Dear Parent/Carer,
Over the next week every Year 11 student will start the examination period for their GCSE and vocational exams. Students have received their individual exam timetables; this is also available to students and yourselves on edulink. A separate letter with information on the general Year 11 timetable throughout the exams will be sent to you separately, this will include information on the revision lessons and the start of the study leave period.
We are aware that this is a very stressful and emotional period for families and want to remind you that if you have any concerns, please contact us for support.
During this assessment period please remember that you can have a huge positive impact on your child’s results through creating a stable environment and routine. There are no single perfect answers, however these suggestions are shown to have the biggest impact.
- Good sleep habits: Sleep is vital for memory consolidation, a process which is integral to learning. Parents/guardians can help by ensuring their child follows a regular sleep schedule, getting the recommended 8-10 hours of sleep each night.
- A nutritious breakfast: Please encourage your child to eat a healthy breakfast. Children who skip breakfast or rely on energy drinks perform worse in attention and memory tasks compared to their breakfast-eating counterparts.
- Minimising distractions: In an age of digital distractions, parents and guardians can aid their child’s revision by creating a calm, distraction-free environment. This may look like looking after their child’s phone for them during study sessions, turning the TV off, or helping them ensure their desk is tidy.
- Studying using Retrieval Practice: One great way to utilise Retrieval Practice at home is by using flashcards. For example, parents and guardians can encourage their child to use the Leitner System, a handy way to make the best of flashcards.
- Get your child to teach them the material: A powerful way to reinforce understanding is for students to teach the material to someone else. When students prepare to explain the material to others, they organise and clarify their thoughts. Parents and guardians could utilise this by getting their child to teach them about some of the key concepts they need to master.
- Combatting procrastination: Parents and guardians can help combat procrastination by setting a structured routine for their child’s revision, limiting distractions such as mobile phones and ensuring they start their revision as early as possible.
- High expectations: Studies found that high parental expectations significantly contribute to improving student grades. These expectations instil belief and motivate students to work harder.
- Motivation: Research shows that highlighting the practical applications of the revising content can increase motivation. Parents can share examples of how they’ve used the knowledge they learned at school later in life, thus making learning more relatable and engaging.
- Making outdoor exercise a habit: Daily outdoor exercise is beneficial for students, especially during revision periods. Studies show that even a short 12-minute walk can improve a student’s mood and increase concentration levels by up to 21%, even when facing daunting tasks.
- Balancing work and play: While studying is important, it’s equally crucial to set aside time for relaxation and leisure. High stress levels can negatively impact a child’s well-being and even the quality of their revision. Incorporating a healthy balance of screen time, socialising, partaking in hobbies and exercising within study can contribute to exam success by providing necessary mental breaks.
Finally, all revision homework and tasks will be set on Edulink so that you can check what your child should be completing and the revision resources and plans developed throughout Year 11 to support every child remain available here https://workingtonacademy.org/parents/student-support-curriculum/ (password is Workington)
With six weeks of effort and commitment I have no doubt that every student can realise their full potential and go on to be the best that they can be in these upcoming exams.
Yours faithfully,
Barry Simpson
Deputy Headteacher
