Alumni

School Information (74)

Getting to APS

Address

Please note: This is a postal address. Access to the school is not possible through Bidwell Gardens. Access is through Durnsford Recreation Ground or Rhodes Avenue.

Alexandra Park School
Bidwell Gardens, London, N11 2AZ

The main entrance for students is located in Durnsford Recreation Ground.

This entrance is closed during the school day, so visitors and deliveries should use the entrance on Rhodes Avenue, as indicated on the map below.

Walking or Driving to APS

Print

There is no on-site parking at Alexandra Park School. Spaces in the surrounding streets fill very early, but some parking can be found on Rhodes Avenue and Durnsford Road.

Public Transport

The nearest underground station to Alexandra Park School is Bounds Green. The nearest overground station is Alexandra Palace. The bus routes 102, 299 and 184 all stop out the front of Durnsford Recreation Ground.

Journey Planner
Service Updates
Tube Map
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Progress Tracking and Reporting Survey

Link to progress tracking and reporting survey

Dear Parent / Carer

As you are aware, this year represents the start of a period of curriculum change that is being introduced by the Department of Education.

These changes will have a significant impact upon students in every year group. At Key Stage 3 they involve the revision of the National Curriculum, and in particular the removal of the compulsory levels (1-7) that previously existed to measure progress from Years 7 to 9. At GCSE, new qualifications are being introduced in all subjects over the next three years with a different grading system (using numbers, 9-1, instead of A*-G), and at A level all subject specifications are also being revised over the next three years although the grading system will remain unchanged. Vocational qualifications at Key Stages 4 and 5 are also being reformed.

In light of these changes we are currently reviewing our reporting procedures to ensure that they remain effective in fulfilling their purpose of providing information about progress, and means of improvement, to students and parents.

To help inform this process, we are eager to consider the views of parents and would be grateful if you could complete a questionnaire which is available at goo.gl/pZ74uE

Please also be aware that we have produced guides to curriculum change which you can view here.

We are, as always, grateful for your support.

Yours sincerely

Dan Silverman

Deputy Headteacher

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School Administration

Welcome to the Alexandra Park School general office.  The admin team are at the very centre of APS, providing help and support to all staff, students and parents.

Before contacting us, please check below for the answers to some of the most common queries we receive.

School Payments

All school payments are now taken through ParentPay.

Student absence, lateness and appointments

If your child is absent for any reason, or is going to be late, please contact the attendance officer.

020 8826 4880 and select option 1 or enter extension 4872.

attendance@alexandrapark.school

Lost Property

Please ensure that all uniform, PE kit and equipment is clearly marked with your child's name, so that if it's found it can be reunited with the rightful owner.  Any unnamed or unclaimed property will be held at Reception until the end of each term, after which it will be disposed of.

Items brought in / messages for students

Students are expected to be fully prepared for their school day.  However, we do understand that on occasion things can get overlooked.  Should it be necessary to bring items in, or have emergency messages delivered to students, we will always do our very best but please be advised that this may not always be possible.  Your understanding is much appreciated.

Change of contact details

If you have recently moved house, changed telephone number or other contact details then please let the office know.  We may need to contact you in the event of an emergency so it is important that our records are kept up to date.

Other useful information

If your query has still has not been answered, then please do contact us on 020 8826 4880 or through this contact form.
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APSA

 apsa logo

Virtual AGM on Monday 30th November at 7:30.

The parents association (APSA) zoom AGM will be held online. Please contact the current chair Alison Hills alisonhills4@yahoo.co.uk for the zoom link if you would like to join.

Please also feel free to contact if you have any questions about APSA

 APSA's Fundraising Holiday Raffle

After having to cancel all of our social and fundraising events this year, APSA want to end the term on a more jovial note and offer you the opportunity to win some great prizes in our Fundraising Holiday Raffle. 

raffleOur wonderful collection of prizes have been generously donated by many of our much loved local businesses as well as parents of the school. 

  • Amazon Fire Tablet (Kindly donated by Tatlers)
  • Korto experience and brunch for 4 people
  • £50 Victoria Stakes voucher
  • £50 Go Ape Voucher
  • Owen’s Hamper
  • Festive food and drink hamper
  • Pamper hamper
  • £25 Tash & Tanya voucher
  • La Lluna meal for 2
  • PT session with North London Boxing club
  • PT sessions at =Results personal training
  • Sports massage with Tasmin Ward
  • 3 hour session Grapesweet Ceramics
  • Custom made macramé hanging basked by Jennyfer Stanley
  • Online cooking lesson for 4 with Dan Salem  
  • Pringle of Scotland wool hat, scarf and tote.
  • Tiosk Traditional Matcha gift

Please dig deep and give yourselves plenty of opportunity to win a prize while at the same time supporting APSA's ongoing fundraising campaign for the school.

