Watford Grammar School for Boys

Year 11 Handbook

2016-2017

CONTENTS:

· Classroom code

· School code

· Year 11 Academic Calendar

· Options at 16+

· 6th Form entry and A Level choice procedure

· Careers calendar, interviews and advice

· Work experience

· Trial examinations

· Study leave and revision tips

· Coping with stress

· Clearing up day

· Results day and ‘surgery’

· Subject by subject important work, coursework and exam dates

CLASSROOM CODE

Everyone in every lesson has a responsibility to contribute to a positive and supportive learning environment for all.

· Enter and leave the classroom in an orderly and safe way, under the direction of your teacher.

· Everyone in the classroom should address each other courteously and with respect. Differences of culture, religion and gender must be respected at all times.

· Always apologise for arriving late for a lesson.

· Always raise a hand if you have a question or a contribution to make to the lesson.

· Respect the fact that teachers and students making positive contributions have the right to be heard in silence.

· Always catch up with any work missed as soon as reasonably possible.

· Always write down homework assignments in your planner when they are set and complete them on time.

· Always bring the correct equipment for every lesson.

· Teachers alone direct what goes on in the classroom. You should sit, work and behave as the teacher tells you.

· Always respect the fabric of the room; there must be no eating or drinking under any circumstances.

Watford Grammar School for Boys

SCHOOL CODE

As a member of Watford Grammar School for Boys

you are expected at all times to

· Show consideration for others and behave courteously. Avoid taking part in any form of verbal or physical harassment.

· Attend school regularly, arrive punctually, and make sure that you are fully prepared for all lessons.

· Take responsibility for yourself, your personal possessions and for your work.

· Be responsible for your own safety and the safety of others.

· Take pride in your uniform and in your personal appearance.

· Respect school property and the possessions of others.

· Tell the truth.

· Obey the school rules.

· Work conscientiously and contribute fully to the life of the school.

· Uphold our good reputation by your behaviour in and outside school.

Year 11 Academic Calendar / Personal Organiser 2016-2017

Please note a full calendar is available on www.watfordboys.org

Events

September Mon 5th Term starts

October Fri 21st – Fri 28th Oct Half Term

October 31st Autumn Assessment 1 online reports

November

Wed 16th Year 11 Parents Evening

December

Wed 21st Term Ends

January

W/C Mon 9th Term starts

GCSE Trial Examinations (9th – 23rd Jan)

Autumn term 2 tracker results

February

Tue 6th - Wed 7th A Level Taster Days

Wed 7th A Level Options Evening

Mon 13th – Fri 17th Half Term

W/C Mon 20th Spring Assessment 1 online reports

A Level options deadline (tbc)

March

Fri 31st Term Ends

April

Tue 18th Term begins

Spring Assessment 2 online reports

May/June

GCSE Study leave (date tbc)

GCSE exams begin (date tbc)

Mon 29th – Fri 2nd Jun Half Term

July

Mon 3rd Year 11 induction day

Mon 3rd – Fri 7th Work Experience week

August

Thurs 24th GCSE Results available from 9am

OPTIONS AT 16+

At the end of Year 11 compulsory schooling will end. You must make an informed decision about what you are planning to do next year.

The main options open to you are:

· Apply to enter Watford Grammar School 6th Form.

· Apply to enter another school’s 6th Form.

· Leave school and apply to enter a college of further education.

· Leave school and go into employment, with some form of training.

6th FORM ENTRY AND A LEVEL CHOICE PROCEDURE

If you are planning to enter Watford Grammar School 6th Form you must:

· Fulfil the entry requirements (currently a minimum of 6 GCSE passes at grade B (grade 6 for English and Mathematics) or above, with the specific entry requirements for the subjects chosen to study at A level).

· Read carefully the 6th Form prospectus which will be issued shortly after the trial examinations in January.

· Attend the A Level subject talks which will take place either in December or after the trial examinations.

· Attend the A Level Options parents evening in February.

