Dear Parents/Carers,
As we near the end of your son/daughter’s first term at Adams College, I would like to share some important information and inform you of key dates for your diary.
Target Grades
Students are in the process of being issued with their target grades. We use a national company, called FFT (with links to the Fischer Family Trust) to help us in determining target grades. This company analyse the exam results from the previous year’s Year 13 cohort nationally and compares them with student levels of ability from KS4 upon entry to college, as well as looking at their gender and month of birth. Thus, we can see what the most common A Level grades was for a student who entered college with particular KS4 results and these key characteristics.
Next, we narrow this down and consider the colleges which achieve slightly better results than Adams College, which allow us to set suitable target grades for our students with a built-in element of aspiration (as a college, we always want to do better than we did the previous year!)
In summary, the target grades set for your son/daughter should be considered challenging but achievable.
13 February 2018 – Consultation Evening
We have decided to move our Year 12 Consultation Evening to Tuesday 13th February. We feel that a February meeting with you will allow students to gauge their progress at an earlier stage of their courses. I do hope you are able to attend and I look forward to seeing you. Students will be given sign-up sheets at the end of January.
March Assessments
The Year 12 assessments will begin on Monday 5th March, with subject teachers coordinating tests during lessons.
13 March 2018 – UCAS Conference
In March, we will be running our annual trip to the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) Exhibition in Manchester, helping students explore a wide range of academic and career opportunities, and discover a future that’s right for them. We have reserved tickets for one hundred students. Letters will be sent home in the new year.
Study Hub
The majority of our students are continuing to use our Study Hub productively. Working in non-contact periods has really focused students and it’s great to see so much high-level commitment.
9-13 July 2018 – Work Experience
Students should now have returned their proposals for their work experience placement. In this ever-competitive world, work experience is much sought after by potential employers and universities. If you are having difficulty in finding a suitable placement, we do have a directory of businesses who have taken Adams’ students in the past, which students are welcome to browse through. Michelle Keane and Alison Wood are responsible for work experience and students should see them if they have any questions regarding this important opportunity.
Attendance
Do telephone college if there is an authorised reason for a student’s absence or lateness, as we are often asked to comment upon attendance and punctuality by potential employers and universities.
Please do ‘like’ us on Facebook. We regularly update our page with opportunities, initiatives and events which will benefit our students.
Driving
Now that students are reaching the age where driving lessons can start, can I ask you to ensure that the timing of tuition does not coincide with subject lessons at college. Once students have passed their test, should they wish to drive to college, they are reminded that they must park on the car park by the music block, or in neighbouring streets, giving due consideration to residents.
I look forward to welcoming students back to college on 8th January 2018 at 8.45am. May I take this opportunity to wish you all a merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.
Best wishes,
Julie Squire
Key Stage 5 Manager
