I would like to confirm that we continue to wholly advocate and support a combined programme of study during school hours and then additional revision at home outside of school hours. Please find our rationale and explanation for this below…

Whereas traditionally “study leave” has been granted by schools, it has been repeatedly proven that the vast majority of students do not benefit from studying at home where many distractions detract from the focus that is required to succeed at this time. It has also been found that many children do not sustain performance throughout the exam period without the support provided through continuing lessons in school.

Our rationale is that we wish that all students to succeed through planning a revision schedule that includes the lessons that are being planned by staff as part of the normal lesson timetable. We believe that, alongside the revision that students will continue at home, the chunking and spacing through set lessons should benefit them greatly and maintain their level of focus throughout the four weeks, enabling them to perform across all subjects. Whereas there may not be a specific change to timetable where a “Booster Session” is taking place, students may well have lessons in subjects they have exams coming up and teachers will have lessons prepared to support them and provide further practice.

To combine with the lessons, we have set up the Library as a supervised quiet study space throughout the days of the exams and have informed staff that if students would benefit from being in there, instead of in the classroom, then they can move to it. I am also providing other spaces, as required, within our 6th Form study rooms and other available classrooms. In order to access these spaces, students just simply need to ask.

Please do refer to our timetable of “Booster Sessions” and lessons during the exam period through the following link – Yr11 Exam Booster Timetable

Teachers are continuing to provide study space for students where their subjects’ exams have been completed and all students are therefore advised to bring study material in for the subjects that remain. Also, Maths & English are linking up with teachers of completed subjects to identify and provide further in-school support to students that are performing at the C/D borderline in order to help them ensure a C-grade outcome.

There are therefore many reasons and benefits to continue to attend school throughout the exam period and we ask that both students and their parents consider what is best for them to succeed and do well over this period of time. Whereas it may be attractive to be on “study leave” it may not be the best for success in GCSEs.

Thanks & best wishes…

Mr Pilbury