The Flagpole

Assistant Head (Teaching and Learning), Dr Liz Pyne, shares her latest case study on Feedback and Marking here. Her paper which has been published by the Chartered College will make fascinating reading for parents and the wider school community to read.

Her article reflects on the journey the school has been on to support teachers’ continuing professional development and showcases the dedication and desire of staff to create the most productive atmosphere for pupils to learn in. It is focused on the idea of ‘Feedback’ as opposed to ‘Marking’ and highlights the investment and commitment made by the school to providing coaching and a supportive encouraging environment. It shares the way staff have embraced different types of pedagogy to support pupil progress not because staff need to improve but because staff want to be better.

It's an inspirational read about the classroom experts we are lucky enough to have here at our school.

Wednesday 9 October - 6.00pm-8.00pm 

To support the progress of our new Year 7 pupils, we will be offering face to face meetings with your child’s tutor to discuss how they are settling-in to life at Princethorpe. Alongside this, senior staff will present some key messages for the year ahead, including how to support pupils’ learning at home. As targets will be made for further improvement, we hope that pupils will also attend the meeting wherever possible. 
 
Parents will be given the opportunity to book a 15-minute slot with their child’s tutor electronically; an email will be sent out with more information and booking details before the evening itself. 
 
Michael Spencer 
Deputy Head – Academic 

Wednesday 9 October - 6.00pm-8.30pm 

To support the progress of our Year 10 pupils we will be offering face to face meetings with your child’s tutor to reflect on how they are settling-in to GCSE study, and to discuss future targets. These will be preceded by a presentation from senior staff to explain how we can use YELLIS testing data to inform these discussions, and to highlight some key messages for the coming academic year. As we are discussing their individual targets, we hope that pupils will also attend the meeting. 
 
Parents will be given the opportunity to book a 15-minute slot with their child’s tutor electronically; an email will be sent out with more information and booking details before the evening itself. 
 
Michael Spencer 
Deputy Head - Academic 

Following last week’s Year 11 360 Review Evening, we wanted to share the following links to recordings of the main talks. 

Year 11 Journey (Mr Spencer)

Study Skills for Year 11 (Dr Pyne)  

Following this week’s 360 Review Evening, we wanted to share the following links to recordings of the main talks. 

Upper Sixth Journey (Mr Spencer)

Study Skills & Digital Learning (Dr Pyne & Mr Compton) 

Reading for pleasure is so important, not just for the enjoyment of a good book but also it also helps to relax, inspire, escape and also brings a new confidence in literacy and comprehension. We learn so much from reading books, without even realising it.

Please click the link below for a list our autumn reading suggestions.

Autumn Reading

The Library Team

October is Black History Month in the UK and this month's calendar celebrates this with a wide range of activities and information. Pupils can use this as a starting point to explore Black History month. The Theme this year is 'Reclaiming the Narratives' and I highly recommend for the Sixth Form, especially, to watch the full lecture given by David Olusoga.

The link to the Black History Month Website is here.

The full Calendar can be accessed on the Whole School Team from 1 October using the link here.

Alongside the calendar I am including these recommended reads for the older pupils and students in the Sixth Form to take it further:

Astrophysics For People In A Hurry, by Neil DeGrasse Tyson

Black And British, by David Olusoga

Girl, Woman, Other, by Bernadine Evariso

Noughts And Crosses, by Malorie Blackman

Twenty Eight Pounds And Ten Shillings - A Windrush Story', by Tony Fairweather