Welcome to Year 9 at Loxford School

YEAR NINE MOTTO – ‘ACHIEVE THE UNACHIEVABLE!’

In Year 9 our aim is to help all students achieve every success. Loxford School strives to provide an atmosphere where all students are encouraged to perform to the best of their ability both within the classroom and also outside of it.

We also aim to recognise and celebrate their success however it may be revealed. We achieve this by further developing confidence; ensuring growth; enabling progress, which will result in success.

Loxford School expects all students to demonstrate a positive attitude to work and high standards of behaviour, displaying a respect for other people. Every student must follow the school Code of Conduct and must be in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing. This is closely monitored and reinforced by myself as the Achievement Team Leader for Year 9, Mrs Colls representing the Year Care Team and the dedicated tutor team. We are supported in our work by all staff which includes all subject teachers, teachers from the SEN and EAL departments and all other staff within the school.

Students who display outstanding work and effort are rewarded with certificates, positive letters homes and prizes. Sanctions are used when students do not meet our high standards. Students are encouraged to have a ‘say’ in the life of the school. Each tutor group sends representatives to the Year Council meetings and selected students take part in Student Voice meetings to discuss various aspects of school life.

Every student should expect to get homework every day. This must be written in their homework diary, which must be checked by parents every week. The diary should also be used to record student attendance and to show independent reading in the completion of a reading record. There are homework clubs where students can get help and support with their work.

Loxford School adopts a ‘Stage Not Age’ approach to teaching and learning. This means this year is vital to our students as it lays the academic foundations for GCSEs or BTEC subjects. It is at the same time exciting, as students will begin to map out their future careers by choosing their GCSE courses. These important choices will be discussed at the Year 9 Parents’ Evening on Thursday 8th March 2012. During the forthcoming year, students in Year 9 will be sitting one of their GCSE Mathematics modules in March and some students may be entered for GCSEs in ICT and also RE before the end of the year. Additionally some students will be invited to take GCSEs in community languages and foreign languages this year if they are ready to do so.

Each week every tutor group is given an overview of how they performed in the previous week, points are awarded for outstanding lessons, attendance and positive iBehave referrals. This encourages pupils to be involved in healthy competition between tutor groups enabling them and their peers to be successful learners. At the end of each term a winning tutor group is announced with the group winning prizes for their consistent hard work and achievement.

During afternoon registrations we run a PSCHE program which covers many aspects of a student’s academic and social development, giving them the opportunity to develop their skills in debate, discussion and team work, in addition to enhancing their personal study skills. As an award-winning Reading School, we insist that all students have a reading book with them every day, especially on Thursday when we all take part in Whole School Reading.

The motto of this year is ‘Achieve the unachievable!’ which it is hoped will encourage students to strive to achieve academic success. We will continue to push our students to make outstanding progress and urge our Year 9 students to continue to aim high and achieve their full potential.
 

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