Supporting Your Child for Success

2020

To get you thinking…

● How much time do young people (7-16 year olds) spend online each day?

● How much time do 15-16 year olds spend online each day?

● How much time do young people spend watching TV each day?

Young people online 3 hoursamount of time 7-16-year-olds spend online each day4.8 hourstime 15-16-year-olds spend online

•2.1 hours spent watching TV each day - down from 3 hours in 2000

•60% watch TV via a phone, tablet or laptop

•38% do most of their TV viewing on demand

Source: Childwise Monitor report 2016ThinkstockAmong older teenagers in the survey there is an even more pronounced switch away from television, particularly at the time when it is broadcast.Among 15 to 16-year-olds, less than a quarter would typically watch television as it is broadcast, rather than on a catch-up or on-demand service or through YouTube.Among this age group, 32% had no favourite television programme.

3 hours

4.8 hours

2.1 hours - down from 3 hours in 2000 • 60% via a phone, tablet or laptop • 38% do most TV viewing on demand

Source: Childwise Monitor report 2016

So, how long should Year 11 students be spending revising?

A rough guide…

Most students are taking exams in 8-9 subjects

Most subjects will have a number of different topics that need to be learned

Each topic could take at least 2 hours to learn fully…

How much at a time?

3 parts revision

to

1 part break

For most students this will be:

30 minutes revision

+

10 minutes break

The reality

…which means that

before the real GCSEexams, most students

will need to find time foraround 200 hours of revision

How do you know your daughter/ son is revising? What do you see/ hear them doing?

How do you know it’s working?

Memory performance over time

Time

After 10 minutes

After 1 day

After 2 days

After 3 days

Per

cen

tage

of

mat

eria

l rec

alle

d

Which do you think were found to have higher – moderate – lower effectiveness?

Distributed practiceElaborative interrogationSelf – explanationRegular practice testingInterleaved practiceSummarisingHighlightingMnemonicsRegular practice testingImagery to represent textRe-reading Dunlowsky et al (2013) studied 10 strategies

used by students to revise and prepare for examinations.

What has the lowest impact?

1)Unstructured revision:

revision needs to be planned, with a realistic goal for each session

2)Reading:

unless you go over everything again and again, which is time-consuming

3)Highlighting/underlining:

although useful when done well, it is often done poorly

Effective revision strategies – what the research says

● Higher effectiveness○ Regular practice testing

○ Distributed practice (short sessions)

● Moderate effectiveness○ Elaborative interrogation (turning facts to be learned into why-questions and then answering them)

○ Self – explanation (explaining to yourself what you are doing and thinking)

○ Interleaved practice

A blend of these techniques is most effective

A recent study shows music did not improve learning;

What will effective revision in your household look and sound like?

Healthy eating -

Top tips for healthy eating during exams -

● Make sure you drink enough water or sugar free squash (no fizzy drinks!).

● Make sure you eat three meals a day -

1. Breakfast - This is especially important before exams - this doesn’t have to mean getting

up really early and cooking yourself a full english! Just grab a banana and a drink as you go

out of the door. Other examples could be wholegrain cereals, porridge or wholemeal

toast.

2. Lunch - It will be easier for you to prepare your lunch the night before so you are not

rushing in the morning. Lunch doesn’t have to be a sandwich, it can be a wrap’s, pitta’s,

bagels and pasta salads.

3. Dinner - Dinner is a good time to catch up with the people you live with. Use the eatwell

plate for guidance

Dealing with exam stress

● Anxiety is normal during exam time and lots of people will feel the same - as long as

you’re prepared you have nothing to worry about it!

● If you have any questions, concerns or feedback about your GCSE’s make sure you ask a

teacher or a member of staff straight away - they are always there to help you.

● Be organised - have the date, time, location and what you need for each exam written

down and keep a copy at home so you’re always prepared.

● Exercise is really important in helping with stress and anxiety - it helps to clear your

thoughts and helps you to deal with your problems calmly.

