Newsletters

GHS Connect #4 Monday 5th October

Mia's notes

Welcome back to another week. It has been unseasonably warm, but I guess the weather will turn at some point, which might mean our energy levels dip a bit too. At this time of year it's always important to pace yourself and one of the best ways of doing this is to continue to focus on the basics.  Having a clear, established routine might sometimes feel like an effort, but it saves a lot of potential energy further down the road.

Spending time setting up tasks properly for independent work can help too as you then get the benefit of the students actually being able to work through things without needing you too much!  We will be looking at our teaching and learning in our StepLab sessions this week which will be a great opportunity for everyone to reflect on what's gone really well so far this year, and what could do with a tweak.

Have a great week,

Mia

The week ahead

Monday
Normal Day

Tuesday
Department meetings, including StepLab (3.15pm - 4pm)

Wednesday
Briefing in the library – 8.15am
Action Research 1 (3:15-4:15pm)

Thursday
Normal Day

Friday
Normal Day

Notes 
Year 12 A2L Interim due

Learning and Teaching Tips and Strategies

When does consistency become a problem?

Week 4: Adapting the cycle

The lesson cycle provides structure, but effective teaching requires us to respond to the students in front of us. Adaptation allows us to alter the learning journey without losing sight of the aim.

Top Tips:

• Use Do Now responses to decide whether to revisit prerequisite knowledge.
• Prepare a second example or explanation for concepts students may struggle with.
• Have an extra guided practice question ready if students are not ready for independent practice.
• Prepare reduced scaffolds and increased challenge so you can adjust support without changing the learning.
• Use Independent Practice to decide whether to continue, intervene or revisit.
• If the Review exposes a gap, adapt the starting point of the next lesson.

Delve deeper: Jon Eaton on Moving from ‘differentiation’ to ‘adaptive teaching’. Read here.

Post 16 Update and Expectations

First, thank you for your support in delivering such a positive start to the new academic year. Our Post 16 students are enjoying their lessons and have settled well into GHS life. We want to maintain this momentum!

To ensure we are all aligned and continuing to achieve the best outcomes for our young people, please see below for key reminders and expectations for the term and year ahead. 

1. Basic Student Expectations

Please support us in holding all Post 16 students to account. IDs aside, these rules apply across the entire school for all students:

• Phones & Earphones: Not permitted anywhere on school grounds (inside or outside of lessons). If seen, the Post 16 team or SLT will immediately confiscate them for 24 hours. Please challenge students and enforce this golden rule consistently.
• Jackets: Must be removed in classrooms.
• Chewing Gum & Energy Drinks: Strictly prohibited anywhere on school grounds.
• Water: Is the only drink allowed in lessons.
• ID Badges: Must always be worn and clearly visible (worn over jumpers/ outerwear).

2. Punctuality, Attendance & Classroom Management

This year, we are placing sharp focus on attendance and punctuality to establish the correct habits early on. Maximising learning time is critical, and consistent modelling from staff is key:

• Lesson Timing: All Post 16 classes must start promptly on time and run for the full duration of the timetabled slot. Please do not dismiss classes early.
• Teacher Presence: Post 16 classes must not be cancelled to cover other lessons or accommodate meetings. As with lower school, students must never be left unattended in class except in an emergency.
• Register Accuracy: Registers must be taken within the first 10 minutes of the lesson. This is essential for safeguarding and allows Fuad and André to chase absent students immediately.
• Lateness: Students must arrive on time for every lesson and form period. Please mark any late arrivals accurately on the register; 3 late marks within a week will trigger a 1-hour Post 16 detention.
• Unauthorised Absence: Triggers an immediate phone call home from the Post 16 team.

3. Teacher Absence Expectations

While teacher absence is sometimes unavoidable, we must look to minimise its impact on student progress. If you are absent, please follow this procedure:

1. Google Classroom: Inform your class via the Google Classroom stream, setting clear, detailed instructions and challenging work for the duration of the lesson.
2. Supervision: Classes must report directly to the LRA at the start of the period. Students will complete their set work in silence under the supervision of Kristal McKay (Post 16 Intervention Manager).
3. Registers during Absence: Fuad (Y13) and André (Y12) will take the register for absent classes in the LRA. 

Thank you again for all that you are doing for our Post 16 students and for your support in maintaining these standards across the school.

The P16 Team

Drop In Reminders

Thank you to everyone who completed their drop-ins - an impressive 97% of drop-ins happened over the first two and a half weeks of the school year! 

With the launch of the Greenford High Five last year and the Learning Cycle this year, drop-ins allow everyone to get out and see great practice around the school, generating positive discussion about what good teaching and learning looks like in our Greenford classrooms. 

When looking at the drop-ins, it is clear that we are embedding some key routines into our practice.

• Retrieval Do Nows that make students think about their prior knowledge.
• More visible key vocabulary on boards with students encouraged to use frequently in the lesson.
• Cold calling to check for understanding.

I look forward to seeing you all for our first Steplab staff session on Tuesday in the hall from 3:15–3:45, when you will get a chance to sit with your peer drop-in colleague and discuss your visits in more detail.

Andrea

Inclusion Messages

Inclusion

Safeguarding

Please ensure that you remain on the school site until the end of directed time at 3:15 pm, unless you have an agreed leave of absence in place.

When large numbers of staff and students attempt to leave the grounds simultaneously at the end of the day, it creates significant congestion at exit points. Remaining on site through the end of directed time helps maintain an active staff presence during peak times, ensures clear oversight, and prevents potential safeguarding risks at the school gates.

Roblox

You may have already seen this, but if you haven’t, I feel it is important to take a look to understand what children as young as five are being exposed to on Roblox and the particular dangers to those who are 13+. Just a warning, there are references to self-harm, suicide, rape and sexual abuse here.

Inside Roblox's dark side: Sky News finds self-harm avatars available to young children | News UK Video News | Sky News

SEN Updates

Please can I remind staff that SEN focus groups form part of directed time and are published in the staff calendar.

These sessions are vital for sharing strategies, resources, and updates to support our work with SEN students and ultimately improve outcomes for our young people.

As our Year 7 pupils settle in, the SEN department is currently conducting classroom observations to help identify any undiagnosed needs.

Please take note of the following key actions:

• Student Referrals: If you have concerns about any pupil in your classes, please refer them directly to the SEN department.
• EHCP Reviews (SIMS): Check the SEN section on SIMS to ensure you have read the EHCPs for all relevant pupils, paying particular attention to Section F (Special Educational Provision).

Thank you for your ongoing support in ensuring our pupils receive the right provision.

Gurvinder

Bright Spots

The first of this week's Bright Spots have been nominated by Phoebe, and are André Persaud, Mark Lau and Serena Hayes, for taking the D of E cohort on their overnight expedition. Thank you!

Next, a shout out for Jay Ramgi - Jay has been working to set up Community Passport since June to ensure staff have volunteers and Y12 understand the importance of community spirit and support. It launches this week and he deserves recognition for the massive shift that has gone into coordinating staff, over 260 students, and too many spreadsheets to count, all while having a huge role in establishing Y12, running KS5 Basketball and teaching spectacular lessons! Thanks Jay. 

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