Dear Parents, Students and Colleagues
 
There has been a focus on Year 11 this week and it was great to see so many parents at the consultation evening on Monday at this crucial stage in the year. We have applied a technique with Year 11 that many successful sports people and entrepreneurs use. It revolves around creating a vision of what you would like to achieve to reach your goal.

Jenson Button might, for example, imagine himself crossing the line at the British Grand Prix ahead of all his rivals. You might see Phillips Odowu with his eyes closed at the end of the runway visioning in his head the elements of the triple jump, imagining how the various phases might go together perfectly to achieve the ultimate world record-breaking jump. I´m sitting writing my blog and thinking of Andy Murray, currently playing very well in the Australian Open. You will often see him rehearsing shots and practicing them, mentally preparing for what might happen in the next rally or game.

This week we had a ‘Mock Results day´ for year 11. We rehearsed, after the mock examinations, what it would be like in the summer, to be given an envelope with the results in to open! Inside there were a combination of mock examination results and, for some, the results from real GCSE examinations taken in November. As you might image, there were a range of emotions. Some students were absolutely delighted with their results having put in an enormous amount of energy and preparation. For others the results might have been mixed, with areas of success but clear places where we need additional effort or support. We want all our students to image what it will be like to open their examination results in the summer and to know that they have achieved success.

These ‘visioning´ strategies and techniques are tried and tested — they work in very many areas of life. They are about building confidence and setting out simple pathways so that students and staff know what they have to do to take that next small step that will lead to success. I hope, lower down the school, that the simple structure of our Step Curriculum provides students with a framework that enables them to imagine and achieve each small step that will enable them to progress towards their bigger, longer term goals.

Returning finally to Year 11, over the next few months there will be lots of opportunities for them to access additional support at this crucial time. We will have a programme of intensive days in Maths and English, for those who need extra support in these critical subjects. Extra revision slots and coursework catch-up opportunities will be on offer. There will be activities in the February half term to provide the maximum possible support. Thank you again to all those parents who attended the parents evening. Your encouragement and support is also vital if we are to continue to achieve the very best we can for all our students.
Nick Jones, Principal