Year 11 Mock Examinations will take place from Thursday 27th November to Tuesday 16th December. The mocks are an important part of Year 11, as they will give an indication as to how well they may do in the final GCSE examinations. In addition, teachers can use the results from these mocks to focus on key knowledge and skills leading into the Summer examination season and to make sure we support them in their remaining time. Please be aware that many colleges and further education institutions ask for predicted or estimated grades for application forms. Year 11s may therefore need to use the grades issued from the exams for this process.
Revision
Each subject will provide information on what to revise for each mock exam. It is important that students have a revision timetable in place to support their success, and they have been supported with this during form time. A template can be downloaded from the link below. Each day in form, our tutors are also completing specific revision strategies with students to support them in learning which strategies will best support their learning.
October half-term revision
We are running revision sessions across a number of subjects during half-term, focusing on exam success, technique and addressing gaps in knowledge identified in the mock exams.
We strongly encourage all Year 11 students to attend these revision sessions as we approach the start of the GCSE mock examination season. The timetable of sessions is available below. If students are attending a longer day, they may bring a packed lunch or leave the site to go home or to the shop. All students should enter school via reception and sign in and out of the building. Students do not need to wear a school uniform.
Support
GCSE examinations bring with them lots of different emotions, which vary from student to student. We recognise that this can be a challenging time for students and families for many reasons, and we want to support students in terms of their mental and emotional health by offering and reminding you about the following additional opportunities:
Year 11 Pastoral support:
Mrs Rawcliffe and Mrs Regan are always here to help and guide our students, and no concern is too small.
Form time support:
Form tutors are your child’s school champion. Form time is very important to set students up for the day to be successful. During form time, form tutors also complete the following routines – check uniform and equipment, teach specific revision strategies, create a revision timetable and complete wellbeing check-ins.
After half term, we will be running our Year 11 inter-form competition every Friday. Students will take part in a range of games and fun activities to compete for Year 11 form champion 2025.
Homework club:
Our school library is open from 3-4pm each day with a member of staff to offer advice and support to our students with their homework.
Kooth:
https://connect.kooth.com/young-people
An online service which offers access to anonymous and personalised mental health support for Children and Young People. Please access the link above to find out more, or contact us at school if you need any help and advice.
Parents/Carers also play a vital role. Encouraging your child to revise regularly and communicating and discussing feelings about exam stress and pressure are important. For other families, it will be reminding your child to relax, sleep well, eat well and do some non-school-related activities.
Attendance
Year 11 is a pivotal time for students as they prepare for their GCSEs and other key assessments. Every lesson counts, and consistent attendance is essential for ensuring that students are fully equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed for their exams. Missing even a small amount of school can lead to gaps in learning, which may be difficult to fill as the year progresses.
Research shows that students who attend school regularly are more likely to achieve better academic results and build positive study habits. Additionally, regular attendance helps students develop time management and organisational skills, which will benefit them beyond their school years.
Mondays and Fridays are the days with the lowest Year 11 attendance. We understand that illness and other unavoidable circumstances may occasionally affect attendance. However, we kindly ask for your support in ensuring that students attend school regularly, unless there is a genuine reason for absence. If there are any concerns that might be affecting a child’s attendance, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Further intervention and revision sessions for Year 11s will start after the October half-term.