Parent Bulletin 11th October

It was a real pleasure to see Year 9 parents on Thursday.  This is a big transition as expectations start increasing in the run-in to GCSEs and it was great to see such high turnout at this stage in the year.  A couple of highlights are worth sharing with all parents:

Attendance:

• Analysis from GCSE results last year shows that pupils with near perfect attendance (99%+) managed to attain average grade 8s and above at GCSE.
• Dropping down to one day of absence every four weeks was associated with achieving an average grade 6.

We are higely grateful for all your support in ensuring that your child attends daily - this is particularly important as we approach a season of sore throats and runny noses: secondary school pupils really do need to attend if they are able to get out of bed.  If your child is feeling under the weather - then please send them in and send us a note at info@arksoane.org so that we can keep a close eye on them.

Smart phones:

The OECD (the club of mostly rich countries) conducts sample testing of 15 year-olds across the developed world every three years.  The most recent results are, frankly, terrifying: the graph below shows how pupils have lost almost 40 points (2 years progress) in reading assessments over the last 13 years.  This means that a typical 15 year old in the developed world now has the reading age of a 13 year old in 2012.  I am certain that this is largely smartphone related and encourage all parents to support their child to be smartphone free.  If you need any support with this then please contact your child's tutor.

Thank you for your support in dropping and collecting children from school.  Please continue to avoid entering Woodlands Avenue (the small road at the side of Chaiwala) as this endangers our pupils and there is no space to turn around.  

A reminder that the school will be closed for INSET this Friday (16th October)

Further dates for your diaries:

22/10: Sixth Form Information Evening

23/10: Last Day of Half Term

I hope you enjoy the remainder of the weekend.

Kind regards,

Mr Neuberger

On Thursday afternoon, our scholars joined other school communities from around the country to set a World Record for the most people reading together sponsored by the National Literacy Trust. We will know by next month if we are part of the history books, but in the meantime we had a great time diving into our readings. 

Cold Weather Clothing

As the weather begins to get colder please ensure that your child's clothing adheres to our uniform policy:

Underlayers should be white and not visible under uniform 

Coats should be plain black or navy, with no branding or pictures. Hoodies or hooded jackets that have to be removed over the head are not permitted. 

Workshops and Auditions - Little Shop of Horrors

Preparations for this year's school production Little Shop of Horrors are already in full swing. Our wonderfully talents Year 7 and 8 students have had their first singing workshop to prepare for upcoming auditions and next week will bring even more theatrical excitement.

Please see the dates and times for afterschool singing workshops, acting workshops and auditions over the coming weeks. There will be two sets of auditions for each year group

Year 7-8

• Mon 12th Oct, 15:40-16:30 - Acting Workshop
• Mon 19th Oct, 15:40-17:00 - Auditions
• Weds 21st Oct, 15:40-17:00 - Auditions Overspill

Years 9, 10, & 12

• Mon 5th Oct, 15:40-16:30 - Acting Workshop
• Fri 9th Oct, 15:40-16:30 - Singing Workshop
• Thur 15th Oct, 15:40-17:00 - Auditions
• Weds 21st Oct, 15:40-17:00 - Auditions Overspill

We can't wait to see you at auditions!