KAA Parent Handbook

Parents’ Handbook 2015 – 16

www.kaa.org.uk

1|Page

“I once thought of teaching my son a private language, isolating him from the speaking world on purpose, lying to him from the moment of his birth, so he would believe only the language I gave him. And it would be a compassionate language. What I mean is – I wanted to take him by the hand and name everything he saw with words that would save him from the inevitable heartaches. So that he wouldn’t be able to comprehend the existence of, for instance, war. Or hatred. Or any negativity at all.”

Adapted from Be My Knife by David Grossman

2|Page

Dear Parents/Carers I’m delighted to welcome to Kensington Aldridge Academy. It is with immense pride that I welcome you, only our second cohort ever of students and parents, to the KAA community. Ahead of us we have an exciting journey full of opportunities and rich experiences for our wonderful young people.

As you know, our aim at KAA is to provide our students with an education of the very highest standards – both in terms of academic teaching and life beyond the classroom. The sky is the limit for us at KAA. We want students to have the very highest expectations of themselves and their future. A worldclass education at KAA will mean all students have the academic background, the, experience, the self-confidence and the freedom to shape their destiny – be it progressing to university or straight into a career of their choice.

At KAA all students will benefit from a wealth of educational and enrichment opportunities and the chance to work with some of the best respected performing arts institutions in the world. Our entrepreneurial expertise will ensure all students experience the world of business, but most importantly develop the skills to be creative and think for themselves.

We want students to be happy at school and committed to being the best they can be. We will demand a lot, setting high standards for students and staff, with a ‘no excuses’ approach to attitude, work and discipline. But we will also provide careful support. With only 360 students next year, teachers at KAA will be able to know every student as an individual and closely nurture and challenge them all. I am incredibly excited about the excellent start we have made at KAA, and the future that lies ahead, and look forward to working with you to make this a reality for all of our students.

Yours faithfully

David Benson Principal

3|Page

4|Page

CONTENTS RESILIENCE “Don’t worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try” (Jack Canfield)

1.

KAA Mission Statement INTREPIDUS

Page 8 Page 9 CITIZENSHIP

“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success” (Henry Ford)

2.

How do we contact the Academy?

What is the structure of the Academy day?

What are the term dates for 2015/2016?

Page 10 Page 11 Page 12

How will my child learn at KAA? How will we work in partnership?

How do we use the Student Planner?

What is the KAA code of conduct?

How does the KAA pastoral system work?

What are the attendance and punctuality procedures?

How will my child be kept safe?

What are KAA Academy Rewards?

How does the detentions system work?

What is the uniform policy?

How will I be kept informed?

How might my child travel to school?

What is lunchtime like at KAA? Is my child entitled to Free School Meals?

How will I pay?

Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 24 Page 25

3.

5|Page

Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37

EXCELLENCE “Excellence is an art won by training and habituation” (Aristotle) 4.

Which subjects will my child study?

What equipment do students need?

What will homework be like?

What is Enrichment?

What is Personal, social, health and economic education How can I help my child at home?

What additional learning support is available?

How does the Grandin Centre support specific students?

How does the House System work?

What student leadership opportunities are available?

How will my child be assessed?

What school trips are available?

How will my child develop their reading?

Page 39 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 45 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 56

CREATIVITY “Originality is the essence of true scholarship. Creativity is the soul of the true scholar” (Nnamdi Akzikiwe)

5.

Creative and Performing Arts

6|Page

Page 57

SECTION 1

KEY INFORMATION

7|Page

KAA MISSION STATEMENT INTREPIDUS Definitions: 1) (adj.) Undaunted, fearless, bold KAA has at its core the pursuit of the very highest standards in education, both inside the classroom and beyond it. We believe all children can exceed their expectations, no matter what their prior attainment and experiences. At our school no child will be labelled; we will treat them all as intelligent and individual. Through our ethos, our extended curriculum and our entrepreneurial approach we will develop students into confident, rounded individuals, equipped for anything that life throws at them. Our motto – INTREPIDUS – will help us to realise our ambition.

As KAA teachers we aim to: 

Create a culture of high aspirations, high motivation and high achievement for all  Build a strong community based on fairness and personal responsibility  Welcome, value and respect all who come in to the school  Be reflective and committed to our ongoing development as teachers in our continuous strive for excellence  Promote positive dialogue and partnership with our community

Our four core values are:

Excellence Creativity Resilience Citizenship

We hope they will guide us in our work to create an outstanding academy which can transform the lives of our students, and, by its example, many more elsewhere.

8|Page

Intrepidus is central to everything we do at KAA. Intrepidus stems from the belief that, as Sir Rod Aldridge says, “It’s not where you come from in life, but where you get to that counts”.

Intrepidus means not sitting on the side-lines and waiting for others to take the initiative, it means being brave, it means putting your hand up to ask a question. Showing Intrepidus means not being frightened to make a mistake, and in fact recognising that in order to learn we must take risks and make mistakes. Intrepidus means trying new things and knowing that working hard, not natural talent, is the basis of achievement.

“I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career.

I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed.

I've failed over and over and over again in my life.

And that is why I succeed.” (Michael Jordan)

9|Page

HOW DO WE CONTACT THE ACADEMY? Address: Kensington Aldridge Academy 1 Silchester Road London W10 6EX Telephone: 0207 313 5800 Email: info@kaa.org.uk Website: www.kaa.org.uk Twitter: https://twitter.com/KAA_Intrepidus Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KensingtonAldridgeAcademy

10 | P a g e

WHAT IS THE STRUCTURE OF THE ACADEMY DAY? At KAA we have a longer day than the majority of schools. This is important, we believe, for many reasons. Firstly it allows us enrichment time. This is time for students to experience new subjects, broaden their horizons and learn more about the world around them without any formal assessment constrains. Secondly the 3pm to 5pm time slot can, in many occasions, be wasted by students and sometimes leads to poor behaviour. Lastly, and most importantly, this allows us to maximise learning time and the amount of support available to students.

Monday to Thursday:

Start

End

Student Meeting

8:20

8:30

Reading

8:30

9:00

Lesson 1

9:00

9:55

Lesson 2

9:55

10:50

BREAK

10:50

11:05

Tutor Period

11:05

11:25

Lesson 3

11:25

12:20

Lesson 4

12:20

1:15

Family Dining

1:15

2:00

Lesson 5

2:00

2:55

Lesson 6

2:55

3:50

BREAK

3:50

4:00

Enrichment

4:00

5:00

Friday:

Start

End

Student Meeting

8:20

8:30

Reading

8:30

9:00

Lesson 1

9:00

9:55

Lesson 2

9:55

10:50

BREAK

10:50

11:05

Tutor Period

11:05

11:25

Lesson 3

11:25

12:20

Lesson 4

12:20

1:15

Family Dining

1:15

2:00

Lesson 5

2:00

2:55

11 | P a g e

WHAT ARE THE TERM DATES FOR 2015/2016?

