“Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same amount of hours per day that were given to Michelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo Di Vinci… and Albert Einstein.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.

December Message from Mr Nash

As the festive season approaches, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our students. The practice exams have provided a valuable opportunity for growth and learning. I have been so impressed by the resilience and positive attitude shown by Year 11 Cohort as a whole.

Remember, these exams are a stepping stone, not the final destination. Students should use the feedback received to identify areas for improvement and create a personalised study plan for the upcoming GCSEs. Practice exam results and WAD 2 data will be shared on 18th December as part of our "practice results day".

I encourage you all to take some time to relax and recharge over the holiday break. Spend quality time with loved ones, pursue hobbies, and come back refreshed and ready to tackle the challenges ahead.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Mr Nash, DOPA Year 11

Mix up their revision during December. Try these!

Virtual Stand and Deliver

Your child “virtually” with friends will be given a topic/theme/question by you. They then have 30 seconds each to write down as many answers as they can. Everyone will stand up and the quiz master (You) will call out names, they must not repeat any of the answers already given. How long can everyone stay in the game?

A Graphic Reminder

Think of each of the exam questions on the paper and draw a picture that reminds them of what they have to do in each one.

Revision Blackout

Design a poster with all of the key facts/formulas/examples for the topic. Swap with a partner. They will have two minutes to look at their poster, then turn it over and try to recreate it.

Virtual Ping Pong via Google Meet / Zoom

Split into two groups: A and B. Group A will be given a series of questions and a time limit to answer them. Person A will answer first, but is not allowed to write anything down - they have to explain to person B how to do the question. After the time limit, they will swap roles. Finally, they will check each others’ answers.

ESP (Exam Skills Programme)

ESPs will still run for Year 11. This will be run through the Edulink App. Staff will set the sessions up as clubs which some students will be added to for compulsory attendance and for others it will be a drop in session which the students can add themselves to. The ESPs are an ideal opportunity for students to consolidate and extend their learning across all of the subject areas and are always well attended. From January, these sessions will focus on exam skills for the vast majority of sessions so that students have the opportunity to to maximise their opportunities to practice the skills they need in the summer exams

Well Being Endurance Power to Perform Fitness Video

Why Fitness is so important

This Months Wildern fitness challenge

Boost Brain Power with this easy to make snack
(Every little helps as they say)

Exam Guidance for Students and Parents Summer Season 2026

It is the aim of Wildern School to make the examination experience as stress-free and successful as possible for all candidates. Hopefully, this booklet will prove informative and be helpful for you and your parents. Please read it carefully and show it to your parents so that they are also aware of the examination regulations and the procedures to follow in the event of any problems occurring. The awarding bodies (or examination boards) set down strict criteria which must be followed for the conduct of examinations, and Wildern School is required to follow them precisely. You should therefore pay particular attention to the JCQ Information for Candidates and Warning Notices included at the end of this booklet. If there is anything you do not understand, please ask. Click here to read more

Attendance

The impact of poor attendance on GCSE grades for Year 11 students at Wildern and across the country this year is stark.

Students who had an attendance of less than 80% achieved 2 grades lower in EVERY subject in the summer GCSE results in 2025 at Wildern compared to those who attended for over 96% of the time. Students who attended 80-89% of the time achieved a whole grade lower in EVERY subject!

Missing lessons means missing learning opportunities, valuable feedback from teachers, as well as having to spend time catching up, which can be challenging. If, for any reason, there is an unavoidable absence, it is vital that your child discusses this with their teacher on return in order to catch up on essential missed content and skills.

As we move into the winter months, it is crucial for students to look after themselves to promote good health. This includes eating well, getting regular exercise and adopting good hygiene and sleeping habits. See the recipe on page 4 for some healthy eating ideas.