AS Subject Choice and Registration Information

1. AS Subject Choice and Registration Information Tuesday August 27th

2. Content • Principal • Welcome Back • Context • Outline • Year Tutor– Expectations for A Level Students • Attendance • Part Time Work • Study Hall • Work Experience • Coursework • Practical Subjects • Head of Careers • Work Experience • Subject Choice • Vice Principal • Academic Indiscipline • Transport to School • Subject Choices • Arrangements for rest of morning

3. Welcome • Welcome back to the Abbey • A word about your results

4. Context for A Level Studies • In the Abbey we offer a structured and disciplined environment for A level studies • Full Range of Subjects • All students will be doing 4 subjects at AS level • At the end of sixth year they can drop one • Even an E grade in 4th subject at AS can increase chances of securing university place • It is important that incoming students realise that they must accept the full package which includes attendance at class, study hall, and curriculum enchainment activities such as recreational PE

5. Context for A level Studies • Year Tutor and Vice Principal will identify Issues which can hinder students from achieving their potential • Experience has shown us that these issues do impact very negatively on student performance and in many cases prevent students achieving their chosen course of studies

6. Outline of Issues • Attendance • Part Time Work • Effective use of the Study Hall • Work Experience • Academic Indiscipline

7. Year Tutor

8. Attendance • This can be a problem area • Vital that students attend all their classes whether this be subject classes, careers or PE (which will be a double period in form classes) • Things that you are likely to hear are: • ‘I only have two classes today’, ‘I have no class until 12.00’ ‘I need to take time off to do coursework’, • We are asking you as parents not to support your son in taking time off school • ‘Getting the Notes’ is not the same as being in the class • There is a very definite correlation between attendance and performance

9. Attendance • If your son is absent for a genuine reason then he needs to have a note signed by you in his diary (EMA students must have separate notes in line with DE requirements) • If your son has medical or dental appointments please do not arrange these for during the school day

10. In School but Not Registered • All students must register with form teacher if they are late • In the past some students have not registered when they come in late so that they can leave school early!

11. Failure to Attend Class • Failure to attend class will result in a Friday Detention and the Year Tutor will phone parents • Second offence will result in meeting with Parents/Student and Vice Principal • Third offence can result in a suspension

12. Part Time Work • Need to maintain BALANCE • Recommend that students should not work Monday – Thursday evenings • If doing part time work on weekends, time must also be made for study • Recommended study time is 20 hours a week outside of school

13. Study Periods • Engine room of A level studies • All students have at least 6 study periods in the week • Many students waste this time • Most difficult area for us is when a very small minority of students disrupt the work of others in the Study Periods • Do not use Study Periods to ‘catch up’ on Homework

14. After School Study • After school study available Monday to Thursday 3.30-4.40

15. HEAD OF CAREERS • MRS C MC GRATH

16. Work Experience • June letter sent home • Full responsibility of student to organise their own placement • 23rd, 24th, 25th of October • Very important for UCAS as work on UCAS begins in lower 6th • Students will be given more information on this during assembly in next two weeks • All communication is sent via email to students/parents and tweeted via @abbey careers – so please register to keep up-to- date

17. Subject Choices • Please ensure that you think your options through carefully before finalising your options form; • Some minor rules: NOT TWO BTEC qualifications together; • Not more than 2 out of 4 practical subjects; • Try and mix Science/Maths disciplines with Humanities as Universities keen on this • Two English A levels will not be accepted together in R O I • PLEASE CHECK University websites for subjects required for you possible career choices !!

18. Vice Principal

19. Academic Indiscipline • Homework • Class Tests/Exams • Module Results • Coursework • Attendance • Misbehaviour in Study Hall

20. Effects • The single most important factor in students not achieving their target grades and being able to move on to university to the course of their choice • Number one issue raised by teachers of A level • For this reason academic indiscipline can have a profound effect on your life • It does not effect everyone

21. How can it be tackled • The only cure for academic indiscipline is the student themselves • The only person that can make an A level student work is the student • Parents and Teachers can support and challenge but they cannot change the behaviour • Parents often experience a terrible powerlessness in this area

22. School Response • We will challenge students in this area and support them where needed • We will contact home and discuss the issue with parents

23. Practical Subjects • Art, Music, Drama, Technology, Construction, and Engineering • Offer additional periods for portfolio work • Do not let part time work interfere with these extra classes • Failure to utilise these classes does have a negative impact on grade

24. Progression into 7th Year • Progression into 7th year is based on achieving an average of 4 C’s which is well below the targets that students will have for themselves • Progress will be monitored in October, December and March of lower 6th • Remember there are no module exams in January

25. Parental Support • Purpose of pastoral structure in the school is to support the pupil • There will be times when we could be contacting you about issues such as attendance etc • Your support is very important • Only the student can ‘make’ himself work, but the school and parents can support him in this

26. Transport to School • Respect speed limit in school grounds • Park only in designated areas • Give Year Tutor registration of Car • Parents should be aware of the potential dangers of students travelling together in cars

27. EMA • If you are in receipt of EMA bring letter to school and you will be registered • If you miss a day or any part of a day you must bring in a free standing note indicating reason for absence. Will be given on days grace to bring in note • If this is not done you cannot be marked present on EMA register for that week and you will loose the payment – this is Department rule and one which we must comply with

28. Subject Choices • Very important decision • Do the subjects that interest you and that you are likely to succeed in, also make sure that your choices correspond to any particular career interests you might have at this stage • Listen to advice from teachers as you meet them this morning • Problems that can arise from wrong subject choice

29. Take into Account • GCSE results – normally a student should not do a subject at A level if he has received less than a B grade at GCSE • Career interests • Advice from teachers • Information regarding the correspondence between GCSE grades and A level grades in particular subjects • Try a subject for the first week but by end of 2nd week subjects should not be changed

30. Form • All returning students have picked four A level subjects – and have a place on these courses • If you want to keep these choices simply see the relevant HOD and fill in the form – New version printed back to back has been given out, please use this one • If you want to change one or more of your original choices read the form carefully regarding what subjects are full and if you wish to do one of these put it as subject number 5 which will replace the 4th subject if you can be accommodated.

31. Subject Choice Form • Each of you should have copy of this • Fill in NAME • You can pick one subject from a block • Blocks based on subject choices • Teachers will be in the room of the Head of Department for the subject

32. Arrangements for rest of Morning • Opportunity now to go around and talk to teachers • Parents may want to focus on subjects they feel their child has concerns about or is unsure about • Fill out form and leave it with me before you leave • Gather in Assembly Hall period one on Monday to finalise form classes and subject choices • Students doing subjects in Sacred Heart to meet at the red sofa 12.45 to go over to Sacred Heart