● If you are finding that you are losing concentration then take a break and get some fresh

air, this can help to ground you - especially if you really focus on your senses, for example,

what you can see and hear around you. You can even take your revision outside with you!

● Make sure you set aside some time for yourself - put the revision away and do something

you enjoy.

Week 1 Week 2

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

Option block D Option block C Maths Option block A Option block B English

History Art History Food

Music History Triple science History

French BTEC Theatre(by invite only)

Spanish BTEC Dance(by invite only)

Spanish Geography Geography BTEC Sport(by invite only)

Food Food BTEC D & T(by invite only)

Art

BTEC D & T(by invite only)

BTEC D & T(by invite only)

Computing

Feb 24 - 7 May 11 weeks

Wednesday 24th June - national contingency day

https://www.gcsepod.com/parents/

English Language English Literature

7.5 hours of Exams2 separate GCSE qualifications

Spoken Language Endorsement

Key Dates for the diary: English Language 8700

8700/1 Explorations in creative reading and writing 1h 45m 02 June 2020 am

8700/2 Writers' viewpoints and perspectives 1h 45m 05 June 2020 am

8700/C Non-exam assessment: Spoken language 9 & 10 Submit by 07 May

2020

Key dates for the diary:English Literature 8702

8702/1 Shakespeare and the 19th century novel 1h 45m 13 May 2020 am

8702/2 Modern texts and poetry 2h 15m 21 May 2020 am

Revision guides:

Having them is half the battle, using them well is the next...

How can the internet help with English revision?

Use it to our advantage

The ways to revise English:

What are we doing to support?

● In class mocks for Language and Literature. Week before half term- English Language. Week

after half term- Literature.

● Revision sessions- Thursday week 2. PLEASE ENCOURAGE.

● Intervention sessions- selected students. Boys groups, girls group, challenge group, ⅘ border,

secure the 5. Lunch times, tutor time, after school.

● Collapsed days- focussed on key areas of need. A clear focus on areas of weakness.

What can you do to support with English?

1. Support with the revision timetable.

2. Encourage attendance of all sessions.

3. Read the key Literature texts together.

4. Watch the Literature films.

5. Make sure they have some fun!

Being the best position in the race...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqrNXluN4ac

Science at Westfield ❏ AQA Combined Science (Trilogy)

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/combined-science-trilogy-8464

❏ Triple Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/biology-8461

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/chemistry-8462

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/physics-8463

The specification

Examination dates

● 12 May 2020 Biology Paper 1

● 14 May 2020 Chemistry Paper 1

● 20 May 2020 Physics Paper 1

● 1 June 2020 Biology Paper 2

● 10 June 2020 Chemistry Paper 2

● 12 June 2020 Physics Paper 2

Students need to remember to bring the following to their science exams:● Black pen● Pencil● Calculator● Ruler● Protractor

❏ Combined science awards grades on a 17 point scale

For example combined science: 5-5

❏ Triple Science awards a separate grade for Biology, Chemistry and Physics

For example: Bio 5, Chem 4, Physics 5

It is essential you/your child revises regularly, science has lots of content that needs to be recalled.

Where to find revision resources There is lots of choice out there:

❏ Revision guides/workbooks❏ Specification❏ Past test papers❏ The internet ❏ The school team drive

Just remember to keep the revision specific to our exam board (AQA)

https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/secondary-books/science Revision guides

https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/secondary-books/science Workbooks

https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/secondary-books/science Workbooks for grades 8-9

https://www.cgpbooks.co.uk/secondary-books/sciencehttps://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/combined-science-trilogy-8464/assessment-resources https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/biology-8461/assessment-resources https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/chemistry-8462/assessment-resources https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/physics-8463/assessment-resources

Exam papers

Google drive→ Team Drives → Year 11 Science Revision resources Team drive

Command words

Team drive

Required practicals In their exams, students will be required to demonstrate their understanding of scientific experimentation. At least 15 percent of the total marks available in each science GCSE will be dedicated to this. This proportion is large enough to have a significant effect on a student’s grade.

