Year 11 News & Information

Year 9 End of Key Stage Tests

Tuesday, 25 May 2010 09:12

I would like to congratulate Year 9 for their excellent effort and behaviour in this week’s end of Key Stage 3 English test. This was the student’s first experience of a formal exam setting and was held in the Sports hall in the same manner as our GCSE and A Level exams are held. Many of the students will get their first taste of GCSE exams in Year 10, so it is important for us to have a practice run before the real thing.

Don’t forget that all Year 9 students will sit end of Key Stage 3 formal tests in Maths and Science later this term too. The purpose of these tests is to enable us to assess the progress made over the key stage but also look ahead to set groups and targets at GCSE. It is vital that Year 9 use lessons and homework time to complete good revision to cement in their minds their learning over the last 3 years.

Year 9 - End of Year Trip to Alton Towers

Tuesday, 11 May 2010 12:19

As a reward for their efforts this year students have been invited to Alton Towers on our Year 9 group trip.  Remember everyone is eligible to go on the trip as long as attendance and behaviour is good.  This trip is to reward those students who have worked hard over the busy school year. Letters have gone home via your child so if you would like to secure a place, please complete the forms and return them to the school office.

Year 9 - Moving Up Key Stages

Tuesday, 11 May 2010 12:18

In recent assemblies we, as a Year group, are concentrating on what is needed this term to finish the key stage but also looking ahead to the skills needed to be successful at GCSE.

All Year 9 students will sit ‘end of Key Stage 3’ formal tests in Maths and Science. This will enable us to assess the progress made over the key stage but also look ahead to set groups and targets at GCSE.  It is vital that Year 9 use lessons and homework time to complete good revision to cement in their minds their learning over the last 3 years.

In Citizenship and ICT lessons all Year 9’s have started the GCSE course early to allow students to achieve their best possible grades especially in coursework. Please speak to your child about the work in these lessons.

Year 9 Collapsed Curriculum Day

Tuesday, 11 May 2010 12:17

I would like to congratulate Year 9 for an excellent Collapsed Curriculum Day on Tuesday 20th April. The whole year group worked with the Humanities Faculty on a piece of GCSE Citizenship coursework. Each form group had a charity that they had to create a fund raising campaign for. We had lots of visitors to the school from these charities and Year 9 threw themselves into this task well. Congratulations to 9HR for winning the overall competition. Year 9 will now spend CZ lessons writing up and fully completing their piece of GCSE coursework so good luck to you all.

Year 9 Citizenship - Advocacy and Representation

Tuesday, 20 April 2010 08:19

Tuesday 20th April 2010 - Collapsed Curriculum Day

As a form group you will present a case to others about a concern that you feel passionately about.

Your form will need to present a convincing argument, based on different ideas and viewpoints, about your chosen issue. This counts towards 20% of your GCSE CZ grade so it is really important that you get involved.

Download the Powerpoint presentation to find out more>>

Recognising Excellence in Year 9

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 13:54

I would like to take this opportunity to say well done to the students in Year 9 who so far this academic year have achieved 100% attendance. Those students are:

• Samantha Barber
• Emily Blagden
• Elliot Charnock
• Amber Clarke
• Hannah Conway
• Lydia Cooper
• Adam Davies
• Zoe Doy
• Liam Firth
• Jacqueline Hall
• Zoe Norman
• Alisha Playford
• Lois Rockett
• James Shen
• Ryan Warr

In addition many of the Year 9’s have achieved an average score of over 4.6 on their latest short report.  Well done for your hard work and positive attitude!  Those students are:

• WICKS Adam
• FYNN Alexandria
• BULL Aidan
• HOWARD Jessica
• REED RebeccaPRATT Kieran
• WICKS Daniel
• SMITH Calvin
• CLABON Ryan
• ALLEN Robyn
• SEENEY Helena
• BARRON Charlotte
• VENTRESS Isobel
• BROWN Elisha
• BEARE-GOTTERSON Thea
• BURROWS Megan
• DENT Ebony
• ELKINS Zoe
• FENNELL Jenny
• MUDDEL Hannah
• HOLMES Shannon
• NORGATE Amy
• MACE Jack
• SHEARING Naomi
• PARFITT Freya
• TAYLOR Hannah
• ANDERSON Lisa
• VICKERY Gemma
• BECKHAM Toby
• CARVER Thomas
• BUTTERFIELD Rachel
• COOPER Michelle
• DURRANT Nicole
• HORNAGOLD Olivia

As a reward those students named above will be given a place at a rewards movie party to be held on Thursday 1st April during Period 3 in WS27. Well done!

