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Pump up the jam
A unique way of encouraging pupils to do well in GCSEs
Teenagers who do well in their GCSEs can also do well in life in general, by improving their career and further education opportunities.
And this year they could win some fantastic prizes too – like a day driving a Ferrari around a top race track, or a makeover with a top hair stylist, or the chance to attend a private gig performed by international pop superstars, or a chance to train with a professional football or rugby team.
Amazing prizes are being offered to Year 11 pupils who show the most improvement between their mock exams, which took place last month, and their final GCSE exams in the summer.
"It's a great way of giving that bit of extra encouragement to pupils," says Judith Harwood, head of learning, leisure and achievement at Hull City Council.
"We want to motivate them to do their very best by giving away really special, memorable prizes."
Help from Hirsty
The prizes will be awarded in September at a glitzy ceremony at the Hull Truck studio theatre where top pop stars will perform a private gig to the winners (hence the name of the initiative – 'The Exam Jam').
The ceremony will also feature a quiz in the style of TV show The Weakest Link, in which the 14 Exam Jam winners (one from each secondary school in the city) will compete for prizes head-to-head.
The quiz will be hosted by DJ 'Hirsty,' from radio station Galaxy FM, which is organising The Exam Jam, together with Hull City Council.
"If I could turn back the clock, I would have listened to what my teachers told me about putting more effort in and concentrated more on getting better GCSE results, " said Hirsty.
"But sometimes I believe that it isn't enough just telling young people that good exam results can lead to success in life.
Sometimes you have to give them something tangible to work towards and this is why I cannot wait to be part of Exam Jam 2010.
"My dream from the age of 8 was to be on the radio, and by hard work, dedication and belief in myself I made it come true.
"And you can too !"
As well as fantastic prizes, there will also be smaller prizes such as iPods and computer equipment for schools up for grabs.
A challenge worth taking
Last year, Hull's Year 11 pupils achieved the city's best-ever GCSE results, with 37 per cent of pupils achieving five A*-C grades, including maths and English, compared to 29.6 per cent in 2008.
But Hull is still near the bottom of the national GCSE league table.
And The Exam Jam is part of a wider campaign called the Hull Challenge which aims to improve GCSE results through a number of measures.
These include increasing the number of talented and experienced teachers working in Hull schools and employing expert advisors to offer advice on problems with behaviour and attendance.
For more details on the Hull Challenge visit www.hullcc.gov.uk
Tips for winning
If you want to get good results in your GCSEs this summer, you might find the following tips useful.
- find a quiet place to work with no distractions
- set aside certain times of the day for revision and stick to them
- break down your studying into small chunks to make it easier to remember facts
- when given homework, try to do it as soon as you can, as it will be fresh in your mind and therefore easier to do
- never leave your revision to the last minute
- write yourself reminders, make notes and highlight important facts when you are revising.
Try sticking the notes in places where you'll keep seeing them, such as on the fridge, in your bedroom or even in the bathroom!
- don't spend too long revising and make sure you take regular breaks, otherwise you'll stop taking in the information
- try to eat and sleep well
- doing exercise is a great way to clear your mind and will help you to feel refreshed
- try to relax the evening before an exam and make sure you get a good night's sleep
- during an exam, try to stay calm, breathe slowly and don't worry
- make sure that you read all the exam instructions carefully and keep an eye on the time so that you spend enough time on each question
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