Parent Handbook - The Thomas Aveling School
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The Thomas Aveling School Parent Handbook Year 10
Message from the Headteacher
September 2020
Dear Parent/Carer
It is with great pleasure that we are able to provide you with this booklet
of key information for your child’s fourth year at Thomas Aveling. We hope
that by providing you with this information it will be possible for you to
plan the year ahead and support your child effectively with their education.
By working together your child will settle quickly into school, make greater
progress and be happy.
We hope that your child has had a great experience so far at Thomas
Aveling and is excited about starting Year 10. You will already know that
Thomas Aveling is a great school – that will be the main reason you chose
us to educate your child. We have very high standards and expectations
of children who attend our school in terms of their behaviour, effort and
dress and know that you will continue to support us in maintaining these
standards. If all children look smart, work hard and behave well, they will
all make fantastic progress and achieve well in school.
Please take time to read through the booklet, note down any dates that are
relevant and please visit some of the resources and websites highlighted.
Research shows that the biggest impact on a child’s education, after
attending a good, well led school, is parental involvement and interest
in their child’s education. It is more important than ever as your child
continues into the second year of many of their GCSE courses.
Parents have asked for help with how to assist their child with home
learning (homework) and there is a significant section on this in the
booklet. It includes advice on finding the right resources, asking the right
questions and encouraging your child to revise, with revision techniques
highlighted.
Participation in after-hours learning opportunities is a really important part of school that we want every child to undertake. A full offer of clubs is included in the booklet, please encourage your child to attend at least one club each week. It will help develop new skills and improve their mental well being, especially in this demanding time in their school life. One of the most significant sections of this booklet talks about reading and literacy. Many of your sons/daughters will enjoy reading and be fluent readers and may will have read some of the books highlighted on our recommended reading list, which is great. The reading age of language used in text books and exams has increased significantly with the introduction of the new GCSEs and it is vital that students develop this skill. Seeing you read at home, discussing books that they have read and encouraging them to borrow books from our school library will enhance their ability in this aspect of learning. Please help us to help your children be confident and regular readers for pleasure. Hopefully you know by now that we value good communication between home and school and have several ways you can keep in touch. Email is the most convenient way to contact us. Every member of staff’s email address is on the ‘contact us’ page of our website. If you don’t get a response within 24 hours, please email again and copy me in and I will chase for you. If you do telephone the school, try the house buttons first – they will be able to help you with most things. Please visit Insight regularly, at least once per week, to check on how your child is doing, their attendance, positive logs and homework, so that you can have informed conversations with them. If there is anything you think the school can do better, please remember we have our Parent Voice Group – please get involved. Yours sincerely Paul Jackson
Curriculum for the Year Our Curriculum Students at The Thomas Aveling School follow a very broad and balanced curriculum. The Arts, Sport and Personal Development are valued highly. We want students to be able to follow their own interests and use their talents to the full and have designed a curriculum to enable this to happen. The Key Stage 4 curriculum has a variety of academic and vocational qualifications for students to choose from to allow them to develop a wide range of skills necessary to be successful in a rapidly changing world. Many students combine one vocational subject with their academic choices. Here are some of the subjects including topics your child will have the opportunity to study this year: English This year students engage fully with the format of the English Language GCSE exam and develop their analytical, evaluative and comparative skills by studying a range of non-fiction texts alongside 19th century literature extracts. We support students transition into the exam units by studying the elements through two whole texts: ‘Of Mice and Men’ and ‘Touching the Void’ before exploring the extract-based style of the exam. Students also complete a separately endorsed Speaking and Listening Unit which is a requirement of the GCSE course which aims to demonstrate their confidence and ability in presenting and responding to questions – a vital communication tool for the future. Language elements: • Exploration in creative reading and writing - fiction extracts • Exploration in creative reading and writing – creative writing piece • Writer’s viewpoints and perspectives – non-fiction extracts • Writer’s viewpoints and perspectives – transactional writing
