2

Page Contents

3 Moving from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3 and Testing 4 Curriculum Pathways 5 Stretch and Challenge 7 How does the Curriculum differ at KS3 8 Key Stage 3 at Tring School 9 English 11 Maths 13 ICT 14 Science 16 Religious Education 17 Art 19 Drama 20 Life Skills 22 History 23 Physical Education 24 Music 26 Geography 27 Design and Technology 28 German 29 Spanish 30 French 31 The Student Support Team at KS3 in Tring School 33 Useful contacts 34 How to use the Tring School Planner 35 Homework 36 How can I keep in contact with the school? 37 Progress Reports 38 Rewards and Sanctions 39 Acronyms

3

Moving from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 3 What are Key Stages? The National Curriculum is organised into blocks of years called Key Stages. Your child has already completed Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 at primary school. The start of Key Stage 3 is at the beginning of Year 7. They finish Key Stage 3 at the end of Year 9 and start Key Stage 4 when they begin their GCSEs in Year 10. Testing at Key Stages

In May, Year 6 students took tests in English and Maths. We therefore have SAT results as well as teacher predictions and assessments to help us create a curriculum that suits the students’ needs. Every year group has examinations in all subjects that take place in the Desborough Hall or in the lessons during the examination week. We examine all students formally once a year in order to prepare them for the formal examinations at Key Stage 4 (GCSE). You can check when your child’s examinations take place on the Parent Calendar on the school website. Before the examination period you will be sent a guide with advice on how to help your child revise and prepare for the exams. As well as this they will have Life Skills lessons helping them prepare and revise, which includes a sessions with a company called Elevate, who specialise in delivering study skills ideas. Students are also assessed (roughly once a half term) informally in lessons. You can find out more about this later in this booklet, or by contacting the class teacher. In Year 10 and Year 11, your child will sit formal examinations called GCSEs. These examinations will determine which pathway your child will take post -16.

4

What happens with the results of the examinations? The test results from Key Stage 2 are available to Tring School over the summer holidays. This data is then given to all of our class teachers so that they can see what level each and every child is working at when they come to us. We put all students onto pathways, depending on their ability, from the first day on September using Key Stage 2 teacher assessments and the SAT results. Students can move between pathways depending on their progress throughout the year.

Setting in the pathways at Tring School is flexible. Students are put into the set that the department feels will meet the students’ needs, but the sets are constantly reviewed after assessments within each department. Students may be moved up or down a set depending on how they are coping with the work in that subject. How is the data used when going into Key Stage 4? As with the transition from Key Stage 2 to 3, information is gathered about the students using teacher assessments and the formal examinations at Key Stage 3. Students will be setted in some subjects at Key Stage 4, including optional subjects where it can be arranged.

Curriculum Pathways at Tring School We create individual curriculum pathways for all the students who come to Tring School in order that we can meet their needs. We realise that a traditional curriculum does not suit all children and so some students are given a different “diet”. When they arrive in September, some students will study Humanities rather than History, Geography and PRS (Philosophy and Religious Studies). This is taught by one teacher and although it follows a similar curriculum to the discreet subjects, it will be taught and assessed differently. The same students will also be given a programme of Key Skills, which concentrates on improving literacy. This replaces their language lessons.

5

Stretch and Challenge

At Tring School, we are dedicated to raising aspirations for all students by encouraging them to broaden their horizons, stretch their knowledge and understanding, and we ask them to set themselves challenging goals, both in and out of lessons. In all subjects, Stretch and Challenge tasks will be set and students will be able to identify this by ‘S&C’ on the power point or learning resource that they are using. These tasks are for all students to have a go at if they wish to or if they complete the main activities. Some Key Definitions… AMA – Academically Most Able At KS3 and KS4 AMA students are identified through KS2 data and students attainment comparative against national statistics. G&T – Gifted & Talented The identification of high ability in a particular subject area. Students who are Gifted & Talented may not appear on the AMA register. It is likely that they have a particular flair for one or maybe two subjects. Students on this list are nominated by their subject teachers and they are monitored by the subject representative. A record of their tracking and monitoring is also kept centrally by the G&T Coordinator. Provision for AMA & G&T Students We aim for AMA students to have a termly meeting with a Learning Mentor where they complete an Individual Challenge Plan (ICP). The ICP will help students to identify areas of strength and areas for improvement. We will aim to encourage students to focus on transferrable skills to improve in some subject areas and suggest enrichment activities for areas of strength. Students will also set targets in this meeting; one for lessons and one for out of school. These targets are aimed at raising their attainment but also at improving enjoyment in a wider range of subject areas and broadening their horizons outside of the classroom.

