This year is obviously the most important year to date for the students, in terms of their education, their GCSE exams success being the major stepping stone for their future career progress.
As parents/guardians, your support in getting them through this year is of vital importance. We ask you to take a major interest in their work, helping them to be organised with their coursework and exam preparation, by creating a quiet working area in the house. We also ask for your support in making sure that no holidays are booked during school time or in the run-up to their exams.
There will be many key dates throughout the year that we will keep you informed about, either through our website, by post or via your son/daughter.
One of they key areas you need to consider is the post-16 college or school selection for your son/daughter. Many of the colleges and schools have their open days in October and November. This information can be found in local newspapers and on their individual websites.
Richmond College has obviously been very popular with students from Shene over the years, with the majority studying A levels or vocational courses there. The Richmond College application form will need to be completed by the end of November. Some of the crucial information here will be their projected GCSE results. The Year 11 mock exams will be held in December and these will be forwarded to colleges asking about student progress and suitability for courses at 16+. As well as exam information, attendance, punctuality and information about behaviour will be crucial with regard to colleges and schools offering your son/daughter a placement on their chosen course.
Last year proved to be the most successful year ever for Shene in terms of GCSE success with 58% of the students achieving 5+ A*-C grades. We believe that with your support, our current year 11 are more than capable of achieving over 60% 5+ A*-C grades. Though this is a key target in terms of government data, many colleges have now raised expectations for achieving 8 A*-C grades, with the total points score being the main success criterion in offering a place.
As previously mentioned, we look forward to working with you closely in making sure that your son/daughter achieves their full potential. Obviously, your attendance at parents’ evenings and target-setting will be vital in this ‘team’ drive for examination success and then, in August, when they receive their exam certificates, we can all share in their celebration of their achievement.
Yours sincerely
A Cullum
Year Leader – Year 11