Maths This is the first real year of studying GCSE, students continue to build on the excellent foundation provided in Key Stage 3 and tackle with confidence the Edexcel GCSE syllabus. All students continue to follow either the foundation or higher linear programs, each program has it’s own topics to study however there is some crossover between foundation and higher. Students are taught to develop both calculator and non-calculator methods and to apply their skills to real- world problems wherever possible. Topics covered this year include: • Measures and Accuracy • Equations and Inequalities • Circles and Constructions • Ratio and Proportion • Factors, Powers and Roots • Linear Graphs • Working in 3D • Handling Data • Standard Form and Exact Calculations Science Students continue into their second year of studying AQA Combined Science Trilogy this year. They are taught Biology, Chemistry and Physics by specialist teachers and will be examined through 6 exam papers at the end of the course: two in Biology, two in Chemistry and two in Physics. There will also be a series of required practicals for each subject which will be undertaken in class and examined in their GCSE exam papers in Year 11. Topics covered this year include: • Homeostasis and response
continued • Inheritance, variation and evolution • Ecology • The rate and extent of chemical change • Organic chemistry; • Chemical analysis • Chemistry of the atmosphere and using resources • Forces • Waves • Magnetism and electromagnetism Geography Students will continue into their second year of studying the AQA Geography Specification. Studying geography gives students the opportunity to travel the world via the classroom, learning about both the physical and human environment. Students will continue to develop their understanding of how geography impacts their life every day and discover the key opportunities and challenges facing the world. Students will also participate in a fieldtrip to assist them with answering questions in paper 3. Topics covered this year include: • Coastal Landscapes of the UK • The Changing Economic World • Resource Management, focusing on Food resources. • Geographical Skills History Students studying AQA History will continue to develop a wide range of highly valuable skills into the second year of studying this GCSE – history is far more than just knowing ‘stuff’ about the past. It’s about critically utilizing a range of different sources, being able to put forward and defend an argument or an interpretation and to analyse and evaluate the causes and consequences of events. These are all skills which can
be used as a foundation for further study of any subject in KS5 or for employment. Topics covered this year include: • Germany 1918-1945 • Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950–1975 Languages Students studying a GCSE in MFL will continue to focus on three main themes in Year 10: Theme 1: Identity & Culture Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest Theme 3: Current & future study & employment In Year 11 students will take four exams, being tested on Speaking, Writing, Reading and Listening skills. The topics they will work on in Year 10 are: • Describing a region • Finding out tourist information • Discussing plans and the weather • Talking about your town • Dealing with a hotel stay • Talking about travelling • Saying what you do and did on holiday • Ordering in a restaurant • Talking about holiday disasters • Giving opinions on school subjects and facilities • Talking about your school and schools in Italy/France/Spain • Discussing healthy and unhealthy living • Using past, present and future time frames • Understanding direct object pronouns • Using adverbs To get a feel for all other option subjects your child will be studying the year, please visit our website page www.thomasaveling.co.uk/curriculum
Top tips to support your child completing homework. 1. Talk to them daily about their homework Give your child a chance to talk about their school work if they want to. Even if you know nothing about a particular subject, you can still help just by talking and listening and helping them to find their own answers. 2. Encourage Help your child take responsibility for organising and doing their homework and never forget to praise them for their hard work or their improved concentration, handwriting or presentation. Your child may need a diary or notebook if they are struggling with organising themselves. We do have planners for those students in need. 3. Use available tools All parents have access to Insight-our online portal that helps you keep informed. You should find all homework posted there so that you can check what your child has to do, when it is due to be handed in and be able to support accordingly. 4. Help your child keep to a routine Some children prefer to do homework straight after school, whereas others prefer to ‘unwind’ first, or have their meal then do homework later. Let your child decide – but ensure they stick to it. 5. Establish a study zone It’s very important to try to create a suitable place where your child can do their homework, ideally somewhere with a clear work surface, good lighting and nice and quiet. Try to teach younger brothers and sisters not to interrupt when homework is being done. 6. Allow for differences Children are all different and have different learning styles. Some prefer to study alone, whereas others like to study with friends or family.
continued
It’s worth remembering that some children like to work with music on to
keep them company, too.
7. Use resources
If there isn’t suitable space in your home for working, try a local library
or our homework club here at school. Here they can use computers to
get on the internet if you don’t have access at home and also has staff
available who will be able to help.
8. Get tech savvy
The internet can be great for looking things up and finding out more so
encourage your child to become an independent learner and to go the
‘extra mile’ with their studies.
9. Read together
If your child is a reluctant reader, encouraging them to read to younger
siblings, or other family members or friends is a great way for them to
practise.
10. Offer rewards
Make homework rewarding by setting up some treats like staying up 10
minutes later, spending 10 minutes extra on the computer, or having a
friend round. It can help to keep your child motivated if they need that
little extra encouragement from time to time.
www.theschoolrun.com/10-top-tips-helping-your-child-homework
Top 10
Websites to use to help to
support your child’s learning.