6

G&T students are identified within a subject area and both extension and enrichment tasks are set by subject teachers. These may include work from a Key Stage above, lunch time clubs, mentoring of younger students in that subject, differentiated work for lessons and for home learning. Where possible, students may also be able to enter competitions within the school and with other schools in the Dacorum. How can you help? We are always looking to improve the provision of Stretch & Challenge for our students would gladly welcome your feedback. Please send an email to lmonger@tring.herts.sch.uk

7

How does the curriculum differ

at Key Stage 3?

An emphasis was placed at Key Stage 2 on literacy and numeracy. However the following subjects were compulsory:

• Science • Design and technology • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) • History • Geography • Art and design • Music • Physical education

At Key Stage 3, the following subjects are compulsory:

• English • Mathematics • Science • Design and technology • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) • History • Geography • Modern foreign languages • Art and design • Music • Citizenship • Physical education

Schools also have to provide:

• Careers Education and Guidance • Sexual Health and Relationship Education (SHRE) • Religious Education

8

Key Stage 3 at Tring School

At Tring School we provide a curriculum that meets the requirements of the National Curriculum, but we also try to match the individual needs of our students. As well as providing the entitlements of the National Curriculum, we also have a programme of Personal, Social and Health Education that we call Life Skills. Life Skills deals with topics such as healthy eating, peer pressure and support, and gives advice through our sexual health and drugs education programmes.

As we are a faith school, we also include Religious Studies as part of our curriculum, however parents can choose to withdraw their child from all or part of the Religious Education curriculum and the non-statutory elements of sex and relationships education that is part of our Life Skills programme. They must however, put this in writing to the Head Teacher.

All students will do the subjects that are compulsory during their time in Key Stage 3.

9

English

What equipment will my child need to make the most of English lessons during KS3?

• Dictionary/thesaurus • Fully stocked pencil case • Highlighters • Glue • Reading books at home

What will my child study?

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Novel: ‘Private Peaceful’ or The Hobbit’ Dickens: ‘A Christmas Carol’ Shakespeare: ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Multi-skills project: Fairtrade Genre study: Heroes

Genre study: Sci-fi Novel: ‘Animal Farm’ or ‘Hunger Games’ or ‘Tins’ Shakespeare: ‘Macbeth’ Genre study: Suspense Speech making and Analysis: Making Your Point Modern Play: ‘Blood Brothers’

Poetry: Poetry from Other Cultures Shakespeare: ‘Richard III’ Novel: ’To Kill a Mockingbird’ or ‘Prince Of Mist’. Play: ‘An Inspector Calls’ Fact and Fiction: Globalisation Exam skills: Information and Ideas

10

How can I support my child through KS3 English?

• Complete the parent comment section of your child’s assessment records. These will be in a booklet at the back of the exercise books with the assessments. Two assessments are completed each half term.

• Encourage your child to read a wide range of texts and genres: novels, short stories, news articles, film reviews. More importantly, ask them to discuss, summarise or evaluate what they have read.

• Help your child to re-read and edit their work to encourage proof reading.

• Help your child use new words to develop a wide vocabulary. • Encourage the use of a dictionary and thesaurus. • Practise spelling; use errors teachers have flagged up in their

work - each assessment record has a space to record three spelling errors to focus on.

• Introduce them to classic texts such as novels/plays by Dickens, Carroll, Conon Doyle, Shakespeare or Tolkien.

• See Moodle for reading lists recommending books that are suitable for KS3 students.

• Take your child to the theatre - many local theatres put on great productions which are cheaper than in London.

• Encourage your child to back their points and engage in debates.

How will they be assessed in English during KS3?

