NEWSLETTER AUTUMN
2015
NEWSLETTER
AUTUMN
LORD LAWSON OF BEAMISH ACADEMY
rm
Autumn te
Important dates Year 12 Parents Information Evening Wednesday 9th September
k
Welcome bac
Year 11 Parents Information Evening Monday 14th September Year 7 Parents Information Evening Wednesday 16th September
Welcome back to all of our students and parents - I hope you have had a good summer. I would like to say a special welcome to all of our new students joining us in year 7 and also to our Sixth form students who are rejoining us or coming from elsewhere. I know you have an exciting year ahead of you and we will do our very best to look after you in your new school. Congratulations to our students who took exams this summer – the results were the best the Academy has ever seen and this is down to all your hard work. Mark Lovatt
Year 13 Subject Parents Evening Tuesday 22nd September Summer School Celebration Evening Thursday 24th September Year 10 Parents Information Evening Wednesday 30th September Prospective Year 7 Open Evening Thursday 8th October Talent Show Wed 21st October/Thurs 22nd October Students Break up for Half Term (1 week) Friday 23rd October Prospective Sixth Form Open Evening Monday 23rd November Occasional Day Holiday Monday 30th November Year 9 Subject Parents Evenings re Options Tuesday 1st December Tuesday 8th December
Principal
www.lordlawson.org.uk Autumn scene photograph - taken by Geoff Graham
Christmas Concert Thursday 10th December Academy Closes for Christmas 3.15pm finish for students Friday 18th December
Welcome to our rm
In the Sixth fo
We are delighted to share an excellent set of A level results achieved by our students. Many of our students have gained the grades required to enter their first choice of University with students going on to study a wide range of subjects including History, Biomedical Sciences, Economics and Mechanical Engineering. 20% of A level entries achieved were at A*/A and 44% of entries achieved A* to B. Over 63% of our students entered for a vocational course achieved a Dist*/Dist. We are looking forward to working with all of our students who are returning to study in our sixth form as well as new students who are joining us in the sixth form from elsewhere.
At GCSE We were really pleased with our GCSE results – they represent our best ever results with 79% of students attaining A*- C in English, 73% A*- C in Maths, 69% of students attaining A*- C grades in both English and Maths, and 67% of students attaining 5 GCSEs at A*- C including English and Maths. In addition 29 students have attained ALL or nearly all A*/A grades. We couldn’t be more proud of our students who have worked so hard throughout the year as have their teachers.
Resources Facilities and - an update
I am pleased to announce the following improvements in facilities and resources for young people in the Academy...
Autumn Newsletter We have a new catering contractor Chartwells will be taking over the provision of meals in the Academy. They will be improving the quality and presentation of food on offer to young people as well as making a capital investment towards improving dining facilities in the Academy.
•
Mobile phones – mobile phones should be in bags at all times during the Academy day with the exception of break and lunchtime (currently under review). Carrying a mobile phone (and/ or headphones) in a trouser or jacket pocket at any other time, including lesson changeover, is not acceptable. Under NO circumstances are phones to be switched on or taken out during lessons without the explicit instruction of the teacher. Failure to follow these rules will result in a phone being confiscated by senior or pastoral staff and repeated offences will result in parents being called into the Academy to collect the phone and/or a permanent ban on a student being able to bring their phone to the Academy.
•
Uniform – We are very proud of how smart our students look and would like to continue this into the new academic year. It is absolutely non-negotiable that students should be wearing the correct academy uniform at all times in the academy and on their journey to and from the Academy. Failure to follow this rule will result in students being isolated in their House block until such time as they have the correct uniform and/or sent home to change. House staff can be contacted if there are any issues regarding uniform and we fully appreciate the support of parents in this matter.
•
Smoking/Vaping is not permitted on the Academy site. If your son/daughter smokes and it is an issue for them then you must make special arrangements with pastoral staff for your son/daughter to
New Technology As well as the 55 new PCs we were able to replace in the Learning Resource Centre last term we have also been able to update/repair all department ICT resources so they are in full working order and to provide 90 new PCs for business and media rooms. Around the Academy Carpets have been replaced in key areas throughout the Academy as part of our on-going “wear and tear” arrangement with Cofely. The Academy has received a “deep” clean over the summer and large areas have been repainted. The grounds and the Academy are looking great and ready for the start of the new academic year.
ur Behaviour Changes to o and Rewards policy We have recently reviewed our behaviour and rewards policy and would like to bring the following to your attention. Behaviour, the following points are for clarification:
go off site at lunchtime. We are happy to provide support and information in regard to nicotine addiction. Please contact pastoral staff if you think this may be an issue for your son/daughter. Smoking on Academy grounds can result in permanent exclusion.
