The Flagpole

Please find below details regarding homework expectations over Christmas. Whilst homework is of course vital, especially for those taking external exams this coming summer, Christmas is a very important family time and it follows a long and demanding term. All pupils should make sure to include at least three days of total rest and family time.

Years 7, 8 and 9

1.  No formal homework will be set for the holiday (although some pupils may have to complete homework set for the last week of the half term).
2.  Pupils will be expected to catch up on any missed or incomplete work and sort any files or folders. 
3.  Review of internal assessments and completion of corrections as directed by subject teachers.

Year 10

1.  Homework may be set for all subjects.
2.  Pupils will be expected to catch up on any missed or incomplete work and sort any files or folders. 
3.  Review of internal assessments and completion of corrections as directed by subject teachers.

Year 11

1.  Pupils should be revising for their mocks beginning Monday 6 January. This should include revision work as indicated by subject teachers and areas of revision that pupils have identified for themselves.  Pupils should aim for at least four hours’ productive work per day.
2.  Pupils will also be expected to catch up on any missed or incomplete work and sort any files or folders.  
3.  Review of examination papers and completion of corrections as directed by subject teachers.

Sixth Form - Lower Sixth

1.  Homework may be set for all subjects. Students should aim for at least four hours’ productive work per day.
2.  Students will be expected to catch up on any missed or incomplete work and sort any files or folders. 
3.  Review of examination papers and completion of corrections as directed by subject teachers.

Sixth Form - Upper Sixth

1.  Students should be revising for their mocks beginning Monday 6 January. This should include revision work as indicated by subject teachers and areas of revision that pupils have identified for themselves.  Students should aim for at least four hours’ productive work per day.
2.  Students will also be expected to catch up on any missed or incomplete work and sort any files or folders.  
3.  Review of examination papers and completion of corrections as directed by subject teachers.

Wishing you all a happy and peaceful Christmas and a healthy and successful 2020.

Dr Liz Pyne
Assistant Head – Teaching and Learning

This year we have introduced a further significant improvement to the assessment system at Princethorpe: the addition of a second set of formal mocks for our Upper Sixth students. This follows the successful introduction of additional mocks for our Year 11 pupils last year. The Year 11 mocks will continue in this model in the weeks commencing 6 January and 24 February.

As many of you may know, Upper Sixth students traditionally have mock exams after the Lent half-term. This year we will be building on that model by giving the students two mock weeks – firstly in the week commencing 6 January and then again in the week commencing 24 February. The first set of mocks will be over three days to best balance assessment time and curriculum coverage. The second set of mocks will be over seven days to allow for more papers and the most realistic examination experience.

This will give Year 11 pupils and Upper Sixth students two opportunities to really test themselves and learn from their successes and difficulties, supported by their teachers, before sitting the real exams in the summer. It will also allow us to spread out the exams a little more within the second week to ease the strain on the pupils and make the experience that much more realistic as well as give them that bit more experience of what it is like to work in proper examination conditions. We hope this will be another important step in giving our pupils the best possible support for academic success.

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic

As Christmas is nearly here, the Year 11 pupils and Upper Sixth students will be preparing for their mock exams in January. Whilst this is a difficult time to revise, the rationale from educational researchers shows the immense benefits from mock exams.

Click here for five reasons why our youngsters should be grateful for mock exams; although they probably aren’t feeling that appreciative at the moment! 

Key dates in the reporting and examinations cycle for the first half of the Lent term are:

· 7  Jan – January public exam season begins; this includes IGCSE Maths for some candidates, BTEC L3 exams & L1 Latin. All pupils involved have been issued with their personal timetable

· 24 Jan – Mock exam reports published for Year 11 and Upper Sixth pupils

· 31 Jan – Progress Reports published for Year 9 pupils

· 7  Feb  – Full Report published for Year 10 pupils

External Examinations:

January 2020 - Results for these examinations will be published on Thursday 5 March 2020.

Summer 2020 - the exam timetable was amended by JCQ in November. If you downloaded the previous version please delete it and download the updated one which can be viewed by clicking here.

Please note the examination contingency day of Wednesday 24 June 2020. In the unlikely event that there is national disruption to a day of examinations causing a last-minute change to the timetable, all candidates must be available up to and including this date.

Entries for these examinations will be made in January 2020. As soon as pupils have checked and confirmed their entries, their individual exam timetable will be distributed.

Exam Subject Specifications and Awarding Bodies:

If you’re buying revision guides it’s important to choose the correct one for the specification being followed in school. The documents below show the exam board and specification code for each subject for GCSE and A-level.

NB: The exam details for GCSE PE are OCR J587, this has been updated on the GCSE document below.

GCSE

A-level

Shellagh Dodds
Examinations and Assessment Manager

Tuesday 14 January 2020 - 6.00pm to 8.30pm

The Lower Sixth Parents’ Evening takes place on Tuesday 14 January from 6.00pm to 8.30pm in the Sports Hall.

We will continue to offer the option of a two course supper for you and your family, at a cost of £2 per head, and served across three sittings, 5.30pm to 6.00pm, 6.00pm to 6.30pm and 6.30pm to 7.00pm. Supper will be served in the Refectory.

We will also provide two supervised areas where siblings can wait whilst you and your son or daughter meet with the teaching staff. There will be a film screening in one room and for those looking for a quieter environment a second area will be provided where they can relax or study.

To help us with the smooth running of Parents’ Evening and so that we can cater efficiently we would be grateful if everyone who would like to book for supper could complete the RSVP form by clicking here no later than 10.00am on Thursday 9 January 2020.

Please make sure to arrive by 7.30pm at the latest. Parents arriving later than that may not be able to see all the relevant teachers before the event closes at 8.30pm.  Please leave the building by the main entrance to The Limes and sign out at the exit as you leave.

Here is some additional information that you may find helpful:

• Parking will be available on the school playground
• Please enter the Limes building through the main entrance only
• Please ensure you sign in and collect your name badge from the reception desk before entering the Sports Hall
• There is no appointment system. You should allow approximately five minutes per teacher – a timer will sound every five minutes to assist with keeping discussions within this timeframe.  

We look forward to seeing you.

Dr Liz Pyne
Assistant Head - Teaching and Learning

Year 11 and Upper Sixth Mock Exam Reports will be published to the parent portals on Friday 24 January 2020.  Once published, you will receive an email notification advising that the reports are available to view on My School Portal.

For Year 11 parents, there will be an opportunity to discuss your child’s report at the forthcoming Year 11 Parents’ Evening on Monday 27 January 2020.

We look forward to seeing you then.

Dr Michael Reddish
Deputy Head - Academic

Monday 27 January 2020 - 6.00pm to 8.30pm

Parents are reminded that the Year 11 Parents’ Evening takes place on Monday 27 January from 6.00pm to 8.30pm in the Sports Hall. This is a crucial chance to discuss your son or daughter’s academic progress with their subject teachers after the mock exams.  

Dr Liz Pyne
Assistant Head - Teaching and Learning