Helping your Child FAQs for Parents/Carers
Helping your son/daughter through their GCSE exams is a difficult time for parents/carers as well as the students themselves.
The following FAQs will hopefully assist you all and provide useful information.
How do I find out about the curriculum students follow in KS4?
A GCSE Induction Evening every September for Year 10 students and their parents/carers. The evening enables us to share with you vital information about their KS4 curriculum and suggests ways you can help them achieve their target grades.
Please also visit our Curriculum Area on the school website.
How can I help my son/daughter prepare for their examinations?
A GCSE Study Skills Evening for all Year 11 students and their parents is held in the spring term of Year 11. The event focuses on how best to prepare for the summer exams, revision techniques and includes specific presentations from core subject areas, English, Maths and Science.
How can I help my son/daughter cope with exam stress?
Useful sites for managing exam stress:
http://www.studentminds.org.uk/examstress.html
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/for-children-and-young-people/exam-stress/
https://youngminds.org.uk/find-help/feelings-and-symptoms/problems-at-school
https://www.childline.org.uk/info-advice/school-college-and-work/school-college/exam-stress/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1HsY1X8ySjKBMVXPVCbP4qH/exam-stress
Please see the additional booklets at the bottom of the page provided by student mind.
How can I find out their exam timetable?
All students are provided with a personalised Exam Timetable for their mock and GCSE exams. Copies of the "complete" timetable are always posted on our website HERE.
Are there any specific rules in relation to GCSE exams?
Students must be available for the exam contingency day, which is June 25th.
Pencil cases MUST be clear.
Water bottles MUST be clear with no writing.
Hands must be free of writing and drawing.
No electronic equipment is permitted in the exam room. This is deemed as malpractice and will be reported!
Answer booklets must not be doodled on, answers must not contain explicit wording. The awarding bodies WILL NOT mark it.
Which Exam Boards do you use?
Exam boards vary depending on subject.
Art and Design - AQA
Child Development Level 1/Level 2 - OCR
Computer Science - PEARSON
Design and Technology - AQA
Drama - AQA
English Language and Literature - AQA
Business - OCR
Food Preparation and Nutrition - WJEC/Eduqas
French, German and Spanish - AQA
Level 2 Certificate Further Maths – AQA
Level 2 Project – AQA
Geography - AQA
History - Pearson
Maths - AQA
Media Studies - WJEC/Eduqas
Music Practice BTEC Tech Award - Pearson
Performing Arts (Dance) BTEC Tech Award - Pearson
Physical Education - OCR
Religious Studies – AQA
Statistics - AQA
Triple Science and Combined Science - AQA
Textiles - AQA
What time of the day do GCSE Exams take place?
Morning exams 9:00
Afternoon exams 13:30
Where are Exams held?
Examinations are held in the sports hall. Students are sat in candidate number order.
Students suffering severe anxiety and who would feel better seated at the front or back of hall must speak to the Exams Manager prior to the exams starting so that this can be accommodated.
Students who have access arrangements i.e. reader/scribe use of a laptop are seated at the Glynn Owen Centre (GOC). These arrangements are agreed through the SEN team prior to examinations starting.
When should students arrive at school prior to an exam?
Students need to be at school at least 30 minutes before the start time of exams, in order to register. If they are going to be late, they need to contact student services who will advise Mrs Fuller. They need to be at school before start time. In unfortunate circumstances – students will be allowed to enter the exams hall but that depends on what time they get to school and it's at the Exam Officers discretion.
Who is your Exam's Manager?
Lucie Fuller