Autumn Term 2015 Start Tuesday 1st September

Half-term Monday 26th October – Friday 30th October

Finish Friday 18th December

Half-term Monday 15th February – Friday 19th February

Finish Thursday 24th March

Spring Term 2016 Start Wednesday 06th January

Summer Term 2016 Start Wednesday 13th April

Half-term Finish Monday 30th May – Friday Wednesday 20th July 03rd June

OTHER SCHOOL CLOSURE DAYS: Staff training days

26th August – 28th August 2015 02nd & 03rd November 2015 11th December 2015 04th & 05th January 2015 22nd & 23rd February 2015 11th and 12th April 2015 6th June 2015

Bank Holidays

31st August 2015 25th December 2015 28th December 2015 1st January 2016 25th March 2016 28th March 2016 2nd May 2016 30th May 2016 29th August 2016

12 | P a g e

SECTION 2

WORKING TOGETHER

13 | P a g e

HOW WILL MY CHILD LEARN AT KAA?

At KAA our goal is for all students to grow into confident, articulate young people, equipped with the skills, knowledge and qualifications they need to go on to university or the career of their choice. To achieve this children must learn in a way that not only develops their subject knowledge, but also teaches them to be inquisitive about the world around them and become resilient, happy learners. At KAA students will be expected to solve problems, to be creative in their writing, ambitious in their goals and reflective about their progress. We expect students to learn mathematics as a mathematician would, we expect students to work in history as an historian would, and we expect students to operate as scientists in their science lessons. We expect students to ask questions, seek out advice and research. INTREPIDUS means not sitting on the side-lines, but getting involved in everything and never letting the fear of failure prevent us from trying new things.

As a school we will also be ambitious in our goals. We will always aim to get better; to improve at everything we do and seek feedback and advice wherever possible. We need your help in order to do this effectively and ask that you are open and honest with us about everything. We ask that you keep us informed of your child’s experience at school; of how well informed you feel as a parent or carer; of any future opportunities there are for us to be involved with the local community; and anything else you feel would help us improve.

Working together we will make KAA the world class academy that we know it can be.

14 | P a g e

HOW WILL WE WORK IN PARTNERSHIP? Kensington Aldridge Academy – Home / School Agreement At KAA we know that parents, teachers, and - of course - the students themselves must work in partnership to deliver success. We all share responsibility for the academic and personal growth of our young people. Together, we commit ourselves to the following: The Academy will:

As parent/carer, I/we will:

As a student, I will:

 Provide a learning environment that is stimulating, safe and caring  Teach consistently excellent lessons to all students in all subjects  Treat every individual with respect  Ensure that each student has the opportunities, support and guidance to achieve their full potential  Set ambitious targets and regularly report on each student’s progress, giving clear guidance for improvement  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  Promote and reward excellence, resilience, creativity, citizenship and of course INTREPIDUS  Create a rich and stimulating reading environment and culture  Report regularly on your child’s reading progress  Insist all students answer questions in full sentences and use formal, academic English when at school  Offer exciting enrichment activities that will develop wider skills to prepare students for university and the world of work  Detain and sanction your child where they have not met expectations  Inform you if your child has detention rather than attending enrichment if they fail to meet KAA standards

 Make sure our child attends school in correct uniform, arrives on time and is properly equipped for school  Make sure our child attends school every day  Encourage our child to work hard, be disciplined, take responsibility and fully participate in school life  Check and sign our child’s planner each week  Attend all parents evenings and discussions about our child’s progress  Attend other school organised events and support our wider school culture  Support the academy’s policies and guidelines as outlined in the Parent Handbook  Allow our child to attend off-site visits  Agree to the detention policy of the academy  Agree to the biometrics policy of the academy  Never take our child out of school during term time  Agree to our child’s photograph or film/video footage being taken for the academy’s use and for use by the Aldridge Foundation and RBKC  Encourage our child to read every day  Support the school by challenging inappropriate slang and informal language so that all students become fluent, articulate speakers ready for university and the world of work  Encourage our child to participate fully in the extracurricular opportunities offered by the school

 Be an ambassador for KAA at all times  Work hard in class and at home, so that I can achieve my full potential  Read widely and often, and always have my reading book on me  Try to learn new words and build my vocabulary day by day, week by week  Speak in full sentences using formal English, and never use slang  Take pride in my written work  Always attempt to reach and exceed my targets  Show INTREPIDUS every day, never standing on the side lines or giving up, but instead participating fully in academy life  Treat others as I would wish to be treated  Put the needs of others before my own  Be proud of my school  Attend the academy every day in correct uniform, be on time and be properly equipped  Keep my planner neat and professional and use it to organise my homework and record my achievements  Keep to the academy rules, behave responsibly and be polite and courteous to others at all times  Understand that any misbehaviour whilst wearing KAA uniform will be dealt with as if the incident occurred at school  Take part in extra-curricular activities offered by the school  Care for the environment both in and out of school  Complete all homework on time and to the best of my ability  Attend detentions  Demonstrate excellence  Display behaviour my parents, teachers and friends can be proud of

Signed by SLT:

Signed by parent/carer:

Signed by student:

Date......................................

Name (printed):

Name (printed):

15 | P a g e

HOW DO WE USE THE STUDENT PLANNER?

During Induction Week every student will receive a Planner. The Planner is critical for ensuring students are organised and independent. Students will use their planner to record homework, record and evaluate their progress, highlight key dates, write their timetable, record rewards, and if necessary detentions.

The Planner must be kept on students at all times. It is an essential form of communication between home and school, and should be discussed at home every day.

Parents are asked to sign their child’s planner at least once a week. The Form Tutor will also check the planner every week, sign it and make a note of any rewards or sanctions. The planner must be kept clean, professional looking and graffiti free at all times. Any Planner which doesn’t meet these expectations may have to be replaced at a cost of £2.50.

16 | P a g e

KAA CODE OF CONDUCT

All KAA students will…..

    

Wear their uniform with pride Be prepared for learning Communicate politely and respectfully to each other, staff, members of our local community and visitors to the school Make sensible choices and avoid risky behaviour Live the academy values of excellence, creativity, resilience, citizenship and demonstrate INTREPIDUS in all that they do

Our Student Code of Conduct outlines our expectations for our students:

  

In the community of KAA In lessons In the local and wider community

In the community of KAA, I will…..

       

Listen to members of staff and follow instructions politely and calmly, the first time I am asked Be courteous and polite to all staff, visitors and fellow students I encounter and treat all people as I would wish to be treated myself Go straight to lessons, holding doors open for others on the way Walk in silence in a single file in corridors and stairs, keeping to the left, without running or causing a disturbance Respect other people’s privacy and family life so they are not offended by what I say or do Never insult, undermine or use abusive language towards a member of staff, visitor or other student Never rush, fight, play-fight or engage in any other form of physically inappropriate behaviour at anytime Never touch other people’s property without their clear permission and always treat other people’s belongings with respect

17 | P a g e

In lessons to help me achieve, I will….

