Astrea St Ivo
Astrea St Ivo
Dear Parent/ Carer
Most of my newsletter this week is focussed on the curriculum offer for Years 7 to 9, Year 9 into 10, and Year 11 into sixth form for September 2024. I hope you understand that it is only when we reach this part of the year, when we have a good idea about staffing availability for September, that can we confirm such information.
The final part of the newsletter relates to some class changes in history and mathematics and a reminder about applying to become part of the Parent Advisory Council (PAC).
Years 7 to 9
As promised, we have reviewed the key stage 3 curriculum (Years 7 to 9), and a change will be made to the balance between the performing arts and the core curriculum. From September 2024, one lesson per fortnight in mathematics will move to music so that students have access to a music lesson every week. The rest of the key stage 3 curriculum will remain the same for next year.
Year 9 into 10
There is only one change to the Year 9 into 10 curricula offer that we need to make: unfortunately, we will no longer be able to offer food next year. Food is such a popular subject, and I appreciate that this will be upsetting for some. As parents and carers of Year 7 to 9 students may know and may have experienced, we have been trying to recruit an additional food teacher all year since Mrs Darnell left at the start of the autumn term, to no avail. Like many schools in the country, 119 schools were advertising for similar posts on Thursday, we are finding it particularly challenging to fill this role and we have had to revert to supply staff throughout this academic year.
I hope parents, carers and students can understand that I cannot, in all good conscience, start a course that may not have a qualified teacher to deliver the qualification, or remove qualified food teachers from other years to supplement further options. This was a difficult decision, but I think it is the morally right one not to start something you may not be able to finish – especially where students’ qualifications are concerned.
The pastoral team will be meeting with all students who selected food over the course of Monday and Tuesday next week to discuss other options and make alternative plans.
Year 11 into Sixth Form
As per my newsletter on 2 October 2023 setting out the timeline for publication of definitive blocks and courses, we are now in a position after discussing options and preferences again with students, to confirm the subjects available for study for September 2024; this is a follow-on to the ‘subjects at risk’ newsletter on 11 March 2024.
These are the confirmed option blocks, and subjects therein, that will be available to our current Year 11 (into sixth form) students:
| Block P | Block Q | Block R | Block S |
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* The Extended Project Qualification is available across multiple blocks, enabling access to all if desired
Whilst I appreciate that the temporary loss of some subjects for next year is unfortunate, we hope to build on this strong base in future years to make our sixth form as successful as possible. I am pleased that the vast majority of students reinterviewed were able to find an acceptable alternative.
The sixth form team talked to Year 11 students today in assembly to highlight the offer and invite anyone who may be interested in switching to sociology to see them.
If your child didn’t apply to our sixth form initially, but change their mind in the coming months, please be reassured that the sixth form will be able discuss their options with them even up to summer results day.
Parent Advisory Council (PAC)
Thank you to those parents/ carers who have applied already; the Local Governance Committee will review applications in its 1 May 2024 meeting, and we will get back to you as soon as possible after then.
If you haven’t yet registered your interest yet but would like to get involved with the development of the school, there is still time to do so. The deadline for applying is Monday 29 April 2024, so you still have two weekends to decide. The form can be found here PAC Application Form, and my video giving more information about how it will operate can be found here https://youtu.be/JqgtYq-Z_1M?si=TNHeSeovsbjq96Lt
Group changes
In order to cover a current absence, Miss Brown will be taking over some history and personal development groups from Monday. Miss Brown’s background is actually in humanities, but she has been supporting in the mathematics department this year. Mr Izyky will be taking over a Year 11 history group, and Mr Lake picking up additional politics teaching. Mr Pearson will be taking over Miss Brown’s mathematics classes. A Year 10 tutor group will be taken by Mr Lake from Monday.
Yours faithfully
Tony Meneaugh
Interim Principal
Year 7 Parents’/Carers’ Evening
Parents Evening will be held online on Thursday 2 May from 4pm-7.30pm.
