. At the Old Ash Dene and all are welcome,

Dear Parent / Carer,

Our second set of progress assessment weeks for this academic year will be taking place from the 17th June 2024 for Years 7,8 and 9. Please see the timetables below which show exactly when each assessment for each year group will take place. 

Years 7, 8 and 9 will all have sat these style of tests at least once before and should now be familiar with the process. As in the February tests, students have been provided with revision materials and knowledge organisers for each subject in which they will be sitting a test and they will be expected to use these materials to revise and prepare. Revision can be a daunting thing to do for children of any age so in order to provide some support there is a link on our website for a guide on how to use our school’s Learn > Revise > Test approach to effective revision (https://dukes.ncea.org.uk/revision-support-for-ks3-progress-tests/). This has been shown to be a highly effective revision method and is something that the students will become increasingly familiar with over the next year or two.

The main idea behind these assessments is to ensure that students experience as much practice as possible in the sitting of controlled tests so that by the time they come to sit their final exams at the end of Year 11 they are familiar and confident in the examination and revision process and are in a position to perform to their potential. The results of these assessments will also help to inform the school of the progress of the students in key subjects and will help us to ensure that they are receiving the correct provision and support. Results of the tests will be reported to parents after each of the assessment periods. Outcomes may result in some students moving classes to ensure that they are receiving the correct levels of support. 

Yours sincerely,

Ben Line

Deputy Principal

Statistics from the Children’s Commissioner found that in the 2022/23 academic year, 22.3% of all pupils were persistently absent – a significant increase from 2018/19, when that figure was 10.9%. This lost time can have a notable impact on children’s development, learning and overall wellbeing.

The specific reasons for school avoidance are sometimes hard to pin down – and it can be even harder to know how best to help absent children return to education. That’s why this week, our Wake up Wednesday guide breaks down some of the causes and effects of school avoidance and provides advice on how you can help young people triumph over this potentially damaging cycle

Y9 Additional Options Parental Meetings Wednesday 15 May & Thursday 16 May 2024

We would like to invite you to attend our additional Options Parental Support Meetings on  Wednesday 15 May & Thursday 16 May 2024.  These sessions are an extra opportunity for you to access last minute advice and support for your child over their GCSE option choices.  If your child has yet to complete their option choices and you would like to discuss them with a member of the options team  before the final deadline for forms of 24 May.

For this evening the school will be using the new on-line Arbor system.  It has its very own online appointment booking system which allows you to choose your own appointment times and receive an email confirming your appointments.  Once you have followed the guides below and logged in, the appointment booking times will appear.  Staff will be available between 3.30pm – 5.00pm.  The appointment booking system will be open from Monday 13 May 2024 at 4.00pm and will close on Wednesday 15 May 2024 at 12.00pm.

Within the last few months, Helldivers 2 has propelled to immense popularity in the gaming community, with players of all ages enjoying its frenetic combat, humorous presentation, and challenging gameplay. Whether they’re cooperating with friends or competing with strangers, the game has attracted many young players despite its higher age rating.

As can be expected from an online game – especially one rated 18+ – there are several inherent online safety risks posed to children and young people who play Helldivers 2; from the content of the game itself to the dangers of interacting with strangers online. Our guide highlights the most prominent hazards of Helldivers 2 and provides you with top tips for keeping its younger players safe.

Ofcom’s Media Use and Attitudes Report for 2024 is here. The UK’s regulator for communications publishes a comprehensive annual compendium of the results of several surveys they’ve conducted regarding the activities and experiences of children when interacting with entertainment: from TV to video games to social media platforms.

Contained in the report are numerous statistics relevant to children’s online safety, with data covering a wide array of topics – such as young people experiencing harassment, their habits in online games and parents’ most common concerns. Our guide gathers up some of the key statistics and lays them out in a quick, easy “cheat sheet” for you to consult at your leisure.