             

Stay focused and on-task at all times Try my hardest, and not look for shortcuts Arrive on time and ready to learn Follow all instructions from my teacher first time and without question Bring my planner, water-bottle and all other equipment necessary for school every day Enter the classroom silently, greet the teacher, and stand behind my chair ready to say the pledge Settle down to the DO NOW activity straight away Show respect for my own learning and that of others by being silent when requested Be an active learner and participate fully in all activities Respect other peoples’ responses and questions and learn from them by active listening Always record homework in my planner and complete homework on time and to the best of my ability Drink water when necessary but never eat or chew in class Make sure I catch up with my learning when I am absent from school or behind in my work Help a classmate if they are finding the work difficult

When using ICT facilities I will:       

  

I will not tell anyone my login details or password.

I will handle all computer equipment carefully.

I will only use the computers for schoolwork or homework if given permission by a member of staff.

I will not use any USB keys in school equipment unless I am given permission.

I will not use CDs or DVDs from outside school unless I am given permission to do so.

I will not try to access any unsuitable material on the Internet I will tell a member of staff if I see something unsuitable on the Internet, or if I receive an e-mail that upsets or worries me.

I will only send or reply to e-mail messages if I am given permission.

I will report any misuse of computers to a member of staff.

I understand that the school may check my files and will monitor the Internet sites I visit.

18 | P a g e

    

Advice for using the Internet and email safely: Never give out my name and address or your school/college details or those of my friends to people you have only met on the Internet.

Never agree to meet people who I know only through the Internet.

Never send photographs of myself or friends to strangers.

Tell an adult if someone or something I find on the Internet makes me feel uncomfortable.

To take pride in the academy’s surroundings and preserve the natural environment I will….

      

Help keep teaching rooms pleasant, clean and tidy for myself and others to work in Always be ‘ECO’ aware Shut down PC’s and any electrical items, not leave them on standby Never, ever drop litter and always pick up litter when I see it Never, ever indulge in graffiti Only eat in the dining hall, never in corridors Remember that fizzy drinks, chewing gum and sweets are banned from KAA

Because I am an ambassador for KAA both inside the academy and on my way to and from school, I will always:

      

 

Dress smartly in the correct school uniform at all times (including to and from school) Always go straight home at the end of the day, and never ‘hang about’ at the end of the day Care for my uniform by hanging it up as soon as I get home and keeping it clean and well pressed from day to day Have respect for the academy’s neighbours and be helpful and considerate in the local community Make my way to and from KAA quickly and never congregate in large groups on local streets Never enter into any of the community gardens in our local neighbourhood Be sensitive to members of the public we share our community with – on local streets, in shops, on buses, trains etc – and never shout or behave in a way that is anti-social to others Offer my seat on the bus/tube to an older person/mother with young children Never visit the local fast food shops in school uniform

19 | P a g e

As a KAA student I understand that there will rewards if I follow the code of conduct and consequences if I do not.

I understand that all my actions should reinforce my commitment to our core belief of INTREPIDUS.

ROUTINES AND EXPECTATIONS

The following routines and expectations apply to all students and will be rigorously and consistently upheld:

1. Before arriving at school all students will: a) b) c)  

Eat breakfast or leave home with enough time to eat at breakfast club.

Make sure that all homework is complete.

Pack their KAA bag with the following items: Current reading book Student planner

20 | P a g e



   

1 x clear pencil case with the following contents: - 2 black or blue pens - 1 green pen - 1 red pen - 2 highlighters - 1 pencil - 1 30 centimetre ruler - 1 sharpener - 1 rubber - 1 calculator - 1 protractor - 1 compass 1 x KAA water bottle – full Books/folders for that day PE Kit if required White eraser fluid is banned from the academy

2. On arrival at KAA all students will: a) Be in full uniform. b) Remove any chewing gum from their person and dispose of it in the bin. c) Line up in their year groups and tutor groups at 0825 and have their uniform checked. d) Expect to be sent home if not wearing the correct uniform. If we cannot contact your parents you will spend the day in the Internal Exclusion room. e) Answer questions in full sentences. f) Not have any fizzy drinks, sweets or chewing gum with them.

3. Walking around school and moving to/from lessons: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h)

Follow instructions from any member of staff or adult first time.

Move to lessons once your teacher has dismissed you.

Allow any member of staff or adult to pass through a doorway before them.

Hold doors open for others.

Never run.

Walk on the left-hand side of the corridors and stairways.

Stay silent on corridors and never shout.

Maintain quiet and orderly atmosphere in the library.

4. All students will follow the same routines for entering the classroom:

21 | P a g e

a) Students will line up in silence outside their classroom and have their books and equipment out, ready to enter the class b) The teacher will greet the students at the door c) All students will move silently and immediately to stand behind their allocated seat and put their equipment on their desk d) The students will all say the ‘KAA Pledge.’ e) All students will start the DO NOW activity in silence, whilst the teacher takes the register.

5. During a lesson all students will: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h)

Stand up in silence whenever a visitor enters the room.

Put their hand up and wait for permission before asking or answering a question.

Always speak in full sentences.

Be an active listener.

Celebrate the successes of others.

Understand that it is better to try and fail than not to try at all (Intrepidus).

See mistakes as steps on the road to understanding.

Help maintain a supportive culture based on respect and teamwork.

6. Moving to and from assemblies/examinations: a) Students will line up in their year groups and form groups in alphabetical order, unless the form tutor/teacher decides to make changes. b) Students will move in silence from line-up/classrooms to their destination. c) Students will sit in silence unless directed to speak. d) Students will be asked to stand at the beginning of the assembly to all say the pledge. e) Students will remain standing in silence until directed otherwise. f) At the end of the assembly, when the member of staff or other adult holding the assembly leaves the room, all students will remain in silence whilst they are dismissed by their Head of Year or senior member of staff, one row at a time. g) Form Tutors or teachers will sit either against the wall next to their form group or next to the aisle with their form group. h) All teaching and support staff will attend whole school assemblies and awards ceremonies. i) The students will then walk in silence to their next lesson. j) Staff will go on to the corridor to ensure students walk quietly to their next lesson.

7. During break and lunchtime all students will:

22 | P a g e

a) Use their break and lunch time effectively:  Drink some water  Go to the lavatory  Meet with any member of staff to address any concerns  Complete any work or revision that is required b) c) d) e) f) g) h)

Support our family dining routines by being cooperative and considerate at all times.

Say thank you to catering personnel.

Only play ball games in the allocated areas.

Follow all school rules to maintain a calm and pleasant environment for all.

Do not gather in large groups.

Keep hands and feet to themselves at all times.

Do not wear any hood up. If a student is cold they should wear academy hats.

8. At the end of the school day all students will: a) b) c) d) e) f) g)

Make sure they have everything they need to complete their homework.

Walk quietly through the academy exits.

If getting public transport, wait quietly by the bus stop.

Get onto the bus one student at a time.

Give up their seat to a member of the public.

Talk quietly and never shout.

Remember at all times they are representing KAA and should be a model of our core value of citizenship.

23 | P a g e

HOW DOES THE KAA PASTORAL SYSTEM WORK? At KAA Year 7 students are members of a Tutor Group and a House. There are 8 Tutor Groups and 4 Houses (Angelou, Pankhurst, Franklin, Honeyball) – each House contains two Tutor Groups. Students will spend time with their Tutor Group every day and their Tutor will be the first port of call for any worries or concerns that they might have.