· Hand in your A Level application form by the required deadline (normally shortly after the February half term).

If you are planning to apply to another school’s 6th Form or to a College of Further Education, or if you are unsure whether you will achieve the Watford GS entry requirements, you should be aware of the ‘careers calendar’ on the next page. It is essential that you do not leave applications until after results day in August as by then many popular courses will be full.

CAREERS CALENDAR, INTERVIEWS AND ADVICE

It should be possible for a student who would like one, to have a careers interview during Year 11, in school, with a ‘Connexions’ adviser. It is also possible for students to make private appointments directly with the Watford Connexions One Stop Shop, which is situated at 206-210 Lower High Street, Watford (01923 482828). www.youthconnexions-hertfordshire.org

For applications to Colleges of Further Education or to other schools’ sixth forms, the following calendar is applicable:

SEPTEMBER - CAREERS INTERVIEWS RECOMMMENCE

(AND CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE AUTUMN AND SPRING TERMS)

OCT/NOV - OPEN EVENINGS, CAREERS FAIRS

- PROSPECTUS GATHERING. APPLICATIONS BEGIN.

DECEMBER - APPLICATIONS CONTINUE, INTERVIEWS.

JAN/FEB - APPLICATIONS AND OPEN EVENINGS ON-GOING.

FEB/MARCH - INTERVIEWS CONTINUE / OFFERS

AUGUST - RESULTS / FINAL DECISIONS

WORK EXPERIENCE

As part of the Careers and Guidance programme offered at WBGS, all Year 11 boys will undertake a week long work experience placement in the summer term, after sitting their GCSE examinations.

Information about the placement procedure will be rolled out to the boys towards the end of the Autumn term. All placements will be secured well in advance of the start of their GCSE examinations.

In previous years the boys have found the week to be a very worthwhile and thought provoking experience.

TRIAL EXAMINATIONS

These will take place during the first two weeks of the Spring term. It is important that you prepare seriously for the trial examinations and as such you will have study leave during the examination period. They are an important part of the process of preparing properly for the real examinations. Only if you revise thoroughly will you derive full benefit from feedback regarding gaps in your knowledge, weaknesses in exam technique etc. Trial examination performance will also provide the school and you with a useful indicator when considering 16+ options.

LEARNING FROM THE TRIAL EXAMINATIONS

The trial exams are a practice run for the real thing. If you are to derive full benefit from the whole process it is very important to review your performance and to remedy weaknesses during the final run in.

How do your results compare with your target grades?

Take careful note of feedback offered when exams are returned. Why did you make the mistakes that you did? Where did you lose marks? Have the exams highlighted weaknesses / gaps in your knowledge which you need to remedy - sooner rather than later?

How satisfied were you with the way you organised your revision?

Did you start your revision early enough?

Did you revise hard enough?

How did you cope with the process of exam leave and sitting the actual exams?

Were you organised, did you have the correct equipment?

Did you suffer from poor exam technique?

Did you select the right questions?

Did you spend enough time planning your answers?

Did you answer the question that was asked?

Did you allocate the correct amount of time to each question/section?

Did you leave enough time to check your paper for careless errors?

In what ways do you plan to do things differently when preparing for and sitting the real exams in the summer?

THE POST TRIAL EXAMINATIONS PERIOD

The period after the trial examinations leading up to study leave is very important. You must draw on the experience and expertise of your teachers. They will target areas of weakness and important core areas, including perhaps topics you covered some time ago. Tests will give you essential practice at answering under timed conditions according to mark schemes, to help you improve the skills and techniques required for gaining top marks. Feedback is also essential in helping to reinforce knowledge, showing where marks were lost and how to gain them next time. You should also take full advantage of any additional revision sessions which might be offered during lunch breaks or after school.

STUDY LEAVE

Study leave is also an important time. Last minute intensive but effective revision programmes can make a difference to your final grades. It is important to be disciplined and to make the most of the available time. Whilst it may be tempting to sleep in until mid-morning, experience shows that keeping to a regular cycle of early to bed and early to rise will enable you to make the most of home based revision time, to be rested and alert for your examinations.

