NewsletterYear 11 Half Termly Updates

Astonishingly, we are about to start our last full term with your Year 11 child(ren). Well done to all Year 11s for completing their final round of mock exams. Our school's priority is to support your child with the pressure of exams. All aspects of our provision will focus on supporting students, so that they reach their potential. 

A reminder that year 11 students are very lucky in the extra support they are offered by NFS staff:

• Lunchtime support sessions
• Before/after school subject boosters
• Easter boosters
• Informal chats with teachers on how to revise, etc. 

The Young Minds charity suggest the following steps parents and carers can take, to support their child:

1. Be positive with your child - "You CAN do this!"
2. Help them with exam practicalities - quiet study space or creating a revision timetable
3. Encourage healthy routines - eating, sleep and fitness
4. Don't add to the pressure - set realistic goals and remind them that GCSEs don't define them
5. Look out for signs of struggle - let them talk and ask NFS for help, if required

Essentials in this newsletter include:

• How the exams will work
• Full GCSE timetable

Remember to contact your child’s tutor, Head of Year (Miss Harmer-Weston) or myself if you need any further assistance. 

Very best of luck to your child(ren) in their upcoming GCSEs. 

Kind regards,

Mrs Rebecca Farnie

Deputy Headteacher - Academic

• The official GCSE exams are between 9th May and 19th June.
• There are no exams during the half term break from 27th and 31st May
  • Support your child by creating opportunities within this week for dedicated revision
  • There will be in-school revision sessions during this week

JCQ have published contingency sessions within the summer 2024 exam timetable, in case any exam has to be rescheduled. All year 11 children must be available on all three dates, even if they do not have an exam:

• Thursday 6 June PM
• Thursday 13 June PM
• Wednesday 26 June AM and PM

All students will receive a personalised timetable for their GCSE’s, including start and end times, once they have returned their signed Exam Entries form. 

 

• All students have been issued with a 'Final Countdown' support booklet. This provides:
  • A revision planning timetable
  • Revision tips
    • Please click here to preview a copy.

For revision, we now strongly recommend the 3,2,1 model:

• 3 days a week do 3 tasks
• 2 days a week do 2 tasks 
• 1 day a week do 1 task
• 1 day a week take 1 day off

We would expect this to increase slightly in the holidays, as reflected on the timetables provided in the booklet.

We recommend all students bring the Final Countdown booklet to the Parent-Teacher Meetings on Tuesday 26 March, to write down any key revision teachers recommend.

 

 

As a school we subscribe to, or recommend, a number of online platforms students can use to support their revision.

All Subjects

• GCSE Pod Students should use their normal school log in (Office 365 log in)
• Seneca Learning Teachers will give students class codes to access specific content
• Save my Exams
• BBC Bitesize

Subject Specific

English

 

• Mr Bruff (website)  @MrBruff (You Tube Channel)
• @MrEverythingEnglish (You Tube Channel)
• Physics and Maths Tutor Misleading title, but very good for English Revision.

Maths

• Corbet Maths (website)  and @corbettmaths (You Tube Channel)
• Dr Frost Maths (website) and @drfrostmaths (You Tube Channel)
• Maths Genie 
• Maths Buster Students have their log in
• Eedi Students have their log in

History

• @understand.history (You Tube Channel)

Geography

• Time for Geography
• Internet Geography
• Tutor 2 U 

Business

• @bizconsesh (You Tube Channel)

Food

• Food a Fact of Life 

DT

• Technology Student 

A number of staff are putting on revision sessions during the Easter break.

It is important students arrive on time for these sessions as the staff will be waiting for them in reception, to sign them in and walk them up to the classroom. Reception is not staffed during the holiday, if students are late, they may not be able to gain entry into school and will miss the session, as teachers in school will be busy running the sessions.

For some of the longer all day sessions for coursework, students may wish to go off to attend other shorter exam based sessions being run, and then return. 

Students will receive a ‘REACH! Ahead’ ticket for each session they attend. These tickets go into a draw at the end of each term where they will be able to win gift vouchers, or even an iPad.

We have been really pleased with the dedication of year 11 towards their revision this half term. Our silent study sessions have been well attended, and we look forward to seeing more students next half term. 

What is Silent Study?

• The silent study sessions provide students with a space to work on their revision.
• Students must plan this time and bring homework or revision with them.
• They will complete 45 minutes of study, followed by a 15 minute break, before completing a final 45 minutes of study.

When does Silent Study happen?

• We will be running an additional silent study session next term.
• The sessions run on a Tuesday and Thursday 3:45-5:30pm and on a Monday and Wednesday 2:45-4:30pm.

What if my child has a subject booster straight after school, but wants to attend the Silent Study too?

• Students are able to attend a subject booster and then join us in Silent Study once the booster finishes.

Are there additional incentives for my child to attend?

• We provide biscuits in the break!
• Students also receive a ‘REACH! Ahead’ ticket for each 45 minute session they stay for.
• These tickets go into a draw at the end of each term where they will be able to win gift vouchers, or even an iPad.

Is there an expectation for my child to attend these sessions?

• Please encourage your child to use this facility.
• We will be speaking to some of our year 11 families to strongly recommend attendance to these sessions, to support students in reaching their potential.
• Parents can request that their child attends. Please contact your child's tutor to arrange this. 

There are a number of practical subjects completing their mocks and final exams over the next couple of months, please support your child if they are taking one of these subjects, with their preparation or any materials needed. Any further information required will be sent to you directly from the class teacher.

Art

Monday 29th and Tuesday 30th April OR Wednesday 1st and Thursday 2nd May All Day

Spanish - Speaking

Monday 22nd April to Friday 26th April - an individual time slot on one of these days will be given to each student near the time.

Other Languages - Speaking

If your child is taking an exam in their home language then their speaking exam time will be shared with them individually.

Staff are putting on sessions for year 11, either before/after school or a t lunchtimes, to support revision. Below are the sessions currently planned for next half term, if any further sessions are planned I will update you via email.

Students will receive a ‘REACH! Ahead’ ticket for each session they attend. These tickets go into a draw at the end of each term where they will be able to win gift vouchers, or even an iPad.

More information will be sent out for the following date, but please make a note of them.

Leavers Day

Friday 21st June - students will be in school for a leavers assembly and other activities.

Prom

Thursday 11th July - 7pm at Goosedale, Papplewick.

Results Day

Thursday 22nd August.