Year 13 Parents’ Information Evening
Tonight’s Aims
For you to leave with a better understanding of:
 2013/14 results
 Key Stage 5 Ethos
 Target Grades
 Assessment, Recording & Reporting (ARR)
 Desired student behaviours
 Student Support, Care & Guidance
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New teaching staff
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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
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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
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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
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SUBJECT-BASED OPPORTUNITIES
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PERIOD SEVEN OPTIONS
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
Career-Industry Talks
Camel School Magazine
Yearbook
Chess
Latin
Debating
Presentation skills
TEFL Level 2 Qualification, two-day course (by application, free to all)
LAMDA lessons free to all by application for those involved in (f) and (g)
Year 13
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Y12 careers interview and Morrisby debrief concluded by
autumn 2014
Selected students receive a 1:1 interview with Mark Anderson,
usually those not going to university
All students invited to a small group meeting
CV checking service, professional recruitment consultant visit
to give 1:1 feedback on CVs
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
The Key Stage 5 Ethos
Achievement
Work Ethic
Securing the future
Balance
Student Support,
Care & Guidance
Helping students
realise their
potential
Student
School
Learning
Home
School
The fundamental learning process at Gordon’s
Clear, specific targets
related to students’ work
‘Position’
Statement
What level
am I
working at?
What are my
next steps?
How do
I know?
Assessment
events
School
A level Target Grades
Year 13 Target Grades
School
Represents top
10% student
performance
A
Represents
‘average’
student
performance
B
A Level
Grades
C
D
D
C
B
A
Average GCSE Grades
A*
School
Effort Grades 1 - 5
Average Effort Grade
AS Results 2014
Student
1
GCSE Pts
5.5
2
3
4
5.7
7.4
7.1
AS Target Grades AS Grades
B/C 1.5
ACCC
B/C
A/B
A/B
3.2
1
2.5
GCSE Pts
A* = 8, A = 7, B = 6, C = 5
DDUU
AAAA
ABCD
School
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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
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Prep/ Self study timings
- Year 12 = Minimum 6 hours/subject/week
- Year 13 = Minimum 8 hours/subject/week
School
Each half term there is a progress report sent
home including:
• Target Grade
• Working Grade
• Effort Grade
• Next Steps advice*
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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
School
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Effort Grades
1 = Outstanding
2 = Very Good
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 A level grade that
is personal to each student and subject.
The A level 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
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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
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Some anecdotes:
- University places
- Sacrificing part time work
- Sacrificing a hobby
- Easter, May Half term & anticipation of hindsight
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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 13,
including re sits, 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
- Comprises a commitment from Gordon’s to
our Sixth Form students and vice - versa
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School
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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
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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
Students who meet this criteria will be
- Volume of subjects
‘on track’ to achieve their potential.
- Follow 4 AS levels Those that fall short of this criteria are in
danger of ‘underachieving’ and extra self
study sessions will be prescribed.
Home
• 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 Head Teacher:
Developing The Skilled Sixth Former
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Interviews with senior staff
Heads of House & private study facilities
Re-mark and re-sit discussions
Assessment Month in September
UCAS & Career Morning
Building new relationships
Independent Learning: study skills
support
Induction in and out of the classroom
Planners & contact with home
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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
UCAS, UExplore & Uni-Frog
Reward & Celebrate
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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 A Level studies and
have an experienced pastoral team including
professional counsellors.
Period 7
 CCF & Duke of Edinburgh
 Volunteering Opportunities: 20 hours
 Leadership roles
 Inter-Form & Inter-House
 Extension activities
 Careers & Higher Education events
 Trips & visits
 Work Experience
 Evaluation
 Moving on
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Admin Week: W/B 15th September
CV & UCAS Writing Day: Friday 12th September
Oxbridge/Medic UCAS Forms: 15th September
Study Skills Session: Friday 19th September
Open House: Saturday 20th 10.00am-12.00pm
UCAS & Target Grades posted : Friday 26th September
Work Experience Parent Talk: Wednesday 24th September
Exeat begins Friday 26th September
Student Finance Talk: 1.30pm Wednesday 1st October
Assessment month ends & Last Day To Change Subjects: Friday 3rd October
UCAS deadline Monday 6th October
Assessment month ends & Last Day To Change Subjects: Friday 3rd October
Open Evening for new students: Wednesday 9th October
Inter-Form Debating Final: Thursday 16th October
NSA Report sent home: Friday 17th October
School Parade & Harvest Festival: 19th October
Half-Term Begins Friday 24th October
Thank you for listening