Parent Academy for Y10
At Dulwich, we are committed to offering parents valuable information and targeted advice to help them better support their children's learning and growth. That's why we host weekly Parent Academy lecture on various topics, tailored to different year groups. In the middle of September's Parent Academy was specifically designed for the parents of Year 10 students, focusing on two key areas: English learning support and counselling guidance.
English learning support
We recognise that parents play a crucial role in their child's English language development. To address this, the English Department organised the specialised lecture for Year 10 parents, offering practical strategies to help their children improve their English skills. Mr Tony Qureshi, our Head of EAL and English teacher, summarised the key takeaways as follows:
“Encourage the use of course vocabulary glossaries and use online platforms like Quizlet and Quizziz to reinforce keywords. Motivate your child to take risks in using English, reminding them that mistakes are part of learning. To support their written work, guide them in incorporating teacher feedback, revising written work, and using provided checklists for planning. Ensure they're utilizing all materials and resources shared by teachers, including online support. To enhance your child's reading skills, foster a daily English reading habit and discuss the content together. Do this in Chinese to check for comprehension. Utilize school library resources and model effective reading skills yourself.
“For listening practice, encourage engagement with websites like BBC Learning, 6-miunte English and the British Council – there are many different levels for your child to choose, use subtitles and transcripts to aid comprehension. To improve speaking, support your child in recording and reviewing their speech, focusing initially on fluency over accuracy. Consider using AI tools like LanguaTALK and Gliglish for additional speaking practice. Remind your child of the importance of speaking in English as much as they can while at school.
“Other top tips include reminding your child to regularly check communication platforms like Teams and their school email for important updates. Your active involvement can significantly boost your child's confidence and proficiency in English as they prepare for their IGCSEs.”
Counselling guidance
The second part of the Parents' Academy was presented by Mr Mark Coyle, the head of the counselling, and cohosted by Ms Serena Shi. Mr Coyle explained the EiM success plan and that all Dulwich Year 10 students will follow the three pathways: knowing myself, understanding the big picture, and making informed decisions. Together these strands will push students to find their “best fit” university along with the most suitable major and country.
In counselling classes, Year 10 students will take a personality assessment and career planning analysis to gain an initial understanding of themselves. They will also engage in the exercises of the Career Action Plan which will help them explore suitable academic majors and career paths. Consequently, students can delve deeper into their academic and professional pursuits by opting into the school's diverse extracurricular activities. For instance, students interested in biology may choose to participate in the school's iGEM team, while those keen on mechanical engineering can join the F1 club. The Counselling Team will be on hand to advise the students throughout their journey at our school – with help choosing A-Levels, CCAs and encouraging students to reach as high as their potential. Parents can request meetings at any time during the journey and students can come to us any break or lunch time.
Moreover, Mr Coyle emphasized the critical role of communication between Year 10 families and university admissions representatives. Our school hosted visits from universities around the world, including Boston University and the University of Connecticut in the United States, the University of Melbourne in Australia, and Western University in Canada etc.
Furthermore, on October 17, Dulwich will host a university fair which includes more than 120 universities globally. Mr Coyle invited all Year 10 families to attend and engage in dialogues with the university admissions officers at the fair.
Through the Parent Academy, DHSZ aims to partner with parents to help students face future challenges with confidence. We believe that parents' active involvement and support provide the foundation for their child's growth, paving the way to future success.
