The first set of Attitude to Learning (AtL) grades should have arrived in your inbox today. It paints a very positive picture and highlights an exceptionally strong start to the year.
Across the cohort, the overwhelming majority of students are achieving either Active or Excellence grades in their subjects, demonstrating strong engagement in lessons, positive learning behaviours and a clear commitment to success. This reflects the maturity, resilience and determination that students have shown since returning in September.
For any individual subject concerns, please contact your child's teacher in the first instance. If you are unsure how best to contact them, please email year11@twynhamschool.com and we will be happy to put you in touch.
We strongly encourage students and families to attend a range of open events where possible. Visiting providers in person is often the best way to compare courses, facilities, support, enrichment opportunities and progression routes before making decisions about post-16 study.
Importantly, we encourage students to think in terms of a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C. Whilst many students already have a preferred destination in mind, it is sensible to explore multiple options and keep alternative pathways available. Students can apply to more than one provider and more than one course, helping to ensure they have a range of suitable opportunities available when GCSE results are released.
Rather than students always being given the same specific homework task, there will be an increasing emphasis on structured, independent and personalised revision. The intention is not to remove homework. Instead, we want students to become increasingly confident at identifying what they need to improve, selecting the right resources and using their time effectively.
Ultimately, we want students to move from asking: "What task have I been set?" towards asking: "What do I most need to improve and how am I going to do it?"
🔴 Red topics should be prioritised.
🟠 Amber topics require further practice and consolidation.
🟢 Green topics are areas of greater confidence but should still be revisited regularly.
These concerns will be monitored across all three core subjects, allowing us to identify where a student may be finding it difficult to establish an effective independent revision routine.
Where there are multiple Revision Concerns, students will attend a Working Lunch with Mr Keep or one of our Curriculum Team Leaders. This is intended as a supportive intervention. Students will be helped to identify priorities, organise their time, select appropriate resources and complete effective independent revision.
For example:
Students will be able to use their allocated locker throughout Year 11, not just during examinations, so this will also provide a useful place to store items they do not need to carry around school throughout the day.
Please could students ensure they have an appropriate combination padlock from next week, rather than one requiring a key, as keys cannot be taken into examination rooms.
Feeling unsure how to help your child through GCSEs without constant arguments or overwhelm You're certainly not alone.
Registration link: https://parentguidetoeducation.com/reg/gcse-success/4545
There is a lot happening over the coming weeks, but there is also an enormous amount to look forward to. Year 11 remain very much locked in and focused on success and we are incredibly proud of the way they have approached the start of this academic year.
As a reminder, if you need to contact a member of the Year 11 team, please continue to use year11@twynhamschool.com or the Arbor Parent Portal.
Have a great weekend.
Mr Keep
Across the cohort, the overwhelming majority of students are achieving either Active or Excellence grades in their subjects, demonstrating strong engagement in lessons, positive learning behaviours and a clear commitment to success. This reflects the maturity, resilience and determination that students have shown since returning in September.
We are incredibly proud of the effort that Year 11 students have shown so far and would like to congratulate them on such a promising start to the year. It is clear that many students have begun Year 11 with the right attitude and focus, and we are excited to see how this develops over the coming months.
For any individual subject concerns, please contact your child's teacher in the first instance. If you are unsure how best to contact them, please email year11@twynhamschool.com and we will be happy to put you in touch.
📖 Revision Booklet
There is a separate blog post providing parents and carers with access to the latest Year 11 revision booklet and supporting resources.📅 Key Dates and Important Reminders
💼 Tuesday 20 October: Year 11 Careers Fair
Our Year 11 Careers Fair will take place during the afternoon from 4pm. Students will have the opportunity to speak directly with:- Colleges
- Sixth forms
- Apprenticeship providers
- Employers
🎓 Thursday 22 October: Twynham Sixth Form Open Evening
Our Sixth Form Open Evening will take place from 4:30pm to 6:30pm. For students considering Sixth Form as one of their post-16 options, this is an important opportunity to learn more about the courses, enrichment opportunities and support available.
🎓 Reminder: Post-16 Open Events
Students have already received information about post-16 opportunities through tutor time. As several key open events are now approaching, we wanted to provide a reminder of local sixth form, college and specialist provider open events that may be of interest.We strongly encourage students and families to attend a range of open events where possible. Visiting providers in person is often the best way to compare courses, facilities, support, enrichment opportunities and progression routes before making decisions about post-16 study.
Importantly, we encourage students to think in terms of a Plan A, Plan B and Plan C. Whilst many students already have a preferred destination in mind, it is sensible to explore multiple options and keep alternative pathways available. Students can apply to more than one provider and more than one course, helping to ensure they have a range of suitable opportunities available when GCSE results are released.
Sixth Forms
- Twynham Sixth Form - Thursday 22 October, 4:30pm to 6:30pm
Check the following websites but I am aware that these Sixth Form Open Evenings are happening soon:
- St Peter's Catholic School Sixth Form
- Bournemouth School Sixth Form
- Poole High School Sixth Form
- Bournemouth School for Girls Sixth FormS
Colleges
- Brockenhurst College- Saturday 17 October, 9:00am to 12:00pm and Wednesday 21 October, 5:00pm to 8:00pm
- Bournemouth & Poole College - Saturday 10 October, 9:30am to 12:30pm and Saturday 14 November, 9:30am to 12:30pm
- Coastland College (Kingston Maurward Campus) - Saturday 17 October and Saturday 21 November
Specialist Providers
Rockley College
A specialist provider offering pathways linked to outdoor education, sport, coaching, watersports and the adventure industry. This may be a particularly attractive option for students interested in practical, outdoor and sport-related careers. Rockley presented at our assembly this week and it was great to see students engage with the visitors asking 1:1 questions.
