Headlines By James Saunders 29th January 2021
55 Guided choices We will soon be introducing our C8 learners to the guided choices process. This is where they choose the subjects they would like to take at GCSE. Below is a timeline of key dates to look out for in this process. Guided Choices 2021 Timeline Week of Monday 1st February during LS5 LGL’s / CL share pre recorded learner guided choices presentation explaining the process and guided choices available. Please watch the video with your children it has information and a timeline from Mr Munro Week of Monday 1st March Guided Choices Booklet and Subject Videos shared with Learners and their Families. (Guided Choices Evening was Wednesday 10th March) Week of Monday 1st March Google Form shared with learners for their Guided Choices to be made (by 22nd March). Monday 22nd March - Guided Choices Form return Deadline 9.00am We should never underestimate how daunting it can appear to be for our C8s and their parents. It is easy to think that, for our learners, the rest of their lives rests on the decisions they will be making over the next few weeks but in reality we all know there will be a whole host of decisions that they have yet to make that will hold more significance in their lives. I think it is important to remain grounded in this so that we do not create additional pressure or anxiety for our learners. What we have learnt over the last year is that adaptability is key. The process is called ‘Guided’ Choices to reflect the fact that we are guiding them through it. Our curriculum is designed to be broad and balanced. The structure of the choices they can make dictates that, to some extent. Most combinations that our learners will select will meet this criteria, however, I feel it is still worth bearing in mind that we want them to make the right choices for themselves; choices that they own. I often use the following venn diagram to guide learners:
To achieve success learners need to think about a combination of what they aspire to do in the future as well as what might help them in the future, combined with what they are good at and what they enjoy. If too much emphasis is placed on one at the expense of another then they will not be as motivated to be successful. The classic mistake is to choose a subject based solely on the teacher.
In any career there will be things you enjoy and things you must endure. Once our learners, at any level, start to understand this it is a lot easier to support them to achieve their goals. We don’t always like every aspect of our jobs (I am certainly finding some aspects a challenge at the moment) yet we understand the need for them. We don’t get to pick and choose everything we do at work. This is no different to the broad and balanced curriculum we offer our learners. Whilst we are proud to offer a curriculum that contains choice we need to recognise that there are still things we must do that may not necessarily have been chosen. Contd...
Headlines contd... We often hear statistics about the uncertainty of the job market in the future; how there are jobs that don’t yet exist - COVID has made that even more so. This is why it is important for learners to recognise that the curriculum choices they make or have to take are designed to support them as they churn their way through the unknown landscape of the future. At Honywood we aim for learners to leave us happy and successful; to go on and leave fulfilling lives. I would like to reshare the Japanese concept of IKIGAI - the reason for being. I think this is a great way to support conversations about choice and aspiration for all children.
What I love about this is that it helps to identify purpose in life. I think working in a school offers IKIGAI and most days (even in current times) I think I have found it. I hope you have too. Have a safe weekend James Saunders Headteacher
Illness / absence from We are now receiving either virtual or physical nominations for the January school should be Jack Petchey award. If you reported in the usual know of a learner that way via email to deserves to be nominated for this award, please email Mrs Frogley cfrogley@honywoodschool.com with the Attendance learners name and reason why you believe they should @honywoodschool.com receive the award.
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We are incredibly proud of our learners and the way in which they have adapted once again to online learning and the virtual learning classes this term. In celebration of this, each week subject teams will be nominating a "Learner of the Week", Learners who have demonstrated commitment, positive attitude and completed outstanding work during this lockdown period. Well done everyone!
English C7 - George Warwick C7 - Joe Weston C8 - Tamar Milliken C8 - Emily Wild C9 - Niamh Matthews C9 - Charlotte Russell C10 - Jake Ring C10 - Daisy Thomas C11 - Ryley Brazier C11 - Erin Hill
Science C7 - Keira Martin C8 - Aidan Holt C9 - Amelie Cooper C10 - Amelia Jenkins C11 - Jordan Kelly
Music C7 - Faye Longstaff C8 - Dan White C9 - Sam Divine C10. - Layla Al-Riyami C11 - Josh White
Computer Science C9—Stefano Nevin-Psarras C10—Joe Ferguson C11—Aleksander Galecki
Business Studies C9—Holly James C10—Max Jones C11—Ashtyn Newley
French C7 - Sophia Cooper C8 - Theodore McQuillian C9 - Olivia Wilson C10 - Layla Al-Riyami C11 - Hannah Read
German
Geography C7— Joe Weston C8—Amy Pellow C9— Ben Hill C10—Lienke Viljoen C11— Emily Pyatt
History
C7 - Emily Henrici-Fernandez C8 - Harriet Trustrum C9 - Daisy Young C10 - Fern Hazell-Young
C7— Keira Martin C8— Nathan Repman C9— Jessica Wheeler C10— Daisy Thomas
C11 - Matt Gomes
C11— Grace Morris
Spanish C8 - Gabriel McQuillan C9 - Amy Barnes-Grime C10 - Aisling Pellowe C11 - Abby Colairo
PE C7—Max Holland C8—Logan Humphries C9—Max Cherry (Core PE) C9— Amelie Cooper (GCSE PE) C10—Josie Dale (Core PE) C10—Melissa Lemin (GCSE PE) C11—Oliver Williams (Core PE) C11—Daisy Donnelly (GCSE PE)
Philosophy & Religion C7 - Soha Malek C8 - Dominic Scherer C9 - Joanne Neary C11 - Hannah Read