Timetable Updates - Reminder

Bank Holiday Adjustment

Due to the additional Bank Holiday in May, on Tuesday 8 May we will be operating a Monday timetable for that week, including for sports. This is to prevent pupils missing out on the same lessons for two consecutive Mondays.

Michael Spencer

Deputy Head - Academic

External Examinations

Summer Exam Season

All pupils have been given their personal exam timetable and a copy of the Candidate Handbook – it is important that they are familiar with all the information it contains; a copy can be viewed here. Timetables and, nearer the time, allocated rooms can be viewed on the pupil and parent portals.

A few pupils have exam clashes, these individuals have all been contacted now. A clash of exams only occurs when two exams for different subjects are timetabled to start at the same time on the same day.

Where two exams for the same subject are timetabled to start at the same time on the same day, they will be taken one after the other. This applies to GCSE History, IGCSE French, IGCSE Spanish and A-level Maths.

Sarah Tsang

Examinations Officer

Year 11 Examinations Final Information - Reminder

As we approach the beginning of the examination season, we wanted to provide some final notes about arrangements for Year 11; this repeats information given to parents in the recent Q&A evening and to pupils in assemblies.

Examination Timetables
Year 11 pupils have already received their examination timetables and know how to view these on My School Portal. These are also visible to parents from the left-hand menu on My School Portal. Roomings will be added closer to the examinations.

Study Leave 
From Thursday May 11, pupils are not required to be on-site except when they have an examination. They may choose whether they work at home, in school or a combination of the two.

Study Leave Registration
In order to know exactly who is on site at any time, Year 11 pupils will need to sign-in and out of school if arriving/leaving during the school day. For those wishing to leave school after an examination, we would request that they are collected in specified windows so that we can control traffic on the playground during the school day.

Pupils arriving for a morning examination will be registered in the exam room
Pupils arriving to a study room for Period 1 will be registered in the room
Pupils arriving at any other time of day should sign in at the Pupil Hub
Pupils leaving after an examination can sign-out on the playground and be collected by parents at the times shown in the table below.

Parents are not required to sign-out pupils when collecting them, but please do send your child a text when you have arrived so that they can show the Student Hub staff before leaving the premises. Similarly, if your child is being collected by another parent, when leaving school during the day after an exam, please email in advance to attendance@princethorpe.co.uk with the details.

Examination Playground Pick-up Times
Please click here for pick-up times.

Study Rooms
Study rooms will appear on pupils’ timetables on My School Portal when Study Leave begins. We will have one classroom as a permanent Year 11 base where we will also display this information. The Learning Support department will speak to some pupils about alternative arrangements as appropriate.
 
Examination Day Protocol
Year 11 pupils should all attend school in correct uniform for the entirety of the examination period. They should use their lockers to store bags and revision materials when in an examination so that they are not bringing any forbidden items into the examination hall. Mobile phones accounted for 44% of malpractice cases nationally last year and it is essential that they are not in the room, even if switched off.
 
Unforeseen Events And Special Consideration
If your child is ill, injured or delayed in getting to school, please communicate with the examinations office (examinations@princethorpe.co.uk) as quickly as possible so that we can offer the best advice and make any necessary arrangements to support. For pupils affected by illness or other circumstances such as bereavement, we are able to apply for Special Consideration from the examination boards if certain criteria are met. Please communicate any such issues to Heads of House and the examinations office if they arise.

Book Return
Year 11 pupils will need to return all of their textbooks and other loaned equipment before the summer and so we ask that this is done following the last examination taken by the whole year group. We will write to you nearer the time with details of exact timings.

Finally, all of our best wishes go to all of those sitting examinations, and to those supporting them as they prepare to do so.

Michael Spencer
Deputy Head - Academic

Internal Examination Week - Reminder

In the week before May Half Term, Monday 22 to Friday 26 May, we will be conducting an internal examination week. For this period pupils will not be in normal lessons but will instead be using the time to revise and to take a series of assessments across their subjects. All year groups will continue to have their Games afternoon during this period.

For Lower Sixth students and Year 10 pupils we will be using the opportunity to begin preparations for public examinations next summer, helping them to become familiar with the formality of examinations and to have a taste of an examination hall environment, alongside any individual exam access arrangements.

For Years 7 to 9 the experience will be less formal and papers will be shorter in length, with pupils working in classrooms throughout and engaging in practical Art and Technology sessions. Their assessments will provide the chance to revisit content and to demonstrate how much they have learnt this year.

All pupils should plan to revise in preparation for these assessments and will receive generic advice from the school alongside specific guidance from each subject. After half-term we will publish results and give feedback so that all pupils know how to improve in their future studies.

Michael Spencer
Deputy Head - Academic

Year 8 Science Textbook Return Summer 2023 - Reminder

Pupils and parents in Year 8 are reminded that the following textbook needs to be returned to their Science teacher by Friday 16 June 2023.

Year 8 - Smart Science textbook.

If a textbook has been lost, a charge will be made for this book.

Emma Cooper

Head of Science

Book Of The Month

Running On The Roof Of The World by Jess Butterworth

Tash and her best friend Sam have grown up used to following the rules in occupied Tibet. But when a man sets himself on fire as an act of protest, Tash barely escapes after her house is raided and her parents are arrested. She, Sam and their two yaks set out on a dangerous journey across the Himalayas to reach India and the Dalai Lama, who she hopes will be able to save her parents.

This beautifully designed book is a richly atmospheric story of friendship, courage and survival. It provides a rare insight into Tibetan culture and raises timely questions about the nature of freedom, without being overtly political. Although there are some distressing moments, these are sensitively handled and the overriding message is one of hope and compassion.

Sally Chadwick

Library Assistant