House competitions will be a big part of life at KAA and will allow students to develop their skills in activities such as debating, drama, singing, engineering and music performance. This will also be an important way for us to reward and celebrate the student’s, growth successes and achievements.

This structure means your child has a comprehensive system of support available to them at different levels and from different people. If at any stage during the year you have concerns that you would like to raise please feel free to contact us at any time. If in doubt about who to contact initially please ask for your child’s Form Tutor.

Y7 FORM TUTORS

Angelou Year 7 Tutor

Honeyball

Franklin

Nijinsky

Fitzgerald Lennon Hepburn Matisse Baker SarahHayley Sophie Khalid Jasmine Nicola Louise Barbary Pedley Hajjaj Demeester Ridley Dench HBY Teacher of RE

24 | P a g e

SDH Teacher of Science

SPY

KHJ

Teacher of MFL

Teacher of PE and Science

JDR Teacher of PE

Pankhurst Chaplin Kwabena AdjeiOwusu

Kahlo Alex Fitton

NRY

KAU

AFN

Teacher of English

Lead Teacher of Computer Science

Teacher of DT

WHAT ARE THE ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY PROCEDURES?

Excellent attendance and punctuality is a must at KAA and is essential if students are to make outstanding progress.

PUNCTUALITY

The start of the day: Students must arrive at school by 8.25 at the latest. If any child arrives after 8:25 then they are considered late and must go straight to the attendance office to register before going to the meeting. Lateness will result in detention and will not be tolerated – we need to teach our students good habits from day one. Morning Reading begins at 8:30 and runs until 9:00.

The end of the day: Lesson 6 of each day finishes at 3:50. On a Monday to a Thursday students will then be escorted down to the canteen by teaching staff for a 10 minute break (unless they are taking part in a sporting enrichment in which case they go straight to the changing rooms). From there students go to their enrichment activity for an hour. The school day (on a Monday to a Thursday) finishes at 5:00 for Y7.

On a Friday there is no enrichment and there is no lesson 6. Instead, students finish lesson 5 at 2:55 and are escorted down to the canteen by their teaching staff. Students are then dismissed from there and should go straight home.

During the day: Punctuality to lessons is incredibly important. Each lesson at KAA begins with a ‘do now’ task, this means that students are learning from the second they enter the room. If students are late to lessons then they miss out on this learning time and, ultimately, their understanding will suffer.

25 | P a g e

ATTENDANCE All students at KAA are expected to have as near to 100% attendance as possible.

Therefore, students should only be absent if they are too ill to come to school or in exceptional circumstances. If absence is unavoidable then a family ADULT should telephone the Academy on the first day of absence and every day thereafter. Phone calls should be made by an adult family member before 08.20 on each day of absence. When the student returns they must bring a written note of explanation addressed to the attendance officer. This can be written in the planner or on paper.

Holidays in term-time will never be authorised.

However, if there are exceptional circumstances such as a death in the family, parents should write to Mr Malik requesting a period of absence, clearly stating the reasons. He will then consider the request and write in response.

The law makes it clear that taking a child out of school without the school’s authorisation is illegal. It is a Parent’s duty to ensure their child attends school regularly under the Education Act 1996 (and the ‘Parental Responsibilities measures for school attendance and behaviour’ guidance – DfE, 2013). Failure to meet this responsibility could lead to an appearance at Court which could then lead to:  A fine of up to £2500  A prison sentence A pupil taken on leave without permission will be marked in the attendance register as taking unauthorised absence (truancy). The matter will then be referred to the Education Welfare Service for discussion about further action.

Accidents and Illness: If a student has an accident or feels unwell they must tell a member of staff straight away. If they are too ill to remain then their parents/carers will be contacted by the school.

Medicines: With the exception of asthma inhalers, students are not allowed to administer drugs themselves. All inhalers should be clearly labelled with the child’s name and be carried by the child at all times. A second inhaler, clearly marked with the pupil’s name, should also be left in the medical room. If a student needs to take a prescribed medicine at the Academy they must bring a letter, giving authorised permission for staff to administer the medicine.

26 | P a g e

If a child wishes to take a pain killer, they must go to the medical room. No pupils should carry any medicines or pain killers on their person.

If your child suffers from any type of allergy or allergic reaction then they must bring in a letter from their doctor outlining the nature of the condition and the necessary remedial action required.

Medical appointments: It is always best to make medical appointments outside Academy hours. If this is not possible students MUST bring a note from their parents/carers in advance of the date along with a letter of appointment from their doctor or hospital to show to their Form Tutor and Mr Malik. If Mr Malik agrees with the necessity to miss school then he will countersign the letter and the student will present that at student reception where they will need to sign out. Reception will retain the letter.

27 | P a g e

HOW WILL MY CHILD BE KEPT SAFE? At KAA our highest priority is ensuring the safety, happiness and development of all our students. We are committed to providing an environment with robust systems to ensure the security of all our students within the academy and on related academy trips and other activities.

Everyone working in, or for, KAA shares the objective of helping to keep children and young people safe by contributing to:  

ensuring that KAA provides a safe environment in which children and young people can learn and develop, and identifying children and young people who are suffering or likely to suffer abuse and taking appropriate action with the aim of making sure they are kept safe both at home and in Academy.

We recognise that some children may be especially vulnerable to abuse. We are committed to doing our best to identify such children and to working with the appropriate authorities to support and safeguard them.

We are committed to providing all our students with a safe learning environment, free of bullying and other forms of harassment, and to teaching children to act safely inside and outside the academy and on the internet.

We will always take a considered and sensitive approach in order to support all our students and all staff are fully aware of their professional and moral safeguarding obligations.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact the academy.

28 | P a g e

WHAT ARE KAA ACADEMY REWARDS? The academy believes in a positive behaviour climate where students will always be rewarded for excellent efforts and achievement. The academy rewards system is based around House points. Students earn points for their own House based on their achievements throughout the year. For example, if a student does a really nice piece of homework they may receive some points. If a student does an exceptional piece of work they may receive a Commendation – worth 25 House points. If a student does a good deed for a member of the KAA community, they may receive an Intrepidus Merit. For details of each merit see section 3 below: Students can also achieve House Points by taking part in House Competitions. These run every term and cover topics such as Music, Debating and Sport.

At the end of the year awards will be presented to students based on their academic progress, their punctuality and attendance, their contribution to the KAA community, their creative and performing arts achievements, their reading progress and their sporting achievements. There will also be numerous other competitions throughout the year that will enable students to win House Points and individual recognition.

For more details on House Competitions, awards assemblies and merits please see section 4 below.

29 | P a g e

HOW DOES THE DETENTIONS SYSTEM WORK? At KAA we expect the highest possible standards in behaviour, attitude, attendance, punctuality and work. If a student fails to meet any of these standards at any point during the year they may receive a detention.

Detentions for homework are set initially for break time or lunch time. If a student forgets to hand in a piece of homework, or worse still, doesn’t do it at all, their class teacher will record this in their planner. If the student misses more than one homework across all subjects then they will miss an enrichment session (4.00-5.00pm) If a student receives 10 or more detentions for homework they will be required to attend 2 homework clubs every week. They will also be issued with another hour’s detention from their Form Tutor.

