YEAR 11 05 December 2025 - Weekly Parent Bulletin #9

5th December 2025

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to the ninth edition of the Year 11 Parent Bulletin. This week marks a significant milestone for our students: the start of the Year 11 mock exams. We are incredibly proud of how positively and maturely students have approached this important period. Thank you for your continued support in helping them shine.

Year 11 Weekly WOWs!

A big congratulations to this week’s Year 11 WOW nominees! These students have been recognised by staff across the school for going above and beyond in demonstrating Perseverance, Presentation, and Punctuality. We are so proud of their efforts – keep up the fantastic work!

Upcoming Application Deadlines:

North Bristol Post 16 Centre- Friday 5th December

St Mary Redcliffe 6th Form- Monday 8th December

V6- End of December 2025 (exact date TBC)

Trinity Academy 6th Form- Friday 9th January

Bristol Cathedral Choir School 6th Form- Friday 9th January

St Bede’s 6th Form- Tuesday 13th January

Attendance: Every Lesson Counts

Excellent attendance is one of the strongest predictors of success—especially during mocks.

Please ensure your child attends every day, unless genuinely unwell.

Arriving on time is essential; morning punctuality significantly reduces stress before exams and maximises students’ chances of success.

If your child is unable to attend due to illness, please contact the school as early as possible.

Strong attendance now sets the tone for the real GCSE exam season and gives students the best chance to experience these vital exams under real conditions.

Why the Mock Exams Matter

Mock exams play a crucial role in preparing students for their summer GCSEs. They allow students to:

Experience real exam conditions

Identify strengths and areas for improvement

Build confidence and reduce anxiety

Understand exam timing, structure, and expectations

Receive detailed feedback that guides their revision for the months ahead

These mocks are not “just practice” — they are a crucial stepping stone for all students to achieve their potential.

GCSE Exam Regulations – Legally Binding Rules

It is important that Year 11 students understand that GCSE exams (and mocks which mirror them) follow strict, legally binding rules set by JCQ (Joint Council for Qualifications).

Key reminders:

No mobile phones, smartwatches, AirPods, or digital devices are allowed in exam rooms.

No notes or revision materials may be taken into an exam.

Students must remain silent from entering the exam hall until leaving.

Misconduct—even in a mock—may lead to serious consequences and must be taken extremely seriously.

Following these expectations now ensures students are fully prepared for the summer exam season. If students do not meet these expectations in the real summer exams, it could lead to disqualification.

Wellbeing: Looking After Yourself During Exams

We are encouraging all students to take care of their mental and physical health at all points throughout Year 11, including throughout the exam period.

Helpful reminders for students:

Sleep: Aim for 7–9 hours per night.

Hydration: Drink water regularly throughout the day.

Breaks: Use short breaks between revision sessions to reset.

Talk: If they feel stressed, students can speak with a tutor, Year Team member, or any trusted adult in school.

A calm, balanced approach always leads to stronger performance.

Revision Spotlight: Effective Note-Taking

This week’s recommended revision strategy is note-taking, a powerful technique for organising knowledge and improving recall.

Encourage your child to try:

Condensing information into short, clear notes

Using headings, bullet points, diagrams and colour coding

Creating summary cards for key topics

Reviewing notes little and often, not all at once

Turning notes into self-test questions to deepen memory

Good note-taking makes revision manageable and more effective over time.

Expectations for the Remainder of the Mock Exam Period

We continue to expect high standards from all Year 11 students.

Please remind your child of the following:

Wear the correct school uniform

Arrive to school fully equipped (black pens, calculator, clear pencil case).

Check the mock timetable daily.

Use evenings for short, focused revision, not last-minute cramming.

Maintain excellent behaviour, focus, and respect in and around exam spaces.

Keep up with any home learning or classwork in subjects not sitting mocks that day.

Their effort over these next two weeks will make a significant difference in their final outcomes.

Thank you, as always, for your unwavering support. We are incredibly proud of our Year 11s and the determination they are showing. With your encouragement, they will continue to grow in confidence throughout the mock period.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the Year 11 team.

Yours sincerely,
The Year 11 Team

Miss Eddy Mr Hurran Miss Jones
Assistant Headteacher Head of Year 11 Year 11 Pastoral Manager

ieddy@orchard.tila.school phurran@orchard.tila.school bjones@orchard.tila.schoo