Independent Study & Revision
It is important that our students develop independence in their learning skills. In school they will be guided through the curriculum, out of school they will be building up independence through directed home learning. We aim for all our students to develop this further and plan further study time to make best progress and achieve.
Planning Independent study
Session 1 Using Your Time Effectively | Session 1 Revision Timetable Template
Students work best with a manageable timetable. We have found that working around non-negotiable times allow our students to buy into independent study.
Develop a study timetable – Using Your Time Effectively
The ‘Using Your Time Effectively’ document can be used to support students to design a manageable study timetable.
A blank timetable is also available to create a digital copy
Know where to focus – Using your Personalised Learning Checklist (PLC’s)
PLC’s can be found via insight Insight (radcliffeschool.org.uk).
If you are using your iPad to access this then you will need to alter a setting. Please use the ‘Accessing Your PLC on the iPad’ document for a step by step guide
Review - It is important to focus on areas that are Emerging first
Exam Question Practise - It is important to focus on all areas
This can be added to the blank timetable
Know where to practise – Using the key resources
There is a list of key resources to access online that are sorted by department area
These have been checked by staff and are great places to support either review work or exam question practise
Online Resources
English - Tassomai
Math - onmaths, MyMaths, Corbettmaths, Tassomai
Science - Physics & Maths Tutor, Tassomai, Freesciencelessons, Khan Academy
Geography - Tassomai
History - Tassomai, qcsehistory.com, gcse-history-revision-guide, Text Book Links (SharePoint)
Computer Science - Tassomai, KnowItAllNinja, Computer Science Bitesize, Computing Oak Academy, Teach-ICT
Media - eRevision, GCSE Media Studies | Eduqas, Resource, Eduqas.co.uk
Art - bitesize, studentartgude, tate.org.uk/art
Drama - bitesize/examspecs, bitesize/guides
Food Prep - Seneca
Product Design - Seneca
Revision Techniques
The revision techniques document will guide students through useful and effective practice, whilst steering clear of ineffective practices such as reading and note taking. In the document you will see examples of:
Creating flash cards and their use - Flash card resources can be purchased in school via the finance office. They are a bargain at £1 per pack
Summary and key term review
Use of past papers and mark schemes
Mind mapping
It is suggested that review and revision should only last for around 20-30mins per activity and include lots of short breaks. Whilst not exclusive to this, the work our students perform with Tassomai is a great model for the little and often approach that works best.
Exam Techniques
Session 3 BUG The Question | Session 3 Command words | Session 3 Example questions to BUG
Review and revision should be paired with assessment. By using past paper questions our students will:
Be familiar with the language used in exams
Be familiar with the structure of the exams
Be familiar with the expected level of answer required
Be familiar with the consistencies in the mark scheme
Be able to have certainty with what requires further review and revision and what is currently secure
The document called ‘BUG The Question’ walks students through our approach to answering an exam question comprehensively. The document called ‘Command Words’ gives a comprehensive list of the command words used in each subject and what that means in terms of expected approach to answering that question.
AQA | Past papers and mark schemes
Pearson Edexcel | Past papers and mark schemes