Newsletters

GHS Connect #24 Monday 23rd March

Mia's notes

I’m going to keep it short this week and simply wish everyone a wonderful break. I do hope that travel plans have not been disrupted if you were planning to go away, and if they have, that you manage to find something else to do instead.

As ever, thank you so much for all of your hard work this term. It does not go unnoticed. We’ll be on the final push after Easter, especially with Year 11 and 13, so do get such much needed rest over the holidays.

Have a great week.

Mia

The week ahead

Monday
Normal Day

Tuesday
Department Time 3.15pm - 4.30pm

Wednesday
Briefing in the library – 8.15am

Thursday
Normal Day

Friday
Raising Achievement Day

Learning and Teaching Tips and Strategies

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

Week 5: Speaking Like a Scholar

High quality classroom talk helps students practise the language of the subject. This moves them beyond everyday conversation into academic thinking.

Top Tips:

• Remind students how to talk and how to listen with key vocabulary.
• Model expert language.
• Expect students to speak in full sentences.
• Provide subject-specific sentence stems to scaffold talk.
• Link talk to writing.
• Celebrate strong examples of scholarly talk.

Sentence Starters:

• “Can you repeat that using _________ and in a full sentence?”
• “Now, start your answer with…”
• “Explain that concept like an expert to…”
• “Summarise our discussion using three key terms.”

Want to know more? Here is Alex Quigley’s take on how to do disciplinary literacy.

Raising Achievement Day

This is a great opportunity to be able to sit down with your tutees and discuss a number of areas for 10 mins.Please can all tutors discuss the following:

KS3

• Attendance – we want 95% and over. Please make the connection between attendance and achievement clearly.
• The Basics – uniform, punctuality, respect and general attitude to learning. 
• Personal Development – what the student is like in PSHCE and their developments with regards to Greenford Character strengths:
  • Courage
  • Compassion
  • Resilience
  • Responsibility
  • Community 
• Literacy – reading age data and discussing how often they read and what kind of books they enjoy reading.
• Behaviour points and Character points – please set a target about how to reduce BP (where applicable) and how to boost the number of CP.
• Year 9 – Option choices.

KS4

• Y11 tutors can discuss/reflect on:
  • Y11 interim 3.
  • The mock exams - what went well and any areas they need to work on.
  • How to prepare for forthcoming exams..
  • How they can use the Easter holidays productively.
  • Beyond Y11 and post 16 (discussing the application process).
• Y10 tutors can reflect on:
  • How to prepare for the end of year exams/assessments.
  • Set targets for the summer term
  • Work Experience – all information has been posted on Satchel One. If students do not have a placement, they risk being in school during this week.
  • Personal Development – are students participating in form time when careers activities are taking place? Are they taking part in opportunities available to them? 

RAD folder:

1. Form time slides with activities to deliver to students leading to RAD
2. Slides delivered by YT for form tutors
3. Interims and Enrichment activities break down

Have a great day! 

Amandip

Inclusion Messages

Inclusion Update

Advice and guidance on how to support conversations around grooming:

First Light is a UK charity supporting people affected by sexual violence and domestic abuse, delivering counselling, advocacy and specialist support services across the South West of England, including Devon, Cornwall, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

Alongside their frontline work, the organisation publishes practical guidance to help adults recognise and respond to risks faced by young people.

Their resource hub includes accessible articles such as Talking to Young People About Grooming, explaining how grooming develops, warning signs to look for, and how adults can have supportive conversations with young people.

SEN

Exams Access – Fay and the Exams team are finalising the documents for Year 11 and 13.  Once all exams access arrangements are in place, a finalised list will be published for all staff.

Podcasts SEN – If you are interested in further listening around SEN: SEN Podcasts to upskill, inform and consider your practice (Needs an Apple ID)

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/sen-talks/id1646432186

I hope all the staff celebrating Eid had a lovely time with friends and family.

Gurvinder

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