Year 9 Trip to Alton Towers

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 13:52

On Friday 16 July we hope to take Year 9 students to Alton Towers for the day. This trip is a chance for students to relax and to enjoy a day out with their friends.  It is always welcome for staff as it gives us a chance to talk to students in a social situation and get to know them better.  Obviously, we want everyone to enjoy themselves, so we will not take students who have consistently caused problems in school.

We are inviting all students, but will not take a student if:-

• He/she has been referred to the Inclusion Unit 3 times from the date of this letter onwards.
• His/her attendance is less than 93% (without good reason).

Letters for this trip will be out after the Easter break.

SAM Learning

Tuesday, 30 March 2010 13:48

A good resource for students to use is the SAM Learning interactive packages. All students have their usernames and passwords for this system and have been shown how to use this in assemblies and in lessons.  This package can be accessed via the school website and has a full range of revision and learning resources for Key Stage 3, GCSE and A level subjects.  It has been independently proven by Fisher Family Trust to raise the grades students achieve at GCSE. It has been proven that using SAM Learning GO! for 10 hours + it can:

• Help low prior-attaining students to show significantly greater improvement per hour’s use. Improvements, in terms of overall GCSE points score, were greatest for these students. e.g. on average, students in this group achieved 30.3 more GCSE points than expected.
• Make improvements, in terms of attaining 5+ A*–C passes, were greatest for students in the middle prior-attainment group (group 3). e.g. on average, 6.9% more students in this group achieved 5+ A*–C passes. This percentage increases to 9.7% when English and Maths are included in the 5+ A*–C passes.
• Help students with high prior-attainment, with an average of 4.7% more students in this group achieving 5+ A*–A passes.
• This is an excellent opportunity for Year 9 students to ensure that they reach their target levels by the end of Key Stage 3 and start Year 10 with the best possible opportunities.

Use the link available on the left hand side of every page of the Sprowston Community High School website to log in to SAM Learning.

Year 9 Preferences - Looking Back and Looking Forward

Monday, 22 March 2010 11:21

It was lovely to see so many parents and students at the Year 9 Preference Day on Wednesday 3rd March 2010. The feeling amongst tutors was that it was a very positive day as many students came to appointments fully prepared having thought carefully about their educational future. Thank you for your support.

Throughout the last 3 months whilst talking about the preferences process for Key Stage 4, Year 9 have completed their part brilliantly. During our special week of assemblies and guest speakers, the students behaved very well and listened hard to make sure that they understood clearly what the expectations of each course demand.

I would like to thank parents and students in Year 9 for their support and attendance during the process. It has been a stressful time and sometimes confusing but I am happy that all students have been allowed the time and given the support they have required during this time.

I would also like to thank Year 9 tutors for their hard work and guidance that they have given our students. It is such an important decision and tutors have done their utmost to ensure students are clear on their options. In addition, thank you to Mrs Beames, Mrs Wickham, Mr Bradshaw and Mr Stocker who have worked hard to ensure the process run smoothly.

During the summer term Year 9 students will be provided with a draft timetable for Year 10. This will allow us time to check any last minute hiccups which could arise ready for a smooth start in September. That’s when the real hard work starts!

Finally thank you to Year 9 for their open minds, thought and maturity they have shown during the last term. Now you can breath a sigh of relief as options is over. In the words of Gordon Ramsey ‘Options – done!’

Year 9 Key Stage Three Reading List

Wednesday, 10 February 2010 15:01

This list should be used as a guide only; not all of the titles are appropriate for all students on the basis of their maturity or reading level. The librarians are always on hand to help with book selection and would love to chat about new titles, favouritebooks and reading in general.
Download the key stage three reading list >>