Hello, and I hope half term has been kind to everyone.
Firstly, thanks once again to everyone for supporting students during the exam preparation. We have done what we can, and I hope the students achieve the grades to reflect the work everyone has put in! A2 Music Tech is on Friday.
This half term, the focus moves on to A2 exams, instrumental exams and planning for next year. The Summer Concert is also on Tuesday 5th July, and we have Les Miserables as well. Oh, and the tour! I am working with Alex, Debbie and Clare to look at the calendar and priorities for next year, and the curriculum team regarding Year 10 and curriculum plans for next year. Natalie joins us in July.
Next Tuesday we have another inset session for some of our instrumental team, looking at the quality of teaching, team work and use of technology. I will be contacting those who have not yet had the inset, to arrange a date. The area of technology continues to be a real growth area, with apps, ipads, blogs, phones and more. Whilst this will always be a priority, we need to develop a strategy in this area and trial new ideas. If you want to be involved, let me know.
Many of you will have received details of how your instrumental timetables have been put online. Links to the relevant google spread sheet have been sent, and these can be edited. They are then automatically on the website, so that parents can check them. Each page on the site (www.simonballemusic.info - click on ‘our department’) has the warning that timetables can be changed up to 6pm the previous evening, so that changes can be made. There is a video below showing how to edit and print, and I will set up the remaining timetables in the coming week or so.
Please do now use this, printing from the google sheet, as I firmly believe that the online timetables will be used more and more by students and parents. If on the board, they should also be online! It is fairly straightforward.
Next year will see some developments, as we respond to the changing intake into Year 7. There is quite a bit of piano, and a sprinkling of other instruments. So, some staff will have smaller timetables next year and thus reduced hours or hours that do not increase. I am working with the Music Service to look at how we can support primary work more, with the idea that we help establish more evening teaching for primary students. There is little drive in from the Music Service in this area, and we need to help push this, or risk real issues in the future. Develop or die! One idea is demos in primary schools where students have Music centre lessons after school at SBS.One idea is group teaching like wider opps but smaller groups, where students pay. Again, possibly in the evening. Whatever is decided, we all have to think about this, so that we have musicians in the future.
The issue of timetabling continues to be hard, as pulling students out of lessons can be difficult. An idea has been put forward of evening teaching, even if for only a couple of hours, so that students in Years 10 and 11 can mainly have their lessons after school. It will only be for students who need them, but please can everyone think about the possibility of this for students who find coming out of lessons hard or disruptive or where parents have requested it. It will require us to be even more flexible, but again I feel that we need to do this where possible. Let Sue know if you could do this please.
Other information for the coming weeks:
• Year 13 are now on study leave. Year 12 are also on leave, and on work experience next week, so no Year 12 lessons the week of the 13th.
• Next week Year 7 are in Bude. Sue has sent a separate email about this, but there are no Year 7 lessons next week (from 13th June). With Year 12 and 7 lessons, they should not be counted and caught up later in the term please, as it is official school business.
• Wednesdays 29th June and 6th July Year 12 are on trips and events about moving into Yr 13.
• Monday 27th June in the afternoon – there is a sponsored fun run involving all the students left in school. I will find out more details as soon as I can. We will work to minimise disruption and plan round it.
• Do please check through the calendar in the right. It is up to date, and allows you to see everything that is happening in what can be a very disjointed half term. A reminder we can text students and email parents to remind them of lessons. The online timetables will also be essential!
Have a good week.
Mark
