How can you help

1
Y11 Parent Partnership Evening

• How can you help?
• Making a real difference?

2
Overview

• Exams what are they?
• - How many?
• - How have they changed?
• - How are they organised?
• - How are they different
• from previous generations?

3
Overview

• Organisation of revision
• Use of the school website
• Study leave
• Pupil targets
• Key messages How can parents help?

4
Examinations What are they?

• When do the exams begin?
• December 8th Trial Exams
• May 2009 Final GCSE exams
• Number of examinations - varies according to the
  subject and type of course.
• (e.g. GCSE, GNVQ(x4),BTEC(x2 or x4) Applied
  GCSE(x2), Geography, Mathematics etc.)

5
How are they organised?

• Organisation again relates to the type of subject
  and style of the course.
• Oral, practical, coursework, portfolio.
• Assessed by external tests of varying lengths
  e.g. 40 mins, 1hr 30 mins. One or two papers.

6
How are they organised?

• Some are skills based
• Long answers and essays
• Short structured papers
• Higher and Foundation tiers for most subjects.

7
How are they different ?

• Not just what you know and write about a subject
• Now a combination of approaches e.g.

Essays Communication of ideas/facts/concepts
Demonstration of thinking skills
Knowledge/understanding Summary Short
answers Use of evidence Interpretation
Accuracy Applying formulae Learning facts
Labelling diagrams Report writing
SPAG (Spelling, punctuation and grammar) Use
of pictures/diagrams Comprehension
8
Short GCSE Courses

• R E is a statutory subject for students up to
  KS5.
• The short course is Philosophy and Ethics not
  traditional RE.
• Students will receive a GCSE qualification at the
  end of the course.
• ALAN (adult literacy and numeracy) and an
  additional functional ICT qualification will also
  be taken
• Each course awards half a GCSE and can be
  combined to count as a whole GCSE.

9
How can we help?

• Homework club
• Coursework sessions
• Mentoring
• Saturday classes

10
Organising revision
11
Revision comes last

• Learning must come first
• Dont confuse the two.

12
Plan ahead

• Make a revision timetable
• Have clear dates, times, subjects and activities
  on the timetable.
• Share progress.

13
Revisit work

• Within the timetable make sure opportunity is
  there to revisit work.
• You can help here by sharing question and answer
  sessions.
• Be positive about achievements.

14
Use a range of resources

• Exercise books, text books.
• Study guides.
• Past papers and questions.
• Web based materials (care here)
• Kingsmead revision site
• www.ktconline.org.uk

15
Study Leave

• Pupils will be revising and working in school in
  the weeks before the May half term.

16
Study Leave

• Pupils will be expected to attend lessons or
  revision sessions, according to a set timetable.
• When there are exams in those weeks we are going
  to change the timetable to give extra revision
  sessions the day before.

17
Library

• In the summer term study facilities will still be
  available in school for those pupils who would
  like to use them.
• Revision resources will be available.
• Quiet place to work and revise.
• Available during the Study Leave period.

18
Breakfast

• The Dining Room has a very popular breakfast
  service
• Open from 8.20am.

19
Timetables

• Pupils will have an exam timetable for their
  Trial Exams.
• An examination timetable for the final GCSEs will
  be available in April.
• A plan showing coursework information and
  revision classes is available tonight.

20
Reducing Stress

• Establish that doing our best is the important
  thing
• Set realistic goals
• for revision timetables
• for results
  
• Build in rest and recreation
• Visualise success not failure
• Keep a record of what you have done

21
Parents

• How Can You Help?

22
Peace Perfect Peace!

• Comfortable work area at home not too
  hot/cold/desk or table
• Place where work/equipment can be kept safely
• Free from distractions from the rest of the
  family
• Not possible? Relative/friend/use school
  library (open until 4.30 pm and available during
  the day in the final exam period)

23
Chilling Out!

• Not too many family chores or responsibilities
• No baby-sitting
• Avoid confrontations
• Keeping everything low key
• Praise and TLC
• Stay positive

24
Too Much Work Makes

• Dont abandon social life altogether
• Have short relaxation breaks during revision
  sessions
• Forget about the final examinations when they are
  finished

25
Staying Healthy and Alert

• Regular meals especially breakfast the day of
  an examination
• Healthy drinks avoiding too much caffeine/fizzy
  drinks
• Alcohol and smoking reduces the effectiveness of
  the brain
• Plenty of sleep avoid cramming until the early
  hours

26
Practical Support

• Know the examination timetable post it on the
  fridge!
• Make sure they are out of bed and in school well
  in time for exams!
• Keep a stock of stationery
• Help organise a revision timetable
• Test them if theyll let you!
• Bribery!!! A treat at the end!