Middle Years 

For most of the Middle Years students, they are deep in revision for the up-and-coming End of Year Examinations. Extending students’ learning and revision beyond the classroom helps build their independence, brain pathways, and growth mindsets. One of the key learning environments outside of the classroom is at home (or in the Boarding House), so having an area predominantly for study helps students build patterns for their brains that associate that place with study homework and learning, creating habits and reducing barriers to getting started. 

Ideally, this study environment at home or the Boarding Bouse should be well lit, quiet, warm and comfortable, and away from distractions, especially TV and loud music. And mobile phones in another room!

Students need to revisit what they learn in each of their subjects every night for five minutes or more, or their brains will “forget”.  Some facts relating to how much the brain retains include: 

• If notes or new information is not reviewed within 24 hours, 60% to 80% of it is forgotten.
• After a month with no reviews, only 3% to 4% is remembered. 
• The brain pathways which were created wither and die. 
• When 50 minutes of learning is not reviewed regularly, it takes 30 to 40 minutes to relearn it; why learn it in the first place? 

It is recommended that students: 

• Keep neat and logical revision notes with key headings underlined.
• Review new information regularly. It’s especially important to review topics covered earlier in the year regularly to keep it ‘fresh’ in your memory.
• Apply your knowledge with practice questions from old tests or revision questions/booklets.     

Renowned Polish pianist, Ignace Paderewski, once said, “If I miss one day’s practice, I notice it. If I miss two day’s practice, the critics notice. If I miss three days practice, the audience notices it.” 

Reviewing and revising should be seen as a form of practice and this practice adds up…… and Mr Hiscock will be impressed that I’ve quoted a pianist!

Key dates:

Thursday 22nd November – Year 9 exams begin.  

Monday 28th November – Year 7 and 8 Exams begin.

Tuesday 29th November – Year 9s step up into Year 10.

Thursday 1st December – Year 7 and 8 Step up program begins.

BEN HAWTHORNE

Head of Middle Years