Following our Year 7 Pupils' Learning Conference in the Main Hall on Thursday 14 September 2017 at the start of the school day, we were really pleased to welcome our Year 7 parents to their first Learning Conference that evening. Different aspects of learning were covered in an interactive manner, led by different leaders in the school. The areas covered enabled pupils and parents alike to consider different learning strategies and further understand the workings of the brain and the changes that occur within it as adolescents.

Pupils were arranged on tables with other members of their tutor groups, ready for a very different learning experience. They learnt about how to look after their brains and were encouraged to think about what and how they will learn in English and Maths. Their contributions to the interactive activities were excellent and it was clear that the year group have made an excellent start to their Year 7 studies. 

The programme for the parents’ Learning Conference was very similar in structure. The evening was also an opportunity for parents to meet with other parents of children in the same tutor group, in addition to meeting their child’s tutor. The parents were certainly as competitive as their children had been during the English quiz and they contributed to the discussions focused around learning.

The evening conference gave us an opportunity to share the content covered with Year 7 pupils earlier in the day, enabling parents to follow up on the key messages at home over the coming days and weeks. In addition, it provides an opportunity to share extra information, such as the nature of changes experienced in the brain in adolescents and the possible ‘side effects’ of this, the importance of excellent attendance and ‘Show My Homework’ and how parents can use this effectively to support their child’s learning beyond the classroom.

Feedback from the evening with parents was really positive: “I just wanted to say thank you to you and all staff who contributed last night for a very informative evening last night. I have attended a number of these over the years for my older child, but I still found last night extremely useful.”

We are always eager to work with our parents to support their child's learning and progress at Deer Park. As a part of our ‘learning triangle’ which aims to strengthen the bonds between school, pupils and their parents, parents in Year 8 and Year 9 will also be invited to a Learning Conference this term:

• Year 8 on Wednesday 18 October, 6.30pm in the Main Hall
• Year 9 on Wednesday 4 October, 6.30pm in the Main Hall.

We very much hope that parents are able to attend our Learning Conferences as we will be sharing key messages about effective learning and information about the topics we cover. These sessions will complement the opportunities your son/daughter will be given in school. At each event we will set aside time for discussion and questions.

These events are for parents only as pupils will be participating in their own Learning Conferences. Look out for a letter which will come home prior to each event.