SUBJECT WEBSITE
Business www.businessed.co.uk
Computer Sience Craiganddave.org
Teach-ict.com
www.bbc.com/bitesize/subjects/z34k7ty
www.senecalearning.com
courses.exa.foundation/enrol/index.php?id=2
Design Technology www.bbc.com/bitesize
www.technologystudent.com
www.design-technology.info/home.htm
www.design-technology.info/revisionguides
www.cat.org.uk
www.flying-pig.co.uk
cabaret.co.uk
designmuseum.org
English Core content skills:
www.bbc.com/bitesize/subjects/zr9d7ty
Mr Bruff YouTube tutorials
Paper 1 -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKZ_Tr2Y-CE&list=PLqGFsWf-
P-cB-GSeqYup7PXId4pbldQVq
Paper 2 -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMhQIX9DCcQ&list=PLqGFs
Wf-P-cAlttmXkEvJXCxqT-ZzFqAN
Revision portal: www.senecalearning.com
Food Preparation www.jamieoliver.com www.bbc.com/bitesize
www.nutrition.org.uk www.foodafactoflife.org.uk
www.deliaonline.com www.bbcgoodfood.com
www.bbc.co.uk/food www.senecalearning.com
www.aqa.org.uk
www.illuminate.digital/aqafood
STHOMAS3 Student Password: STUDENT3SUBJECT WEBSITE
French www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize
www.wildfrench.co.uk/GCSEPapers/paperslist.htm
www.ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk/curriculum/modlang
www.targetlanguage.co.uk
atschool.eduweb.co.uk/haberg/index.htm
www.aiglon.ch/langlink/frenchrev.html
www.revisioncentre.co.uk/gcse/french/index.html
www.atantot-extra.co.uk
www.tv5.org/index.php
www.languagesonline.org.uk
Geography There are many sources of information available. Some
of the best are available by doing a specific search on
the subject and then watching the clips- often these are
animations. Therefore the best way to do this is for example
type in the topic such as ‘Slum settlements in India’, click on
videos and select the one you think most appropriate. These
are particularly good for the physical side of things such as
‘how longshore drfit works’.
History clenhistory.wordpress.com/
Italian www.bbc.co.uk/languages/italian
en.duolingo.com/course/it/en/Learn-Italian
www.fluentu.com/blog/italian
www.italianpod101.com
www.livelingua.com/italian/courses/fsi
www.memrise.com/courses/english/italian
www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/italian.php
oneworlditaliano.com/english/home.htm
onlineitalianclub.com
www.iluss.itcontinued
SUBJECT WEBSITE
Mathematics www.m4ths.com/
justmaths.co.uk/2015/12/21/9-1-exam-questions-by-topic-
higher-tier
justmaths.co.uk/2015/11/29/9-1-exam-questions-by-topic-
foundation-version-2
www.hegartymaths.com (our online homework platform)
www.mathsgenie.co.uk
www.corbettmaths.com
Science Kerboodle (https://www.kerboodle.com/users/login)
Seneca Learning, (https://senecalearning.com/en-GB/)
Spanish www.memrise.com
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/spanish
www.languagesonline.org.uk
www.spanishrevision.co.uk/gcse/gcse_index.htm
revisionworld.com/gcse-revision/spanishFinance Information Parent Pay ParentPay is used for all transactions in school. An account is created for each parent to make payments on line or through local PayPoint venues to pay for things like: School lunches Trips Lockers Specialist equipment. We believe this to be a much more efficient and reliable system to sending in cash. Parents can keep track of payments made, what their children are spending each day on food and even what food they are eating. Lockers Students can purchase a locker either 1 year at a time which costs £7.00 per year (but £12.00 in the first year because it comes with a padlock) or pay £35 up front when starting in year 7 to keep the locker and padlock for 5 years.
Microsoft TEAMS Guidance
Keep on it! Encourage your child to regularly check in on the Year 7 Student Team for all helpful posts and any support resources.
What’s On - Extra Curricular
Clubs Autumn Terms 2020
Football
Boys’ and Girls’ Football:
Improve your skills or join our Teams to play
against other schools!
Girls’ and Boys’ Hockey
Use our fantastic all-weather pitch and train
and learn/develop your hockey skills.
Badminton
It’s a very fierce and competitive sport using
racquets and a shuttlecock. Never tried it?
