Welcome to Year 11
Welcome back
As you step into Year 11, get ready for the most exciting and important stage of your school journey so far. This year is all about focusing your energy, challenging yourself, and preparing for the final GCSE exams ahead.
Your GCSE results are a platform for opportunities beyond Year 11, whether that be in continued education or in a career pathway. This year we will support you in this journey. As you plan your next steps, make sure you attend the Sixth Form Open Evening during the week of 11th January to explore your future options. [1]
Year 11 marks the final push for the GCSE courses you have been working hard on. To ensure you are fully prepared and confident, you will sit two vital sets of mock GCSE exams this year. The first set of mocks will take place in November, which will help you check your progress and highlight exactly what you need to focus on next. Your second set of mocks will follow in February, giving you a final chance to sharpen your skills and perfect your exam technique before the real summer exams.
This is the time to build strong daily study habits, stay highly organized, and seek help from your teachers whenever you need it. You will face challenges and a busy schedule, but with determination and support from your teachers and friends, you will achieve amazing things.
Remember, we are here to guide and encourage you every single step of the way. Embrace this final year with confidence and determination—your journey to success starts now!
Mrs Norton
Web based systems to support students at KWS
All systems selected provide the best functionality to run our processes efficiently. Each of the key systems and their uses are outlined here.
KWS Expectations
All students should be Ready, Respectful and Responsible. These 3Rs guide our students on how to conduct themselves in their learning and how to interact with students and staff.
Our school values of Knowledge, Wellbeing and Success are key to the character development of our students and how they can achieve personally and academically.
Tutor Team
| 11Al | Mr Webster |
| 11Ar | Mr Mahmood Mrs Francis |
| 11Fr | Mr Hashmi |
| 11Ke | Mrs Tranter Ms Fatima |
| 11Ni | Miss Bryant Mr Adinkrah |
| 11Te | Mrs Kelly Mrs Warnock |
| 11KW | Mrs Ryman |
Year Group Team
| Mrs Norton | Head of Year 11 |
| Mr McLeod | Student Support Officer |
| Mr Ellershaw | Head of KS4 |
| Mr Way | SLT Link Y11 |
To find out more about the Year 11 Pastoral Team please see our Staff Profiles here.
Curriculum in Year 11
The curriculum year 11 students follow is outlined in the diagram to the right.
Details of the curriculum studied in each subject in Year 11 can be found on the Curriculum Pages of the website here. As a reminder, the details on programmes of study and exam specifications for options can be found here.
If you would like more detail, please do ask your child to show you the student site and/or google classroom for each of their subjects – this provides access to each lesson and associated resources along with knowledge organisers (KOs) for topics studied.
Careers Education in Year 11
Students will have one form time per week dedicated to the ‘World of Work’, as well as undertaking a PSHCE unit, consolidating their knowledge of careers through Unifrog. Year 11 students will be involved in a drop down day in November, which will involve workshops and presentations focussing on pathways beyond Year 11. This will include information about sixth form colleges, vocational colleges, apprenticeships and technical qualifications, as well as higher education. Students will also have opportunities to meet with visitors from industry and participate in careers trips, should they wish to. Students in all year groups will also take part in careers based lessons in all subjects during KWS Careers month in March.
Home Learning in Year 11
Home learning expectations for Year 11 are outlined here. As in previous years, additional enrichment tasks can be found on each of the subject’s curriculum pages – do encourage your child to dive into some of these.
Super Curriculum in Year 11
Period 7 changes once more for students as they enter Year 11. One session a week remains Independent Study and twice a week students will complete subject specific intervention. The focus of this will change across each block for them. Once a week students have the opportunity to take part in an elective – with many of their favourites from years 7 to 10 repeated alongside some interesting new opportunities to support study or aid relaxation, as they choose at this time.
As in other years students have the opportunity to select Period 7 and clubs three times a year, in September, December and March. Choices will be sent home for review and discussion a few days prior to choices being made in form time, guided by their tutor. Period 7 is still organised into three blocks across the year, and includes body options and various performing arts groups. Students will continue to be provided with a large range of other opportunities across the year, such as those outlined here
External Examinations in Year 11
To enable students to be prepared for their GCSE examinations, we aim to run all of our mock exam series’ in the same way our public exam season will run. Students will be provided with an Examinations Handbook prior to the first set of mock exams, which they must familiarise themselves with. It is also vital that students are equipped for each exam they sit, and that they understand the rules and regulations of the examination room. Should any students be entitled to special arrangements for any of the examinations, the SEN team will communicate these with staff, students and parents/carers. The ‘Exams’ area of the school website will be updated with key documents throughout the year, in preparation for the summer examination series.
Dates to note for Year 11
All our key events are on the school calendar which can be viewed here and should be reviewed in detail.
Some to note for Year 11:
- November Mock Exams (All subjects) 2nd – 13th November 2026
- Year 11 Parents Evening – 8th December 2026
- KWSixth Open Evening – 14th January 2027
- February Mock Exams (Core Subjects only) 22nd – 26th February 2027
Your first port of call in school is your child’s form tutor, please do get in touch with them via email if you have any questions or concerns. Please be aware of agreed protocols for such communications here.
