ARK Elvin Academy

Sixth Form Handbook

2014-2015

magn
a
aude

Contents

1. Introduction from the Principal

2. Elvin values
3. Home school agreement
4. Key members of staf
5. Term dates 2014 2015
6. Attendance
7. Timings of the school day
8. Uniform
9. Learning equipment & pupil
planner
10. Curriculum
11. Reading
12. Reward system
13. Elvin code of conduct
14. Corrections & escalations
15. House system
16. Independent learning
17. E-safety
18. School lunch and parentpay
19. Academic targets
20. UCAS

Introduction from the Principal

Welcome to ARK Elvin Academy. I am delighted that you will be joining
Sixth Form in our first year of the school as it becomes an ARK school.
Our school motto is magna aude which means dare for greatness.
We believe that all of our pupils, staf and all members of the school
community should be provided with the opportunities they require to
2

achieve greatness and realise their ambitions. We do this by

embodying our four core values: integrity, courage, community and
mastery.
This handbook is designed to give you and your family some of the key
information you need in September.

Annabel Bates

Elvin values
Our core values of integrity, courage, community and mastery
permeate all that we do. All pupils and staf live these values in all
aspects of school life.
Over the course of Sixth Form we will be looking at:
1. What these values mean to us;
2. How they can help us to succeed at school and beyond; and
3. How living these values will help us to contribute to society and to
making the world a better place.

Integrity

The right thing 100% of the

time
Transparent about why, what
and how
Responsible and accountable

Courage

Mistakes are learning

opportunities
Pursuing audacious goals
Pushing beyond our limits
Always learning
Everybody can, everybody
will
Practice makes permanent

Mastery

Love, respect and forgiveness

Stronger through diversity
A voice for a better future

Communit
y

Magna aude

Dare
4

for greatness

ARK Elvin Academy

HOM

AGREEMENT

ARK Elvin Academy is a school where diversity is celebrated and there is a relentless focus o
achievement. We recognise that the successful development of our pupils depends on an e
and parents/carers. All three parties share responsibility for the development and achievem
ourselves to the following:
The school will:
As parent/carer, I will:

Ensure that integrity, courage,

community and mastery permeate all
that we do.
Provide a learning environment that is
stimulating, safe and caring.
Treat everyone with respect and
manage behaviour in a nonconfrontational, calm and controlled
way.
Ensure that each pupil has the
opportunities, support and guidance to
achieve his/her full potential.
Plan our teaching to enable pupils to
develop skills, acquire knowledge and
build understanding.
Report regularly on each pupils
progress.
Expect high standards, set clear rules,
promote mutual respect and develop a
sense of responsibility.
Keep parents informed about school
matters, be welcoming to enquiries and
responsive to concerns.
Record and reward good progress and
performance.
Ofer extra-curricular activities that will
develop broader skills to prepare for life
and the world of work.
Detain your child where they have not
met expectations.
Inform you if your child has a correction
or escalation if he/she fails to meet the
Academys standards.

Make sure my child attends school in

correct uniform, arrives on time and is
properly equipped for school.
Encourage my child to be courageous in
their learning and support them in
home learning by checking and signing
the planner each week.
Attend consultation evenings and
discussions about my childs progress.
Support the academys policies and
guidelines.
Allow my child to attend of-site visits.
Agree to the detention policy of the
academy.
Agree to the biometrics policy of the
academy.
Make sure that time is not taken out of
school unless it is urgent.
Agree to my childs photograph or
film/video footage being taken for the
academys use and for use by ARK.
Encourage my child to participate in the
extracurricular opportunities ofered by
the school.
Celebrate success with my child.
Recognise that emotional states have a
direct impact on learning and support
my child in developing resilience and a
positive attitude to learning.

Key members of staff and contact

details
Main reception: 020 8902 6362
General email: info@arkelvinacademy.org
Please remember that teachers may be teaching or in meetings between
8.00am and 5.00pm so will not always be able to reply straight away.
5

They will do their best to reply to any emails or phone calls within 24
hours.

