Year 11 GCSEBetter Progress

Evening

Mr Ryan

• Introduction• Mocks / Results

Mr McNicholas

• Targets and Data• Time Management• ‘R.A.G. Rate and Date’

Why are target grades so important?

• How many times have you set yourself targets?

• Remember how pleased you were when you achieved your goal(s).

• Good isn’t it?

We need targets to measure the progress your child is making

• So we capture this data every 6 weeks or so

• We can actually see progress (or not) and then we act

• But we are finding that what we do is no longer enough – we NEED parents to help

We need targets to measure the progress your child is making

When progress isn’t so good

These pupils YOUR CHILDREN need all of our support as they try to live up to expectations

We are doing all we can in school with excellent teachers and lots of intervention where needed

This is where better planning and even more support from more parents is VITAL

Planning your time wisely

Planning your time wisely

can make all the difference in the long run

Next week is half term. Mocks are 4 weeks later.

The time to get serious about work just happened!

Morning 9 a.m. to 12 noon

Afternoon 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Evening 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Split each revision day into THREE segments(each one should be 3 hours in length)

then decide which one will be FREE

Revise one, two or 3 subjects for 3 hoursBUT ...

Break the 3 hours into 3 x 1 hour sessions

Then do 45-50 minutes’ work with an active10-15 minute break in each hour

The Revision Week of a High- Performing Student

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

9-12 Art Gym Swim Eng Lit Sci Drama Church

1-4 French Bus St D&T Garden Geog History Music

5-8 Visit RE Maths ICT Film TV RE

Relax 9 Bed TV to 10 Xbox to 10 9 Bed 10.30 TV to 10 9 Bed

So what does this add up to?

35 hours of revision2.5 hours of revision per 3 hour session

It adds up to a GCSE pupil gaining more marks in every exam, and hopefully gaining more

passes overall, than if they had just ‘revised’.

Success !!!

‘RAG-rate and Date’Unit 3 Section 2: Matters of Life and Death Why Roman Catholics believe in life after death, and how beliefs about life after death affect their lives.

10 Sep

21 Sep 4 Oct

Non-religious reasons for believing in life after death (near-death experiences, ghosts, mediums, evidence of reincarnation). 12

Sep 20 Sep 30 Sep 4 Oct 6 Oct

Why some people do not believe in life after death. 13

Sep 20 Sep 1 Oct

The nature of abortion, including current British legislation, and why abortion is a controversial issue.

14 Sep 4 Oct 6 Oct

Different Christian attitudes to abortion, and the reasons for them. 17

Sep

The nature of euthanasia, including current British legislation, and why euthanasia is a controversial issue.

18 Sep

Christian attitudes to euthanasia and the reasons for them. 19

Sep

Miss Basso

Head of Mathematics

Numeracy and Maths

Be positive about maths

Maths GCSE: Edexcel Mathematics A (1MAO)

Higher A* - D (and U)

Foundation C – G (and U)

2 x 1hr 45min exams each out of 100 marks

1 calculator paper

1 non-calculator paper

Equally weighted papers – you have to be able to do both!

The Home-School Link

Homework Books – 1 set per week

A mixture of basic numeracy and consolidating in class learning

Mymaths – website to help your child recap learning, to aid revision and homework

The School Website: Maths Department

Mathswatch – video clips to help your child recap learning and to aid homework

Links to revision materials

Links to past test papers

Links to mark schemes

Use your RAG-rate-date sheets with mathswatch and when doing past test papers/homework

Mr Kinsella

Attendance and dealing with pressure

• Research suggests that 17 days missed from school equates to dropping a FULL GCSE GRADE across all subjects.

• The link between attendance & attainment:

Attendance % % Students gaining 5 A* – C Grades

94% + 74.3%93% – 94% 60.4%92% - 93% 53.1%

88% and below 26.7%

Attendance

>95% = Excellent chance of 5 A* - C Grades

94% = Good chance of 5 A* - C Grades

92% = Fair chance of 5 A* - C Grades

90% = Less than 40% chance of 5 A* - C Grades

88% = Less than 35% chance of 5 A* - C Grades

<88% = Less than 30% chance of 5 A* - C Grades

5 or more GCSE A*-C grades can increase your wages by…

41%

Handling Exam Stress!!

Coping with Exam Stress

• The key to handling exam stress is to understand the process;

• Stressing out reduces your mental capabilities and is counter-productive - be confident in your abilities;

• If you're relaxed, the conscious and subconscious parts of your mind interact better, reducing the risk that you will freeze up or make a mistake

The power of positive thinking

• Spend time with people who have a positive effect. It will rub off on you.

• Avoid negative thoughts, such as 'Everyone else seems better organized, while I'm struggling.'

Sleep Well

• A regular seven hours of sleep is minimum for the body to function well.

• Stop working an hour before bedtime. You will find it helpful to do some muscular relaxation, which is particularly effective in relieving stress

Practice Relaxation Techniques

• Practice deep breathing or meditation to relax. They help reduce stress. Alternately, take a brisk walk in fresh air after your day's revision is over.

