Exam Strategies

Here are some strategies on how students can be prepared, guided and supported through their exams.

Anxiety Booklet Download (pdf)

Exam Support Brochure Download (pdf)

Coaching Manual Download (pdf)

Revision Techniques Download (pdf)

Revision Tips Flowchart Download (pdf)

Topic Checklist Download (pdf)

Preparing for Exams Download (pdf)

Beat Exam Stress Download (pdf)

10 Commandments of Success in Life and Exams Download (pdf)

Websites for Revision

Learning Styles Visit website

How to revise Visit website

There is now effectively only one exam season during the year – summer.  Therefore almost all of our exams will take place in the summer.

Before the start of the exam season

You will be issued with your own Individual Candidate Timetable.

Check that all the details are correct:

1. Name correctly spelt – This is the name that will appear on the exam certificate
2. Correct date of birth
3. Have you been entered for the correct exams, and the correct tier – higher or foundation?

Every effort is made to ensure that your entries are correct, but mistakes can happen. It is very important that you check your entries as soon as possible. If you think you have been entered for the wrong exam, or have not been entered for an exam, please check with your teacher first of all. If you’re still not sure what to do, please come and see me as soon as possible and I will help to sort out any problems you might have.

Preparing for the exams

Make sure that you are properly prepared and equipped. ALL exams now require you to write with a BLACK PEN, make sure that you have a good supply with you for every exam that you are taking. It is surprising how many students turn up for an exam with nothing to write with. If you are taking a science or maths exam you may need a calculator.

Regularly check the exam noticeboard. This is situated near the PE changing rooms and will be updated with important information including, nearer the start of the exams, seating plans, any changes to start times, any changes to exam room.

During the exam season

Exam start times. It is very important that you arrive on time for your exam, if you arrive after the exam has started you may not be allowed to take the exam.

• Morning exams will start at 9:00am. You should be in school for registration, get your mark and then make you way to line up outside the PE changing rooms in seat order. You should be lining up by 8.50am.
• Afternoon exams will normally start at 1:30pm. For a normal afternoon exam students should be lining up by 1:20pm,
• Extended 2 hour afternoon exams, will start at 1:15pm. Students will take an early lunch. For an extended afternoon exam students should be lining up by 1:05pm
• During the exam season, the school will move to having 3 lessons in the morning, lunch and then 2 lessons in the afternoon to enable us to fit in afternoon exams

Mobile phones, MP3 players and smart watches (e.g. Apple watches and Fitbits) 

These MUST be handed in before the start of the exam – you will be given a token so that you can claim back your phone after the exam has finished. To avoid having to queue I suggest that you leave your phone at home on the days you have an exam.

Wristwatches 

A requirement from Summer 2018 is that students are not allowed to wear a wristwatch during the exam.  If they are wearing one they must remove it and leave it clearly visible on their exam desk.

Access to toilets during the examinations 

Students are not allowed access to the toliet during examinations unless it is an absolute emergency or a medical condition.  There are really strict rules around this and students must take responsibilty for managing their toilet visits before and after the exam.

Illness and absence 

If you are genuinely ill and unable to attend any of your exams please phone the school as soon as possible and, at least, before the start of the exam. If you are ill but still able to sit the exam, please let your Head of Year or Mr Sykes know before the exam. In certain circumstances we can apply for ‘Special Consideration’, but this would require some medical evidence from the hospital concerned. If you become ill during an exam, let a member of staff know.  In all cases, a doctor’s note will be required to have any chance of getting any special consideration.

End of examinations 

There are strict rules around when you can leave an examination.  You must stay until the examination is completed and you are formally dismissed by the staff invigilating the exam.  If you finish early (which will happen), you should check your work to make sure that you have answered all the questions that you can and that you have not made any careless errors.

Please read the information for candidates here.

All the information you need

Here in this section we have lots of information to help you during your exams at Lathom High School.

Achievements

At Lathom we pride ourselves on acknowledging and celebrating the achievements and successes of all of our students, challenging them to achieve and become the very best version of themselves. We recognise and reward our students for effort, engagement, progress, commitment, behaviour, attendance and punctuality to both school and to extra-curricular activities.