•
Stepped and Staged Reports – For a very small minority of students who insist on disrupting the learning of others in lessons, and where this has not been addressed through our normal consequences or detention system, we have introduced a new “Stepped and Staged” report. There are 7 stages and at each stage students are given support and the opportunity to change their behaviour. Stage 7 will result in permanent exclusion from the Academy. This only affects a small number of students and if this affects your son/ daughter then you will be contacted by pastoral staff to explain the process in more detail.
ss,
brating succe
Rewards - cele
progress, and
effective aviours
learning beh
I am really pleased to announce that we will be finding lots of new ways to reward the vast majority of our students who work so hard in the Academy. From September we will be rewarding students for demonstrating positive attitudes to learning (based around our 5 Rs+1) and also outstanding achievement in the following ways:
•
Attendance and Punctuality – students will be receiving certificates for good attendance from Jo Robson, our Educational Welfare Officer.
•
Progress against target grades – students will be receiving “Good news” letters from Nick Mills, Deputy Princip Achievement.
•
Teachers will be awarding regular commendations in lessons for effective learning behaviours (5Rs) and for Respectful behaviour – these will be celebrated in half termly house assemblies.
•
We are introducing a NEW Learning “Oscars” evening towards the end of November. This promises to be a spectacular event which will complement our awards evenings for Sport, and for Media and Performing Arts, which are held in July.
•
Badged up – From half term all students who are awarded Attitude to learning grades of 1 or 2 across all subject areas will be able to wear the coveted Academy “blue” badge. The first of these will be awarded at the November awards evening. Badge wearers will increasingly be accorded privileges throughout the academy. These may take the form of early lunch passes, use of mobile phones at break/ lunchtimes etc. We are currently working with the Academy student council to determine these. And finally please keep an eye on the Academy website - www.lordlawson.org.uk for the latest news and announcements and/or follow us on twitter@llobacademy. As usual please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any help and I look forward to your continuing support throughout the year. Mark Lovatt Principal
Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy, Birtley Lane, Birtley, County Durham, DH3 2LP | T: 0191 433 40 26 | F: 0191 433 40 27 E: [email protected] | Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/llobacademy
NEWSLETTER
AUTUMN
LORD LAWSON OF BEAMISH ACADEMY
rm
Autumn te
Important dates Year 12 Parents Information Evening Wednesday 9th September
k
Welcome bac
Year 11 Parents Information Evening Monday 14th September Year 7 Parents Information Evening Wednesday 16th September
Welcome back to all of our students and parents - I hope you have had a good summer. I would like to say a special welcome to all of our new students joining us in year 7 and also to our Sixth form students who are rejoining us or coming from elsewhere. I know you have an exciting year ahead of you and we will do our very best to look after you in your new school. Congratulations to our students who took exams this summer – the results were the best the Academy has ever seen and this is down to all your hard work. Mark Lovatt
Year 13 Subject Parents Evening Tuesday 22nd September Summer School Celebration Evening Thursday 24th September Year 10 Parents Information Evening Wednesday 30th September Prospective Year 7 Open Evening Thursday 8th October Talent Show Wed 21st October/Thurs 22nd October Students Break up for Half Term (1 week) Friday 23rd October Prospective Sixth Form Open Evening Monday 23rd November Occasional Day Holiday Monday 30th November Year 9 Subject Parents Evenings re Options Tuesday 1st December Tuesday 8th December
Principal
www.lordlawson.org.uk Autumn scene photograph - taken by Geoff Graham
Christmas Concert Thursday 10th December Academy Closes for Christmas 3.15pm finish for students Friday 18th December
Welcome to our rm
In the Sixth fo
We are delighted to share an excellent set of A level results achieved by our students. Many of our students have gained the grades required to enter their first choice of University with students going on to study a wide range of subjects including History, Biomedical Sciences, Economics and Mechanical Engineering. 20% of A level entries achieved were at A*/A and 44% of entries achieved A* to B. Over 63% of our students entered for a vocational course achieved a Dist*/Dist. We are looking forward to working with all of our students who are returning to study in our sixth form as well as new students who are joining us in the sixth form from elsewhere.
At GCSE We were really pleased with our GCSE results – they represent our best ever results with 79% of students attaining A*- C in English, 73% A*- C in Maths, 69% of students attaining A*- C grades in both English and Maths, and 67% of students attaining 5 GCSEs at A*- C including English and Maths. In addition 29 students have attained ALL or nearly all A*/A grades. We couldn’t be more proud of our students who have worked so hard throughout the year as have their teachers.
