Feedback from Parents
We are delighted with the highly positive feedback from parents:
“Organisation and provision of online learning has been brilliant”;
“Lessons are engaging and stimulating”.
The dialogue with parents since distributing reports is invaluable. Please continue to use the ‘subjectissues@poolehigh.poole.sch.uk’
We will continue to strengthen our support to parents especially where online reports have not been accessed and where greater dialogue may be needed.
Remote Learning FAQs
At this very difficult time, we recognise that parents are working incredibly hard to balance many different needs. The most important priority is the safety and happiness of our families and so as a school, we want to support you in helping you do what you think is best for your children. With this in mind, we have created a list of answers to the most frequent questions that we have had from parents about Remote Learning. If you cannot find the answer to the question here, please get in touch as subjectissues@poolehigh.poole.sch.uk and someone will get back to you as soon as possible.
Why have you changed the timetable for Years 7-9?
When speaking to students we recognised that we could make the timetable simpler to follow and to ensure that they have a rich and varied diet of tasks to do every day.
Why are lessons shorter for Years 7-9?
Research into the way we learn suggests that children learn best in smaller chunks. Working for a whole hour at a time without direct teacher input can be difficult, especially maintaining focus for that length of time. However, there is always more that your son/daughter can do. The lessons provided by their teachers are only part of their work for the day. They can spend time ensuring that the material covered in the lesson as actually been learnt (i.e. they can remember the details at a later date). They can use their knowledge organisers to self-quiz by doing look, cover, write, check or create flashcards and use the Lietner Method to learn the key words. Revisiting topics previously covered, really develops the long term memory and is an incredibly valuable was to spend part of the day. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C20EvKtdJwQ&disable_polymer=true). There are also challenge and extension tasks for all subjects that your son/daughter can do.
What does Flipped Reading Tasks mean?
Your son/daughter’s English teacher will provide Flipped Reading Tasks. These are short readings that they should do in preparation for their English Lesson. Reading for pleasure can be any book that they choose, however there are also some resources for students to access in their English Google Classroom.
Reading for pleasure can be any book that they choose, however there are also some audio readings and mixture of other reading resources in their English Google Classroom.
Teachers are working hard to ensure that each lesson is about 30 to 40 minutes, chunked into different activities. We are asking them to indicate how long each individual activity should take. However, children do work at different rates and it is hard to get that right for every student. If they finish the work that they have been set, they can always do the tasks indicated above in Question 2. It is also worth checking that your child has followed the instructions and have produced work that is of a good quality. Many staff are setting challenge tasks that are extension tasks to be done when all work is completed and there are always enrichment tasks that the Heads of Year share every week. If your son/daughter is regularly finishing their work early, you/they can always contact the teachers directly and ask for more work. We are happy to help.
As well as encouraging your child to read as much as possible, there is the opportunity to research things and study topics that interest them. We have lots available through school, through the Easter Enrichment classroom and for Year 9 students there is the opportunity to explore the (grade) ‘9 is mine’ programme. Please ask for more details at SubjectIssues@poolehigh.poole.sch.uk In addition, there are also many online learning opportunities. BBC Bitesize have released resources for all subjects and the BBC are streaming excellent programmes for all Key Stages. The Oak National Academy (https://www.thenational.academy/online-classroom) also offer a range of online ‘lessons’ that can supplement your child’s learning.
My son/daughter has too much work to do. What should they do?
Teachers are working hard to ensure that each lesson is about 30 to 40 minutes, chunked into different activities. We are asking them to indicate how long each individual activity should take. However, children do work at different rates and it is hard to get that right for every student. The priority for your child is to work regularly, and complete as much as they can in the time available. If your son/daughter regularly has too much work and you are concerned, please get in touch by emailing SubjectIssues@poolehigh.poole.sch.uk. We are happy to help.
We can’t follow the timetable rigidly, is this ok?
The timetable is a guide that will provide structure to a working day. We know that every family is different and has very different challenges. Staff set long deadlines for work and we are not expecting all children to follow the timetable to the letter. Do what works for you as a family. It does not matter what order work is completed.
The health of your child and family is the most important thing. When they are ready to get back to doing some work, please email their teachers through the Google Classroom, or SubjectIssues@poolehigh.poole.sch.uk who will advise on the best work to do. All of the work on the Google Classrooms should be organised in date order with the most recent work at the top, so this is often a good place to start.
I am worried that my child will not catch up. What should I do?
This is an unprecedented time, and all children are working from home. We know that we will have to work hard with each child in September to fill their gaps, and that is OK. Our aim is that each child has as few gaps as possible. We value your support in this and encouraging your child to work regularly is the most important thing that they can do right now.
My child does not understand some of the work that has been set, what should they do?
Teachers are working hard to make the tasks set as simple as possible. However, they are really happy for students to email them through the google classroom if there is anything that they do not understand. There is also a ‘Stream’ in the Google Classroom where students can post general questions. There are often responses to similar questions, so it worth checking this section. Get in touch; we are happy to help.
We know that this is challenging for students. Many tasks can also be done on paper and then photographed and uploaded to the Google Classroom if that is helpful. Please get in touch with your child’s teachers if there are problems with specific work that is hard to do in this way.
My son/daughter shares a laptop with a number of other people in the household. What should they do?
We know that this happens, and appreciate that this is very challenging. Students do not have to follow their timetable rigidly. Many tasks can also be done on paper and then photographed and uploaded to the Google Classroom at a more convenient time.
I have a question that has not been answered by these FAQs. What should I do?
Please get in touch with us by email. We are happy to help and will email or call you as soon as possible: SubjectIssues@poolehigh.poole.sch.uk