The Excellence Academy

One week - Intensive Revision and Exam Prep Crash Course (Key stage 2 SATS, 11+, GCSE, A Level)

During half term school holidays, students will have the opportunity to engage in exam board specific intensive revision sessions. Students will complete assessments at the start of the week that will show areas of strength and areas to be improved. Content will be reviewed and areas of student difficulty addressed. This will be layered with the completion of exam paper questions with feedback and improvements given on a daily basis.

The sessions will be busy and challenging, and rewarding to students as they quickly see their exam performance improving. Students will complete an assessment at the end of the week to show evidence their progress and ensure exam confidence is maximised.

Two week - Intensive Revision and Exam Prep Crash Course (Key stage 2 SATS, 11+, GCSE, A Level)

During Easter and Christmas school holidays students will have the option of choosing specific subjects and topics within subjects. For some students, attending both weeks will provide the coverage that they need to prepare for assessments and external exams across several subjects. For other students, it may be more suitable that they attend on particular days that focus on specific subjects and topics that suit their needs.

Two week exam prep courses focussed on GCSE and A Level examinations will offer year 10, 11, 12 and 13 students an intensive course of revision and exam question practice. Students will be able to choose courses that are tailored to specific exam boards and meet the needs of a range of abilities. The courses will involve rapid revision of topics, and pay particular attention to exam technique and past paper practice. This will allow teachers to address individual student concerns.

Students will return to school with improved subject knowledge and exam confidence that will allow them to fulfil their potential when sitting exams.

Required Practical Workshops for GCSE and A Level Biology, Chemistry and Physics

Students will complete required practical activities that are at the heart of scientific investigation, and a compulsory component of both GCSE and A Level exams. Students will be assessed on practical skills that will give students advanced analytical skills with investigative studies. By conducting a selection of approved practical investigations, students will meet the Common Practical Endorsements Criteria (CPAC) which are categorised as :

CPAC 1: Follows written procedures

CPAC 2: Applies investigative approaches and methods when using instruments and

equipment

CPAC 3: Safely uses a range of practical equipment and materials

CPAC 4: Makes and records observations

CPAC 5: Researches, references and reports

The work done for this practical endorsement will be excellent preparation for the exams as well as careers within scientific areas, including Medicine, Dentistry, Biomedical Science, Pharmacy, Optometry, Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics.

Exam Season Intensive Exam Preparation

In the two months leading up to exam season, students engage in a series of lessons designed to specifically address exam question techniques and strategies. Known areas of national exam weakness will be taught, along with a whole paper completion which are assessed and graded.

Areas of exam improvement are focussed on, and then applied to further exam papers to give students the opportunity to apply improved knowledge and technique. This techniques gives steady progress and secures exam performance in the build up to exams.

Experienced undergraduates, graduates, post graduates and interviewers host a series of workshops that help students to undergo the following process:

University Search - Student interests and abilities are matched to suitable undergraduate course. Information with regards to university fees and visa requirements are also shared.

Personal statement and CV - Students are supported in writing personal statements for UCAS. Personal statements are crucial in convincing university admissions teams that a student is right for a particular course. The personal statement will evidence a student’s potential and suitability for a course, as well as showcase their enthusiasm and determine whether a student receives an interview, offer or rejection.

Practice University Interviews -Experienced undergraduates as well as trained interviewers prepare students for interviews and assessments in particular for Medicine and Dentistry. Mock interviews with potential questions are used to allow students to consider how to approach their answers and sell themselves. In addition, multi-mini intervews (MMI) are used to provide students with the context of an assessment station set up and effective approaches to consider.

Support with UCAS Clearing -We provide students with personalised, professional advice in the event that they enter the process of clearing. This supports the needs of students who may miss their firm and ‘insurance’ offers and have no offered place, wish to ‘upgrade’ having achieved better than expected A Level results, change their mind about their offers or are not holding any offers or have not applied through UCAS on time.