❏ Write a method / change a method to test a different hypothesis

❏ Improve an investigation to give valid results❏ Explain why a conclusion is correct or not❏ Identify variables❏ Identify errors❏ Understand the relevance of a control group

Team drive

Required practicals- in revision guideThe first chapter ‘working scientifically’ in the revision guide is specifically designed to help your child prepare for these questions. For example what is a variable?

The revision guide also has an outline of each of the required practicals in the relevant topic area.

Revision guide

Required practical support Team drive

Subject specific vocabulary Team drive

Team drive

Diagnosis - Personalised Learning Checklists

Combined PLCs

Triple PLCs

Therapy For each area that is

red or amber your

child should try to

improve using the

techniques and

places already discussed.

*Remember if there is a particular area of weakness you can be asked for this to be gone over in class or pop along to a revision session/drop in with a science teacher.

GCSEpod

For each area of the specification GCSE pod has an exam board specific clip to describe and explain the key concepts.

The internet

https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/examspecs/z8r997h

The internet

Triple Science Biology https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/subjects/z9ddmp3

Chemistry

https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/subjects/zs6hvcw

Physics

https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/subjects/zpm6fg8

The internet

GCSE free science lessons

The videos can be found at https://www.freesciencelessons.co.uk/videos

Or on the youtube channel ‘freesciencelessons’ Advantages:❏ Exam board specific ❏ Slow pace❏ Covers the whole specification in

short bites

The internet

Malmesbury Science Subscribe to the youtube channel ‘Malmesbury Science’

Required practicalshttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAd0MSIZBSsF3vV_uxzbcNHuDrQ6Hc-Ul

The internet

Advantages:❏ Exam board specific ❏ Produced by teachers for their students❏ Excellent coverage of the required

practicals

Fuse School

The videos can be found at the youtube channel ‘FuseSchool-global education’

Advantages:❏ Reasonable graphics ❏ More engaging than free science

lessons ❏ For chemistry especially worked

examples are given for the calculation questions

The internet

In class support ★ All classes have finished content delivery by

February half term★ All teachers have created a revision plan for

their class with the aim of covering the content again briefly between now and the examinations

★ Lessons on examination technique★ Recap of each required practical★ Intervention sessions

Revision timetable

Weekly drop in session: Every Thursday lunchtime in room 35. Pop in to ask a question or do quiet study

Fortnightly Chemistry revision session for Triple Science students: Tuesday’s

Bonding (Foundation room 34, Higher room 36)

After school revision

Revision tipsMake sure you know the:

❏ physics equations and units❏ chemistry equations ❏ definitions of the subject specific vocabulary ❏ how to describe the method for each required practical❏ what each exam question command word means (and the type

of answer required)

Make the most of your lesson time:

You have an expert in front of you

Maths

Maths Exam Board - Edexcel

Exam Dates:Paper 1 Non- CalculatorTuesday May 19th am

Paper 2 – CalculatorThursday June 4th am

Paper 3 – CalculatorMonday June 8th am

● TOP 10 TIPS●

● Before you start revising, get all your notes sorted, and draw up a list of all the topics you need to cover.

●● Plan exactly when you are going to revise, and be strict with

yourself.●● Don’t just read through the textbook!●● Use the internet. ●

● Mathswatch● Mymaths

● Corbettmaths● Pixl Maths App

● GCSE Pod● Dr Frost Maths

● Don’t just practice the topics you can do●● Make sure you ask for help● Practice doing questions under exam conditions●● Practice using your calculator!●● If it works for you, try revising with a friend for a bit of the

time●● Most important of all, try not to worry.

WF1370

Therapy video

Class Analysis

What else will make the difference?

● Attending revision class – Week 1 Thursday 3:15 to 4:15● Prepare thoroughly for the 45 minutes assessments

each fortnight● Purchase a revision guide or Practice papers● Ensure you have a calculator and know how to use it!● Please ASK FOR HELP.

Revising little BUT often will make all the difference in

Maths.