1. Year 12 Parents’ Information Evening
R.Elmes
Assistant Principal/Head of 6th Form
15th September 2016

2. The A-level mindset
“There is a growing body of research that suggests that successful students approach their studies with a specific set of behaviours, skills and attitudes and that despite not differing cognitively from their peers they can significantly outperform them. In short, academic success can be as much about character as it is about intelligence”

4. 11 Things A level students wish they’d known

5. 11 Things A level students wish they’d known
Use past papers, specimen papers, answer schemes and examiners’ reports
Make lots of notes (and re-read them in between lessons). Start revising early
Be prepared to work at home. Look ahead at what is to come and teach yourself.
Get organised (lever-arch files, dividers, poly pockets)
Treat it like a job (phone to advise of an absence) but try to get in.
6. Respect your deadlines – do your hwk. as soon as you get it 7. Make sure you understand each topic – aim to teach it to someone else or seek help 8. Don’t panic! Everyone finds it hard at first. 9. Don’t forget to have some fun. Take time off and make new friends 10. Don’t waste your free periods 11. Get some sleep

6. BALANCE BETWEEN ACADEMIC WORK, LEISURE AND PART-TIME WORK
Very important to get this right
You will enjoy leisure more if you have faced up to your academic commitments
Too much part-time work affects academic performance: More than 9-10 hours a week is probably too much

7. Advantages Money!! Meet new friends New experiences
New responsibilities (Importance of reliability/punctuality)
Learn new skills (teamwork)
Broader outlook on life outside school
Insight into business or industry (valuable work experience)

8. Disadvantages
Time taken from school work making it difficult to meet deadlines.
Lose focus on what is your REAL work
Get overtired and lose concentration in school
Not enough leisure time

9. THERE IS DEFINITELY A COST
Research at the University of Durham has compared A level students who do part-time work with those that do not.
0-9 hours part-time work a week, students on average half a grade down
More than 9 hours, one grade down
When matters: 2 hours after school is sensible. Long stretches in the evening or before school affect academic performance

10. STRIKE A BALANCE
Organise your life in a balanced way with time for academic work, time to relax and a sensible amount of part-time work to boost your income
Draw back from part-time work, work fewer hours, at academic pressure points especially around the Summer exams
Above all, be clear what your own priorities are in order to achieve your personal goals. You cannot do it all

11. Distractions that will affect your grades
Boyfriends/Girlfriends
Social life (and discussing it on Facebook/Twitter!)
The 6th Form social area
Part-time work
Computer games in and out of school
Alcohol
The ease with which I passed my GCSEs

12. My aims
Consolidate this 6th form as an outstanding centre of academic excellence
Pursue excellence in every aspect of a CCS 6th former (conduct, dress, attitude to learning, attendance, punctuality, aspirations and student outcomes)
Pursue excellence in the quality of teaching
Pursue excellence in personal development and well-being
Pursue excellence in data tracking, monitoring and intervention
Celebrate your efforts every week in assembly

13. Year 12 Monitoring, reports and Parents’ evenings 2016-17
Ongoing with the SIMS points system
Reporting schedule - you will receive 3 data reports, commencing 20th October and then 16th December and 3rd March 2017 plus a full report on 17th March.
Mock exams – 23rd January 2017
Parents’ evening – Thursday 2nd March
Any other time that is convenient/necessary

14. ALPS targets
ALPS target setting methodology uses students’ prior attainment in nationally assessed exams to calculate aspirational targets at the appropriate level. The target grades given are based on the achievements of students with similar prior achievement profiles. This allows us to generate targets which are challenging while still being achievable. Students receive a target which is based on the performance of all other students nationally.

15. ALPS indicatives
ALPS target setting methodology uses students’ prior attainment in nationally assessed exams to calculate aspirational targets at the appropriate level. The target grades given are based on the achievements of students with similar prior achievement profiles. This allows us to generate targets which are challenging while still being achievable. Students receive a target which is based on the performance of all other students nationally.

16. 6th Form dress code Dress for male students:
Formal jacket or blazer to be worn at all times
Long or short shirt sleeved shirt
Tie
V necked jumper (optional)
Tailored trousers
Black, brown or navy shoes or boots
Dress for female students:
Long or short shirt sleeved shirt / top
Jumper (optional)
Tailored skirts or dresses close to the knee
NOT ACCEPTABLE:
Maxi or mini skirts
Leggings, cropped trousers or shorts of any description
Strappy tops or cropped tops
Denim of any sort
Trainers or flimsy footwear
Ugg-type, slouchy boots
Visible facial/body piercings or tattoos
Hats inside the building

17. Microsoft Office 2016
The students can have a copy of Microsoft Office 2016 (Word Excel, PowerPoint etc) for free while they study here (Saves £350 on the full version).
To download they just need to click the big advert on the front page of COLIN and then click the "Install" button.
If asked for any usernames and passwords, these will be their school usernames and passwords which they all should know.

18. My reminder to students as to why you do what you do as parents………..