Parent Handbook Y7 - Copthall School

1. Welcome from Pastoral Leader
2. List of Form Tutors
CONTENTS
3. Copthall School Terms & Holiday 2012/2013 Dates
4. Structure of the Day
5. What should I do if My Daughter is not well, taking regular medication etc.
6. I have a question or issue – Who do I ask for?
7. Subject Information
8. Reporting your Daughter’s progress

A welcome from your daughter’s Pastoral Leader
Welcome to year 7 at Copthall School. I am Miss Gill, your daughter’s Pastoral Leader. I
am delighted to be working with you in what will be a great and successful learning
experience for your daughter. There will be some big changes from primary school but I
am confident that your daughter will settle in well at Copthall and enjoy her time here. It is
very important that we work together to ensure your daughter maintains a kind and
respectful manner towards everyone within our community so that she flourishes into the
well motivated and ambitious young lady she is supposed to be. Your daughter’s
possibilities and future opportunities are endless; let’s ensure her time at Copthall is used
wisely so she achieves her full potential. I look forward to supporting your daughter and to
celebrate her successes with you and your family.
Signed:___________________________
Miss S Gill
A message from Mr Jones, the Deputy Headteacher
I hope that this booklet “Copthall Link” helps you to support your daughter at Copthall.
When parents, students and the school work together it is a recipe for success. Our aim is
for your daughter to achieve excellence in all that she does. Working together we can
make it happen.
Signed: __________________________
Mr Rob Jones

Year 7 Form Tutors
For the Academic Year 2012-2013
7C Miss Rabbich
7P Miss Roberts
7T Ms Plume
7H Miss Paquin
7A Miss Toohey
7L Ms Abrahams
Your daughter is allocated a form, and each form has a form tutor.
They meet with their form tutor twice a day to register, attend
assemblies and complete form activities

Autumn Term 2012
COPTHALL SCHOOL
SCHOOL TERMS & HOLIDAY 2012/2013 DATES
Times of the Girls must be in school by 8.35 am for registration.
School Day: The teaching day finishes at 2.55pm.
INSET: Tuesday 4 September
First Half: Wednesday 5 September – Friday 26 October
Half Term: Monday 29 October – Friday 2 November
Second Half: Monday 5 November – Friday 21 December
INSET: Wednesday 10 October 2012
Thursday 8 November 2012
Spring Term 2013
First Half: Monday 7 January – Friday 15 February
Half Term: Monday 18 February – Friday 22 February
Second Half: Monday 25 February – Thursday 28 March
INSET: Monday 25 February 2013
Summer Term 2013
First Half: Monday 15 April – Friday 24 May
May Day: Monday 6 May
Half Term: Monday 27 May – Friday 31 May
Second Half: Monday 3 June – Wednesday 24 July
INSET : Tuesday 23 April 2013
NB: School is closed for pupils on INSET (Staff Training) 5 days

COPTHALL SCHOOL
STRUCTURE OF THE DAY
September 2012
8.30 am Briefing
8.35 - 8.55 Registration
8.55 - 9.55 Lesson 1
9.55 - 11.15 Lesson 2 (including 20 minute break)
11.15 - 12.15 Lesson 3
12.15 - 1.50 Lesson 4 (including 35 minute lunch)
1.50 - 2.50 Lesson 5
2.50 - 2.55 Registration
Staggered break/lunch
20 minute break sittings within Period 2
9.55 -10.15
10.15 -10.35
10.35 -10.55
10.55 -11.15
35 minute lunch sittings within period 4
12.15 -12.50
12.35 -1.10
12.55 -1.30
1.15 -1.50

Is not feeling well?
What Should I do If My Daughter......
If your daughter is seriously ill and will be absent from school you must call the
school before 08:35.
Takes regular medication?
If your daughter takes regular medication it must be kept in Student Services.
Has a medical appointment?
Any medical appointments should be booked outside of school hours. In cases
where this is unavoidable a letter must be provided and shown to Student Services.
Your daughter must sign out at Student Services before she leaves the school site.
Loses her canteen swipe card?
Your daughter must speak with a mealtime supervisor during her break or lunch. A
replacement card costs £4.
Remember your daughter can top her canteen card up in the canteen or you can
top it up by telephone on 0208 359 5055.
Will be late to school?
Let Student Services know in advance of any appointments. She must sign it at
Student Services if she arrives after 08:55 and go directly to her form room or
assembly if she arrives before 08:55.
Is not in the correct uniform?
A note must be provided to your daughters form tutor explaining why she is not in
the correct school uniform.
Your daughter must not be wearing any accessories, make up or nail varnish.
Accessories will be confiscated for a term. Make up and nail varnish will be
removed with a 20p fine.
Has money with her for a school trip?
Your daughter must return any money to Student Services in a named enveloped
and inform the relevant member of staff.

