Parent/Carer Guide to Supporting Pupils during SQA examinations/assessments

As the start of the SQA exam diet looms it brings with it a whirlwind of emotions and stress for pupils, teachers, and parent/carers. Not only is your child revising hard for the final exams, but they may also have to meet deadlines for assessments and/or assignments.

School staff have, of course, a crucial role to play in helping your child to prepare for this challenge.  However, as parents/carers you are in an unique position to offer substantial support to your child’s mental good health and academic achievement at home.

As parents/carers it’s sometimes hard to know how best to support your child in a sustainable way when they are stressed. To help you we’ve put together practical, proven strategies that you as parents/carers can use to help your child during this important time and throughout their school/academic career.

PROMOTE HEALTHY SLEEP HABITS

Sleep is vital for memory consolidation, a process which is integral to learning. You can help support your child by ensuring they follow a regular sleep schedule, getting the recommended 8-10 hours of sleep each night. This becomes even more crucial during the exam season, when quality sleep can enhance concentration and memory. Studies indicate that sleep helps form new neural connections and prioritise important information, enabling better recall during exams. In fact, prioritising sleep during exams has been shown to lead to higher grades.

ENCOURAGE A NUTRITIOUS BREAKFAST

Despite the common knowledge that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, studies show that a significant percentage of teenagers regularly skip breakfast, with over 60% of teenage boys and 70% of teenage girls doing so.

Parents/Carers can play a crucial role in reversing this trend, emphasising the importance of a nutritious morning mealResearch indicates that children who skip breakfast or rely on energy drinks perform worse in attention and memory tasks compared to their breakfast-eating counterparts.

MINIMISE DISTRACTIONS

In an age of digital distractions, parents/carers can aid their child’s revision by creating a calm, distraction-free environment. This may look like looking after their child’s phone for them during study sessions, turning the TV off, or helping them ensure their desk is tidy.

Multiple studies have debunked the myth of efficient multitasking, showing that the mere presence of a phone can cause a 20% decline in performance – even if students don’t use it. Encouraging students to put away their phones during revision can reduce errors and improve productivity.

IMPLEMENT RETRIEVAL PRACTICE

Retrieval Practice, a strategy that involves recalling previously learned knowledge by generating an answer to a question, is one of the most effective revision techniques. It helps strengthen memory traces and increases the likelihood of long-term information retention and can take many forms, from past papers to quizzes.

One great way to utilise Retrieval Practice at home is by using flashcards. For example, parents and guardians can encourage their child to use the Leitner System, a handy way to make the best of flashcards.

GETTING THEIR CHILD TO TEACH THEM THE MATERIAL

A powerful way to reinforce understanding is for students to teach the material to someone else. Known as the Protégé Effect, this technique improves memory recall and enhances understanding. When students prepare to explain the material to others, they organise and clarify their thoughts, leading to a deeper comprehension of the subject matter.

So, parents and guardians could utilise the Protégé Effect by getting their child to teach them about some of the key concepts they need to master.

COMBAT PROCRASTINATION

Motivating a child to revise can be tricky. However, research shows that highlighting the practical applications of the revising content can increase motivation. Parents can share examples of how they’ve used the knowledge they learned at school later in life, thus making learning more relatable and engaging.

BALANCE WORK AND PLAY

While studying is important, it’s equally crucial to set aside time for relaxation and leisure. High stress levels can negatively impact a child’s well-being and even the quality of their revision.

Incorporating a healthy balance of screen time, socialising, partaking in hobbies and exercising within study can contribute to exam success by providing necessary mental breaks. This will help students stay motivated and avoid burnout but will also give their brain the time to consolidate their learning.

SHOW INTEREST – AND GIVE PRAISE

“As they complete a task, ask them to show it to you. Their endorphins will flow if you acknowledge their effort with praise, and if they can see you mean it. They are also likely to be intrigued and motivated if you show genuine interest in the topic being revised, and if you admit to having limited knowledge yourself which is being enhanced by their own studies.” Matthew Godfrey

FAMILIARISE YOURSELF WITH PAST PAPERS

It can be helpful for parents/carers to familiarise yourselves with SQA past papers as it is essential that your child practises questions from past papers specific to the subject and stage. Going through  past papers with your child, in a conducive environment, making sure that mobile phones and social media are not distracting them is an excellent study technique. If you make notes of which questions your child got wrong or didn’t know the answer to your child can address this with their teacher either in class or during supported study. You can then test them again with that question after more revision to see if they now understand.

FINAL THOUGHTS

As parents/carers you play a pivotal role in shaping the academic successes of your child – not only by teaching and supporting them every day, but also by giving them access to great habits. Introducing them to the strategies we’ve mentioned is a powerful way to boost not just grades, but also overall student growth and development.

Whether it’s making sure your child kicks off their day with a hearty breakfast or championing good sleep habits, you have the potential to leave a lasting impact on your child’s educational journey and their future habits.

 

Good luck in the coming weeks and months and remember if you have any concerns or worries do not hesitate to contact school. We are here to help support not only your child but also you, our Parents and Carers.

