This document summarizes key information from a Year 10 Parents' Evening at Ratcliffe College. It discusses boarding options, upcoming academic dates, examination preparation and coursework, special arrangements for GCSEs, mock examinations, monitoring student progress, careers guidance including the Morrisby test, work experience, and extracurricular activities. The evening aims to help parents support their children through the important Year 10 period and prepare for GCSE exams.

1. Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Ratcliffe College
Thursday 25 April 2013
• Welcome and Introduction
(Mr Lloyd)
• Boarding
• (Mr Cooke and Mrs Leite)
• Academic & Pastoral matters
• (Mr Reddin)

2. Boarding
at Ratcliffe
Mr Aidan Cooke
Mrs Joanna Leite

3. Why Board:
A great educational
experience
Access to fantastic
facilities
Good working relationships
with teachers
Valuable life skills
 A busy, social experience
with a wide variety of
activities to choose from
during the week and at
the weekends!
 A supportive environment
in which to study

4. Boarding Options
• Full Boarding - 7 nights a week
• Weekly Boarding - 5 nights a week,
returning home at weekends
• Regular, committed occasional boarding –
1,2 or 3 nights a week
• Casual boarding

5. Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Ratcliffe College Academic Dates
Tuesday 7 May Year 10 School Examinations
Friday 24 May Studies Cards issued
Friday 12 July School Report issued
Thursday 22 August Public Examination results
are published
Please note: Summer term
Wednesday 5 June –
1.30pm
Thursday 13 June –
9.00am
Science Double Award Core
examinations
Majority of exams taken at
end of Year 11

6. Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Ratcliffe College
Other key dates
• Autumn term 2013
– Careers Education Convention
• Spring term 2014
– Sixth Form Information Evening
– Year 11 Parent Teacher Meeting
• Summer Term 2014
– GCSE examinations – May/June

7. Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Ratcliffe College
Examination Preparation
• Produce a revision timetable NOW
– Be realistic, but determined to make it work
• Preparation for School internal
Examinations AND for GCSE examinations
• Maintain a balance between work and
leisure
• Time management is important

8. Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Ratcliffe College
GCSE Coursework
• Update on coursework assignments in
September
• Examination Board guidance
• Coursework requirements must be fulfilled
• Autumn and Spring term – demanding in
terms of coursework
• Coursework deadlines set by the
Examination Boards (April/Early May)
• Time management is important

9. Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Ratcliffe College
Managing Coursework
• Ensure the task is fully understood –
refer to guidance
• Begin the assignment promptly
• Record deadlines in your planner
• Coursework is homework in many subjects
• Show your teacher what you have done,
discuss it
• Pay attention to advice
• Keep a back up copy!
• Observe deadlines, plan ahead, prioritise!

10. Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Ratcliffe College
How can parents help with
coursework?
• Offer encouragement
• Provide a place to work
• Help with …
transport/visits/photographs, etc
• Discuss what needs to be done and
keep an eye on progress
• Coursework MUST be the student’s
own work

11. Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Ratcliffe College
Special Arrangements for GCSE
examinations
• Students with a diagnosed Specific Learning
Difficulty
• Level playing field – not an advantage!
• Need an up to date Educational Psychologist’s
Report (within 2 years)
• See Mrs Cluley, Head of Learning Support,
for advice
• Aim to provide support for Mock Examinations
as far as is reasonably possible

12. Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Ratcliffe College
AGREE DATE Mock Examinations
• Practice for GCSE
• Indication of likely future GCSE
performance
• Study leave in school
• Time to improve grades
• Uninterrupted spring term
• Need to be preparing for these from
September!

13. Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Ratcliffe College
What needs to be done this term?
• Put into action the advice that you
hear tonight.
• Ensure that coursework relating to
this year is completed,
or if there is further work…
• Ensure you have the information
and resources to complete this

14. Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Ratcliffe College
What needs to be done during the
summer holidays?
• Review Year 10 work
• Make a list of topics you don’t
understand
• Make simple revision notes, use
keywords, bullet points, post-it notes,
• Sort class notes
• Read around the subject
• Complete holiday work set

15. Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Ratcliffe College
What needs to be done in the autumn
term?
• Start any coursework assignments
as soon as they are given
• Prepare a revision plan for mock
examinations
• Establish a routine – for prep and
revision
• Use the planner to organise your
work and leisure

16. Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Ratcliffe College
Monitoring Progress…...
We will continue to:
• Review studies grades, reports & mock
examination results and compare to
target grades
and as a result…..
• Discussion with student
• Students set targets
• Interim studies grades
• Contact with parents

17. Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Ratcliffe College
Things to be encouraged
• Effective use of the planner to
record prep
• Spend 1½ -2 hours completing prep
each night
• Good organisational skills, plan for
next day
• Plan ahead to avoid crunch times
• Maintain good communications

18. Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Ratcliffe College

19. Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Ratcliffe College
Careers Education and Guidance
Careers Education Service
Morrisby test – summer term 2013
Morrisby – Parents’ Information Evening –
November 2013, Gordon Collins
Morrisby profile student/parent feedback
sessions –
November/December 2013

20. Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Ratcliffe College
Careers Education –Morrisby Test System
• Comprehensive series of psychometric
tests
– Evaluates:
– Skills
– Strengths
– Weaknesses
– Aptitudes
• Report produced forms basis of analysis
and discussion (at the feedback session)

21. Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Ratcliffe College
Careers Education and Guidance
• Group sessions to discuss Work Experience
placements
• Careers interview to discuss plans for post-16
education
• Leicestershire Education Business Company
Workshops – March 2013
• Interviews with Armed Forces in school
• Encourage students to use the excellent
careers library in school
• School Careers Coordinator, Mrs Hadley
• Regular Careers presentations

22. Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Ratcliffe College
Work Experience
• Strongly recommended
• 3 or 5 day work experience
placement after GCSE
examinations
• All the latest advice from LEBC is
that work experience can make all
the difference when applying for
certain university courses or
applying for jobs

23. Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Ratcliffe College
Extra Curricular Activities – makes you more
interesting!
• Opportunities exist for all
• Students are strongly encouraged to
participate
– House Competitions
– Senior Chaplaincy Team
– Senior Band and Choir
– School Plays
– Combined Cadet Force
– Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
– Hello Ratcliffe
– Year Group Council/School Council/E-Safety
Team/Boarding Council
– Charity Fundraising

24. Year 10 Parents’ Evening
Ratcliffe College