Dear Parents/Carers,
Welcome back to a new year and the exciting thought of GCSE examinations being very much on the horizon now. We are writing to you with an update on key events and information relating to the next few modules and the countdown to the summer examinations.
Year 11 After School Revision
Module 3 will focus on the subjects with more significant examination weighting and the schedule can be seen here: Module 3 Year 11 Revision Schedule. Please encourage your child to attend as these sessions will focus on filling gaps in knowledge identified in the mock exams and developing exam techniques. These sessions will commence on Monday 15th January and run through until the examinations unless otherwise stated.
A full programme of revision will also be in place during the Easter and May half-term holidays. Further details nearer the time.
Mock Exam Results Day
On Friday 26th January we will have a mock examination results event. This will take place at 2.45pm in the Lecture Theatre and will give students an opportunity to experience the feeling of opening a results envelope with the grades in for all of their subjects they sat in the recent module 2 examinations. We hope this will be a motivational exercise for all students before the real results day on Thursday 22nd August! Please discuss the results and experience with your child when they get home on the 26th and let us know if you have any questions. Students will receive an additional copy of their grade in their Module 3 report being published to you on Tuesday 6th February.
Revision Strategies
Effective revision is vital to examination success. In addition to subject specific revision taking place in lessons, we will also be running the following sessions this module for all students to support and enhance their revision planning and strategies:
1. Revision Strategy Enrichment Lessons continue and students will be completing a Post Mock Action Plan in these lessons. The Post Mock Action Plan is designed to ensure that students know what grades they achieved, how much effort they THINK they put in, and what Attitude and Engagement score their teachers actually award them. This activity also leads students to reflect on whether they are using the vast array of support mechanisms that are available to them – online, books, google classrooms, teachers, revision guides, etc…
2. Revision Strategy Specific Sessions. These will build on The Post Mock Action plan which will further develop revision and memory strategies to help students retain and recall the vast amount of key knowledge required to be successful in the examinations.
College 1-1 Meetings and Post-16 Studies
In Module 3, all Year 11 students will have a 1 to 1 meeting with a member of their college leadership team to discuss their progress, and plans beyond Year 11. The meeting will include a review of their Forecast Grades against the criteria for entry to Post-16 at The Leigh Academy, as well as entry to other potential future routes they may wish to pursue. We hope as many of our students as possible stay with us into Post-16 in September 2024 and take up the study of the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme, a route which combines two academic IB diploma programme courses, with a BTEC qualification, as well as the internationally recognised Core Programme, which also brings additional UCAS points. If you have any questions about Post-16, including entry criteria, then please don’t hesitate to contact either the college leadership team, or our Director of Post-16, Mr Forcella-Burton at lee.forcellaburton@leighacademy.org.uk. The link to the Post-16 section of our website can also be accessed by clicking on the following link: Post-16 at The Leigh Academy.
Core Mock Exams
In order to further prepare for the summer examinations, Year 11 students will do another set of mock examinations at the start of Module 4 in English, maths and science. The dates and papers are specified below:
- English Language (Paper 1) – Monday 26th February 2024, 9am
- Maths (Paper 1) – Monday 26th February 2024, 1pm
- Biology (Paper 2) – Tuesday 27th February 2024, 9am
- Maths (Paper 2) – Tuesday 27th February 2024, 1pm
- English Literature (Paper 1) – Wednesday 28th February 2024, 9am
- Chemistry (Paper 2) – Thursday 29th February 2024, 9pm
- Maths (Paper 3) – Thursday 29th February 2024, 1pm
- Physics (Paper 2) – Friday 1st March 2024, 9am
These examinations will give another insight into the areas of strength and areas for focus for each student before the full examination series begins in Module 5.
Parent-Teacher Day and Final Countdown Presentation
On Tuesday 19th March you will receive the Module 4 report and on Wednesday 20th March between 2.30pm – 7.00pm, you will have a final opportunity to meet with your child’s teachers to discuss their progress and key preparation in the final lead up to the examinations. There will also be a Final Countdown presentation in The Lecture Theatre, covering topics including ‘How to support your child through exams’, the summer exam timetable, revision support through Easter and end of term events such as The Leavers Assembly and prom. A reminder that students will need to have a positive behaviour points score in order to attend these events and you can track their progress on this via MCAS.
JCQ Exam Guidance
A reminder that continuing excellent attendance and behaviour is vital to academic success. Students who continue to meet our standards and expectations will be invited to attend our Year 11 Prom in June 2024.
We look forward to supporting your child over the coming 12 school weeks until the first whole cohort examination arrives on Thursday 9th May, and then through the examination period which runs until the end of June.
Thank you in advance for your ongoing support as we work in partnership to ensure your child’s success.
Kind Regards,
Kevin Brewer
Head of Seacole College
Senior Leader in charge of Examinations