Detentions for minor poor behaviour or conduct will set at break time or lunch time initially. More serious poor behaviour, flouting of school rules and routines, poor attitude and defiance will be treated very seriously and will result in either an after school (4.00-5.30pm), senior detention on Friday (3.00-5.00pm) or a Saturday detention (9.00-11.00am). Maintaining a strong, happy and positive KAA environment is essential if students are to make excellent progress. We shall not tolerate anyone who seeks to damage this culture and environment in any way.

30 | P a g e

WHAT IS THE UNIFORM POLICY? At KAA all students are impeccably presented at all times. Uniform is really important – it unites us as a KAA family, it reminds students that when they are at school they are here to learn, and it removes any street culture that may distract students from their studies or upset academy life.

Students will all wear a House colours tie which must be tied professionally at all times.

Students must make sure their shirts are tucked in at all times.

Below is the uniform required for each student – the items in bold are compulsory, the other items are recommended but not compulsory.

Boys Uniform

Girls Uniform

White shirt House tie Burgundy jumper with KAA logo on Grey Blazer with KAA logo on Grey trousers Black or dark grey socks PE sports polo shirt – Navy and sky blue PE shorts KAA school bag

White blouse House tie Burgundy jumper with KAA logo on Grey Blazer with KAA logo on Grey tartan kilt style skirt (Or grey trousers) Black tights

PE microfibre tracksuit bottoms Rain Jacket with KAA logo on Football socks – Navy and sky blue PE drawstring bag KAA storm stuff reversible fleece jacket Non-marking PE trainers

Black or white socks PE sports polo shirt – Navy and sky blue PE skirt (shorts and skirt in one) KAA school bag PE microfibre tracksuit bottoms Rain Jacket with KAA logo on PE drawstring bag KAA storm stuff reversible fleece jacket Non-marking PE trainers

All students must wear black leather shoes. Trainers or shoes with any sport logos are not allowed as everyday footwear. If students arrive to school in anything other than leather shoes they will be sent home to change them, will have to borrow some, or will have to spend the day in isolation.

Uniform should be clean and tidy at all times. When washing the uniform please take care to follow the garment instructions carefully. The uniform is all machine washable and should be washed at 40˚ and inside out. The blazer can be ironed but INSIDE OUT AND AT A VERY LOW TEMPERATURE. Please do not tumble dry the uniform.

31 | P a g e

If students bring an outside jacket to school (and decide not to purchase the KAA fleece jacket) then it must be plain black, with no logos on.

Hijabs for girls should be plain grey or black.

No student should wear jewellery of any kind, except for one wrist watch.

No student should wear make-up, false nails, nail varnish, or fake tan.

Hair should be neat and tidy – tied up for girls, nothing shorter than a grade 2 for boys.

There should be no extreme colours or styling, including no lines shaved into the hair or eyebrows and no hair extensions.

There should be no hoodies or cardigans, and all outside clothing must be removed when entering the building. All outside coats, hats, scarves etc. should be placed straight into the student’s locker.

32 | P a g e

HOW WILL I BE KEPT INFORMED? Maintaining good communication between home and school is essential in order for children to receive all the support and guidance they need to be successful. At KAA we are committed to keeping parents informed of their child’s progress and achievement at all times. This is done 3 times a year (at the end of every term) – at each of these 3 stages you will receive a written report. Each report will tell you how much of the content that has been taught your child has understood, what your child’s attitude towards learning currently is and which GCSE results this places them on track to achieve. Using each report, together with the information in the parents’ curriculum booklet, you will be able to see which areas your child is confident with, and which areas they still need to work on.

There will be a Welcome Evening and two Parent’s Evenings during the year: Tuesday 20th October – Welcome Evening Thursday 14th January – Year 7 Progress Evening Wednesday 8th June – Year 7 Progress Evening At each Parent’s Evening you will have an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress which each of their subject teachers.

33 | P a g e

HOW MIGHT MY CHILD TRAVEL TO KAA? Students should aim to be on the academy site every morning by 8:15, ready for the day to begin at 8.25. It is important that students have practiced how to get to the academy in the morning on time before term starts. If students are arriving by tube the nearest stop is Latimer Road. This is very close to the academy and should only take 3 – 4 minutes to walk. If students are arriving by bus most buses stop just outside the Latimer Road tube station. When students are practicing their journey to school we recommend that parents/carers go with them for the first time and that you practice the journey on a week-day to ensure the traffic is the same.

At the end of the day students will leave the academy at 5:00 (and 3.00 on a Friday). All students must make sure they travel home straight away and should stick to travelling in small groups and not congregate in larger ones. When travelling on buses and tubes students should sit down where possible and never drop litter.

On their journey to and from school, students must maintain the high standards of behaviour and conduct that they exhibit during school hours. When students are wearing the KAA uniform they represent the whole academy community and so must always portray themselves in the best possible light. If there is any lapse in behaviour on the way to or from school, students will be treated in the same way as if it had happened at the academy.

34 | P a g e

WHAT IS LUNCHTIME LIKE AT KAA? At KAA dining is a structured and sociable event. At lunch-time all students will sit together and enjoy a proper meal in a civilised way that promotes citizenship and community. Students will be assigned lunch-time roles, such as cup collector or server, that enable a ‘family dining’ feel to the time. Roles will be rotated on a termly basis and all students are to be included. Staff and visitors will also take part in ‘family dining’.

Family dining ensures all students receive the lunch-time nutrition they need in order to maintain focus for a full day’s learning. It ensures a calm, orderly lunch-time with no queuing. It encourages students to mix with different friendship groups and maintains excellent teacher/student relationships.

Family dining is a fundamental part of life at KAA, and for that and all the reasons above pack lunch is not allowed at the academy.

At the end of lunch-time ‘family dining’ students are free to go outside and play, socialise with their friends, meet with teachers or attend any lunch-time clubs. Towards the end of lunch-time a bell will ring and students will organise themselves for ‘line up’.

A full two course hot meal will be served at the academy every day. We hope to also serve breakfast at school from next year but can confirm this at the start of term. We believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and without a substantial one each day students will struggle to perform at their best. Snacks are also available at break times at an extra cost. These will be bought individually by the students and paid for using the Cashless Catering service described below. If your child has no money on their individual account they will not be able to buy any snacks or drinks at break time.

35 | P a g e

DOES MY CHILD QUALIFY FOR FREE SCHOOL MEALS? A Free School Meal is paid for by the Government and is provided to a child free of charge. Free school meals are granted for a period of one year and pupils being granted free school meals will have to reapply every year.

The school has a responsibility to ensure that free school meals are accessible to those who are legally entitled. Parents/carers have a duty to inform the school of any change in status. The school might report incidents where it suspects dishonest misuse of free school meals.

Your child qualifies for Free School Meals if you or their other parent/carer are receiving: · Income Support. · Income-based Jobseekers Allowance. · Income-related Employment and Support Allowance. · Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999. · The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit. · Child Tax Credit-provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income that does not exceed £16,190 (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs).

We want to ensure all students receive their entitlement and therefore please contact the academy if you believe that your child may be eligible to free school meals.

