Dear Parents and Carers,
As we approach the end of Module 4, we are providing our year 11 families with important information regarding final assessments and interventions running ahead of the GCSE exams this summer. Please read the information carefully below:
Final Round of Graded Assessments
There will be 1 week of graded assessments starting on 20/02/23 for the following subjects: Maths, English, Science, Spanish, History and Geography. A timetable for these assessments will be shared before the halt term break.
Y11 Parents Forum
We know how challenging it can be to support your child when they are preparing for the GCSE examinations at home. To support year 11 parents and carers, we will be holding a bespoke Parents Forum on Monday 6th February from 4.30pm until 5.30pm. The session will include practical tips on revision and study skills as well as mental health and wellbeing. If you would like to attend this session, please register here.
Retention of Mock Exam Scripts
Whilst there is no specific concern that public examinations will be cancelled, schools have been formally notified by Ofqual that they must securely retain scripts from mock examinations to use as evidence if cancellation happened. Owing to Ofqual’s guidance, marked scripts from mock examinations cannot be handed back to students for them to keep. We will, however, put into place processes that will help your child know what they need to relearn or revise to improve in their subject.
Progress Trackers
These are feedback sheets that will be at the back of subject exercise books. They are completed by students in lessons from reviewing their own mock script. This will produce a personalised revision/relearning checklist for them to focus on.
Review lessons
Teachers will reteach topics that contain common misconceptions that have arisen in the Mock assessments.
Recent mock assessments and reports.
You will have received your child’s report recently via MCAS that contains Mock grades, forecast grades and LAB values. As outlined above, it is essential that students use their progress tracker and review lesson feedback to focus on their own specific gaps in knowledge and skills. If they require any more direction, their classroom teachers will be able give them subject specific support and resources.
Interventions and Library Sessions
Subject intervention sessions are well underway after school each day of the week. These are essential for closing knowledge gaps that may have arisen. Thank you for your support in ensuring your child’s attendance if they have been invited. For independent study, our library sessions are an excellent opportunity that take place after school on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday each week from 3.15pm until 4.15pm. It is a quiet and focussed space for students to revise effectively without distraction. A member of staff is present to support your child if needed.
Student friendly Exam Timetable
We have collated all GCSE examinations for this Summers series into one document. This has been uploaded to the KS4 Revision Site here.
I would like to thank parents/carers for the support in helping their child engage in all support that is offered to them.
Best wishes,
Mr J Ritchie | Vice Principal
Head of Data and Assessment