Every year we schedule our mock examinations across an intensive three week period in November and December and, to enable our pupils to see the big picture, we do not disclose the results until we have collated all of the data centrally. This enables us to share and evaluate the results and pick up on and address any trends or deficits in our pupils’ learning. Furthermore, when our pupils receive their results they are able to plan their next steps and post-16 providers, including Cirencester College complement us on the data our pupils have at their fingertips in their interviews!
 

At the Sixth Form College we particularly like the serious way that mock exams day is conducted at Deer Park School, there is a real sense of  anticipation and nervousness that closely matches the “real thing,” only at mock stage the students also have the chance and the guidance to reach their potential and be able to access their ideal goal for post 16. A key factor in student success is being able to guide them onto the right course. Deer Park use their mock exams to inform students about the type and level of course they should consider. They come to interview with a formal report, identical to their actual results slip, which is of great help in an Admissions interview and enables the post 16 provider to reinforce the school’s clear messages about improving or maintaining performance. 

Libby Reed, Vice Principal, Cirencester College

This year, our Year 11 pupils attended an assembly led by Headteacher, Chiquita Henson, and our Pastoral Team Leader, Simon Bellamy. With a focus on review and action planning the assembly provided some motivation and pupils were encouraged to reflect and be resilient. Strong emphasis was placed on the mocks being a practice for the real exams and everyone could take some learning from the experience regarding preparation and revision, conduct and exam technique. The assembly included feedback from our invigilators, who take the utmost care of our candidates, in the form of quotes from our Exams Officer’s reports, plus a few Deer Park exam howlers! These served to highlight the need to follow instructions, sleep well and eat breakfast and take greater care and accuracy in reading and responding to questions.

Data from the last three years was shared that shows on average pupils at Deer Park can make a difference of between half a grade and a whole grade between their mocks exam results and those they achieve in the summer. However, this does require effort and application and some candidates have demonstrated that poor mock outcomes have spurred them on to exceed all expectation! Similarly, those who achieved well in the mocks cannot afford to be complacent. There is still new learning to do alongside revision and controlled assessments to complete as teachers plan to deliver and explore the remaining course content. Our pupils should ensure they maximise their time in all lessons and complement this with further independent study at home. We encourage them to take advantage of the additional sessions teachers offer outside of normal school hours, including top-ups and surgeries and Twitter debates (@geografun, @CDPSHistory, @CDPSMaths and @CDPSEnglish).

Year 11 Parents' Evening

Pupils, and their parents, will be able to get further feedback on their progress and guidance regarding their next steps at our Year 11 Parents’ Evening on Thursday 2 February.
 

Year 11 Mental Health and Wellbeing Day