Vyners School Parent Workshops 2016 - 2017
Welcome to the Vyners School Parent Learning Programme This parent learning programme was designed to support, help and engage parents in the education of their child, with each course targeted to inform and help parents. Studies have shown that when a parent engages fully in the education of their child, there is an increase in performance and attainment. The aim of this programme is to include and not exclude parents and as always, if there are any suggestions that you have for a workshop that will help you support your son/daughter in their learning, please do contact the main reception, giving your suggestion, as we are very much open to suggestions and would be happy to run a useful workshop if demand from parents is there. This year, we have designed the programme to contain both information points and experiential opportunities so that you can understand the learning that your son/daughter experiences. If you would like to attend a workshop, please leave your contact details by either emailing
[email protected] or calling Frances Webb, our Office Manager on 01895-234342, stating clearly your full name, the tutorial that your child is in and the workshop you would like to attend, no later than 48 hours before the event. This will enable us to provide adequate resources, should there be any need to postpone or cancel a workshop this will also enable us to contact you. On arrival, please come to the school reception 5 minutes before the start time where you will be greeted by the workshop provider. Many thanks for your continued support and we hope you enjoy attending these parents learning workshops.
Mr Neil Lobo (Assistant Headteacher)
Title Date Time Audience Venue
How to help your child revise for their GCSE Examinations Monday 17th October 2016 5:30 - 6:30pm Parents of Year 11 students Rooms 016 & 017
The aim of this workshop is to:
Objectives
Give parents strategies that will enable their child to learn and revise effectively for their GCSE examinations.
Highlight the importance of revision early on in the year.
Help parents to support their child through their GCSE revision.
The workshop will take the following format:
Description
Delivered by
Understanding what it takes to learn effectively.
Practical strategies – a hands on guide to what we expect of the students for revision.
Understanding how you can help support your child?
Advice on where to find revision material – a guide from all examination subjects.
Parent question and answer session.
Miss N Fish (Assistant Subject Leader for Science & Year 11 tutor) Mr A Egembah (Acting Subject Leader for Maths & Year 11 tutor)
Title Date Time Audience Venue
How to help your child with the new Modern Foreign Languages GCSE’s
Monday 31st October 2016 6 - 7pm Parents of students in Year 9 and Year 10 only Room 106
The aim of this workshop is to:
Objectives
Understand how to support your child who has just started the new MFL GCSE.
The workshop will take the following format:
Description
Delivered by
Highlight of the main differences between the old and the new MFL GCSE.
Strategies and tools to support the MFL GCSE student.
Explain how students can become more independent
Miss F Rasoarahona (Deputy Subject Leader for MFL)
Title Date Time Audience Venue
French, German and Spanish How to support your child learning a foreign language Wednesday 2nd November 2016 5 - 6pm Parents of all Year Groups Room 107
The aim of this workshop is to:
Objectives
Be able to support your child learning French, German or Spanish without having much or any knowledge of the given language.
● Know a range of effective strategies to learn a foreign language.
The workshop will take the following format:
Description
Delivered by
We will look at activities, exercises and games for parents/carers to complete at home to help their child practise and revise the foreign language they are studying.
We will look at effective ways to learn the vocabulary and the grammatical foundations of a foreign language.
Ways to overcome learning difficulties in languages.
Your questions and discussion time.
Mr M Keller (Teacher of Modern Foreign Languages)
Title Date Time Audience Venue
Understanding the New Mathematics GCSE Monday 7th November 2016 5:30 - 6:30pm Year 9, Year 10, and Year 11 Parents Room 027
The aim of this workshop is to:
Objectives
Outline the changes to the maths GCSE exam structure
Introduce parents to the new GCSE specification for maths
How to help your child succeed at GCSE maths
The workshop will take the following format:
Description
Delivered by
Exam structure o New grading system o Changes to the structure of the exams o Understanding what is required for the exams
GCSE specification o New content in the papers o How we are meeting the demands of new GCSE
Helping your child o At home resources available for new GCSE o What students should be doing at home to prepare
Miss H Vorce (Assistant Subject Leader for Maths)
Title
Helping your child successfully prepare for the GCSE Geography Examinations
Date Time Audience Venue
Tuesday 8th November 2016 5 - 6pm Parents of Year 11 Geographers Room 212 The aim of the workshop is to: Illustrate ways in which parents can support their child in being successful in their GCSE examinations.
Objectives
Outlining and explaining the syllabus of the GCSE course.
To outline the key skills which students will require for examination success.
To illustrate the assessment/exam structure and each exams requirements.
To give parents advice on how they can support their child in their GCSE Geography home learning.
To demonstrate effective use of PLCs
The workshop will take the following format:
Description
Delivered by
This session will focus on the Year 11 GCSE Examinations explaining in detail what your son or daughter needs to prepare for.
It will also give advice on how you can support their revision and demonstrate how personalised learning checklists, notetaking and past papers can be used to help facilitate effective revision.
