notices

Exam Timetables

• An overview of all examination dates can be found here: Summer 2024 GCSE Exam Dates and Times 
• Individual exam timetables have been issued to each student today; please check these carefully – particularly the tiers of entry for Science, Maths and French
• Individual arrangements for rooming and seating will be shared with students after Easter
• All morning exams will start at 9.00am and afternoon exams start at 1pm
• Students should arrive in plenty of time (at least 15 minutes before), in full school uniform and with the correct equipment for each exam
• Early morning pre-exam breakfast and after school classes before an exam the next day will also be offered as an opportunity to settle nerves and answer last minute questions (details of these can be on the exam timetable found here as 8am or 3pm sessions)
• Before all exams, we will provide students with complimentary bottles of water, toast and/or fruit
• Regardless of the dates on students’ own exam timetables, ALL STUDENTS are expected to remain available until after the government’s exam contingency date of Wednesday 26th June 2024: this is the reserve date for any exams that have to be postponed due to unforeseen circumstances

Revision

• Students should be revising independently every day. Exam information for each subject and revision guidance can be found here: Summer Exams 2024: Revision Guidance
• please use the following links for information about effective learning strategies as well as an editable study timetable to help students organise their time carefully
• Our Exam Support sessions are still taking place and your child’s teachers will be in touch personally should your child’s attendance be required after school for these small, targeted interventions
• Maths AIM drop-in continues on Tuesdays after school, as does English drop-in on Fridays
• There is a full programme of revision sessions being offered during the Easter holiday and details of this have already been shared with you (the programme for this can also be found here: Easter Revision Schedule)
• A separate booking form for the Easter Revision classes has been sent via Parentmail

Study Leave

• We know that being in lessons that are structured and focused on the precise needs of the exam and the students is the best preparation for GCSE exams
• However, we reach a point during the exam period when students have completed the majority of their exams and will therefore only need to attend for their remaining exams
• This point changes every year depending on the exam schedule and we are working this through currently
• We will inform you of the start date for study leave after the Easter break but it is likely to be towards the end of the first week in June

Supporting your child during their exams

• Take an interest: know when their exams are and what they have to do
• Provide a quiet working environment
• Help them plan: little and often rather than larger chunks of time revising is shown to be more effective
• Ensure students eat and drink before an exam
• Balance their time: too much study can be as negative as too little
• Don’t make plans that mean that students have little or no preparation time

Once again, thank you for your support and best of luck to Year 11 in their forthcoming exams.

In May, some of the fittest and bravest of our Redmoor Academy staff are taking on the 3 Peaks challenge as part of a range of memorial activities for former colleagues. During 2023, three members of our staff team sadly passed away; Annie Constable, Lorna Cassie and  Louise Rogerson (A.L.L.)

We miss them all dearly and in the near future will be raising funds towards a memorial garden in school that will provide a place of solace for A.L.L. staff and students when they need it.

More immediately, we have a team of staff who are training hard in preparation for the 3 Peaks challenge on Monday 27th May. After travelling to Scotland the day before, they will ascend Ben Nevis followed by Scafell Pike and then Snowdon – and A.L.L. within 24 hours!

A.L.L. money raised by this activity will be divided equally amongst the 3 charities nominated by the families of our former colleagues. These are;

• Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of Lorna Cassie
• Diabetes UK in memory of Louise Rogerson
• Pancreatic Cancer Research in memory of Annie Constable

We need your support to raise as much money as possible to share between these three amazing charitable groups to support the fantastic work they do. 

Please donate whatever you can and please share this link amongst family and friends

https://gofund.me/9244c153

On behalf of all Redmoor Academy staff and students, thank you.

Hays recruitment-who are the biggest recruitment company in the world-have challenged schools in the local area to take part in a challenge to make your school more sustainable.

The Challenge:

What can you do further in your school to be more sustainable and to help safeguard the natural environment and help your school improve?

Things to consider:

What is the issue you are looking to solve or improve on?
Why does it matter?
Who does it involve?
What measurable goal can you set? (what do you want to do? how? and when?)

What United Nations Development Goals could you support?

You need to start working on your idea straight away as the deadline is 31st Jan, when finished email or hand it in to Mrs Jenkins in the BSO. A selection of pupils ideas will be chosen by the student council to work on this year.

A panel of judges from Hays recruitment will pick an overall idea from all pupils who enter from several schools as a winner in the summer term.

The winning school will receive a prize as well as a personal prize for the student(s) idea who was selected as winner.  

• You can attend Eco-club to work on your idea.
• You can work alone or as part of a team.
• You can make a poster of your ideas, fill out an ideas sheet  or make a slideshow of your idea- Get creative!

Your idea doesn’t have to be a big idea, it just needs to be a positive change we can make together as a school.

Pond Area.  Fairtrade Produce.  Second Hand Shop. Rewilding.

E-waste.  Community Litter Pick. Cycle to School. Composting.

Water Monitoring.    Packaging.  Food waste.   Reduce printing.

Recycling monitors.  Upcycling.  Allotment.  Craft Fair. 

Tackling Greenwashing.  Reuse-(’free stuff’ area). 

Charity Fundraisers.  Outdoor learning.  Energy Use.

Mentor Primary Schools.  Bug/Bird Hotels.   Eco-newsletter.

Eco-art. Litter Monitors. 

BE ANYONE, BE ANYTHING!

Young Writers are running another competition that you can get involved with. 

ALL entries need to be handed in by Monday 12th February – you can hand them in to your tutor, English teacher, Mrs Moore our librarian, or directly to Miss Bale, our Literacy Coordinator.

You must include your Full Name, Age, School Name + School Postcode on your entry and make sure your writing is legible as it will submitted to Young Writers. 

If you want some inspiration or help, visit the Young Writers website or speak to one of the above staff who will help you with your poem!

• You will receive 5 HPs for entering! 
• You will receive a certificate and free bookmark if you are published.
• You will have a chance to buy the book you are published in.
• You will also be in with a chance of winning £50 and a trophy from Young Writers!

Quiet you Maggots! The Trunchbull visited Redmoor Academy last week to whip our KS3 students in to shape for our production of Matilda Jnr.

A show that was put together through lunch time rehearsals alone, showed our students dedication and commitment which has impressed everyone involved. The sheer talent in the auditions meant that two people were cast into each character and boy did they put on a show! The students worked tirelessly since September learning lines, movement and vocal pieces to perform to over 450 members of the public and 200 primary school students. The feedback from parents and students that came and supported the show has been phenomenal:

“Absolutely fantastic show last night, I can’t tell you how impressed we were with everything and what a brilliant performance it was! It was absolutely top notch and exceeded all expectations!” Audience member on the Thursday

“What a wonderful show! What stood out was the joy those students were having on stage, especially with the fun singing numbers. It was so creative, the singing was so great, and everyone was so clear in their words. The set was amazing – particularly Miss Trunchball’s office and the writing on the wall.” Audience member on the Friday

The show wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing support from staff, students and parents. The hard work really shone through with the enjoyment and confidence of the students performing on stage. Redmoor are extremely proud of everyone involved, who all worked together as a team and showed their Redmoor DNA. If you were inspired by the production and performers, keep watch for any upcoming performance opportunities that you can get involved with.

Thank you to team Matilda!