Thought For The Day – Monday 8^th December 2025

Today sees the beginning of the Year 11 Mock examinations in full, following Languages examinations which commenced last week.  Thank you to the staff examinations team.

These are very important G.C.S.E. practice examinations.

We practice to get things right.  We practice so we do not get things wrong.

These assessments will give students, and staff, very important information on current progress and future plans.

Students will gain excellent experience at managing a demanding examination schedule, which reflects the summer schedule, and completing tests in examination conditions with the correct expectations, questions, duration, and rules.

Respecting the examination situation is the most important rule.

As with anything, preparation is vital.  To a very large extent, preparation has been on-going throughout the students’ educational career.  This is why all year groups in secondary school, primary school, and before, are equally important.  This is why life outside of school is important and why carers, guardians and parents are the true unsung heroes.

But students in examination years, Years 10, 12, 11 and 13, particularly the latter two,  should step up the pace. Revision, going over examination content, will be key.   As will following the examination technique recommended for each subject, and,  in all subjects, answering the question, and managing time, in all subjects.

We take each examination and each question at a time. “Little by little”.  Step by step.  When we have a large task, breaking things down helps greatly.

The foundation of all this is health and wellbeing: water, good diet, sleep; keeping perspective; doing our best; sticking to our process; trusting the process;  looking after others and ourselves.

Believe in yourself. Believe in others. Belief never dies.

In all of this,  examinations, like life, in individual and collective. Everyone is on their own journey.   Everyone’s story is different. We just need to give our best.