Year 10

Miss K Archer
Email – [email protected]

Head of Year 10

Assistant Head of Year

Miss L Arrowsmith – [email protected]

Form Tutors

Welcome to our page. Our year 10 team value our incredible community and are often praised by others due to our pupils’ determination to help those around them. This is encapsulated by the work of our amazing cohort in building ‘Alfie’s Hut’ in memory of a great friend. We aspire to work together as a cohort with the same goal; success for all of the individuals within Year 10, whilst celebrating their originality and pushing them towards their aspirations. We have OCA’s core values and visions at the heart of what we do; always striving to do everything to the best of our ability (Age Quod Agis) and being a true OCA-ER!

Advice and Guidance

As a pastoral group, we have high expectations, which ties into one of our core values; excellence.  As a year team we expect everyone to perform to the best of their ability at all times; taking on the motto ‘when you do not give up you cannot fail.’ We are committed to supporting our students and building their resilience and confidence, especially as we approach GCSEs. We hope that with these skills students are able to tackle any obstacles or challenges in order to achieve their goals and aspirations.

As Year 10 students, who have experienced the transition to high school and moved through KS3 and are now embarking on the exciting journey that is KS4, we expect them to set an example to other students, showing the values of kindness, respect, community, care and maturity.

We follow the academy’s mission: “we will make the biggest difference to the lives of all our students by laying the foundations to encourage a successful future.” We will develop inspirational, forward thinking young people who gain skills, knowledge and qualifications to lead a happy and deeply rewarding life. This is achieved through the great relationships that our form tutors have with their students, support of parents, carers and other family members and the commitment to excellence from students.

Enrichment

Throughout the school year there will be extra-curricular activities, career fairs, visitors, workshops and more to support the goals and aspirations of our students and to show them the next steps and skills needed for future careers. Year 10 pupils are expected to take charge of their own future and engage with these opportunities designed to benefit, enhance and support students; showing them the potential they have, careers they may be unaware of and pathways they may choose to take. There have already been a core group of year 10s involved with social action projects including planting bulbs around the academy and litter picking. Our year has also been at the forefront of the Duke of Edinburgh scheme, continuing to push themselves and enjoy the challenges available at OCA.

Attendance and Punctuality

Attendance is vital this year especially as we approach their final year at OCA.  All lessons are of great importance, and it is essential they are attended punctually, and work is completed to the student’s best ability.

Attendance is of the up most value to all students as missed learning can have a huge impact on a student’s understanding and progress. Students should aim for at least 97% and if possible 100%.

Equal to this, punctuality is just as important and can equate to huge amounts of time lost/gained. All students are expected to turn up to school and lessons on time, fully equipped and ready to learn.

Working Together

I am extremely proud of our Year 10 Team and the progress they have made. As a team we understand that mistakes can be made, which we accept providing we learn from them. We will always strive to be the best and to deliver everything we can in order to provide success, not just academically but personally too.

As students settle and mature into their learning, they will see the support available to them from their teachers and their form tutors. The Year 10 Team is expected to be proactive in asking for help and support, in setting themselves targets and goals and utilising the support offered to them by the academy. As the pastoral leads offer support, encouragement has come from the use of Epraise. Each morning Year 10 pupils are told how many points they gained the day before to encourage a competitive nature to continue to improve and to celebrate their hard work.

Targets

We expect students to follow all of the academy rules such as:

  • Following the uniform policy dressing appropriately for a working environment.
  • Being fully equipped and completing homework to further knowledge and understanding.
  • Having excellent attendance (97%+) and punctuality and following up on any missed work or opportunities.
  • Attending an enrichment to further enrich and enhance interests and skills in and outside of the classroom.
  • Displaying the highest standard of behaviour both in and around the classroom and academy.
  • Displaying the values and ethos of the Year 10 Team, showing kindness, resilience, perseverance and a willingness to learn and develop.
  • To always work to the best of their ability, to treat everyone with kindness and to never give up!

This year should be used as an opportunity to work on developing skills and knowledge learnt in Year 7, 8 and 9 to prepare for the exciting challenges of Years 10 and 11. As they embark on their GCSE years at OCA the students must immerse themselves fully into what OCA has to offer them they should have perfected the daily routines and expectations of OCA and should be flourishing.

Should you need to contact one of the team you can do this through the school office or our emails that have been provided.

Good Luck Class of 2026

If you need to contact Miss Archer, please contact the school office or email [email protected]