What now? What next Y11?
Dear Year 11
We hope you and your family are well. A year ago, who would ever have imagined that we would be facing such a national crisis or that you would be home for such a long time while awaiting results? No one would; so let’s see how we can continue to work together with your parents or carers to help you prepare for the next stage of your learning.
When the vast majority of you joined us at Challney High School for Boys five years ago, you were starting the secondary stage of your formal education. Our first responsibility as a school was to ensure you followed a rich and varied Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 curriculum. Now you’re here! You have completed your GCSE preparation and spent last term (including the Easter holiday) consolidating that knowledge. Well done to those of you who have engaged so positively throughout the five years and, more recently, with the resources and activities on Google Classroom. These have now been completed and staff are working diligently to determine your final grades.
So now you are probably wondering: what now and what next? This is why we have shaped this guide. Now that you have time to engage in creative, rich, independent learning opportunities we have compiled a range of resources and ideas to help you prepare for the next stage of your education… and beyond.
Let’s first of all start with what the exam governing body, Ofqual, has already published. Here is a link which takes you to their letter to all the Year 11s in the UK, outlining how you will obtain GCSE grades:
Please read it carefully with your parents or carers. Rather than email, this page is where we will continue to provide updates as and when we receive any communication from exam boards.
Below is a range of resources we have compiled to aid your transition to the next stage of learning. They include:
Ofqual guidance
Links to Further Education (FE) colleges and readings lists
Employability resources designed to help you develop work skills
Developing learning skills
Books you can read for pleasure as you develop your vocabulary and ideas
Well-being and creativity
We hope you find them helpful and interesting as you take this unique opportunity to refine your skills and independent learning. If, during your own scrutiny, you come across any other good resources or videos, please email me or Mr Bellwood and we will add to the Y11 site.
Above all: please stay safe and healthy ☺.
Dr Evans | Deputy Headteacher
Download our interactive-link Year 11 Newsletter
>>> OFQUAL GUIDANCE
Letter to Students – Summer 2020 Grading
How GCSEs as levels will be awarded - Summer 2020
What parents and carers need to know about schools and education during the coronavirus outbreak
>>> LINKS TO FE COLLEGES
COLLEGES
Beaumont School
>>> Website
>>> Courses
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Cardinal Newman
>>> Website
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The Chalk Hills Academy
>>> Website
>>> Courses
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Luton Sixth Form College
>>> Website
>>> Courses
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Sandringham School
>>> Website
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Sir John Lawes School
>>> Website
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Stockwood Park Academy
>>> Website
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West Herts College
>>> Website
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Apprenticeships
Amazing Apprenticeships
>>> Website
>>> A LEVEL READING LISTS
What better way to prepare for the next stage of your learning than by reading up on subjects or, in some cases, revising your GCSE work.
A good grade in one subject, opens the doors to others. E.g. studying GCSE maths might open the door to A Level Statistics. English Language, might support your study of Law and also Media. Take your time and look at the range of subjects and read more about them as you prepare for FE.
AS/A Level readings linked to subjects
Further Education Reading with a list of readings from a range of subjects. Scroll through to find the ones in which you might be interested or those about which you might be curious.
Why Study A Level maths? If you have a natural flair for numbers, then you might want to consider studying Maths at A-Level.
>>> EMPLOYABILITY RESOURCES
Mrs Pancholi has created the following resources to help you to develop skills that will assist you in identifying and shaping the skills employers like and need. Please click on the links below to access the resources in this folder.
Please use your time wisely to work through each of the units and log how you are growing as a person and add these skills to your CV.
Build Your Skills
Competencies Guide
Build your future
Careers
10 Most Favourited Careers
Turn Your CV into a Winning Application
Lesson Plan
CV to compare
Acing your CV
>>> DEVELOP LEARNING SKILLS
Developing learning strategies from:
>>> READING FOR PLEASURE
Access to a range of books for years 7-11.
Some books you might enjoy reading:
Chinua Achebe: Things Fall Apart
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Purple Hibiscus
Monica Ali: Brick Lane
Margaret Atwood: The Blind Assassin
Jane Austen: Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Sense and Sensibility
Angela Carter: The Bloody Chamber, Nights at the Circus
Joseph Conrad: The Secret Agent, The Heart of Darkness
Charles Dickens: Great Expectations, Hard Times, Bleak House
E M Forster: A Room with a View, A Passage to India
Thomas Hardy: Far from the Madding Crowd, Tess of the D’Urbervilles
Harper Lee: To Kill a Mockingbird
Andrea Levy: Small Island
John Steinbeck: The Grapes of Wrath, East of Eden
Bram Stoker: Dracula
Alice Walker: The Colour Purple
TED TALKS
If you would prefer not to read, why not listen to some TED Talks?
E.g. How To Read A Book A Day
OR look at Teenagers delivering TED Talks so you can plan one yourself :-)
E.g. My Philosophy For A Happy Life by Sam Berns
>>> WELLBEING & CREATIVITY
Childline is yours – a free, private and confidential service where you can talk about anything.
How about learning something new? Sign Language? Touch typing? Check out free courses at ExtonX.
How to Create 3D Effects using Windows 10 FREE Video Editor
Making Mini Books: Discovering Books - British Library
Origami: 5 Easy Origami for Beginners
Wildlife with Steve Backshall (9:30am Wednesdays)
Student Minds - supporting the mental health of students.
Thinkuknow is the education programme from NCA-CEOP
(A UK organisation which protects children both online and offline).
>>> NEED TO RETAKE?
WHAT IF I HAVE TO RETAKE SUBJECTS?
You know better than most, how well you might have prepared for your exams; not just last term but over the years. My first advice is not to panic. However if you feel that you have not done enough work to prepare you for the next stage of formal education, this is the time to revise.
Get started on:
>>> SAMPLE TIMETABLE
Remember this is just a guide. You can change any of these timings to suit your needs but remember to stick to a plan so it is easier to track and celebrate what you have achieved during the day.
