Hello!
Many thanks to everyone for the prompt submission of reports. They clearly show that you know your students well and what they need to do to improve.
Last week we had the Year 11 parents evening. A very successful time, with targets and challenges clearly set. As many of you know, the performance element is the one that will make or loose the target grade for the student. Therefore, you have to choose suitable music (have a list of 3 or 4 pieces that you select from, knowing they are suitable). Get them to listen to recordings of the music. You must nag them if they are not working fast enough. It is with this that I have the greatest worry - please please nag, challenge, email home, pressure, shout at. Don't accept that no practice has been done - you are accountable for at least 20% if not 40% of their final GCSE grade. As a department, we have to get the GCSE grades right, and students have to achieve what we believe they can achieve. I will be speaking to everyone this week who has GCSE musicians, to ensure that Year 11 and Year 10 are on track to achieve recordings if not already done. Many Year 10s already have recordings and thank you to those who have done them!
Linked to this is lesson absence. Please use the absence form on the right here to put in every single absence. It is really important that everyone does this. Remission has to be tracked, and we have to account for our absence numbers. I am sorry to nag, but need to ensure we are all consistent!
As many of you know, I am going to the Governors Finance meeting in a couple of weeks. I will report on our financial situation, and plans for the future. The aim is to try to maintain our current level of funding from April. I am also starting to think about our priorities for the coming financial year, and welcome any input you have. Primary work is becoming increasingly important, and we are starting to work with Playsomething and the Music Service to start some woodwind and brass 'group lessons' in some primary schools. It has to be planned carefully, to avoid falling into the 'wider opps exit strategy fiasco' that often happens when they suddenly have to start paying. I am trying to support more instruments in this work, but cannot do it alone. Ideas and suggestions needed. Our financial and musical priorities have to react to what is happening in education, what is successful and what requires support. This is what we are doing with the primary work, the continued success of our choirs and singing, the continued development of our use of technology and so on. All whilst reducing our costs! Not easy.
Year 12 and 13 exams continue this week. Year 10 are on work experience the week before half term as well, and thus will not be in school. I may organise some planning time and KS3 chamber workshops for this week. Ideas for a good use of this time welcome.
AB exams - please complete the form linked on the exams page above fairly urgently. We have a very tight turn around for the entries. Trinity slightly less urgent, but complete the form please! I will arrange a Rock School date this week for later in the term.
Many thanks for your continued hard work and dedication to the musicians that you teach. The talk this term is going to be about hubs, funding and the future, as we move into a new financial year. We are in a very strong position, but have to continue to develop and move forward to stay in this position!
Have a great week
Mark
