January 2020 How can I support my child through their GCSE exams? - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Year 11 Parents Evening - 23rd January 2020 How can I support my child through their GCSE exams? Support and advice with strategies to help

Summary of the session

• Strategies parents can use to support
• Revision essentials – reminders, tips and

techniques

• Information about Apps, online resources

and supporting with social media use

• Next steps and key dates

Our role as parents and the challenges we face:

Whenever I try to help or offer advice it just turns into a slanging match

Sur Surely th they sh should ldn’t be go going ing out t when n th their ir exams are re co coming up

All they seem to be doing is working – surely there needs to be a balance?

I don’t understand what they need to do. How can I help them?

They always leave everything to the last minute then it’s stresses and strops when deadlines approach

Our role as parents and the challenges we face:

• 86% of the general public believe that support from parents is the

most important way to improve

• School age children spend 70% of waking hours outside of school
• Parent involvement is a significant factor in

both accelerated and sustained academic performance

• Family participation is twice as predictive

as socio-economic status

Our role as parents and the challenges we face:

• An Attendance officer – provide the best preparation for exams by

ensuring your child is in school and attending lessons

• 3
• 2.5
• 2
• 1.5
• 1
• 0.5

0.5 1

95-100 90-95 80-90 70-80 <70

Progress 8 against Attendance

Our role as parents and the challenges we face:

• A project manager – working with your child to agree a revision

timetable, creating the space and providing the equipment needed

• Keep informed and stay positive
• Help establish routines and organisation
• Focus and build on your child’s strengths
• Expect and praise progress and effort

Our role as parents and the challenges we face:

• A go between – keeping in contact with your child’s form tutor/

teachers and asking the questions if your child can’t or won’t

• Attend meetings and sessions at school
• Keep in regular contact with teachers
• Look at the curriculum documents on the website
• Support with revision materials

Our role as parents and the challenges we face:

• A personal coach and support – supporting with and managing

your child's wellbeing, diet and health Eating breakfast is vital – provides the fuel for the oxidation of glucose

• As many as 31% of adolescents skip breakfast
• Students who eat a good breakfast are twice

as likely to do well in tests

• Eating breakfast is healthier and has been

linked to improved memory, concentration, lower stress levels and happier mood

Our role as parents and the challenges we face:

• As a personal coach and support – supporting with and managing

your child's wellbeing, diet and health Getting enough quality sleep

• NHS recommend teenagers get between 8 – 9 hours sleep on a

school night.

• For quality sleep:
• Avoid technology late into the evening
• Use blue light blocker on your phone
• Create a sleep friendly bedroom
• Listen to quiet music or audio books

Our role as parents and the challenges we face:

• As a personal coach and support – supporting with and managing

your child's wellbeing, diet and health Mental Wellbeing

• It is crucially important to look after your own mental wellbeing

during revision and exam time

• Tips to look after yourself
• Find something to do that ‘forces’ you to step

away from revision

• Talk about it – share worries/concerns with friends
• Separate rest and revision spaces
• Speak to teachers/ write down thoughts/feelings

Our role as parents and the challenges we face:

• Ensure your child has the resources and environment to do

everything they are being asked to do by their teachers

• Monitor and motivate their revision timetable – once they begin,

it will become easier

• Motivate on the days they don’t want to do it
• Reward in ways that encourage, motivate

and focus on the revision achieved

• Help establish good routines

It’s not too late to turn things around

• Students have their mock results
• All students have had a 1:1 interview

with Ms Davies

• What are the lessons that you have

learnt from these?

• Were there any surprises? Have you

talked about why this may have been the case?

• Now is the time to set targets, plan, prioritise and get revising

It’s not too late to turn things around

• 14 more school weeks till the major

exam weeks start (practical exams start before then)

• 75 more school days
• 364 lessons
• Are you making the most of every lesson? Are you using this

time as wisely as you can?

Us Using So Social Me Media Wis Wisely ely

Revision Timetables

• Plan your week – revision in the evening, weekends, until the last

exam

• Decide on which lessons need more work (are weaker) and give

them more time

• Plan a revision timetable that fits this. – be specific about what you

are going to revise. Mix it up.

• Plan for breaks/ time for hobbies - plan in rewards
• Share the timetable with your family to get them to support you
• Plan for breaks and make sure that you have rewards in place for

meeting this timetable

Think through your timetable

• Colour code – make it something you can easily understand that

you need to follow

• Block in time to unwind and relax (Seeing friends, favourite TV

programme, sport etc.)

• Be realistic – break it into manageable chunks
• Put the timetable somewhere really obvious and share it with

someone who can help hold you to account

• Set alarms/ reminders to help you stick to your plan
• Reward yourself for achieving mileposts

https://getrevising.co.uk/planner

Re Retrieval Practice

Year 11 Curriculum Journey– Key Milestones

• Thursday 23rd January

Parent’s Evening/ Information Evening

• Week beginning 3rd February

6th Form Interviews Begin

• Monday 3rd February (AM)

BTEC Business Exam

• Tuesday 4th Feb (PM)

BTEC Digital Arts Exam

• Wednesday 18th March

GCSE Drama Exam

• Tuesday 31st March

GCSE Dance Exam

• Monday 23rd March

Pre Public Exams

• Monday 6th April

Easter Revision begins

• Monday 20th April

GCSE Art Exam starts

• Monday 11th May

GCSE exams begin (First exam is RE)

• Friday 26th June`

Year 11 Boat Party

The Journey to 6th Form at Chestnut Grove

Year 11 Spring Term:

• Year 11 guidance interview in the Spring Term 2020 - You are here

Year 11 Summer Term:

• Offered a ‘conditional’ place and attend the Induction Day in late June, after the GCSEs

Year 12 Enrolment:

• Students, with their parents, attend an enrolment interview in early September
• Sixth Form Team will use prior attainment data to place students on appropriate

courses, matching ability to entry requirements

• Typically, most students at Level 3 will study 3 A levels or equivalents (see course guide)

All students complete the six week ‘Probationary Passport’ to develop the routines of study for success

Take Control of Your Future

• Thank you for being here this

evening

• Listen carefully to the advice the

teachers will share

• Ask questions that you need to

ask to move your learning forward

• Start the conversation