Review and Reflect

Pupils across the Senior School enjoyed off-timetable Review and Reflect sessions on Tuesday 6 December.

The sessions gave pupils some dedicated time with their tutors to talk about how the year is going and to reflect on their personal development in their academic subjects and co-curricular interests.

Older pupils also had the chance to discuss preliminary subject choices and thoughts about future careers, with Year 11s focusing on post-A level plans, and for Year 13 students, it was a chance to discuss the UCAS process and any support they may need going forward.

Speaking about the aims for the day, Assistant Head (Director of Studies) Aidan Sproat-Clements said:

"In the words of the old BT advert - 'It's good to talk'. The architecture of the Review and Reflect day is built to give a bit of extra time for pupils to do just that: to sit and talk to their tutor, in a window free from other intrusions, and to take stock of how their year is going and how they would like to develop next."

Each year group also had one or two additional sessions led by staff to help them plan for the future and reflect on their individual approaches.

Deputy Head (Pastoral) Mr English spoke to Years 7 and 8 about the Alleyn’s ROCKK values of respect, opportunity, curiosity, courage and kindness. Referring to the different stages of brain development, he explained that at this age, pupils are at a critical stage of development and phase of defining themselves. “Being kind doesn’t happen by magic,” he said, “You are what you do and now is the time to set yourselves on a path to being who you want to be.”

Year 9 and 10s had an insightful talk from Head of the Alleyn’s Learners’ Programme Ms Maxwell in which she talked to pupils about using their passions to grab different opportunities available to them, such as the Perse School Cambridge Aristotelian Award for Research to develop independent research skills.

Year 11s heard from Assistant Head (Director of Studies) Aidan Sproat-Clements on some practical advice to get organised for revision and exams, from learning how you learn and how to plan commitments clearly and flexibility. And Year 12s had a discussion from Director of Academic Performance, Analysis & Administration, Mr Ryder on the upcoming January assessments.

It was an inspiring and constructive day. We are very proud of how our pupils engaged with the topics at hand and embraced the opportunity to take in such positive and potentially long-lasting lessons.