Sixth Form Tutors

Ms Nowinski

L.Nowinski@arkelvinacademy.or
g
M.Oriaku@arkevlinacademy.org
P.Edwards@arkelvinacademy.org
D.Miles@arkelvinacademy.org
N.Gawa@arkevlinacademy.org

Ms Oriaku
Mr Edwards
Mr Miles
Mr Gawa

Special Educational Needs Department

Ms Elaine Parkin
SENCO

e.parkin@arkelvinacademy.org

Senior Leadership Team

Ms Annabel Bates
Principal
Ms Claire Farmer
Vice Principal Behaviour &
Ethos
Mr Matt Collins
Vice Principal Curriculum
Ms Laura Megaw
Assistant Principal Key Stage 5
Ms Gemma Bayes
Assistant Principal Learning &
Teaching
Mr David Medway
Assistant Principal Data &
Assessment
Mr Michael Feely
Assistant Principal Key Stage 3
Mr Simon Jebreel
Assistant Principal Primary &
Communications

a.bates@arkelvinacademy.org
c.farmer@arkelvinacademy.org

m.collins@arkelvinacademy.org
l.megaw@arkelvinacademy.org
g.bayes@arkelvinacademy.org

d.medway@arkelvinacademy.org

m.feely@arkelvinacademy.org
s.jebreel@arkelvinacademy.org

Curriculum Leaders
English
Mr Samuel Draper
Mathematics
Ms Claudia Davies-Walters
Science
Mr Kevin Alderton
Geography
Mr Peter Edwards
History
Mr Daniel Smith
ICT

s.draper@arkelvinacademy.org
c.davies-walters@arkelvinacademy.org
k.alderton@arkelvinacademy.org
p.edwards@arkelvinacademy.org
d.smith@arkelvinacademy.org
6

Mr Nam Gawa
Religious Education
Mr Seamus Sheridan

n.gawa@arkelvinacademy.org
s.sheridan@arkelvinacademy.org

Support
Finance and parentpay
Ms Shashwati Wilkinson
Library
Mr Flowrizill Twum-Barima

s.wilkinson@arkelvinacademy.org
f.twum-barima@arkelvinacadmy.org

Sixth Form Term dates 2014 - 2015

Pupils in school1
Autumn 1

Pupil holidays
Half term holidays

Monday 15th September

to
Friday 24th October

Monday 27th October

to
Monday 3rd November

Autumn 2

Christmas holidays

Tuesday 4th November

to
Friday 19th December

Monday 22nd December

to
Tuesday 6th January

Spring 1

Half term holidays

Wednesday 7th January

to
Thursday 12th February

Friday 13th February

to
Friday 20th February

Spring 2

Easter holidays

Monday 23rd January

to
Friday 27th March

Monday 30th March

to
Monday 13th April

Summer 1

Half term holidays

Tuesday 14th April

to
Friday 22nd May

Monday 25th May

to
Friday 29th May

School closed on Monday 4th May

Bank Holiday

Summer 2

Summer holidays

Pupils must attend school on 100% of the

dates in this column.
1

Monday 1st June

to
Tuesday 21st July

begin on Wednesday
22nd July 2015

School closed on Friday 26th June

Staff training

term,
AttendanceTimings of Every
thehalfschool
pupils with 100%
day
attendance will
qualify for house
Beginning of the day
attendance
Our school gate opens at 7.45 on Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday and Friday,
and at 8.45 on Thursday.
rewards.
Breakfast will be served from 7.45 and pupils can eat breakfast before going
to the hall to hand in independent learning and gather for community time.
Pupils must be in the hall by 8.15 on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and
Friday, and by 9.15 on Thursday. Persistent lateness will result in a letter of
concern and parents will be invited to a meeting with our attendance officer.
Sixth form students will be supporting years 7-9 students in community time
from 8.15am.
Students are expected to remain on site at all times throughout the academy
day including free periods.
Form time
Pupils spend half an hour every day with their form tutor, from 10.45 to
11.15.
Once a week there will be an assembly by a member of the senior leadership
team and once a week by the Assistant Principal for KS5.
Break and Lunch
During break pupils can buy something to eat and drink from the canteen
and will be expected to remain on site ready for their next lesson.
The common room facilities will be available for use for break and lunch.
Sixth form students will be able to have lunch of site as a special privilege,
providing no outside food is brought on to the school site and students sign
in and out at reception.
Students are expected to be on site at all times during the rest of
the timetabled day except for lunchtime when they sign in and out.
Students should arrive with plenty of time to start their period 5
lessons.
Extended school / corrections
A number of after school clubs and catch up enrichment opportunities will
begin in October. Pupils will have an opportunity to choose clubs and
activities during their first few weeks of school. Pupils will finish at 3.15
every day until the extended school provision begins.
For pupils who fail to adhere to the ARK Elvin code of conduct may be given a
correction during the day. Should this occur pupils will be in the hall for 30
We monitor attendance on a
minutes or an hour, depending on the correction given. Parents will receive a
dailyabasis
and will
follow
up or
onthe
text message if their child has been given
correction.
Heads
of Year
any
pupil
whose
Senior Leadership Team may decide to
detain
a pupil
andattendance
request a parent to
collect him or her from school at the end
the correction.
fallsofbelow
97%.
10

End of the day

Pupils must go straight home at the end of the day, without going into local
shops or businesses. If a pupil doesnt follow this rule they will receive a
correction the following day and a meeting with parents may be scheduled to
discuss this breach of the school code of conduct.

