Parent Newsletter 30th November 2012

TL1 Highest expectations

Well done to the year 7 football team who convincingly beat Sheredes 9-0 last Saturday morning. Goals were from Kwon (4), Ross (2), Flynn, Lewis Robbins and Josh Amner. A great performance!

Team were: Sam Bennett, Sam Kemp, Harley Adams, Josh Amner, TJ Smith, George Jones, Ross Georgiou, Sam Gibbs, Lewis Robbins, Kwon Hepburn, Flynn Lincoln, Josh Chipperfield.

Information for Year 11 Parents.

Below is advice on the raising participation age which we published in the Summer term to you. Can I please ask that you read this document and familiarise yourselves with the content. From this Summer all students are expected to continue their education in some form, whether that be through an apprenticeship while working, a college course and or the sixth form. Please take the time to familiarise yourself with the expectations.

As a year 11 Parent please make sure that you are helping your child complete their applications for the next stage in their education. The sixth form has applications available on our web as does Herts Regional College. We are advising all students to apply for a number of routes so that in the Summer they have choices. Please do not leave this too late as post Christmas places will be filled.

What is RPA and why is it so Important.

RPA stands for Raising the Participation age.

RPA comes into effect from the last day of the academic year 2013 There are 2 stages to the introduction of RPA From summer 2013 young people will be required to stay in education and training

until the end of the academic year in which they turn 17 From summer 2015 this will be until young people reach their 18th birthday RPA needs a partnership approach RPA is not raising the school leaving age or about staying in school The Education Act amended the original legislation to allow the enforcement of the

duty regarding RPAS to be introduced at a later date The duty will apply to all young people resident in England without a level 3

qualification.

What does RPA mean for young people?

Young people will have a choice on how they participate post 16. They could:

Remain in full time education such as school, college or home education Choose work based learning such as an apprenticeship Be in part time education or training if they are employed, self employed or

volunteering for 20 hours or more a week The young people will be expected to take responsibility for their decisions and not

their parents.

How can we make this happen for young people?

Parent/Carers should:

Explore and discuss with the young people the different options available Encourage the young people to seek information , advice and guidance from qualified

careers specialists Support the young people to make an informed decision weighing up all the pros and

cons Gather local labour market information to consider the longer term opportunities

Schools should:

From 2012 schools will be required to secure independent, impartial careers guidance Schools should raise awareness of RPA with young people particularly those leaving

the school at 16

Post 16 training and learning providers must:

Promote good attendance of 16 and 17 year olds Inform the local authority support services if a young person aged 16 or 17 has

dropped out of learning. This is so the young person can be contacted swiftly and offered support to help them re-engage

Employers

Employers are not affected by RPA if they employ a 16 or 17 year old for less than 20 hours a week or less than 8 weeks in a row

From 2013 employers who employ a 16 or 17 year old for more than 20 hours or for more than 8 weeks in a row will need to ensure a young person is receiving training

This can be done through employers either providing their own training towards an accredited qualification or checking that the young person is enrolled in some part time learning which leads to accreditation before they start work and agreeing the working hours to allow the young person to attend the learning for which they are enrolled. Young people should be able to attend training during hours that will not affect the business. Employers will not be responsible for monitoring the young person’s attendance at this part time learning and they do not have to pay for the training or the wages of the young person while they are not at work.

The young person’s training should be at least 280 guided hours per year but this can be taken flexibly to work around the business needs where possible

Herts Local Authority will:

Promote participation in education and training of all 16 and 17 year olds resident in their area

Work with partner organisations to identify young people in the county who are not participating

Find sufficient and suitable education and training provision for all 16-17 year olds. Track participation of all young people resident in the county Youth Connexions Herts will provide impartial information, advice and guidance and

person and social development opportunities for young people and their parents and carers.

Useful websites

There are a number of sites for young people:

The herts choices careers web site has job vacancies, local careers information and advice and links to the local course directory. Key web based information both at national and local level can be found on the site together with interest questionnaires to find an ideal career, along with helpful advice to create a CV. Go to www.hertschoices.org.uk

Web chat service – This new service is accessed online and allows young people to have a live 1:1 chat with a personal adviser. The channelmogo web site is maintained by Youth Connexions in collaboration with more than 20 expert partners covering all the areas in which young people might need advice. Go to www.channelmogo.org

Information on options after 16 is available at:

www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/14To19/OptionsAt16/index.htm

For those working with young people information on RPA in Herts can be found at

www.thegrid.org.uk/learning/1419/participation

For national information on RPA go to

www.education.gov.uk/16to1/participation/rpa

Equipment

Please ensure your child is bringing basic equipment (planner, pen, pencil, sharpener, rubber, ruler, calculator, maths equipment) to school especially on a Wednesday when changing to enrichment uniform. Students without necessary equipment and timetable will be sent to student reception where they can buy packs of pens/pencils for 50p and a temporary planner for 20p.

