AS Subject AS Subject Choice and Choice and

Registration Registration InformationInformationTuesday August 27Tuesday August 27thth

ContentContent Principal Principal

Welcome Back Welcome Back ContextContext OutlineOutline

Year Tutor– Expectations for A Level StudentsYear Tutor– Expectations for A Level Students AttendanceAttendance Part Time Work Part Time Work Study HallStudy Hall Work ExperienceWork Experience Coursework Coursework Practical SubjectsPractical Subjects

Head of CareersHead of Careers Work ExperienceWork Experience Subject ChoiceSubject Choice

Vice PrincipalVice Principal Academic IndisciplineAcademic Indiscipline Transport to School Transport to School Subject ChoicesSubject Choices Arrangements for rest of morningArrangements for rest of morning

WelcomeWelcome

Welcome back to the AbbeyWelcome back to the Abbey A word about your resultsA word about your results

Context for A Level Context for A Level StudiesStudies

In the Abbey we offer a structured and In the Abbey we offer a structured and disciplined environment for A level studiesdisciplined environment for A level studies

Full Range of SubjectsFull Range of Subjects All students will be doing 4 subjects at AS All students will be doing 4 subjects at AS

levellevel At the end of sixth year they can drop oneAt the end of sixth year they can drop one Even an E grade in 4Even an E grade in 4thth subject at AS can subject at AS can

increase chances of securing university placeincrease chances of securing university place It is important that incoming students realise It is important that incoming students realise

that they must accept the full package which that they must accept the full package which includes attendance at class, study hall, and includes attendance at class, study hall, and curriculum enchainment activities such as curriculum enchainment activities such as recreational PErecreational PE

Context for A level Context for A level StudiesStudies

Year Tutor and Vice Principal will Year Tutor and Vice Principal will identify Issues which can hinder identify Issues which can hinder students from achieving their students from achieving their potentialpotential

Experience has shown us that these Experience has shown us that these issues do impact very negatively on issues do impact very negatively on student performance and in many student performance and in many cases prevent students achieving cases prevent students achieving their chosen course of studiestheir chosen course of studies

Outline of IssuesOutline of Issues

AttendanceAttendance Part Time WorkPart Time Work Effective use of the Study HallEffective use of the Study Hall Work ExperienceWork Experience Academic Indiscipline Academic Indiscipline

Year Tutor Year Tutor

AttendanceAttendance This can be a problem areaThis can be a problem area Vital that students attend all their classes Vital that students attend all their classes

whether this be subject classes, careers or PE whether this be subject classes, careers or PE (which will be a double period in form classes)(which will be a double period in form classes)

Things that you are likely to hear are:Things that you are likely to hear are: ‘‘I only have two classes today’, ‘I have no class I only have two classes today’, ‘I have no class

until 12.00’ ‘I need to take time off to do until 12.00’ ‘I need to take time off to do coursework’, coursework’,

We are asking you as parents not to support your We are asking you as parents not to support your son in taking time off schoolson in taking time off school

‘‘Getting the Notes’ is not the same as being in Getting the Notes’ is not the same as being in the classthe class

There is a very definite correlation between There is a very definite correlation between attendance and performanceattendance and performance

AttendanceAttendance

If your son is absent for a genuine If your son is absent for a genuine reason then he needs to have a note reason then he needs to have a note signed by you in his diary (EMA signed by you in his diary (EMA students must have separate notes students must have separate notes in line with DE requirements)in line with DE requirements)

If your son has medical or dental If your son has medical or dental appointments please do not arrange appointments please do not arrange these for during the school daythese for during the school day

In School but Not In School but Not RegisteredRegistered

All students must register with form All students must register with form teacher if they are lateteacher if they are late

In the past some students have not In the past some students have not registered when they come in late so registered when they come in late so that they can leave school early!that they can leave school early!

