The following message went out to Year 11 parents on Tuesday 25 April 2023:
The final Year 11 exams are upon us and with Bank Holidays, Coronations, strikes and so on, the first formal week of W/B 15 May will very soon be here.
This email will outline a myriad of things that will be happening around your child to get them over their line so buckle in and try to take it all in. You will see that there is no stone left unturned in us doing all we can to help your child achieve their very best.
Exam Schedule
The formal exam schedule runs to the following schedule:
W/B 15 May – GCSE-Level Exams Week 1
W/B 22 May – GCSE-Level Exams Week 2
W/B 29 May – Half-Term
W/B 5 June – GCSE-Level Exams Week 1
W/B 12 June – GCSE-Level Exams Week 1
W/B 19 June – GCSE-Level Exams Week 1
It is important to factor the half-term week into the revision plan as by then many exams will have already been completed. This 9-day period will be invaluable in revising for those later final exams.
As a carrot, it is worth stressing to any child struggling to get focused that once they have finished their exams they are realistically out of education until September. This means there is a good 2+ months where they can take a break from schooling after the intensive burst at exam time. It is very much short term pain for long-term gain.
Exam Timetable
The exam timetable formally starts on W/B 15 May and runs for just over 4 weeks – with half-term splitting these weeks in the middle.
Even so, there are some formal exams which come before this period such as the GCSE Art exam and the GCSE French Speaking Exam. All students affected by these have been notified of their times and dates.
The full Year 11 exam timetable can be seen here: https://www.friaryschool.co.uk/2023/04/21/y11-exam-timetable-summer-2023/
Personalised Exam Timetables
In addition, every student has a personalised exam timetable and this can be viewed on EduLink via the ‘Exams’ Button.
It is available on both student and parent EduLink pages and students have received paper copies as well.
Coursework Lockdowns
We have a group of students who have work to complete in some courses and we may well adjust their timetable over these last few weeks to enable them to get things finished.
This will be done on a targeted basis and your child will be picked up and supported as, when and if required. This is nothing to worry about – it is all under control.
Re-Take Exams
There will be a portion of students who will be sitting re-take exams in their vocational courses and these will be put on their exam timetable in the usual way.
In some cases these will very recent decisions as we only got some initial exam results back over Easter.
A student will only be sitting a re-take exam if we know there is a superb chance of them taking their final grade higher.
We will have a very small group of students who will see their BTEC Enterprise re-take clash with their GCSE Geography exam. This is not a problem and we will manage this process through with the individuals affected.
Study Leave
Study Leave will formally begin from the end of school on Tuesday 23 May though clearly this is not a leaving date as students are back in the following morning for their GCSE English Literature paper.
Furthermore, we do a range of booster sessions around exams which can be seen in the ‘Drop Downs’ section of this email.
We will provide a slot for students to take part in shirt signings, etc. This will take place after the GCSE English Literature exam on Wednesday 25 May. This will be in the school canteen between 11.30-12.20pm and as per all such events relies on having demonstrated good behaviour to attend.
It is important to note that full uniform will be required for the duration of the exam period.
AM/PM Exam Briefings
Before every exam we will run an Exam Briefing in the school theatre which talks through key reminders and pointers for the students just before the exam. Attendance at these is voluntary.
These will take place in the mornings between 8.45-8.55am and in the afternoons between 1.45-1.55pm.
Drop-Downs
Inevitably, there will be some lessons where a student has finished their course, and their exam element, but the subject lesson will still be on their timetable to go to. In these cases students will be able to revise and finish of any other work they need to do in that lesson.
However, to make the most of this time, in the run up to Study Leave we will be suspending various Year 11 lessons to do ‘Drop Down’ sessions in the subjects where an exam is the following afternoon or morning. This means that your child focuses on the very subject and exam that is ahead of them.
Even once Study Leave has begun there will be further ‘Drop Down’ lessons throughout the exam period where students will receive extra optional booster sessions in school.
This means your child will come in for an exam, or arrive before an exam, and then go to set sessions which offer extra revision support.
