Welcome to the Island Innovation Federation GCSE Information Evening

Transcription

1 Welcome to the Island Innovation Federation GCSE Information Evening Louise Southwell Federation Lead for English Helen McCarthy Head of Year 11 Medina College

2 What is tonight about? 1. GCSE Success 2. Student Responsibilities What they need to do 3. The role of parents and carers What can you do? 4. School Support What staff will do 5. Next steps

3 1. GCSE Success

4 1. GCSE Success 5 days until your first trial exam 28 weeks until your first GCSE exam 30 hours of exams (on average) 43 weeks until results day 970 hours of learning left

5 1. GCSE Success Improving your chances of success Engagement Attendance Commitment EXAM SUCCESS Practice makes permanent Seek Support

6 1. GCSE Success Improving your chances of success Students with 5 GCSEs at grades 9-5 including English and Maths are likely to earn 80,000 more in their career than those without

7 2. Student Responsibilities

8 2. Student Responsibilities Revision Matters The aim of revision is to boil down the subject information to a series of key points. These key points, phrases or words prompt your brain to retrieve the information you have learnt By revising frequently, the brain retains the information and can then operate normally under the pressures of an exam.

9 2. Student Responsibilities Revision Matters Start revision early. The sooner you start, the less you will have to do each day, and the less stressed out you will be.

10 The Forgetting curve 2. Student Responsibilities

11 2. Student Responsibilities Revision Matters It s really important to make a realistic revision timetable that you will stick to.

12 2. Student Responsibilities Revision Matters Plan your time A revision timetable will help you maximise your time and avoid last minute panics and cramming. Be honest & realistic What time of day do you work best? Have clear revision goals for each session For example at the end of these 2 hours I will be able to label a diagram of the heart and confidently answer a question on how the heart works.

13 2. Student Responsibilities Revision Matters Plan in rest breaks to relax & reward Keep each session between minutes max It is WHAT you revise not the QUANTITY that delivers success.

14 2. Student Responsibilities Revision Matters STOP and take a break if you are becoming frustrated, angry or overwhelmed. Put aside the problem Don t waste time struggling anything you are finding hard, take to your next lesson DO NOT BE INFLUENCED BY FRIENDS WHO TALK ABOUT HOW LITTLE WORK THEY ARE DOING Get your head down your results don t matter to your friends but they are crucial to your future. Tell yourself it s not for long and think about that long summer holiday

15 2. Student Responsibilities Revision Matters Get one good revision book or aid for every subject They do much of the initial work for you by breaking the subject down into do-able chunks Letters were sent out with details of revision guides available in school

16 Don t just read a 2. Student Responsibilities textbook when revising!

17 2. Student Responsibilities Revision Matters Different revision techniques work for different people. Find out what works best for you. Simply reading over their notes is not revising. You need to do something with the information.

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20 2. Student Responsibilities Revision Matters Prompt Cards Memory Games Mind Maps Teach someone else Post-it notes Past papers Summary Tables Command words

21 2. Student Responsibilities Revision Matters 1. Picture it Get a sense of the whole What does the end product look like? 2. Chunk it down Break it down into several parts What are its constituent circuits? 3. Easy does it Address each part individually Can I master each circuit?

22 2. Student Responsibilities Revision Matters 4. Chunk it up Rebuild the parts Can I put it all together to making increasingly connected circuits? 5. Check it Assess for accuracy Is it correct? Any modification needed? 6. Hardwire it Practice, practice, practice Repeat the process as many times as necessary

23 3. The role of parents & carers It s all completely different from when I was at school! The Campaign for Learning found that positive parental involvement in a child s education can make a significant difference to their educational outcomes.

24 The New GCSE Grades 3. The role of parents & carers

25 3. The role of parents & carers The good news is that you don t need to be an expert in any of the subjects your child studies to make a real difference What happens at home in the forthcoming weeks can have more impact on GCSE grades than what happens at school

26 3. The role of parents & carers Work and social life balance Agree a plan and stick to it. Flexibility is the key if a special night comes up, agree that they can make up the work at a specified time Communication is key All students feel demotivated or overwhelmed at time. When your child feels like this, talk to them about the issues, acknowledge their feelings and work together to find a solution Having the right revision climate Where can they revise effectively? Do distractions need to be minimised? Are the strategic breaks helping the brain to rest and recover? Subject areas at both colleges offer subject specific revision which has been published and will be updated during the course of the year. The Study Hub at Carisbrooke is open Tues-Thurs from 3.30 to 4.30pm Lunchtime study at Medina takes place in the library (LRC)

27 3. The role of parents & carers Exam Stress Recognise the signs of stress Irritability, changes in appetite, negative and low mood are some of the symptoms of exam stress Offer encouragement Stress is natural and it can positive it can help students to focus on the task at hand

28 Reducing Exam Stress 3. The role of parents & carers A Good Nights Sleep Make sure that they get a good nights sleep before each exam - it will be much easier for them to concentrate during the exam if they are not feeling too tired. Eat well and stay hydrated Plenty of water, fresh fruit and vegetables. Bananas are brilliant for brains! Avoid caffeine it makes stress worse and it dehydrates. Remove distractions Encourage them to have times without their electronic devices Exercise Regular exercise makes you feel good and can clear the mind

29 4. School Support What we are doing to help your child succeed Academic Monitoring Staff are working as mentors and are focussing on working closely with selected students in order to improve attainment. This involves weekly meetings and support sessions with selected students. Your child will be set short term, achievable targets which you can reinforce at home.

30 4. School Support What we are doing to help your child succeed Subject Interventions Revision sessions during lunch time and after school - open to all students. Focussed intervention lessons for selected Year 11 pupils across different subjects. These will be timetabled and attendance will be compulsory. The interventions will be focussed on addressing gaps in knowledge as identified by the mock examinations and teacher assessments.

31 4. School Support What we are doing to help your child succeed Pastoral Support Tutors and Year team are available to provide help and support to students when required.

32 4. School Support Show My Homework Online homework calendar showing homework information, deadlines and attachments for students.

33 5. Next Steps Important Dates 5th-16th November Trial exam period (some real exams also taking place during this period) 8 th November IIVI Form Campus Open Evening 4 th December Mock results day replicate results day in the summer December & January External exams - A few exams e.g. Powerbase, BTEC Sports studies. Information will be sent to students concerned th January VI Form taster days 17 th January (MC) 24 th January (CC) Year 11 Parents Evening 25th February 6th March Second trial exam period Real Art exams 13th May 17th June GCSE Exam period

34 Thank you for attending