CAS Secondary HODs

@Chris_Sharples and @yabbas, ping me an email and I’ll forward you a copy

I don’t think I did,

Is there a link to the summary doc pls? @shumphreys

Hi,

If it’s your half-term next week then I hope you manage to get some much needed R&R!

We’re thinking on our next meeting (early Dec probably …) and plan to pick up on one of the themes from our meeting this half-term which was around “Helping students get the marks they deserve”. This should give enough space to think about revision and exam technique with students towards the end of next term.

Might you have a think about the following? We’re keen to enable those in the group to lead and deliver!

• If you have experience of marking (either GCSE/A Level) for any of the exam boards and would be willing to share your insights might you drop me an email at simon.humphreys@computingatschool.org.uk

• Additionally, you might have picked up good practice tips to pass on to your students? Similarly, drop me a line to be included in the agenda.

In the meantime have a lovely break, you deserve it

All best

Simon/Becci

@yabbas Hi, did you receive the summary sent as a message to the whole group …?

One more apology for no attendance - have had quite a lot on my plate recently!

Could anything be shared with me?

Many thanks Andy … I’ve added the abstract concepts to my list and noted the offer

Sorry I couldn’t make it everyone. My NPQ assessment got released on Monday and it’s eating up every spare second.

Looks like a good list, I’d add techniques for explaining, modelling & checking for understanding of abstract concepts (eg stages of the FDE cycle) too.

I’ve done lots of work with PRIMM across Scratch, Edublocks & Python. Happy to share & discuss that stuff if people want it?

Thanks Pete, I’m glad it was useful. I’ll tidy the document up a little but it was so useful as we’ve potentially got some headings for a couple of years worth of meeting and investigations! I will circulate anon but OTTOMH:

• What to do with Y9 after options?
• KS4 provision (non-GCSE)
• Breaking down the coding skills for GCSE, esp for low-ability
• Knowledge retention
• Resilience with coding
• non-Python resources
• Getting the marks in the exam
• View on which exam board

Plus, potential guest presenters (from the hub!) on e.g.

• Endpoints for revision and testing
• Using GitHub for student project work
• Code challenges and internal competitions
• PRIMM

Phew!

Onward …

Thank you so much for running the event today Simon. The collaborative resource / suggestion / challenges doc was a goldmine. Thank you to everyone who shared. Sorry to arrive late and come and go. Computing’s not been chosen as a deep dive subject so the pressure is off a little for tomorrow’s visitors!

Hi, Quick reminder: we are meeting tomorrow at 4PM. The link to register is: CAS Secondary HODs

This group might also be interested in the relaunch of the A Level teacher Community. There’s a meet-up planned for November: Creative approaches to programming, sharing and updates

Yes, we’ll make sure that a summary is kept and shared

Thanks Simon. Have provisionally booked myself in although I may have to prioritise writing my NPQ assignment…I will try and make it!

Sadly can’t make it (SEND CPD meeting) - please could you post a summary?
Cheers

Many thanks to all who were able to complete the brief survey. in light of responses there I’ve set up meeting for Oct 3rd 4.00Pm - 5.00PM. The booking link is: CAS Secondary HODs

I’m curious to see if there is a preference for the “best” time to arrange a meeting - I know, an impossible question - but there’s a GForm here: https://forms.gle/tJArV7HMJkxyXQjv5. When you get a moment, please complete and we can see if there is a consensus.

Hi Ollie, Welcome! I see you’ve joined the community group which is great. Simon

Hi all, aspiring HoD here to learn from those in the know if that’s ok? I’m five years into teaching with a year at my current school, currently a department of two with a head of Science Faculty overseeing us as opposed to a discrete HoD.

I’ve worked on it a bit. One of the things we need to work on is careers education. It is in my SIP for next year so depending on how that goes I can hopefully advance along it a bit this time next year.

How many students is enough? Is there a core percentage of cohort they are looking for? I am assuming that they want this at both KS4 and KS5?

Emily

Yes - part way through updating self-evaluation element form pre-Covid.
Sadly missing out as not enough students take computing, ever changing staffing in KS2 regarding CPD - mainly out of my control.

Thank you for setting this up. Looking forward to taking part in HoD discussions - for example, has any one gone through the process of pursuing the NCCE Computing Mark for their school?

Hope everyone has a great summer, when it comes!
Emily

Thank you very much for setting this up, Simon, I’m looking forward to the discussions.