"Education is the most powerful weapon that you can use to change the world."
Nelson Mandela
Careers:
"Everyone here has the sense that right now is one of those moments when we are influencing the future."
Steve Jobs
Tutor Time:
Having an effective tutor is an integral part of a student’s time at PCSA. The latest Student Council feedback showed very clearly that students in all year groups value a tutor who is enthusiastic, empathetic and who has high standards.
At PCSA, we believe it is key for tutors to:
· Be the first point of contact for parents and carers.
· Encourage attendance to school at all times.
· Be a source of support and compassion.
· Facilitate the tutor programme on a daily basis.
· Facilitate the reading programme for all students.
The tutor programme should be followed each day (however the order that it is delivered will vary between year groups). It comprises three different foci.
· Reading for all: All tutors will deliver a reading programme for their tutees in the form of reading aloud. The students will follow the book with a ruler for three days per week. This is a programme that will allow students to be exposed to at least 12 novels throughout their secondary education. This in itself will support wider vocabulary and literacy skills. Recent research has shown that reading for all can improve a student’s reading age by two years.
· Assembly: A weekly event delivered by the Head of Year and various other members of staff. These follow particular themes or events throughout the year.
· Thought of the Week: PSHE and Citizenship focussed sessions that also encourage a wider understanding of Britain and the world.
"Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn."
Benjamin Franklin
Homework:
At PCSA we strive to develop independent learners who are excited about their learning and take ownership over their progress.
We believe that learning is the process of acquiring new knowledge and skills and the ability to apply these in different contexts, therefore homework is an extension of the work developed in lesson time and designed so that parents and carers can be actively involved in their child’s learning.
Each faculty at PCSA has created a homework booklet or has provided a link to online homework to give clear guidance and expectations for independent study outside of the classroom. There is a booklet for each year group for the current learning cycle.
Each activity has a success criteria as guidance and a structure for students to complete the work and any additional resources and websites will be listed if needed.
Students will be provided with a paper copy of the booklet and a homework folder by their classroom teacher.
Parents and carers can access the homework booklets for their child through the link provided below and a frequency table has been provided to make clear the expectations for the quantity of work for each subject area.
The specific aims of our approach to homework is to encourage independent, reflective lifelong learning. We want to teach students how to learn effectively; enable every student to achieve their full potential; and to prepare students for success in their lives beyond school.
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning."
Albert Einstein
Alumni:
PCSA Seeks Former Students
If you’re a former student who would like to support current students, the school would love to hear from you!
Sign Up
PCSA is waiting to hear from former students and hope they will contact Future First’s alumni scheme by clicking here.