What a fantastic couple of weeks for our G29 students!
As we prepare to head into our November mock exams, we want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible dedication, maturity, and work ethic our Year 11 cohort has shown. Our focus continues to be rooted in our Guiding Question for the year: ‘How can we nurture the best version of our future selves?’ Watching G29 step up to the challenge over the past fortnight has been a true testament to their resilience and commitment to their crews and their own futures.
Celebrating G29’s Hard Work & Revision Habits
We could not be prouder of the way G29 have approached their preparation. It has been wonderful to see so many students taking ownership of their learning and supporting one another:
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Brilliant Revision Engagement: Attendance at both our morning and lunchtime revision sessions has been phenomenal. Seeing classrooms full of focused, determined learners asking great questions sets the tone for the whole school.
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Going the Extra Mile at Home: A huge shout-out to the many students who have been completing extra exam practice responses at home and proactively bringing them in for staff to mark and give feedback on. This kind of independent drive makes a massive difference!
Next Week: November Mock Exams & Timetable
Our mock exams begin next week on Monday 16th November. Please take a look at the timetable above so you and your child know exactly what is coming up each day. Additionally, Tuesday 24th November is Crew day. This will be a great way to take a step back, regroup with crews and decompress together. Then Wednesday 25th November is an Art and Photography drop down day. This offers students crucial time to ensure they are on top of their portfolios and getting a taste of what the 10 hour art and photography GCSE exam will feel like.
Key Reminders & Supporting Wellbeing
Mock exams are an important milestone, and we want every student to feel calm, supported, and ready to show what they can do. Please help us reinforce these essential reminders for next week:
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Punctuality & 8:30 AM Subject Inputs: Being on time every single morning is vital. Subject staff will be running targeted morning revision and warm-up inputs starting promptly at 8:30 AM to help settle nerves and get everyone in the right headspace before entering the exam hall.
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History Morning Revision Change: Please note that for next week ONLY, History morning revision moves from Thursday to Monday 16th November, starting at 8:05 AM, ahead of the History mock exam that morning.
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Exam Kit & Clear Water Bottles: Students must bring a clear water bottle (with any labels removed) for the exam hall, alongside their full daily essential kit (black pens, pencils, ruler, eraser, sharpener, purple pen, glue stick, and a charged iPad/headphones for normal lessons).
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Prioritising Self-Care, Sleep & Nutrition: Looking after physical and mental health is just as important as revising.Please encourage your child to get plenty of sleep, eat a proper breakfast, and stay well hydrated throughout the week.
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Finding Balance & Decompressing: Revision works best when paired with genuine rest. We strongly encourage students to keep attending their sports clubs, hobbies, and activities outside of school—taking time to switch off and decompress is essential for avoiding burnout and building long-term resilience.
G29 will have a much deserved mini-break with a 4-day weekend for students coming as a result of the Friday 27th and Monday 30th November staff days.
Save the Date: Final POL & DT Christmas Sale
Looking slightly further ahead, please pop Thursday 3rd December in your diaries for our final Presentation of Learning (POL) of the term. Our talented Design & Technology group have been hard at work crafting some lovely handmade Christmas decorations that will be on sale at the event. We will share photos and prices soon, so please remember to bring some cash on the night to support their fantastic craftsmanship!
Finally, a reminder that next week is anti-bullying week and we will be participating in Odd Socks Day on Monday 16th November, more details here.
Thank you, as always, for your ongoing encouragement, patience, and partnership at home—it truly takes a whole crew to help our young people thrive. If you have any questions or concerns ahead of next week, please reach out to your child’s Crew Leader in the first instance. Wishing all of G29 the very best of luck!