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Your Council supporting learning for you and your family
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Making the grade
Around 3,000 secondary school pupils in Hull will take their GCSE exams during May and June, and parents have a role to play to help them succeed
When exam time comes around, the best advice is to prepare as fully as you can, try not to worry, go for it, and do your best.
And this year, as secondary school pupils in Hull begin their GCSE exams on 11 May, taking up to eleven subjects over six weeks, they will be fully aware that their exam results will have an important bearing on their future direction in life.
"The GSCE exams are important and we are doing everything we can to support pupils, parents and schools through what is a challenging and often stressful time," says Nigel Richardson, the director of Hull City Council's Children and Young People's Services.
"We want young people to reach their full potential, and achieving good GCSE results will give them plenty of options to, for example, go to college or get a job or an apprenticeship.
"Young people thrive with the right support and the encouragement of parents, carers and families can make the difference in exam success or failure for their children."
Tips for pupils
- break your revision down into small chunks, making it easier to remember
- set aside certain times of day for revision and stick to them
- revising with a friend can help as you can test each other
- try to relax the evening before your exams and make sure you get a good night's sleep
For more help and advice about preparing for your exams, have a look at www.bbc.co.uk/schools/revision.
You can also go along to your local library who will be able to help with revision.
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Sir Tim Brighouse working with pupils in class (photo supplied courtesy of Birmingham Post and Mail) |
Tips for parents, carers and families
- keep the venues, dates and times of the exams on a calendar at home
- ensure your child has a quiet space at home in which to study and revise without being disturbed
- set the alarm to make sure they are not late
- ensure they start the exam day with a good breakfast and be positive and give them plenty of encouragement
This year, in an effort to encourage more young people give GCSEs their best shot, Hull City Council are mobilising the whole city to support them, and a publicity campaign will be launched shortly.
Hull Challenge
Meanwhile, yet more steps are being taken to improve GCSE results in the city.
The government's education expert, Sir Tim Brighouse, came to Hull to meet with education officers and was so impressed that he wanted to get involved.
He is now heading an initiative called 'Hull Challenge' which will lead the transformation of education in Hull.
Sir Tim, who is a professor of education, has achieved positive progress in similar work he carried out in London and Birmingham, and has recently been listed in the Queen's honours.
How will we do it?
Hull Challenge seeks to increase the number of talented and experienced teachers working in Hull schools, by offering them incentive and retention packages.
There will also be investment in professional development for teachers.
Other measures include support for schools from a National Challenge advisor who will visit on selected days throughout the year.
The advisor will work with each school's leadership team to develop action plans to improve teaching and learning, particularly in English and maths, and to help solve challenges with behaviour and attendance.
Which schools are involved?
Almost £1.3 million has been allocated by the government to pay for the Hull Challenge, with a similar amount being bid for each year until 2011.
It will focus mainly on seven schools but is geared to all schools as part of our transformational Building Schools for the Future programme.
"It's important that these schools are not seen as 'failing'," said Judith Harwood, head of learning, leisure and achievement at Hull City Council.
"Several of these schools are in the top 25 per cent of schools nationally for pupil achievement and have exceeded expected rates of progress."
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