Maximising Exam Success: How we support students at Buckswood
As exam season kicks off, staff across the school have been working hard behind the scenes, and in the classroom, to ensure that every student has the tools, confidence, and support they need to succeed. From structured revision materials to innovative teaching techniques and personalised intervention, there’s a shared commitment across departments to create a culture of preparation, reflection, and resilience.
One of the key approaches embraced this year is active learning. Science lessons now regularly feature retrieval practice, spaced repetition, and dual coding, techniques proven to deepen understanding and boost long-term retention. These strategies are equally evident in English classrooms, where students engage in quotation drills, live essay modelling, and structured annotation exercises. Meanwhile, in Maths, regular low-stakes testing and detailed gap analysis are used to identify individual weaknesses and direct targeted revision in the lead-up to exams.
Assessment for learning is central to our approach. Across subjects, teachers are using mock exams and past paper practice to pinpoint gaps, offer feedback, and refine exam technique. In Business, for example, students are guided through the nuances of command words like justify and evaluate, and taught to structure answers using ‘chain of reasoning’ methods. Humanities students are similarly benefiting from guided exam practice sessions, with revision materials ranging from mind maps and knowledge organisers to bespoke booklets tailored to each subject and exam board.
Language support has also been a major focus, particularly for ESOL and MFL students. Whether it’s building confidence in speaking through pair work and topic-specific vocabulary practice, or tackling grammar and listening strategies, lessons are designed to strengthen both accuracy and fluency. Revision in Modern Languages includes everything from translation drills to speaking exam rehearsals, while ESOL students work through targeted writing formats, build comprehension strategies, and engage in peer review to improve clarity and structure.
For creative subjects like Art and Graphics, the emphasis has been on one-to-one guidance and individualised plans of action. Students preparing for A Level exams have created structured timelines with teacher support, while others have taken part in weekend and holiday sessions to refine their portfolios and complete practical components with confidence.
Support beyond the classroom is another important piece of the puzzle. Many departments are offering access sessions and after-school workshops, some open to all, others targeted at those who would benefit most. The English Department, for instance, has a full weekly programme of Period 7 and Access Time support, covering everything from Macbeth to unseen poetry. Maths and Business have similarly opened their doors for revision sessions throughout the week, with multiple teachers available to offer personalised help.
Resources also play a big role. Whether it’s the ten-year bank of Maths past papers, the digital hub of model English essays on Teams, or the revision flashcards and tick-lists in Business and Science, students are equipped with what they need to study independently and effectively. Even in subjects where practical skill is key, like PE or ICT, students are being guided to understand the expectations of their assessments and to reflect on how best to demonstrate their knowledge and skills under exam conditions.
Underlying all of this is a shared commitment to developing good study habits. Students are being encouraged to plan their revision thoughtfully, with structured timetables that include regular breaks, targeted review sessions, and practice under timed conditions. Staff are offering support every step of the way, and many are using new tools and data analysis to personalise advice even further.
This collective effort, across every subject, every classroom, and every corner of the school, is about more than just passing exams. It’s about helping students feel prepared, supported, and confident in their ability to succeed. It’s a whole-school holistic approach to learning that will serve them well far beyond this exam season.
By Michael Shaw – Academic Principal