours at your Part Time job? Do you need to cut back as we approach the 'home straight' of the year? In response to student requests we have now opened up empty classrooms and IT suites around the school so Post 16 students have additional private areas for independent study, in addition to their dedicated Study Room. We have encouraged Post 16 students to come forward with further suggestions as to what we can do to help them become more effective learners. Mr Abbott, Mr Walls and Mr Kenefec Year 9 - Eyes on the Prize Careers/Pathways Event
Last week we took just over half of the year group to University Centre Peterborough attending an event organised by Anglian Ruskin University.
The Eyes on the Prize event aims to support Key Stage 3 pupils who are in the process of choosing their GCSE Options. Peterborough Regional College, Anglian Ruskin University, University Technical College, apprenticeship providers, RAF & Royal Navy were among the visitors hosting a careers fair which provided our students with the opportunity to focus on their future and raise awareness of the best possible options.  Student ambassadors from University Centre Peterborough and Anglian Ruskin University delivered a student life session, giving valuable insight into university life from a student’s prospective. The students finished the session with a lecture from Chief Inspector James Sutherland, Area Commander for South Cambridgeshire police force. With years of experience in his field, he had a great story to tell on his career journey. Students engaged with all the visitors and used the opportunity to ask some constructive and interesting questions. Rachel Patman Science Revision Resources
By now all Year 11 students should have bought a copy of the revision guides that have been available to them since the start of year 10. If this isn't the case please see the attached letter and payment slip. The final deadline for returns is Tuesday 31st January, so this is getting urgent!
To aid in their revision please find attached (in the letters section of this newsletter) two timetables, which you can use to support your son or daughter. All students will be examined on these topics in the summer, and Triple Science students will need to add even more to this, so please encourage those students to create their own B3, C3 and P3 timetable. Structured revision is crucial to success, and an early start is essential. Thank you for your continued support of our students and staff, it is very much appreciated. Mrs K. Young Performing Arts Workshop
On Monday we had the privilege of workshopping a range of performance techniques with West End alumni, husband and wife, Nancy Sullivan and David Thaxton.
With their outstanding experience performing on West End, both worked as lead roles in Les Miserables for a sincere amount of time, we were all filled with adrenaline to be able to perform to such knowledgeable and inspiring actors. The session began with a small group of us participating in a 1-1 session, performing a song of our choice, that we would then workshop with Nancy and David. We had a range of singers – from years 10 to 13, performing a mix of duets and solos. Individually, we had around 20 minutes working with the guests, in front of the other performers. This helped us as we developed our breathing technique, vocal range and focus on the lyrical meaning that we were singing to allow the song to take a metaphorical journey, allowing a natural climax with the music. As the only student in year 13 hoping to study and gain a career in Musical Theatre, listening to their expertise and advice for auditions alongside bettering my performance technique helped me gain confidence and understanding of the importance of choosing correct repertoire for auditions and trying to get into the industry. We then watched some of the Year 12 monologues that they are performing for their exam in a few weeks and saw how Nancy and David encouraged them to think about each line and how the change of dynamic and pace allows a monologue to develop. It was really amazing to see the huge development the students made just from a 20 minute workshop with people who have real life experience in the industry.  To end the day we had a Q&A session with both guests. We asked them questions about; how they got into auditions, resulting in playing some of my personal dream roles, whether you have to go to drama school or not etc. Overall, the day was really inspirational for me. Bearing in mind just how difficult it is to get into drama school, knowing that these two guests didn’t study at one, I believe, made everyone feel more inspired to find a way to work on stage and create our dream careers of being a performer.
Emily Hale  Connect Update
Do you have a good attitude to learning?
Do you… Arrive to lessons on time? Put your coat and bags in the correct place? Sit down in your seat straight away? Have all your equipment (including your planner) on your desk? Make a start on the activity provided by your teacher? Listen and respond to your teachers in the correct way? Face the front and only talk about the lesson and your learning? Attitude to Learning Badge (ATL)
The aim of this badge in to ensure a greater consistent of practice within lessons, as well as awarding students for their conduct and attitude to learning achievements for each of their lessons. Furthermore, it is the expectation that all tutors also award weekly positive Connect points for students having the right school equipment, school uniform and effort badges. Finally, I must conclude this article by congratulating Miss Gluch’s Lower School form group, who on Wednesday 25 January presented an excellent Lower School assembly on the topic area of “Mental Health”. This tutor group have been awarded positive connect points for this achievement. Mrs Boughton and Mr Corner Maths
Please find below the topics students have recently studied or are shortly going to start studying:
11a1/b1/a2/b2
11a3/b3
11a4
11b4
Students can use the www.hegartymaths.com to find extra tuition and questions on these topics as well as using this great resource to consolidate areas they are not yet fluent in identified after the recent PPEs. Extra revision classes will run every Monday lunchtime in 3U22 for all year 11s Targeted revision classes for specific groups will take place after school as follows: A1/B1 Thursdays (JHY/NBN), A2/B2 Mondays (THN), A3/B3 Mondays (LDY), Wednesday (NBN), Thursdays (JCN), A4/B4 Mondays and Fridays and also Tuesday lunch with (ICC). Len Donnelly Attendance
"Some people succeed because they are destined but most because they are determined"
Excellence have just squeezed into first place. Anything can happen this week to change these statistics. All Houses need to continue to push with the attendance to ensure we are in school as much as we can be. Sharon Blackledge  What's happening at KSCS?
Events and visits in the school over the next fortnight:
Wednesday 01/02/2017
Year 9 Pathways Evening 6-8pm
Thursday 02/02/2017
Intermediate Maths Challenge
Monday 06/02/2017
Principal appointment interviews begins
Year 9 Pathways Interviews Begin
Post 16 Impact Meetings
Thursday 09/02/2017
Year 1 Multi-skills Festival Session 1pm
RSA Year 12 Employability Workshop
Friday 10/02/2017
Childcare/ A2 Sociology HMP Visit
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