Appointments can be booked via SchoolCloud – St Ivo Academy. Booking open on Monday 22 April at 6am and will close at 8am on Thursday 21 March. If you have any difficulties using the online platform, please call the school office on 01480 375400. If you have any other queries about parents’ evening, please contact your child’s Head of Year.
On the evening itself, please once again log on to School Cloud then click the “join video appointments” button. The system will then load your appointments, please see https://support.parentseveningsystem.co.uk/article/801-video-parents-how-to-attend-appointments-over-video-call for further information. You can use most phones, tablets, laptops etc to access this service. Please note that in order for the evening to run to time, calls will automatically cut off at the given end time (there will be a countdown on your screen).
Upcoming diary dates
Monday 22 April: Year 11 GCSE Art exams begin.
Thursday 25 April; year 11 GCSE French and German speaking exams begin.
Monday 29 April: Year 12 practical mocks begin
Monday 29 April: Year 11 Dance exam
House Points
House totals year to date:
- Bridge 41,350
- Crosier 40,062
- Leger 39,458
- River 41,657
- Wheatsheaf 38,287
Congratulations to the following student who has achieved 200 House points (white award):
- Abi 7Dr, Alfie 7Dr, Amelie 7Dr, Inaya 7Dr, Katie 7Dr, Layla 7Dr, Abi 7Mc, Alfie 7Mc, Eli 7Mc, Carys 7Nt, Max 7Nt, Olivia 7Nt, Maja 7Oe, Patrycja 7Oe, Max 7Sl/Kf, George 7St, Juliana 7St, Ayaan 7Ti, Darren 7Ti, Gemma 7Ti, Sophie 7Ti, Takunda 7Ti, Aurora 7Wa, Eva 7Wa, Izzy 7Wa
- Freya 8Bn, Haniya 8Cl, Edith 8Hr, Linden 8Hr, Sofia 8Mw, Dylan 8Pn/Cf
- Ellie 9Ak, Rhea 9Ak, Rosie 9Hx, Erin 9Hy, George 9Ja/Hw, Megan 9Ja/Hw, Sophia 9Ja/Hw, Will 9Ja/Hw, Yusuf 9Ja/Hw, Ashley 9Le, Cheuk Wang 9Le, Eden 9Le, Owen 9Le, Daniel 9Lk, Dexter 9Yo/Ws
- Daniel 10Bf, Edward 10Bf, Evelyn 10Bf, Jasmine 10Bf, Sarah 10Bf, Lucas 10By, Alfie 10Db, Amelie 10Hl, Yanna 10Pe, Arshal 10Sq
Congratulations to the following students who have achieved 150 House points (gold award):
- Abdul 7Bh, Arafat 7Bh, Harriet 7Dr, Warren 7Dr, Charlie 7Mc, Sammy 7Mc, Tom 7Mc, Ash 7Nt, Declan 7Nt, Freddie 7Nt, Katelyn 7Nt, Keira 7Nt, Cian 7Oe, Helena 7Oe, Vinnie 7Oe, Abi 7Sl/Kf, Ayman 7Sl/Kf, Tia 7Sl/Kf, Evie 7St, Molli 7St, Olli 7St, Shazebuddin 7St, Sienna 7St, Tyler 7St, Aidan 7Ti, Joey 7Ti, Marco 7Ti, Sebastian 7Ti, Tilly 7Ti, Fahmid 7Tw, Rafi 7Tw, Benyameen 7Wa, Ilana 7Wa, Laura 7Wa, Vinny 7Wa
- Georgia 8Bn, Lily 8Cl, Eleanor 8Dt/Tl, Rory 8Dt/Tl, Grace 8Hh, Jay 8Hh, Jack 8Hr, Bella 8Mw, Harry 8Mw, Dexter 8Pn/Cf
- Edward 9Ak, Callum 9Ev/Wl, Marco 9Ev/Wl, Thavishi 9Ev/Wl, Finley 9Go, Ben 9Hy, Dylan 9Hy, Esther 9Hy, Jessica 9Hy, Joshua 9Hy, Leo 9Le, Luqman 9Le, Niamh 9Le, Lewis 9Lk, Poppy 9Nn, Tom 9Nn, Masuma 9Yo/Ws, William 9Yo/Ws
- Aasrith 10By, Ava 10By, Dougie 10By, Eden 10By, Ariella 10Db, Casey 10Db, Emilie 10Db, Milhan 10Hl, Amelia 10Ht, Joseph 10Ht, Nadia 10Ht, Alexander 10Kd, Harry 10Kd, Maja 10Kd, Ameerah 10Sg, Josh 10Sg, Penelope 10Sg, Daisy 10Sz, Henry 10Sz
