Essentials for Success 2018 – 2019

Welcome Purpose of the evening – IAG Parental involvement has a significant impact Different ways for parents to be involved: Ask questions about your child's learning Help them to prepare for school – be organised Encourage them to always do their best/keep trying Support/supervise work Attend school events Communicate with their teachers

Maths TGregory@christtheking.notts.sch.uk

Students will be taught in mixed ability groups in year 7. They will be delivered lessons that address the demands of problem solving and reasoning as well as content. We hope to make lessons engaging and challenging for all students. Students require their equipment every lesson, this includes a calculator.

Homework is set once a week Electronic logins will be given to MyMaths Teachers will provide extra support to any student who requires it We encourage you to contact either myself or your child’s maths teacher if you have any concerns

English JCollins@christtheking.notts.sch.uk or PBingham@christtheking.notts.sch.uk

KS3 Texts Studied Literature: Boy by Roald Dahl and other autobiographical extracts A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck  An anthology of Poetry Shakespeare:  Macbeth (yr 7)  Romeo and Juliet (yr 8) Language Extracts:  Travel writing, extracts from the Gothic genre, Nineteenth century 

LRC lessons/ Let’s think in English Once a fortnight students are split into two small groups and either go into the LRC for a ‘Library Lesson’ or have a ‘Let’s Think in English’ lesson with their classroom teacher. LRC – browse/change library book, talk to LRC manager, Accelerated Reader test, activities linked to library books Let’s Think in English –  shared reading of short text, students contribute to discussion and group activities to broaden their thinking skills.

Literacy at CTK DEAR time - whole school initiative Years 7, 8 and 9 – 15 mins a day Underpins Accelerated Reader 20 minutes x 5 days =100 minutes per week, 100 minutes x 39 weeks = 3,900 minutes per school year (65 hours) Staggered each week so that every department shares the responsibility 

Science A. Blazewicz-Bell A Blazewicz-Bell @christtheking.notts.sch.uk

Science is about ‘How?’ and ‘Why?’ ‘are we doing an experiment today in the lesson?’ Yr7 topics ‘when can we mix chemicals together?’ Science is about ‘How?’ and ‘Why?’ ‘when do we use a Bunsen Burner?’ ‘why do we have to do writing in science?’

Topics We have split each term to teach each science separately. Allows your child to focus on developing the skills and understanding of each science. We teach a 2 year spiral course, where the same topics are taught again in yr8, with increasing degrees of complexity. This makes a great foundation for year 9 when you child starts their GCSE. Assessment is carried out by a series of in class progress tasks, required practicals and content based tests, leading to an end of year examination. Term Subject Topics Autumn term 1 Physics Forces Electromagnets Energy Waves Spring term 2 Biology Organisms Ecosystems Genes Summer term 3 Chemistry Matter Reactions Earth

Working scientifically Encourage revision Recall Working scientifically Maths Use revision websites for quick quizzes/get hold of a revision guide Promote your child’s curiosity Practise using a calculator and bring it to EVERY lesson! http://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/ks3/science/

Religious Education E. Walton ewalton@christtheking.notts.sch.uk

Core subject in a Catholic school Studied by all students Y7-13 Asks the answers to ‘Big’ questions Does God exist? How do we know what is right/wrong? When does life begin? Is there life after death? Encourages students to think about their impact on the world

KS3 Curriculum Year 7 Year 8 Community Covenant People Who is God? Jesus as the New Covenant Who is Jesus? Islam The Kingdom of God Reconciliation and Peace Signs of Catholic Identity Vocation and Pilgrimage Sikhism Catholic Social Teaching

Skill based curriculum Keywords Knowledge of religious belief Sources of wisdom Influence of religious belief Judgement and analysis Assessment Structure: Define Describe Explain Discuss

Assessment Policy Your child's progress

Assessment Policy The focus will be on your child being able to answer 2 key questions for each subject area: What am I doing well? What do I need to do to improve? We would encourage you to discuss these questions with them If your child cannot answer these questions for any subject area then they should speak to their teacher

Teachers will feedback in lots of different ways BUT they will not give grades/levels to work until after the Y10 end of year exams Students will be given subject specific targets for improvement The focus will always be on encouraging students to better themselves This approach is supported by educational research

Data that goes home Your child will not be given target grades Summative assessments will be given a mark as a % - this will be their ‘Personal Best’ grade – this is to be used as their target Attitude to Learning (graded 1-4) Outstanding Good Inconsistent Cause for concern Professional Prediction (after Y10 mock exams)

Homework Paul Lightfoot plightfoot@christtheking.notts.sch.uk

How much to expect? Weekly – English, Maths and MFL Fortnightly – A new booklet according to the timetable Prior to exams at the in the final term your child will be set revision tasks

The Booklets Subjects included in the timetable have between one and three booklets over the course of the year Subjects are encouraged to set tasks which use skills of research, creation, thinking, revision and application Some aspects will be linked directly to the curriculum and others will be set to broaden your child’s understanding of the subject beyond what is covered in class

How can you help? Ensure your child completes the organisation task found in all booklets Help them spread the work out over their week Contact teachers in plenty of time if support is needed Provide further opportunities to build on what you see in homework booklets and exercise books

Student Expectations J. Mellor jmellor@christtheking.notts.sch.uk

Student Expectations Punctuality and Attendance: Current attendance: 97.8 Please support your child to arrive on time to school Encourage them to arrive at lessons on time Organisation:  Please ensure child has the right equipment, books, kit for school every day Please encourage your child to look after their bags, equipment, kit during the day Please support your child by helping them complete their homework, and ensuring that they bring it in by the deadline Please check and sign your child's planners every week, ensuring that they are recording homework; you can also use the planner to communicate with school 

Student Expectations Uniform: Please ensure that your child has the correct uniform and that they wear it correctly at all times Attitude to learning:  Participate fully in all lessons Contribute to a positive learning environment Looking for AtLs of 1 or 2 – below this will affect progress and attainment

Attitude to Learning (ATL) Outstanding Good Inconsistent Concern

Achievement Points Weekly Achievement Point Chart Attain as many achievement points as possible In order to celebrate success, each week I will display the names of the students who have attained the highest number of AP in the previous week Mr Mellor Stickers Where possible, I also visit Year 7 classes, engage in the students' learning and hand out a sticker to a student of the teacher's choice 

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