The Flagpole

We are delighted to announce that Princethorpe College has recently invested in GCSEPod, the award-winning digital content and revision provider used by over 1,250 schools worldwide.  GCSEPod is primarily aimed at pupils in years 10 and 11, but is accessible by all pupils within the school.

As a subscriber, your child now has access to GCSEPod’s library of over 6,000 ‘Pods,’ 3-5 minute videos designed to deliver knowledge in short bursts. GCSEPod makes learning and revision much more manageable; every Pod is mapped to an exam board, and contains all the right facts, quotes, keywords, dates and annotated diagrams that your child needs for GCSE success – all neatly organised into topics and exam playlists. Watch this short video for a quick introduction.

One of the best things about GCSEPod is that your child can download any Pod to their mobile device, and then they can watch them at any time, in any place, with or without internet. It’s like they’re carrying a whole set of textbooks in their pocket. Make sure they download the GCSEPod app from the App Store (Apple and Android are supported) to access this feature.

For more ways to support your child using GCSEPod, please visit www.gcsepod.com/parents where you’ll find lots more information and resources, and a flyer is attached for your reference here too.

GCSEPod has been launched to year 11 today in an assembly, showing them the benefits of using GCSEPod, the key features of the platform, how to use it successfully for revision and how to activate their account and log in. This can be a great extra revision tool for the lead up to the second set of mock exams after half-term, as well as all the way up to the GCSEs themselves.

Your child has already been registered with GCSEPod, so all they need to do is activate their account by following the instructions below. If your child has already activated but can’t remember their username and password, please ask them to contact a member of staff. They will also shortly be able to login using the Sign on with Office 365 button, using their school email address and password.

1)      Go to www.gcsepod.com and click Login in the top right-hand corner

2)      Click New here? Get started

3)      Select Student

4)      Enter their name, date of birth and the school name

5)      Create a username, password, and a password hint to help them remember the password

If you have any questions regarding GCSEPod please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Andy Compton
Assistant Head - Director of Digital Strategy

Need help with choosing GCSE options?  Click here to see the golden questions to ask yourself.

Dr Liz Pyne
Assistant Head - Teaching and Learning

Key dates in the reporting and examinations cycle for this half term are shown below.

Calendar Lent Second Half Term 2020

6 March -       Year 7 Full Reports

11 March -     CeFS exam resit - Part A onscreen test at 12:15pm

13 March -     Year 11 and Upper Sixth Mock Reports

16 March -     CeFS exam resit - Part B written exam at 9 am

20 March -     Year 8 Full Reports
                     Year 9 and Lower Sixth Progress Reports

External Examinations Timetables

The Summer 2020 exam timetable is now confirmed and pupils have checked their individual entries and been issued with personalised examination timetables.  Timetables will be available to view on the Pupil and Parent Portals after half term.

Pupils have also been issued with a Public Examinations Candidate Booklet for Written Exams, a copy of which is attached here.

After half term we will be looking at exam clashes and will contact pupils to advise of the rescheduled times.  Anyone involved in a clash will be supervised between exams.

Shellagh Dodds
Examinations and Assessment Manager

Reports for Year 10 will be posted out today, Friday 7 February 2020. They will also be available to view on My School Portal.

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic

Thursday 13 February 2020

On Thursday 13 February, the GCSE Options Information Evening is being held in the Sports Hall at 7.00pm. The evening comprises a series of short presentations on the options process followed by an opportunity for parents to meet with subject staff. Light refreshments will be available.

The purpose of the GCSE Options Information Evening is to provide parents with sufficient information regarding the options process so that they can help their son or daughter decide their GCSE options. You will also be provided with a hard copy of the GCSE Options Booklet, a pdf copy can be viewed by clicking here.

This follows on from the Year 9 Parents’ Evening that was held on Tuesday 4 February. Then, after half term, on Monday 2 March 2020, the Year 9 and 10 Academic Review Evening will provide you the opportunity to meet with your child's tutor and discuss the next steps.

Dr Liz Pyne
Assistant Head - Teaching and Learning

The second set of mock exams for Year 11 and Upper Sixth will take place in the week commencing 24 February.  For Year 11 they will take place over five days as per the January mocks.  For the Upper Sixth, this second set of mocks will be over seven days to allow for more papers and the most realistic examination experience.  Timetables have been emailed to both parents and pupils and we are pleased to have been able to include Wednesday afternoon Games for both year groups which should provide a welcome mid-week break from their exams.

This is a final opportunity for both Year 11 and Upper Sixth to really test themselves and learn from their successes and difficulties, supported by their teachers, before sitting the real exams in the summer. 

As per the instructions on the timetables emailed this week, please remind them to make sure that they have exam-compliant water bottles, pencil cases, etc.

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic

Monday 2 March 2020 - 6.00pm to 8.30pm

The Year 9 and 10 Academic Review Evening will take place on Monday, 2 March between 6.00pm and 8.30pm.  The appointments will last for 15 minutes and parents will be emailed with a booking link next week.  Appointment slots will be available from 6.00pm to 8.15pm and appointments will be held in the Sports Hall.

An important part of these Academic Review Evenings will be the additional information sessions. These sessions are designed specifically for Year 9 and 10 parents and pupils and will run continuously in alternating slots throughout the evening. They will operate on a drop-in basis and will not need to be booked in advance. We recommend them to you and we hope that you will be able to attend some, both before and after your appointment. The information sessions will all be held in the Limes classrooms. Refreshments will be available and served from the Limes atrium.  

The start times of the fifteen minute workshop sessions are show below:

LG01   Making the Most of Online Resources for Revision - Andy Compton: 6.00pm; 6.40pm; 7.20pm; 8.00pm
LG01   Learning Skills - Helen Pascoe-Williams: 6.20pm; 7.00pm; 7.40pm
LG02   Making Career Choices - Jacqui Quinney:  6.00pm; 6.40pm; 7.20pm
LG02   A Taste of Sixth Form - Ben Collie: 6.20pm; 7.00pm; 7.40pm
LG03   Exam Access Arrangements for Pupils with Identified Needs - Lorna Prestage: 6.00pm; 6.40pm; 7.20pm; 8.00pm
LG03   Find Out More - Princethorpe's Science+ Campaign - Development Director: 6.20pm; 7.00pm; 7.40pm
LG04   Film Room - for siblings if required

Senior staff will be available to answer additional questions you may have during the evening and front of house admin staff will also be available to update any changes to family details.

We look forward to seeing you and we hope that you find the Academic Review Meetings and information sessions both informative and helpful.

Dr Liz Pyne
Assistant Head - Teaching and Learning