Dear Students,

I would like to take this opportunity to highlight fully, the additional study programme to you, and to encourage you to take up the excellent opportunities available with regards to enrichment, and the new additional study sessions in the build up to your exams later this year.

The Academy has invested significant time and funding into the development of this programme, which follows on from our highly successful offering last year. The commitment from our teaching staff has been first class in relation to them giving over their own free time to support our students through this programme. In total there are over 540 additional teaching hours on offer to our students in the programme.

A copy of the Additional Study Programme Timetable is attached below, which outlines dates and times for the additional study sessions. The programme incorporates a total of 11 Saturday mornings, 5 full days at Easter (Mon 16^th – Fri 20^th April), and 2 full days of the Whit Half Term holiday (Wed 6^th & Thurs 7^th June).

It is important that you take careful note of the attached timetable, and pick up the specific subject lessons on it. You will hopefully note that the timetable contains the subject information, including the initials in brackets of the teacher who will be delivering the additional study session for that subject (please note that in some instances it may not always be your usual teacher). The overall timetable has in the main, been put together based on the normal Academy timetable teaching blocks, which should therefore eliminate any subject clashes for you.

Students who wish to attend are not required to wear Academy uniform for any of the sessions advertised, but should of course come dressed and equipped appropriate for study. You must enter and leave via the Main Reception, and should be registered in class by your subject teachers. In the unlikely event of a fire alarm, staff and students should evacuate the premises as normal and line up on Princes Park to be registered.

No refreshments will be available on-site during the additional study dates, and students are asked to bring in your own packed lunch and drinks on the dates that you attend. Students will also have the option of going off-site for your lunch (at your own risk) during the half hour lunch sessions over the Easter and Whit holidays if your parents are agreeable. Students who choose to do so must inform their teachers of this prior to leaving the premises and sign back in with their teacher at the start of the next session.

You will be reminded in advance by your subject teachers of the study sessions as they occur, and we will endeavour where possible to send out text reminders to you or your parents to keep you informed.

Attendance at the additional sessions is of course completely voluntary, but we would emphasise the importance where possible in you attending the additional sessions in order to benefit your overall learning. In relation to this, there is in fact, considerable evidence to suggest that students who attended the additional study sessions last year went on to perform exceptionally well in their external exams.

We would also obviously ask you take up the opportunities on offer to you, both during enrichment and via the additional study programme, so to help maximise your own exam performance.

Yours sincerely

 Ian Irwin

 Mr I. Irwin

Associate Principal