Give it a go in our huge sports hall!Handball
Try a sport that you might not have played
before. Using some of your netball and
basketball skills.
Netball/Basketball
Why not shoot hoops as if you were in the
NBA? Netball for girls, basketball for boys &
girls - a fab way to use your energy if you enjoy
running and jumping!
Table Tennis
Join our table tennis coach in the gym to
develop your serves and improve your tactics.continued
Art and Textiles
A chance for extra tuition in building your gcse
portfolio.
Spanish Film Club
Explore the language and culture of Spain and
South America through films and series in
Spanish.
Music coursework support
For all GCSE students needing that extra time
to work on their GCSE pieces.Library Assistants
These guys are helpful people who love books
and work with the Library staff during break
and lunchtimes - students will be invited to
apply to Mrs Peace.
Homework Club
Get that homework done and out of the way
with the added benefit of staff at hand to help.
Cooking
Are you a wannabe chef? Or just want to
impress with some new found kitchen skills!
Let’s get Cooking starts in Term 4.continued
Chess/Strategy Games & Lego
Challenge your friends or maybe a teacher!
Build something new and learn new gaming
strategies.
Reading Club
Have you ever read a book that you couldn’t
put down? Have you read a book that has left a
lasting impression on you? Or maybe you want
to read a book but never know how to choose
one? Then the exclusive Thomas Aveling Book
Club could be for you!Medway
Secondary School Games 2020-21
The Medway SSG is a mixture of sporting competitions that allow the most talented
students from each secondary school to compete against one another. Each sport is
scored and won separately but the overall score for the SSG tournament is determined
by the amount of points that each school obtains in those different sports.
DATE SPORT
Thu 24th Sept 2020 Indoor Rowing
(girls and boys all Year groups)
Thu 8 Oct 2020
th Cross Country (girls and boys,
Years 7, 8 and 9, 10 and 11 and 12 and 13)
Thu 12th Nov 2020 Badminton
(girls and boys KS3 and KS4)
Thu 26th Nov 2020 Handball
(Years 7 and 8 and 9 and 10 girls and boys)
Thu 10th Dec 2020 Futsal (U13 Years 7 and 8
and U15’s Years 9 and 10 only)
Thu 14th Jan 2021 Sportshall Athletics
(Years 7 and 8 girls and boys)
Thu 25th Mar 2021 Rugby Union
Thu 13th May 2021 Rounders Girls only
(Years 8 and 9 girls only)
Wed 19th May 2021 Super 8 Athletics
(Years 7 girls and boys)
Thu 17 June 2021 Cricket
th
(Years 7 girls and boys)
Date TBC Baseball
(boys only Years 7 and 8 TBC)Top 10 tips for improving your child’s reading ability. Parents have a huge impact on how quickly their children learn to read. Here are top ten tips to improve your child’s progress in reading. 1. Set aside a regular time to read to your children every day. Studies show that regularly reading out loud to children will produce significant gains in reading comprehension, vocabulary, and the decoding of words. Whether your children are preschoolers or preteens, it will increase their desire to read independently. 2. Surround your children with reading material. Children with a large array of reading materials in their homes score higher on standardized tests. Tempt your kids to read by having a large supply of appealing books and magazines at their reading level. 3. Have a family reading time. Establish a daily 15 to 30 minute time when everyone in the family reads together silently. Seeing you read will inspire your children to read. Just 15 minutes of daily practice is sufficient to increase their reading fluency. 4. Encourage a wide variety of reading activities. Make reading an integral part of your children’s lives. Have them read menus, roadside signs, game directions, weather reports, movie time listings, and other practical everyday information. Also, make sure they always have something to read in their spare time when they could be waiting for appointments or riding in a car. 5. Develop the library habit. Entice your children to read more by taking them to the library every few weeks to get new reading materials.
6. Be knowledgeable about your children’s progress. Find out what reading skills they are expected to have at each grade level. Track their progress in acquiring basic reading skills on Insight and through accelerated reader. 7. Look for reading problems. Teachers do not always detect children’s reading problems until they’ve become serious. Find out if your children can sound out words, know sight words, use context to identify unknown words, and clearly understand what they read. 8. Get help promptly for reading problems. Reading problems do not magically disappear with time. The earlier children receive help, the more likely they will become good readers. 9. Use a variety of aids to help your children. To help your children improve their reading, use textbooks, computer programs, udiobooks, and other materials available in stores. Games are especially good choices because they let children have fun as they work on their skills. 10. Show enthusiasm for your children’s reading. Your reaction has a great influence on how hard they will try to become good readers.