Timings of the school day

7.45
8.15
8.45
9.45
10.45
11.15
11.30
12.30
1.30
2.15
3.15
5.00

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Gate opens

Gate opens

Gate opens

Community time
support
Period 1

Community time
support
Period 1

Community time
support
Period 1

Period 2

Period 2

Period 2

Form time

Form time

Form time

Break

Break

Break

Period 3

Period 3

Period 3

Pe

Period 4

Period 4

Period 4

Pe

Lunch

Lunch

Lunch

Period 5

Period 5

Period 5

Pe

Extended school / Extended school / Extended school /

Corrections
Corrections
Corrections
School closes
School closes
School closes

11

Th

SCHO

8.45 G
9.15 C
time su
Pe

Fo

Extend
Cor
Scho

Uniform
Our school policy is for all Sixth Form students to be in professional dress in line with a
working environment. Any pupil who does not have complete professional dress will
Girls
Boys
Main uniform
Main uniform

Smart blazer to be worn at all

times
Formal blouse, shirt or top (no tshirts, logos or low cut tops)
Formal skirt or trousers (of
appropriate length and style
suited to a professional
environment)
Formal shoes (no trainers, Ugg
boots etc)
Hairstyle in line with school policy
and no makeup or visible
jewellery
Appropriate colour choices in line
with business or interview dress
No leggings

Smart suit blazer to be worn at all

times
Formal shirt and tie (no t-shirts,
informal shirts or open neck shirts)
Formal suit trousers (in appropriate
formal colours)
Formal shoes (no trainers, canvas
shoes etc)
Hairstyle in line with school policy
and no visible jewellery
Appropriate colour choices in line
with business or interview dress
Formal jumpers may be worn
underneath the suit jacket if
preferred

Outdoor clothing
Outdoor coats must be dark in colour.
No leather, denim jackets or hoodies are allowed these will be confiscated.
Hats, scarves and gloves must be dark in colour.
Hair, headwear and accessories
Hair must be of a natural colour and in an appropriate, professional style.
No tramlines, Mohicans, extreme styling or hair or eyebrow designs.
Pupils are allowed to cover their head for religious or cultural reasons in academy
colours only (black/purple) and without decoration or embellishment.
No jewellery can be worn at any time, apart from a watch.
Hair accessories must be black and modest.
No makeup, false nails or coloured nail varnish.
be asked to return home to correct this.

12

Learning equipment
Every day pupils should bring the following equipment in their school bag:

Exercise books needed for the day,

Pupil planner,
Core texts
Clear pencil case with 2 blue or black pens, 1 green pen, 2 highlighters, 2
pencils, OF
pencil
sharpener,
ruler, calculator.
EXAMPLE
PENCIL
CASE rubber,
CONTENTS:

Pupil planner
Word of the week: ____________________________
Definition: ________________________________________

Pupils will write their independent

learning in their planner every day.

Monday

Thursday

Tuesday

Friday
Parents should sign their childs
planner at the end of every week.

Wednesday

Form tutor comments & signature:

___________________________________________
___________________________________________
Parent / carer comments & signature:

_______________________________________
___________________________________________

13

Curriculum
In ARK Schools we focus on depth before breadth, ensuring that our pupils
secure firm foundations in English and Mathematics.
The subjects ofered at ARK Elvin Sixth Form from September 2014 for
year 12, in line with the Russell Group preferred subjects for university,
are;

Maths
English
Chemistry
Physics
Biology
Psychology
Philosophy
History
Geography
ICT

Please note these will be dependent upon student uptake and numbers
for each subject each year, as well as timetable blocks.
In addition, Sixth Form students will be ofered an after school enrichment
curriculum. This will include a variety of subjects, such as:

