• As we have returned back to face to face teaching, we took the decision to re-introduce homework through a staggered approach to support the pupils settling back into school. By now, all pupils should be receiving and completing homework in line with the homework timetable and for all lessons.  It is important that pupils take responsibility for writing their homework tasks into their planners and we ask that you check this with them on a weekly basis and sign their planner to show you have checked it and discussed the work set. Pupils complete their tasks in a homework book rather than their classwork book and they are expected to bring this to school on days when homework is due in.
• The majority of homework tasks will be self-quizzing which is proven to significantly improve the retention of information in the long-term memory through retrieval practice. There’s lots of educational research on how re-calling information from memory actually helps us to improve our memory over time. As a result, this means that pupils who regularly complete self-quizzing homework are more likely to achieve the best grades they are capable of. Self-quizzing also promotes good learning habits such as improved organisation and resilience.
• So what does self-quizzing look like? Pupils will be asked to revise a topic, expected to put their notes away, and then re-call as much as they can; writing what they can remember in their homework book. When pupils have exhausted this, they should then use their notes to add detail in a different colour. This will help them to identify what they need to pay special attention to next time they are revising. Their teachers will check that homework is complete to the correct standard on a weekly basis. Although self-quizzing will form a significant part of homework for most subjects, there will be times when a different task is set. For example, sometimes a project might be more appropriate in DT or pupils may need to answer a past exam question or research a given topic. Some subjects set homework supported by online resources such as GCSEPod or Seneca. Pupils will need to ensure that they know their log in details well in advance of the deadline for any homework being due in.
• Homework is always intended to support pupils learning and progress. We are also keen to make sure that pupils have time to relax and feel fresh and ready for the next day at school.  Homework should take no more than 60-70 minutes of homework per evening.

Year 13 have been working incredible hard to prepare for the Y13 assessments which will go towards their final grades this summer.  We have a record 87% of Y13 students who have applied to Universities across the country through UCAS.  With degrees ranging from Aviation & Airport Management to Pharmacy to Mechanical Engineering.  Students who have not applied through UCAS are currently being supported through the process of applying for apprenticeships and jobs.  All Year 13 students have had independent careers advice from our careers advisor and Year 12 are in the process of meeting with the careers advisor to discuss about their future plans and next steps.

We want to say a massive congratulations to Ellie (Y12) who competed in the British Olympic Trials (Breaststroke), unable to train much due to lockdown Ellie still managed a Seasons Best time and the experience is going to put her in good stead for her next planned competition which is at the end of May in Glasgow to hopefully qualify for the European Junior Swimming Championships.

The living well consortium are offering parents free wellbeing sessions. Some are based at their centre and some are online and can be enjoyed within your home. The following link will take you to their information and timetable.

https://livingwellconsortium.com/events/

Snapchat concern

As parents/carers your children may use Snapchat. Please take the time to read this BBC article regarding a 14year old boy who responded to an advert on Snapchat regarding cash in hand work and within 80 minutes was picked up by a gang and groomed into County Lines drug dealing.

Articles such as this are a great way to discuss online safety, social media and check your child’s phone.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-kent-56717403

Family Money Advice Services

These are difficult times financially for many individuals and families.

• Do you need advice on your entitlement to welfare benefit?
• Do you have debts & need help managing your money?

If so, please do not hesitate to seek help, advice and support from accredited organisations acting on behalf of Birmingham City Council.    

Confidential advice is available over the telephone from qualified advisors and without any charge whatsoever to Birmingham residents.

• North Birmingham: Sutton, Erdington, Shard End

Spitfire Advice Services: Tel: 0121 747 5932

• South Birmingham: Edgbaston, Selly Oak, Northfield

Citizens Advice Birmingham: Tel:0344 477 1010

• East Birmingham: Hodge Hill, Yardley, Hall Green

Citizens Advice Birmingham: Tel:0344 477 1010

• West & Central Birmingham: Ladywood & Perry Barr

Birmingham Settlement: Tel:  0121 250 0765

Alternatively, contact Birmingham City Council’s Contact Centre for a range of advice (welfare benefits, council tax, housing & more) on 0121 216 3030.

DON’T WAIT FOR A SMALL PROBLEM TO BECOME A BIG ONE – CALL TODAY. *

*(Most advice providers operate between 10am & 4pm Monday to Friday and, at times, extend advice services beyond those core hours.)

As we have returned back to face to face teaching, we took the decision to re-introduce homework through a staggered approach to support the pupils settling back into school. By now, all pupils should be receiving and completing homework in line with the homework timetable and for all lessons.  It is important that pupils take responsibility for writing their homework tasks into their planners and we ask that you check this with them on a weekly basis and sign their planner to show you have checked it and discussed the work set. Pupils complete their tasks in a homework book rather than their classwork book and they are expected to bring this to school on days when homework is due in.

