CVA Round Up - Issue 3 (2022/23)

Chloe Witherden / 20 February 2023 / Categories: General

A Message from Mr Tucker

Firstly, a huge thank you to all of you who have supported our students in improving attendance over the last half term. Every year group has shown a significant improvement and it is great to see more students in the academy every day. Supporting your child to have excellent attendance is the biggest thing parents can do to support their children.

Assemblies this term have looked at the theme of respect towards each other and the community as well as how the influences from online and offline resources can sometimes have a negative effect. For more information on how to support your child and their use of social media go to https://www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/parents-a-z-mental-health-guide/social-media/

Apprenticeship Bus Visits CVA

On Tuesday, 7th February the Apprenticeship Bus run by Shaping Portsmouth visited our Year 10 students. Students engaged in conversation with different companies including Airbus, Biscoe’s Solicitors, HaHa training, Hover Travel, Hythe Marine Ltd, Mountjoy, New Theatre Royal, NHS, Portsmouth City Council, PMC Construction, Royal Navy, Shaping Portsmouth, South-West Railways and Vespasian Security about different apprenticeships on offer. Well done Year 10 for asking some great questions!

Reading at CVA

At Castle View Academy, we continue to show our commitment to developing the reading of our students and are really proud of the progress they have made this half term. Across Years 7, 8 and 9, many of our students have been interacting with the Read Write Inc Programme and Bedrock.

Both programmes enable students to develop their vocabulary and understanding of phonics and develop comprehension skills.

Students also continue to read a breadth of exciting novels and here are some of the titles read this half term.

CVA Library

We are really excited to announce that we will be re-launching the library at the beginning of the summer term and therefore would love for you to encourage your child to get involved. If they are interested in becoming a student librarian, they can speak to Miss Ball or Miss Embleton.

Year 11 Update

Well done Year 11 on another great half-term! You have all continued to show great maturity, determination, and resilience as we approach another set of mock exams, and it has been a pleasure to watch you all grow in confidence when talking about your futures and aspirations. I know a lot of you are feeling stressed and have pressure coming from all angles, but please do not doubt yourselves – you are all capable of achieving what you want and deserve when you open your results in August.

Our attendance has been improving but is still not at the level I would like to see, and lateness is becoming an increasing concern. I urge you all to arrive on time, every day, and push through those days when you feel ill – the majority of illnesses can be managed with self-care and are not enough to keep you at home, and we have a medical team in school that can assist and assess where needed. Remember, every day counts as an opportunity to improve current progress at such a vital time.

When we return, our mock exams start on Monday, 20th February - Miss Pruett.

Education with Character

CVA staff have been running a range of after school extracurricular clubs for students, from first aid to school choir. Students have been able to learn a new skill and pursue their passions. All clubs will continue after half term.

ROA Information

Throughout the last half term, KS3 students have been sitting mid-year rank order assessments during their lessons. Staff will now look at the data it provides us and make sure students are completely ready for the end-of-year ROAs. The end of Year ROAs will take place in the sports hall within the first 3 weeks back after the May Half Term, starting from Monday, 5th June. We will send out all dates and revision support information in the next half-term to help students get ready for these assessments.

Year 11 Exams

Year 11 mock exams start on Monday, 27th February and students are using various revision strategies to revise. All students have received their revision packs, mock information booklets and subject specific resources to support effective revision. We are proud of how our Year 11 students are working in lessons and preparing for their exams. We are looking forward to seeing the improvements in their mock results. Go Year 11!

SEND Update

The SEND team and our external Educational Psychologist are currently working to ensure that our Year 11’s have the correct exam access arrangements. Thank you to parents for ensuring that consent forms have been returned promptly; our Year 11’s have engaged well with their assessments and as always, we have been really proud of them.

Staff across the academy have been using individual Pupil Passports to adapt their teaching and meet the needs of students in the classroom where there is clear evidence students are working hard and making progress with their learning.

Below is a summary of the key roles within the SEND team which you can use to contact the appropriate member of staff, should you need to.

Clare Sitch - Assistant Principal SEND and Inclusion/SENCo (clare.sitch@@castleviewacademy.org.uk)

Kirsty Benger - Deputy SENCo and EAL Lead (kirsty.benger@castleviewacademy.org.uk)

Sharon Dodsworth - Learning Coach for HI/VI and SEND Screening (sharon.dodsworth@castleviewacademy.org.uk)

Catherine Hall - Learning Coach for KS4 Literacy and Learning Space Co-Ordinator (catherine.hall@castleviewacademy.org.uk)

Nicola Eastman - Learning Coach for KS3 Literacy and Reading Intervention (nicola.eastman@castleviewacademy.org.uk)

Jeanette Levers - Learning Coach for Medical Provisions and Welfare (jeanette.levers@castleviewacademy.org.uk)

Learning Support Assistants

Jodie Law

Eliza Fewings

Mirtha Sanchez

Charley Lock

Alejandro Huarancca

Dates for your Diary

Support Available at CVA

Year Group Support

If you are concerned about your child, the below list will advise you on whom to contact at the academy.

In the first instance please contact the Year Leader of the year group your child is in:

Year 7/Transition - Miss Richardson

Year 8/9 - Mrs Redman

Year 10 - Mr Aston

Year 11 - Ms Pruett

You may well be called back by the Director for that area:

KS3 - Mr Lambert or Miss Maxwell

Year 10 - Mr Titcombe

Year 11 - Mr Gill

If your query is specifically regarding attendance or safeguarding, please contact the below:

Attendance - Mr Fewings

Safeguarding - Mrs Griffiths

Homework Support

The SEN department are running a homework club on Mondays and Thursdays after school in the learning space.

External Support

Free School Meals: https://www.castleviewacademy.org.uk/information/freeschool-meals
Cost of Living: https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/services/benefits-andsupport/cost-of-living-hub/
Bus Passes: https://www.portsmouth.gov.uk/services/schools-learningand-childcare/schools/school-transport-and-travel/

Further Support

Further support and resources can be found on our website www.castleviewacademy.org.uk

This includes support with attendance and social emotional mental health.