Subject based clubs

Sports clubs
Master classes
Support in lessons
Student voice
14

 Community time support

Reward system
We want pupils to be motivated by the intrinsic value of achievement.
However, we are committed to rewarding pupils for demonstrating our
school values integrity, courage, community and mastery through
their attitude to learning and their conduct.
We reward pupils in the following ways:
a) Verbal praise
Around the school and in lessons all members of staf use descriptive praise to
signal to pupils that they are demonstrating Elvin conduct and demonstrating our
values. Form tutors call home regularly, allowing them to provide parents / carers
with praise about their child.
b) Merits
Merits are awarded in line with the 4 core values of ARK Elvin Academy:
Integrity
Courage
Community
Mastery
Any member of staf can award a merit to a pupil who has demonstrated one of
these values, and they are recorded in the pupils planner. Every week form tutors
will collate merits and celebrate the successes within their form. Form tutors will
display rewards in their form rooms to celebrate success.
Every merit carries 10 house points.
c) Silver merits
Silver merits are awarded by heads of year and members of the senior leadership
team for outstanding examples of integrity, courage, community and mastery.
These may be one of examples or repeated high level conduct and attitudes to
learning.
All members of staf can recommend pupils for silver merits. Examples could
include:
A form tutor may recommend a pupil for a courage silver merit if they have
achieved multiple merits for that courage during the week;
A subject teacher may recommend a pupil for a mastery silver merit for a
fantastic piece of learning which demonstrates a high level of understanding.
A member of the catering staf may recommend a pupil for a community
silver merit for demonstrating consistently excellent conduct and being a
15

positive member of the school community.

A member of the senior leadership team may award an integrity silver merit
to a pupil for something they have done to improve their own learning or the
learning with others, without being asked to do so.
Every silver merit carries 30 house points.
d) Gold merits
The Principal will award gold merits to any pupil who demonstrate a real
commitment to the school or local community. Gold merits are also given to pupils
who positively represent the school in some way or to pupils nominated by
members of staf for special recognition (particularly for excellent academic
progress).
Every gold merit carries 30 house points.

Elvin magna
code ofaude
conduct
We demonstrate and celebrate integrity,
courage, community and mastery
We are always on task
We never answer back
We complete independent learning on
time and meet all deadlines
We are punctual and attend school every
day
We wear perfect uniform every day
We always bring the correct equipment

16

Following the Elvin code of conduct

All pupils, staf and members of the school community demonstrate
excellent learning behaviours through our code of conduct.
We demonstrate and celebrate integrity, courage, community and
mastery

Always learning
Everybody can, everybody will
Practice makes permanent

Mastery

Love, respect and forgiveness

Stronger through diversity
A voice for a better future

Communit
y

Mistakes are learning

opportunities
Pursuing audacious goals
Pushing beyond our limits

Courage

The right thing 100% of the time

Transparent about why, what and
how
Responsible and accountable

Integrity

We are always on task

Pupils who wish to succeed are always on-task in every lesson and behave in a purposeful manner
outside of lessons. Sometimes it will be hard work for pupils to remain on task but we will remind them
that they learn best when they are concentrating. It also means that other pupils can learn without
disruption and allows the teacher to teach what s/he has planned. We expect all pupils to track the
person who is talking to demonstrate that they are listening carefully. Pupils are expected to remain in
silence during reading sessions, on the stairs and along corridors. When in whole year group lessons or
assemblies pupils are expected to remain in silence until they are invited to speak by the member of
staff leading the lesson or assembly. Staff will raise their hands to show that they want silence and it is
expected that pupils respond immediately. Failure to be on-task in lessons or around the school will
result in a correction on the same day. Failure to be on-task on more than one occasion on any given
day will result in an extension to the correction given. Continued disruption in one lesson may lead to an
escalation.

We never answer back

We know that pupils who wish to succeed do not answer back and trust that teachers instructions are
to help them be successful. We know it is important that pupils learn self-discipline. If an adult tells a
pupil to do something we expect it to be done straight away. We expect pupils to trust staff and never
question an adults decision anywhere in the school. If pupils fail to do this they may be issued with a
correction or escalation. If a pupil feels unfairly treated they must still follow the instruction first time
every time. Later, in their own time, pupils may approach the adult to discuss the situation. Pupils are
expected to ask politely and respectfully. If a pupil feels uncomfortable approaching the member of staff
then they should speak to their form tutor of head of year in the first instance.
17

 We complete independent learning on time and meet all deadlines

Pupils who wish to be successful complete independent learning on time. Completing work outside of
lessons is very important to consolidate and master learning. It also helps pupils to develop their
organisational skills and it shows that they are hard-working. Deadlines have to be met with learning
that is done to the best of their ability. Students who fail to meet a deadline are issued with a correction
on the same day the deadline is missed.

We are punctual and attend school every day

Pupils who wish to succeed always attend and are on time. We are trusting that pupils will arrive at the
school by 8.15am each day so that they are ready for the days learning. Failure to be on time for
community time or a lesson will result in a late detention on the day the lateness occurs. Pupils who
arrive late at school are expected to sign in at reception.
Pupils are expected to attend school every day of the school year. Anything less than 97% is not good
enough and we would expect this only to be the case for pupils with serious medical issues. If pupils are
ill then parents/carers must contact the school on the morning of each absence. Any planned absence
should be requested using the leave of absence form and passed to the Principal. We trust that parents
will only request leave of absence in exceptional circumstances.

