preparing for the world - Dulwich College Shanghai

preparing for the worldHomework tasks will have clear objective(s), directly linked to the course being undertaken. Sample tasks:Investigations Interviews Simple experiments Essay writingResearch Public library visit Drafting Report writingReading Designing Revision Making a modelDrawing Word processing Desktop publishing ProjectsEffective preparation Learning vocabulary Preparing a Presentation Collating and organising notesPractising questions Reinforcing work Watching a television programme Planning an investigationComposing music or poetry Solving problems Practising skills Answering questionsInterviews Group or Pair Assignments Engaging in an online activity Role play preparationParents and Guardians should, as far as possible:• Provide a reasonably peaceful, suitable place in which students can do their homework• Support the school in valuing homework• Use the Student Diary to see that deadlines are being met• Encourage students to work independently• Test learning (e.g. vocabulary) or listen to children read what they have writtenHomework support• The Library is open Monday to Friday until 4.30pm• Homework and coursework help sessions are organised by various departments• Handwriting, spelling and homework clubs are organised by the EAL Department for selected studentsIf parents or guardians feel there is a problem with the amount or difficulty of homework they should contact the FormTutorHomework SanctionsIf a student cannot complete homework or an assignment because of illness or other extenuating circumstances, theparent should write a note to the subject teacher in the Student Diary, or send an e-mail, requesting extra time to completethe work. The subject teacher will then agree an appropriate extension. If no note is received and a student fails to turnin an assignment, a referral form will be completed as per the Behaviour Management Policy.A student’s consistent failure to complete homework assignments will also be reflected on their end of term report. Ifa student consistently experiences difficulty in completing assignments, the parents and Form Tutor or subject teachershould meet to review the situation. If the situation continues then the parents will be asked to meet with the relevantDeputy Head of Senior School.Homework DiaryAll new students in the Senior School are given a homework diary at the beginning of each new school year. Allreturning students will receive new inserts for their diary.It is the students responsibility to ensure that it is completed for every homework task given by teachers and that if notask is set this is also clearly recorded.Should the diary be lost it is up to the student to purchase a replacement from their Form Tutor.Additional Educational Needs in Senior SchoolThe Additional Educational Needs (AEN) faculty in Senior School consists of both Learning Support and English as anAdditional Language (EAL) departments. AEN teachers support students who have been identified as having specificlearning difficulties and students for whom English is not their native language. Levels of support are based around thestudents’ individual needs in small learning environments.Learning Support:The senior school offers individual programmes for students with diagnosed, mild learning difficulties/SpecialEducational Needs (SEN), and provision for students who may require learning support at some point during theiracademic studies.All provision is aimed at students’ specific learning needs and is cross curricular whenever possible. Students’ supportis often through individual or small group withdrawal systems, but is also carried out through supporting teachers bycreating effective learning strategies to remove barriers to learning in mainstream classes.English as an Additional Language (EAL):The Senior School offers an extensive EAL programme. This programme in most cases sees the student withdrawnfrom their Modern Foreign Language class (French or Spanish) or through a differentiated English Curriculum, taughtin small groups to allow students to access skills that mirror the content of the curriculum. During this withdrawal,the students work in small groups with a teacher on a dedicated EAL program. Withdrawal from Modern ForeignLanguages means that students are still with their normal classes for core subjects. Moreover, it alleviates the need forstudents to master another additional language.The skills that the students acquire in these courses will assist them in their mainstream classes. Our aim is that EALstudents throughout years 7 to 9 will gain sufficient proficiency from these courses to undertake mainstream IGCSEexaminations in English. If this is not the case the Senior School offers English as a Second Language (ESL) at this level.English as a Second language (ESL):The ESL syllabus is designed to access the students’ ability to use English as a medium of practical communication, andis aimed at students for whom English is not a first language or mother tongue.The aims of this course are to:• Develop the ability to use English effectively for the purpose of practical communication• Form a sound base for the skills required for further study or employment using English as the medium• Develop an awareness of the nature of language and language-learning skills, along with skills of a moregeneral application• Promote students’ personal developmentStudents will take examinations in reading and writing as well speaking orals and listening tests.TechnologyWe believe that a 1-1 laptop environment will best prepare our students for the challenges of living and working inthe 21st Century. Our primary goal is not to improve students’ technology skills but rather to engage students inmeaningful work and encourage them to take charge of their own learning. Recognising that knowledge creation ratherthan knowledge acceptance will lead to lifelong learning, we believe that, under the right conditions, technology canaccelerate, enrich, and deepen basic skills; motivate and engage students in learning; increase the economic viability oftomorrow’s workers; and connect our students to the real world.Furthermore, we seek to develop a one-to-one programme that will facilitate the kinds of learning, thinking, and analysisthat today’s world demands, helping to produce students whoare learning leaders and not learning followers.To this end technology is embedded in the curriculum ratherthan being taught discretely.Please note: Currently parents are required to purchase alaptop on entry to the Senior School. The procedures for doingthis are currently under review and new guidelines and detailswill be published shortly.25 26