Mr A Coulter (Subject Leader for Geography)
Title Date Time Audience Venue
Objectives
Year 7 Parent Information Evening for Science Wednesday 9th November 2016 5 - 6pm Parents of Year 7 students Room 138
The focus of the information evening is to help parents understand the changes that have been introduced to Year 7 science; specifically how to support their children when they are completing experimental write ups. The aim of the workshop is:
To run through the 3 sections of a practical write up
To identify keywords that students need to use
To look at risk assessments and safe working practices
The workshop will take the following format:
Description
Delivered by
Introduction to year 7 science including the methods we will be using for assessments.
Structure of science investigations and write up of experimental data.
Tips on how to support your child at home.
Improving thinking skills in science.
Miss L Hodgson (Assistant Subject Leader for Science)
Title Date Time Audience Venue
New Science GCSE Parent information evening Thursday 10th November 2016 5 - 6pm Parents of Year 9 students Room 138 The aim of the workshop is to explain the changes to the GCSE course:
New practical work o What students are expected to be able to do o How the core practical relate to the exams
New exam style o Impact of maths content o Improvements to literacy
New text book o Online features o Extension and support work
Online resources o Other resources that can help students
Entry level Science
Objectives
The workshop will take the following format:
Parents will be guided through the main aspects of the GCSE course that have changed.
They will have a look at an exemplar core practical and how this will be assessed.
Exemplar exam questions will be compared to old style questions.
Access to the new online textbook via chrome books.
Parents will get a brief outline of how spiral learning will aid student progress.
Description
Delivered by
Miss G Holt (Subject Leader for Science) Miss N Fish (Assistant Subject Leader for Science)
Title Date Time Audience Venue
Year 7 - English Skills Monday 14th November 2016 5 - 6pm Parents of Year 7 students Room 217
The aim of this workshop is to:
Objectives
Introduce parents to the demands of KS3 English.
How the English department are preparing students for the demands of the new GCSE.
Explain and develop ‘Reading and Extended Writing’ skills.
The workshop will take the following format:
Description
Delivered by
Introduce parents to the demands of KS3 English. - What the courses involve - Approaches to assessment
How the English department are preparing students for the demands of the new GCSE. - What the new GCSE involves - How we are preparing the students for the new challenges
Reading and writing skills. - What can students / parents be doing at home?
Miss L Gillard (KS3 English Co-ordinator) Miss S Pearce (Teacher of English)
Title Date Time Audience Venue
How support works in Schools and Sharing Strategies to support your child at home Tuesday 15th November 2016 6 - 7:30pm Parents of students with learning difficulties Room 010
The aim of this workshop is to:
Objectives
Make new parents aware of how support works in school and
Share strategies to enable them to support their children at home.
The workshop will take the following format:
Description
Delivered by
This is both an information sharing and workshop based session.
During the first part of the session parents will gain a clear understanding of how Vyners School implements support for students identified as having additional needs in line with the recent changes to SEN legislation.
The second part of the session is workshop based; parents will engage in activities that demonstrate some of the strategies that can be used to support their child’s learning at home.
Mrs A Foster (Inclusion Manager & Assistant Headteacher)
Title Date Time Audience Venue
New Science GCSE Parent Information Evening Wednesday 16th November 2016 5 - 6pm Parents of Year 10 students Room 138 The aim of the workshop is to: To explain the changes to the GCSE course
Objectives
New practical work o What students are expected to be able to do o How the core practicals relate to the exams
New exam style o Impact of maths content o Improvements to literacy
New text book o Online features o Extension and support work
Online resources o Other resources that can help students
Entry level Science
The workshop will take the following format: Parents will be guided through the main aspects of the GCSE course that have changed.
They will have a look at an exemplar core practical and how this will be assessed.
Exemplar exam questions will be compared to old style questions.
Access to the new online textbook via chromebooks
Description
Delivered by
Miss G Holt (Subject Leader for Science) Mr G Lavington (Assistant Subject Leader for Science)
Title Date Time Audience Venue
Healthy Eating and Exercising at Home for Students Monday 21st November 2016 5:30 - 6:30pm Parents of students from any year group Room 045
The aim of this workshop is to:
Inform parents of the recommended hours of exercise students should get each week.
Give ideas for healthy food options for students.
Inform parents of what students are taught reference healthy eating and exercise.
Give ideas of what training/exercise can be done at home.
Objectives
The workshop will take the following format:
Description
Delivered by
Presentation on recommended guidelines, healthy foods and the PE curriculum.
A practical demonstration of what activities could be done in, and around the home.
Mr T Hall (Head of Boys PE)
Title Date Time Audience Venue
KS4 English Language and Literature Tuesday 22nd November 2016 5:30 - 6:30pm Parents of students in Year 9 & Year 10 LRC
The aim of this workshop is to:
Objectives
A guide to the new specifications.
What your child will be studying.
What resources you can get to support them.
What they can do outside of school.
What parents can do to help.
The workshop will take the following format:
Description
Delivered by
This workshop will be a presentation based on the new GCSE English courses. Follows the presentation there will be a Q&A session where any queries or concerns can be addressed.