We wear perfect uniform every day

Pupils who wish to succeed wear perfect uniform. It is important that our pupils take pride in themselves
and in our school. It is important that pupils contribute to our schools common routines. It is important
all members of our school are treated fairly. If pupils breach any part of our strict uniform code then they
will either be given some temporary uniform to wear, sent home to change, or will be isolated until their
uniform is perfect. We will do this to ensure that all our pupils take pride in their appearance and to
make sure that our pupils are treated fairly. It is unfair if some students keep to our dress code and
some dont.

We always bring the correct equipment

Pupils who wish to succeed always bring the right equipment to school for the right lessons each day.
We wish to develop our pupils organisational skills for success in future life. For any important role in
life we need the right equipment and pupils need to make sure they provide it.
Pupils should take care of their equipment and books. Mobile phones are not to be switched on or seen
in school. We would strongly recommend students do not bring a mobile phone into the school. If
parents want their child to bring a phone to school for safety reasons, then they must be switched off
and kept in their bags (we cannot accept any responsibility for lost or stolen possessions). If a member
of staff sees a mobile phone it will be confiscated and will be kept until the end of term this not
negotiable. Illegal items, chewing gum, make-up and jewellery (other than one plain watch) are not
allowed in the Academy. If any of these items are brought into school, then they will be confiscated and
will only be returned to parents at the end of each half term. If pupils fail to have the correct equipment
they will receive a correction on the same day.

18

Corrections & Escalations

Pupils follow the code of conduct at all times, including on the
way to and from school and when on of-site visits. If any
aspects of our code of conduct are not met then the pupil will be
issued with a correction.
30 minute
correction

60 minute
correction

Failure to meet the code of conduct:

- Behaviour which goes against our
school values
- Of-task behaviour
- Answering back
- No independent learning / late
submission
- Late to school / lesson
- Incorrect uniform
- Lack of equipment
- Mobile phone / jewellery / make-up
Repeated incidents of the above in the
same day.
Escalation by a head of year or member of
the senior leadership team.

Corrections are held after school in the school hall and involved pupils
taking part in silent individual reflection. More serious breaches of the
code of conduct will result in an escalation, to be determined by a head of
be issued
forteam.
the following:
yearEscalations
or member of may
the senior
leadership

Missing a correction
Truancy from a lesson
Eating food outside the canteen / dropping litter
Rudeness / defiance
Inappropriate language
Bullying
Repeated or serious disruption of learning
19
Refusal to follow instructions

Escalation procedure:
1. Pupil hasnt responded to warning and initial correction from member of
staf.
2. Pupil is relocated within the department.
3. If the matter is not resolved then the pupil may need to be removed
from the lesson by a member of the senior leadership team.
4. Pupil statement taken, if required.
5. Sanction issued could include temporary withdrawal from lessons, after
school correction, Friday or Saturday corrections, a fixed term exclusion.
6. Parents will be informed and invited to a meeting with a member of the
senior leadership team to resolve the situation and ensure that the
pupil is able to meet code of conduct in the future.

Friday & Saturday corrections

Every Friday the senior leadership team will run a 2 hour detention for
pupils who have outstanding corrections from the week. This provides
pupils with an opportunity to rectify any negative behaviour and start
with a clean slate on Monday morning.
Saturday corrections will be held from 9.00 12.00 to deal with persistent
behaviour issues. Pupils will be asked to attend in full school uniform and
parents will informed by phone and by letter.

Serious incidents
We do not tolerate any behaviour which harms any member of our
community, or has a detrimental impact on the learning of others. At
times we will need to take more extreme steps in response to serious
incidents. A full investigation will always be carried out and
parents/carers will be kept fully informed.

We treat the following as serious incidents:

20

Incident (with response)

Missing a Saturday correction (1)
Persistent and continued disruption (1-3)
Continued rule breaking (1-3)
Serious and/or continued bullying (1-3)
Fighting (1-3)
Threatening or violent behaviour towards
others (2-3)
Use of drugs or alcohol (2-3)
Bringing weapons into school (3)
Supplying illegal substances (3)

Response to serious incidents:

1) Internal exclusion 2) Fixed term exclusion 3) Permanent exclusion

House system
We have six houses at ARK Elvin Academy. They are named after six
people who truly embody our school motto magna aude and have
demonstrated integrity, courage, community and mastery through their
words and actions.