The majority of homework tasks will be self-quizzing which is proven to significantly improve the retention of information in the long-term memory through retrieval practice. There’s lots of educational research on how re-calling information from memory actually helps us to improve our memory over time. As a result, this means that pupils who regularly complete self-quizzing homework are more likely to achieve the best grades they are capable of. Self-quizzing also promotes good learning habits such as improved organisation and resilience.

So what does self-quizzing look like? Pupils will be asked to revise a topic, expected to put their notes away, and then re-call as much as they can; writing what they can remember in their homework book. When pupils have exhausted this, they should then use their notes to add detail in a different colour. This will help them to identify what they need to pay special attention to next time they are revising. Their teachers will check that homework is complete to the correct standard on a weekly basis. Although self-quizzing will form a significant part of homework for most subjects, there will be times when a different task is set. For example, sometimes a project might be more appropriate in DT or pupils may need to answer a past exam question or research a given topic. Some subjects set homework supported by online resources such as GCSEPod or Seneca. Pupils will need to ensure that they know their log in details well in advance of the deadline for any homework being due in.

Homework is always intended to support pupils learning and progress. We are also keen to make sure that pupils have time to relax and feel fresh and ready for the next day at school.  Homework should take no more than 60-70 minutes of homework per evening.

We are really impressed with the resilience our pupils have shown since returning to school on 8th March.  For many pupils with additional needs the stark contrast of lockdown, to being in a busy school environment, is not easy.  But with the support from the inclusion and pastoral team, and from our teachers, they have settled in, and are now back to enjoying their lessons, and their interactions with their peers.

Due to the disruption caused by the pandemic, we have increased our literacy interventions in order to close any of the gaps that have been caused by lost learning time.  This means we have many more pupils studying Lexia on a daily basis, which will help with their reading and general literacy skills.

We have also been working hard to support pupils with SEND needs in lessons, which is having a really positive impact on our pupils, and the progress they are making.

It has been lovely to be able to meet (albeit virtually) with parents of Year 9 and Year 10 pupils to offer a 15 minute appointment where we can discuss needs and support required.  Thank you to parents/carers that attended those appointments.  We will be in touch soon with our year 7 and 8 pupils to arrange this opportunity which will become a termly offer, in the new academic year.

Assistive Technology

All pupils have free access to Microsoft Office via RM Unify.  Simply head to rmunify.com and ask your child to enter their school username and password.

Pupils are then able to open a MS Word document, and select the ‘dictate’ function, which has a microphone icon.  Pressing this allows the user to speak, and the computer will type.  This will be really helpful for those pupils who find it difficult to get their ideas down on paper.  If you’d like any further support, please contact us at enquiry@decschool.co.uk 

There has been a lot of work taking place by the Educational Psychology Service, offering all families in Birmingham access to the Friends ‘Start Building Resilience’ package at no cost to families or the school. This resource enables parents to help equip their children with strategies that will either prevent or address early signs of anxiety or low mood.

This package includes:

• Access to a 2-hour video aimed at equipping adults and teenagers with resilience building skills (this can be watched in small sections).
• Access to an e-book per relevant age group:

– Start building resilience for adults and teenagers

– Start building resilience for children

– Start building resilience for young children

To access this package, families just need to email Friends4Families@birmingham.gov.uk with their child’s name and school. In response, they will receive a standard email containing an access code to the relevant age appropriate e-book and instructions of how to log onto the website.

A huge well done to DEC students that have been completing Bedrock sessions from home. 

The dedication that you have shown, and the progress that you have made, is great to see! 

Keep up the hard work ?

On Tuesday, 9 February 2021, we will celebrate the 18th edition of Safer Internet Day with actions taking place right across the globe. With a theme once again of “Together for a better internet”, the day calls upon all stakeholders to join together to make the internet a safer and better place for all, and especially for children and young people.

Read on to find out more about practical ways in which you can get involved in the celebrations. Whether you are a young person, a parent or carer, a teacher or an educator, a policy maker, or whether you represent an organisation or industry, everyone has a role to play in creating and maintaining a better online world.

And, noting the global reach of the Safer Internet Day campaign, on this site you’ll also be able to discover more about the planned actions of European Safer Internet Centres, global Safer Internet Day Committees and a range of organisational and industry supporters – we’re progressively updating profiles for the 2021 campaign, so please check back often for the latest updates.

https://www.saferinternetday.org/resources