Miss F Heaphy (Assistant Subject Leader for English KS4)
Title Date Time Audience Venue
KS4 English Language and Literature Tuesday 29th November 2016 5:30 - 6:30pm Parents of Year 11 students LRC
The aim of this workshop is to:
Objectives
A guide to the new specifications.
What your child has left to do.
What resources you can get to support them.
What they can do outside of school.
What parents can do to help.
The workshop will take the following format:
Description
Delivered by
This workshop will be a presentation based on the new GCSE English courses. Follows the presentation there will be a Q&A session where any queries or concerns can be addressed.
Miss F Heaphy (Assistant Subject Leader for English KS4)
Title Date Time Audience Venue
Growth Mindset: Brainology Wednesday 7th December 2016 5:30 - 6:15pm Parents of all year groups Main School Hall
The aim of this workshop is to:
Objectives
Explore the science behind a Growth Mindset.
Why your mindset matters.
Strategies for parents to develop their own growth mindset and their children’s.
This will be an interactive workshop to engage parents with developing a ‘Growth Mindset’. The format of the workshop will be:
Description
Delivered by
An introduction to brainology.
The importance of adopting a growth mindset as an individual, and our students being part of a growth mindset culture will be presented.
An explanation will be provided of the strategies which are being used in school with students. To then give practical guidance of how this can be transferred at home.
Miss L Thompson (Head of Girls PE)
Title Date Time Audience Venue
Preparing for the GCSE Design & Technology exam in either Resistant Materials or Graphics Wednesday 11th January 2017 5 - 6:30pm Parents of GCSE Resistant Materials & Graphics students Room 031
The aim of this workshop is to: Gain a better understanding of how you can help your child prepare better for the written exam by:
Objectives
Understanding the needs of the exam board derived ‘theme’ in section A of the paper.
Understanding how to research and develop ideas to fit the need.
Learn how simple 3D sketching techniques can enhance presentation.
The format of this workshop will be:
Description
Delivered by
Helping students work through the needs of the exam board produced ‘theme’ for the paper.
Help students develop solutions to the theme.
Help them interpret their ideas visually through 3D sketching.
Help them understand the wider world of technology that you understand by being an adult!
Mr M Padgham (Subject Leader of Design & Technology) Mr S Babra (Teacher of Design & Technology)
Title Date Time Audience Venue
Growth Mindset: The Power of Mistakes Wednesday 8th March 2017 5:30 - 6:15pm Parents of all year groups Main School Hall
The aim of this workshop is to:
Objectives
Address the power of mistakes.
The importance of challenge.
Strategies for parents to support the process of making mistakes and challenge at home.
This will be an interactive workshop to engage parents with developing a ‘Growth Mindset’. The workshop will take the following format:
Description
Delivered by
The importance of making mistakes to ensure deep learning takes place.
The learning journey explained with an emphasis on students experiencing challenge.
An explanation will be provided of the strategies which are being used in school with students. To then give practical guidance of how this can be transferred at home.
Miss L Thompson (Head of Girls PE)
Title
Raising your grade in Art and Photography
Date Time Audience Venue
Wednesday 15th March 2017 6 - 7pm Parents of students studying Art and Photography Art and Photography studio
The aim of this workshop is to:
Objectives
Understand the basics of Photoshop.
Design and make creative sketchbook pages.
Understand what makes a bold composition.
Managing your time in a creative subject.
Visiting galleries successfully.
Understanding the importance of tonal variation.
The workshop will take the following format:
Description
Delivered by
Outline via PowerPoint some core themes.
Small scale tutorials and hand-outs given on the above.
Time for discussion will also be included and lots of examples of student work for parents to see.
Mrs F Vine (Subject Leader for Art) Mr V Sodha (Teacher of Photography)
Title Date Time Audience Venue
Aspiring to Top Universities Tuesday 21st March 2017 6 - 7pm Parents / Carers of Year 7 and Year 8 Students who are aspiring to go to a top university in the future The Conference Room
The aim of this workshop is to:
Objectives
Explain the qualities and characteristics that top universities are looking for in students.
Understand the entry criteria for a top university.
Understand what activities students should start now in Year 7 and Year 8 which will prepare them for the challenges of applying to university later on in Year 12.
The workshop will take the following format:
A discussion around our tips and advice on how to get students into the top universities in the UK and what is relevant to students now Key Stage 3.
An interactive activity to dissect and critically analyse applications to university and how to approach a personal statement successfully.
Description
Delivered by
Miss A Pape (Year 13 Leader)
Title Date Time Audience Venue
Growth Mindset: Celebrating to maintain a Growth Mindset Wednesday 7th June 2017 5:30 - 6:15pm Parents of all year groups Main School Hall
The aim of this workshop is to:
Objectives
Importance of the process
Mastery goals Vs Performance goals
Strategies for parents to use when celebrating school and home achievements
This will be an interactive workshop to engage parents with developing a ‘Growth Mindset’.
How to praise the process and effort your child puts into their work.
Explore the difference of mastery goals Vs performance goals.
An explanation will be provided of the strategies which are being used in school with students. To then give practical guidance of how this can be transferred at home.
Description
Delivered by
Miss L Thompson (Head of Girls PE)
