GCSE SUPPORT EVENING

INFORMATION Students have received a lot of information in the last few weeks – Exam Handbook Personalised mock exam timetable Exam ID card Assemblies on: motivation, revision space, period 6, key dates etc They will receive a personal exam timetable for the real exams in April.

29 School days left until students sit the first written exam – RE on Mon 15th May 54 School days left until the last written exam - Product Design on Monday 26th June (Everyone else finishes on June 16th)

The seven stages of Y11 1. Denial 2. Anger 3. Tears 4. Acceptance 5. Bargaining 6. Work 7. Hope

From lunchtime on 12th May students will be on a revision/exam timetable. They will be expected to be in school all day every day – however student timetables will be amended to allow them to prepare fully for the upcoming exams. This will run until May 26th (half term) After half term there is no formal study leave. Students must attend school in slots where there are revision sessions and for exams – there are no timetabled regular lessons but attendance at revision lessons is compulsory. If students have no revision session or exam they will be allowed to go home/come in later. Students need to be in full uniform and follow school rules throughout the exam period.

Revision Materials Students can buy post it notes / revision cards and packs of highlighters at ‘cost’ from school to get them started. Post it notes and revision cards – 50p Highlighters - £1 per pack

REVISION SESSIONS Period 6 revision sessions will continue to run for all students until the 11th May. Students will be expected to attend wherever requested during this period. From May 15th revision sessions after school will follow a different timetable, which will complement the sessions running during the day and the exam timetable.

Period 6 Timetable Period 6 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thurs Friday   Sessions History English (P) Maths (P) Science Drop In/ Optional Sessions Music Art Drama Sociology Geography RE ICT/ Computer Science Health and Social Care Tech MFL PE Drop Ins  Art ICT  Maths  English   Art Classroom teachers and/or subject leaders will inform students if they are required at P6 for their subject. If they are required this is not optional revision.

Student preparation

Early preparation Display the dates of the exams. Highlight times, or whether it is am or pm. Check that students know which paper they are doing. Know what they need to revise for each paper. Ask for advice on how to revise. Attend additional revision sessions. Build an revision timetable which allows them to scale up as they move towards exams.

Plan your revision It’s important to take a structured approach to exam revision, because it means you can be sure of covering everything you need in the time available. People who do not plan their revision often end up spending most of their time covering areas they already know well. A proper revision plan will help you focus revision on the subject areas you really need to cover: When creating your revision plan, work backwards from the date of your first exam. Plan to be at revising in depth for at least 6 weeks prior to your exams. Allocate more time to tricky subjects and areas you don’t know well. These will have the biggest impact on your eventual results. Be realistic when creating a timetable. You can’t spend every minute revising – build in time for breaks and other commitments too. Stick your revision timetable up somewhere and tell your friends and family about it so they can help you focus on sticking to your plan.

Create the right environment We know the importance of a good study environment, which is why we take great care to create an effective environment for our revision courses. When you revise at home, follow these revision tips to build surroundings that will help you revise effectively: Try and set aside an area that’s just for revision. Avoid your bedroom if possible – you want to create a space you associate only with revision. Make sure your desk is lit well (with natural light, if possible) and in a quiet spot, away from distractions like the TV. Most people revise most effectively in a quiet environment. However, at certain times playing music may motivate and inspire you. Find a spot where it’s easy to avoid distractions. Turn your phone off, move away from the TV and shut down your internet connection Have everything to hand before starting. That means pens, pencils, paper, textbooks, exam papers – anything you need to revise.

A few days before the exam Continue with revision and other preparation. Check the exam lists so that they know exactly where they should be (and where they should queue). Ensure that they know what equipment they need - calculator or other specialist equipment. Ensure they know your candidate number.

The day of the exam Eat sensibly and bring water (clear bottle, no labels) to the exam. Bring all the equipment they need (including a spare pen and pencil) in a clear pencil case. A black pen is required in all exams Arrive for exams in good time and queue sensibly (taking account of the alphabetical arrangements for seating and boys/girls). If they have a mobile phone, it must be switched off and handed in prior to the exam.

Advice to parents Try to support but not pester. Students need a space to revise. Ideally this will not be their bedroom. Keep an eye on when they need a break. If what they are doing isn’t working, get them away from it for a while. They need you to be strict but fair. Make them revise, but recognise it can’t be 24/7 Remember they don’t really hate you!