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.

Quality merchandise, fair prices. What’s not to love? The possibility of bagging a bargain and the ability to sell your own unwanted items have made online marketplaces like Vinted and Depop into an attractive option for anyone looking to save money or make a little extra cash for themselves in these challenging economic times.

Unfortunately, however, these services (and numerous others like them) can still be misused by scammers, so it pays to remain vigilant for the risks associated with shopping apps. Fortunately, this week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide is on hand with some helpful pointers to protect young people (and yourself) from potential exploitation while doing business with others online.

Dear Student / Parent,

The Dukes’ Year 11 Revision Timetable is now live on the school website. To access it, please follow the link below or go to the school website / Student Hub / KS4 Revision Tips and Ideas – other information. 

https://dukes.ncea.org.uk/dukes-year-11-revision-timetable-is-now-live/

https://sites.google.com/dukes.ncea.org.uk/learnrevisetest/other-information

The timetable shows the dates and times of all revision sessions over the summer exam period, 3/5/2024 to 20/6/2024. These revision sessions will provide an opportunity for teachers to present last minute instruction, revision and advice before each exam and for that reason, all students are expected to attend the sessions for which they are taking an exam.

Students will be in full time school as normal up until we break for the half term holiday on Friday 24th May, so revision sessions up to this time will form a part of the normal school day. Once students return to school on Monday 3rd June they will only be expected to attend when they have their usual timetabled English or Maths lessons or any of the revision sessions shown on the timetable. Once the final English and Maths exams have taken place (the last English exam is Thursday 6/6/24, the last Maths exam is Monday 10/6/24) students will only be expected to attend school for their remaining revision sessions and exams.

In addition to the timetabled revision sessions, before each exam there will be an additional short revision session put on by the head of subject to remind the students of some of the key learning and skills they will need to exhibit in that paper. These will all take place in the Main Hall and students will afterwards be sent directly to their exam. Students should ensure that they are in school at least half an hour before their exam starts so that they can attend these important last minute support sessions.

May I take this opportunity to wish all students well for the coming exam period and remind them that there is plenty of revision material available on subject Google Classrooms to support preparation for each exam. We also have plenty of tips and advice for effective and successful revision for each subject on our website for students to access. There is also a more general guide on revision techniques and a guide for parents on how you can best support your child through the exam period. You can access these by clicking on the yellow Learn>Revise>Test banner at the top of our website homepage or by following the link below.

https://sites.google.com/dukes.ncea.org.uk/learnrevisetest/home

And finally, remember that every success starts with the decision to try.

Good luck.