• There are two formal assessments per half term, both of which are marked with a KS3 level and target for improvement.

• Students are provided with an assessment record booklet to complete post-assessment and there is also a box for parental comment.

• Peer and self assessment takes place through questioning and class work.

• Assessments of speaking and listening skills are ongoing informally through lessons but student also complete formal speaking and listening assessments for during the year.

• There is also an end of year test for each year group.

Head of English Mrs J Shelley Key Stage 3 Coordinator Miss K Guy

11

Mathematics

What equipment will my child need in Mathematics during KS3?

• Pen, pencil, ruler, rubber, compass, angle measurer, scientific calculator

What will my child be studying?

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Mathematical processes and applications: Representing Analysing- using appropriate mathematical procedures Interpreting and evaluating Communicating and reflecting Number: Place value, ordering and rounding Integers, powers and roots Fractions, decimals, percentages, ratio and proportion Number operations Mental calculation methods Written calculation methods Calculator methods Checking results Algebra: Equations, formulae, expressions and identities Sequences, functions and graphs Geometry and measures: Geometrical reasoning- lines and angles Transformations and coordinates Construction and loci Measures and mensuration Statistics: Specifying a problem, planning and collecting data Processing and representing data Interpreting and discussing results Probability

12

How can I support my child through KS3 Maths? • Ensure they have the right equipment for lessons • Ensure they do their homework • Visit websites such as www.mymaths.co.uk which is useful for

students of all levels How will they be assessed in Maths?

Students are assessed regularly throughout their time at Tring School. There is a formal assessment approximately once every half term. Other assessments might be in the form of a series of questions, an activity or homework. In general assessments are designed so that students know which topics they need to improve on whilst also allowing teachers to monitor the progress of groups and individual students.

KS3 Coordinator Mrs J Mitchell

13

ICT

In Year 7, ICT will be delivered as a discrete subject for 2 hours per fortnight. In Years 8 & 9 ICT will be delivered across the curriculum. What equipment will my child need in ICT?

• A pair of earphones • A personal email address

What will Year 7 ICT syllabus cover?

• Project-based approach. • Investigative learning. • Designing and developing simple games. • Variables. • Algorithms. • Debugging. • Bitmaps and graphics. • Programming the Raspberry Pi. • Consideration of app toys. • Presentation of information.

How can I support my child at home?

• Provide access to a computer for homework. • Provide secure access to the internet at home, to enable pupils

to access Moodle. • www.software4students.com Register your child on this

website to purchase genuine software applications at hugely discounted prices.

• www.teach-ict.com Large variety of video tutorials available illustrating the use of popular applications to complete everyday tasks, and to support the work covered in lessons.

Subject Leader Mr C Lickfold

14

What equipment will my child need in Science during KS3?

• Pens, pencils, ruler, scissors, glue, eraser, protractor, calculator and colouring pencils.

What will my child be studying?

Year 7 Year 8 Tissues and transplants Going for gold Acids & alkalis In the drink Electrical circuits Sound & hearing Sex and science Doctor and disease Materials from the Earth Light Forces and their effects Explaining the Earth Classified All that glitters What a waste Heat transfers The solar system & beyond Food, glorious food

Year 9 blue/purple pathway

The Exploring Science books for each KS3 year are: Year 7: ISBN 978-1-4058-9246-9 Year 8: ISBN 978-1-4058-9543-9 Year 9: ISBN 978-1-4058-9551-4 (Should you wish to purchase them – it is not obligatory.)

Crime scene investigations Flying materials Record breakers Science & fiction Cleaning up Satellites in space On the farm Building for the future Dam it!

Year 9 green pathway students will be studying the Core Science (Science A) GCSE syllabus (ISBN 978-1-4085-0822-0).

15

How can I support my child through KS3 Science?

• Tring School Moodle site & Doddle (via the school website).

• Reading newspapers, magazines and watching relevant TV programmes.

How will they be assessed in Science?

• Tests at the end of each module • Through Unit Assessment projects • End of year examination

Subject Leader Miss J Curtis

16

Philosophy and Religious Studies

What equipment will my child need in Religious Education?

