GCSEs
What can parents do?
Mr T Fraine – Associate Senior Leader
Mrs F Rogers and Mrs D Jotham –
Pastoral Managers
The most common frustrations for
parents
He always leaves everything to the
last minute – one moment he has all
the time in the world – the next it’s all
stress and stropping because it has
to be in tomorrow and he hasn’t got
the stuff he needs to do it …..
Surely she shouldn’t
be going out again
when she’s got exams
coming up?
There’s a million
websites to help but
how do you know
which are any good?
I can’t stand the arguments and stress
when I tell him exams are important
and try to make him work – it always
ends up with him saying it’s his life and
slamming the door’
Priorities
 Understanding the long-term importance of
doing the best they can
 Learning to shelve short-term fun at times in
the interest of long-term benefits
Unfortunately!
The teenage perspective interest and effort in
education and the long-term benefits these can
bring often come rather a long way down the
priority list
Sometimes friendships, the ‘right clothes’, social life,
romantic concerns and hobbies can come first
In addition, children will differ in their levels of
maturity, their ability to take responsibility for their
learning, organisational skills and level of
motivation
How You Can Help
 Parents’ active engagement with their children’s
learning is the most important long-term
influence on academic success and behaviour,
research published by the Specialist Schools and
Academies Trust shows
 Parental support is eight times more important in
determining success than social class
 ‘The findings also show that, contrary to many
views, students not only welcome their parents
being actively involved in their learning but
that it helped them raise their achievement’
Prof Alma Harris, Warwick Univ. EPRA
It Doesn’t Always Seem That
Way!
 Nearly a third of parents feel excluded by their
children
 Only 16 per cent of children proactively talk about
their school day
 This is a time of extra anxiety as it is a time of
transition so you see their irritability not their fears
Interesting Brain Facts
 Want your child to do better in school? Take a
close look at diet. Certain "brain foods" may help
boost a child's brain growth -- plus improve brain
function, memory, and concentration
 The brain is a very hungry organ -- the first of the
body's organs to absorb nutrients from the food we
eat
 If we don’t have breakfast, by 10-30 am we have
the reaction times of a 70 year old
Food for Thought
 OMEGA 3 – GET IT INTO THEIR DIET NOW!
Omega can improve brain function at the very
simplest level, by improving blood flow
 WATER – “Children who have a drink of water
before sitting tests fare up to a third better”
 POTASSIUM - Bananas are high in potassium,
which helps the brain transmit messages
 Get them to eat a banana 1 hour before the exam
Foods that are rich in Omega-3
Fatty Acids
•Oily fishes such as Salmon, Sardines, Mackerel,
Herring, Trout, Halibut, Tuna and Pilchards
•Walnuts, Pumpkin Seeds, Flaxseeds
•Green Leafy Vegetables
•Soy and Tofu
•Some eggs are enhanced with omega-3s
Foods Rich in Potassium
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Figs
Bananas
Apricots
Baked Potato
Walnuts
Raisins
Strawberries
Veggie Burgers
That ‘R’ Word…
REVISION
“10 hours of independent study / revision in
one subject can make a difference of up to one
grade to attainment”
All resources on the JCC website
www.jcc.leics.sch.uk
Revision Basics
 Everyone gets nervous as they prepare for
exams but revision doesn't have to be a
drag, so long as they do it in a way that
works for them
 Research has shown that bite size revision
over a long period of time is more effective
than cramming
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education25626265
Revision Basics
 Support them to ‘make a plan’
– draw up a realistic timetable
– Switch between subjects to avoid becoming
bored of a single topic
– The most effective way to revise is to
concentrate on understanding rather than
memorizing
Revision Basics
 Support them to ‘know their stuff’
– It's much easier to remember stuff once they
understand it so if they're struggling, they need
to look for fresh sources of info other than class
notes
– Encourage them to revise with a friend and see
if they can figure it out together (not just distract
each other!)
– Ask teachers for help – attend revision classes
Revision Basics
 Support them to stay focused’
– Provide a quiet place at home where they won't
be distracted by the family, TV or Twitter
– Ensure they take short breaks every hour or so
to give themselves a rest
– Ensure they drink water and eat healthy snacks
to keep their brain ticking over
– Give a reward after every revision session.
Nothing extravagant - just a little treat to help
them get back to their books
Revision Basics
 The night before
– Avoid cramming the night before. Support them
to complete their revision plan early, relax for
the rest of the evening, read over notes and try
to get an early night
Exam Stress
 Exams
– A little bit of stress can be a good thing as it
motivates them to knuckle down and work hard.
But exams can make stress levels get out of
hand, which can stop them from performing
their best
– So it's important to address it and get it back
under control
Exam Stress
 Stress Symptoms
– Difficulty getting to sleep or difficulty waking up in the
morning
– Constant tiredness / Forgetfulness
– Unexplained aches and pains / Poor appetite
– Loss of interest in activities
– Increased anxiety and irritability / Increased heart rate
– Migraines/headaches
– Blurred vision / Dizziness
 A combination of the above for more than 4
weeks means that stress levels could be
high
Exam Stress
 How to manage exam stress
– A break or a chat with someone who knows the
pressure they're under will get things into
perspective
– Get them to avoid comparing their abilities with
their friends. Those "Oh my God I've only read
Macbeth 17 times" conversations are such a
wind up
– Everyone approaches revision in different ways,
making a realistic timetable, sticking to it and
revising using the method that works best for
them are the key factors
Exam Stress
 Ensure they eat correctly – a proper
breakfast and fresh fruits and water
 Ensure they sleep well – at least eight hours
 Exercise. Nothing de-stresses the mind
faster than physical activity, so build it into
their timetable
 Get them to steer clear of any exam ‘postmortem’
 Some information contained in this
presentation has been taken from the BBC
website
Revision
Exam Stress
Don’t forget.......
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Form Tutor
Subject Teacher
Learning Adviser
Heads of House
Pastoral Manager
Will be on hand to offer support to both
student and parent/carer
Easter
School
Workshops
 Using Past Papers – Mrs A Knapp(6th form
dining area)
 Online Learning – Mr M Boast and Mr
Dainty (A14)
 Revision Strategies – Dr Smith and Mrs
Guzzetta (6th form upper area)