Welcome to the Year 8 Parents’ Information Evening Tuesday 27 th September 2016
Achievements of the Year
Mr A Tamplin Associate Assistant Headteacher for Standards and Culture in Year 7 and 8 atamplin@didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk
GCSE Success
Headlines 2014 2015 2016 % 5+ A*-C including GCSE 75 73 77 English & Maths % A*-C English & Maths 75 75 80 % 5+ A*-G (inc E&M) 98 96 97 % English GCSE A*-C 84 91 91 % Maths GCSE A*-C 81 77 82
Headlines • Outstanding Ofsted (Nov.2015) • Highest performing outstanding school in Oxfordshire • Superb results : 80% A*-C inc. English & Maths • Ranked in the top 20% for achievement for the fourth year running • 63% of students achieved at least one A*/A grade • Twenty eight students achieved 7 or more A or A* grades
Why were we so successful? • The hard work from staff and students • Exam practice and opportunities • Revision school • Record attendance • Detailed analysis of the progress of each and every student to ensure that everyone is following the curriculum which best suits them • High expectations and standards
Standards The bedrock for success … Behaviour Values Attitude Uniform Respect Responsibility Ambition Attendance
Every DGS student …
“Every DGS Student Aspires to be Outstanding”
There are three things successful students share: • a desire to do well • a growth mindset
Mrs A Bass Head of Year 8 abass@didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk Mrs K Miller Year 8 Student Manager kmiller@didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk
The Year 8 Team FORM TUTOR TG CONTACT Ms A Eccleston 8ALE aeccleston@didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk Dr P Comina 8PJC pcomina@didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk jshaw@didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk Dr J Shaw & Mrs P Hemsley 8JSS phemsley@didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk Miss E Thursfield 8EBT ethursfield@didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk Mrs L Turner 8LXT lturner@didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk Miss E Higgins 8SXH ehiggins@didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk Mr C Byrne 8CXB cbyrne@didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk Mrs C Howard-Saunders & Mrs chowardsaunders@didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk C Hughes 8CHS chughes@didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk
Uniform Plain navy blue trousers – no combats, flares, drainpipe- style, „skinny‟ trousers or leggings. No tight trousers; trousers must hang from hip. No exposed zips/studs on trousers. Plain navy blue knee-length pleated skirt - no shorter than 5cm above the knee. Shoes, black or navy, with low heels - sandals, trainers (including black leather), boots or backless shoes may not be worn. Canvas black pumps or trainers are not permitted. Toes must be covered by shoes. Jewellery : One pair of earrings, studs or sleepers, may be worn: one earring, stud or sleeper in each lobe . Ear „stretchers‟ are not permitted. A watch may be worn . Make-up, if worn, should be discreet but no nail varnish . No extremes of hair colour or hair style are permitted.
Year 7 – 96.7% (July, 2016) Year 8 Target – 97% • Weekly tracking by tutors. • Phone call in to school if they are unwell. • Letter/email to let us know of appointments. • Holiday requests must be submitted in advance and on a holiday request form – available from Pupil Services.
