Principal's Letter, 13 November 2020

‘Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world’

As we are approaching the time of year when schools typically experience a slight drop in attendance and see absences due to mild symptoms typical of the time of year, it is poignant to write and outline the impact of absence on a child’s education and longer term future, which has been an assembly topic recently.

At Six Villages, we monitor attendance closely and follow up unexplained absence as well as unauthorised absence where schools have the power to take action. However, more importantly, students who are absent miss work which can leave them at a considerable disadvantage if they are absent on a regular basis and their peers and teachers miss their contribution to lessons.

At Six Villages, we aim for every student to maximise learning opportunities through excellent attendance and punctuality. Parents and carers play a vital role in promoting good attitudes towards attendance and we therefore ask for parents to ensure their children are as resilient as possible and present at every possible opportunity, that they arrive on time and that parents avoid children staying at home unnecessarily, certainly avoid taking them out of school without authorisation.

During assemblies recently, Mr Kidd, Assistant Principal, talked to students about attendance in the context of the proven link to attainment. He outlined typical jobs statistically undertaken by students who fully attend school, have successful GCSE outcomes and their likely respective salaries versus those who are persistently absent who are more likely statistically to leave school with fewer qualifications and gain lower paid employment. I cannot emphasise enough the importance of good attendance at school and how every lesson counts, but it’s even more poignant this academic year where we are working hard to bridge the gap created by the national lockdown from March 2020.

Whilst on the subject of attendance, I would also like to draw attention to the need for students to arrive punctually. Late arrivals prior to registers closing are coded as such and break detentions issued. Arrival at school after registers have closed is far more serious and is allocated an unauthorised code and the appropriate action taken. As a parent I have always actively encouraged my daughters to take punctuality seriously. Good habits developed now will benefit our children when they reach the workplace later. I think we can all imagine how long we would keep our jobs if we arrived late and were frequently absent from work!

I would like to acknowledge those of our students who end each academic year with 100% attendance or very close to it. Good attendance is celebrated each term and such rewards have been the topic of discussion recently with the student council. In the words of Nelson Mandela ‘Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world’. Attending school is directly linked to improved exam performance which should in turn lead to further learning opportunities and better job prospects. As well as this, going to school helps to develop friendships and social skills. Let’s work together to make sure your child has great attendance and can get the most out of every lesson and learning opportunity that we provide. If you would like to discuss your child’s attendance, please contact our attendance officer, Mrs Renshaw, on 01243 546854.

Rewards Plea
The academy has recently revamped its rewards systems with student voice from each year group being sought by the student council to decide the rewards programme for that year group. May I issue a plea to any parents and carers who either run or work in local businesses who may be able to sponsor rewards for our students. If you are able to help, please contact Miss White on [email protected]. We would be very grateful for any donations. Similarly, if you or your business are able to support with resources for enrichment clubs and activities, they would be gratefully received.

Year 7 Latin – The Twilight Curriculum
The English Department is delighted to be able to offer students in Year 7 the opportunity to study Latin. In addition to strengthening English language skills and facilitating language acquisition, the Cambridge Latin course also exposes students to ancient history.

In the first part of the course, students will be transported to Pompeii in A.D. 79 – just before the eruption of the volcano, Vesuvius. Alongside the study of Latin, students will learn what it was to live at this time – through the life of one merchant, Caecilius, and his family.

Year 7 students are invited to join the Latin group. For the present, extra-curricular classes after school have been postponed due to lockdown, but it is envisaged that lessons will run on Tuesdays in LIB 1, between 14.40-15.40pm after lockdown is lifted.

We must make clear that this will be a timetabled class, not a club. Therefore, attendance is expected in the same way as attendance at classes running during the normal school day. It is important, then, that students joining the class have a genuine interest in, and commitment to, the subject.

If you would like your child to join the Tuesday Latin group, please click here to register them by Friday 20th November. If you have any queries, please contact Mr Stubbs, Head of English on [email protected].

Year 7 Maths
From 27th November 2020, the year group will reorganised from mixed ability to ability groups for maths lessons. Each year 7 child will be placed in the most appropriate group for their ability based on recent assessments. New timetables will be issued to them.

Year 8 Maths, English and Science
Based on recent assessments, the year group will moved into ability settings most suited to each child’s ability in the subject areas of English, maths and science. There will be a challenge group, mixed ability groups and a support group.

Year 9 Maths
Following on from the Year 9 information evening, the maths department would like to inform parents and carers that the new assessments in year 9 follow the GCSE grading criteria. However, the maths team are mindful of the attainment gaps which may lead some students finding elements of the papers challenging.

Based on feedback from these assessments homework tasks will be differentiated, personalised to meet the needs of your child and their continuing progress in maths. Please encourage them to complete these as often as they can. Please also be assured that there will be support within the recovery curriculum to provide any necessary catch-up in maths.

If you have any questions, please contact Miss Jones, Associate Assistant Principal and Head of Maths on [email protected].

Music Opportunity
We have been made aware of an opportunity to be part of a virtual ‘Sleigh Ride’ project. For further information, please click http://www.jessgillamsax.co.uk/vso-sleigh-ride/. Please note that whilst I am bringing this to your attention, Six Villages is not affiliated to this initiative and has no involvement in it.

Pre-Loved Uniform
We would gratefully receive any uniform, PE, plain black shoes (boys or girls, ladies or mens) that your child no longer wears to use to support our students in school when the need arises. Please contact Mrs Reid on [email protected] if you have any items to donate and she will arrange drop off with you. Many thanks in advance.

Mr P Slaughter, Principal