Thomas Aveling Reading List For Year 10 students Monsters of Men – Patrick Ness Maladapted – Richard Kurti Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret – Judy Blume Hatchet – Gary Paulsen Boy Proof – Cecil Castellucci The Twilight Saga – Stephanie Meyer The Amnesia Clinic – James Scudamore Brave New World – Aldous Huxley Brighton Rock – Graham Greene Catch-22 – Joseph Heller The Catcher in the Tye – J.D. Salinger The Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas Dracula – Bram Stoker Empire of the Sun – J.G. Ballard Noah Can’t Even – Simon James Green Frankenstein – Mary Shelley The Mosquito Coast – Paul Theroux Shakespeare: The World as a Stage – Bill Bryson The Old Man and The Sea – Ernest Hemingway One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest – Ken Kesey Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha – Roddy Doyle The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro Scoop – Evelyn Waugh To Kill a Mocking Bird – Harper Lee Burning Secret – Stefan Zweig The Fault in Our Stars – John Green A Monster Calls – Patrick Ness We Are All Made of Molecules – Susan Nielsen 13 Minutes: A Novel – Sarah Pinborough Paper Butterflies – Lisa Heathfield Every Day – David Levithan Rose Sees Red – Cecil Castellucci A Separate Peace – John Knowles
continued Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte Great Expectations – Charles Dickens Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck Atonement – Ian McEwan Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? – Phillip K. Dick Long Walk to Freedom – Nelson Mandela The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks The Road – Cormac McCarthy All Quiet on the Western Front – Erich Maria Remarque Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy – John le Carre’ I Captured the Castle – Dodie Smith Cider with Rosie – Laurie Lee Nineteen Eighty-Four – George Orwell The Fellowship of the Ring – J.R.R. Tolkien Hitler’s Executioners – Daniel Goldhagen Gulliver’s Travels – Jonathan Swift Schindler’s Ark – Thomas Keneally Oranges Are Not Only Fruit – Jeanette Winterson Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie Looking for Alaska – John Green The Westing Game – Ellen Raskin The Time Machine – H.G.Wells The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini Game of Thrones – George R.R. Martin Birdsong – Sebastian Faulkes On The Road – Jack Kerouac The Three Musteteers – Alexandre Dumas The Name of the Rose – Umberto Eco The Trial – Franz Kafka The Hound of the Baskervilles – Arthur Conan Doyle The Moonstone – Wilkie Collins
continued
War of the Worlds – H.G. Wells
David Copperfield – Charles Dickens
Robinson Crusoe – Daniel Defoe
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
Don Quixote – Miguel Cervantes
Carrie – Stephen king
The Last Lecture – Randy Pausch
A Short History of Nearly Everything – Bill Bryson
Cosmos – Carl Sagan
Maus – Art Spielgeiman
One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriela Garcia Marquez
East of Eden – John Steinbeck
Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury
Dune – Frank Herbert
Flowers For Algernon – Daniel Keyes
Out of Shadows – Jason Wallace
b u y i n g
Ma k e t !
a t r e a
book sResearch shows that there is a clear link between high attainment and good attendance in school. Therefore it is vital that students attend school every day. The school has a number of support strategies in place to help ensure that all students can achieve their full potential, these include: Make sure you child’s attendance stays above 96% by: • Encouraging them to still attend if they have a cold or sore throat • Make any medical appointments out of school hours where possible
continued Holidays in term time The holiday form is no longer available as the Governors have not authorised holiday absence for any student during term time since September 2007. Only in exceptional circumstances will authorised leave be granted. In these circumstances, parents should write directly to the Headteacher. Penalty Notices In line with Local Education Authority practise we must advise parents/carers that a Penalty Notice may be imposed in certain cases where unauthorised holiday leave is taken or a child has regular unauthorised attendance.
