Following our Year 7 Learning Conference in September 2022, we turned our attention to our Year 11 pupils and their parents and carers on Wednesday 5 October 2022, with our two Year 11 Learning Conferences. First thing on Wednesday morning was the Year 11 Pupils' Learning Conference in the Main Hall, followed by a similar event for their parents and carers that evening.

Whilst the process of learning is the same for 11 year olds and 16 year olds (and, in fact, adults), the priorities for Year 11 are understandably different. At this stage of their time at Deer Park, Year 11 need to know how to navigate their way through the many options for Post 16 education and training, and know how to prepare well for the Summer 2023 exams. These were the two themes of our Year 11 Learning Conference.

Miss Brace, Assistant Head, took our pupils and parents through a whistle-stop tour of the Post 16 routes available, whilst Mr Clutterbuck, Headteacher, prepared everyone for effective revision. We want every Year 11 pupil to have as much choice as possible as they move beyond Deer Park. The better they perform in their GCSEs, the more choice they will have to follow the many paths available to them next year.

For each pupil to be the best they can be, they need to start their revision at the right time. For Year 11 this is Monday 10 October 2022! Many pupils may feel this is unusually early, but if done little and often with effective strategies, revision can be a pupil’s best friend! Each pupil has access to a revision timetable, pre-filled with core subjects and with space to add their options.

Year 11 Parent: 'I had the pleasure of attending the Year 11 Learning Conference and may I say I was amazed at the level of help and advice you give pupils... not only on the next step but also on revision and exam preparation.'

For those parents and carers unable to attend, and any families who wish to revisit sections of the conference, a narrated version of the conference made by Mr Clutterbuck is below. All materials presented are available for each of our Year 11 pupils on Show My Homework.

As mentioned at the start of this piece, whether your child is in Year 7 or Year 11, the process of learning is the same and the Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve holds true, as does the Leitner Method of effective revision. You can find out more about this and more on our Effective Learning page.