gcse • CPD • resits
GCSE support
In an era of high-stakes exam results, schools are under pressure to encourage students to cram the facts because their performance in their exams is decisive.
The weeks leading up to GCSE, IGCSE or IBACC/EBACC exams consume many students with fear which, our Founders continually observed, hindered their learning. A different approach was needed to assuage this anxiety and create a confidence around exams that would truly transform outcomes.
Tamara, a former International Baccalaureate examiner, felt students could achieve higher grades not by memorising the syllabus, but by demystifying exams. Students would approach exams with greater confidence if they understood what examiners are looking for.
Impress Education want to empower students throughout KS4 and beyond to look at learning from a different angle.
Impress works with schools to boost achievement through research-tested pedagogy, which unveils the thinking behind the exam content.
Impress Methodology Masterclasses
Masterclasses take place Saturday mornings during term time, and then throughout half-terms and holidays as required. Saturday sessions are 3hrs over 6 weeks, whilst other sessions comprise 6/12hrs of teaching for groups of up to 20 students. We can cover English, Maths and Science, as well as Geography, History, French and Spanish.
We work closely with your staff to identify students’ current achievement levels and we build bespoke sessions that specifically target areas where performance improvements will lead to the greatest achievement gains in the exams.
Our expert Lead Practitioners help to consolidate missing knowledge and work with students to identify and bust misconceptions, demystifying the exam mark scheme. We want them to write less, craft more and earn more marks. We make them the examiner and it shines a whole new light on the exams.
Students report feeling less anxious. more in control and more capable of achieving their best.
Examiner-Led consolidation Course
Our online program for Key Stage 4 is an intensive 20-module intervention course in English Language, Maths (Foundation and Higher) and Double Science.
Written and quality assured by Examiners our content can be used to stretch and challenge your Year 9 higher-ability students but is predominantly for year 10 and 11. Consolidating classroom learning, students can sequence exam-specific knowledge building retention and recall – making it stick.
Examiner-assisted guidance, refreshing and teaching them to think on their feet, we address common misconceptions that may hinder their understanding. Modelling how this learning can be applied within the exam setting is crucial to building confidence. This ensures that they are meeting the requirements of the mark scheme. This ‘journey’ consists of target pre and post lesson assessments, videos, and fun activities that work together to ensure that students feel secure in their understanding and approach to each topic.
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“In the time Impress have been working with us, they have helped re-energise and motivate our learners”
Wendy Williams, Group Head English & maths, Cornwall College.
Our online lesson formats provide a structured approach to independent study, and can be embedded into lesson plans and schemes of work to create stability and consistency in learning. These lessons can replicate or support the approach of a teacher or tutor, and can be used to gain valuable time where needed.
Perfect for those students who need to resit
Our focused intervention helps to pinpoint gaps in understanding, deconstructing the mark scheme helps students to better understand the criteria against which they will be assessed. Our platform mirrors our methodology, enabling students to cherry-pick the most relevant content from the Curriculum Maps, empowering them to take control of their own learning. By providing the tools and resources they need to succeed, we help students to unlock their full potential, and to take control of their own academic success.
CPD
“The best CPD we have ever had”.
Stuart Love, Head of English, Plantsbrook Academy
At Impress Education, we have a team of expert former Examiners and former Principal Examiners who are available to visit schools and provide a range of training and support services to meet the needs of your department teams. We can impart knowledge on what exactly exam boards are looking for and provide insights on how to help students reach the best available outcomes.
We do this by providing support with standardisation and targeted resources ensuring that your students have the tools they need to succeed. We can even review your schemes of work and advise any tweaks we think may be beneficial.
All of this will help to better prepare your students for their GCSE courses. At Impress Education, we believe that every school has unique needs, and we are committed to providing customised support that meets those needs.