Welcome to Saffron Walden County High School

1. Mr Anthony WheelerYear 7 Year Achievement Coordinator (YAC) Welcome to Saffron Walden County High School awheeler@swchs.net

2. Pastoral Support • Mr Wheeler and Mrs Banks, Student Support Officer (SSO) – Overview of academic progress & achievement as well as support with pastoral and behavioural issues. • We have used the information provided by Primary schools & our many years of experience to create the form groups. These are balanced academically & pastorally to consider the needs of all of the students. They provide a fresh start and a chance to make new friends. Unfortunately, we are unable to consider form changes. • However, the first point of contact for pastoral issues should be the Form Tutor, who you will meet at the Settling in evening on the 12th of September (Starting at 7.00pm). • It is our expectation that each student will have regular academic tutorials across the year with their form tutor or mentor. (individual/paired/group).

3. What we do in school … • High-quality teacher input • Regular checking of progress • Intervention for any underachieving students • Many classes will have additional support • ‘Settling-In’ Evening in September • Parental Handbook • Extra Curricular Activities • Homework Clubs • A focus on independence and a focus on the individual

4. Home – school partnership • There is a powerful association between parental involvement and student achievement and attainment • Parental involvement in the form of at-home interest and support is a major influence upon educational outcomes DfE Research

5. Year 7 Forms S Half 7CSM Miss C Meichen7JRI Mr J Ison7CEM Miss C McColl7SVW Ms S Ward7JDI Mr J Ions Email for staff is always first initial followed by last name @swchs.net W Half 7TAC Mr T Cox7KEC Mrs Cleevely 7AJG Miss A Greenwood7TLW Mrs T Watson7EAC Miss E Carne For example: Miss C Meichen becomes cmeichen@swchs.net

6. Parental Communication • ParentMail – most common way of disseminating information as quickly as possible • Message via the School Office or via the Planner • Email – first initial, surname @ swchs.net • awheeler@swchs.net • pbanks@swchs.net • Phone Conversation • Meeting – by appointment only • If it is a subject specific concern please contact the teacher or area coordinator • Please see Communication Protocol on school website

7. What we ask of you…… • Be the parent! Sometimes this can be difficult but students with clear boundaries are less likely to cause you problems in later teenage years! • Help with organisation and getting students into routines – including sleep hygiene over the summer holidays! Your support is essential in the early days. • SW(it)CH it off at 8pm. We would ask that no phones/electrical devices are used after this time. If we all do this and work together it makes life easier. • Be aware of your child’s online activities and gaming – check they are age appropriate.

8. What we ask of you…… • Talk to us about concerns/changes in home circumstances/behaviour. Mental ill health can incapacitate children. • Be aware of the ‘dangers’. Bullies, Alcohol, Drugs – they all exist! • Check the planner and sign it every week • Online engagement; • ParentMail • Go4Schools • Wisepay

9. Attendance An expectation that students will have attendance of better than 96% Persistent Absence – attendance lower than 90% School monitors very closely Regular meetings between YAC and Inclusion Officer Contact with home – phone calls, letters Parents must phone on each day of absence If there are attendance concerns, medical evidence will be required for all absence to be approved

10. Why…?

11. Organisation PLEASE LABEL EVERYTHING!

12. Mr Matt Blayney Assistant HeadteacherDirector of Student Achievement (KS3) mblayney@swchs.net

13. Timetable Organisation • Week 1 / Week 2 • 5 Lessons a day = 50 lessons per cycle • 4 lessons in the morning; 1 in the afternoon • Morning break – 10.45 – 11.00 • Lunch break – 1.10 – 1.55 • Registration or weekly assembly – 2.00 – 2.15

14. Curriculum: Year 7Lessons across 2-week cycle (50 lessons) 6 English (some very limited setting) 6 Mathematics (Some limited setting initially to help those who have struggled with maths at primary level to catch up. We then set in October to have two top sets, three mixed ability sets and one small catch-up set in each year half.) 4 PE/Games (set following four lessons based on ability, aptitude and attitude) 6 Integrated Science 5 Technology (smaller groups) 3 Geography 3 History 6 Foreign Languages (French & German) 2 Art 2 Music 3 Computing 2 Drama 2 Religion , Philosophy and Ethics

15. Key Stage 2 Data • We have received official data about students not meeting expected levels • We are collecting other information from primary schools • We will collect our own data • Baseline assessments • Year 7 CATs • This goes on to formulate the our Minimum Attainment Bands (MAB)

16. Financial Considerations • School equipment / resources: Food Tech ingredients, Art materials, Voluntary Contributions • SWCHS Club charge (£25 per term) • Compulsory trips / activities: Cross Arts (£10 – 2018); Whipsnade Zoo (£23 – 2018) • Optional school trips: Germany, Form group trips, other subject trips • Financial Support

17. Wisepay • WisePay account. A letter asking you to set up an account will arrive in the Summer holidays. This needs to be done before 1st September. • If you have not given consent for your child to have their finger scanned please see one of us this evening.