A reminder that Year 10 parents’ evening is Tuesday 4th December and the Year 7 Academic Review Day is Thursday 6th December.

L2 Improve the quality of teaching

Re: The Terrible Infants Christmas Show

We are pleased to announce that Turnford School’s Art and Drama department have joined forces to bring you ‘The Terrible Infants’ Christmas show which includes cast members from year groups 7-10 and has been the culmination of three months of hard work from students.

The show blends puppetry, performance, storytelling and physicality into a highly sensory theatrical feast suitable for big kids and small grown-ups! Meet Tumb the boy who eats his mum, Beatrice the girl with a bee in her bonnet, little Linena the material girl, manky Mingus and of course little Tilly and her terrible tail.

This will be performed for one night only on Friday 7th December. The performances will start at 7.30pm in the school hall. Tickets are £4 per person to include a drink and some festive cakes. If you would like tickets please fill out the reply slip below and hand it into the finance office promptly to avoid disappointment. Please be aware that tickets will not be sold on the door. Last day to buy tickets is Thursday 6th December.

In addition to this there will also be some performances from the Music and Dance departments!

Please be aware that seats will be allocated to tables so if you have people you would like to sit next to it will be advisable to purchase all the tickets together.

We hope the audience enjoy the relaxed atmosphere with tables being set out for drinks and cakes along with the actors coming into the audience to make you feel a part of the show!

The photo is from one of our rehearsals last Sunday. Thank you Miss Dodd.

Exceed national attendance

The attendance currently is running at above national average. As always continue to encourage your child into school. Thank you.

BA2 Ensure all vulnerable groups are making expected progress

Subjects have been carrying out assessments and feeding back to student on how they can progress. Please talk to your child about their progress and what they need to do to improve.

L1 Sharpen the leadership

At the bottom of this newsletter is a Parent questionnaire. We would appreciate you taking time to fill in and return to us, either as a hard copy handed in at student reception or an email copy returned to julie.lawrence@turnford.herts.sch.uk Please note if you have an issue that is unresolved please let us know in your response so that we can get back to you.

Preparation for adverse weather conditions

Please note that our Adverse Weather Conditions Policy has today been put on our website in the policies section.

Our plan of action if we have severe weather is for members of staff to telephone me early to report on conditions on site and the surrounding area and then a decision is made whether it is safe to open the school. In making this decision I will consider the following:

Is the site accessible and safe for students and staff? Can enough staff get into school to operate the school effectively?

If a closure is decided then staff and parents will be sent a text and the relevant information sent to Three Counties Radio to include in their school closure announcements. We will also publish the closure on our Website and alert County to the decision.

One of the most effective methods of keeping the school operating and safe in adverse weather conditions has been to open late so that site staff have time to clear the site and students and staff can take their time to get to school safely.

L2 Ensure consistency

Enrichment

Payment for the new Enrichment top is £15 and cash or cheques should be handed into the student office this month or our preferred option is for you to pay through parent pay.

At the end of this newsletter is the enrichment activities information for next term going to pupils on Friday.

Can we please draw your attention to the following:

Please discuss what activities in which you child would like to take part. There are some activities that require payment but the majority of the activities are FREE. If students have outstanding monies owing for this term they must choose a free activity for next term please.

If students have already taken part in Hair and Beauty, Vehicle Maintenance and Cookery they will need to choose a different activity for next term.

All students have had the opportunity to feedback to us about what they like and or dislike about the enrichment programme. We will be meeting with the providers to review their experiences and next week the newsletter will ask for your feedback on the current enrichment schemes and how we could improve the programme.

A1 All subjects are in line with national averages.

If your child needs extra support :

ACE is open at break and lunchtimes.

Homework club in the LRC is available to students – after school till 4.00 most days as well as lunchtime 1.20-1.50 – Monday, Tuesday & Fridays. Mrs Saunders our LRC Manager is available to help students who need it.

A2 Develop a whole school approach to literacy, numeracy and ICT.

In order to support your child, please make sure that whenever your child writes or types they are following the basic principles of punctuation, full stops and capitals and paragraphs. Don’t let them get away with poor punctuation as it seeps into their formal writing.

Word of the week will resume next week.

.

Ticket request for The Terrible Infants

Reply slip- please return to finance office with your payment by Thursday 6 th December at the latest. Thank you.

Parent/Carer name__________________________________________________

Child’s Name _____________________________ Form________

I would like _______tickets at £4 each.

I enclose payment £______ of cash/cheque (please delete). Please make cheques payable to Turnford School. Thank you.

ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE FOR YOU – FROM 9 TH JANUARY 2013 TO 13 TH FEBRUARY 2013.