Failure to Attend ClassFailure to Attend Class

Failure to attend class will result in Failure to attend class will result in a Friday Detention and the Year a Friday Detention and the Year Tutor will phone parentsTutor will phone parents

Second offence will result in meeting Second offence will result in meeting with Parents/Student and Vice with Parents/Student and Vice Principal Principal

Third offence can result in a Third offence can result in a suspensionsuspension

Part Time WorkPart Time Work

Need to maintain BALANCENeed to maintain BALANCE Recommend that students should not Recommend that students should not

work Monday – Thursday eveningswork Monday – Thursday evenings If doing part time work on weekends, If doing part time work on weekends,

time must also be made for studytime must also be made for study Recommended study time is 20 hours Recommended study time is 20 hours

a week outside of schoola week outside of school

Study PeriodsStudy Periods

Engine room of A level studiesEngine room of A level studies All students have at least 6 study All students have at least 6 study

periods in the weekperiods in the week Many students waste this timeMany students waste this time Most difficult area for us is when a Most difficult area for us is when a

very small minority of students very small minority of students disrupt the work of others in the disrupt the work of others in the Study PeriodsStudy Periods

Do not use Study Periods to ‘catch up’ Do not use Study Periods to ‘catch up’ on Homework on Homework

After School StudyAfter School Study

After school study available Monday After school study available Monday to Thursday 3.30-4.40to Thursday 3.30-4.40

HEAD OF CAREERSHEAD OF CAREERS

MRS C MC GRATHMRS C MC GRATH

Work Experience Work Experience

June letter sent home June letter sent home Full responsibility of student to organise their Full responsibility of student to organise their

own placementown placement 2323rdrd, 24, 24thth, 25, 25thth of October of October Very important for UCAS as work on UCAS Very important for UCAS as work on UCAS

begins in lower 6begins in lower 6thth

Students will be given more information on this Students will be given more information on this during assembly in next two weeksduring assembly in next two weeks

All communication is sent via email to All communication is sent via email to students/parents and tweeted via @abbey students/parents and tweeted via @abbey careers – so please register to keep up-to- datecareers – so please register to keep up-to- date

Subject ChoicesSubject Choices Please ensure that you think your options Please ensure that you think your options

through carefully before finalising your through carefully before finalising your options form;options form;

Some minor rules: NOT TWO BTEC Some minor rules: NOT TWO BTEC qualifications together;qualifications together;

Not more than 2 out of 4 practical subjects;Not more than 2 out of 4 practical subjects; Try and mix Science/Maths disciplines with Try and mix Science/Maths disciplines with

Humanities as Universities keen on thisHumanities as Universities keen on this Two English A levels will not be accepted Two English A levels will not be accepted

together in R O Itogether in R O I PLEASE CHECK University websites for PLEASE CHECK University websites for

subjects required for you possible career subjects required for you possible career choices !!choices !!

Vice Principal Vice Principal

Academic Indiscipline Academic Indiscipline

HomeworkHomework Class Tests/ExamsClass Tests/Exams Module ResultsModule Results CourseworkCoursework AttendanceAttendance Misbehaviour in Study Hall Misbehaviour in Study Hall

EffectsEffects

The single most important factor in The single most important factor in students not achieving their target students not achieving their target grades and being able to move on to grades and being able to move on to university to the course of their choiceuniversity to the course of their choice

Number one issue raised by teachers Number one issue raised by teachers of A levelof A level

For this reason academic indiscipline For this reason academic indiscipline can have a profound effect on your lifecan have a profound effect on your life

It does not effect everyoneIt does not effect everyone

How can it be tackledHow can it be tackled

The only cure for academic indiscipline is The only cure for academic indiscipline is the student themselvesthe student themselves

The only person that can make an A level The only person that can make an A level student work is the studentstudent work is the student

Parents and Teachers can support and Parents and Teachers can support and challenge but they cannot change the challenge but they cannot change the behaviourbehaviour

Parents often experience a terrible Parents often experience a terrible powerlessness in this areapowerlessness in this area

School ResponseSchool Response

We will challenge students in this We will challenge students in this area and support them where area and support them where neededneeded

We will contact home and discuss We will contact home and discuss the issue with parentsthe issue with parents

Practical SubjectsPractical Subjects

Art, Music, Drama, Technology, Art, Music, Drama, Technology, Construction, and EngineeringConstruction, and Engineering

Offer additional periods for portfolio Offer additional periods for portfolio workwork

Do not let part time work interfere Do not let part time work interfere with these extra classeswith these extra classes

Failure to utilise these classes does Failure to utilise these classes does have a negative impact on gradehave a negative impact on grade

Progression into 7Progression into 7thth Year Year

Progression into 7Progression into 7thth year is based on year is based on achieving an average of 4 C’s which achieving an average of 4 C’s which is well below the targets that is well below the targets that students will have for themselvesstudents will have for themselves

