This document provides information for parents on supporting their child through their GCSE courses. It introduces key staff at the school and examines ways parents can help, such as using homework platforms and ensuring enough study time. It also covers GCSE grades, cyber safety, and who to contact with specific concerns. Rewards and sanctions are outlined to encourage positive behavior and progress.

1. Welcome
Aspiration Respect Endeavour

2. Mrs Jenner
Head of School

3. Helping your child make the best
start to their GCSE courses
Year 10
September 2017

4. Key People
• Mr Price – Year Progress Leader
• Mr Mammen – Deputy Headteacher (Curriculum and
Progress)
• Mr Cheema – Deputy Headteacher (Behaviour and
Safety)
• Miss Dyer – Assistant Headteacher (Student
Wellfare)

5. The Reality
• Tense time
• Pressure
• Students
• Parents

6. • Identify ways in which parents can support their children
• Identify what parents should do if there are concerns about the
progress of their children
• Look at the structure of GCSE grades and what they mean
• Analyse some simple techniques to improve the chances of
examination success
• Look at what options are open to students ‘post 16’
Start of GCSE courses

7. Roding Valley High School
• An Academic Sixth Form
– Competitive entry level requirements
• Year 12 is full based on our curriculum model
– Taught by teachers that know you
– Consistency and continuity of education

9. New Curriculum
• Grades 9 – 1 GCSE no more A* - G
• Reformed GCSEs – increased challenge, no coursework,
SPAG focus
• Reformed A levels - harder, no coursework, SPAG

10. Mr Mammen
Deputy Headteacher – Curriculum & Progress

12. What is it?
• Online resource to set home work
• Parents and students can view their h/w
• Parents and students know when h/w is due in
• Push notifications are sent through the free
app

19. • SMHW

21. How much Homework?
• English, Maths & Science : 2 hours per week
• Option subjects : at least 1 hour per week

22. What can GCSE Grades allow my child to
access at Roding Valley?
The study of Maths & English must continue until 18 if passes not secured in
Year 11
Sixth Form Entry - A Level requires at least a Grade ‘6’ GCSE in the subject
being studied
In Maths and Physics a Grade ‘7’ will be the minimum requirement

23. Mr Cheema
Deputy Headteacher – Behaviour & Safety

24. Rewards
At Roding Valley High School we will praise,
reward and celebrate the achievements and
efforts of those students that work hard and follow
the schools expectations. There is an extensive
range of rewards where students will be rewarded
for high levels of attainment and effort in all
subject areas.
‘Aspiration Respect Endeavour’

25. Designated Lead: Kulvinder Cheema
Deputies:
– Sam Dyer
– Jeanette Low
– Sam King
Or contact a member of the Senior Leadership
Team.
Safe Guarding

26. • On-line security
• Potential risk
• Cyber crime
• Cyber bullying
• Sexting
• Accessing inappropriate
materials
• Location
• Safety and security
• Learning tool
• Social Media
• Stay in touch, family
and friendships
• Tickets
• Shopping
• Location
Mobile Phone? Smart phone is a
powerful computer, their virtual
world

27. What are young people worried
about?
• 10-11 year olds are overwhelmingly worried about
cyberbullying even though the extent of cyberbullying in their
age group is considerably lower than among the 14 -15 year
olds.
• The older group worry about being hacked and having
personal details stolen, they worry increasingly about viruses
and fraud or fake goods as they get older.
• Many have vague, unexplained fears about ‘people’ or
paedophiles or strangers.

28. Sexting
There are a number of definitions but generally
• Images or videos generated
• by children under the age of 18 or
• Of children under the age of 18 that are of
a sexual nature or indecent
These images are shared between young people
and / or adults via a mobile phone, handheld
device or website.

