May I take this opportunity to thank you for your support throughout this term
In particular, the valuable feedback we have received through our consultations which will allow us to modify our processes in order to allow for further effective communication and systems going forward into the new year.
Half term dates
With this in mind, we are now opening a consultation period over the school half term dates for October 2020. You will be aware that we conducted a pilot for half term this academic year and are currently processing data internally for sharing with the Trustees and the Senior Leadership Team for future consideration. As part of this process, we will be gathering feedback from students, parents and staff, as well as using the data gathered, in order to make an informed decision.
For parents who need to make plans at the start of the calendar year, I feel it would be useful to give the possible half term dates for October 2020 in advance (recognising that this might be reduced to one week depending on the outcome of the consultation). The provisional dates are
Monday 19th October to Friday 30
th
October 2020. If you would like to provide feedback, whether for or against this proposal, please do so via ‘
consultation@perins.hants.sch.uk’. I thank you in advance for your time towards this.
Revision Census
We are very fortunate to have been approached to take part in the 2020 Revision Census in the new year. A major piece of scientific research designed to measure how effectively school students are learning in their own time, in particular when revising for tests and exams.
Your child will be asked to complete a 10-minute online survey during tutor time, which will include questions about:
- How they study and revise currently
- What they understand about effective ways to revise
- Their attitudes towards doing well in exams
- Demographic data such as their year group and ethnicity
Your child’s answers will be anonymised: they will not be asked to give their name or any other personal information as part of the survey. No questions are compulsory, although we do encourage students to engage with the questionnaire as fully as possible as a useful opportunity for your child to reflect on their approach to their studies today.
The responses from Perins' students will be combined with responses from over 50 other participating schools around the country in what is expected to be the largest study of its kind ever undertaken and will be used for two primary purposes:
- Advancing scientific understanding: the researchers intend to publish findings on the extent to which school students are using effective learning techniques, and what might be done to help accelerate the adoption of more effective revision techniques.
- Perins will receive average results for our own students, which we will use to inform improvements to the quality of independent learning among our students, helping them to achieve their potential in exams.
Last but not least, may I wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. It has been a pleasure working with you and your children over the past 12 months and I look forward to building on the positivity around the school going into 2020. We all have different memories from the past year including the South Africa sports tour, West Side Story, the many trips and visits, sports fixtures, clubs, exam results, anti-bullying video (now reaching TV stations as far as New York) and numerous other events and activities. All of these make me extremely proud to be the Headteacher of such a fantastic school and Executive Headteacher of The Perins Multi-Academy Trust but, more importantly, the students and staff constantly amaze me with their talents, abilities and amazing personalities. They genuinely are the best in the country!
Nadolig Llawen a Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!
Steve Jones