Dear Parents and Carers,

As we approach half term, I have outlined a few key details below that I hope you find useful as your son builds up to his Year 11 mock examinations.

Key Dates

A full timetable for the mocks will be published after half term once it has been finalised. However, I can confirm that the written exams will run from Monday 7th December to Thursday 18th December.

Please note that Spanish and French speaking exams will take place during the two weeks prior. Specific dates and timings will be communicated directly to your son by the Modern Foreign Languages department.

Revision Planning & Techniques

Since the start of Year 11, I have been encouraging students to revise 'little and often' to avoid workload becoming overwhelming. Over half term (and beyond), your son should put a revision timetable in place and actively use it to ensure he dedicates an appropriate amount of time to his studies.

In PSHE last year, students explored various revision strategies, and subject departments will also be offering tailored advice. The key aspect for your son to remember is that true revision involves testing knowledge and practising active recall. While creating mind maps or notes is helpful, it is only preparation for revision—self-testing and checking understanding are the crucial parts of the process.

I have asked all departments to provide relevant revision guidance and to upload resources and support materials to Showbie. Students (and parents) will also find suggested resources on the KS4 Revision Signposting page of the school website Click Here

Work-Life Balance

This morning, I spoke to all form groups about striking the right balance between academic work and downtime over half term. I encourage you to speak with your son about what a healthy balance looks like for him!

LRC Access for Study

As a reminder, Year 11 students can access the Learning Resource Centre (LRC) after school until 4:30 pm, as well as on Saturdays between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm during term time. This provides a quiet study space in the lead-up to the mocks and has proven very popular with students in previous years.

Please be reminded that the Yr10 Academic Review is scheduled for 18th March.

Kind regards,

Mr R Stansbridge 

Sixth Form Open Evenings (Entry September 2027)

Wednesday 14 October: Holy Cross School

Wednesday 21 October: Richard Challoner School

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Subsequent to the assembly that I delivered to all Year 11 last Friday, I am writing to inform you of the Sixth Form Open Evening that takes place next Wednesday at Holy Cross School, our partner school for the Sixth Form.

Wednesday 14 October: Holy Cross School (25 Sandal Road New Malden KT3 5AR)

Please arrive and be seated in the Sports Hall for a talk at 4.45pm. Your son should then attend up to four 20min subject presentations. After the subject presentations, tour guides will be ready to take any RC students to locations they might not have had the opportunity to see. You DO NOT need to book a ticket in advance.

Wednesday 21 October: Richard Challoner School

6:00pm – Headteacher’s Welcome / Head of Sixth Form’s talk / Head Prefect’s talk

6:30pm – 7.30pm – Visits to departments of interest where teaching staff and students will be delivering subject presentations. Your son can attend up to five 10min subject presentations.

Please note the following: 5.15-5.50pm – Tours of the School will be given for students not currently at school at Richard Challoner.

We would like to encourage all Year 11 students to attend with their parents/guardians, as a distinctive feature of Richard Challoner’s Sixth Form is the home-school partnership we seek to forge in these all-important years.

Sixth Form applications will go live on our school website on Thursday 22nd October. More information will be sent to students and parents in due course.

We look forward to meeting you on Wednesday 21 October at Richard Challoner School, and request that you be seated in the Main Hall by 5.50pm.

As parking onsite and in the surrounding area is extremely limited, we kindly suggest you consider alternative travel arrangements such as public transport.

Kind regards,

Mr T Woodcock

Assistant Head i/c of Sixth Form | Richard Challoner School | 0208 330 5947

Email: mrwoodcock@richardchalloner.com

Website: www.richardchalloner.com

Dear Parents/Carers,

At Richard Challoner School, we are committed to providing our students with high-quality, impartial Careers Education, Information, Advice, and Guidance (CEIAG) to ensure they have the best resources available to plan for their futures.

Careers support is integrated throughout the school year via curriculum lessons, dedicated events, our careers library, and tailored support from our Careers Lead and CEIAG Advisor, Mrs Stansbridge. As Year 11 is a crucial decision-making year, individual post-16 guidance forms a major priority.

What to Expect for Year 11

• 1-to-1 Guidance Appointments: Priority appointments begin in the Autumn Term to review post-16 pathways. Slot allocations are published on Showbie; students are responsible for checking their assigned times. A pre-appointment preparation form will be completed by students beforehand.

• Mock Exam Follow-ups: Follow-up review sessions will take place following mock exam results leading into the Spring Term.

• Tutorial Careers Unit: Starts late September, covering all post-16 routes, including A-Levels, T-Levels, College courses, and Apprenticeships.

• Key Events: Sixth Form Assemblies, Sixth Form Open Evening, and external presentations from Apprenticeship Ambassadors and College representatives.

• Xello Platform: Accessible via iPads for career profiling and post-16 pathway tracking. Parent access updates will follow later this year.

• Year 11 drop in sessions to the careers offices on Mondays after school 3.30-4.15pm

How You Can Get Involved

Introducing future planning early helps students explore their strengths and make informed decisions. In addition to pastoral time and drop-in access to the Careers Office, we regularly host guest speakers and industry professionals to inspire students and connect learning to the working world.

If you can support these activities by giving a talk, representing your company/industry, or sharing your career story, please complete our brief Parent Support Google Form. Click Here

Next Steps & Contact Information

Please take this opportunity to discuss future aspirations with your son at home. For regular updates on events and parent resources, visit our School Careers Page Click Here 

If you have questions or would like to speak to the Careers Department, please contact us at careersiag@richarchalloner.com. I will write to you again with a further update later in the academic year.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs L Stansbridge

CEIAG Lead (Careers Education, Information, Advice, and Guidance) Yours sincerely,