Parent Briefing 24/2/25
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Welcome back to the second part of our Spring Term. I hope all children have had a restful half-term break.
All children will be involved in assemblies today which will remind them of our basic school EGSpectations. This will include a reminder of our Strong Start EGSpectation.
Strong Starts
During lesson transitions, all teachers and staff are present in corridors, supporting calm and orderly transitions as part of our ‘Calm Corridors’ EGSpectation. We expect all children to walk quickly and sensibly to their next lesson.
We give children 5 minutes to transition between lessons. This is adequate timing; it takes approximately 3 minutes 40 seconds to walk from one end of the school to the other. All children are expected to arrive at their next lesson within this 5-minute transition window.
This means that they arrive in time to complete the Recall Task and to settle into their lesson.
We do not permit children to be later than this 5-minute window as it causes disruption to the beginning of lessons.
Every lesson at EGS begins with a Recall Task. This is a short quiz that children complete to test their prior knowledge. These quizzes are what we call ‘Low-stakes’; it doesn’t matter if their answers are incorrect. They are simply to allow the teacher to understand what children do and do not know, and to allow them to identify what support children may need in the lesson.
To recap, our Strong Starts EGSpectation includes:
- Transition quickly and calmly between lessons within the 5-minute window
- Be greeted at the classroom door by the teacher
- Sit in the seat allocated by the teacher (this is known as the Seating Plan)
- Take expected equipment out of the school bag and place on the desk
- Complete the Recall Task
CURRICULUM & ASSESSMENT
Year 11 Pre-Public Exams, Spring 2025
The final set of Pre-Public Examinations (PPEs) will take place from Monday 3 March to Friday 17 March with French and Spanish speaking assessments taking place during week commencing 24 February.
Click on the blue button below to view the Exam Timetable, along with revision techniques and resources. The booklet also includes the timetable of Ellis Electives ‘extra study’ sessions (page 5).
CURRENT REWARDS
Lovely Lollipops for 100% Attendance this Week!
This term brings a new set of rewards, kicking off with lollipops on Fabulous Friday this week and ending with an EGScellent Easter Adventure on 4 April where students with 100% attendance for the term will all receive an Easter Egg reward!
Year 11 Rewards
Year 11 have their own Attendance Rewards with 2 pairs of cinema tickets to be won every week, and entry to our Pre-Exam Draw to win an iPad. The more 100% weeks completed, the more chances to win!
Click on the slide show below to view ALL of our current rewards. Students can spend their Guilford Gold in our Swap Shop or save for bigger rewards including a Rewards Trip to Jurassic Cove on 3 & 4 April, costing 2000GG.
SAFEGUARDING
Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)
This week both pupils and staff will be trained in understanding the dangers of and recognising the indicators of child criminal exploitation (CCE).
CCE has featured recently in ITV’s “Out There” which, although heavily dramatised, highlights how easy it is for ordinary, yet vulnerable young people, to be quickly exploited into carrying out criminal activities – usually involving carrying, hiding or transporting drugs or weapons. Those who persuade, manipulate, coerce or blackmail others into criminal activity are skilled at grooming others into doing what they want. This is child abuse.
“Out There” is available on ITV X and more information on the programme can be found here: out-there-new-itv-thriller-starring-martin-clunes-and-louis-ashbourne-serkis
The NPSCC has a good resource that will inform you about the dangers of CCE and how to spot the indicators. Use the link below to find out more (you can also click on the infographic for a quick overview).
nspcc.org.uk/what-is-child-abuse/types-of-abuse/gangs-criminal-exploitation
If you have any Safeguarding concerns, please email: john.williams@ellisguilfordschool.org.uk
SCHOOL REMINDERS
Ellis Electives
If your child would like to take part in our range of after-school Electives (clubs), please sign them up through the Arbor Parent App. You will find the revised schedule for this term (including Year 11 Electives) along with details of how to sign up here: Extra-curricular Activities – Ellis Guilford School.
Click through the slides below to view what’s on offer this term. The slides also include Year 11 Electives ‘Extra Study’ sessions before and after school.
Pre-Owned Uniform Shop
A reminder that we have our pre-owned uniform shop available to purchase current uniform for Years 8 to 11 at low cost.
Please do pop in to our pre-loved uniform shop during its opening times , or ask at Main Reception if these times are not suitable.
25 Guilford Gold will be rewarded for any donations being dropped off at Reception.
KEY DATES & EVENTS
Click on the image below to view our ‘live’ calendar of key dates and events. Click through the pages to find out what’s happening this month or next! Year 9 Options Evening takes place on Wednesday 12 February.