36 | P a g e

HOW WILL I PAY? At KAA we operate a Cashless Catering system. We will be operating a completely cashless school, which entails paying for trip, specific enrichment session, instruments, materials, ties. This means that students never need to bring money into the academy or have money on their person. This makes for a much safer environment; with the worries of losing money and the risk of bulling reduced. In order to make this possible parents should pay for their child’s school meals electronically, via the school website.

By making cashless payments you know that your money has reached the school safely. You can view your account statement and payment history, check when payments need to be made and set alerts to tell you when to pay school online.

ParentPay is the system we will use. All parents will be provided with a unique log on, which they use to access the website: www.ParentPay.co.uk.

If you have more than one ParentPay account for other children, these can be merged.

In order to pay you follow simply complete the first page that consists of inputting your personal details and then chose form the menu at the top of the page of what you want to pay for ie catering, trips‌.

37 | P a g e

SECTION 3

EXCELLENCE

38 | P a g e

WHICH SUBJECTS WILL MY CHILD STUDY? The curriculum at KAA is rich and balanced. Academic excellence, high aspirations and creativity are the driving forces behind the structure of the curriculum. In Year 7 a large amount of time is devoted to the core subjects of English, Mathematics and Science. We believe that a strong grounding in these areas is essential to equip students for further study at Advanced and Degree level, and to support their development in other subjects. Our curriculum will cover traditional academic subjects but also meet the needs of the modern world. We don’t see that there is a tension between the two. We will focus on developing a real independence and entrepreneurial attitude in our students. Students will be taught:   

new ways of thinking: including creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making; new ways of working: including new forms of collaboration and communication; new tools for working: including the capacity to harness the potential of new technologies.

We want students to finish their time at KAA with an excellent academic background, a good knowledge of the wider world around them and the entrepreneurial skills needed to make a difference to this world.

Therefore the Year 7 curriculum at KAA will contain the following…

Subject

Number of weekly lessons English 4 Mathematics 4 Science 3 Religious Education 3 History 2 Geography 2 Modern Foreign 2 Languages

Subject Design and Technology Physical Education Music Drama Art Computer Science PHSE

Number of weekly lessons 2 2 1 1 1 1 1

Citizenship Citizenship is a core value at KAA. It is part of everything we do and students will be taught it in lots of different ways across the academy. We believe it cannot be taught meaningfully if it is taught in isolation from other parts of academy life.

You will see Citizenship education:    

As part of the curriculum developed in each subject area.

As part of the House system and the inter-house competitions.

As part of the weekly cycle of tutor time activities.

As part of the yearly programme of PHSE ‘drop-down’ days

39 | P a g e

  

Through student interactions as part of the consolidation, assessment and review cycles.

Through our work with West London Citizens and the local Ladbroke Grove community.

Through the enrichment programme.

Design and Technology Students will study units in the following 4 areas – Resistant Materials, Textiles, Food Technology and Graphics. The areas will be taught in blocks across the year and will be assessed in each one separately.

Modern Foreign Languages In Year 7 students will study either French or German during their MFL lesson time. This will be decided based upon the timetable – 4 groups will do French, 4 will do German, and students will be assigned to a group. There will be other languages offered as part of the Enrichment Programme.

For more details on the specific content for each curriculum subject please refer to the Parent Curriculum Handbook.

40 | P a g e

WHAT EQUIPMENT DO STUDENTS NEED? In order to be successful at school all students must make sure they are fully equipped and ready to learn. Having your own equipment ready for every lesson is important for three reasons; 1. You learn to be independent and self-managing.

2. You don’t waste valuable learning time asking to borrow from others.

3. You learn the correct names and functions of different specialist equipment and how to use it effectively.

Different subject areas may ask students to bring in different equipment or resources at some points during the Year (for example they may be asked to bring in ingredients for Food Technology, or pictures/maps for Geography). Every day, however, all students must have the following equipment with them everyday…            

2 black or blue pens 2 green pens 2 highlighters 1 pencil 1 30 centimetre ruler 1 sharpener 1 rubber 1 calculator 1 protractor 1 compass 1 reading book 1 Planner

All students should have their Planner (see section 2 above), and their reading book (see below) with them at all times. These, along with all other equipment, exercise books (for that day), bottle of water and PE kit (if needed) should be packed into their KAA school bag.

We advise that students pack their bags the night before that way they are less likely to forget things.

41 | P a g e

WHAT WILL HOMEWORK BE LIKE? Homework is set each day according to a timetable. During induction week students will receive their homework timetables and must record these in their Student Planners. It is expected that students get 2 pieces of homework per night and this should take them approximately 1 hour in total to complete (but this may vary on occasion). There will also be an expected piece of homework set to be competed over a longer period. If you are concerned that your child is taking much longer than this to complete their homework, then please do contact the academy and let us know. Similarly if your child is completing their homework much quicker than this, then also please let us know so we can ensure they are being stretched and challenged at all times.

Homework will take different formats in different subjects. In most subjects students will be expected to complete their written/drawn homework in an exercise book. For some homework however students may need to complete it on a computer and save it to their school account via the internet. If students know they are going to struggle with internet access at home they should complete this homework at school, or speak to their teacher in advance.

It is important that each student has a quiet place to complete their homework, away from distractions and noise. Ideally they should have a desk to work at, and should not be completing homework in front of the television. Although many children say they like to work with music and television on, research shows that this makes them less productive.

Students will be issued with a HW timetable on their first week at school. This should be displayed clearly at home and referred to on a regular basis.

42 | P a g e

WHAT IS ENRICHMENT? KAA students are lucky enough to benefit from a comprehensive programme of enrichment activities designed to stretch their thinking, broaden their horizons and teach them more about the world.

Enrichment takes place Monday to Thursday, from 4:00 – 5:00. It is compulsory for all students and is an official part of the school day. During induction week students will sign up for their chosen activities and sessions will begin on Monday 22nd September. Students sign up for a term at a time to ensure they benefit fully from everything on offer.

Below is an example list. This is not final and will definitely change before students sign up during induction week – this is just to give an idea of what is on offer.

Students will need to choose sessions according to the following conditions:    

One homework club a week One sporting enrichment One creative or performing arts enrichment One free choice

Some students will be signed up for some sessions automatically - based on certain criteria.

For example if you need extra support in mathematics you will attend Maths Booster as your free choice. If you have fallen behind on homework and have received 10 detentions or more, you will need to attend two Homework Clubs a week. Students will be informed directly if this applies to them.

In order to get the most from all enrichment sessions, behaviour, punctuality and effort must be exemplary at all times. Any lapses in behaviour will be dealt with seriously.

43 | P a g e

WHAT IS PERSONAL, SOCIAL, HEALTH AND ECONOMIC EDUCATION and CITIZENSHIP The aim of personal, social and health education (PSHE) is to give children the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to lead confident, healthy and independent lives. Through a mixture of learning opportunities, including the involvement of outside professionals, our students will develop their understanding of personal and social issues; and tackle many of the moral, social and cultural issues of today.

The aim of citizenship is to provide students with an understanding of the norms and values in living in the United Kingdom.