The dates of these optional session are as follows:
Wednesday 24 May:
1.05-3.05pm – GCSE Science Drop-Down Booster Classes (for the exam the following day)
Thursday 25 May:
11.30-12.30 – Engineering Drop-Down Booster Classes (for the exam that afternoon)
11.30-12.30 – GCSE Film Drop-Down Booster Classes (for the exam the following day)
Monday 5 June:
11.30-12.30 – GCSE French Drop-Down Booster Classes (for the exam that afternoon)
Tuesday 6 June:
11.30-12.30 – GCSE Religious Studies Drop-Down Booster Classes (for the exam that afternoon)
Wednesday 7 June:
11.30-12.30 – GCSE History Drop-Down Booster Classes (for the exam that afternoon)
Monday 12 June:
11.30-12.30 – GCSE Science Drop-Down Booster Classes (for the exam the following day)
Tuesday 13 June:
11.30-12.30 – GCSE Maths Drop-Down Booster Classes (for the exam the following day)
Wednesday 14 June:
11.30-12.30 – GCSE Music Drop-Down Booster Classes (for the exam that afternoon)
Friday 16 June:
11.30-12.30 – GCSE Geography Engineering Drop-Down Booster Classes (for the exam that afternoon)
11.30-12.30 – Vocational Hospitality & Catering Drop-Down Booster Classes (for the exam the following Wednesday 21/6)
Naturally, as these sessions will be specifically targeted at the exam ahead, they will be very valuable. Indeed, in some subjects like Maths, we can even question spot and predict likely topics / questions that will come up in the next exam.
You will understand that we cannot allow students to remain on the school site unless they are attending these sessions as they will not be supervised.
Exam Rules
It is important to remember that these exams do not run by the school’s rules – the rules are laid down by the Exam Boards. This means that we have no leeway and if they are broken then the student will be disqualified from an (or even multiple) exam.
During the exam period we have external inspections to ensure everything is as it should be and this is why we need the following basic rules followed:
* Arrive for the exam on time; so 8.50am for AM exams and 12.50pm for PM exams.
* No notes, phones, smartwatches, or other mobile devices are allowed in the Exam Hall – they must be left outside (either in lockers or in Student Support).
* No ‘normal’ watches are allowed either – there are clocks displayed in each exam room.
* Follow all invigilator instructions at all times.
* No leaving the exam room without an invigilator.
The full list of rules and expectations can be viewed on our Exams pages on our school website which can be accessed here: https://www.friaryschool.co.uk/exams/. All candidates are reminded of these rules in and around the exam rooms.
Parents have a part to play here – we have even had a ‘good luck’ phone call to a child from Dad at the start of an exam resulting in a U grade – and your support in explaining the importance of following these rules will be very useful.
Again, there is no grey area on exam rules. There are no allowances for Child X or Y to ignore them. They are clear and have to be followed.
Standards
Equally, the usual school expectations are perhaps more important than ever as all of us could do without any fuss at this critical time:
* Absolute punctuality – a late student is detrimental to every other student in the room and it is throwing grades away.
* Full uniform in all exams.
* Appropriate conduct before and after exams when other lessons are going on.
* Only remaining in school when attending a booster / ‘Drop Down’ session.
Revision Support
All students have revision materials available to them on Show My Homework and lots of paper copies have been given out too.
Our teachers go the extra mile so are available to respond to email queries – but do allow for the fact that the staff have other classes and cannot always answer immediately.
There are also further materials available on the school website which can be accessed here: https://www.friaryschool.co.uk/revision/.
Final Day on School Roll
Your child will remain officially on school roll until Friday 30 June as part the Department for Education’s regulations.
If you have any queries or concerns at any point – before or after this date – then please get in touch in the normal way. Your child may be gone but they are far from forgotten.
There are some students who we will conduct ‘safe and well’ checks after the exams end to ensure they are secure and happy until this final end date.
Beyond the Exams
There are various events which take place after the exams which are invitation-only and rely on good conduct to secure attendance.
We do not make a final decision on this until after the exams and if your child is vulnerable to not being permitted to attend then in most cases you will have been notified. Essentially these reward events are staged after each child has left our school, and so for us holding trust, and receiving respect for what we are offering, are vital ingredients in us securing happiness and success for everyone at these occasions.
The Year 11 Leavers’ Assembly will take place on Monday 3 July between 9.30am-10.45am. This event is staged in the school theatre and does not require school uniform. It is a celebration with students and staff of their last 5 years of school. Students should not arrive before 9.15am.
The Y11 Prom will take place on the evening of Tuesday 4 July. The event is ticket-only and runs from 7.00pm to 11.00pm. Students should arrive from 6.00pm. There is always a lengthy procession of limos, motorbikes, sports cars – and even helicopters on occasions – so be aware that the driveway to the drop-off point can be busy in the drop-off window.
The Y11 Results Day takes place on Thursday 24 August and students can collect their results from 9.00am. Those families which are away on holiday at this time should contact our Exams Officer, Marie McCall-Chapman, via mchapman@friary.greywoodmst.co.uk, to arrange for grades to be emailed out.
Matt Allman, Headteacher, added: “If you have any queries, or the slightest worry about these exams, then feel free to get in touch via office@friary.greywoodmst.co.uk. We’re so keen for your child to do well and if there is any part of the kitchen sink we haven’t thrown at it for your child then just let us know.
