Dear Parent/Guardian,

Yesterday morning, Year 11 students attended an assembly about logistics, rules, and expectations for the forthcoming GCSE mock exams, which take place from Monday 8th to Thursday 18th December.

Each student has a copy of their personalised mock exam timetable on Showbie, on which they should have identified the exams relevant to them. Please encourage them to show it to you and talk it through together. They also have a PowerPoint presentation that includes all relevant logistics, rules, and expectations for the exams.

Exam expectations and procedures

The exams will be supervised under GCSE exam conditions and the highest level of behaviour will be expected from all students. Any student found communicating (please note, this can include turning/looking around, drawing on hands, smirking, talking, etc.) may be removed from the exam and a mark of zero will be applied. The student could also receive a Saturday detention or be required to attend school on Friday 19th December.

However, I expect all students to follow these expectations and to use this mock exam period as an opportunity to practise for their GCSEs and to identify any areas they still need to focus on. I hope they will view it as a positive and useful experience.

School day

The mock timetable requires all students to be in school every day from Monday 8th December by 8.30am if they have a morning exam. On dates when a student does not have an exam until Periods 4 and 5, they will need to sign in by 11.20am. If they are only required for an afternoon exam, then they must sign in by 1.20pm.

Where students have ‘in-school study’, this will be independent study with teacher supervision. Students should therefore ensure they have appropriate study materials.

If a student does not have an exam, they will have ‘home study’ on their timetable and should be actively revising at home during this time. Students will sign out from school after they have finished their exams for the day. If they have an exam in the morning and the afternoon, they will not be allowed off the school site.

Thursday 18th December

Year 11 students will be dismissed at around 1pm for the Christmas holidays after the Advent Service on Thursday 18th December.

However, if students have failed to follow exam regulations or expectations during the mocks, they may be required to remain in school after the service.

Equipment

To prepare students for the summer exams, no equipment will be lent out during the mock exams. It is important that students bring the required equipment for each exam. I recommend that students bring several black pens to avoid the worry of running out during an exam. All equipment should be in a clear pencil case and all water bottles should have their labels removed. Students are not allowed mobile phones or watches in the exams.

Mock exam results

Mock results will be given out on Tuesday 13th January in PSHE and will be available on Bromcom later that day.

Year 11 Academic Review Evening

Please note that the Year 11 Academic Review Evening will take place on Thursday 15th January. Further information will follow in the New Year.

I trust that your son is well prepared for his mock examinations and that his efforts will be reflected in his results. Following the exams, please ensure that he takes time to rest and recuperate over the holidays, so that he returns refreshed and ready for the final phase of preparation for his GCSEs in the New Year.

Yours sincerely,

Mr McKenna

Year 11 Leader

Dear Parents/Carers,

Your son attended an assembly which outlined his mock timetable which will be running from Monday 8th December until Thursday 18th December – his MFL Orals will be taking place in the weeks before. Your son will not be expected in school on Friday 19th December, unless he has missed exams during the two-week period, or has been asked to attend for any other reason.

A copy of your son’s mock timetable has been made available to him on Showbie and I have attached a copy for your convenience. Your son is expected in school for all of his exams, however, there will be times where he will be expected to study from home if he does not have an exam in that particular slot – these are the sections in green labelled ‘Home Study’. I would recommend printing off the timetable and putting it somewhere prominent in the house. Further information about logistics and expectations will be emailed closer to the start of the mocks.

Over the coming days, please discuss the timetable with your son to ensure that he has a good revision plan in place for the run up to the mocks. Within his revision plan, he should have ‘downtime’ for himself to ensure a healthy balance between work and rest. Guides to how to create an effective Revision Timetable are also on Showbie.

A few tips to help with mock preparation:

● Have a clear work space and quiet area

● Remove distractions when revising

● 30-40 minutes revision slots and then have a break

● Speak to your son about active revision. Reading through and highlighting work is not effective revision. It is about recapping, recalling and revisiting (this might consist of revising a subject using mindmaps and then self-testing a few days later on that topic). Completing practice questions is also a very useful revision tool. There are a number of useful videos on Showbie to help your son with his Revision Techniques.

Attached is an example of a plan to help with targeted revision.

Click Here 

Kind Regards,

Mr McKenna

Year 11 Leader

Dear Parent,

To support your son with his revision for English Literature, we are able to offer a pack of revision cards for each of the texts he has studied:

Shakespeare text – FlipsCo cards for their chosen text
An Inspector Calls – FlipsCo cards
Pre 19th century text – FlipsCo cards for their chosen text
Power and Conflict poetry – CGP revision cards

The total cost for these 4 resources will be £11.14 – a saving of almost 50% on the individual purchase prices. It is not compulsory for students to have these resources, but they are helpful. The deadline to purchase a set is Wednesday 12th November as we would like to order these in to support student revision for the mocks in December.

If you would like to purchase a set of these resources for your son, please log on to MCAS to do so. If you are eligible for free school meals and would like to request assistance with this resource, please click this link and a member of the finance staff will confirm the support available to you.

https://forms.gle/FgxEekRfFUcLqpsc8

Yours sincerely

Tanya Cheema
English Subject Leader

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I hope your son has enjoyed the first half term of this academic year. I am writing to reinforce the critical role that a positive Attitude to Learning (ATL) plays in determining a pupil’s academic progress and overall development at our school. This term’s judgements are now available via Bromcom (MCAS).

ATL is not simply about grades; it is about the effort, the commitment, and the maturity that your child brings to every lesson and interaction. I firmly believe that behaviours demonstrated daily are the strongest predictors of long-term success, both in school and beyond.

This year we have adapted the judgement descriptors to hopefully be more informative to parents, easier for teachers to use and more impactful for students.

