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Year 8Information Guide

SENIOR SCHOOL

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IMPORTANT DATES FOR YEAR 8 2016-17

TERM 1Date EventSunday 4th September Induction for new pupils (10:00am to

12:00 noon)Monday 5th September School starts for all pupils (9:00am)*Tuesday 13th September to School closes for Eid al-Adha.

Thursday 15th September * Dates subject to change in line with official holidays in Qatar

Sunday 18th September School re opensWednesday 5th October Meet the Tutor afternoon (12:00 noon

to 5:00pm)Tuesday 21st October Parents’ meeting (3:00pm to 6:00pm)Sunday 30th October to Half term break

Thursday 3rd November Sunday 11th December Year 8 Progress Reports publishedThursday 15th December Term ends (12:00 noon)

TERM 2Tuesday 3rd January 2017 Term begins (9:00am)Thursday 19th January Sports DaySunday 29th January to Half term break

Thursday 2nd FebruaryTuesday 14th February Qatar National Sports DayTuesday 21st February Year 8 Parents’ EveningThursday 30th March Year 8 Progress Reports

published Thursday 6th April Term ends (12:00 noon)

TERM 3Sunday 23rd April Term begins (9:00am)Monday 29th May Year 8 examination week beginsThursday 15th June Year 8 Progress Reports publishedThursday 29th June Term ends (12:00 noon)

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HOW CAN I SUPPORT MY CHILD IN YEAR 8?Having completed a successful transition and settling-in period, our pupils are now ready move on to the next stage of their school career. Year 8 is the platform where our pupils will consolidate their learning from the previous year and continue their academic journey. Pastoral care will play a pivotal role in helping pupils build confidence and self-discipline – qualities which will help them to develop a positive relationship with staff and peers. High expectations of academic progress along with behaviour, attendance and punctuality lie at the heart of our pastoral programme in Year 8, so that our pupils continue to flourish, academically, socially, morally and spiritually. Ultimately we will strive to nurture qualities and behaviour traits that will help pupils to prepare for the future as well-rounded individuals.The Tutors and the Head of Year will continue in their endeavours to guide pupils through the year, to ensure that they build on last year’s foundations and rise to the challenges of Year 8. Listed below are some of the things you can do to help, encourage and support your child through the next few months:

• Ensure that your child is on time and attends school every day if possible. This way they know that they are not going to miss important information.

• Provide a suitable place for your child to study and ensure that they have the equipment needed.

• Sign their planners every week.• Know important dates and display them in your house so you can

support your child.• Make sure that your child has a balance between study and more

relaxing activities such as spending time with friends.

What is the role of the Form Tutor?The role of the Tutor is essential to your child’s well-being. The Tutor is the person that you as a parent or your child should go to with any concerns. Tutors are responsible for each child’s pastoral well-being and academic monitoring. Tutor groups meet twice a day and in this time, they can help support your child with any issues they may have.

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Your child will also have a termly interview with the Tutor to discuss their achievements and concerns. Tutors’ contact details are listed below:• Ahmed Mrs. Jamie Outram joutram@sherborneqatar.org• Cook Ms. Kasha Smith ksmith@sherborneqatar.org• Copeland Mr. David Ball dball@sherborneqatar.org• Cutler Mr. Graham Robey grobey@sherborneqatar.org• Hamad Mr. Howard Jones hjones@sherborneqatar.org• Moza Miss Faeeza Mohamed fmohamed@sherborneqatar.orgWhat is the role of the Head of Year?The pastoral system is the backbone of life at Sherborne. The Head of Year has overall responsibility for the pastoral welfare of the year group. They will monitor the academic tracking of their year group, implementing strategies to support pupils’ progression. The Head of Year will set the tone for their year group in terms of behaviour and conduct in and around school. They will also ensure that pupils are fully engaging in life at Sherborne. Your Head of Year’s contact details are:• Mrs. Kishwar Monica Hamlin mhamlin@sherborneqatar.org

What is the role of the Head of House?The House system is pivotal in developing a pupils’ sense of belonging at Sherborne. Heads of House are responsible for leading the school’s House System and encouraging participation in a wide variety of activities. They will get to know the strengths of the pupils in their House and will be able to provide feedback with regards to a pupil’s contribution to wider aspects of school life. The Heads of House are:• Ahmed Mrs. Jaime Outram joutram@sherborneqatar.org• Cook Ms. Rgizlaine Khayari rkhayari@sherborneqatar.org• Copeland Miss Donna Ketteringham dketteringham@sherborneqatar.org• Cutler Mr. Graham Robey grobey@sherborneqatar.org• Hamad Miss Angela Nightingale-Smith ansmith@sherborneqatar.org• Moza Mr. Ibrahim Adam iadam@sherborneqatar.org

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PARENTS’ GUIDE TO REPORTSAt Sherborne Qatar we ensure that pupils are tracked by their academic progress throughout the year. We use a variety of assessment methods in conjunction with teacher judgement to ensure we monitor progress carefully. Here at Sherborne Qatar we produce the following type of report:

Progress Report:This report is given termly and gives the following information from each subject teacher based upon the evidence to date and the professional judgement of that member of staff.

• Current working at level• Minimum expected level• Aspirational level• Attitude to learning at school• Attitude to learning at home (based upon homework submitted)• On track to achieve the minimum expected level

In the second and third term the progress report also includes comments from the Tutor to identify any pastoral and academic areas of success or areas for improvement. This allows parents to gain an overview of the pupil within the school and show any areas outside of the curriculum where there have been positive feedback and attainment.

Minimum Expected Level:The minimum expected level is based upon the initial aptitude tests undertaken in the early stages of the Autumn Term or by using the previous year’s attainment as a starting point.

Aspirational Level:The aspirational levels are taken from subject teachers’ knowledge of the pupil, tests and the work undertaken to date. This grade can be modified throughout the year and exam course.

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Sherborne Qatar follows the British National Curriculum in Years 7-9, therefore we use the national expectations as a benchmark for measuring progress.The chart below shows the general level of attainment per year group.

1c 1b 1a 2c 2b 2a 3c 3b 3a 4c 4b 4a 5c 5b 5a 6c 6b 6a 7c 7b 7a 8 >8

Year 6

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

working below the age

related expectations

working just below the

age related expectations

working at the age

related expectations

working above the age

related expectations

YEAR 8 PSHE SHERBORNE QATAR 2016-17The Tutor activities outlined below aims to develop essential skills and knowledge to pupils, and to help them progress further in their personal development. The curriculum is a ‘Spiral Curriculum’ developing the most important points of PSHE education throughout all years. This supports pupils gaining the right information at the correct age, and builds on the understanding and skills from the previous years. A spiral curriculum has been proven, through studies to be the best way to embed these topics in education. The three areas of focus at Sherborne are: ‘Past, Present and Future’, ‘Citizenship’ and ‘Health and Safety’. Below are the three topics that will be of focus in Year 8.

Term Area of Focus Topic What will be included

1 Past, Present and Future

What kind of person are you?

Describe yourself

What would you do…?

Dealing with situations

‘Honesty the best policy’?

2 Citizenship Respect and Tolerance

People: How are they different? How are they similar?

Positives and negatives of Sherborne (multiculturalism).

Why and how to show respect and tolerance.

Qatar and respect for other cultures.

3 Healthy Eating Healthy Eating and Energy Drinks

What is an unhealthy diet? Why a healthy diet is a good thing? What can be the result of an unhealthy diet? A balanced diet

Energy drinks- What they are, what they do, and what effects they have on the body?