Are you confused by the exam system and qualification choices? – You’re not alone! Talk to teachers in school, they’ll help you to get the full picture.

The single biggest favour you can do is send your child to school EVERYDAY, ON TIME! 90% attendance means they miss ½ a day per week, which is 4 weeks per year, that’s 1 ½ terms in their 5 year course!

Make the most of Parents’ and Information Evenings. Listen to what the teachers have to say about your child’s aptitudes and abilities. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, it’s not just you, the system is complicated.

All students face a point where they feel overwhelmed or demotivated. Your most important role is to encourage and praise your child, help them see the relevance of each lesson or exercise. Every little counts!

Help provide a quiet workspace for revision, with pens, paper and other resources. Show an interest in what they’re doing, be a sounding board for their ideas and point out things of interest.

Negotiate with your child about what is expected of them. Figure out the best times for them to be working and help them stick to them, but negotiate appropriate breaks to maintain momentum.

Students should be doing a minimum of 2.5hours each week night and 6 hours over the weekend. Watch out for other commitments impeding on this time. Regular, consistent revision is integral to achievement.

Q&A cards are great for revision. Have a question on one side and answer on the other. Students can use these to test themselves or work with friends/parents.

If your child is struggling with a particular subject area try sticking key words, phrases, formulas, term and definitions etc up around the house.

Allow your child to ‘teach’ you about a subject. It really helps to embed the information in their own minds. Quiz them, asking them to further explain certain areas.

Encourage your child to produce mind maps for each subject/topic. It helps them to establish links between areas and remember key words.

Help your child identify what type of learner they are; Auditory learners need to HEAR to learn Visual learners prefer pictures and diagrams Kinaesthetic learners need to DO something to internalise their work

Have a clear knowledge of your child’s school and exam timetables. You’ll know when to expect homework and when exams are. If you’re informed you can help your child to focus

This presentation, along with further information about supporting your child through subject choices and exam revision, can be found on the school website