ANGELOU HOUSE
Dr Maya Angelou was a teacher activist and artist.
She campaigned for equality, tolerance and peace.
As well as being a highly acclaimed artist she loved learning
and spoke French, Spanish, Italian, Arabic and Fante.
During her lifetime she was awarded 50 honorary degrees
and countless rewards and recognition for her work and
determination to make the world a better place.
HOUSE COLOUR = RED
SLT HOUSE MEMBER = Ms Bayes

FARAH HOUSE
Mo Farah arrived in London from Mogadishu at the age of 8,
speaking very little English. Hes now the UKs greatest ever
long distance runner, as well as double Olympic and double
world champion. As well as being a phenomenal athlete Mo
demonstrates great humility, love for his family and others
and a tremendous pride in being able to run for and represent
the UK.
21

HOUSE COLOUR = LIGHT BLUE

SLT HOUSE MEMBER = Mr Feely

MALALA HOUSE
Malala Yousafzai campaigns for equality and the right of every
child to have access to an education. In October 2012, the
Taliban stormed on to her school bus asking for Malala, as
they had heard of her attempts to campaign for girls rights.
Despite shooting her in the head, they failed to silence her.
Her refusal to back down has shone a light on the plight of
millions of children who are denied an education.
HOUSE COLOUR = WHITE
SLT HOUSE MEMBER = Ms Farmer

22

MANDELA HOUSE
Nelson Mandela never wavered in his devotion to
democracy and equality. He was a symbol of how you
can always fight to make the world a better place,
regardless of what others may do. He never responded
to racism with racism, even when others around him
were doing so. He inspires us to fight against
oppression, deprivation and discrimination.
HOUSE COLOUR = ORANGE
SLT HOUSE MEMBERS = Ms Megaw & Mr Jebreel

ROWLING HOUSE
JK Rowling is responsible for inspiring generations of young
readers through her Harry Potter books. Now a very
successful writer and campaigner, Rowling lived through a 7
year period as a single mother. She demonstrated great
courage and determination, as she went from living on
state benefits to becoming a world famous author. She now
supports a number of childrens charities around the world.
HOUSE COLOUR = GREEN
SLT HOUSE MEMBER = Mr Collins

SUTTON
Stephen Sutton was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 15.
When he was told that his cancer was incurable he vowed to
raise 10,000 for cancer charities. His positivity and courage
gained him many admirers and he used Twitter to share his
story, encouraging people to remain positive and to see the
good in other people. Although Stephen lost his battle with
cancer he eventually raised over 4 million for charity and
inspired millions of people.
HOUSE COLOUR = DARK BLUE
SLT HOUSE MEMBER = Mr Medway
All members of staf and pupils are in houses and have opportunities to
take part in a variety of house activities. Throughout the school year,
every pupil will take part in house competitions and all merits which
pupils earn have house points. At the end of every half term a
23

celebration assembly is held, where pupils are given individual and house
awards. The house points total is shared at celebration assemblies and
the winning house at the end of the year will be awarded the house cup.

House competitions 20142015

Autumn term
House singing competition
Spelling bees

Spring
term
Independent
learning
Pupils will be given independent learning by teachers and must write it
Maths challenge
in their pupil planner every day.

Invention challenge
Taking part inindependent
learning allows pupils to become
Debate challenge

responsible for their own learning. By setting independent learning

tasks we aim to encourage pupils to:
develop the practice of independent study,
develop courage
and perseverance;
Sports
day
involve parents in pupils work;
Drama competition
allow application of skills and knowledge learned in the classroom
through consolidation and extension; and
provide opportunities for pupils to develop creative approaches to
researching and responding to challenges set.
Any pupil who does not complete independent learning by the
deadline given will receive a correction.

Summer term

Independent learning roles & responsibilities

Pupils
write down independent learning in planner
complete independent learning and hand it in on time
24

 act upon comments and feedback given by teachers

Teachers
set appropriate independent learning tasks
ensure pupils record tasks in their planners
mark independent learning task in line with the marking and
feedback policy
Parents
check and sign their childs planner every week
check the completion and quality of independent learning tasks
contact teachers with any concerns
Form tutors
check and sign their form tutees planners every week
refer issues and concerns about independent learning to
curriculum leaders
contact parents about recurring issues relating to independent
learning
Curriculum leaders
monitor the frequency and appropriateness of independent
learning being set by their team
sample work from each year group every term and provide
feedback to teachers
Heads of year
monitor the frequency and appropriateness of independent
learning being set within their year group
monitor corrections being given for pupils who are not submitting
independent learning on time and follow up with parents where
necessary.
Senior leadership team
sample the frequency and appropriateness of independent
learning set
monitor pupils work and responses to feedback during
independent learning scrutiny

E-safety guidelines for children and

parents
The internet and related technologies, including mobile phones, tablets,
blogs, podcasts and social networking, are becoming increasingly
important in the daily lives of our children and have many educational
benefits. Safe use of these requires careful planning and understanding
of potential risks.
Many children are unaware of the risks associated with having many
online friends, uploading images, viewing content which may be
25

inappropriate or becoming addicted to the internet or online gaming.