29. • Take an indecent photograph or allow an indecent photograph
to be taken
• Make an indecent photograph (including downloading or
opening an image via email)
• Distribute or show such an image
• Possess with the intention of distributing images
• Advertise and
• Possess such images
Sexting

30. • Take an indecent photograph or allow an indecent
photograph to be taken
• Make an indecent photograph (including downloading or
opening an image via email)
• Distribute or show such an image
• Possess with the intention of distributing images
• Advertise and possess such images.
Sexting – it is a crime to……

31. Other areas of support
CEOP - https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/
Child net Digital Leaders Programme - http://www.childnet.com/
Anti-bullying Alliance - http://www.anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/
The Big Award - http://www.bullyinginterventiongroup.co.uk/
Kidscape -
https://www.kidscape.org.uk/media/245638/cyber_bullying_and_online_safety.pdf
Diana, Anti-bullying Ambassadors - http://diana-award.org.uk/programmes/anti-
bullying/
Bullying UK - https://www.gov.uk/bullying-at-school/reporting-bullying

32. Positive Action for Learning (PAL)
The RVHS Positive Action for Learning (PAL)
policy provides a clear and systematic approach
to managing the standards of behaviour
expected of the students. All staff will strive to
implement this on a consistent basis and always
take ownership of the issue with support from
the Head of Faculty, Year Progress Leader or
Senior Leadership Team.
‘Aspiration Respect Endeavour’

33. Rewards
• At Roding Valley High School we will praise,
reward and celebrate the achievements and
efforts of those students that work hard and
follow the schools expectations. There is an
extensive range of rewards where students
will be rewarded for high levels of attainment
and effort in all subject areas.
• Therefore each student has been awarded
1000 achievement points.
• Every student will start the year with 1000
achievements points - 195 DAYS X 5
LESSONS A DAY
• Achievements points taken away for
misbehaviour, attendance, punctuality...
• Target amount of PROGRESS points to aim for
at end of year to be rewarded...POINTS mean
PRIZES!
‘Aspiration Respect Endeavour’
Rewards

34. Positive Action for Learning (PAL)
• PAL 1 The student is warned by the classroom teacher and has
the opportunity to correct their behaviour within the
classroom.
• PAL 2 To help an individual focus back on their learning they
will be moved to another seat within the classroom.
• PAL 3 In order for the individual to continue to work
productively and minimise the disruption to learning of other
students the student will be removed to another classroom
located within the faculty.
‘Aspiration Respect Endeavour’

35. Thank you
• The vast majority of students are with us.
• We wish to praise and reward your children.
• We look forward to working with you over the
next two years to achieve the best outcomes
and next steps for your child.
‘Aspiration Respect Endeavour’

36. Miss Dyer
Assistant Headteacher – Student Welfare

40. Friendship groups
• The key to success in any school.
• Friendships for teens are based on
– Status
– Common interests
– Values
– Personalities.
– This is an important change for parents to acknowledge. Parents are less
likely to know their teenage children’s friends.
– Much of what you may know about their friends is second hand
information through your teen or their siblings.
– Invite them into your home……………..

43. How to avoid it…….
• Have realistic expectations.
• Establish a Revision Timetable.
• Be on top of the Examination Timetable.
• Ensure they have a regular quiet place to work.
• Short sharp work periods. (20 mins when revising)
• Help them be creative with their revision.
• Provide them with healthy food options.
• Encourage them to exercise.
• Ensure they are in bed in time to get enough sleep.
• GCSEs are important but they are not the be all & end all……..

44. Who should parents contact?
• Individual subject problem
• Subject Teacher/Head of Faculty
• General issues – Form Tutor
• Progress issues – Mr Price (Year Progress
Leader)
• Careers/Further Education – Mrs Mason
• Attendance concerns – Mrs Low
• Stress/Anxiety – Miss Dyer/Anyone!!!

45. • Do not underestimate the power of parental
influence, particularly when this is in
partnership with the school
• Believe in your child’s potential, encourage
them and make sure they are as prepared as
they can be.

46. End word
• Ask your son or daughter what they are doing
in their subjects.
• Don’t accept the usual response.