Successful initiative returns for second year
After receiving widespread acclaim from pupils and parents following its introduction last year, Rydal Penrhos is delighted to announce the return of its Easter GCSE Revision Courses, which will provide pupils from the school and local area intensive tuition in core academic subjects, as well as tips and tactics to improve revision efficacy in the run up to the critical summer exam season.
Easter is a key revision period for GCSE pupils at Rydal Penrhos and beyond, as schools finish teaching the syllabus and attention turns to fast-approaching exams. Mocks will be over, results received, and key targets identified.
It is the time for pupils to consolidate their understanding, fill any knowledge gaps and really get to grips with what the examiners are looking for. Although Rydal Penrhos pupils benefit from sitting end-of-year exams in the style of real public examinations on several occasions prior to GCSE year, this is not always true elsewhere. The same goes for revision techniques; while these are a key part of a Rydal Penrhos education from early on, the average schoolchild might never receive formal training on this crucial matter.
Exam sitting, like most things in life, is a skill that can be taught, and one that we are very keen on developing here at Rydal Penrhos. Similarly revising (i.e. the process of reviewing content to remember and understand it) is a learnt skill. At Rydal Penrhos, we understand not only that these skills are essential to pupil’s eventual academic outcomes, but also that each and every one of our pupils are individuals who learn in different ways and hence often need quite different strategies and tools for revision.
In order to assist the exam preparations of not only our current pupils, but also many other young people from across the North Wales region, Rydal Penrhos is bringing back its dedicated GCSE Revision Courses during the Easter holidays, which were particularly well received by last year’s Year 11, who went on to achieve an excellent set of examination results.
Rydal Penrhos GCSE Revision Courses provide a superb out-of-term-time resource for GCSE candidates, which includes the following:
Expert tuition in core subjects from Rydal Penrhos’ experienced and talented teachers, some of whom are examiners; all are DBS checked.
Small class sizes.
Camaraderie for those sitting exams! The Easter holidays can be lonely and stressful time during an exam year but by working together, pupils feel a sense of reassurance and engage in the kind of peer discussion that can prove a powerful tool for clarifying understanding.
Tailored tuition where possible; if pupils can identify the topics they specifically wish to focus on in advance, we will try to include these in the days' schedules.
Immersion in the subject, with a full working day of distraction-free focus.
Teachers will also ensure each pupil understands the assessment objectives for their subject and exam board, and therefore gain a clear understanding of what the examiners value in their answers.
The GCSE Revision Courses will take place over two days: Wednesday 12 April and Thursday 13 April 2023. The first day will focus on two of the most important subjects that lie at the heart of the curriculum; Mathematics and English. The second day will turn attention towards Science, with tuition in both Biology and Physics.
These intensive days will also include direction on how to better prepare mentally and practically for exams, providing helpful tips on how to attain peak performance along with essential revision tips and guidance.
This is an incredible opportunity for Rydal Penrhos pupils and GCSE candidates from other schools to get additional support and guidance ahead of their exams. The school is proud to have a rich history of exam results in recent years, which continued to go from strength to strength despite unprecedented uncertainty surrounding the pandemic.
We understand that keeping stress levels low during examinations is a key factor in performance. Timely preparations can reduce these complications to a great extent and after thorough revision, pupils become more comfortable in an exam setting and are impacted far less by exam stress, which can have a detrimental impact on performance. Those who commit heavily to revising a topic before their exams subsequently gain more confidence.
We recognise that approaching examinations with confidence and assuredness can often be a decisive factor in overall outcomes. When a comprehensive revision period is undertaken on a topic, pupils become much more able to face questions in the examination and answer them in a way that will enable them to achieve the best results.
These Revision Courses are excellent value for both internal and external pupils, offering a full working day of lessons, revision, exam guidance tuition and breaks for snacks and meals that are included in the cost. This is a can't-miss opportunity for any GCSE pupil sitting exams this year and for parents, the assurance that you have done something constructive to prepare your child for their exams can also ease a considerable burden.
Details for Rydal Penrhos pupils to register their place will be circulated after half-term. External families can book a place for their child now using the Eventbrite links below:
Wednesday 12 April - English Language and Maths
Thursday 13 April - Biology and Physics
If you would like to find out more information, please call 01492 530 155. Alternatively, you can email senior@rydalpenrhos.com (if your child is a current Rydal Penrhos pupil) or admissions@rydalpenrhos.com (if your child would like to take part but does not attend Rydal Penrhos).
