It’s an uncertain time, especially for those of you entering Post-16 education next year, and expecting GCSE results by the end of this one. With this in mind, we’ve compiled some advice and reassurance for Year 11 pupils.
Firstly, it can be helpful to focus on the things that you can control. Whilst we can’t speed up the government’s decisions, we can channel our energies into making the most of the circumstances that we’re in. For instance, both making sure to look after yourself, and keeping on top of schoolwork are controllable. We’ve got another blogpost online with a video featuring ways to help yourself to stay healthy during lockdown (here).
It’s also useful to continue to prepare as much as possible. Online classes and working from home are still relatively new to us all, so it can help to have a structure and use tools available to boost your productivity and to make sure you don’t overwork yourself. Pomodoro timers are a great way to time your revision; working for twenty-five minutes at a time with five-minute breathers in between allows you to have frequent breaks from your screen and work.
It’s also really important to enjoy Year 11! It may be a bit different from the year we were all expecting, but it’s still crucial to stay in touch with friends and peers, as well as to look out for each other. Wherever possible, make time to plan lots of Zoom calls and online games as a break from schoolwork and a way to stay connected from home.
With the uncertainty of GCSEs and next year, remember that there are still exciting things on the way! We encourage you to continue looking forward to Post-16 life and to not be too disheartened by this year’s challenges.