Rewarding Students

Every member of staff identifies at least one student every lesson as ‘Student of the Lesson’ and awards points for effort, engagement and quality of work. This is supported with each year group awarding the student who achieves the most achievement points in their year with a ‘Student of the Day’ award. ‘Student of the Week’ awards are given for each tutor group and then across each year group to recognise success. Each year group award one student per week the ‘Headteacher Commendation’ – the headteacher then presents the certificate and prize to the students, which is then celebrated on social media and the newsletter. Staff at all levels reward students for their effort, engagement, progress or behaviour with allocated achievement points linked to each reward. All achievement points are visible on both the student and parent Synergy accounts with details about what achievements the student has gained and from which member of staff.

Student Trips

As a school we use student attendance and achievement points to offer reward days and trips on a termly basis, suitable for each year group. These include trips to bowling, cinema, fairgrounds and city centres as well as in-school rewards.

Synergy

Synergy is our online platform and is used for daily contact between teachers, students and parents. Synergy ensures that students and parents are fully aware of achievements, acts or efforts that have been rewarded by staff.

All parents are able to view their child’s timetable, attendance information, classwork (home learning), homework and both positive and negative behaviour points. This platform also informs parents if their child is on detention that evening. Parents are able to report a child’s absence via Synergy and can also contact their Assistant Head of Year if they have a concern.

Proud Assemblies

Our PROUD assemblies are held half termly and these are an excellent opportunity to celebrate student achievements in a formal manner. Through the behaviour and attendance data visible on each student’s Synergy account, subjects and year teams are able to recognise half termly successes and reward them in PROUD Assemblies. The reputation and high profile of this event involves the Leadership Team, Year Team and Form Tutors. This provides our students with an invaluable opportunity to support, share and celebrate successes together. This, in turn, promotes an acceptance of positive achievements and excellent behaviour.

Behaviour

At Lathom we expect the highest standards of behaviour at all times. As a caring school we treat all of our students with respect and we always expect this same respect in return.

To prepare students for their future success beyond Lathom, we are dedicated to learning for all at all times. Any behaviour that disrupts learning, or shows a lack of respect for staff, students or the fabric of the school, is unacceptable and will not be tolerated under any circumstances. All of our students are expected to behave in a manner which promotes the good name of our school and protects the health and safety of other students, staff or members of the public. This includes the journey to and from school and on any school visits.

Behaviour Management

We have an established, clear and effective policy on Behaviour Management and anti-bullying which, when followed, ensures that our students act as great ambassadors for Lathom and the community of Skelmersdale and that they feel safe. We firmly believe that effective planning, recognisable short-term goals for students and absolute consistency from all members of staff sets the groundwork for effective behaviour. Through student and parent voice activities our students tell us that Lathom is a safe and happy place where they enjoy their lessons and where staff challenge them, believe in them and want them to do well.

Effective Support

As a school we understand that students may make mistakes from time to time. To effectively support this and ensure that students learn from their mistakes we offer a same night sanction with detentions running each evening to ensure instant impact, give students the opportunity to move on and start every day fresh with the opportunity to achieve.

For further information please see the Behaviour Policy.

Attendance and Punctuality

At Lathom High School we expect regular school attendance and good punctuality for our students to ensure that they maximise the educational opportunities available to them. There is clear evidence of strong links between good GCSE outcomes and good school attendance. At Lathom we regularly reward students with good and punctual attendance to school and to lessons and challenge this should we need to. We consider a ‘good’ attendance to be 97+ % although we continue to strive for 100%.

Coming soon.

At Lathom High School we work hard to ensure that all our students are fully prepared to take their next steps and to go on and have rewarding and successful careers. We offer independent careers guidance to all students. The CEIAG provision aims to meet The Gatsby Benchmarks, which are a national framework containing eight guidelines that define the best careers provision in schools and colleges.
These are the eight Gatsby Benchmarks:

Personal Development Overview KS3

Personal Development Overview KS4

CEIAG Policy

CEIAG Newsletter

Below are links and information about your career or further education options after leaving Lathom High School.

Our Life at Lathom offer is intended to give every student a range of wider learning experiences which takes them beyond their own everyday experiences and enables them, regardless of their background, to be socially mobile, culturally aware and well equipped to succeed in life.

During their time at Lathom every student will…