Is the question to do with learning
in a subject?
YES
Is this the first time you have had
to contact the school about this
issue?
Is this a follow up question about a
previous issue that you are happy to
talk to the subject teacher about?
NO
NO
Ask to speak to or write a note to the
Head of Department for the subject
(see list of Heads of Department in
this booklet).
YES
I have a question or issue I need to
Discuss with someone at Copthall.
Who do I ask for?
NO
YES
YES
NO
Look at the next page
Write a note to the
subject teacher in
your daughter’s
planner & ask your
daughter to show
it to them in the
next lesson.
YES
Was the issue/problem
resolved? Do you feel
happy about the
situation?
NO
Do you feel you can
speak to the Hed of
Department again? (or do
you need to speak to
someone else?
NO
Do you feel happy speaking
to the subject teacher
again?
YES
Was the
problem/issue
resolved? Do you feel
happy about the
situation?
NO
YES
You do not have to
do any thing else,
but you may wish
to keep the notes
or letters in this
booklet to refer to
again.
You need to speak with a member of Senior Leadership Team. Phone
the school or write a letter. Address it to “The Senior member of staff who
line manages ______________________(subject).

YES
Is your question about
something outside a lesson?
Friendship, illness, etc.
Write a note to your daughter’s
Form Tutor in the planner or
send in a note.
NO
YES
Did this answer your question
or solve the problem?
Do you feel happy talking to the
Form Tutor again?
Do you feel happy talking to the
Learning Co-ordinator again?
NO
YES
NO
NO
NO
YES
Look at the previous page and
contact the subject leader by a note
in your daughter’s planner
you do not have to do anything
else, but you may wish to keep
the notes or letters in the booklet
to refer to again.
Contact the Learning
Co-ordinator for your
daughter (see inside
front cover).
Did this answer your question or
solve the problem?
You need to speak with a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Phone the school or write a letter. Address it to “The Senior
member of staff who line manages Year _________”.
YES

Year 7
English
Maths
What your daughter will study
(bullet points)
• Produce a variety of texts based
on the death of famous poet
Thomas Chatterton
• Writing unit
• Read a novel to develop close
reading skills
• Study a ‘Midsummer Night’s
dream’ by William Shakespeare.
Focusing on following the plot and
understanding the language used.
• Read a collection of stories from
Chaucer’s ‘The Canterbury Tales’
focusing on inference skills and
the use of poetic devices.
• Media Unit- Whale Rider
In year 7 to 11 students study
Number
Algebra
Shape, Space and Measure
Data handling
Topics vary in content and depth
depending on the set your daughter
has been placed in. Full details can
be found by accessing the relevant
scheme of work, to be found on the
school network as follows:
www.copthallschool.org.uk
>curriculum> Maths>schemes of
work…
Subject specific needs
(Eg. Equipment)
• Scientific calculator
• Compasses
• Protractor
• Ruler
What parents/carers can do to help
to support learning at home
• Encourage her to read every day and discuss with her
what she is reading.
• Listen to her read and let her see you reading.
• Discuss current news stories that you have read or
watched on television.
• Ask her about what she has been learning in English
lessons.
• Test her on her spellings set by her teacher.
• Encourage her to read over all her aloud and check for
sense, spelling and punctuation.
• Ensure homework is completed
• Ensure all equipment is brought to every lesson
• Ensure class work book, notebook and textbook is
brought to every lesson
• Emphasise use of Maths in everyday life (using
recipes, distances travelled, time differences,
household budget, graphs in newspapers…)
• Useful links for revision or consolidation are shown on
the school website as follows:
www.copthallschool.org.uk >curriculum> Maths>Useful
links…

