End of Week 6 Update

Over the past week, and continuing into next Monday, Miss Ball and I have been inviting tutor groups to join us for hot pastries, fruit and juices.

These breakfasts are an opportunity to celebrate students' hard work across what has been a long and busy half-term, whilst also giving students the chance to speak to members of the Sixth Form about their experiences of Year 11, revision, exams and life beyond GCSEs.

It has been fantastic to hear students discussing their plans for the future and sharing their ambitions for the year ahead. Thank you to our Sixth Form students for giving up their time to support Year 11.

📚 Tutor Time Focus

Tutor time has continued to focus heavily on revision support and preparation for the upcoming mock examinations. Students have been:

- Creating and refining revision schedules.
- Reviewing their RAG-rated subject areas.
- Identifying strengths and priorities for improvement.
- Exploring effective revision techniques.
- Continuing to engage with core subject content.

As a reminder, students should be bringing their revision packs into school each day. Tutors and classroom teachers have been making regular use of these resources and demonstrating practical revision strategies that students can apply independently at home.

On Monday, tutors will be checking students' revision schedules to ensure plans are realistic, organised and focused on priority areas.

⏰ Half-Day Closure Reminder

As a reminder, the school day will finish at 12:30pm on Thursday (end of Period 3) to allow the site to be prepared for the Sixth Form Open Evening.

Further information about the event can be found below. The event has also been brought forward by an hour to allow our Bournemouth supporters the opportunity to attend before the evening's European fixture.

🍫 Freddo Attendance Winners

Congratulations to this week's Freddo winners for achieving 100% attendance. We will celebrate these students further during Tuesday's assembly. As a reminder, every student who achieves 100% attendance in a week is entered into our half-termly draw for a free Prom ticket.

- Freddie J
- Skye C
- Tessa H
- Solia G
- Shania R

Excellent attendance remains one of the strongest indicators of success and we are pleased to see so many students continuing to prioritise being in school every day.

📝 Mock Exam Timetables

Each student will receive an individual timetable which may differ from their peers.

The timetable will include:

- The date and time of every examination.
- Exam room and seat number.
- Centre number and candidate number.
- Any approved access arrangements, including extra time or use of a laptop.

Please check these carefully and notify school immediately if you believe any information is incorrect.

Individual mock examination timetables will be issued during tutor time on Monday. Students will also receive a copy via email. Please take the time on Monday evening to ask your child to show you their timetable and check all details carefully together.

If there are any concerns or queries, please contact us via:
year11@twynhamschool.com or exams@twynhamschool.com

🎓 Mock Examination Reminders

Students attended an assembly this week outlining expectations and procedures for the forthcoming mock examination period. I thought it would be useful to share some of the key messages with parents and carers.

- Mocks will begin on Monday 9th November.
- All assessments will operate exactly as if they were public examinations, including:
- External-style exam procedures.
- Exam invigilators.
- Formal exam regulations.
- Expected standards of behaviour and conduct.

Exam Arrival Times

Students must arrive by:

- Morning Exams: 8:35am
- Afternoon Exams: 1:40pm

Please ensure students arrive promptly. Late arrival can significantly increase anxiety and disruption before an exam.

Entering the Exam Venue

Before entering the exam venue students must:

- Line up in their allocated row and seat number.
- Be registered by a member of staff.
- Have the correct equipment.
- Know their candidate number.
- Be ready to enter the examination venue calmly and quietly.

Students will not be issued with exam ID cards which is slightly different to students Year 10 mock experience.

Instead, staff will register students before entry to ensure:

- Quicker identification of any absent students.
- Equipment checks are completed.
- Candidate numbers are confirmed.
- Students are ready for the examination.

Afternoon Exams

Students with afternoon exams will have an earlier lunchtime, students will:

- Leave Period 4 at 1:10pm.
- Report to the Hall and Conservatory.
- Access an early lunch service before the exam.
- Be supervised by staff before moving to the examination venue.

Equipment Checklist

The half-term is a great time to get prepared for exams. I have suggested that students have an exam ready pencil case for their exam window.

