Key Stage 4
Key Stage 4 homework and revision at Cedars
Traditionally, revision is seen as something done at the end of a course after students have learnt all their topics. Often there is a ‘revision period’ in the few weeks before the exams start. However, this is not the best way to prepare for exams.
Students actually ‘learn’ very little in a lesson; they will see new ideas, and understand new concepts, but to truly learn them (in other words, to get so good at them that they can always remember them) they have to practice them over time, just like with any skill.
The best time to revise is shortly after new ideas are taught, and then continuously all the way through the course. We have designed our revision plan for KS4 to start early – after Christmas in year 10 – and the revision programme encourages students to be regularly reviewing and practicing the skills and ideas as they go through the course.
We have lots of resources and practices to support students, and you will find them described or linked to below.
- Retrieval practice. This is the practice of deliberately and systematically trying to remember information that was first taught some time ago. We all naturally forget knowledge over time, but studies show that if you plan a system of regularly testing yourself, you remember much more effectively. Every lesson at Cedars will start with some retrieval practice, where students will be asked about work from previous modules or topics. This makes them regularly practice their knowledge. You can find out more about retrieval practice from the learning scientists and here in this short video.
- Homework system. To help with retrieval, virtually all homework at KS4 is now based around revision. All our subjects have planned a week-by-week revision program, starting at Christmas in year 10, so students know what to revise all through their course. Following this plan will ensure students are regularly revising the whole curriculum. In lessons, our retrieval practice will test what students have revised so we can ensure we are closing any gaps in earlier knowledge. You can find this revision plan on Beehive, where the latest work is sent out every Friday.
- Online learning platforms. Your child will already be using several different platforms such as Seneca learning, or Complete Maths. They will have log-ins to each of these, and homework is often set on these platforms. You can also find more information here by accessing the Complete Maths Tutor Parent Helpsheet
- Revision Videos. We have also produced a number of revision videos, highlighting specific areas of the syllabus that students often find tricky. This bank of resources is constantly growing. You can find these on ‘TheCedarsAcademy’ YouTube channel
- Revision hints and tips. If you came to the revision evening in October, you will have seen a PowerPoint presentation containing lots of information on working well at home, revision techniques, subject specific tips and also on time management and careers. You can access the Y11 parent revision PowerPoint here. There is also a Study Skills 2025-26 document containing lots of advice on revision for students and parents, as well as this Year 11 revision timetable planner trial 1, which contains pre-prepared revision planners and timetables for students to use in preparation for the November trials. Teachers will also be helping students to fill these in.
- After school revision lessons. All main subjects run at least one evening after school. In these sessions, students can drop in to get help with that weeks revision and retrieval. On some occasions, specific students will be invited in to get some extra help. The subjects and days are currently
Assessment plan
As well as trials and formal exams, major subjects will also administer regular tests to students to ensure that they are learning effectively. The assessment calendar here: Y11 Assessment Calendar gives an overview of these assessments. Note, these are approximate dates and may vary by individual teaching groups or due to unforeseen changes in the curriculum delivery
| Autumn 2025 Lesson 7 rota | ||||
| Week beginning | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 8th September 2025 | Maths | English | Science | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 15th September 2025 | Geography; History | HSC; iMedia; Creatives; Media | French | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 22nd September 2025 | Maths | English | Science | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 29th September 2025 | Geography; History | HSC; iMedia; Creatives; Media | French | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 6th October 2025 | Maths | English | Science | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 13th October 2025 | Geography; History | HSC; iMedia; Creatives; Media | French | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 20th October 2025 | Half term | |||
| 27th October 2025 | Maths | English | Science | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 3rd November 2025 | Geography; History | HSC; iMedia; Creatives; Media | French | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 10th November 2025 | Maths | English | Science | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 17th November 2025 | Geography; History | HSC; iMedia; Creatives; Media | French | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 24th November 2025 | Maths | English | Science | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 1st December 2025 | Geography; History | HSC; iMedia; Creatives; Media | French | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 8th December 2025 | Ad hoc intervention for specific students identified during mocks | |||
| 15th December 2025 | Ad hoc intervention for specific students identified during mocks | |||
| 22nd December 2025 | Christmas | |||
| Spring 2026 Lesson 7 rota | ||||
| Week beginning | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 5th January 2026 | No Lesson 7s | |||
| 12th January 2026 | Maths | English | Science | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 19th January 2026 | Geography; History | HSC; iMedia; Creatives; Media | French | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 26th January 2026 | Maths | English | Science | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 2nd February 2026 | Geography; History | HSC; iMedia; Creatives; Media | French | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 9th February 2026 | Maths | English | Science | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 16th February 2026 | Half term | |||
| 23rd February 2026 | Geography; History | HSC; iMedia; Creatives; Media | French | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 2nd March 2026 | Maths | English | Science | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 9th March 2026 | Geography; History | HSC; iMedia; Creatives; Media | French | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 16th March 2026 | Maths | English | Science | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 23rd March 2026 | Geography; History | HSC; iMedia; Creatives; Media | French | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 30th March 2026 | Easter | |||
| Summer 2026 Lesson 7 rota | ||||
| Week beginning | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| 13th April 2026 | Maths | English | Science | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 20th April 2026 | Geography; History | HSC; iMedia; Creatives; Media | French | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 27th April 2026 | Maths | English | Science | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 4th May 2026 | Geography; History | HSC; iMedia; Creatives; Media | French | Sports; Creative options; science RPs; Drama;Sports |
| 11th may 2026 | Lesson 7s to be rearranged around exams | |||
| 18th May 2026 | Lesson 7s to be rearranged around exams | |||
| 25th May 2026 | Half term | |||
| 1st June 2026 | Lesson 7s to be rearranged around exams | |||
| 8th June 2026 | Lesson 7s to be rearranged around exams | |||
| 15th June 2026 | Lesson 7s to be rearranged around exams | |||
If you would like to discuss our resources and provision further, you are very welcome to contact Mr Allard at Cedars for a conversation.