• You believe in God, so pray before you start studying. Prayer can help you increase confidence reduce your stress as well.

What to eat

• Food rich in vitamins and proteins, such as green leafy vegetables and fresh fruits, are a must.

• The nutrients will help your brain stay sharp. Avoid food with high fat content.

Eat some ‘super foods’

Eat healthily and regularly; your brain will benefit from ‘super foods’ such as berries, bananas or nuts. 'Super foods' can boost your concentration, energy and mood.

Another cuppa? Don't think so!

• Don't drink too much coffee, tea and fizzy drinks; caffeine will make you feel 'keyed-up' and make your thinking less clear.

Give your body a workout (as well as your mind).

• Regular moderate exercise such as a brisk walk, swim or session in the gym will boost your energy, clear your mind and help reduce any feelings of stress.

Avoid stressful people

Stress is contagious.

During exams, resist the urge to have a study session with your super-tense friend - especially if they’re complaining about all the work they have to do and breaking pencils all over the place!

And parents…• A student who is under stress needs to know

that they have the support of their family. • It's important that others should be sensitive

to the extra strain they will be under;• Allow them the space and time to study;• Regular meals, appropriate opportunities for

relaxation;• Offering positive feedback, demonstrating

your confidence in them.• If the stress is getting too much for the your

child then encouraging them to seek appropriate help could be vital.

Tips for keeping calm during the exam:

Choices and Study Skills

Miss JacksonHead of Business Studies and Careers

Charles Peat Ex PupilBeth Foster Ex Pupil

During Year 11, your son or daughter will decide on their next step and this will probably be one of the following options:

• Continue in full time education: 6th form A Levels

• College: Diplomas / A Levels

• Enter work based training (an Apprenticeship)

Their final choice will be dependant on their predicted grades, what they want to get out of

the course and their future aspirations.

Choices available will depend on how many GCSEs they gain and at what level.

Sixth form

A Levels

Options available and common pathways - min of 5 A*-C Grades

Apprenticeship

Intermediate and Advanced (level 2 and 3)

College

Advanced DiplomasNVQ Level 3

A levels

Advanced Apprenticeship

University

Employment

Sixth form

A Levels

Without 5 A*-C Grades

Apprenticeship

Intermediate) (level 2

College

Certificates NVQ Level 2

University

Employment

Advanced Apprenticeship

Diploma NVQ Level 3

How does school help your child with their Post 16 choices?

• Careers Interviews (one to one)• Arrange numerous industry “talks”

– Engineering, Business, Accountancy, law, Teaching, Healthcare, beauty…………..

• Arrange talks from colleges and training providers– Gen 2, Lakes college……..

• Visits to Universities and colleges• Provide details of 6th form and college open days• Drop in information and advice sessions

How can parents / guardians help?

• Support and prepare pupils for their mock (and real) examinations

• Attend open days with your children• Use the careers resources available via school

website with you child (Kudos)• Attend Careers Conference in January

Revision Tips and Techniques

Avoid being the person who regretsnot giving exams their very best shot!

Don’t imagine that life will go on as normal!

How can you help your child?

• Plan revision in ½ to ¾ hour chunks with built-in breaks of at least 5 minutes. During breaks, forget about revision – have a drink and a snack. Talk to your family!

• Provide a quite place to study

How can you help your child?

Materials / organisation Social life / job Rest and Diet

Work with your child Motivation

How will school support your child?

• Subject specific revision materials• Revision classes• One full day revision / study skills workshop• Study skills booklet• Additional support WHEN EVER asked for

REVISION TECHNIQUES

Don’t think it will be enough simply to read through your notes. It won’t.

The average person can take in four numbers or words at a time, can

concentrate on revision for a maximum of 45 minutes at a time!

Mnemonics

Mnemonics help you to remember by using short words that stand for something to help you. Here is a Mnemonic for REVISION.

Rest

Exercise

Variety

Imagination

Structure

Individual

Ongoing

Not too long

Mind maps

Brain Friendly Revision

Highlighters

As you read through your notes use different coloured highlighters to pick out key words /themes/ideas/ points etc. You could try a differentcolour for each theme or topic.There are revision websites where you can read revision notes and highlight as you go. You can use very small post-its to highlight things as you go along.

Underlining

As you read through the work in your exercise book underline key words.

You could come up with a predicted list before you start or you could make a list of the key words at the end.

You could underline in different colours, patterns or lines like wiggly, thick etc.

• Use post-it notes, strategically placed around your home, to remind you of tricky facts.

• This is a good place…

You need to choose places you go to regularly.

• Ask someone in your family to test you.• Be the teacher! Once you have revised a topic,

try teaching it to someone else.• You might try recording your own notes and

listening to them last thing at night. • Upload your recording to your MP3 or MP4

and listen to it on the way to and from school etc.

• If you are musically inclined, set your notes to the tune of your favourite tune and sing them!

Being excellent gives you freedom….. to choose.

Wise words from last year