• Pen, pencil, coloured pencils, glue stick, scissors, rubber and ruler, whiteboard pen

What will my child be studying?

How can I support my child through KS3 PRS? Discuss the topics that they are studying or topical news stories to enable them to see issues from different points of view. How will they be assessed in PRS? There are 3 formal assessments in each year. Homework will generally be research on specific topics or assessments.

Subject Leader (KS3) Mrs F Champness

Year 7

Art

Year 8 Year 9 Faith and Spiritual Experience: Who am I? Who is God? What is Worship How do we show commitment?

Faith and the meaning of life: Why do I exist? Is God calling? Moving on up or around in circles? Where is God when there is suffering?

Faith and conflict: Special Journeys What are moral and ethical dilemmas? Do we all deserve to be forgiven? What’s Easter all about? Is there power in peace?

17

What equipment will my child need in Art?

• Water colour paints, detail brush, 2B pencils, rubber, pencil sharpener, (sketch books are currently supplied by school)

What will my child be studying?

How can I support my child through KS3 Art? KS3 Art is a skills based course. Children should be encouraged to draw objects, scenes and landscape from life, as well as collecting images which relate to projects done in class. Visits to galleries both locally and nationally is always encouraged. How will my child be assessed in Art?

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Students will follow a skills based course. Introduction to the formal elements through various projects. Using a sketch book to formulate ideas and gather information Looking at art and artists.

Students will experiment with a variety of materials through projects based on drawing from life and other resources. Projects will be informed by the work of other artists. Students will consider theme, context and composition.

Students will consolidate and develop the skills and techniques learnt in Year 7 & 8. The format for the projects will borrow from the GCSE model. Students will be assessed on their knowledge and understanding of the work of other artists and art movements as well as their practical ability.

All of the above projects cover the formal elements of line, tone, colour, composition, design or pattern, and form

18

Students will be formally assessed on the skills learnt, their knowledge and understanding of the formal elements and the final outcomes at the end of each project. Interim assessments will be based on how well students are responding to the lesson objectives, which in turn relate to the formal elements, skills learnt and creative input. Targets will be set throughout the projects and will be the result of teacher, peer and self assessment. Subject Leader Miss S Gomersall

Drama

19

What equipment will my child need in Drama?

• Pen, pencil, planner and Drama book

What will my child be studying?

How can I support my child through KS3 Drama?

• Ensuring homework is complete • Taking them to the theatre • Watching drama on television • Talking to them about what they are studying in Drama and

their Drama targets

How will my child be assessed in Drama?

There will be practical assessments with every topic – this will either be through final performances or group work and how they use drama to explore themes and plays. Homework will consist of development tasks on work completed in lessons, such as a set design for a script or mask design for a character, writing up evaluations and rehearsing for assessment at breaks or lunchtimes. Subject Leader Miss L Cushnie

Life Skills

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 *Darkwood Manor *Role Play/Atmosphere *Night Shimmy- Empathy *Physical theatre *Movement & Monologue *Greek theatre- mask, chorus

*Romeo and Juliet- motivation and stage fighting *Our Day Out- characterisation and comedy *Theatre design- costume, lighting and sound *Fame & Celebrity - Drama Exploration

*The Truth is out There- Comedy *Joyriders- movement and character *Othello- movement

20

What equipment will my child need in Life Skills?

• Pens, pencil, colouring pencils, ruler, rubber • Exercise books are provided and should be brought to every

lessoon What will my child be studying?

How will I support my child through KS3 Life Skills? Useful website include:

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Drugs Anti-Smoking Road Safety CVs Disability Awareness Loss and Grief Bullying How to Debate Racism Prejudice Tring School Support Staff Police Community Support Officers Healthy Eating Puberty Keep Fit First Aid

Democracy and Voting Active Citizenship Youth in the News CVs Why have Laws Crime & Consequence Volatile Substances Alcohol and Drugs Environmental Issues Self Esteem Britishness & Identity Extended Leadership Team Relationships Thinking About Work

Choosing options CVs Careers Alcohol Assertiveness Personal Safety Internet Safety Human Rights Getting A Job Poverty Connexions Homophobia Gender Discrimination Self Esteem Role Models Stereotyping Smoking

21

www.teenagehealthfreek.org www.brook.org.uk www.talktofrank.com www.quit.org.uk www.childline.org.uk/extra/bullyingindex.asp How will my child be assessed in Life Skills? Students are informally assessed through independent and group work in lessons. Assessment criteria from the broader curriculum will be incorporated into lessons in order to provide formative assessment. This will be approached through opportunities for self and peer assessment and verbal teacher feedback.