Term Dates
TERM DATES FOR SEPTEMBER 2020 TO JULY 2021
Start of Term 1: Tuesday 1st September 2020 (Y7 and Y12 only)
Wednesday 2nd September 2020 (Y7 and Y12 only)
Thursday 3rd September (whole school)
CPD Day 1: Monday 19th October 2020
CPD Day 2: Tuesday 20th October 2020
CPD Day 3: Wednesday 21st October 2020
End of Term 1: Wednesday 21st October 2020
Term break: Thursday 22nd October to Friday 30th October 2020
Start of Term 2: Monday 2nd November 2020
CPD Day 4: Friday 27th November 2020
End of Term 2: Friday 18th December 2020
Term Break: Monday 21st December 2020 to Friday 1st January 2021
Start of Term 3: Monday 4th January 2021
End of Term 3: Friday 12th February 2021
Term Break: Monday 15th February to Friday 19th February 2021
Start of Term 4: Monday 22nd February 2021
End of Term 4: Thursday 1st April 2021
Easter Break: Friday 2nd April 2021 to Friday 16th April 2021
(Good Friday 2nd April/Easter Monday 5th April 2021)
Start Term 5: Monday 19th April 2021
Early May bank hol: Monday 3rd May 2021
End Term 5: Friday 28th May 2021
Late May bank hol: Monday 31st May 2021
Term Break: Tuesday 1st June 2021 to Friday 4th June 2021
Start of Term 6: Monday 7th June 2021
CPD Day 5: Friday 2nd July 2021
End Term 6: Friday 23rd July 2021Other important
dates for the diary:
Thurs 1st Oct – all day Wear it grey event – Cav students only
Mon 5 – 9 Oct
th th
Assessment week
Thurs 12 Nov th
Parents’ Evening
Mon 16th Nov Progress report available
Fri 4 Dec
th
Santa & Elves fun run (Cav and Res)
Wed 16 Dec th
Christmas music concert
Mon 4 – 8 Jan
th th
Assessment week
Mon 25th Jan Progress report available
Thurs 4 Feb 6pmth
English revision evening
Sat 6 – 9 March
th th
Amalfi trip
Mon 15 – 19 March
th th
Assessment week
Mon 15th March 12-4pm SEND afternoon
Wed 31 March st
Easter Music concert
Mon 19 April th
Progress report available
Mon 14 – 18 June
th th
Assessment week
Thurs 17th June 6-7pm Annual Dance Show
Tues 22 June nd
Sports Day
Tues 30 June th
Dance exam
Mon 5 Julyth
Progress report available
Thurs 8th July PA exam performance
Mon 12 and Tues 13 July
th th
TED days
Wed 14 and 15 July
th th
Geography field trip
We will keep you posted on LOTS of trips that are due to be organised but
venues are yet to confirm opening arrangements due to COVID.Do not suffer in silence! We are always here to help. Please contact us with any concerns you may have regarding your child. Even if something has happened at home, it is always useful for us to know so please keep us informed. We want your child to be happy and thrive, so if there are ANY problems – do not hesitate to get in touch. Remember it is important for you to keep up to speed with all behavioural, homework and attendance information via insight. There is also lots of information on our website. Doing our bit for the Environment Students at Thomas Aveling school are keen to improve our environment. An Eco-committee is currently being established. These students will work towards achieving the international Green Flag Award, focusing on key environmental areas that we can improve on as a school. As part of this, we will try to limit paper use wherever possible so please appreciate that most communication will be via email.
Children’s team
At Thomas Aveling we have a huge team dedicated to the welfare and
safeguarding of our students. The Children’s Team is run by Ms Latchford
and they work with parents, staff and students to ensure the wellbeing
and safety is paramount.
Children’s Team
Ms Chew Ms Rosina Ms Latchford Mrs Rodwell Mrs Williams
** SENCO ** ** Transition, **
Assistant Children’s Home School CLA and Child
Headteacher Team Leader Support Welfare Protection
Safeguard Worker Coordinator trained
Lead
Mrs Bushell Mrs Harris Ms Tuffrey Mrs Stratford Mrs Massey Mrs
Raising Assistant Interventions Student ADOL for Singleton
Aspirations SENCO officer Services, Achilles **
and KS3 Attendance ADOL for
support and Welfare Victory
Officer
Mrs Martin Mrs Mr Coley Mrs Johal Mr Capon Mrs Malone
Hearing Richardson Anti-Bullying ** ADOL for **
Impaired SENCO Lead Student Resolute ADOL for
Lead Teacher Admin Wellbeing Cavalier
Advisor and
Safeguarding
Officer
If you have any safeguarding concerns please do not hesitate to contact
the team on safeguardingconcerns@thomasaveling.co.ukOnline Safety In a growing age where teenagers rely heavily on their phone and gaming platforms, there are some key areas where parents can monitor and encourage responsible use of the internet: 1. Most social media platforms have an age limit of 13. This means no Year 7s should have Facebook, Snapchat or Instagram. 2. NSPCC has an app called ZIPIT. Which goes though advice and ideas on how to handle inappropriate messages from social media platforms. 3. For overall monitoring please look into apps such as Family Time https://familytime.io/ which allows parents to limit screen time and block a number of applications that are not suitable. 4. If you are concerned about inappropriate or abusive contact online in anyway please report the user through the usual methods on that particular platforms. 5. CEOP are available for self, school and parent reporting of accounts that are inappropriate or/and abusive. https://www.ceop.police. uk/safety-centre/ Please use them if you have any concerns. Or contact the school and we can report the account for you.