Progress will be monitored in Progress will be monitored in October, December and March of October, December and March of lower 6lower 6thth

Remember there are no module Remember there are no module exams in Januaryexams in January

Parental SupportParental Support

Purpose of pastoral structure in the Purpose of pastoral structure in the school is to support the pupilschool is to support the pupil

There will be times when we could be There will be times when we could be contacting you about issues such as contacting you about issues such as attendance etcattendance etc

Your support is very importantYour support is very important Only the student can ‘make’ himself work, Only the student can ‘make’ himself work,

but the school and parents can support but the school and parents can support him in thishim in this

Transport to School Transport to School

Respect speed limit in school Respect speed limit in school groundsgrounds

Park only in designated areasPark only in designated areas Give Year Tutor registration of CarGive Year Tutor registration of Car Parents should be aware of the Parents should be aware of the

potential dangers of students potential dangers of students travelling together in carstravelling together in cars

EMAEMA

If you are in receipt of EMA bring letter to If you are in receipt of EMA bring letter to school and you will be registeredschool and you will be registered

If you miss a day or any part of a day you If you miss a day or any part of a day you must bring in a free standing note indicating must bring in a free standing note indicating reason for absence. Will be given on days reason for absence. Will be given on days grace to bring in notegrace to bring in note

If this is not done you cannot be marked If this is not done you cannot be marked present on EMA register for that week and present on EMA register for that week and you will loose the payment – this is you will loose the payment – this is Department rule and one which we must Department rule and one which we must comply withcomply with

Subject ChoicesSubject Choices

Very important decisionVery important decision Do the subjects that interest you and Do the subjects that interest you and

that you are likely to succeed in, also that you are likely to succeed in, also make sure that your choices make sure that your choices correspond to any particular career correspond to any particular career interests you might have at this stageinterests you might have at this stage

Listen to advice from teachers as you Listen to advice from teachers as you meet them this morningmeet them this morning

Problems that can arise from wrong Problems that can arise from wrong subject choicesubject choice

Take into AccountTake into Account GCSE results – normally a student should GCSE results – normally a student should

not do a subject at A level if he has not do a subject at A level if he has received less than a B grade at GCSEreceived less than a B grade at GCSE

Career interestsCareer interests Advice from teachersAdvice from teachers Information regarding the Information regarding the

correspondence between GCSE grades correspondence between GCSE grades and A level grades in particular subjectsand A level grades in particular subjects

Try a subject for the first week but by end Try a subject for the first week but by end of 2of 2ndnd week subjects should not be week subjects should not be changedchanged

FormForm All returning students have picked four A level All returning students have picked four A level

subjects – and have a place on these courses subjects – and have a place on these courses If you want to keep these choices simply see If you want to keep these choices simply see

the relevant HOD and fill in the form – New the relevant HOD and fill in the form – New version printed back to back has been given version printed back to back has been given out, please use this oneout, please use this one

If you want to change one or more of your If you want to change one or more of your original choices read the form carefully original choices read the form carefully regarding what subjects are full and if you regarding what subjects are full and if you wish to do one of these put it as subject wish to do one of these put it as subject number 5 which will replace the 4number 5 which will replace the 4thth subject if subject if you can be accommodated.you can be accommodated.

Subject Choice FormSubject Choice Form

Each of you should have copy of thisEach of you should have copy of this Fill in NAMEFill in NAME You can pick one subject from a You can pick one subject from a

blockblock Blocks based on subject choicesBlocks based on subject choices Teachers will be in the room of the Teachers will be in the room of the

Head of Department for the subjectHead of Department for the subject

Arrangements for rest of Arrangements for rest of MorningMorning

Opportunity now to go around and talk to Opportunity now to go around and talk to teachersteachers

Parents may want to focus on subjects they feel Parents may want to focus on subjects they feel their child has concerns about or is unsure abouttheir child has concerns about or is unsure about

Fill out form and leave it with me before you Fill out form and leave it with me before you leaveleave

Gather in Assembly Hall period one on Monday Gather in Assembly Hall period one on Monday to finalise form classes and subject choicesto finalise form classes and subject choices

Students doing subjects in Sacred Heart to meet Students doing subjects in Sacred Heart to meet at the red sofa 12.45 to go over to Sacred Heartat the red sofa 12.45 to go over to Sacred Heart