Invicta Diploma
The Invicta Diploma looks to:
- Celebrate successful learners who make progress and achieve highly.
- Deliver a robust and rigorous curriculum at KS3.
- Reward high students who have high self-expectation, who are determined and aspirational in their attitude.
- Recognise skills: leadership, organisation, resilience, initiative and communication.
- Encourage personal development through involvement in wider opportunities.
- Acknowledge responsible citizens who make a positive contribution to society.
The Invicta Diploma takes into account the following criteria:
- Attendance/Punctuality
- Wider Opportunities
- Academic Outcome
- Learning Behaviour
- Achievement Behaviour Points
- Subject Diploma Task
The aim of the ‘Subject Diploma Task’ is to raise the profile of the Invicta Diploma across the school as well as building robustness and rigour within the curriculum. These tasks are curriculum based and are assessed and moderated uniformly across the departments. Subject Diploma tasks ensure that students continue to work well in all subjects, even if they have chosen not to continue with them in Year 9 and their Foundation Year.
Examples of Subject Diploma tasks:
Eurovicta - MFL Diploma Task
Eurovicta at Invicta, now in its 10th year, is a vibrant tribute to language, culture, and internationalism where Year 7 students showcase their singing and dancing talents while exploring French and Spanish culture. Through teamwork, students create performances that push their limits and encourage healthy competition, fostering personal growth and development.
Science Fair - Science Diploma Task
In November Year 8 students are introduced to their science fair projects. They are challenged to research or experiment on a topic of their choosing, allowing them to explore and go into more depth into an area of science they enjoy. Between November and March, students work independently on their projects, decorate their boards and eventually present at the annual science fair in March.
Each year, the students with the winning projects go forward to the next round and compete with SST students for the 'Best in Trust' trophy. Long term, we are looking to have this in place at all four VIAT secondary schools. In addition to these main prizes, many other prizes are available, for example, for projects that display excellence in the Character traits of the Invicta Houses, and key skills from subjects across the school.
Students from our VIAT primary schools also visit the Science Fair, in addition to Year 8 students, staff and sixth form representatives from each department.
Trampolining Routine - PE Diploma Task
For the PE Subject Diploma Task, students devise a 10-bounce trampolining routine. Time is spent developing the sequence of jumps, and practising the routine before these are performed in front of their classes.
Students are graded as attaining ‘Pass’, ‘Merit’ or ‘Distinction’ depending on the complexity of the routine and how these are performed.
Outcomes:
- At the end of Year 7 students achieve a ‘certificate’ based on the progress through their Invicta Diploma, using all 6 measures.
- At the end of Year 8 students will receive an Invicta Diploma Certificate, personalised to their areas of strengths and weaknesses. These will recognize students who have succeeded in a variety of areas, and those who have been consistently excellent throughout.
- Students will attend an award ceremony to celebrate their successes.
- Increased uptake of our extra- and super-curricular activities, as tracked by SchoolVue.
- Increased understanding of the broader successes of our students, including those who make a positive contribution to society, or are active in a variety of communities outside of school.
- The attendance, punctuality and learning behaviours of our students will be highlighted due to the Diploma criteria and can be flagged up to staff, students and parents. Improving attendance could increase the likelihood of receiving a ‘merit’ rather than a ‘distinction’ for example. This information can be used in conversations with students, and be used as a ‘carrot’ to encourage improved attendance.
