Bulletin - 23rd March

Welcome back everyone!

Meeting on Tues in C26
3.15 – 4.15
1) Dept review procedures (10 mins)
2) SEF (10 mins)
3) NATE (GSn) (10 mins)
4) Exam class issues 2009 (20 mins)
5) AOB

Planning info
Thanks to all staff who have responded to the request for info on your KS3 and KS4 classes from the previous bulletin (on http://www.cheneyenglish.blogspot.com/ ) – if you haven’t yet got back to me, could you do so ASAP please.

Department review
Please see earlier email with info on our forthcoming review week and get back to me with any queries.

Coursework Moderation 2009
I’ve asked for coursework moderation for Year 11 and KS5 to take place on Tuesday 21st April. This will involve the department being off timetable and will need all KS5 / Year 11 staff to bring completed coursework folders to the meeting.
We haven’t received cover sheets from the board yet as far as I know, but they are available from the AQA website at http://www.aqa.org.uk/admin/crf_gcse_2009.php (GCSE ones), http://www.aqa.org.uk/admin/crf_gce_2009.php (old A Level) and http://www.aqa.org.uk/admin/crf_newgce_2009.php (new A Level).

Coursework Admin
I've emailed around a spreadsheet which I’ve used with my Year 11 to store their coursework and exam scores. It’s been helpful as it generates a graph showing them their progress towards and beyond the C grade (access this through the tab at the bottom of the worksheet). Please feel free to use this yourselves if you’d like, and see me if you want some help filling it in. It’s a bit fiddly, but we can just paste in the exam data and it’s quick if you have help. It’s great for showing them visually how they’re getting on, and has the added advantage of being able to merge the data straight onto the Candidate Record Form, thereby making this onerous process a whole lot easier.
If you are interested, I’ve also attached a sheet which I’ve used to merge their coursework data on to – this is aimed at my paternity really, but you might find it useful if you want your class to improve coursework or if you have any gaps.

Have a great term everyone!

Tom

Bulletin

Hello all,
Well, as I write the snow is coming down with gusto, but surely we can't be looking at another day out of school??! Back to Fox FM in the morning I suppose, but the forecast does look like we should be in... heavy snow forecast for Monday though...

This week:

• EWa and TBo out on Weds at HODs conference.


• INSET day on Friday for all staff.

KS3:

As we approch the end of term, could I ask all teachers of all KS3 English classes to send me a quick email confirming the following:

• which unit you are currently completing with each KS3 class


• which unit you are intending to move on to next
  

KS4:

Could all Year 11 teachers please email me with confirmation of the date on which you are intending to compete your mock exam feedback lesson. I'll then organise the resources for this. Also, if there are any pieces of coursework missing could you let myself and parents know before the half term break.

Writing to describe: please see the writing to describe resources sent to us by Munaza last week- I've emailed them around, and they might be useful for catch up / improvement original writing coursework, as well as exam prep.

Thanks a lot and have a good week,

Tom

Bulletin- 2nd Feb

Hi all,

I've just been reading the extreme weather warning on the BBC website, but I can't see any evidence outside my window. Still, fingers crossed regarding a possible repeat of the legendary 'Snow Day' of 2007 (whether you are hoping for or against, you decide!)...

This week:
- Full staff meeting on Tues after school in the staffroom

- PCE on Thurs for Year 9 from 4.30- please chase students for appointments this week.

Thanks to Corinna for taking what sounds like a really successful trip to Poetry Live!, particularly as the date was changed at short notice.

Year 11: various members of SLT have expressed a willingness to take an active part in our work with year 11, specifically by coming in to key lessons to support and make sure the students are applying themselves. If you know you have a big lesson coming up- exam feedback seems a good one- let me know and I'll try to organise something.

KS3: Please see the email sent round by Liz about the Year 9 Poetry unit, with particular reference to the focus for assessment for this unit. Liz and I had a productive meeting with HN last week regarding assessment, and I hope to produce a draft policy document for your comments at some point this week. I would just like to emphasis that using homeworks set in advance has been very popular with parents, so please use these sheets if you can- they are on the VLE in the KS3 English area.

Website: try this for promoting equal turn-taking when doing Q and A / discussion work: http://aschool.us/moodle-scripts/random-name.php

Thanks for everyone's hard work so far this term- only 9 proper school days to go until the hols!

Tom

ps- just a reminder that our dept review week begins on the 2nd March...