Year 8 Partnership Evening Tuesday 18th September 2018  

Year 8 Partnership Evening Vision for the year KS3 Assessment and Reporting Our Partnership

Our Vision for the Year Consolidation and Effort Exploration and Challenge What’s their ‘why’? Role Models Consolidation: This year is an opportunity for the students to build on all the knowledge and skills gained in Year 7, and to master those skills that they have more recently started to learn. It is also a chance for them to strengthen the friendships and relationships within our school community. Effort: In my first Assembly with Year 8, I stressed to them the importance that effort will play in their year. It is crucial for their future success that they gain experience of working as hard as they can, and of making mistakes, learning from them and trying again. We already know that consistency is key for future academic success, and we want the students to be well-versed in making their best efforts, so that it becomes second nature to them. I have told them not to be afraid to try – we would always prefer that they try and get it wrong rather than not try at all. Role Models: I have also been talking to the students about the fact that they are now role models for the Year 7 students, and that they will continue to be role models throughout their time at St Peter’s. Challenge: As I mentioned earlier, I have challenged each of the Year 8 students to join an extra-curricular club. I have done this because it is important to me that they feel part of the wider St Peter’s community, but it is also necessary, in my view, for them to step outside of their comfort zones, to try new things, and to push themselves to improve. If they are to grow into the fearless, resilient and determined young people that we hope they will be, challenging themselves is essential. Please have a conversation with your child about which club they’ve chosen and why, and encourage them to participate. This is the theme for Year 8, and it’s also The big question asked by nearly all our students at some point during their learning career. “why do I need to do this?” Especially the early stages, answering this question is the key. What is their why? Where do they want to go? What do they want to do? How is what they are doing daily at school going to them get there? Helping our students to find their why, is helping them to establish a much greater purpose within school. Research shows that 60% of all working scientists had established an interest in their field by the age of 11. This suggests that potentially over half of the students in Y8 could have already made contact with the subject that will be key to their later life. It also suggests that perhaps half haven’t. Therefore, challenging them to expand their horizons in Year 8 is doubly important.

Key Dates 15th October – Progress reports distributed this week 31st October – E-Safety Day 1st November – Parents E-Safety Forum 7th November – Year 8 residential Retreat 21st November – Synagogue Visit 30th November – Mufti Day (Bring a bottle) 2nd December – St Peter’s Christmas Fayre 6th December – Year 8 Parent/Teacher Consultation Evening 17th December - Progress reports distributed this week 18th December – Carol Service 11th-15th February – Mission Week 11th February – Progress Reports distributed this week 19th March – Year 8 Citizenship Day 1st April - Progress Reports distributed this week 3rd June – Progress Reports distributed this week 27th June – Sports Day 28th June – Feast Day 1st – 12th July – Year 8 Test Week 8th & 9th July – Reflection Day/Outdoor Learning Day 18th July – German Trip to Aachen Highlight many opportunities for spiritual development and consideration of social issues.

Assessment and Reporting This year the learning and teaching focus at KS3 is on learning for MASTERY. This builds on our work on developing a growth mindset. The key underlying principle is that given the appropriate time and learning conditions, nearly all students can reach a high level of achievement. Learning is carefully structured in small steps, more time is spent on topics, more problem-solving is used and students are encouraged to learn from their mistakes. It helps to build solid foundations for the new GCSEs and A Levels.

Assessment and Reporting Changes for Year 8 Previously, KS3 students received a GCSE grade on their report, subdivided into quarters (e.g. 4.25). New system – focuses on skills and on how students are progressing towards the expected standard for their year group. No TAGs. All students should reach at least the Expected standard. Departments have subject-specific criteria to help all students understand how to make progress in each skill.

Assessment and Reporting Reports We will continue to produce 6 reports on Go4Schools. The first two reports will contain an EFFORT and HOMEWORK grade as well as indicate if there are any issues with handwriting. At February half term and the end of the school year, the report will include a MASTERY descriptor: Aspiring, Expected or Exceptional This descriptor will explain whether your son/daughter has reached the expected level for their year in that subject.

Reports are at the bottom of the home page on Go4schools.

Our Partnership Praise the effort rather than the result Encourage ‘giving it a go’ Failure is not a bad thing Mutual trust and communication I have told the Year 8 students that effort is key this year – I want to see them working hard and doing their best. I would ask that you support us in this goal by praising the children when they work hard, when they make a big effort, and when they pick themselves up and try again. If we focus on praising the attempt, not just the outcome, this helps to encourage the students to try, to ‘give it a go’ rather than being despondent because they didn’t get the top grade. We also need to look at the way we (and the children) view failure. Some children are afraid to fail, and this inhibits them, in terms of both learning and opportunity. If we are all telling them that it’s ok to get things wrong, but that it’s important to learn from our mistakes and keep trying, we will be building the resilience these young people will need as they progress throughout the education system. I’ve had children say to me this term “I’m embarrassed because I made a mistake”. We don’t want them to dwell on their mistakes, but to learn from them and move on, for them to know that, in the words of Winston Churchill “ success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts”. Mutual trust and communication: we all want the same thing – the best possible outcomes for these young people. By keeping the lines of communication open between us, we will be in a much stronger position to support the students appropriately. You trust us, every day, with the most precious things in your lives. We do not take that trust lightly, and everything we do is with the children’s best interests at heart.

Positive Mental Health Steps School can be a very stressful and difficult place for our young people at times. As a school we ensure that every student has someone they can speak to, that they have strategies for relaxing and that they understand the importance of communication when times are hard. That they don’t feel overwhelmed by their future plans but maintain focus and direction in trying to achieve their goals. We would ask that at home as part of our partnership that you too are helping create a good work life balance, that they are socialising with their peers and not just communicating by social media and text. That they are getting enough sleep, eating healthy and are physically prepared for learning.

Thank You In closing, I would like to say a big thank you for coming this evening, and for the support that you show us as a school. I know that all of us want the very best for your children, and by working together I truly believe that we can achieve this. I hope you have a safe journey home, good night and god bless.