Guidance to Year 11 students following the updated information on GCSEs from the Department for Education on 3rd April 2020.
Firstly, and most importantly, I hope that you and your families are all safe and healthy. We recognise that the unpredictable circumstances have added an extra weight of uncertainty for you but please be assured that we continue to be guided by the Department for Education and the different Exam Boards that we use. We are releasing the following guidance which outlines why we think it is important for your learning to continue. Your teachers will continue to set work for you, this may not be by lesson and is more likely to be work that you can complete independently. Teachers will give you feedback on any work that you complete. We also strongly advise that you visit the website of the College that you wish to attend and complete any Bridging materials that they have provided for Year 11 students.
You should continue to study for a number of important reasons:
- In the event that you are not satisfied with any of the grades you are awarded in the summer, you will be offered the opportunity to achieve higher grades by sitting optional exams in the autumn. If you were to leave your revision behind, it would make it a very challenging task to pick this up again 6 months later. We therefore recommend that you refresh your learning and revision in all subjects regularly to prevent gaps emerging over time but especially in English and Mathematics. For Maths and English, resitting is compulsory if you haven’t achieved a pass (grade 4). You’ll need to continue studying these subjects until you either pass or reach 18 years old.
- In particular, it is important for you to work particularly hard in the subjects that you have opted to continue with post-16. This will adequately prepare you for success in your future education. It will be useful to check with colleges, as they are making transition resources available in many courses. Under the Coronavirus, student tab on our website there is a document that details what the different colleges have done. You should also check the college website. Your school subject teachers will also support you with this.
- Learning should not be viewed as something we do just for exams. You should be fully mindful that we are not just preparing you for tests but for the tests of life. Learning is life-long and what we do at secondary school helps to build the foundations for learning so much more about any subject that we study now or begin to study.
- Learning is endless and we are now better resourced than ever to access learning due to the advancements of technology. We now have a world of knowledge accessible to us with the touch or two of a button. We are confident that we have given you the skills and desire to continue learning without limits.
- Studying and learning habits help to develop key skills that will prepare you well for both your next phase of education and the world of work. Independent skills will become ever more important and developing your ability to be proactive, disciplined, focused and operating within healthy habits and routines will serve you very well for your next adventure in education or the workplace.
- Your official leaving date at Bedford High School will be Friday 26th June.