18. Pupil Premium Grant • A grant that schools receive to support the learning of students in Years 7 – 11 who: • are eligible for Free School Meals • have received them at some point in the last six years • are looked after (Children In Care) • are adopted • have a parent who is in the services • Information collected from DfE website and Primary Schools

19. Pupil Premium Grant • Support available to PPG students: • uniform bursary • music / Drama lessons • financial support with trips • financial support with educational resources • Letter sent last week • If you think your child is eligible but you haven’t had any information, please see one of us this evening. Please claim for FSM if you’re eligible!

20. The student planner • Records Achievement • Records HW and deadlines • Contains ; • The Community Code • Helpful literacy and numeracy • School Rules • A place to reflect It is checked by school and home.

21. Uniform and hair

22. Uniform

23. Hair

24. Lockers • All students are allocated a shared locker • Good lock required

25. The Learning Centre

26. Access and Facilities • Why we’re here • Private study, getting ahead on homework, quiet reading • Life is better with books! • How we can help • Friendly welcome • Advice and guidance • Supplies to help you work • Opening times • Mon-Thu 8am-4.30pmFri 8am-4pm • Lunchtime computer sessions – either 1.15pm-1.35pm or 1.35pm-1.55pm

29. No Biros

30. SEND Provision at SWCHSMr Phil Heath SENDCOpheath@swchs.net

31. SEND Provision • Large team (26ish) including a Deputy SENDCO, 3 Lead LSAs and 2 Teachers. • Based in D2, in D corridor, near reception. • D2 open before school, breaks and lunch. • In-class support • Academic tutoring, during form time • Intervention lessons

32. Literacy at SWCHSMiss L Coates and Mrs C Goddard lcoates@swchs.net & cgoddard@swchs.net

33. Why is Literacy important? • Literacy underpins progress, impacts on attainment, affects self-esteem and behaviour and plays a huge role in a child’s future life chances. • Lacking vital literacy skills holds a person back at every stage of their life.

34. What is Literacy? • Literacy is the ability to read, write, speak and listen in a way that lets us communicate effectively and make sense of the world. • We are all literacy teachers and your child will use literacy skills in every subject at school.

35. Reading skills are fundamental to your child’s ability to access the curriculum • Vocabulary is a huge predictor of how far children from any background will succeed at school. • Oxford Language Report - 40% of pupil lack the vocabulary to access their learning. • Increased rigour of new GSCE exams mean that the vocabulary challenges posed are even more pronounced. • Reading is the most effective way for children to develop a wide vocabulary. • Correlation between reading and achievement. • Fewer children reading for pleasure – more screen time – means vocabulary gap is increasing.

36. Literacy: What we do… • Every English lesson starts with 10 minutes’ silent reading. • Students are expected to read for 15 minutes per night in addition to any homework set. • Y7 students will also have one lesson per cycle in the Learning Centre developing reading skills. • Individual Reading Targets are set and recorded in the student’s own organiser • SWCHS Year of Reading

37. Literacy: What we do… • One form time a week will have a literacy focus • At SWCHS, all teachers have a responsibility to help your child improve his or her writing. • We have a marking policy which is used across the curriculum to draw your child’s attention to areas for improvement in their writing.

38. Proof reading checklist

39. Proof reading cycle

40. Literacy: What you can do… • You can make a huge difference! • Encourage your child to read for 15 minutes each night. • Help to find books that are appropriate in terms of reading age and content, and that motivate your child to enjoy reading. • Talk to your child about what they are reading and read with them. • Encourage your children to check their sources carefully (e.g. when doing internet research tasks). Wikipedia is not reliable!

41. Literacy: Contact • Lauren Coates- lcoates@swchs.net • Caroline Goddard- cgoddard@swchs.net • Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any further queries.

42. Numeracy advice

43. “I couldn’t remember how to convert measures – I’m so glad my mum has done cooking with me at home - this really helped!”

44. “Science is just maths in disguise.”

45. “Geography is all about collecting information and putting into a graph, like traffic surveys and river measures. I’m glad we learnt about graphs in maths.”

46. Food for thought! How can you be sure that poor numeracy skills are not preventing them from making progress in other subjects?

47. In School ……. Joint ‘Numeracy’ Project with Science but spreading…! A new KS3 curriculum embedding the vital numeracy skills needed in Maths and other subjects. This curriculum will also make the necessary transition into the new GCSE through mastery of skills. 1:1 tuition – teacher recommendation and through ongoing analysis of pupil progress Breakfast clubs – initially for those needing some catch-up time

48. At home ……. • Be assured that if you are confident in supporting your child in Numeracy you are in fact supporting their learning across the curriculum. • Ensure you encourage your child to tackle homework the night it is set so they have enough time to get some help if needed. • Ask them every so often what have they been learning maths, can they teach you something new! • If you are able to explain to your child a topic but use a different method please do. As long as your child can re-create that method independently.

49. nchamberlain@swchs.net Do not hesitate to contact us if you need any further information or advice on how to help your child. Please use the booklet!

50. SAFFRON WALDEN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL TRUST (Registered Charity No. 298343)