Year 7
Science
Art
Dance
Drama
D & T
What your daughter will study
(bullet points)
Subject specific needs
(Eg. Equipment)
KS3 Biology, physics and chemistry. Calculator, ruler,
protractor.
• Colour
• Buildings
• Identity
3 Units of work :-
• Cartoon Capers - inspired by the
Looney Tunes Cartoons.
• Cog – inspired by the Honda
Accord advert of the same name.
• Performance Piece – each class
will produce a piece which will be
performed at the Year 7
Performing Arts Festival
Basic Drama skills: Developing
confidence and group skills.
mime/movement/use of
voice/scripts/ rehearsal for
Year 7 Performing Arts
Festival
• Twist project (Acrylic wind chime)
• Min Van (softwood toy)
• Fridge magnet (blister packed
promotional item)
• Money box (electrical money box)
Pencils – HB and 2B
Eraser
Sharpener
Coloured pencils
Scissors
Glue stick
Full school PE kit :-
• Navy PE top
• Navy
shorts/leggings/track
suit bottoms
• Hair tied back
• All jewellery
removed
Indoor footwear eg
pumps or slipper socks
The projects are
designed to allow
students to access a
range of new materials
and manufacturing
What parents/carers can do to help
to support learning at home
Encourage pupils to read around the subject using their
science textbooks. Complete self assessment quizzes on
KS3 Bitesize prior to end of unit tests. Use mind maps an
spider diagrams to help consolidate learning at the end of
modules.
• Ensure students pack their equipment for their lessons
• Visit the National Portrait Gallery in the spring or summer
term
• To ensure your daughter’s PE kit is ready for every
lesson.
• To encourage your daughter to watch any style of dance
and to talk about what she has seen.
Check students come with indoor footwear
Check homework completed
Encourage theatre visits
Supporting your daughter with her design work will aid her
rapid progression and understanding of design principles and
product development. Design and Technology is a future
proofing subject that covers a range of aspects from; design
ethics and moral issues to consumer needs and

Year 7
What your daughter will study
(bullet points)
• Graphic Products (Graphical
drawing skills)
• Key ring (Non-ferrous key fob).
• VOOVOO Clacker (Sports Day
supporters rattle).
D & T Food • Safe practicing in a food
preparation environment.
• Hygiene and food standards.
• Global staple foods.
French
• Personal identification
• Family and friends
• Where I live
• My town
• School
Subject specific needs
(Eg. Equipment)
processes through
Focus Practical Tasks.
• Ferrous and Non-
Ferrous metals.
• Thermoplastics and
Thermo setting
Plastics.
• Softwoods and
Manufactured
timbers.
• Jigsaws, Pillar Drills,
Disc Sanders,
Vacuum Former and
a Varity of hand
tools.
• Health and Safety in
the kitchen.
• Food hygiene and
preparation.
• The safe and correct
use of food
preparation
equipment.
• Cooking with Gas
and Electric oven
and hobs.
A bilingual dictionary
(not a pocket one)
What parents/carers can do to help
to support learning at home
environmental implications.
Your daughter will have:
• Research based tasks
• Design tasks
• End of unit tests.
Every other lesson is a practical lesson. For the pupils to be
able to maximise the learning experience in Food Technology
they will need to bring ingredient for their chosen recipes. The
development of the understanding of Food Technology is an
important life skill. We actively encourage the pupils to bring
the appropriate volumes of produce and the raw ingredients
unprocessed and pre-prepared. As this can hinder or
disadvantage their learning.
• Get students to practise spellings at home.
• Teach another member of the family what they have
learnt in class.
• www.linguascope.com
Your daughter’s teacher will give her the passwords.