EFFECTIVE REVISION TIPS

Prepare your workplace. Make sure that you are comfortable and that you have all of the resources, including reference materials, paper and pens, easily to hand. Ensure that all distractions such as mobile phones are removed.

Draw up a revision timetable. Don’t waste any time. Always have some revision cards with you to make the most of even relatively short time slots, they can be very productive. As the exams get closer, be more selective and focus on key concepts and facts.

Be realistic and look after yourself. Find the right balance between revision and relaxing. Sleep, exercise and regular meals are important. It is counter productive to get over tired, especially when the exams actually start. Your mind needs to be fresh and alert.

Make your revision active. Don’t just sit there looking at books. Revision should involve thinking and doing. Make and then reduce notes to key facts, headings, and sub headings on small cards. Use underlining and highlighters. Write essay plans, use lists, numbering, word patterns, summary diagrams and flow charts. Devise mnemonics, work with a friend and test each other, etc. Variety is the key.

Use revision guides, past papers and practice questions to test yourself under timed conditions.

GOOD LUCK AND THINK ABOUT THAT LONG TWO MONTH HOLIDAY WHEN THE EXAMS ARE OVER!

SITTING THE EXAMINATIONS

Make sure you know where and when your exams will be held, the rules that you need to follow, what equipment will be provided (or not allowed), and what you need to provide yourself.

Collect together all necessary equipment, pens, pencils, calculator etc.

Provide your parents with an examination timetable and establish a reliable alarm/backup procedure.

Arrive in good time so that you are not flustered.

Do not panic! Exams are not designed to catch you out but to give you an opportunity to show what you know and understand. Being calm and thoughtful in the exam will help you to get the most from your preparation.

Read right through the instructions on the question paper very carefully. How many questions from which sections? Make sure you answer compulsory questions.

Plan your time. Read each question very carefully and where relevant plan your answer in rough before you start writing. The examiners allow time for you to read the paper when they plan the exam, so don’t think that you are wasting your time. Make sure you know how many marks each question carries. Don’t spend too long on any one question, use the number of marks available as a guide. If you only attempt half the required number of questions your best possible mark will be 50%, however brilliant your answers!

Answer the questions set, not the ones you hoped for. Underline key instruction words. However good your work you will get no marks if you don’t answer the question being asked.

Take care over presentation. Write legibly and label diagrams neatly.

Give yourself time to read through and check your answers.

READ THE PAPER CAREFULLY – STICK TO YOUR TIME PLAN – KEEP TO THE POINT – MAKE POINTS QUICKLY – CHECK YOUR ANSWERS.

After the exam, don’t dwell on it. You can’t do anything about it now, concentrate on the next one.

COPING WITH EXAM STRESS

It is not unusual for students to get stressed out by exams. There is a variety of reasons you may become stressed, such as the amount of work, fear of failure or pressure either from parents, peer groups, teachers or yourself. Stress can lead to difficulty sleeping, tiredness, an inability to concentrate, headaches, anxiety, panic attacks and depression.

There are various ways in which we can try to manage stress in relation to exams:

· Try to rationalise the problem and keep a sense of proportion. You can only do your best and remember, you are not alone. Every year approximately 700,000 candidates in over 4000 secondary schools and colleges in England will sit a total of more than 5.5 million exam papers! It is all part of life’s rich cycle!

· When you have a lot of work to do and several deadlines to meet, prioritise.

It can help a great deal to make a list of tasks in order of priority and then to work through the list methodically. As you complete a task, crossing it off the list will give you a sense of achievement and satisfaction.

· Make sure that you find time in your schedule for relaxing and taking regular exercise. You need to take your mind off the work occasionally and we all need the odd reward! You will then get back down to work with renewed vigour.

· Eat regular meals and make sure that you get enough sleep.

· If problems build up, talk to someone. A problem shared is a problem halved.

CLEARING UP DAY