GEMS

METROPOLE

WELCOME
BOOKLET

Metropole Guide for Parents

2016/2017

Welcome to Metropole
The world is changing rapidly and when our students leave
school they must be equipped with the skills and attributes
to embrace change and to play a constructive part in a
global society. Our mission at Metropole is to develop the
learners of today into the global citizens of tomorrow, to
foster leadership, creativity, innovation and the pursuit of
excellence and to create successful learners, confident
individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.
At Metropole we follow an English style Curriculum which
focuses on skill based learning. Our teachers are equipped
with the knowledge, expertise and skills needed to make
lesson fun, engaging, relevant to everyday life and
differentiated to ensure every student at Metropole
consistently grows and develops into a confident individual,
successful learner, effective contributor and responsible
citizen. The majority of lessons our teachers plan will not
be textbook based. They will use a variety of digital
methods to keep up with the fast paced world we live in
today.
As a parent our main concern is that our child feels safe
and happy in their everyday life. Here at Metropole our 21st
century building with modern classrooms and facilities

Metropole Guide for Parents

2016/2017

creates the perfect learning environment that will ensure

every student is supported and encouraged.
I hope that the information below will answer any concerns
or queries you may have. I look forward to meeting you at
the start of term!
Q. What subjects will my child in year 7-9 study?
A. At Metropole we have a fifteen period day. Periods are
25 minutes long and are combined to make 50 minute
periods.
Subject
English
Maths
Science
Humanities
Physical
Education
French
Arabic
Islamic/Skills in
School
Art
Music
Digital Media
Drama

Year 7

Year 8

Year 9

10
10
8
6
4

10
10
8
6
4

10
10
6
6
4

2
6
4

2
6
4

2
6
4

4
2
4
2

4
2
4
2

4
2
2
2

Q. What time does each class start and end?

Metropole Guide for Parents

2016/2017

A.
Key Stage 3
Registration

7:55-8:05

8:05-8:30

8:30-8:55

8:55-9:20

9:20-9:45

9:45-10:10

10:10-10:35

10:35-11:00

11:00-11:25

11:25-11:50

10

11:50-12:15

11

12:15-12:40

12

12:40-1:05

13

1:05-1:30

14

1:30-1:55

15

1:55-2:20

Metropole Guide for Parents

2016/2017

Break

Break

Plenary

2:20-2:30

Q. How will my child be graded throughout the year?

A. Teachers will use the below coding to assess a pupils
work at Metropole in every subject.

How do my childs attainment levels compare

to the English Curriculum expectations?
Emerging
Working towards achieving the outcomes
for the Year Group
Expected
Meeting the expected outcomes of the
Year Group
Extended
Mastering the expected outcomes for the
Year Group
Exceeding
Exceeding the expected outcomes for the
Year Group

Metropole Guide for Parents

2016/2017

Grad
e

Progress//Effort/Behaviour/Homework

Level

Improvement Needed

Acceptable

Good

Outstanding

Q. When will my child sit assessments at Metropole?

A. Assessments will take place throughout the school
year and will range from in class teacher, peer and selfassessment, start of the year to gauge a baseline mark,
end of unit and end of year assessments to aid learning.
Our pupils at Metropole will additionally sit online
standardized assessments as required by KHDA.
Q. Will my child set targets throughout the year to help
with their learning?
Metropole Guide for Parents

2016/2017

A. At metropole we believe that feedback and targets is

an essential part of a students learning journey. We
encourage every pupil to set targets after their report has
been distributed. This will help focus them focus on
certain areas for the next term. Below is a copy of the
feedback format every student in KS3 uses.
- Use this table when blogging on your assessment
feedback:
Date

Subject :
Task
Feedback
WWW

STS:

How will I reach my STS

Parent Signature

Q. My child will have a LEAD teacher this year. What is

the role of a LEAD teacher?
A. Your childs LEAD teacher will oversee their
attendance, learning, behaviour and progress. They will
be their first point of call for problems that may arise at
Metropole regarding their academic work or personal
Metropole Guide for Parents

2016/2017

problems. Your child will begin their school day with their
LEAD teacher every Monday to Thursday. Your child is
expected to be in their LEAD classroom at 7.50am so we
are all present for the national anthem at 7.55am. Your
child then registers with their LEAD teacher before
completing a thirty minute
Q. Can you give me a brief overview of what my child will
study in LEAD?
A. LEAD is a time for students to complete work that will
focus on developing 21st century skills to prepare them
for life after school. We will look at establishing personal,
social, and emotional and health related skills, as well as
looking at academic progress throughout the year and
how we can make improvements. Students will be
required to do work in class and complete homework
tasks. We will look closely at innovation, critical thinking,
team work, leadership, researching and digital media
skills. This is a chance for our LEAD teachers to really get
to know their students, to develop our pupils into wellrounded individuals.
Q. When will my child go to LEAD?
A. Key stage three students will go to LEAD on a MondayThursday. Your child is expected to be in their LEAD
classroom at 7.50am so we are all present for the
national anthem at 7.55am. Your child then registers with
their LEAD teacher before completing a thirty minute
lesson.

