Dear Parents, Guardians and Students,
With the forthcoming mock examinations commencing from Monday November 22nd, we thought it pertinent to reach out to you ahead of these to relay a few key messages and to share some strategies to promote effective learning habits during this period.
The November mock period is a key juncture in our academic year. The value of these can not be underestimated.
These examinations present an excellent opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding to date, whilst affording teachers greater clarity in relation to progress and areas that require further attention. Many students will also undergo formal examinations in January, so this experience will actively contribute to the students’ preparedness for these.Â
You will recall that last year students faced a combination of pathways towards grade determination; Teacher Assessed Grades and examinations. We are conscious that the summer expectations remain uncertain. Therefore, we believe that the November mocks provide us with an opportunity to obtain accurate, reliable and timely evidence of student achievement, should evidence be required to verify any potential judgements on student attainment.Â
To that effect, we are also considering facilitating an additional assessment period later in the academic year – similar to last year. This will enable us to respond successfully to any adjustments by examination boards, should we need to, but also to cater successfully to the needs and progress of the students at that time. We will keep you informed of our intentions and any subsequent plans to support the students.
The mock examination timetable will be shared two weeks ahead of the examination period. As is typical to last year, the students will be on study leave during this time. All examinations will be undertaken under formal conditions to replicate the official experience as closely as possible.
To equip the students with some strategies to manage themselves successfully during this period, we have generated some guidance HERE that you may find useful, particularly in relation to balancing wellbeing during these stressful periods.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions or you require any further support during this time.
Kind regards,