Teachers have been asked to make a ‘best fit’ judgement regarding each pupil’s attitude for every subject, not every example needs to be met for a specific judgement to be made.

Examples of the types of behaviour/attitudes could include -

Above and Beyond (ABO)

• Anyone going above and beyond the criteria for Expected.

• Someone who completes extension work or independent activities over and above what their teacher has asked them to do.

• Contribution in class is exceptional

Expected (EXP)

• Arrive at lessons fully equipped and prepared to learn.

• Complete all CW to the best of their ability.

• Respond to advice on how to improve their work.

• Participate in lessons and work well with their peers.

• To be polite and punctual, participative and cooperative, learning from mistakes, taking pride in what they do.

Just Below Expected (JB)

• Does not always have the correct equipment to complete their work.

• Could participate more fully.

• Does not always respond to advice and feedback.

• Punctuality may be a problem.

Some Concern (SC)

• There could be issues with equipment on a regular basis.

• They could have failed to complete classwork on a number of occasions.

• There could be persistent behavioural issues that affect their or other students’ learning.

• Picking and choosing when they are prepared to work and when they aren’t.

Teachers have also been asked to make judgements regarding homework. Judgements regarding completion and/or quality have been recorded. We have also highlighted where some student’s homework has exceeded the expected standard.

Homework Key:

Exceed Homework often exceeds the expected standard

None No Concerns about Homework

Comp There are concerns about completing work on time

Qual There are concerns about the quality of homework

Comp Qual There are concerns about both quality and completing work on time

When a pupil receives an ‘Above and Beyond’ judgement, it signifies that their daily habits are setting them up for success, and we celebrate that commitment.

However, if your child receives a judgement of ‘Just Below’ or ‘Some Concern’ in a subject, it is a crucial signal that their learning habits are hindering their potential. We urge you to take these judgements seriously and use the reports as a basis for conversation at home. Teachers will be making a second ATL judgement at the end of the Autumn term.

The report also includes attendance and punctuality statistics and a numerical count of positive and negatives recorded on Bromcom (MCAS). Please do have a conversation regarding these measures, the report itself has some graphics and information regarding attendance.

We ask that you focus on the following with your child:

• Review the Report: Discuss their ATL grades with them, the judgements shouldn't be surprising

• Create a Plan: Help them establish a routine for packing their bag the night before, setting aside dedicated time for homework, and encouraging them to use teacher feedback constructively.

• Reinforce Resilience: Remind them that true learning involves struggle and that effort, not just innate ability, is key.

By reinforcing these expectations at home, we can create a powerful and consistent message that effort and attitude are non-negotiable foundations for achievement.

If you have any questions about your child's recent ATL judgements or would like to discuss strategies for supporting them at home, please do not hesitate to contact their Year Leader.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support in ensuring our pupils thrive.

Yours sincerely,

Mr. M A Cox.

Assistant Headteacher 

Dear Parents/Carers of Year 11 ,

Richard Challoner School is committed to ensuring students have the best resources available to plan ahead for their future and as part of that students are provided with impartial Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance. This can be in lessons, through school events, the careers library and also through the Careers Lead and CEIAG Advisor, Mrs Stansbridge.

Throughout the year Mrs Stansbridge will focus on seeing students either in small groups or individually beginning with students in year 11 to help them think about important choices for post 16 education. Students in years 7-13 will also be offered opportunities as the year progresses and at key points in their decision making.

For year 11-

• 1-1 Careers appointments will begin shortly. This is an opportunity to discuss future ideas and to ensure students have all the information needed to make an informed decision. Appointments will be posted on showbie and it will be the students responsibility to check that they do not miss their slot. Please join us in encouraging students to check their showbie and to think ahead about any questions they may have, or areas to explore.

• A pre-appointment google sheet has been circulated to students to complete in advance to help make the best use of the time.

• In January students will be seen to review mock exam results and appointments will happen during the months before exams begin. Students can use the careers email to ask questions and these will be responded to in a timely manner.

• If, as a parent, you have questions or would like to speak to me please make contact through the email address below.

• Year 11 will also have their careers unit in tutorial time starting as of the end of September which will look at all the choices available post 16.

• Apprenticeship ambassador and College/T level talk before Christmas.

• 6th form assembly

• 6th form open evening.

• Information regarding other routes available through Careers Office and information on the careers pages on the website.

Introducing the concept of careers and future planning at an early stage does allow students to explore their strengths and help to make informed choices. Each year group will also have time in their pastoral programme to explore these themes in more detail. Students are also welcome to drop into the careers office at any break or lunch time Monday- Thursday.

There will also be support for school activities and arranging for professionals from varying careers backgrounds to come in and work with students to inspire and bring the working world further into education. I am also excited to introduce a weekly newsletter in association with The Careers People, which will be published on the careers pages of the school website and circulated to students which will give information on national and local events as well as spotlights on varying careers.

This year we are continuing to use our new careers platform called Xello. More information is available on the careers pages linked above and we hope to roll out a parent side later in the academic year to allow you to see your sons progress and career ideas. Students have access to this platform via their ipads and can use independently and during guided time in careers units

Please take this opportunity to talk at home about future plans and if you have any queries, questions or would like to support these activities in anyway please contact the school or email careersiag@challoner.kingston.sch.uk

If you are able to support in these activities please complete the following short google form- https://forms.gle/5NQCtPLRzyEhPUiu5

Please also visit the careers pages on the school website https://www.richardchalloner.com/careers where there will regularly be information regarding events or opportunities as well as some useful information for parents around career planning. There will also be videos available to help parents along the way with essential information or guidance on how to support careers education. I will write to you again with an update later in the academic year.

Yours sincerely

Mrs LJ Stansbridge

CEIAG Lead (Careers Education and Information Advice and Guidance)