South Holland school making the most of extra time before 2021 exams

Secondary schools in South Holland are making the most of the extra time given to them ahead of next year's GCSE and A-Level exams.

After-school and Saturday morning "catch-up classes", Easter holiday "enrichment" sessions and online revision packs are just some of the ways students will be supported before June 7 when the 2021 exam season starts.

It follows the announcement by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson last Monday that next summer's exams will be held three weeks later than usual, giving students time to catch up after lockdown last term.

One English and one maths exam will be held before next year's half-term break in May, but all other exams will be sat over a four-week period ending on July 2.

Steven Wilkinson, headmaster at Spalding Grammar School, said: "We would traditionally keep our Year 13 students in school until the Whitsun (May) half-term anyway, given that their exams usually happen after half-term.

"Therefore, for them, we will see little benefit.

"However, we will have some additional time with our Year 11s, although there are some core examinations before half-term, which will undoubtedly be their focus.

"I think, on the whole, that we will have the additional stress on students caused by condensing the exam period, but with very little gained in terms of classroom time."

Lucy Conley, executive head teacher of Spalding Academy and Bourne Academy, said: "For all schools in the South Lincolnshire Academies Trust, our main focus since our return to school has been to work hard with our students to identify and bridge any gaps in their knowledge and understanding.

"The issue of students having more time to prepare for their exams next year, to help address the disruption caused by the pandemic, is a complex one.

"I believe the three weeks, one of which is the May half-term break, are ultimately important and will benefit our learners.

"But they will not adequately address the impact of the time missed for this 2021 cohort who were absent from the school environment during lockdown for up to five months.

"However, in all of the Trust' schools, we are positively deploying many additional strategies to support our learners, including blended remote learning in case of any further lockdowns in this area, after-school and holiday intervention and revision resource packs.

"In addition, although the school will remain fully open to all year groups, we have now moved to setting all coursework for all students online as we feel this will better support any students who may need to be absent in the future so they do not miss any more valuable learning time."

Steve Baragwanath, executive principal for University Academy Holbeach (UAH) and University Academy Long Sutton (UALS), said: "We have obviously been deeply concerned about the impact the current crisis is having upon pupils’ learning.

"We have been very pleased to be able to have young people back in school since their return in September, delighted by their attendance and the resilience that they have shown so far, and the quality of the learning many of them completed at home.

"Youngsters in Year 11 and all other year groups have been extremely keen to catch up on their work in preparation for their exams in the summer.

"They have been attending 'catch-up' revision sessions after school from 3.30pm until 4.30pm, essentially another hour of study after school, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

"This has enabled them to work on their Maths, Science and English work, with other subjects offered on Monday and Friday, as well as lunchtime sessions for 30 minutes.

"In addition to this, pupils have been invited to attend Saturday morning school from 9.00am until 12.00pm when different subjects are offered each weekend.

"These sessions started five weeks ago at UAH and are beginning at UALS after the October half-term break.

"They have been very well-attended so far, with over 120 youngsters attending Maths two Saturdays ago.

"The UAH's principal, Sheila Paige, was extremely pleased with the commitment of the pupils and grateful to the staff supporting them.

"The delay to the exams is welcome, however, it will still be a significant challenge to prepare youngsters effectively considering the length of closure before the summer.

"Additionally, we are obviously very concerned about the possibility of future closures that might reduce the time left for these preparations.

"Therefore, we have made careful plans and significant investments in IT and staff training to support 'face-to-face' remote learning in schools to try and reduce the impact of this if it occurs."

In a bulletin to students, parents and carers on Friday, Spalding High School headmistress Michele Anderson said: "As a school, we suspect that the plans will continue to evolve (and change) over the coming months.

"Our key message for all of our students due to sit exams next summer is 'Keep going, keep working hard and don't worry'.

"All you can do is your best, home and school will help and support you in achieving that, however and whatever you might be examined on next summer."