Dear Parents/Carers,
Hope this letter finds you well and gives you adequate information about how to support your child in the upcoming months in preparation for their maths GCSE. I have also outlined some of the strategies we are using as a department to ensure progress.
I apologise if you have attended parents evening with their Maths teacher as this may be repetition from the evening but I want to ensure this information is passed on to all parents/carers.
All students have gone through their PPE papers from November PPEs in their lessons and completed “challenge pathway” questions based on their gaps from their assessments. They were sent home with 3 x personalised learning checklists (PLC) that are colour coded and refers them to Sparx online to watch videos or attempt tasks on their gaps. Students were advised to pick at least 3 topics from each paper and ensure they understand the topics.
They can also log in to Pinpoint Learning with the username and password on google classroom to access their virtual exam folder where all their scores and topics of weaknesses are kept. The site allows them to watch videos and secure their understanding. Please could we request support in ensuring that they spend some time on these as part of their revision?
Furthermore, to give them adequate exam practice we are setting an exam-style paper on Mondays with an expectation of them bringing a completed copy by Thursday when teachers will conduct a walking talking mock style and assess their paper. These are posted on google classrooms and printed copies are given in class for all students. Students who do not bring this to class, will be given a negative on Bromcom for lack of homework and teachers will email to seek your support in ensuring they bring this.
We will also accommodate some walking talking mocks before their PPEs begin to offer guidance on how to approach questions and other exam techniques which will be useful for their upcoming mocks.
Finally, it is vital that all Year 11 students come to school with a scientific calculator, every day. Two of their 3 papers are based on calculators and we need them in lessons to practise calculator skills in Maths and science. Please could you check with your son or daughter that they are bringing their calculators to school everyday.
Checklist for parents on how to support for preparing for Maths PPE:
- Please check Homework is being completed weekly – 1 paper and 1 Sparx
- Please check the topics from PLC printouts are being attempted on Sparx
- Please check they are attending Tuesday after school intervention or Saturday intervention as per their invites.
- Please ensure they have a full working scientific calculator and bring it to school.
- Please communicate with their teacher if you need any more information.
- Encourage them to use our Maths department revision website to get past papers and graded videos.
I have also listed direct emails to the Year 11 Maths teachers should you require any further contact on clarifying any of the above.
11P1 Mrs M Dolny marta.dolny@longfieldacademy.org
11P2 and 11Q2 Mrs N Shanthan navanya.shanthan@longfieldacademy.org
11P3 and 11Q3 Mr K Kotamo kasani.kotamo@longfieldacademy.org
11Q1 Mr M Shaw mark.shaw@longfieldacademy.org
11P4 Mr A Kozak andriy.kozak@longfieldacademy.org
Please do not hesitate to contact me further if needed.
Thank you for your support in advance.
Yours sincerely,
Navanya Shanthan (NSH)
Director of Learning Mathematics
Matisse College 11M2 NSH
Longfield Academy
navanya.shanthan@longfieldacademy.org
01474 700700 Extn 508