Parent and Carer guide SQA Jan 2024

Career Pathways Interactive booklet

 

Mr Russell and Mrs Martin have created an interactive Career Pathways Booklet.

They have been working hard to create a resource to support pupils make the correct option choices with a career in mind and to ensure they are moving into the best possible destination when they leave.

It contains live links to courses both at College and University. The booklet can be accessed  here

This is a screenshot of the contents page.

 

Calderhead CARES

We have looked at our Vision and Values and have adopted Calderhead CARES as our way of remembering what we stand for. The next phase is for pupils to design a symbol to represent each of the  key words.

  • Community
  • Ambition
  • Respect
  • Equity
  • Success

Calderhead High School

Motto

  • Facta Non Verba (Deeds not words)

Established

  • 1820 Wilson’s School
  • 1876 Calderhead School
  • 1965 Calderhead Secondary School
  • 1966 Calderhead High School

Promoting a positive ethos by following the school’s vision and values because Calderhead CARES

Vision

  • Shotts Schools Transforming Lives

Values

Community

  • Being a proud ambassador for Calderhead High School and the Shotts community.
  • Working in partnership with parents/carers, employers and other agencies.
  • Treating the school building and grounds with respect.
  • Having a sense of belonging in a safe, welcoming and nurturing environment.

Ambition

  • Determination to succeed in your own way.
  • Being resilient and accepting that challenge is a part of success.
  • Embracing opportunities that are afforded to you.
  • Having high expectations and always striving to do your best.

Respect

  • Acknowledging you are valued in every way and knowing those around you are valuable too.
  • Understanding that everyone deserves to be treated with kindness and behaving as such.
  • Showing care towards our school building, resources, community, and environment.
  • Following rules and trusting that they are there to encourage success for all.

Equity

  • Recognising differences in others and ourselves
  • Identifying ways to overcome barriers
  • Creating opportunities for all
  • Embedding an inclusive atmosphere and mindset

Success

  • Celebrating personal goals for each young person.
  • Preparing pupils for life and work.
  • Opportunities to break down barriers and succeed.
  • Taking accountability for your learning and achievement.

Proud to be a Rights Respecting School. Proud to be a MVP School. Breastfeeding Friendly award school.

Child Protection Policy, May 2023

Calderhead High School CP policy with badge

Any concerns around Child Protection should be brought immediately to the attention of the Child Protection Co-ordinator. In Calderhead High School, this is Ms M. M. Darragh, Depute Head Teacher. In her absence, direct the concern to Mr Robertson, Headteacher or PT Pupil Support.

Rationale
All children have a right to be protected from abuse and neglect, therefore child protection is the responsibility of everyone. The shared responsibilities of Education & Families and other agency employees are to protect children from abuse and exploitation, to respond appropriately when abuse is identified and to ensure whenever possible that all children can exercise their right to be raised in a warm, stimulating, and safe environment with the support of staff, their families and carers. It is the clear responsibility of all those involved in our school to adopt good practice throughout their work.

Benefits of wearing our School Uniform

Benefits of School Uniform June 2023

School Uniform

All North Lanarkshire schools must have a dress code which encourages pupils to dress in a way which is appropriate to attendance at school. This dress code must not lead to direct or indirect discrimination on the grounds of race, religion, gender or disability. Prior to drawing up the dress code the parents, pupils and staff were fully consulted. It is the expectation of the education authority that parents will be keen to support the dress code and written agreement may be sought.

Dress Code Requirements are as follows:

  • black blazer with school badge
  • white shirt/blouse with appropriate school tie (S1 – S4 tie or S5 – S6 tie)
  • black formal trousers/skirt (no leggings or joggers)
  • black pullover/cardigan
  • black shoes

For Physical Education:

  • Training Shoes (change from outdoor footwear)
  • Black jogging (tracksuit) bottoms or black shorts
  • House T-shirt

Clothing which is unacceptable in school under any circumstances would include items which:

  • could potentially encourage factions (e.g. football colours)
  •  could cause offence (e.g. anti-religious symbolism or political slogans)
  •  could cause health and safety difficulties such as loose fitting clothing, dangling earrings and other potentially dangerous jewellery
  •  are of flammable materials which may be a danger in certain classes (e.g. shell suits)
  •  could cause damage to flooring
  •  carry advertising in particular for alcohol or tobacco, and
  •  could be used to inflict damage on other pupils or to be used by others to do so

Parents in receipt of a grant for footwear and clothing from the council will be encouraged to purchase items which are in accordance with the school dress code. Approval of any requests for such grants in other circumstances are at the discretion of the director of education. Information and application forms may be obtained from any school or area office. Parents are entitled to receive a clothing grant if they are in receipt of any of the following benefits: Income Support, Job Seeker’s Allowance (income based), Employment & Support Allowance  (income related), Universal Credit (with an income below £610 per month), housing benefit, council tax rebate.

Parent Council update June 2023

The minutes of all our Parent Council meetings this session are now on this website. All the information about the Parent Council  under the Parents Tab in the main menu.

https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/nl/calderhead/parent-council-2/

We are always on the look out for new members to come along the first Thursday of the month at 6pm.  Think of it as a Parent Group who advises and influences the Headteacher.

 

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