From the Head of Secondary 09.11.2019
There has been a lot happening this week in addition to all the teaching and learning and it would be difficult to write about everything. Here’s a mere snapshot!
On Monday afternoon staff from Primary and Secondary met to consider vertical articulation of the curriculum. Vertical Articulation happens when a school maps the different strands of what is taught and what is learned in a school from Primary through to Secondary. As a school we have been working on this for a few years, and this year we are focussing particularly on Mathematics, English and Science. As such Mr Davis, Ms Colley and Mr Colbeck presented us with an overview of what had been happening during the past year, and what is anticipated to happen moving forward. The goal is to ensure continuity within the curriculum for our students and that they are building on previously gained skills and knowledge, ultimately achieving their potential. The meeting was attended by Secondary and Primary colleagues and whilst the staff responsible for these three subject areas will continue to move forward we will be having regular whole team meetings to review progress and share ideas.
On Tuesday afternoon we held our annual Options Talk for Year 9 students and it was great to see many parents there. Mr Barker talked about what the IGCSEs are, and how they lead into the Cambridge A Level programme that we offer here at KIS. The students heard that IGCSEs are the two year courses that they will start at the beginning of Year 10 and finish at the end of Year 11 with Cambridge exams in May/June. Some subjects are compulsory: English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, and a Language. In addition, students choose 5 subjects from a long list which includes Drama, Business Studies, Mandarin and Geography. As one of the 5, they have to choose one Science: Biology, Chemistry or Physics; they can choose more than one if they like. There are important decisions to be made and Mr Barker emphasised the importance of looking ahead to what kind of university course they might like to pursue in the future. For example, if a boy or girl thinks they would like to be an engineer, they should choose Physics as an IGCSE subject because they can then choose Physics A Level, which is a required subject by universities for many engineering courses.
Ultimately students must make these decisions their own. They can seek advice from parents, teachers, friends and other students including their peers but they should decide based on their own preferences and consider what they enjoy, what they are good at, and what might be useful for their futures.
On Wednesday afternoon we had the annual Year 10 Parents Afternoon. It was wonderful to see so many parents having productive conversations with their child’s teachers, with the students also contributing. Home and school working together is one of the most effective ways for students to be supported in their studies and we do ask parents to come and talk to us, or email, if they have any questions or concerns about their child’s studies.
On Thursday Year 12 Information Technology sixth formers
went into the Year 9 IT lesson to talk to the students
about their experience of IGCSE [and A Level].
Mrs Margaret Renshaw
Head of Secondary
Deputy Principal
A View into the Room
Chapter 3
This week we take a look into 8K’s form room. Every morning Secondary students gather in ‘their’ room so that the register can be taken and important messages given out.
Most classrooms in the Secondary building are used as ‘homerooms’ for a class. Room S2A is the ‘home’ for 8K. Each room has a designated noticeboard for its resident class.
The 8K board has many items on display. The lesson and homework timetables are there to help support students with their organisation. In a prominent position is the 8K class agreement which contains the essential conditions for PSHE lessons so they can be conducted in a caring and respectful environment. An example is “Listen carefully to each other and don’t interrupt.” Linking to our PSHE lessons is the UN Charter on Children’s Rights.
8K is a diverse group and this is shown by the country star at the centre of the board. There are photographs to show which House students belong to as well as those who have volunteered to serve their community on the Student Council, Charity Committee or as House Captain and Vice-Captain. Photographs are also on display to show participation in various events such as the Anti-Slavery Walk, UBUNTU, Scary School Day and Think Pink Day.
And the hat? That’s a reminder to always have and wear a hat when doing PE or playing on the field or courts.
The 8K board lies beneath the sign “Global Citizens” and the students of 8K are.