SPORT NO. OF PLACES

FACILITY INFORMATION

BOXING 30 LARGE DINING HALL

OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN PRELIM ABA AWARD – NO CONTACT SUITABLE FOR BOYS AND GIRLS.COACHED BY A HOME COUNTIES COACH WHO HAS TRAINED SOME OF THE CURRENT GB TEAM.TIME: 2-3PMCOST: FREE

BASKETBALL 30 GYMNASIUM SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND GAMES WORKING WITH WARE REBELS BASKETBALL CLUBTIME: 2-3PMCOST: FREE

CHEERLEADING 30 HALL OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN NEW MOVES AND COMPETE IN A COUNTY COMPETITION BUT NOT COMPULSORY TO DO SO. THIS WILL BE DELIVERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SARACENS.TIME: 2-3PMCOST: FREE

CANOEING 10 SWIMMING POOL

OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN BASIC KAYAKING SKILLS AND PROGRESS TO THE HERTS YOUNG MARINERS BASE IN THE SUMMER TERM.PUPILS MUST BE ABLE TO SWIM AT LEAST 2 LENGTHSTIME: 2-3PMCOST: FREE

DANCE MATS 24 DRAMA 2 SEE HOW FAST YOUR FEET CAN MOVE IN A FUN COMPETITIVE WAY.TIME: 2-3PMCOST: FREE

FITNESS 15 FITNESS SUITE IMPROVE YOUR FITNESS LEVELS WITH A PROGRAMMED WORK OUTTIME: 2-3PMCOST: FREE

FOOTBALL (BOYS ONLY) 40 ASTRO SKILLS, DRILLS AND SMALL GAMES, COACHED BY A PLAYER WHO IS PART OF THE U23 ENGLAND SQUAD.TIME: 2-3PMCOST: FREE

TOTTENHAM GIRLS FOOTBALL ACADEMY

20 ASTRO GIRLS ONLY FOOTBALL ACADEMY, LEARN NEW SKILLS AND DRILLS WITH A FEMALE COACHTIME: 2-3PMCOST: FREE

BADMINTON/MULTI SPORTS 20 GRUNDY SKILLS, DRILLS AND GAMES AND A LEAGUE.YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE YOUR OWN WAY TO GRUNDY.FOR YEAR 8&9 PUPILS ONLYCOST: £5 FOR THE HALF TERMTIME: LEAVING SCHOOL AT 2.00PM. SESSION 2.30PM – 3.30PM

TABLE TENNIS 16 GRUNDY SKILLS, DRILLS AND GAMES.YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE YOUR OWN WAY TO GRUNDY. SESSION RUN BY BROXBOURNE TABLE TENNIS ACADEMY.FOR YEAR 8&9 PUPILS ONLYCOST: £5 FOR THE HALF TERM (7 WEEKS)TIME: LEAVING SCHOOL AT 2.00PM. SESSION 2.30PM – 3.30PM

DYNAMIC MOVEMENT 20 ACE IMPROVE YOUR SPEED, POWER AND AGILITY SKILLS USING A MULTI DIRECTIONAL MAT.TIME: 2-3PMCOST: FREE

SELF DEFENCE 12 SMALL DINING HALL

LEARN SOME BASIC SELF DEFENCE MOVES, SUPPORTED BY A QUALIFED INSTRUCTORCOST: £5 FOR THE HALF TERMTIME 2-3PM

FIRST AID 25 SMSC 1 LEARN THIS VERY IMPORTANT ACTIVITY WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS USE.COST: £10 FOR THE HALF TERMTIME: 2-3PM

GAME DESIGN PROGRAM 30 ICT CLASSROOM

LEARN HOW TO DESIGN GAME PROGRAMMES THAT YOU CAN PLAY!COST: £5 FOR THE HALF TERMTIME: 2-3PM

ICT 25 ICT CLASSROOM

IMPROVE YOUR ICT SKILLS AND LEARN NEW ONES!TIME: 2-3PMCOST: FREE

MUSICAL THEATRE 25 MU1 YOU WILL BE TAUGHT BY A PROFESSIONAL WHO HAS BEEN IN THE HIT MUSICAL GREASE. YOU WILL LEARN A NUMBER FROM A WEST END SHOW AND WILL INVOLVE SINGING, DANCING AND ACTING.TIME: 2-4PMCOST: FREE

STREET DANCE 30 DANCE STUDIO

COME AND LEARN STREET DANCE TAUGHT BY RHYTHM NATION.COST: £10 FOR THE HALF TERMTIME: 2-4PM

SINGING AND CHOIR LESSONS 30 MU2 COME AND IMPROVE YOUR SINGING SKILLS AND GET THE CHANCE TO SING IN A CHOIR TOO.TIME: 2-3PMCOST: FREE

