Y11 and Y13 – Suggestions for making best use of time

The cancellation of summer exams has obviously had a huge impact on all our Y11 and 13 students. All that extra time which was being spent on final exam preparation can be put to really good use. It is vital that you keep your brains active, and no learning is ever wasted. Lots of people have already shared some great ideas:

Get ahead with getting ready for next year: Find out more about the areas you want to study in the sixth form, in college, on an apprenticeship or at University. For current Y11 students who plan to go into the sixth form we’re looking at providing you with some specific suggestions to help you make a flying start to A level courses.

Get more involved in aspects of the courses you were doing that you found interesting. We have been told by the government that there will be the opportunity to take exams in the autumn if you are not happy with the ‘calculated grades’ that they give. You may decide you want to take this opportunity so keeping on top of your subjects help massively.

Learn a language – this might be a modern foreign language or even British Sign Language. There are lots of good platforms out there to help you. Here is a link for a British Sign Language course https://www.british-sign.co.uk/learn-online-british-sign-language-course/

Learn to Cook – this is such an important life skill and lots of fun. It can be hard getting hold of food at the moment so the art of being able to cook from scratch is really vital

Read a book – watch out for our recommended reads in the coming days

Write about these crazy weeks we are living through – you are part of history. Record it now!

Watch a decent film – here are a couple Mr Warrington’s recommendations below.

KS4 Choice (Y10-11) Booksmart on Amazon Prime this is a film about friends, parties and making some amazing soundtrack choices when you’re racing to graduation. Look out for: the argument. You don’t need sound if you know everything they’re saying

KS5 Choice (Y12-13) The Place Beyond the Pines on BBC iPlayer - Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper are part of this three part story that crosses generations when a series of bank robberies go awry and a critical decision echoes on. Look out for: The odd narrative structure in this brooding drama.

Mr Warrington also produces a fantastic publication called the Watchers which tells you how you can get involved in writing about film, and even making some money from it - see link below: http://www.highfields.derbyshire.sch.uk/pdfs/newspdfs/thewatchersissue1.pdf

Keep your brain moving. Make the most of your time. Learn something new.