The PSHE and Citizenship programme will be delivered in tutor time and drop down days.

Your child will learn about the following themes: • Drugs • Sex and Relationships • Family Relationships and Celebrating Diversity • Healthy Living and Managing Risk • Enterprise Skills • Personal Finance • Citizenship – life in modern Britain Elements of PSHE and Citizenship will also appear in other areas of academy learning: assemblies, special projects and other subject areas through the year.

44 | P a g e

HOW CAN I HELP MY CHILD AT HOME? At KAA we believe the extended school day, wonderful enrichment opportunities, rich curriculum and excellent teaching mean you child will make outstanding progress from day one. Supporting this progress at home however, is also incredibly important. There are many ways you can do this, below are a few suggestions: 











Ask your child what they have done at school - Take an active interest in what they have studied in each lesson, ask them to explain what different things mean and how they relate to each other. Ask them what they found easy/difficult and why.

Avoid simply talking about interactions they had with friends, or what they enjoyed (although these things are clearly important) but focus also on the actual content of lessons.

Read with your child – Get your child to read some of the work they have produced during the day and ask them to explain what it is about. Ask your child to read their reading book aloud to you and discuss what is happening in the story. For more guidance on this, please refer to the KAA Parent’s Reading Pack.

Involve your child in household activities – Discuss every-day things you are doing such as booking holidays, budgeting for the weekly shop, planning travel arrangements and using timetables. Even subtle activities such as these can allow children to make links between the work they do in school, and its application for their daily life.

Sophisticated use of the internet – As well as allowing your child to use literacy, numeracy and scientific websites to develop their skills (as well as others), encourage your child to research topics they are studying in school. Encourage them to look at news based websites and keep up-to-date on current affairs. A full list of appropriate websites for each subject area can be found on the individual curriculum pages of the school website.

Be open about your own learning – Allow your child to see you learning new things. Talk to them about books you are reading and new things you may have learned at work. We want children to see that learning is life-long and relevant to their future, not simply something that happens during the school day.

Finally - don’t help too much! – If your child is struggling with a task encourage them to find ways to solve it themselves first. Get them to explain what they are struggling with, provide guidance but resist giving them the ‘answers’ for as long as possible.

45 | P a g e

WHAT ADDITIONAL LEARNING SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE?

At KAA ‘we believe all children can exceed their expectations, no matter what their prior attainment and experiences’. In order for this to happen, some children will require further support. For some the support needed will be clear from day one. For others, individual needs may surface as the week’s progress. We are committed to ensuring all children’s needs are met and will constantly assess this throughout the year. If you feel at any point during the year that your child needs some additional support please feel free to contact the academy and speak to Mr N. Dumigan (Lead Teacher of Learning Support).

In order to establish initial levels of need the academy will refer to the data provided by primary schools, the KS2 SATs results, and our own internal baseline assessments and observations. These will help us determine groups of students that may need extra Literacy or Numeracy support. Programmes of intervention and a tailored curriculum may then be established for some students.

At KAA we are committed to inclusion for all. This includes students for whom English isn’t their first language. We believe that students from all ethnic and cultural backgrounds have a right to an outstanding education and should be able to take part in the full range of social, educational, sporting, creative and academic activities on offer at KAA. Where support is needed for this we assess the child and put together a programme of language development tailored to them. We will consider their individual curriculum and which lessons they can currently access fully, which lessons they need support in and which lessons they may need staggered integration into.

46 | P a g e

HOW DOES THE GRANDIN CENTRE HELP SPECIFIC STUDENTS? The Grandin Centre is the ASSC (Autism Spectrum Specialist Centre) at KAA is The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea’s specialist provision for students who have a specific diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder/Condition (ASD/C). The purpose of the provision is to enable students with ASD to benefit from the broad range of curricular and extracurricular opportunities that are available to all students at KAA. The Centre aims to encourage students to participate, progress and achieve both alongside their peers in mainstream lessons and in any targeted interventions in the Centre.

Students with needs on the autistic spectrum are often capable of high academic achievement, but the severe anxiety they can experience and the difficulties they may have responding to certain social cues mean that they find the school environment very challenging and can fail to achieve their full potential. Our aim is to provide students with an emotionally secure base within the school and the personalised support both in and out of lessons, which should help them to learn well within a mainstream secondary environment.

To provide this support the Centre will have dedicated, specialist staff, including teachers and Learning Support Assistants who will use a range of strategies that are appropriate to the very specific and individual needs of each student. All staff across KAA will also benefit from ASD awareness training to enhance their understanding and ability to engage successfully with the students from the Centre.

47 | P a g e

HOW DOES THE HOUSE SYSTEM WORK? The House system is there to support students through their time at KAA. It is primarily about creating smaller communities within the school that promote diversity and create a sense of identity; encourage healthy competition and challenge; and stimulate citizenship and a sense of community.

The House System will eventually mix students of all ages and will not be based upon curriculum or academic criteria. Each House will represent a fair cross-section of the school community and will serve to strengthen the culture and ethos of KAA. Students should meet as a House on a weekly basis and the House should be their main focus during school-wide competitions. During Year 7 students will take part in the following half-termly House Competitions:

Term

Competition

Autumn 1

Music

Autumn 2 Spring 1 Spring 2 Summer 1 Summer 2

Overview

Music and singing competition as explained by the Lead Teacher of Music Charity All pupils work together to raise money for their House’s nominated charity Entrepreneurship Pupils work collectively on an entrepreneurial project Drama Individual and small group competition as explained by the Lead Teacher of Drama Debating A team of experienced and novice debaters work together to represent their house Sports Day All pupils in the house take part in sports as explained by the Lead Teachers of PE

There will also be a series of other House events each week and throughout the year.

Each House has its own name, tie colour and identity. Students should be knowledgeable about their House figure-head and will be proudly protective and supportive towards the other members of their House.

48 | P a g e

ADDITIONAL HOUSE COMPETITIONS ●

In addition to the main competitions outlined above, there will be other events held throughout the year with house points attached.

●

These will be organised by different departments. For example, competitions based around Science and Engineering during National Science and Engineering Week (NSEW).

●

There will be one house sport competition and one other department led house competition per half term.

●

These competitions will carry fewer points than the main events as they have less time devoted to practising for or performing them.

