Newsletters

GHS Connect #23 Monday 16th March

Mia's notes

I know it always feels like we’re on countdown, but we really are only 2 weeks away from the end of term, a fact definitely worth celebrating! Although it’s the holidays, I know that many of you will be coming in to support with, and deliver revision classes and I want to thank you in advance for these.

As well as getting ready for the onslaught of exams, we have had much going on in the last few weeks and I want to reiterate my thanks for all of the things that I mentioned in briefing last week. I have noticed that Year 11 are bubbling a little - this is to be expected - they have suddenly realised that they may not be as ready as they thought they were.  This can all be overcome by setting out the next few weeks to them clearly, showing them what they can do, then being positive but clear about what few steps can be taken to improve where needed. 

Have a great week.

Mia

The week ahead

Monday
Normal Day

Tuesday
Year Team Meeting/Pastoral Time/RAD Prep 3.15pm - 4.30pm
Directed time from HoY to form tutors 
4.00pm - 4:30pm

Wednesday
Briefing in the library – 8.15am
3.15pm - 4.15pm
Whole Staff CPD
Pastoral/Behaviour/L&T 

Thursday
Normal Day

Friday
Normal Day

Notes
Year 10 Interim 3
Mock Results Day (Wednesday)

Learning and Teaching Tips and Strategies

This term, we will be sharing top tips and strategies for oracy. 

Week 4: Think, Pair, Share – Closing the Loop

“Closing the loop” means bringing the class back together to clarify any misconceptions and synthesise ideas. Without this stage, valuable ideas from discussions remain fragmented and unconnected, so mental models won’t develop as effectively.

Top Tips:

• Return to the original question so students can connect the discussion to the learning.
• Emphasise key ideas by recording strong responses and vocabulary on the board.
• Highlight common misconceptions and address these explicitly.
• Synthesise responses by drawing links between different ideas that were discussed.
• End with a clear takeaway that reinforces the key concept.
• Close the loop with a reflection task.

Sentence Starters:

• “Can we combine these responses into one stronger explanation?”
• “What’s one idea that you are taking away with you after the discussion?”
• “How will this discussion help us with the task we are about to do?”
• “Let’s return to the original question…”

Want to know more? Try the SecEd podcast on how to teach oracy skills in the secondary school classroom.

Pupil Premium Update

A reminder that we have a dedicated page for Pupil Premium which can be located on the VLE here.

A digital version of the Pupil Premium teacher prompt card can be located here.

All 12 steps are important to implement within your teaching but please ensure that the following steps are evident in every lesson to help support the progress and achievement of PP students.

Step 1

Meet & greet  

Meet all your learners at the door and check-in with those students who are disadvantaged. “How was your evening” or “Are you having a good day” or “Have you got everything that you need for today’s lesson”.

Step 4

Demonstrate & model

It is important to model what a great performance looks like in your subject & even more important that you model the process (meta-cognition) of how to approach problems or tasks.

Step 7

Wait time

Do not allow the disadvantaged to simply say “I don’t know”. Give them wait time, let them look at their books before attempting an answer. Circle back to them to ensure they have understood (ABC).

Step 10

Circulating the room with purpose

Target the disadvantaged students in your lesson first to check that they understand and are “on task”. Offer positive feedback where possible (PIP).

Step 12

End & send

Stand at the door as you dismiss all students. Try to celebrate any positives with disadvantaged student or stop them for a quick restorative conversation if needed.

Pupil Premium – Top Tips – Feedback from student voice sessions.

• Allow take-up time in between tasks – especially with lower band sets. Ask students to repeat instructions so that they are understood, and any misconceptions are addressed.
• More carrot and less stick – think character points, postcards home, phone calls home, stickers in an exercise book, public verbal praise.
• Chunking information so that it is easier for students to digest and understand.
• 3 take-away tips. Please consider giving students 3 takeaway tips or points at the end of every lesson and recalling these at the start of the next lesson.  

Breakfast club

Breakfast club is now open every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 7.45-8.30am. All Pupil Premium students have received a letter home promoting the club and informing them that they receive a daily budget of £2.50 for breakfast, along with the new opening times. Every student at GHS is invited to breakfast club, so please continue to promote this during form time.

Year 7 QPR scheme

A group of 15 students in Year 7 will start a 6-week intervention working alongside QPR football club which will support their transition into secondary school. The sessions will focus upon –

• Relationship building
• Team building, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Emotional regulation and coping strategies.
• Belonging, confidence, & navigating school life.
• Celebration and reflection.

More details of those students involved along with timings are on the VLE.

Lastly, if you have any questions regarding the above, please email me – mharvey@greenford.ealing.sch.uk

Inclusion Messages

Inclusion Update

• Students: IN (Y9) is no longer on roll, GO(Y8) attending Belvue, CB (Y10) off roll elected for home education, MA (Y7) Section 29.  We continue to work with the local authority to organise change of placements and will be sharing information on changes with relevant staff shortly.
• We are continuing our support with the ‘Lion Project’ targeting Y8/9 boys following the success of the KS4 programme. 
• Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) workshops continue at Post 16
• ADH – Continues to support students with mental health crises and works with individual students.  Please note staff are available to see ADH for support and guidance.
• Project Scholar – Additional project running workshops for targeted groups in Y8/9 (more information to follow).  This work continues given the increased referrals around contextual safeguarding.
• Music Workshop – Wednesday after school (with external professionals, teaching students to regulate through writing and recording music)
• Please ensure you are continuing the form time activities set ‘around safeguarding and mental health support.

SEN Update

• Please continue with Exams Access Arrangements – completing the Google Form and uploading any necessary work.

Gurvinder

Bright Spot

This week's Bright Spots are Scott McCreeth and Akum Dhillon, nominated by Tom Oseku, who says:

I just wanted to highlight the fantastic effort from Scott and Akum over the weekend.

On Saturday, they took a group of students (mostly KS3) to the First Lego League (FLL) competition, giving up their time from 7am through to around 6pm to support the event. In the weeks leading up to it, they had also been running after-school clubs to mentor and coach the students in preparation. Scott also drove the school bus for the trip, which made the logistics much easier.

It was a long day and a significant commitment on their part, but it made a real difference for the students and gave them a great experience.

If there are any concerns about Equality and Diversity (staff)  at GHS please contact A Johal (DHT)