TURNFORD OUTDOORS 10 SCIENCE BLOCK

LEARN HOW TO GROW PLANTS, MAINTAIN SURROUNDINGS AND PRODUCE, PRODUCE FOR PUPILS TO TAKE HOME, YOU WILL ALSO GET A CHANCE TO ENTER LOCAL GROWING COMPETITIONS.FOR YEAR 7&8 PUPILS ONLYTIME: 2-3PMCOST: FREE

LRC ACTIVITY CLUB 30 LIBRARY COME AND HAVE A GO AT VARIOUS ACTIVITES IN THE LIBRARY. ACTIVITES INCLUDE; DRAWING, ORIGAMI, JEWLLERY MAKING, CLAY MODEL WORK, GENERAL ARTWORK AND GAMES.COST: FREE

COOKERY CLUB 12 FOOD TECH LEARN HOW TO MAKE SOME DELICIOUS CAKES AND FOOD.COST: £10 FOR THE HALF TERM

TIME: 2-3PMHAIR CLUB 15 SCIENCE

BLOCKCOME ALONG AND IMPROVE YOUR HAIR TALENTSCOST: £5 FOR THE HALF TERMTIME: 2-3PM

MAKE UP CLUB (to be confirmed) 15 SCIENCE BLOCK

COME ALONG AND IMPROVE YOUR MAKE UP TALENTSCOST: £5 FOR THE HALF TERMTIME: 2-3PM

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE 10 DT LEARN HOW TO MAINTAIN CARS, MOTORBIKES AND BICYCLES.TIME 2-3PMCOST: FREE

QUESTIONS:

When do the enrichment afternoons start after Christmas?

Enrichment restarts Wednesday 9th January 2013 and will run from 2.00pm – 3.00pm (unless you are participating in the musical theatre workshop or attending a session at Grundy and these session times are in this booklet). Please note attendance on the enrichment afternoon is compulsory and both registers and behaviour logs will be taken each week.

What activities can I take part in?

There are over 22 activities for you to once again take part in. We have added some additional sessions so please look out for these in the booklet. In this booklet there are details of the fantastic sessions and activities you are able to take part in. If you are a Year 7 pupil you will not be able to take part in the sessions off school site. If you are in Year 8 and Year 9 and wish to take part in activities at Grundy Park you must not have received any RED cards.

How do I choose my activity?

We have changed the way you can sign up for your chosen activity for January. You will attend an enrichment assembly where you will be able to sign up for one of the activities listed in the booklet. The dates are as follows:

Year 7: Friday 7th December 2012 (Hall)

Year 8: Tuesday 4th December 2012 (Gym)

Year 9: Monday 3rd December 2012 (Gym)

Once you have signed up for your activity this will be confirmed and posted outside student reception.

What do I need to wear?

Please remember you need to wear the following:

Enrichment Hoody

White PE polo shirt

Black or Navy Tracksuit bottoms

Trainers

Do I need to pay for any of the activities?

The school is contributing to all of the activities. If an activity requires payment it is clearly stated in this booklet. Once your activity has been confirmed and requires a payment this can be done via parent pay. Please check with your parent/carer that they are happy to pay for your chosen activity and do not choose an activity if you have any outstanding payments from this term’s enrichment activities.

DatesYear 76th December Academic Review Day22nd January 2013 Head of Year meeting26th March 2013 Academic Review Evening14th May 2013 Head of Year meetingYear 88th January 2013 Academic Review Day21st January 2013 Head of Year meeting30th April 2013 Academic Review Evening13th May 2013 – Head of Year meetingYear 924th January 2013– Head of Year meeting26th February 2013 – Academic Review Evening5th March 2013 – Options Evening25th and 26th March 2013 – Options Interviews16th May 2013 Head of Year meeting6th June 2013 – Academic Review DayYear 10

4th December – Academic Review Evening28th January 2013 – Head of Year meetingYear 10 exams – April 201320th May 2013 – Head of Year meeting25th June 2013 – Academic Review DayYear 11Mock exams 10th December until end of term5th February 2013 Academic Review Evening28th February and 1st March 2013 – Exit interviews16th April 2013 – Head of Year meeting10th May Celebration assembly and Prom (tbc)

Parental Questionnaire November 2012 Year Group_______________

Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child makes good progress at this school.

My child is well looked after at this school.

My child is taught well at this school.

My child receives appropriate homework for their age.

This school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school deals effectively with bullying.

The school is well led and managed.

The school responds well to any concerns I raise.

I receive valuable information from the school about my child’s progress.

Would you recommend this school to another parent?

Please turn over to the comments section.

Comments - please complete especially if you have expressed dissatisfaction with any of the categories overleaf. Please provide your name and email address so we can support in resolving these issues. Thank you.

Thank you for completing this parental survey. Please return your completed surveys either by emailing to julie.lawrence@turnford.herts.sch.uk or you or your child can deliver to Mrs Sparrow at Student reception.