Resources Facilities and - an update
I am pleased to announce the following improvements in facilities and resources for young people in the Academy...
Autumn Newsletter We have a new catering contractor Chartwells will be taking over the provision of meals in the Academy. They will be improving the quality and presentation of food on offer to young people as well as making a capital investment towards improving dining facilities in the Academy.
•
Mobile phones – mobile phones should be in bags at all times during the Academy day with the exception of break and lunchtime (currently under review). Carrying a mobile phone (and/ or headphones) in a trouser or jacket pocket at any other time, including lesson changeover, is not acceptable. Under NO circumstances are phones to be switched on or taken out during lessons without the explicit instruction of the teacher. Failure to follow these rules will result in a phone being confiscated by senior or pastoral staff and repeated offences will result in parents being called into the Academy to collect the phone and/or a permanent ban on a student being able to bring their phone to the Academy.
•
Uniform – We are very proud of how smart our students look and would like to continue this into the new academic year. It is absolutely non-negotiable that students should be wearing the correct academy uniform at all times in the academy and on their journey to and from the Academy. Failure to follow this rule will result in students being isolated in their House block until such time as they have the correct uniform and/or sent home to change. House staff can be contacted if there are any issues regarding uniform and we fully appreciate the support of parents in this matter.
•
Smoking/Vaping is not permitted on the Academy site. If your son/daughter smokes and it is an issue for them then you must make special arrangements with pastoral staff for your son/daughter to
New Technology As well as the 55 new PCs we were able to replace in the Learning Resource Centre last term we have also been able to update/repair all department ICT resources so they are in full working order and to provide 90 new PCs for business and media rooms. Around the Academy Carpets have been replaced in key areas throughout the Academy as part of our on-going “wear and tear” arrangement with Cofely. The Academy has received a “deep” clean over the summer and large areas have been repainted. The grounds and the Academy are looking great and ready for the start of the new academic year.
ur Behaviour Changes to o and Rewards policy We have recently reviewed our behaviour and rewards policy and would like to bring the following to your attention. Behaviour, the following points are for clarification:
go off site at lunchtime. We are happy to provide support and information in regard to nicotine addiction. Please contact pastoral staff if you think this may be an issue for your son/daughter. Smoking on Academy grounds can result in permanent exclusion.
•
Stepped and Staged Reports – For a very small minority of students who insist on disrupting the learning of others in lessons, and where this has not been addressed through our normal consequences or detention system, we have introduced a new “Stepped and Staged” report. There are 7 stages and at each stage students are given support and the opportunity to change their behaviour. Stage 7 will result in permanent exclusion from the Academy. This only affects a small number of students and if this affects your son/ daughter then you will be contacted by pastoral staff to explain the process in more detail.
ss,
brating succe
Rewards - cele
progress, and
effective aviours
learning beh
I am really pleased to announce that we will be finding lots of new ways to reward the vast majority of our students who work so hard in the Academy. From September we will be rewarding students for demonstrating positive attitudes to learning (based around our 5 Rs+1) and also outstanding achievement in the following ways:
•
Attendance and Punctuality – students will be receiving certificates for good attendance from Jo Robson, our Educational Welfare Officer.
•
Progress against target grades – students will be receiving “Good news” letters from Nick Mills, Deputy Princip Achievement.
•
Teachers will be awarding regular commendations in lessons for effective learning behaviours (5Rs) and for Respectful behaviour – these will be celebrated in half termly house assemblies.
•
We are introducing a NEW Learning “Oscars” evening towards the end of November. This promises to be a spectacular event which will complement our awards evenings for Sport, and for Media and Performing Arts, which are held in July.
•
Badged up – From half term all students who are awarded Attitude to learning grades of 1 or 2 across all subject areas will be able to wear the coveted Academy “blue” badge. The first of these will be awarded at the November awards evening. Badge wearers will increasingly be accorded privileges throughout the academy. These may take the form of early lunch passes, use of mobile phones at break/ lunchtimes etc. We are currently working with the Academy student council to determine these. And finally please keep an eye on the Academy website - www.lordlawson.org.uk for the latest news and announcements and/or follow us on twitter@llobacademy. As usual please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any help and I look forward to your continuing support throughout the year. Mark Lovatt Principal
Lord Lawson of Beamish Academy, Birtley Lane, Birtley, County Durham, DH3 2LP | T: 0191 433 40 26 | F: 0191 433 40 27 E: [email protected] | Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/llobacademy
