Newsletters

GHS Connect #27 Monday 27th April

Mia's notes

Thank you very much for everything that has been going on over the last couple of weeks.  Obviously, it’s all systems go with Year 11 and 13, but there is so much else going on as well. Highlights include the Year 8 CoachBright Mentoring, the Army workshop and the Year 12 Careers Fair, but I know there have been lots of other things happening too.  Thank you to everyone who has made a contribution to our students’ success, not just academically, but in all other areas of life too. 

This week sees work taking place on gangs and extremism and also a coffee morning for some of our parents. Our parental and community engagement work is so important, and so a big shout out also needs to go to our wonderful parental ambassadors Silvia, Monika and Fuad.

Have a great week. Remember, we have a long weekend coming up!

Mia

The week ahead

Monday
Normal Day

Tuesday
Year Team Meeting/Pastoral Time
Time 3.15pm - 4 pm
Directed time from HoY to form tutors 
4pm - 4.30pm

Wednesday
Briefing in the library – 8.15am
Meetings - all 3.15pm - 4.15pm
HOD Meeting
HOY/DHOY
Teacher Mark, Plan & Collab
SEND Focus Group 
ECT CPD

Thursday
Normal Day

Friday
Normal Day

Learning and Teaching Tips and Strategies

This term, we will be sharing top tips and strategies around revision.

Can your students explain why something happens, or just recall that it does?

Week 3: Making Revision Stick

Retrieval helps students remember, but elaboration helps them to understand it. When students think hard by explaining and justifying their ideas, we deepen their knowledge, their mental model is strengthened, and they can apply knowledge to new contexts.

Top Tips:

• Push students beyond simple recall by asking “why” and “how”.
• Encourage full explanations rather than short answers.
• Use examples and non-examples to deepen understanding.
• Ask students to justify their thinking with evidence or reasoning.
• Provide opportunities to develop and refine ideas by building in discussions.
• Always link new learning to prior knowledge as this strengthens mental models. 

Do’s and Don’ts:

 See here for Peps Mccrea’s take on elaboration.

Post 16 Updates

Year 13

Summer half term 1 means business in the school as a whole and, in particular, in Post 16.

For our 240 Year 13 students, their 7 year secondary education journey is coming to an end. 

They are tired; we are tired. They are stressed; we are (a little) stressed. They are ready to go; we are ready for (some of) them to go. However, the final couple of weeks in school should not be a slog – it should be a positive experience for them – and us. Let’s remember that – for the most part – they have been a great group. Let’s really ramp up the positivity and really channel optimism in our final few lessons together.

The best support we can give now is confidence and resources. Please ensure your Google Classrooms are fully populated with:

• Essential revision guides and materials.
• Past papers and mark schemes. 

This will be the perfect parting gift & ensures our Y13s have everything they need to succeed once they depart.

Final Day Logistics: Friday 8th May

• P1–2: Regular lessons.
• P3–4: Leavers’ Assembly in the Lecture Theatre (all staff welcome).
• P5–6: No lessons for Y13.
• Note: All Y13 BTEC students remain in school/lessons until formally signed off by course leaders.

Year 12 

As the Year 13s depart, the Year 12 UCAS journey begins in earnest. Following our successful launch days, there is a real ‘spring in the step’ for many – I hope this is translating into high engagement in your classrooms.

I will be in touch shortly regarding UCAS references, summer exams, and EAA provision. In the meantime, thank you for your continued efforts with our young adults.

Richard

Inclusion Messages

We are seeing a small increase in the number of pupils struggling with their mental health.  Contributing factors may be the stress of exams, challenges with friendship groups and undiagnosed needs. 

Please see below information to support our students that may be experiencing self-harm.  Niloo also gave some top tips this week in briefing to support your tutees with exam stress. (Please refer to her slides on the VLE)

The Lion Project Continues to be a success amongst our small Y8/9 Group.  Please see the photos below of this week's session.

Gurvinder

Bright Spots

The first of this week's Bright Spots are Clare Rodway and the Year 12 team, for organising the Year 12 Higher Education Fair. A student said of the event:

It was an incredibly valuable experience, and I truly appreciate the effort and thought that went into bringing together such a wide range of universities and opportunities for us to explore... The event was not only informative, but also genuinely enjoyable. 

Our Chair of Governors, Sunny Chana said:

It was brilliant seeing how engaged the students were with the stand holders and the whole event had such a positive energy throughout. A real credit to Clare and the wider team for pulling everything together so well.

Next, Mark Harvey has nominated Claire Kemish, saying:

Claire has made a wonderful start at GHS, working in student services to ensure that our students are “ready” for the day and have the correct uniform. Claire has worked diligently to ensure that patrol calls are picked up swiftly and actioned by staff. Claire is based in AG14 so please pop in and say hello if you haven’t done so yet.

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