On Friday 5 January 2018, Year 11 pupils at Deer Park gathered in the school’s Main Hall for their Mock Exam Assembly. Headteacher Chiquita Henson and Simon Bellamy, Pastoral Team Leader, jointly led a review of the pupils’ performance, shared the feedback from our Exams Officer, and reflected on what happens next. As the assembly progressed, the tension in the hall was palpable and pupils were relieved to be dismissed to collect their results and did so in an orderly fashion, queuing at each alphabetically listed station.

 I am always impressed by the way in which our pupils receive their results. They are all keen to know how well they have done, but they are equally keen to congratulate and support each other. Some pupils did incredibly well and this reflects the commitment they had made and must sustain. For others, it was an important wake-up call, and hopefully, having experienced a sense of disappointment, they will continue their studies with a new rigour and determination!’

Chiquita Henson, Headteacher

Now embedded in our annual school calendar, our Mock Exam Results Day gives our pupils the opportunity to experience how they might feel in August. They are instantly able to see the bigger picture and, because of the quality of the information they receive, they are able to identify what they need to do to close any gaps in their understanding and between their current forecast and target grades. Data from previous years consistently shows that pupils at Deer Park can, with effort and application, improve by as much as one grade or more between the Mock Results Day and the actual Results Day in August. Furthermore, the reports they are given are appreciated by schools and colleges in support of pupils applications for post 16 courses and by the team of mock interviewers who come into school to give pupils in Year 11 another opportunity to rehearse and practise important life skills. 

The assembly, personalised to the year group, included light-hearted moments, not least the infamous exam howlers, with a few from this year’s cohort too. While initially amusing, these and the other information provided conveyed a serious message about preparing for exams, revision and techniques. All pupils were encouraged to learn from these practice exams, develop their resilience and strengthen their stamina so that they can approach their real exams with greater confidence. 

As a simulation exercise our Mock Exam Results Day gives us the opportunity to bring the year group together, celebrate success and highlight areas of strength and for improvement. Staff are always on hand to help and respond to questions and queries. Teachers use the outcomes to plan; the information enables them to stretch, challenge and support pupils of all abilities. This reflects our commitment to ensuring all pupils can achieve more than they first think is possible!