Subject Leader Miss S Lynes

History

What equipment will my child need in History?

22

• Pen, pencil, rubber, eraser, colouring pencils • History exercise book and assessment record form (provided

by the department) What will my child study?

How can I help my child through KS3 History? By looking through their exercise books at class targets, and looking at their assessment record form which records their assessment levels. How will my child be assessed in History? They will be assessed 5 times a year through various activities such as posters, research, leaflets, essays and formal classroom assessments. Subject Leader Miss J Mackay Key Stage 3 Coordinator Miss E Duggan

Physical Education

What equipment will my child need in PE?

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Medieval Realms Norman Conquest Castles Religion (Thomas Becket) King John Black Death Peasants’ Revolt

Tudors Henry VIII Elizabeth I Mary, Queen of Scots Civil War Industrial Revolution British Empire Native Americans

WWI WWI

- Holocaust - Blitz - Atomic bomb

Slavery and the Black Peoples of the Americas US Civil War Civil Rights

23

• PE kit which is listed in their planners

What will my child study?

How can I help my child through KS3 Physical Education? Encourage participation in lessons and extra curricular activities. Ensure their kit is clean and ready for the lesson and is fully named/labelled. Encourage minimal valuables are brought into school on PE days. If they do have valuables it remains their responsibility. Lockers are provided in the changing rooms for £1 (returnable). How will my child be assessed? Students are assessed throughout each activity and more formally given an attainment level at the end of each activity block which they record in their planner. An average level out of these activities is given on the Achievement Tracker.

Subject Leader Miss L Bullock

Music

What equipment will my child need in Music?

• Whiteboard pen, pencil, pen, eraser, ruler, exercise book and manuscript book

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Students follow a wide range of activities throughout KS3. Activities are normally split into termly blocks. Students have 4 lessons a fortnight, 2 indoor and 2 outdoor

24

• Your instrument (if you learn one) for all composing and performing lessons

What will my child be studying?

How can I help my child through KS3 Music? Ensure they have the right equipment Ensure they do their homework Ensure they learn all the musical notation taught Visit websites such as www.bbc.co.uk/orchestras/guide/

Green pathway Blue / Purple Pathway Performance skills • Performing rhythms

• Keyboard skills • Performing as an

ensemble • Vocal skills • Solo performance

• Performing rhythms • Keyboard skills • Performing as an

ensemble • Vocal skills

Composing skills • Composing rhythms • Composing to a given

structure • Composing melodies • Developing an

understanding of chords • Composing in a popular

style

• Composing rhythms • Composing melodies • Improvising

Listening skills / research skills

• World music • Classical music • 20th century music • Popular music • 12 set pieces of music • Music theory

• Project work based on the music industry

• Venues • Jobs in performance • Non performing roles in

the industry • Organisations

25

Encourage them to join the school band or choir Attend a music concert at some point in KS3 to help identify instruments and families. How will my child be assessed in Music? Students will be assessed in performance, composition and listening and evaluating. Much of the assessment is ongoing and students have the opportunity to demonstrate that they have developed a specific skill several times during the course of the year. Assessments may involve students performing as a soloist or as part of a small group, a written composition, or a live performance of a composition as well as a more formal listening and theory based test.

Subject Leader Mrs E Wood

Geography

What equipment will my child need in Geography?

• Pen, pencil, rubber, ruler, glue stick, scissors, coloured pencils calculator.

26

• It will be beneficial to have a memory stick

What will my child be studying?

How do I help my child through KS3 Geography?

