We have debated on more than one occasion whether the internal exams should precede the half-term break or whether we should continue to ‘rob’ pupils of some of their holiday as they revise. On Monday, in assembly, I will pose the questions: “What’s the point? Why do we make you sit exams?”

This can, of course, be answered in lots of ways:

It’s important that we help pupils to revise and that we give them adequate time to prepare and to consolidate their learning as a reflection of all their hard work over the year. Exams help them to think hard and to practise as they apply their knowledge to novel situations and as they transfer it from short-term to long-term memory. Assessment also helps teachers to know where the gaps are and to plan their teaching accordingly. It enables pupils to learn from their mistakes, to ‘fail forward, fail fast’ and to improve. By the time our pupils reach the day of reckoning (GCSEs and A levels being our nationally recognised qualifications), they will be very well prepared. In life too, they will benefit from the skills they have learned and be able to use those to evaluate, create, analyse and solve problems, sometimes under pressure. We don’t test everything via exams, of course, as some learning is better assessed through coursework.

Not many of us as adults would willingly return to the exam hall, and for some it might be the stuff of nightmares! We know that many of our pupils have very high expectations of themselves, especially at a school like LGS. At the end of the day, all they can ask of themselves is that they do their best. If they do suffer from stress, please talk to us, so that we can support them in managing that anxiety. And if they don’t understand something, they should talk to their teachers rather than beating themselves up, as their teachers will always want to help them.

For most, and for most of the time, we hope there is the satisfaction of a job well done and the exhilaration of having risen to challenges and triumphed over adversity.  We hope too that they will make the most of the precious weeks ahead, as the next holiday is not far off!

And as I talk about holiday, you will today receive term dates for 2026-27. Please note them and stick to them, as your child has only one chance at their education.

Best wishes,

John Watson
Headmaster and Principal