As a reminder students should bring:

✅ Clear pencil case or clear plastic bag
✅ Black pens only
✅ Pencils
✅ Pencil sharpener
✅ Calculator (without the calculator case)
✅ Compass
✅ Protractor
✅ Clear ruler

Students may bring a completely clear water bottle with no labels, writing or tint, however no food is able to be in the examination room. Please encourage your child to check their equipment the evening before each exam.

📖 Revision Spaces During Half-Term

One of the challenges some students face during the holiday is finding a suitable environment for revision. Whilst we are unfortunately unable to open school facilities during the half-term break due to ongoing building works, I have reached out to some of our local community partners and they have kindly offered spaces that students may wish to use. Many thanks to both Christchurch Baptist Church and Christchurch Library for their support.

⛪ Christchurch Baptist Church (Beacon Centre)

Available for independent study with:

- Free Wi-Fi
- Free hot and cold drinks

Opening times:

- Monday: 12:00pm to 4:00pm
- Tuesday: 12:00pm to 4:00pm
- Wednesday: 12:00pm to 4:00pm

📚 Christchurch Library

Christchurch Library has welcomed Year 11 students who wish to revise during the holiday period.

The library provides a quiet and welcoming environment for independent study; however, students should be aware that:

- Space is shared with other library users.
- Seating cannot always be guaranteed.
- Dedicated study areas may not always be available.

Opening hours: Daily: 9:00am to 6:00pm

These are excellent options for students who would benefit from a quiet space away from home to focus on revision.

📅 Key Dates Reminder

💼 Tuesday 20th October: Careers Fair, 4.30pm-6.00pm (for Key Stage 4 students)

Our Careers Fair will take place during the afternoon. Students will have the opportunity to meet:

- Colleges
- Sixth forms
- Employers
- Apprenticeship providers

This is an excellent opportunity for students to explore future pathways, ask questions and begin making informed decisions about their next steps.

🎓 Thursday 22nd 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 excellent opportunity to explore courses, facilities and enrichment opportunities whilst speaking directly to current students and staff.

💎 Jewellery and Uniform Reminder

As we approach half-term, this is a timely reminder regarding uniform expectations, we usually see an increase in piercings during the school holidays. Students are already familiar with these expectations, but your support is appreciated in ensuring standards remain high.

Jewellery - Nose studs must be clear retainers only. Students may wear one stud in each ear and additional earrings should be removed before arriving at school.

Tutors continue to carry out daily uniform checks to support students in meeting expectations. Where students refuse to comply with reasonable requests, sanctions may be applied.

🌟 Intervention Attendance

Thank you to the many students who continue to attend intervention sessions. Attendance has been extremely positive and demonstrates the commitment many students are showing towards their preparation for the mock examinations.

Intervention sessions will continue:

- Next Tuesday for Geography
- Next Wednesday for all other subjects where students have been invited
- During the first week back after half-term

🌊 Coastland College Year 11 Information Assembly

We appreciate that attending open events is not always possible, particularly when travel distances are involved. To help students learn more about the opportunities available, Coastland College have kindly offered to deliver a special Year 11 assembly next Tuesday at 2:30pm.

Coastland College is a specialist further education provider which parents and carers may remember to be called Kingston Maurward, offering a wide range of vocational and technical courses alongside more traditional college pathways.

The assembly will provide students with an overview of:
- Courses available at Coastland College.
- Life as a college student.
- Entry requirements and application processes.
- Career pathways linked to their programmes.
- Future employment opportunities and progression routes.

There will also be a focus on some of the specialist industries supported by the college, including:
- Animal care and veterinary services.
- Agriculture and land-based industries.
- Equine studies.
- Countryside management and conservation.
- Construction and trades.
- Engineering and manufacturing.
- Outdoor education and adventure-based careers.

This is a great opportunity for students who may be interested in these sectors but are unable to attend an open event in person. If your child would be interested in attending this assembly, please email year11@twynhamschool.com so that we can gauge numbers and plan accordingly.

We appreciate that this is relatively short notice, but we are grateful to Coastland College for offering this opportunity and wanted to ensure Year 11 students had the chance to hear directly from them before applications begin in earnest.

📣 Stay Connected

Thank you, as ever, for your continued support. As always, 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