Metropole Guide for Parents

2016/2017

Q. What is a Wednesday leadership activity?

A. On a Wednesday morning during LEAD time students
are asked to select a leadership activity. There is a wide
variety of activities including; Maths, Art, Physical
Education, Environment, English Language Learning etc.
Students will focus on building their 21st century skills
through these subjects. The main focus will be on
increasing their ability to lead small groups.
Q. What will I do if my child is sick and will not attend
school?
A. You need to send your childs LEAD teacher and
absence_mts an email between 6:30am-7:15am
explaining your reason for absence. Please do not CC Miss
Lynsey, Miss Maya or Miss Julie into this email.
Q. What if my child is absent but I do not have time to
email?
A. Please provide a hand written note that clearly
explains the reason for absence and is signed by you.
Please ask your child to give this to their LEAD teacher so
our registration system can be changed accordingly. Your
child has 24 hours to provide a written note explaining
their reason for absence before they are issued with a
detention. We cannot have any unexplained absences on
our system.

Metropole Guide for Parents

2016/2017

Q. What should my child do if they are going to arrive at

school late?
A. Students should report to reception and get a late slip
if they are arriving at school from 7:10am onwards. They
will be registered by our reception team and will receive a
late slip. Students should then go straight to their
assigned class and hand over their late slip.
Q. What does my child need to bring every day?
A. Your child should bring a fully charged laptop with
them every day. We are a digital media school and the
majority of work will be through laptops. Pupils should
also bring with them pens, pencils, rubber, ruler and
scientific calculator.
Q. What is the cashless canteen?
A. Pupils will be issued with a card in the first week of
term. Should they lose it they will need to request a new
card from the STS window at the front of the school. You
can add money to this as and when you like. Pupils scan
their card in the canteen for the food they want to buy.
Q. Can my son/daughter bring in their own food?
A. Yes, students can eat a packed lunch around the
school. There is tables outside, in the canteen and in the
KS3/KS4 corridor.

Metropole Guide for Parents

2016/2017

Q. If I am worried about my child in a certain subject

what should I do?
A. First of all you should email your childs LEAD teacher.
They will be overseeing their progress in every subject.
They will be able to speak to your childs teacher in that
subject and provide you with answers. You will also find
every teachers email address at the bottom of this
booklet, you could also email them directly.
Q. What will I do if my child is concerned about
something? (Homework, friendship groups, after school
clubs etc.)
A. You should email your Childs LEAD teacher straight
away. They will be able to find a solution to your problem.
Attached at the bottom of this form is a list of all teachers
email addresses, you could also email teachers directly.
At Metropole we have a 24 hour response policy. If your
child is having a problem with friends you can also direct
them to Miss Nardeen, our school counsellor.
Q. What is My Learning?
A. My Learning is a website that allows our students,
teachers and parents to share our work. All classes will
have their own learning space which teachers will add
homework and study sheets to. Students can upload work
and homework as requested. Reports will also be added
to learning lockers for students and parents to see.

Metropole Guide for Parents

2016/2017

Q. When will my child select their GCSE subjects?

A. Students will select their subjects during term two in
year 9. Students will be given help during LEAD to make
the choice that is right for them. An information evening
for parents and pupils will be held before pupils are
required to make their decision.
Q. When can my child select their after school Activity
choice?
A. At Metropole we have three terms of After School
Activities, students will be sent an email so they can sign
up for their preferred choice. We encourage our students
to sign up for an academic and health related club.
We also have sports squads at Metropole, they are more
serious and require our students to train and compete for
the school weekly. Physical Education teachers will
announce when they are hosting trials.
Q. Where will I find up-to-date school information?
A. Please check My Learning and Metropole Facebook
page. All information will go on here.
Q. Where can I find weekly information?
A. All weekly information will be placed on My Learning
on a Thursday, in the year group LEAD learning space.
Please ensure you and your child are checking this every
week and discussing their learning for the week ahead.

Metropole Guide for Parents

2016/2017

Q. Will my child go on any school trips throughout the

year?
A. Yes, we plan lots of fun and academic trips throughout
our school calendar. Students will go on subject specific
trips, end of year trips and we also have termly positive
behaviour trips. Please continue to check My Learning
regularly for all information.

Metropole Guide for Parents

2016/2017