Change of date – Year 7 parents evening
Due to the timings of public examinations taking place, we have had to reschedule the Y7 parents evening due to take place on the 23rd May to the 20th June. Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused and we look forward to seeing you to discuss the progress that your child has made this year.
Please note
There is a special presentation evening for all parents of year 11 students on Monday 13th May at 6.30 in the Arc. Please read Mr Nixon’s full message.
Message from Mr Nixon
As with all high schools, this is a very busy time of year and there is a considerable amount of important information to share in this week’s addition of the E-echo.
You may remember that several weeks ago I wrote about the support we were providing for our students building up to and during the exam period. The feedback has been very positive and at an assembly a couple of days ago, it was suggested that parents may also appreciate the extra support during what can be a very stressful time. I vividly remember a year when both my boys were doing crucial exams, Richard his A levels and Robert his GCSEs. It was a time for family support and understanding, alongside finding a balanced route through revision, stress and relaxation. It wasn't easy.
From the feedback we received from parents and the discussions we have had with students we have invited the parents of all year 11 students to attend a presentation this coming Monday 13th May at 6.30pm in the Arc. My apologies for the short notice but we thought it better to go with the idea now given the impending exams. (A text and an email was sent earlier in the week.) It is anticipated that the presentation will last for about half an hour, looking at ways to support revision and trying to reduce stress. The aim is to go through various strategies for dealing with a series of exams taking place over a short period of time. There will be refreshments afterwards with an opportunity to talk to staff and other parents. We envisage the whole session taking about an hour. Of course, we also welcome parents whose children from other year groups may be sitting individual exam such as Astronomy in year 9.
During the exam period itself, we will be on hand to support and guide students on the morning of their exams; providing a light breakfast from 7.45-8.15am so that they go into the examination hall in the right frame of mind and ready to do their very best. The last day for our year 11 students is Friday 24th May; however, we will continue to provide support throughout study leave – with a ‘stress buster’ email hotline already in operation. (This information has been given to the students through assemblies).
We have carried out a review of the year 10 assessments that took place at the beginning of term and we will be outlining to parents in more detail the various changes that will take place for future tests and exams. It may be useful to highlight at this point that the results from any internal assessments are just one element of what goes towards judging current performance and to estimate future grades. Entry into sixth form is based solely on student’s actual GCSE results which they receive towards the end of August.
Jim Nixon
This week
Monday 13th
A level Art
Y11 parents meeting – exam management (6.30-7.30 CNS)
Tuesday 14th
A level Art
Yr 10 Geography F/work DT Innovation challenge
Lunchtime clubs
KS3 MFL film making club (room 201)
After school clubs
Creative writing club (learning centre)
Orchestra practice (Arc)
Yr 9 cookery club (room 77)
Wednesday 15th
Yr 10 Geography F/work GCE/GCSE start
A level Art
Lunchtime clubs
Christian union meeting (room 113)
British sign language (room 2)
Debating society (room 20)
After school clubs
Computing club (room 25)
GCSE open art room (room 28)
Orchestra practice (room 213)
Yr 9 Biopunks (room 104)
Garden club
Thursday 16th
School council (PD room)
A level Art
Titan – SEND students (room 48)
Friday 17th
A level Art
CNSA questionnaire
Dear parents, carers and guardians
Over the past 18 months we have been working hard to get the City of Norwich School Association (CNSA) up and running again after a period of inactivity. We have an enthusiastic committee and a growing group of event helpers but we now need as much input as possible from all of you as to where we go next.
The primary aim of the association as defined by its constitution is to advance the education of CNS students by developing effective relationships between the staff, parents/carers/guardians and others associated with the school and by engaging in activities or providing facilities or equipment which support the school.
To help us determine how best to meet this aim we would be grateful if you would complete the online questionnaire found at this link. As we do not have access to your children's email addresses could you please ask them to complete it after you have. All parents, carers, guardians and students can submit their own response and we encourage you to do so. Please could all responses be submitted by Wednesday 22 May.
This questionnaire will also be sent to CNS staff and governors and we will report back on its findings after half term. If you have any comments or queries please email them to cnsa@cnsmail.org.
Thank you for your support.
The CNSA Committee
Sky News
As I write this on Friday 10th May, I have just finished some filming with Sky News. A reporter and journalist came to the school to talk about a national news story concerning perceived educational gaps between September and August born children. It was due to a report published by the Institute of Fiscal Studies which you can read at http://www.ifs.org.uk/publications/6686
Thanks to two Yr 11 students who (with permission) helped us with the filming and Mr Setchell who also answered questions for the reporter.
Note: It was on air on Friday 10th at 5pm.
Elizabeth Humphries