Click here for all the prizes and how to get your online tickets - https://go.rallyup.com/apsa-raffle

When buying tickets if you chose anonymous your name will still be visible to the organisers and you will get tickets allocated.

We will live stream the raffle draw and announce the winners on Thursday 17th December at 7pm

At school, email Jo Chadwick if you have questions. We can hold prizes at school to be ready to collect when you wish.

Thank you and good luck!

APSA

APS ChristmasTrees2020Unfortunately we are unable to host out annual Christmas tree sale this year. We have however teamed up with  www.christmasonthehill.co.uk .

They will donate to APS every time a tree or wreathe is purchased using the code APS20 on their website.

All trees and wreaths would be delivered directly to the address of the person who placed the order, whilst maintaining the appropriate Covid-19 safety measures.

Please support if you are able to.

Kind regards,

APSA

apsa gifted

This year, do your Christmas shopping, raise money for Alexandra Park School and support local businesses from the comfort of your own home. We’ve partnered with Gifted Local to donate 10% from every purchase made by our community to the school. Gifted Local is an online market place connecting local businesses with customers who want to shop local. With Covid making fundraising increasingly challenging, this is a great initiative to raise money for the school. 

Gifted Local is the perfect solution for seasonal shopping. Packed full of unique homeware, stocking fillers and thoughtful gifts for your nearest and dearest, all products are made locally to you and delivered straight to your door by small creative businesses who need your support now more than ever. And to get into the Christmas spirit, you can find the following on Gifted Local’s website

  • Downloadable cut out and colour in kid’s Christmas decorations to keep your small people busy while you browse
  • A spicy mulled wine recipe and Christmas playlist to get you in the mood while you shop
  • And a ‘Win a Christmas Hamper’ competition worth over £250 full of Gifted Local goodies.

To get shopping, go to www.giftedlocal.com and use APS10 from Friday 27 November until Sunday 6 December.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/giftedlocal  

Instagram: www.instagram.com/gifted_local 

Twitter: www.twitter.com/giftedlocal

What is the Alexandra Park School Association? (APSA)

The Alexandra Park School Association represents all parents/carers in the school and all parents/carers and staff are automatic members of APSA.

We are a registered charity (No. 1093561) and have a constitution, which you can view here.

APSA is run by a small committee of parents/carers drawn from across the school.  We always welcome new volunteers, who can join committees or help volunteer to make individual events successful for the school community.  

In the school year 2020-21 we are moving fundraising and events on line.

The AGM was held in November 2020 and we elected the following members into names positions:

  • Chair: Alison Hills
  • Co-Chair: Pam Chatterjee
  • Vice Chair: Jennifer Alpert
  • Treasurer: Sheena Patel
  • Co Treasure: Helen O’Donoghue

Secretary: Helen Gerolaki

How you could get involved

We are always looking for help - either in the run-up and preparation for an event or on the day / night itself.  Even if you can help with one thing in the year, it would make a difference.  You don't have to be available for everything.

If you would like to help and / or get involved please email Alison at alisonhills4@yahoo.co.uk or pam-chatterjee@hotmail.co.uk

Our main activity is fundraising on behalf of the school and have supported the hardship fund, physics lab and in the financing of a new minibus.

easyfundraising

EasyFundRaising

You could be collecting free donations for Alexandra Park School Association - with no effort - whenever you buy anything online - from your weekly shop to your annual holiday.

There are over 3,000 shops and sites on board ready to make a donation, including Amazon, John Lewis, Aviva, TheTrainLine and Sainsbury's - it doesn't cost you a penny extra!

It's as easy as 1, 2, 3...

  1. 1.Head to https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/alexandraparkschoolassociation/and join for free.
  2. 2.Every time you shop online, go to easyfundraising first to find the site you want and start shopping.
  3. 3.After you've checked out, that retailer will make a donation to your good cause for no extra cost whatsoever!

There are no catches or hidden charges and Alexandra Park School Association will be really grateful for your donations.

Thank you for your support.