Homework will be set once a week. Regularly checking your child’s homework and offering advice on improvements will be of valuable assistance, discussion and extra research of topical geographical issues through watching the news reading newspapers and looking at news websites. Holidays taken abroad and in the UK offer ample opportunities for Geography through looking at landscapes and geographical features as well as studying different cultures. How will my child be assessed in Geography?

Students will be continually assessed through Key Stage 3 in Geography in order to help them understand how they can improve. In addition to these assessment for learning activities your child will also complete five formally assessed pieces of work each year, which will be marked according to the National Curriculum criteria. Subject Leader (Acting) Miss L Monger Design and Technology

What equipment will my child need?

• Pen, pencil, ruler, rubber, sharpener • Ingredients

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Fair Trade Restless Earth Weather and Climate The World

Planet Earth Global issues Brazil Coasts Tourism

Sport Amazing places Development Extreme Environments Population Globalisation

27

What will my child study?

How can I support my child in KS3 Design and Technology? Ensuring they bring the necessary ingredients, materials and equipment. Helping them with any homework, giving them the opportunities to make products at home. Encouraging them to use websites such as www.technologystudent.com How will my child be assessed in Design and Technology? They will have continuous assessment throughout the year on practical work and design folders. Homework will include the following during the Key Stage: Researching a range of products, compiling mood boards, mind maps, flowcharts etc, undertaking surveys and questionnaires, generating ideas, writing a plan of work, using the internet for research, acquiring specific ingredients, materials and resources, doing additional practical work (at lunchtimes or after school), writing up what they did in lessons, planning class presentations, and evaluating projects.

Subject Leader Mr R J King

German

What equipment will my child need?

• Pocket dictionary • Dry wipe board pen

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Design and manufacture using wood, metals, textiles and plastics. Computer aided designs and graphics as well as food processing and cookery.

28

• Headphones • Coloured pens • Glue stick • Cover for exercise book

What will my child study?

How can I help my child through KS3 German? By using websites such as BBC Bitesize, www.linguascope.com, www.languagesonline.org.uk, www.gut.org.uk, www.doddlelearn.co.uk How will my child be assessed in German? They will be assessed usually at the end of every module on 2 of the following skills: listening, reading, writing, speaking. The homework will contain a mixture of writing, reading and learning exercises. Subject Leader Miss L Fabre KS3 Co-coordinator Mrs J Baker

Spanish

What equipment will my child need?

• pocket dictionary • dry wipe board pen

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Self Items in your school bag Numbers Family Physical descriptions Pets School Time Sports House

Personal details Weather Holiday last year Buying train tickets Daily routine Parts of the body Illness Food and drink Shops Inviting a friend out TV programmes

Personal Details Nationalities School rules Directions Environment Films Part-time jobs Describing clothes Family life Rules at home Resolutions for the future

29

• headphones • coloured pens • glue stick • cover for exercise book

What will my child be studying?

How can I help my child through KS3 Spanish? By using websites such as BBC Bitesize, www.linguascope.com, www.languagesonline.org.uk, www.gut.org.uk, www.doddlelearn.co.uk How will my child be assessed in Spanish? They will be assessed usually at the end of every module on 2 of the following skills: listening, reading, writing, speaking. The homework will contain a mixture of writing, reading and learning exercises. Subject Leader Miss L Fabre KS3 Co-coordinator Mrs J Baker

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Self Family Physical descriptions Pets School Time Sports House What you do on holidays

Years eight and nine Spanish curriculum will be communicated next year.

30

French

What equipment will my child need?

• pocket dictionary • dry wipe board pen • headphones • coloured pens • glue stick • cover for exercise book

What will my child be studying?

How can I help my child through KS3 French? By using websites such as BBC Bitesize, www.linguascope.com, www.languagesonline.org.uk, www.gut.org.uk, www.doddlelearn.co.uk How will my child be assessed in French? They will be assessed usually at the end of every module on 2 of the following skills: listening, reading, writing, speaking. The homework will contain a mixture of writing, reading and learning exercises. Subject Leader Miss L Fabre KS3 Co-coordinator Mrs J Baker

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Self Family Physical descriptions Pets School Time Sports House What you do on holidays

Self Family Daily routines Parts of the body Illness Food and drink Shops Travelling to/around Paris Booking a holiday in France

