Year 9 students have now returned to Samuel Whitbread Academy following their half term break and I am pleased to report the large majority are demonstrating the school values in lessons, around school and how they are interacting with other students and staff.

The praise points accrued across the year before half term were outstanding with a number of Year 9 students coming top across the whole school. The Praise cycle has now started again and we will be rewarding top student, top tutor group and issuing extended break and pizza passes. We will also be selecting those students who have consistently achieved the highest praise for a rewards trip at the end of term.

Whilst we have seen improvements in the standard of uniform we continue to expect the uniform to be smart and fall in line with our uniform policy and we ask for your support with this. We believe that both behaviour and uniform contribute to a positive school community and we will continue to have high expectations throughout the Year. Whilst students are evidencing that they have a better understanding of the behaviour policy we still set high expectations and expect positive behaviour around the school and within the community.

Please let the year team know of any successes your children have outside of school as we like to celebrate these as well as those successes achieved within school.

As we prepare for the upcoming mocks, our year 11 students have been working hard in lessons to develop their exam techniques and focus on specific topic areas. Hopefully all students are implementing some of the strategies that we have discussed during form time. We have emphasised the importance of creating a timetable and the ‘Adapt’ app is great at supporting students in doing this (other apps are available). By having a timetable, it ensures that revision is focussed and promotes motivation. It also generates a sense of achievement when the specific topic can be ‘ticked off’.

Although students are aware of the importance of the mock examinations, staff are also keen to remind them that the process is in place for them to learn from and develop their experience in dealing with stressful situations. There is no getting around that exams create a sense of anxiety and can be stressful (this is normal), but by completing them, we are able to increase our resilience and prepare for future situations.

We are looking forward to welcoming you to our Sixth Form Open Evening. Here you are able to see the various options that are available to your son / daughter post 16. This will take place on Thursday 16^th November.

We have an excellent team of form tutors who will be working with your son / daughter on a daily basis, ensuring that they feel prepared and that they have a range of coping strategies in preparation for the mock period. Please do contact the form tutor or the year team if you do have any questions regarding the mock exams.

Please continue to ensure that you all promote balance during this period – of course revision is important and it is an essential part of the mock exam process, but please continue to ensure your son / daughter has the opportunity to spend time with the family, spend time with friends, take part in their hobbies and have the opportunity to switch off from work.

As we settle into this half term we are all feeling the pressures of upcoming IPEs later this term, and for many of our students, external exams in January.  Many of our students also have university and apprenticeship interviews to prep for.  It is possibly the busiest and most demanding few months that our students will experience.  We share plenty of resources on their google classroom to support them with next steps as well as subject resources.  If there are any concerns or worries about next steps please do contact the form tutor initially – we can also assist in setting up independent careers advice on site.  We do understand that preparing to leave home can be both socially and financially concerning for many – and we will be supporting students next term with understanding finances and budgeting.  We look forward to celebrating their achievements later this term, including supporting the school with sixth form open evening and participation in our fund-raising food festival.