A specialist provider offering pathways linked to outdoor education, sport, coaching, watersports and the adventure industry. This may be a particularly attractive option for students interested in practical, outdoor and sport-related careers. Rockley presented at our assembly this week and it was great to see students engage with the visitors asking 1:1 questions.
Sparsholt College
A specialist provider for students interested in:Animal Management
A specialist provider for students interested in:Animal Management
- Agriculture
- Equine Studies
- Veterinary Nursing
- Countryside Management
- Making the Right Choice
When attending an open event, students may wish to consider:
- Course availability and entry requirements
- Travel arrangements and journey times
- Progression to university, apprenticeships or employment
- Enrichment and extracurricular opportunities
- Student support and wellbeing provision
- The overall atmosphere and culture of the provider
📚 Developing a More Personalised Approach to Core Homework
As Year 11 students move closer to their mock examinations, we are adapting the way homework is used within the core subjects of English, Maths and Science.Rather than students always being given the same specific homework task, there will be an increasing emphasis on structured, independent and personalised revision. The intention is not to remove homework. Instead, we want students to become increasingly confident at identifying what they need to improve, selecting the right resources and using their time effectively.
Ultimately, we want students to move from asking: "What task have I been set?" towards asking: "What do I most need to improve and how am I going to do it?"
How will it work?
Students will use their revision planners alongside RAG-rated topic lists:🔴 Red topics should be prioritised.
🟠 Amber topics require further practice and consolidation.
🟢 Green topics are areas of greater confidence but should still be revisited regularly.
Each week, students should:
- Review their RAG-rated topics.
- Prioritise areas of weaker knowledge or confidence.
- Plan revision using their revision planner.
- Select appropriate resources.
- Complete active revision, including retrieval practice, exam questions and past-paper activities.
- Review their progress and adjust priorities accordingly.
What resources should students use?
Independent revision does not mean students are expected to find all of their own resources.- Students should continue to use resources recommended and signposted by their teachers. In particular:
- Sparx Maths remains highly recommended for Maths practice.
- Sparx Science remains highly recommended for Science revision and practice.
- Maths Genie is particularly useful for Maths past papers and examination practice.
- Students should make regular use of their revision guides.
- Teachers will continue to signpost appropriate subject-specific resources and activities.
The RAG lists identify what students need to revise, the revision planner helps them decide when they will do it, and the recommended resources support them with how to revise effectively.
How will we monitor and support students?
Although students are being given greater ownership of their revision, this is not an unsupported process.Teachers will review students' revision work every week on the usual homework review day:
- Maths - Tuesday
- Science - Wednesday
- English - Friday
What happens if there is a concern?
If a teacher is concerned that a student is not completing sufficient purposeful revision to support them in feeling prepared for their mock examinations, they will log a Revision Concern.These concerns will be monitored across all three core subjects, allowing us to identify where a student may be finding it difficult to establish an effective independent revision routine.
Where there are multiple Revision Concerns, students will attend a Working Lunch with Mr Keep or one of our Curriculum Team Leaders. This is intended as a supportive intervention. Students will be helped to identify priorities, organise their time, select appropriate resources and complete effective independent revision.
How can parents and carers help?
One of the most useful ways to support at home is to discuss the process and quality of revision, rather than simply asking whether homework has been completed.For example:
- What are your red and amber topics this week?
- What have you decided to prioritise?
- What have you put into your revision planner?
- Which resources are you going to use?
- Can you show me what you have completed?
- Have you completed any past-paper or practice questions?
- What will you focus on next?
🔐 Year 11 Lockers
From Monday, we will be reallocating lockers to Year 11 students. One of the main reasons for this is to ensure students have somewhere secure to store any items that cannot be taken into an examination. All lockers were emptied and deep-cleaned over the summer and are now ready to be redistributed.Students will be able to use their allocated locker throughout Year 11, not just during examinations, so this will also provide a useful place to store items they do not need to carry around school throughout the day.
Please could students ensure they have an appropriate combination padlock from next week, rather than one requiring a key, as keys cannot be taken into examination rooms.
👨👩👧 Free Parent Webinar Opportunity
I received details of the following free session this week and wanted to share it with families who may find it useful.Feeling unsure how to help your child through GCSEs without constant arguments or overwhelm You're certainly not alone.
This free one-hour webinar will explore:
- What makes some students thrive whilst others struggle.
- The emotional rollercoaster of Year 11 and how to navigate it.
- Practical revision approaches that work.
- Mindset strategies to support confidence and resilience.
Registration link: https://parentguidetoeducation.com/reg/gcse-success/4545
📣 Stay Connected
Thank you, as ever, for your continued support. Year 11 have made an excellent start to the year. We will continue to provide plenty of support, alongside plenty of challenge, and we will continue to recognise and celebrate the many students who make us proud every single day.There is a lot happening over the coming weeks, but there is also an enormous amount to look forward to. Year 11 remain very much locked in and focused on success and we are incredibly proud of the way they have approached the start of this academic year.
As a reminder, if you need to contact a member of the Year 11 team, please continue to use year11@twynhamschool.com or the Arbor Parent Portal.
Have a great weekend.
Mr Keep