Your town Housework Exchange visits Keeping fit Healthy eating Clothes Pocket money Characteristics Weather News

31

The Student Support Team at

Key Stage 3 in Tring School

The role of the Form Tutor and Head of House The Student Support Team at Tring School are there to ensure that your child is happy, safe and achieving their potential at school. Your child will have a Form Tutor throughout their time at Tring School who will not only register them and ensure that their attendance is good, but will also be the first person that they should see if they are experiencing problems in or out of lessons. Form Tutors check on the academic progress of every student within their tutor group, and will mentor a child who may need extra support. The Form Tutor should also be the first person that parents contact if they wish to pass on information about a changing situation at home, or have concerns that they would like to discuss. Most of our Form Tutors all have full teaching timetables, and sometimes may not be available to speak to you, so we also have Heads of Houses who work closely with the Form Tutors on the welfare of the students in their House. Our Heads of Houses are trained to deal with all manner of pastoral issues that can arise during a child’s time at secondary school and they regularly make referrals to agencies within Hertfordshire when it is necessary to seek outside support.

There is a Connexions Centre at Tring School that

is located next to the Dining Hall and is used by students to access help about a variety of issues. We have a number of trained counsellors who are available to the students from 8.30am- 4pm most school days. The service is

32

confidential, and students can self refer or may be referred by their Head of House, Learning Support Team or Form Tutor. Our counsellors also lead a team of Peer Mentors: Sixth Form students who have been trained to help younger students. Their role is to mentor younger students when they may feel uncomfortable speaking to adults. Our Connexions Centre also provides literature to students about drug and alcohol misuse, health and sexual relations, and can advise students on careers choices. The Learning Support Department Carol Oxley, our Special Educational Needs Coordinator, leads a team of Teaching Assistants who are trained to support students in the classroom, in small groups, and on a one to one basis. The Learning Support Department helps students remove barriers to learning, both pastoral or academic. They also support students who find it difficult, for whatever reason, to come into school, and help students who have learning difficulties. Tring School has an excellent reputation for working with students with special educational needs. School Chaplain We also have a School Chaplain who is based in Connexions. She will be working closely with the Student Support Team to support students who may need someone to talk to or advice about home or school situations. Homework Support Club Homework Support Club runs three nights a week – Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday from 3.30 – 4.30pm on the Library. Students can complete homework, revision or do extra studying at Homework Support Club. It is supervised by a member of staff and refreshments are provided.

33

Useful Names and Contacts

If you would like to talk to someone or you have any questions, the following people should be able to help you: Head of Ascott House Ms Dawn Audley Head of Claydon House Mrs Charmaine Sangari Head of Halton House Mrs Kim Baiden Head of Waddesdon House Mr Devon Woolley Student Support Manager (Waddesdon) Ms Julie Stefan Assistant Head Teacher - Student Support Mr Nigel Barlow Assistant Head Teacher - SENCO Mrs Gayle Raybould Assistant Head Teacher/Connexions Coordinator Mr Andrew Dobberson School Counsellor Mrs Linda Bowers Connexions Administrator Mrs Denise Griffiths Careers Coordinator Mr Andrew Dobberson Life Skills Coordinator Miss Jennah Alder You may also find the following websites useful:

www.tring.herts.sch.uk www.thegrid.org.uk/learning www.connexions-direct.com

www.doddle.co.uk

34

How to use the Tring School Planner

At the beginning of the academic year all students receive a Planner, also referred to as a Homework Diary. The purpose of the Planner is not only for students to record their homework, but it is also a way for you to communicate with your child’s Form Tutor or Teacher, and vice versa. The Planner also contains your child’s timetable, the uniform policy and information about the School Council and Connexions.

35

Homework

A good, well-managed home learning programme helps students to develop the skills and attitudes they will need for successful lifelong learning.

Tring School believes that home learning can also support the development of independent learning skills, and provides parents with an opportunity to take part in their children's education.

The reason Tring School applies home learning is because it:

• Allows students to increase their knowledge, understanding and application of skills.

• Is linked to prior knowledge. • Contains an element of independent research thus

empowering students and giving them some responsibility for their own learning.

