Pupils work towards GCSEs with resilience

A workshop encouraged Year 10 pupils to challenge the way they prepare for their upcoming exams in light of the covid-19 crisis.

Sue O’Leary-Hall, the Founder and Academic Director of regional educational specialists, Thesan Coaching and Training, led the session.

She encouraged pupils to prepare for their exams by responding to a selection of increasingly taxing challenges. The Year 10 pupils worked in teams using key skills such as strategic planning, problem-solving and numeracy to work towards a common goal.

The workshop offered pupil’s the opportunity to work under pressure and make considered decisions via a Festival Planning task.

Towards the end of the workshop, pupils undertook an individual evaluation of how well they had performed during the Festival Planning task and considered how the lessons they had learnt could be transferred into their GCSE study habits.

A further important part of the event was self-reflection and study environment.

Sue said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has unequivocally increased pressure on pupils and teachers who have been forced to rapidly to adapt to a potential ‘blended learning’ model of academic study.

“For pupils at the start of their GCSE journey, it is paramount that they develop the skills of independent learning, time and workload management in order to set themselves on the road to GCSE success.”

Sue, who has previously held the roles of Director of Teaching and Learning, Head of Sixth Form and Head of English in her teaching career, added: “The Year 10 pupils at Cundall Manor undertook today’s challenges with characteristic tenacity, dedication and good humour – attitudes which should stand them in good stead to cope with the pressures of GCSE learning in a continually evolving Covid landscape.

“We will be supporting pupils in every year group of the Senior School again this year, as we have over the last four years.

“It is a privilege to work so closely with the pupils, parents and teachers at Cundall Manor; one of the most satisfying aspects of my role is seeing the impact of our work across the whole school community.”