Contact for any questions re: APS EasyFundRaising - lizwebb@aol.com

Tickets4School

Tickets4Schools is an established and successful fund-raising scheme designed to raise much needed monies for schools and their PTA's.

Theatre and event tickets are sold directly to parents and staff of the school at a discounted price but inclusive of a mandatory donation (usually £5.00 per ticket) to the school. The more tickets sold via the school, the more money is raised. It's as simple as that!

Tickets4School website - http://tickets4schools.com/alexandra-park-school

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Curriculum Changes - AS and A2

New AS/A levels from 2015/16

As part of the government’s education reforms, AS/A level courses will start to change from September 2015.  In the first year, many of our most popular courses will be changing – art, biology, chemistry, economics, English, history, photography, physics, psychology, sociology and textiles.  In subsequent years more subjects will be reformed.

The main principles of the reform are as follows:

Key changes

  • The biggest change relates to the relationship between AS and A levels.  These qualifications will be entirely separate, although there will be significant overlap in content.  Results in AS examinations will not count towards a final A level grade. 
  • Students will need to complete A level examinations at the end of Year 13 in all units for which examinations were taken at AS.
  • Resits of specific units will not be available – to complete a qualification, students must sit examinations in all units in a single summer examination series.
  • Assessment will be by examination as much as possible.  In phase one coursework will be removed from all subjects apart from English and history (20% in each), art, photography and textiles (100%).  There will also be an element of practical assessment in sciences. 

Continuity

  • Grading will remain the same i.e.  A* - E for A level, and A – E for AS.
  • In 2015/16 students will continue to complete AS level examinations at the end of Year 12 and A level examinations at the end of Year 13.    
  • The level of demand of AS is intended to be the same as the current qualifications.
  • Most students will continue to pursue 4 courses in Year 12 and all will still be required to complete at least 3 courses in Year 13.
  • Universities will consider AS grades when making decisions regarding course offers.

There will also be content changes in many subjects, for example the requirement that all students study a period of at least 200 years in history and other assessment changes such as a greater focus on spelling, punctuation and grammar in the awarding of marks in all subjects.  Further details of changes in individual subjects are included in our Curriculum Guide as soon as they are available. 

It is important to note that some aspects of these proposals are subject to further discussion between the government, Ofqual and the examinations boards and could be changed prior to implementation.

Timescale for AS/A level reform 2015 - 2019

1Phase 1 - Art, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Economics, English, History, Physics Psychology, Sociology

2Phase 2 (from Sept 2016) - Drama, Geography, MFL, Music, RS

3Phase 3 (from Sept 2017) - Classics, DT, Maths, Media, Politics / All others

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Curriculum Changes - GCSE

New GCSEs from 2015/16

As part of the government’s education reforms, GCSE courses will start to change from September 2015.  In the first year, only English and maths GCSE will be changing.  In subsequent years more subjects will be reformed.

The main principles of the reform are as follows:

  • ‘New’ GCSEs will follow a linear structure – all exams will be taken in the summer of Year 11.  Resits will not be available (apart from in November for students in Y12 or above).
  • Coursework will be removed from almost all subjects, including English in the first year of reform.  Assessment will be conducted by external examiners as much as possible (some subjects in later phases of reform, such as geography and the sciences will retain a fieldwork or practical element).
  • ‘New’ GCSEs will be graded using numbers rather than letters – the diagram below shows how this is currently intended to work.
  • Tiered examinations (i.e. availability of foundation and higher level) will not generally be available.  In the first phase of reform tiers have been removed from English, but kept in maths (where the foundation tier will offer the opportunity for students to achieve  grades 1-4, and the higher tier will access grades 5 –9).

There will also be content changes in many subjects, for example the requirement that all students study a nineteenth century novel in English, and other assessment changes such as a greater focus on spelling, punctuation and grammar in the awarding of marks.  Further details of changes in individual subjects are included in our Curriculum Guide as soon as they are available.

Current intentions for new GCSE grading structure

9 to 1 gcse

Timescale for GCSE reform 2015-2019

1Phase 1 (from Sept 2015) - English and Maths

2Phase 2 (from Sept 2016) - Art, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Drama, French, Geography, History, MFL, Music, PE, Physics, RS, Science, Spanish

3Phase 3 (from Sept 2017) - Business, Classics, DT, Mandarin, Media, Turkish / All others

GCSE curriculum change guidance

Department for Education Guide to new GCSE grading (9-1)

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