HOUSE POINT ALLOCATIONS The following points system applies to all House competitions from September 2015 1. For any “Major” House Competition: Position 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place 4th Place 2. Interim House Competitions: Position 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place 4th Place

House Points Allocated 1000 points 750 points 500 points 250 points

House Points Allocated 200 points 100 points 50 points 25 points

3. Student awards can also earn their points for their house in the following ways: Award House Points Allocated Gold Merit (awarded only by Mr. Benson) 100 points Silver Merit (awarded by SLT) 30 points Intrepidus Merit 30 points Commendation 25 points

49 | P a g e

REWARDS ASSEMBLIES Half Term Rewards Assemblies Award Commendations Silver Merits – mathematics, reader of the half term Intrepidus Merits – as required Gold Merits – as required (e.g. Open day tour guides) Major House Competition – (Art & Design, Music, Debating)

House Points 25 30 30 50 1000

Christmas Term Rewards Assembly Award Commendations Silver Merits – mathematics, library competition, entrepreneurs of the term, reader of the term, students who have achieved their targets in all core subjects Intrepidus Merits – as required Gold Merits – Students who are above their target levels in all subjects, sports awards Academic Resilience – most progress per subject (English, Maths, Science) Academic Excellence – highest grade per subject (English, Maths, Science) Pupils with 100% attendance for the term Pupils on or above target in English, Maths and Science House Attendance House Academic Achievement House Charity Competition

House Points 25 30 30 50 150 150 75 125 1000 1000 1000

Easter Term Rewards Assembly Award Commendations Silver Merits – mathematics, library competition, entrepreneurs of the term, reader of the term, students who have achieved their target level in all core subjects Intrepidus Merits – as required Gold Merits – Students who are above their target levels in all subjects, sports awards Academic Resilience – most progress per subject (History, Geography, MFL) Academic Excellence – highest grade per subject (History, Geography, MFL) Pupils with 100% attendance for the term Pupils on or above target in History, Geography and MFL House Attendance House Academic Achievement House Drama Competition

50 | P a g e

House Points 25 30 30 50 150 150 75 125 1000 1000 1000

End of Year Assembly Award Commendations Silver Merits - mathematics, library competition Intrepidus Merits – As required Gold Merits Academic Resilience – most progress per subject (all subjects) Academic Excellence – highest grade per subject (all subjects) Most improvement in Reading Reader of the Year Pupils with 100% attendance for the year Pupils on or above target in all subjects - scholarship badge (in house colours) Sportsman/Woman of the Year Performance Artist of the Year Sport – ½ colours PCA – ½ colours House Attendance House Academic Achievement for whole year House Sports Day Competition Intrepidus badge for most contribution to KAA and to the community Overall House Cup

51 | P a g e

House points 25 30 30 100 150 150 150 150 150 250 200 200 100 100 1000 1000 1000 250

WHAT STUDENT LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE? Within the House system there are lots of opportunities for students to take on leadership roles. These roles will grow as the academy gets bigger and each House will eventually look like this:

House Captain Vice Captain

House Sports Captain

House Music Captain

Form Captain

Form Media Captain

Form Sport Captain

Form Music Captain

Initially in Year 7 students can take on just the positions of Form responsibility, and will submit applications for this during induction week in September. For these roles we want individuals who are responsible, articulate and well behaved. Please encourage your child to apply for these.

52 | P a g e

HOW WILL MY CHILD BE ASSESSED?

Intrepidus guides us in all we do at KAA and assessment is no exception. Assessments are an opportunity for students to demonstrate what they can do, make them feel proud of themselves, inspire them with a desire to know more and build life-long learners. In order to achieve this all aspects of KAA assessment are focused on learning, quality feedback, and self-reflection. To ensure this happens the calendar for the year is broken up into; teaching weeks; consolidation weeks (when students revise what they know); assessment weeks; and review weeks.

There are lots of different ways to assess student understanding. The most common forms of assessment should be built into the fabric of every lesson – good questioning, student explanation, use of Mini-White Boards, and so on.

Students will be assessed in more formal ways (mostly in written exams) during each assessment week. These are incredibly important for lots of reasons – they give teachers accurate information on the understanding of each child; they encourage children to reflect on their own understanding and revise independently and they are essential as they prepare students for the rigours of external assessment at GCSE in Year 11, at A Level and eventually at University. In the run-up to a formal assessment it is really important that students revise thoroughly, get a good night’s sleep, eat a good breakfast and drink plenty of water.

All students will have 6 formal assessment weeks throughout the year – 6 of these will be to assess in the core subjects only (English, mathematics and science), and 4 of them will be to assess in all subjects. Results of these assessments will be communicated to parents in written reports and parent’s evenings throughout the year (see the communication section above).

53 | P a g e

WHAT ARE EDUCATIONAL TRIPS?

All trips which take place during academy hours, are directly linked to the curriculum and specialisms. Every trip is carefully prepared beforehand and this includes a full risk assessment and there are always sufficient staff to ensure the safety of the students. There may be a cost to trips but this will be kept to a minimum to allow full participation. All students are expected to attend trips required of them throughout the year.

If the return of a trip has been delayed parents will be notified by text with an approximate time of arrival.

The payment of the trips will be done through ParentPay. There is a menu bar at the top of the home page which states trips. For residential trips parents can be pay in instalments but for small payments of trips, it expected that full amount is paid in one instalment.

One key trip will be the residual, Sunday 1st March to Tuesday 3rd March 2015.

54 | P a g e

HOW WILL MY CHILD DEVELOP THEIR READING? At KAA we recognise that reading is everything. We are committed to ensuring that all KAA children love reading, read widely and often and can read for understanding in lots of different situations. As part of this commitment every student is taught reading every day.

Reading time is from 8:30 – 9:00 every morning. During this time students will work in small groups on different activities, all to do with reading. Some students will read novels together with their teacher, some students will use this time to complete reading activities on LEXIA (reading support software).

All students will be tested on entry to the academy to ensure that reading support is tailored to their precise needs.

Reading is also an explicit part of every subject area and students will be expected to read, de-code information and elicit meaning from all sorts of texts. Students will be expected to carry their current reading book with them at all times.

In order to prepare for this parents are given a Summer Guidance Reading Pack in July. This contains lots of advice on books that students could read over the summer break; websites and APPs with exciting information; and links to reading events that take place across London during the school holidays.

55 | P a g e

SECTION 4

CREATIVITY

56 | P a g e

KAA specialises in the teaching of Performing and Creative Arts. This means students at KAA will benefit from a curriculum that celebrates this, teaching that specialises in this and opportunities to pursue the arts outside of lesson time. In addition it means some of the best performing and creative institutions in London (and the world) will work with us to bring the very best for our students.

Performing and Creative Arts: The top floor at KAA is devoted to specialist art and technology rooms. These benefit from panoramic views of London and high-spec equipment that means students can transform their inspiration into work of the highest standard.

We have a purpose built dance studio and students will also have the chance to work with teachers from the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) during lesson and enrichment time. RAD will also work with students towards qualifications that recognise and acknowledge their progress.

KAA has 3 music rooms, plus specialist recording equipment, that enable students to develop skills in all areas of musical performance and production. They will have the chance to show-case these skills in the Academy Theatre. This is a purpose built space big enough for an audience of 400. The London School of Dramatic Art (LAMDA) will work with students to develop their acting, public speaking and debating skills. KAA school productions really will be of an incredibly high standard, and a sight to behold!

Being ‘creative’ at KAA means more than just the performing and creative subjects however. INTREPIDUS means students are expected to be creative in all subjects, and in all they undertake.

Being a 21st century learner means finding creative solutions to problems and creative ways to present these solutions. Students will be expected to solve mathematical problems in a creative way, for example. They will be expected to use their imagination to present opinions in creative ways and technology to support this.

Creativity, resilience, excellence and high levels of moral conscience and citizenship will ensure all KAA students are equipped for a bright future. Bringing these core values to life in all of our students is central to every aspect of school life.

57 | P a g e