Handling the pressure of external exams
Information for parents and carers
Did you know? Survey research has identified that exams are a
significant source of stress and worry for pupils in
secondary school. In particular, failing important
examinations, and the consequences of failing
these examinations, are rated as more important
than a range of other personal and social worries.
(Optimus education)
The NHS highlight that Children and young people
who experience stress may:
• worry a lot
• feel tense
• get lots of headaches and stomach pains
• not sleep well
• be irritable
• lose interest in food, or eat more than normal
• not enjoy activities they previously enjoyed
• seem negative and low in their mood
Exam stress can be really challenging, not only for • seem hopeless about the future
children but for those that live with them. Research
shows that having someone to talk to about their
work can help. Support from a parent, teacher or
friend can help young people share their worries
and keep things in perspective.
What can you do?
Watch out for signs of stress and encourage your normal. Support them to be organised, have a routine
child to talk to a member of school staff or someone and build a revision timetable. Try not to add to their
who they feel is supportive. If you feel your child isn’t pressure by being flexible with them. Talk to them
coping, it may also be helpful for you to talk to their about how they feel, remind them of their goals in life
teachers at school. and motivate them to stay focused. Staying calm will
help them remain calm - and exams don’t last forever.
Encourage and support your child to build and
maintain healthy habits before and during the exam
period, such as eating a healthy balanced diet, staying
hydrated, getting enough sleep, doing exercise, having
time to relax and to socialise with friends.
Remind your child that feeling nervous and anxious is
better future - brighter hopeHelping your child get into good habits
Information for parents and carers
Did you know? Healthy habits are essential to living a long and
happy life, and they are important to instil in
children from a young age. If you help them form
these habits now, you will be giving them the tools
to navigate any obstacles they may face as they
grow into adulthood.
Research highlights that the late teenage years
have been identified as the peak age for exposure
to health risks with lifelong implications. The
report, by the Association for Young People’s Health
(AYPH), revealed teenagers eat eight times the
recommended sugar allowance and almost half
have tooth decay. This worrying research also found
out that most smokers start by the age of 25.
Research reveals that there is a strong link between
healthy habits and pupil achievement. Poor health
habits add up to poor grades, and research suggests
that healthy habits and good health-related decisions
can lead to improved academic performance. For
instance, research has shown that students who
eat breakfast exhibit improved concentration when
compared to their peers who skip it.
What can you do?
Cultivate healthy habits by being a role model to your Help and encourage your
child. Try to exhibit good habits, offer health advice child to get enough sleep,
and build fun healthy activities into your family life. live a physically active
Examples include being active as a family, having life and feel good about
evening and sleep routines, providing a water bottle to themselves. Work with
encourage hydration, or making family meals together. them to map out their
week to include healthy
Good nutrition can help improve concentration, so pay habits such as exercise,
attention to the food you buy for your family. Provide relaxation and seeing
a healthy balanced diet of meals which include fresh friends. Set some healthy
vegetables, fruit, proteins, good fats and whole grains. lifestyle goals together, and keep each other motivated
Encourage your child to snack on low sugar foods and to stay on track.
drinks, which you could make together.
better future - brighter hopeRelaxation
Information for parents and carers
Did you know? Research shows that young people face many
different kinds of stress, worry, anxiety and can feel
overwhelmed for various reasons. Relaxation has
been defined as a ‘state of being free from tension
and anxiety’. We often forget to switch off as adults
but it is important that we do that in order to help
children learn important skills.
Many studies highlight the benefits of relaxation
and here are a few:
• Slowes the heart and breathing rate
• Improves concentration and mood
• Reduces anger and frustration
• Reduces the activity of stress hormones
• Improves digestion
• Increases blood flow to the muscles
• Relaxes the muscles
• Improves sleep quality
An important part of teenage life should
be relaxation. It is an essential part of
maintaining health and wellbeing and
being able to calmly deal with stress
and pressure which, as we know, can be
quite intense during the school years and
especially being an adolescent.
