18 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1. What if my bus is late? If your school bus arrives late you will be given a blue ‘Late Slip’ <strong>to</strong> give <strong>to</strong> your teacher if you arrive after 8.40am. This means you will be added <strong>to</strong> the register. You won’t be in trouble! 8. Can we decorate the inside of our lockers? No – we do ask that there is no internal or external decoration of lockers. You can stick a copy of your timetable inside your locker with blu tac, but that is all. 2. Will I have extra support, if I need it? If your teachers think you are struggling in any subjects, they may recommend you have some additional learning support. This will be put in place after discussions with you and your parents. For social-emotional support, there are several people who can help, including your Form Tu<strong>to</strong>r, Progress Leader or <strong>School</strong> Counsellor. 3. How will I make friends? There will be other new students joining the year group who are also keen <strong>to</strong> make new friends. At the start of the new year, there will be an induction programme designed <strong>to</strong> help promote building positive relationships with your new classmates. 4. Will I get a buddy? Your Form Tu<strong>to</strong>r will choose a buddy for you from your form class, who will be familiar with the school and will help you <strong>to</strong> settle in during the first weeks and find your way around. A team of Student Ambassadors will also welcome all new students with a welcome party, during the first week of term. 5. Is there more pressure/stress for me? None that you should worry about! Yes, it is a new environment with new teachers and subjects, yes, there will slowly be more work, but you are also going <strong>to</strong> become more mature and develop the skills required <strong>to</strong> cope with this. We are here <strong>to</strong> support you all the way as long as you are open and honest with us about when you are finding things difficult. 6. Will I get a locker? Yes, you will be allocated a locker. Please speak <strong>to</strong> your Form Tu<strong>to</strong>r. 7. Do I need a hat at break and lunchtime? We always recommend that students wear a hat for sun safety, but we won’t chase you around for it. We expect you <strong>to</strong> be mature enough <strong>to</strong> make the right decision. 9. Do we have a library slot? You can visit the library before school, during break time and lunchtime and after-school. 10. What if I’m sick on an assessment day? For internal assessments, we will always do our best <strong>to</strong> reschedule if you are unwell. For external exams (GCSE and IB exams in Year 11 and Year 13) there is a formal process which does include needing a medical certificate, but you do not need <strong>to</strong> worry about this, just yet. 11. How often do we have assessments/tests? At DCIS, assessment is a crucial part of your learning journey, designed <strong>to</strong> help you develop a growth mindset, promote continuous improvement, and become a lifelong learner. Our inclusive and dynamic approach ensures that every student can thrive, reflecting our commitment <strong>to</strong> excellence, diversity, integrity, resilience, creativity, and kindness. By providing timely feedback, encouraging self-reflection, and using fair and meaningful assessment methods, we empower you <strong>to</strong> actively engage in your learning and flourish in a globally connected world. We believe in a comprehensive approach <strong>to</strong> assessments. Instead of having fixed assessment weeks at the end of each academic year, we continuously collect assessment data during lessons and conduct detailed analyses every half-term at both the faculty and year group levels. This thorough and ongoing assessment process is part of our responsive teaching practices, ensuring that we are always aware of your learning needs. We are ready <strong>to</strong> enhance your learning experience and promptly address any emerging needs, providing reassurance <strong>to</strong> both you and your parents that we are dedicated <strong>to</strong> your educational success. 12. How do exams work? Do we have them in the classrooms or the hall? Up until Year 11, they will all be in classrooms. 13. Will we have a <strong>to</strong>ur of the <strong>Secondary</strong> block? Of course! During the induction programme there will be an opportunity <strong>to</strong> <strong>to</strong>ur the <strong>Secondary</strong> building and become orientated with the new procedures in place. 14. What will I study? All subject curriculum maps are published on the parent portal and school website at the start of the new academic year.
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