YEAR 12 PARENTS OF NEW STUDENTS EVENING PERSONAL TUTOR: Welcome to King Edward’s

The aim of the evening is: To introduce myself as your son /daughter’s Personal Tutor. To give you an overview of the pastoral system at the college. To give you an outline of college policies which may affect your son/daughter. To give you an opportunity to ask questions, meet Lead Tutors and members of staff involved in Learning Support.

PASTORAL STRUCTURE The first point of contact for your son/daughter is myself, the Personal Tutor. I work closely with one of the four Lead Tutors and Head of Faculty who offer additional assistance and support to help ensure that your son/daughter is happy, healthy and fulfils his/her potential. Your son/daughter’s Lead Tutor is. His/her Head of Faculty is We can put in place a variety of measures to further support your son/daughter, if need be. The ethos of the college is to provide a warm, caring and nurturing environment in which all students can grow.

ROLE OF PERSONAL TUTOR To help and support students on personal matters. To offer guidance and advice on academic issues. To review student progress based on subject assessments. To deal with discipline problems. To assist with careers and progression work and advise, especially in Year 13.

ROLE OF CAREERS DEPARTMENT To provide reliable and unbiased advice, using in- house and Connexions outreach staff To provide up-to-date information on careers and Higher Education options, and how to apply for these including UCAS and job applications. To host a variety of careers events during the year such as the Careers Convention, Higher Education evening and conference, and the What is university like? morning, which is led by former students.

TUTORIAL PROGRAMME Students will have three timetabled sessions with their PT every week- these are important communication points The main session on a Wednesday morning will last 45 minutes. During this time students will engage in a planned programme of activities All Year 12 students, assisted by their PT, will also use this time to complete a Level 3 Key Skill (IOLP). Improving Own Learning and Performance enables students to reflect, record and improve on their academic performance All of the above will be accessible via the College student Moodle site. There will be two additional important communication sessions on a Tuesday and Friday for 10 minutes each in which students and PTs can touch base.

REPORTING & PROFILING Student progress is monitored in a number of different ways. There are three formal assessments (for effort and achievement) given by subject teachers each year. This data can be obtained by parents by logging onto the college system. If you register your parents can also obtain a copy of the regular KEEN bulletin on line which highlights important events and provides general college news. If you wish to receive a copy of this, please ensure that you fill in the list circulated by your son/daughter’s PT

REPORTING & PROFILING (cont’d) Year 12 subject profiling Thursday 20 October and Friday 21 October PT profiling process take place first half of the Spring Term Year 12 Consultation Evenings (+Year 13 invitees) - Surnames A-J Thursday 2 nd February 2012, Surnames K-Z Tuesday 7 th February 2012 Additional parental meetings may be held (by invitation/request of Personal Tutor,Lead Tutor or Head of Faculty ) at other times during the year.

ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES & GENERAL STUDIES The college provides a wide range of Enrichment Activities lead by both teaching staff, and students (1 hour per week minimum for all year 12 unless exempted because of exceptional involvement outside college) including HE+ and KE+ extension work: Whole year choice of Enrichment options or two half-year options such as  Sport, drama, music, outdoor activities eg D of E Gold  Work placements at home and abroad All students will take GCSE General Studies at end of year 12 and then will do AS and A2 General studies in Year 13. The course is an e-learning programme supplemented with lectures and it is compulsory. In Year 13 students also have the opportunity to do AS Critical Thinking and AQA Bacc Extended Project work

ATTENDANCE & PUNCTUALITY Attendance guidelines are made available to all students. Students are required to attend all sessions punctually. A student with a genuine, unplanned absence should phone in/ to the absence line before am and subsequently provide a note from a doctor or a parent/guardian to Yvonne Callaghan in Registry immediately on their return and inform their Personal Tutor. Any change in contact details should also be forwarded to Yvonne. For pre-planned absence, a student is required to visit Registry, well in advance who will advise what steps to take. Students are strongly advised not to take holidays during term time. In exceptional circumstances, a letter to the Principal requesting this should be made; details can be obtained from the Registry. Attendance monitoring is a major priority at the college as there is a direct correlation between achievement and attendance rates.

OTHER MATTERS The LIBRARY provides a wide range of services and resources with which students are familiar from Library Induction courses. Library staff are always available and willing to assist students with enquiries. The Library has a silent study area, computers and a comprehensive careers and Higher Education library. EMPLOYMENT: Research suggests that excessive part-time employment has an adverse effect on students’ progress and their studies, and ultimately on their final examination results. It is advisable that not more than 10 hours part-time work should be undertaken per week; watch for Christmas demands since some exams occur in January. The STUDENT UNION is an elected body of student representatives from all tutor groups. It represents the students’ interest in college affairs, organises social functions and undertakes fundraising activities for charity. Our PT group representatives are appointed in September.. TIME MANAGEMENT: The demands of the course are great; out of college commitments need monitoring to ensure a balance is maintained at this level. So, Time management– juggling 4 subjects and the jump to independent learning and study skills are needed. Also the need to meet deadlines and avoid last-minute panic particularly planning for project submissions.

AND FINALLY... If, at any point over the next two years you have any concerns, I am available to be contacted via phone: ext or via

Thank you for coming to our Parents/Carers of new students Evening! Any questions? Refreshments will be served in the Dining Hall Please join us. Short presentations by the Learner Support team (Lecture Theatre) are at 7pm and 8pm Lead Tutors, Learning Support, Careers staff and senior members of staff are available in the Dining Hall. All information discussed tonight is available via the college web.