Parents can take some simple steps to protect their children from any
potential risks:
1. Ensure that your computer firewall and virus software are up to
date.
2. Remember to keep passwords safe and not to share passwords with
anyone.
3. Involve all family members in setting guidelines and rules relating to
time spent on the internet.
4. Do not ban the internet; instead establish reasonable rules and
guidelines.
5. Keep an internet time log.
6. Communicate regularly with your children and ask them what they
have been doing online.
7. Encourage your children to engage in a range of activities, including
those that dont include use of the computer, internet or other
technologies.
8. Keep the computer in a shared area of the house not in childrens
bedrooms. This includes use of the internet on mobile phones, MP4
players and tablets.
9. Talk to your children about the potential dangers of sharing personal
details and images online.
10. Set up a family email address which your child can use to access or
subscribe to anything online.
11. Encourage your child to discuss anything which makes them feel
uncomfortable, upset or threatened.
12. Have proportionate responses and consequences in place if family
guidelines are not followed.

26

School lunch and parentpay

Sixth form pupils will be able to purchase lunch in the school canteen. A
variety of food is served to suit all tastes and dietary requirements. Food
is also served in the canteen before school during breakfast club and
during break.
These sample menus give an idea of the range of food that you can
expect. Our weekly menus will be published on the school website every
week.

Sample
lunch
menus

Paying for lunch

We operate a cashless catering system at ARK Elvin Academy. In

September you will receive a letter with a username and password to log
on to your parentpay account, along with details of how to add money to
account and monitor your childs expenditure.

Academic Targets
All Sixth Form students will be given target grades based upon their
performance at GCSE. Student will be informed of their target grades at
the start of the academic year. These target grades will be converted into
UCAS points and tracked carefully against assessment and predicted
grades during the course of Sixth Form.
These targets can be moved up if you are comfortably meeting them, but
they will never be moved down. If we are concerned a student will not
meet their target in one or more subject, support systems such as
27

student and parent meetings, reports processes and monitoring

procedures may be utilised. Students who underachieve consistently in a
given subject may be asked to drop this subject if no improvement is
shown. Students under target throughout the year may be at risk of not
completing their summer examinations.
UCAS Points equate to;
UCAS
points

AS Level
Grade

A2 Level
Grade

140

A*

120

100

80

60

50

40

30

20

Study Periods
You will have a number of periods during any week in which you will not
have any lessons timetabled. You are expected to make positive and
constructive use of this time. Learning how to make efective use of your
free time is an important skill which you need to develop as you prepare
yourself for university life.
Our recommendation to stay organised in Sixth Form is;
The step up from GCSE to Sixth Form work is significant and can be
daunting
In the Sixth Form you have more independence and control over
your learning.
28

 Careful planning of your assignments and revision is critical in

meeting deadlines and reaching your target grades
The amount of work you need to do outside the classroom depends
on your ability and, to some extent, on the subjects you are studying
A-level students should be doing at least five hours of work a week
in each AS subject, moving up to five hours for each A2 subject
There will be a variety of study areas available for free periods
therefore all sixth form students will remain on site.
This includes;
1. A dedicated section of the library area in which students can work
quietly on computers, individually, or utilising the library resources
such as books and journals.
2. A pair or small group study room in the sixth form area for structured
use during free periods with peers
3. A new common room area to utilise for breaks during the school day
for short periods. Please maintain your professionalism in this area
as positive role models for the rest of the Academy.
Student Voice
All our Sixth Form students are role models and potential leaders. The
development of leadership traits is one of our main priorities and all
students in the Sixth Form are required to consistently reflect excellence
and quality of character.
There are a number of prominent leadership roles in the Academy
overseen by the Head Boy and Head girl and together they lead the entire
student body with their exemplar maturity, vision and pursuit of
excellence. These roles have a high profile and as such involve a rigorous
and competitive selection process.