• Is reflective and enables learners to monitor and review their thinking and learning.

• Allows students, parents and teachers to assess progress. • Leads to a dialogue with regard to how students can improve. • Promotes self evaluation • Is perceived to be of value by students, parents and teachers

We use an online homework resource centre called Doddle. Your child will be given their Doddle logins and passwords during the first few weeks. If you have any questions regarding homework, please speak directly to your child’s subject teacher, or Mr Steve McEvoy, who is in charge of our Home Learning Policy (which you can find on the Tring School website).

36

How can I keep in contact

with the school?

KeepKidsSafe Keep Kids Safe is a way of making sure that you are kept up to date with everything that is happening at school electronically. The school will be able to email and text you with information, and will be able to contact you about your child should we need to. If you have not already requested to be signed up to KKS, please contact Mrs Sheena Cogger at scogger@tring.herts.sch.uk Newsletters Our newsletters are distributed every half term with information about our recent achievements and forthcoming events. You can find electronic copies of newsletters on the School website.

Parents’ Evening

On Wednesday 18 December you will be invited to your child’s first Parents’ Evening at Tring School. All of our Parents’ Evenings take place in the Desborough Hall and you can make 5 minute appointments with your child’s subject teachers from 4pm to 7pm. You child will be asked to make appointments in the weeks leading up to the Parents’ Evening. There is a page in their planners in order for them to be able to do this. The Parents’ Evening is a fantastic way to meet your child’s class teachers, review their progress and talk through any concerns you may have. Initial Concerns Towards the end of October, your child’s Head of House will contact you if they feel your child may be experiencing some issues settling in. This is a good way to iron out any small glitches that may have happened, or reassure yourself about any worries you might have.

37

Progress Reports

Progress Reports show the attainment of your child. They show what level your child is working at, and what level they should be targeting by the end of the year. The Progress Report also gives an effort level which indicates how hard their subject teacher feels they are working and takes into account the quality of their written work, their homework and organisation. The attainment levels are based on formal and informal class assessments, as well as the work they produce in class and homework. If you have any concerns about their effort or attainment levels, please contact the subject teacher who will be happy to speak to you. The first Year 7 Progress Report will be issued on 13 December before the Parents’ Evening.

38

Rewards and Sanctions

At Tring School we try to achieve a healthy balance of teaching our students the standards we expect, upholding those standards and celebrating successes. Every term there is a House assembly in which the four Houses celebrate student successes and highlight any extra-curricular or in school achievements. These assemblies are thoroughly enjoyed by all the students. They include students who have shown active citizenship, students who have excelled academically, those who have worked hard and whose names have been put forward by teaching staff, and those who have taken part in House activities. All students have the opportunity to collect Achievement Points, which can earn them individual rewards and can help their House win the house cup. Achievement Points can be earned in a variety of ways, but mainly through hard work in lessons. Sanctions are applied where necessary and only after careful thought. Detentions take place during and after school, and can last up to 2 hours. As well as this we have an Internal Exclusion Room where we place students who have demonstrated seriously challenging or dangerous behaviour. For more information about our sanctions, please visit the school website http://www.tring.herts.sch.uk/parents/rewards_sanctions.html You can keep track of how many Achievement Points your child has collected via Moodle. Moodle can also tell you your child’s attendance and has a wealth of resources for all subjects, as well as links to useful websites.

39

Acronyms you may encounter

“NCTs”, “SATs”, sometimes acronyms can be confusing, even for the people who have to use them everyday! This page will get you started: SAT Standard Assessment Test (Year 6)

Connexions Service that provides advice to young people about

issues such as drugs, careers, sex education Key Stage Education is organised into blocks of years Core Subjects English, Maths and Science. Subjects that are

compulsory throughout a child’s statutory education Foundation Subjects Subjects other than Maths, English or

Science. ICT Information and Communication Technology D&T Design and Technology SHRE Sexual Health and Relationships Education NC National Curriculum SENCO Special Educational Needs Coordinator LT Leadership Team AMA Academically Most Able G&T Gifted and Talented PRS Philosophy and Religious Studies MFL Modern Foreign Languages