Year 7
Geography
History
Information
Technology
Music
PE
What your daughter will study
(bullet points)
• Free time
Mill Hill Our local area
Population and Migration
Food Miles
Weather and Climate
Rivers and Flooding
Ecosystems
How mighty were medieval
monarchs?
Changing beliefs – Henry VIII and the
Break with Rome
The Black Death
Image and Power
• Spreadsheets skills and Modelling
• Searching for Information
(sources, bias, validity)
• Data handling
• Internet Safety
• Game creation using simple
programming
• Presentation skills
• Web site creation
• Composition
• Performance
• Listening and Appreciation
Students are introduced to basic
notation and how the elements of
music are used to create effect
within music.
• Team Sports (Netball, Football,
Basketball, Hockey, Rounders )
Subject specific needs
(Eg. Equipment)
Exercise book
Text book (where
relevant)
Pen, pencil,
colouring pencils.
* School PE polo top
* School PE jumper
What parents/carers can do to help
to support learning at home
BBC 11-16 Geography available at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/11_16/site/geography.
shtml
Internet Geography available at
http://www.geography.learnontheinternet.co.uk/ks3/ks3.html
Encourage use of computers to build skills. If possible
purchase software or download freeware equivalent
• Keyboards are provided, although students may
benefit from having a keyboard at home to practice on
• Encourage students to listen to as many different
styles of music as possible.
* Ensure your child has a full PE kit at all times, including
trainers that fit and are appropriate for sport.

Year 7
What your daughter will study
(bullet points)
• Individual Sports (Badminton,
Tennis, Athletics, Gymnastics,
Cheerleading)
• Multiskills
PCHE Personal finance
Sex/relationship Ed
General wellbeing awareness
including…
Healthy eating
Mental health awareness
Substance abuse
Alcohol /Smoking
Bullying
RE • Diversity-does it matter?
• How should we use money?
• What is the best kind of
guidance?
Opening
Minds
• Learning about how you learn,
how you can reach your full
potential and how to successfully
interact with people.
• Through various projects – ‘Brain
Breakthrough’, ‘Money, Money,
Money’, ‘Breaking news’, ‘Fair
trade’, ‘Saving Planet Earth’, Time
Machine’
Subject specific needs
(Eg. Equipment)
* Navy tracksuit bottoms
*Navy blue shorts
*Navy school PE skirt
(optional)
* White socks
*Trainers (not plimsolls)
What parents/carers can do to help
to support learning at home
* Encourage your child to attend extracurricular clubs and
support their attendance at these.
*Spend time partaking in regular physical activity with your
child at home.
Allow and encourage children to discuss the issues covered
within the PCHE days openly and non-judgementally.
Encourage children to discuss current social issues within the
family regularly
• Exercise book • Encourage daughter to research around the topics
studied.
• Discuss key issues/ concepts.
• Help revise for end of unit assessments.
Opening Minds exercise
book & pencil case
• Support students in becoming independent learners &
enquirers by encouraging discussions about the projects.
• Encouraging independent research.

Reporting your Daughter’s progress
We report to you three times a year and also arrange a Parents’ Evening when you
can discuss your daughter’s progress with her teachers.
IPC – Interim Progress Check. This is where we report your daughter’s target, their
current achievement and their engagement with the learning process. You receive
two of these each year.
Report – similar to an IPC, but a report includes a detailed comment by the subject
teacher and targets for improvement. This is an annual report.
The dates for IPCs/ Reports below are when we expect to post them. You should
receive them 2-3 day following that.
Dates:
IPC 1: Friday 23 rd November 2012
IPC 2: Tuesday 26 th March 2013
Report: Friday 5 th July 2013
Parents’ Evening: Wednesday 17 th April 2013
Other date for your diary:
5 th September 2012 - Today! An Introductory Evening for Parents.
18 th September 2012 - First PTA (Parent Teacher Association) meeting of the
year. Meet at 8pm in reception. All welcome.
20 th September 2012 - Enterprise Day
26 th September 2012 - European Day of Languages – students are invited to
wear a national costume.
5 th October 2012 - Years 7-9 Black History Month Event.
15 th October 2012 - Year 7 Parents’ Evening with form tutors 4pm-6.30pm.
19 th October 2012 - First Non-uniform day - students wear their own clothes
and contribute to school charity and PTA.
20 th November 2012 - Second PTA meeting
19 th &20 th December 2012 – School show “Fiddler on the Roof”
15 th January 2013 - Third PTA meeting
18 th April 2013 - Second Non-uniform day
2 nd March 2013 - Supper Quiz – informal quiz with lovely food. A very
good evening.
19 th March 2013 - Fourth PTA meeting
10 th May 2013 - Year 7 History Activity on Black Death
14 th May 2013 - Fifth PTA meeting
7 th June 2013 - Year 7 and Year 8 Summer Ball – run by PTA.
13 th June 2013 - Third Non-uniform day
18 th June 2013 - PTA meeting. Final one of year.