Welcome to the information page for Year 11 students and parents.

Year 11 is a crucial time in your school journey, and its significance goes beyond just exams. Here's why it's so important and how you can approach it:

Why Year 11 Is So Important:

1. Foundation for Your Future: This is the year that shapes the path you’ll take next, whether it's college, apprenticeships, or entering the workforce. The grades you achieve in your GCSEs will impact what opportunities are available to you after school.
2. Personal Growth: Year 11 isn't just about academic success. It's a year where you build important skills like time management, perseverance, and self-discipline that will help in all areas of life.
3. Choices and Responsibility: For the first time, you're likely making decisions about what you want to do next – which subjects to focus on, which career paths to consider, and what interests you most.

Key People to Support You:

1. Teachers: They are here to guide and support your academic progress. Don’t hesitate to ask for help, attend extra revision sessions, or engage in class discussions. They want you to succeed!
2. Parents/Guardians: They play a huge role in providing emotional and practical support, whether it's encouragement, helping you stay organised, or providing resources for study.
3. Mentors/Peers: Older students, siblings, or friends who’ve been through Year 11 can offer advice, tips, and encouragement. Learning from their experiences can help you stay focused and motivated.

Guidance and Challenges:

• Teachers and Staff Support: Engage with your teachers. They’re not just there to teach you content but to support your learning journey. If you’re struggling in a subject, they can provide extra resources, revision sessions, and advice.
• Personal Challenges: This year will challenge you academically and emotionally. You might feel overwhelmed, but challenges are opportunities to grow. Keep reminding yourself: "Don’t count the days, make the days count." Every day spent revising, asking questions, and preparing gets you closer to your goals.

Not Just About Exams:

While exams are a major part of Year 11, they don’t define everything about you. Focus on building key skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, and resilience. These will be essential in whatever you choose to do next, whether it’s further education, a career, or personal development.

What Does the Future Look Like for You?

What do you want from this school year? Take a moment to reflect:

• Good exam results are important for opening doors to college, apprenticeships, or even work placements, but what skills and experiences do you want to gain that go beyond academics?
• Think about your long-term aspirations. Do you have a career in mind? Do you want to travel, start a business, or pursue a passion?
• Visualise where you want to be in a year, five years, or ten years. Year 11 is a steppingstone to achieving those bigger goals.

What You Want From This School Year:

• Hard work and determination: Be consistent and dedicated, even when things get tough.
• Staff Support: Take advantage of the help and guidance from teachers, mentors, and counsellors. They’re here to ensure you succeed.
• Engage in Lessons: Don’t just show up, participate actively! Ask questions, stay curious, and make the most of every opportunity to learn.

So, remember, Year 11 is the time to focus, work hard, and seize every opportunity. It’s not just about getting to the end, but about making the most of every moment. Your future is shaped by what you do today – so stay committed, keep your goals in sight, and remember that, with the right mindset and support, you can achieve amazing things!

We hope the information below will help you and your child in this most important year.

The KS4/5 Raising Attainment Evening is on Thursday 12^th December 6-7pm at KSA. We are looking forward to seeing you there. Our students are very welcome to attend with you. (Please arrive in good time for a prompt start.)

At this evening, parents will hear from us on how parents/carers can support our Year 11s over the sixth months leading up to GCSEs, including how to support revision at home.  Support at home has a massive impact on doing well in school.  I will also outline key events for the rest of Year 11.

Heads of Department for English, maths and science will give you the key information about their subjects, including what students should focus on.

We have loved working with the Year 11s to date and are regularly impressed with what we see.  Parental support is key to our students doing as well as they can, and we know parents often want some advice on how to support.

Many thanks

Mrs Gant and Mr Reid

After the event we will put any handouts on here as a PDF.