Attendance Attendance Equals days Which is about Which means during one absent x weeks this is the school year absence number of lessons you miss 95% 9 2 48 90% 19 4 96 85% 29 6 144 80% 38 8 192 75% 48 10 240 70% 57 11.5 276
Participation & rewards • Numerous clubs – shared in tutor time and on the website • Year 8 Committee • School Council • Leadership Ladder • Volunteering for events, eg. Open Evening • Year 8 events – Disco, BBQ, theatre trip, PGL residential • Postcards home from tutors, HOY and teachers • Merits / House Points • Vouchers in celebration assembly for attendance and merits • Recognition on the Year 8 Blog • Celebration breakfasts
Key dates • Snapshot 1 – 25 th November 2016 • Snapshot 2 – 27 th January 2017 • Snapshot 3 – 23 rd June 2017 • Y8 Parents Consultation Evening; Thursday 9 th February 2017 • Y8 Options Evening; Thursday 9 th March 2017
What can parents do to help? • A quiet space • Dialogue – talk about her learning • Share the experience • Keep lines of communication open • Help with resources • Communicate with teachers • Support the school in terms of standards • Emotional support • Realistic expectations and achievable goals
Year 8 English at Didcot Girls’ School Mr J Cross Head of English and Media
What will my daughter be studying this year? • Oracy: delivering effective speeches • Detective writing unit • Famous People, Famous Speeches • Novel extracts: Great Expectations • Shakespeare: Macbeth • Short stories: reading and writing
How does this build on Year 7? • Increasing confidence… – when speaking aloud in a range of situations – when writing for a wider range of purposes • Greater precision… – in spelling, punctuation and grammar – in vocabulary choice, tone and expression • More ambitious analysis… – of more challenging texts and genres
What opportunities are there? • Reading for Pleasure: a library lesson per fortnight • Creative writing club: weekly (day to be confirmed) • Paired reading, with Year 11 students • External writing competitions throughout the year • Opportunity to be the school‟s Poet Laureate • Public Speaking Club
How can I support my daughter’s learning in English? • Listen to her read • Talk to her about books and the wider world • Encourage her to read regularly on her own • Take her to a local library • Help her to learn the weekly spellings/key words
Ms King Head of Maths
Year 8 Maths: Ethos and Expectations Every child can “do” maths – we have a growth mindset We have high expectations of written work We set bespoke weekly homework to meet the needs of the students We provide lots of support including lunchtime clubs on Tuesday and Wednesday (S8) We have a really engaging and positive curriculum including project based learning.
Year 8 Maths: Parental support You can support your daughter by: Talking to her about her homework – encourage her to look back in her book if she is stuck or come to a lunchtime club Look out for an email each term with the maths revision checklist for that term Be positive about maths and your daughter‟s ability in maths
Science in Year 8 Miss Painting KS3 Lead in Science ppainting@didcotgirls.oxon.sch.uk
In year 8 students are taught in sets. They were set in September using: Assessment results from year 7 Performance in class during year 7 At the end of each long term sets will be reshuffled if necessary
At KS3 students are taught using the Activate scheme of work written by OUP. “ Activate is an exciting new KS3 Science course designed to spark curiosity in science and support you on your journey through KS3 to KS4 success.”
During year 8 students will cover topics within all 3 of the sciences:
At the end of each term students will complete an assessment. In order to revise for these students can use: Their exercise book Checklists for the relevant topic BBC Bitesize CGP Revision guide (£2.50 from science) CGP workbook to accompany the revision guide (£5 from science)
Exercise books: Lesson activities such as worksheets, practical write ups, quick quizzes Homework tasks Students may have brief notes on some topics Lessons: Mixture of oral & written tasks Independent & group work Learning through interest, engagement & an enjoyment of the subject
Projects: In year 8 students will have the opportunity to undertake up to 3 projects during the year. There will be a biology, chemistry & physics project. The purpose of the project: -extended piece of work -work as a team & collaborate -draw on knowledge from different chapters
Fun in science: Students can follow us on twitter: @dgs_science Lower school Science Club takes place in C21 on Tuesdays 3.15-4.30! Students can “use their creativity & practical skills in experiments & challenges”
A new and exciting opportunity… “Environment Club” Enhance different skills Make new friends Leadership opportunities Make a difference to the school! Starting after October half term – More information to be revealed…
Teaching and Learning Mr Cross Teaching & Learning Team
Teaching and Learning Priorities 1. Oracy ‘You can’t find your voice if you don’t use it.’ 2. Homework Timely and effective homework tasks to support student learning
Oracy: To speak fluently, with accurate grammar and with impact. 1. No opt-out Fluent Accurate 2. A clear, audible Confident classroom voice, Effective using Standard English 3. Detailed verbal responses
Homework • Departmental policies have been designed which outline expectations in each subject. • Tasks designed to maximise student understanding and inform classroom study. • Students will still have regular homework, updated on Show My Homework.
Assessment and Reporting Changes How we assess and report your child‟s progress in Year 8
Recommend
More recommend
