Dear Parents and Carers,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support as we move into a very important and busy period for Year 10. As we begin preparations for the final year of their GCSE courses, it is vital that we work together to ensure all students are fully prepared and supported.

Attendance remains a key priority. Every lesson at this stage is crucial, as students are building the knowledge and skills, they will need for success in Year 11 and beyond. Any absence can have a significant impact on progress, particularly with upcoming assessments and key content being covered. We encourage all students to attend school every day and arrive on time so they can make the most of every learning opportunity. We understand that at times there is a reason for absence, but if this is the case, catching up with missed work is important so we fill any gaps there may be before they sit their GCSE exams.

Between Monday 1st June and Thursday 18th June, students will sit their Year 10 trial examinations. These are extremely important as they provide students with valuable experience of exam conditions, help identify strengths and gaps in learning, and allow staff to put tailored support in place ahead of Year 11. These are the first set of exams Year 10 will sit that mimic the external exams they will take next year in Year 11, so we see it as an excellent opportunity to prepare and pick up on any issues there may be and allow us to rectify these before the ‘proper’ exams. The data we collect from these exams are also vital, as previously mentioned. So, if a student does miss an exam for whatever reason, there will be catch up sessions put on to allow them to complete the missed exams. We ask that you support your child by encouraging effective revision habits, ensuring they are well-rested, and reinforcing the importance of taking these assessments seriously.

Following this, students will take part in Work Experience from Monday 13th July to Friday 17th July. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to develop employability skills, gain insight into the world of work, and build confidence in new environments. We hope students embrace this experience fully, demonstrating responsibility, maturity, and a positive attitude. I am looking forward to visiting as many students as I can on these placements to see how they are getting on and how they are enjoying their new experiences. We want every student to gain this experience, so if your child has yet to secure a work experience placement it isn’t too late, but we do need to act quickly. Feel free to contact me if support is required and we will do as much as we can to assist.

We are also looking forward to upcoming events, including Freddie’s Festival on the 18th June, which will showcase a number of students talents, as well as Sports Day in the penultimate week and a number of trips to 6th forms and Universities that are coming up over the final half-term.

As we approach the end of the academic year, there will also be an increased focus on preparing students for their transition into Year 11. Expectations will continue to rise, particularly around behaviour, attitude to learning, and independence. It is essential that students respond positively to feedback, remain focused in lessons, and begin to take greater ownership of their learning as they move into this crucial stage of their education. Year 10 are regularly praised for their positive attitude and behaviour in school and that is testament to the outstanding young people they are becoming, but there is always room for improvement. I will be aiming to contact a number of parents over the coming weeks where their child’s attitude to learning doesn’t quite meet expectations, and what we can do together to support improvement and set them up to excel in Year 11.

Looking further into the future, Year 11 will be concluded with Leavers Day and Prom. These are incredibly exciting events to celebrate your child’s time at Frederick Gent School and is already the talk amongst many students, but it is important to emphasise that these are reward events and if behaviour doesn’t meet expectations students may not get an invitation. Students who receive more than 20 behaviour points will have to go on a behaviour plan with set targets in place in order to earn their place at Leavers Day and Prom, and if these targets are not met, students will lose the right to be able to attend- which I do not want for anyone in the year group. I would also like to highlight that, as teachers, we are required to follow the rules and policies set out by our school employer and Trust. All relevant information and policies can be found on our school website. This approach is vital to ensure consistency, clarity, and fairness, removing any grey areas and ensuring that students experience consistent outcomes.

Thank you once again for your continued support. By working together, we can ensure that students are well-prepared, confident, and motivated as they move into Year 11 and their final year at Frederick Gent School.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate in contacting me.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Rudkin