1. Parent/carer guide to surviving GCSE’s
Parental support is 8 times more important in determining a child’s academic success than social class.
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2. Parent/carer guide to surviving GCSE’s
To make a real difference:
You don’t need to be an expert in all their subjects
You don’t need to give up your life and responsibilities
You just need to spend the time you have in the best way

3. Parent/carer guide to surviving GCSE’s
Attendance is key If they are at school, they are in lessons They can attend intervention after school They can be given homework – which they need to do! ½ a day a week off = 1 GCSE grade Last week 37 Year 11 students had ½ a day off or more

4. Parent/carer guide to surviving GCSE’s
All students are different
Some are better at organising themselves than others
That is where you come in –
Support Encouragement Interest

5. Parent/carer guide to surviving GCSE’s
Agree a balance
Stick to the agreement but be flexible
They can fall behind or lose motivation – don’t berate or threaten them
Talk through the issues, acknowledge their feelings
Use the 80/20 rule
Teenagers are often all or nothing ‘catastrophic’ approach

6. Parent/carer guide to surviving GCSE’s
Revision should already be underway – the sooner they start the less they will have to do each day, the less they will be
Stick to start and finish times
Provide plenty of breaks and
healthy snacks
Provide plenty of water

7. Parent/carer guide to surviving GCSE’s
Shelve the battles that don’t need winning just yet
Help prepare you child for the exam – talk with them about when it starts, how long it lasts for, what are the main topics that might come up.
Don’t ‘over egg’ this – they may have worked all day and have come down stairs to relax

8. Parent/carer guide to surviving GCSE’s
The BIGGEST mistake students make is not allowing enough time for revision. They then get demotivated as the task seems too big If they tell you they have left it too late – It is never too late – until they enter the exam room

9. Parent/carer guide to surviving GCSE’s
Before the exams