Congratulations to the following students who have achieved 100 House points (silver award):
- Arafat 7Bh, Sammy 7Mc, Bailey 7Sl/Kf, Darcy 7Ti, Jannat 7Wa
- Oliver 8Bn, Grace 8Dt/Tl, Oscar 8Dt/Tl, Lizzie 8Jh/Dm, Dexter 8Tr
- Vlad 9Ak, Freya 9Ev/Wl, Anna 9Hx, Archie 9Hx, Reuben 9Le, Laila 9Nn, Isaac 9Yo/Ws
- India 10Bf, Scarlett 10Hl, Kaif 10Ht, Ava 10Kd, Milly 10Pe, Sammy 10Pe, Charlie 10Sq, Georgia 10Sq, Hirmi 10Sq, Niamh 10Sq,
Seville 10Sq
Congratulations to the following students who have achieved 75 House points (bronze award):
- Sam 7Bh, Eli 7Sl/Kf, Harry 7Sl/Kf, Ethan 7Ti
- Ela 8Hh, George 8Hr, Leila 8Pn/Cf
- Jasper 9Ak, Samuel 9Ak, Honor 9Hy, Lucas 9Hy, Joe 9Nn, Finley 9Yo/Ws
- Harvey 10Bf, Oliver 10Hl, Alessandro 10Kd, Joshua 10Sg, Celeste 10Pe, Nafisah 10Pe, Micah 10Sz
Congratulations to the following students who have achieved 50 House points (house badge):
- Bobby 8Bn, Carter 8Bn, Rico 8Bn, Raza 8Hr
- Maddie 9Ak, Phoenix 9Hy
- Lauren 10Sg
Colour Run
A group of Year 7 students attended the Living Sport Colour Run on Wednesday this week.
Their energy and enthusiasm was fantastic! Well done to all of those that completed the course.
NEA marks for GCSE and A level
The process for the marking and internal moderation of the Non-Examination Assessment (NEA) work for students is completed during the first week back at school after the Easter holiday period. The NEA, together with the written papers later this term, will contribute to the final Year 11 GCSE and Year 13 A level/BTEC grades. These marks will be submitted to the Awarding Bodies, who will in turn ask the school for named samples of work as part of their own external moderation process. Students are informed of their marks during the first week of the Summer term after the Easter holiday, and marks are also placed on Bromcom for your information. The publication of marks forms part of the NEA normal process laid down by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) which is set out in our “Non-examination Assessment Policy” and is available in the policies section on the school website.
If you have any issues logging on to Bromcom or if you have any further questions, please get in touch. Thank you for your continued support, as together both parents/carers and the academy continue to work hard in getting our young people ready for their important Summer examinations.
Pictured are the JCQ Instructions for Conducting Coursework Point 13.5 which relates to this process:
Cyber Safety
Adult Learning at Cottenham Village College
NEW Courses
We have added two new evening classes to our Adult Learning programme for the Summer Terms, these are Italian for Beginners and Italian Intermediate, these both start on Thursday 25th April.
These will run for 10 weeks.
For further information, please visit https://astreaadultlearning.org/languages-2/ or email community@astreacottenham.org