No sooner have we swung back into work mode than it´s time for another holiday! I was amused to hear a year 8 student on the first day of term tell her friend that ‘we´re breaking up on Thursday.´ No doubt three days is a long time for a 13 year old and she feels ready for her break after 15 lessons. However I´m pleased to report that the majority of our Year 11 GCSE students are taking a more strategic view, with no let-up on their revision schedules. Over 70 students used at least part of their Easter holiday to come into school for extra revision and exam preparation; I trust the remainder preferred to work at home.I do hope as many of you as possible were able to take full advantage of the lovely Easter weather, which was the perfect |
|
antidote to a long hard winter term. We now appear to be back to more seasonal climes, which is of course helpful to students trying to revise, not to mention busy teachers gearing up for the new ‘9 ½ ‘ timetable which starts in June — only 19 working days away — and working with Year 11 on their final revision techniques.
Two teachers who didn´t get much of a holiday (but avowed it was all worth it) were Peter Edmead, Programme Leader for Science and Gemma Davidson, Teacher of PE & Dance, who spent 11 days in Kenya, based at the Mivukoni School. This was a reciprocal visit following that of the previous headteacher and her colleague who came to Hampton in December. New headteacher Lilian Kituli has written to me:
‘we are very happy that you allowed Peter and Gemma to visit our school. I and the other teachers have learnt a lot from them especially on learner-centred teaching, they are wonderful people.´ I know that Gemma and Peter would say that there was just as much |
|
learning on their side. Academy staff are looking forward to their presentation on 9th May.Just before Easter we were able to go ‘live´ with our Electronic Data System, the EDS, which allows Year 7 parents to check their children´s progress in the steps and themes curriculum from home. All Year 7 parents should have received a letter with details of this; please contact your child´s College Co-ordinator if this has not happened. We are making arrangements for a ‘drop in/ hands on´ workshop for parents who would like further clarification or information about this and our other curricular ICT systems. This is likely to be on Monday 9th May from some time after 4.30pm; the exact timing will be confirmed shortly. Any queries in the meantime should be addressed to Dafydd Humphreys, our Director of Learning dhumphreys@hamptonacademy.org.uk
Also on Monday 9th May there is an important meeting for Year 8 parents of all the students who are going to Gamleby in Sweden in June. This should be a great experience for them and their base group tutors. Please make every effort to attend at 7pm if your child is one of those going.
There will be a Parents´ Forum in May, similar to the previous ‘Principal´s Question Time´ when I was available to take questions from parents about a whole range of school issues. This year the parents will also have the opportunity to ask broader questions about the Learning Schools Trust of Steve Bolingbroke, Managing Director of Kunkapsskolan UK. There will also be more detailed feedback from the Parents´ Questionnaire which nearly 200 parents completed in March (see previous blog). The Forum date will be published shortly.
A further opportunity for parents to get involved in the life of our school comes on Wednesday 11th May with the termly Hampton Academy Association meeting at 7pm. Last term´s meeting saw a much increased turnout, including several Year 7 parents, which was very encouraging. Do come along if you can and see how you can support your child´s school whilst enjoying a range of social activities at the same time. The quiz last term was a huge success, very well attended and enormous fun (yes I am a bit biased having been part of the winning team — but even the lot who came last said they enjoyed it! As we prepare for the Big Day tomorrow I hope that all our families enjoy the break from routine; the historicism of the event; the company of friends and neighbours; or a peaceful getaway! Let´s hope it´s a happy occasion for all. Sue Demont |
|
