Careers support and sharing of academic and pastoral expertise
Each year, sixth form students experience mutual mock university interviews, with detailed feedback and advice for improvement. Students from all year groups are invited to Sydenham High School for career focus evenings and subject specific conferences.
Sydenham High School Classics staff have supported and taught revision lessons to a Sydenham school sixth form Latin student in the run up to their examinations.
Professional knowledge is shared between both schools. Sydenham School staff are invited to INSET sessions and numerous meetings are held between staff from both schools to discuss pastoral and academic initiatives.
Aims
To share professional expertise, both pastoral and academic.
To give sixth form students experiences of being interviewed by staff and subject specialists that they do not know.
To give students from both schools wider opportunities to attend careers evenings and subject conferences.
To share staff expertise between schools, such as giving students access to subject specialists.
Background
Links were initially made between the Headmistress and Headteacher in 2017.
Regular meetings are now held between the Deputy Heads to discuss further opportunities for collaboration. Other Senior Leaders attend the meetings, when relevant to their area of specialism.
Resources
School facilities are used, in addition to specialist teaching staff and subject resources when required.
Mutual mock interviews, advice and feedback sessions by specialist teaching staff typically last one hour per session.
Careers evenings with teaching staff and external speakers typically last two hours.
Subject conferences are all day events, involving specialist teaching staff and external speakers.
Each regular meeting between Deputy Heads to discuss opportunities and logistics lasts up to one and a half hours.
Impact
The mutual mock university interviews are a more realistic experience for students and led by subject specialists. Verbal feedback from students has been that the experience, feedback and advice was very valuable.
The Latin sixth from student was very appreciative of the three revision sessions. She was more prepared for her A-level examinations and became more aware of the format of the examination, due to the specialist teacher teaching input and advice.
More collaboration opportunities and activities are planned for the current academic year.
Pupil Involvement
Currently, students from year 10 upwards are invited to the careers evenings.
Generally subject conferences are aimed at sixth form students. Sydenham School has sent up to 10 students.
One year 13 student from Sydenham School benefitted from the Latin specialist teaching.
Generally up to five or six sixth form students from both schools benefit from the mutual mock interviews.
Frequency
All collaboration activities with Sydenham School are ongoing.