29

UCAS Applications
Our main priority is to ensure that you are fully prepared for the next
phase of your life, which for many students will be life as an
undergraduate. We have a dedicated UCAS system to ensure the best
chance of achieving ofers for your preferred university. Students wishing
to apply to alternative programmes or Apprenticeships will also be
supported, but also encouraged to make a UCAS application.
We expect all of our students to apply for Higher Education courses, yet
many of them will be first generation graduates. As such, we will deliver
a bespoke university preparation programme from the start of Year 12, a
programme that raises aspirations for university, as well as providing
practical support in selecting and applying for relevant university courses.
A place at a good university is the primary target for most sixth form
students. The UCAS application now involves completion of a form on-line
via the Internet and for most students this will be done between
September and November in Year 13. Through this process you can apply
to up to five universities.
Prior to making the application you should think about what subject you
wish to read at university before you think about where. The choice of
course should be your decision, based on what you will enjoy and be good
at. It should not be based on parental aspirations or perceived status or
the current fashion amongst your friends. For most students there is no
need to consider particular careers at this stage any academic degree
course at a respectable university will be recognised and valued by
employers as it will have developed skills of reading, research, analysis,
logical thought, co-operation, communication and presentation.
The choice of university is a question of individual taste as the range of
type, size, location and prestige is immense. Some universities, especially
new institutions with lower entry requirements, are less highly regarded
than others when employers are recruiting graduates. You will be
provided support and guidance with your university choices, but should
also be proactive in ordering prospectus of potential universities and
attending open days in your holidays and weekends.
The key to a successful application is to start early. The stages are;

30

 Step 1: University course choices decided and list of key skills and
experiences
Step 2: University research and selection of five universities
Step 3: First draft of personal statement completed to form tutors
Step 4: Second draft of personal statement and first stage of UCAS
Process (to include personal details, listed qualifications, provisional
university and course choices)
Step 5: Amendments of personal statement through tutor and
second stage of UCAS Process (to finalise university and course
choices and enter student finance)
Step 6: Final draft of P.S and final stage of UCAS Process by the1st
November

Personal statements key tips

UCAS suggest that all points should follow the ABC approach:

If you are discussing something you have DONE: Activity (state: e.g.
captained football team), Benefit (explain: e.g. leadership capabilities)
and Course (relate: e.g. to event management)

If you are discussing a SKILL: Ability (state: e.g. good

communicator), Basis (explain: e.g. published articles in school
magazine), and Context (relate: e.g. will be used in lab work whilst at
university)

They also believe a degree ofer is made up of a key formula called

QUEST = Qualifications (Exams) + Experience (Placements) + Skills
(From school and extra curricular) + Testimony (Evidence to support).
Into University suggest a format to include:

Paragraph One: About the subject you wish to study and why you
wish to study it e.g. what was your motivation

Paragraph Two: How your current courses link to the chosen course
including key skills gained

Paragraph Three: Other influences which make you passionate

31

about your subject such as personal experiences, trips or extra

curricular

Paragraph Four: Your experiences and how they are relevant to the
course chosen (such as work experience/summer schools)

Paragraph Five: About you, your attributes/hobbies/ interests and

how they relate to your chosen course

Paragraph Six: A conclusion to summarise why they should pick you

based on your application

32

Students will be provided with the following UCAS support;

- University information through tutor time and assemblies including

guest speakers and university trips
- Access to university materials such as prospectus and key websites
to aid UCAS completion
- Tutor based discussions and PSHCE sessions on selecting course
choices and university choices as well as personal statement help
- Completion of a tailored UCAS booklet on university choices and
personal statements
- Support revising draft personal statements through form tutors
including dates for submission and revision
- A tailored reference from all subject teachers and tutors to indicate
student achievement both academically and as a wider individual
- One to one meetings and advice with the DOSF for each student on
course choices and universities as well as feedback on application
process
- Advice and guidance on the UCAS process e.g. Oxbridge applicants,
non-English passports, applications to study abroad, gap years, art
foundations, medicine/law applicants, apprenticeship alternatives
- Support with student finance applications including a parent
information session

33

Key Websites and Links

UCAS Website; Information on courses, applying to university, entry

requirements etc.www.ucas.co.uk
Whatuni.com; Register to save your searches and comparisons between
uni's and courses. www.whatuni.com
Times Good University Guide; Up to date news and information on
university applications, application tips and university advice.
www.thetimes.co.uk
Times University Rankings; Information on the world's top 100
universities with specific university details.
www.timeshigheducation.co.uk/world-university-rankings
Guardian University League Tables; league tables for each specified
university course including student satisfaction and entry tarifs.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/table/
Telegraph University League Table; UK university league table across all
subject courses. www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation
Complete University Guide Rankings; Independent advice on universities
and careers searching by region, course or university.
www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk
Unistats comparison site based on National Student Survey results and
employment data. www.unistats.direct.gov.uk
Careersbox information on careers and employers including videos on
specific jobs and companies.www.careersbox.co.uk OR www.icould.com
For information on student finance:
www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducati
on/StudentFinance/index.htm

34

35