Year 11 GCSE Key Updates & Expectations

Dear Parents/Carers, 

Thank you for your ongoing support with Year 11 and for helping them navigate what is a challenging and emotional time. Following my recent letter regarding key information, there have been some additional updates that we need to make you aware of. 

May Half-Term Expectations
All Year 11 staff will be setting targeted revision work for your child to complete to help prepare them for their exams after the break. This will be uploaded to MCAS, along with a note from the subject teacher explaining what they need to do to maximise the quality of their revision. 

Illness During the School Day
We have seen a rise in the number of students reporting illness during the school day this week. In line with our procedures, until 15th June, any student absence for non-medical reasons will be recorded as unauthorised. 

We are unable to respond to telephone or email requests during the day for students to sign out of the Academy to study at home, as we expect students to remain on site until 3pm every day unless they are too unwell to be in lessons. In these instances, support will be provided by the Senior Leadership Team and the Pastoral Team, and contact will be made with parents/carers in a timely manner. 

If a student is unwell, we will ask you to come in and collect your child. If you are unable to do so, they will remain on site until the end of the day and will be supported by the Year 11 team. A phone call or text message directly to a student’s mobile phone giving consent to leave the site is not an accepted form of communication. 

Official ‘Last Day’
The final examination takes place on Tuesday 16th June; however, the official last day has been confirmed as Monday 15th June. All students have a Physics exam that morning and will be able to leave the site after this (approximately 10:30–11:00), unless they have a timetabled lesson in Spanish or a Further Maths exam. In this case, they will be expected to remain on site for the rest of the day. 

Reward Event This Friday
I will write to you separately, but this Friday we will be hosting a giant inflatables reward event for all Year 11 students. This will run from 1–3pm and will provide a fantastic opportunity to round off the end of a very demanding period. There will also be an ice cream van on site for part of this time. 

Students will be asked to wear PE kit to school (unless they have a GCSE PE or Arabic exam in the morning. If this is the case, they must wear school uniform until after their exam before changing). Given the warm weather forecast, please ensure your child comes prepared with a sunhat, sun cream, and water so they can enjoy the event safely. 

Thank you again for all of the support you have given your child throughout their Year 11 journey so far. 

Josh Hocking  

Assistant Principal