Dear Parents
CIVVIES DAY
We were quite overwhelmed by the sheer volume of clothing donated on last Friday’s Civvies Day. Thank you to all families for responding so positively to this call and to those parents who spent time in the library sorting and bagging a huge variety of clothing. Much of the collection has already been delivered to a number of organisations and we have already received notes and messages of appreciation. Please see photograph below.
ACADEMIC CYCLES
After much thought we have decided to go for a two semester approach in terms of the academic teaching and learning programme, assessment and reporting. In other words, instead of breaking each subject’s curriculum into four segments of work and reporting on each, we will divide the curriculum into two and report in full in June and December. This will enable us to spread out assessments (especially formal tests) more evenly, avoiding the termly test bottlenecks that we often have, allowing for a more even working pace, more flexibility in teaching and generally less pressure than we have now in the four cycles. This should not in any way negatively affect the offering of the curriculum, in fact, it should enhance it. In order to ensure that you are kept up to date with your son’s ongoing progress, we will issue an Application Report at the end of Term 1 in which each subject teacher reports on his application, presentation, behaviour, etc. In addition, we will, from next term, provide a series of rolling marks on myBishopsLife – marks for essays, tests, orals, tasks etc. This is similar to what is very successfully provided at College. So you will be able to get a sense of your son’s progress on a continuous basis before the half year report.
So with two academic cycles the reporting/feedback process will take this form:
Cycle: January – June
Rolling marks available on myBishopsLife
End Term 1: Application Report
Parent-Teacher meetings early Term 2
End Term 2: Half-Year Report
Cycle: July – December
Rolling marks available on myBishopsLife
End Term 4: Year End Report
Ad hoc contact, feedback and meetings between teachers and parents will, of course, continue as and when needed throughout the year.
So next term we will not have an end of term report but rather rolling marks available on myBishopsLife with a Year End Report on the last day of the 4th term. We are very positive about this change and look forward to implementing it from next term.
Kind regards
GREG BROWN
HEADMASTER |