What can you do?
One of the simplest relaxation techniques is to practice follow a simple Yoga session on YouTube. Other things
breathing. Teach your child to take deep slow breaths could be having quiet time to read, going for a walk,
when they are feeling anxious. Just a few deep breaths listening to music or watching a feel-good film.
can provide an instant calming effect that can help
reduce stress. Look out for mindfulness apps or video Another technique for your child to try is ‘imagery’,
resources on YouTube that offer example breathing having a vision about a happy place so their brains can
exercises, such as Headspace or Calm. take a break. Ask them to write down a description of
their happy place which includes how it looks, feels,
Learning to relax is something that you can do smells and sounds. When they are stressed out, ask
together as a family. Try having a go a Yoga or a them to close their eyes and to think about it. Just like
relaxing activity together. Yoga will improve flexibility, new skills, relaxation techniques require practice so
posture and give you and your child a sense of inner keep prompting them to find out what works for them.
calm. Encourage your child to go to a local class or
better future - brighter hopeScreen Time
Information for parents and carers
Did you know? Battles over screen time and devices have become
a depressing part of family life. Recent research
has revealed that it’s not so much the length, but
the nature of the screen time that matters. What
is important is that whatever young people are
watching, playing and reading is high-quality, age-
appropriate and safe.
The University of Oxford examined 120,000 UK
15-year-olds in 2017 and found that among those
teenagers who were the lightest tech-users, it
was found that increasing the time spent using
technology was linked to improved wellbeing -
possibly because it was important for keeping up
friendships. In contrast, among the heaviest users
of technology, any increase in time was linked to
lower levels of wellbeing.
Further research has shown that more than two hours of smartphone use on a weekday, and more than
four hours on a weekend day, was linked to lower wellbeing. Several other studies suggest that higher
levels of screen use in children and adolescents is associated with reduced physical activity, increased risk
of depression, and lower wellbeing.
What can you do?
The British Psychological Society recommends that instead of screen-based inactivity. This could be new
parents and carers use technology alongside children hobbies, going for a walk, playing sport, being creative
and engage them in discussions about media use. or joining a youth group. Role model good behaviour
Help your child get into a screen-free bedtime routine. by being mindful of your own screen time.
Screen time in the evening is especially bad for sleep
patterns.
Set limits like no screens during meal times or no
screens after a certain time. Suggest having one day a
week with no screen time like Screen-Free Sundays. If
they have a smartphone, encourage them to turn off
as many notifications as possible and to turn on flight
mode when they’re with friends and family.
Encourage your child to do new physical activities
better future - brighter hopeSleep
Information for parents and carers
Did you know? The Sleep Council highlights how quality sleep is
essential for growth and development and that
your child needs between 8-10 hours sleep every
night. Teen’s body clocks naturally shift to make
them feel tired later in the evening, but early school
starts do not enable them to sleep in the mornings.
Chronic sleep deprivation can have a huge effect on
a teenager’s life and mental wellbeing.
Further research shows that there is a link between
getting enough sleep, sleep awareness and student
performance. Numerous studies have shown that
not getting enough sleep can negatively affect
school performance and impair cognitive function.
Teens need more sleep than adults. Research shows that the brain’s ability to process information
declines with lack of sleep. Our emotional responses, empathy towards others and tendency to do silly
things all goes up with lack of sleep. Long term sleep deprivation can suppress the immune system, lead
to forms of cancer, heart disease and metabolic abnormalities.
What can you do?
Help your child establish a good sleep routine. Try to get your child to go to bed at the same time
Encourage them to limit screen time before bed and to each night and wake up at the same time each
read a book or magazine instead. Get them to keep a morning – even on a weekend. A consistent sleep-
sleep diary over a two-week period to see how much wake cycle is really important for them to function
sleep they are getting and how they can improve it. well. Know the signs of sleep deprivation and work
Have a conversation with your child about their sleep. with your child to find a routine that works for them.
Eating late at night is not good for digestion or aiding
a better night’s sleep. Make sure your child avoids
sugary and heavy foods late at night and doesn’t drink
caffeine or energy drinks from lunchtime onwards.
Healthy habits such as warm milk or camomile tea,
daily exercise, relaxing in the evening and having a
calming bedroom environment, can all help your child
get a better night’s sleep.
better future - brighter hopeCopyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for
“fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship,
education and research.
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