This week during Wednesday’s form time, our fantastic Year 12 coaches led sessions across Year 8, sharing valuable revision strategies to support students with their upcoming assessments. 

In 8CY, Maia Y 12H gave an excellent talk on how to manage exam stress, with her key message being: "Prepared = Less Panic". Here are a few of her top tips:

1. Plan Smart

• Make a revision timetable – no last-minute cramming!

• Break topics into manageable chunks and tick them off.

• Know your exam format – question types, length, etc.

2. Breathe + Chill (Seriously!)

• Try box breathing: Inhale for 4s → Hold 4s → Exhale 4s → Hold 4s. Repeat.

• Use meditation apps like Headspace or Calm.

• Even 5 minutes of lying down with your eyes closed can reset your brain.

 3. Take Proper Breaks

• Work for 25–50 minutes, then take a 5–10 minute break.

• Move your body, drink water, eat a snack, or get fresh air.

• Avoid endless scrolling or stressing online with friends.

Meanwhile, in 8EX, Evie T 12H introduced the Cornell Notes method to help Year 8 revise for English. She showed how to apply the format when reviewing:

• Key themes in the book

• Important chapters

• Major and minor characters

A huge thank you to all our Year 12 coaches for their ongoing support every Wednesday – your advice and encouragement make a real difference! 

Coming Up: Walton Firs Trip

We're also looking forward to our upcoming Walton Firs adventure with X-side on 16 June and Y-side on 17 June. Students will have a virtual assembly next week to go over key trip information, including what to bring. Coach and group lists will be shared by tutors towards the end of next week.

⭐ STARS OF THE WEEK ⭐

8CX: Isla D - for always being so kind, helpful and respectful to those around her each day.

8CY: Jemima M - for always being polite, respectful, punctual and organised.

8PX: Beth G - for her positive attitude to learning.

8PY: Alesha M - for always being kind and supportive to her peers, and for being polite and smiley all the time.

It has been a joy seeing Year 10 back and working so hard after our half term break. It hasn’t been a quiet week, with Food Preparation and Nutrition NEA practical's, PE practical mock exams, a visit from our school nurse, delivering the RSE talk on Wednesday and our Silver DofE students heading off at the end of the week to complete their expedition.

During my learning walks this week it has, again, been apparent that Year 10 are focussed and are navigating their way through revision tasks, creating colourful resources and sharing ideas with peers. With that, there has also been a well-needed hour of wellbeing during their PE lessons, in which I have seen Year 10 shine in cricket, rounders and a bit of indoor benchball when the weather hasn’t been on our side.

Work experience is just a few weeks away now and I am so grateful for your support at home, ensuring that placements are logged on Unifrog. I am aware that many are struggling to find placements, so there are virtual work experience placements available. The full menu for Speakers for Schools outlines all placements taking place this June and July. Pages 2 and 3 have dates for 30 June to 4 July 2025, but deadlines are loomimg. These include placements with companies such as; UK Atomic Energy Authority, The Big Pitch, Leonardo Hotels, Ministry of Justice UK, CACI Ltd and Into Film to name just a few. We are also fortunate to have access to Unifrog’s virtual work experience webinars which take place at the same time - details for which can be found HERE. There are links on there for students to apply to their virtual placements. Information has also been shared with Year 10 and put onto our Google Classroom page.

Finally, a reminder that Year 10 require a clear pencil case for their mock examinations which is fully equipped, including a black ballpoint pen to write with, Maths equipment and a scientific calculator. Students will be provided with an ID label to stick on their pencil cases which must be clearly visible for each exam that they sit.

I hope Year 11 were able to balance revision with some rest and relaxation over their (slightly extended) half term break. It certainly felt very quiet in the two days where they had no exams! We were therefore pleased to welcome them back into the building for Maths on Wednesday, followed by History, French Writing, English and Geography. With this, some subjects are completely finished, and Year 11 are less than 2 weeks away from their Leavers’ Day and prom, which I hope spurs them on to do their best push to the finish line.

A huge thank you for all you have done to get students to this point: they are so calm and prepared for each exam and they cannot do this without the support they get from home.