Headteacher/Pennaeth Pontarddulais Road
Alan Tootill Gorseinon
SWANSEA
Tel: (01792) 533066 SA4 4FG
Fax: (01792) 533366
29th April 2016
Dear Parent / Guardian
Year 11 Attendance and Study Leave
We are now just two weeks away from the start of the formal GCSE written examination period. All pupils should be following a systematic revision programme of at least two hours a day each evening if they are to be properly prepared for these exams.
Disappointingly and worryingly, the attendance of some Year 11 pupils in school has been poor over the last week. This is in spite of the fact that in many lessons their teachers are going through essential revision and exam practice. There has never been a more important time to be in school!
Research shows that the best form of revision is that undertaken in class with an expert teacher to plan and guide the revision and to answer any questions or problems that the pupils may encounter. For this reason, we continue to teach right through until the half term break, which starts on Monday 30th May.
After the half term break, from Monday 6th June, pupils are on study leave and only have to attend school for their exams. However, we will be providing a timetable of revision sessions linked to the timing of those exams. While these revision sessions are optional, I would strongly recommend that your son / daughter attends them as part of their final revision for each exam subject.
In a small number of subjects, pupils may have already completed all of the controlled assessment and examination work. In these lessons, they are able to revise for their other subjects and so should always have revision material with them. It is essential that they make the most of these opportunities with so little time left. If your son / daughter tells you that they don’t have anything to do in some lessons, this is complete nonsense! Don’t listen to them, but ensure that they attend school and have revision material with them, which all exam subjects have provided them with.
Together we can ensure success for our young people this summer.
Yours faithfully
ALAN TOOTILL
Headteacher