Top Tips : Effective Revision
March 17, 2025
Mr Pearce, Deputy Head of UCAS, Politics Teacher and our Apply Plus programme lead, offers some top tips for the art of revising well.
As we approach Trinity Term and public examinations loom on the horizon, remember that lots of the keys to success are surprisingly simple and manageable. The top tips below come from a wide range of previous pupils who are now off doing brilliant things at university, the workplace, and beyond, but who were once nervously staring at fast-approaching exams just like you are now. Here are their pearls of wisdom on revision …
- Don’t wait until you feel like it: if you wait until you ‘feel like’ revising, it will likely never happen. Set yourself a start time, and then get cracking. As someone once said, “Just do it”. You’ll feel much more like it when you’ve made a start, and the sense of satisfaction and progress kick-starts an upwards progression. More often than not, positive emotions follow positive actions rather than the other way around.
- Make a plan: having all your topics planned out and assigned to particular revision slots on particular days is really useful. This is the only way you can be sure that you have enough time to get through everything, so make a plan and do your best to stick to it. Be kind to yourself too – “no plan ever survives first contact with the enemy”, and precious few pupils stick perfectly to their revision aims: but the very act of making a plan helps you take control and measure your progress as you go along.
- Revise actively! My old biology teacher at school always use to say his number one, most magical, most sophisticated and most earth-shattering revision tip was… “use a pen”. Underwhelmed? So was I. But it’s fundamental: simply ‘reading over’ information is not an effective way to get it to stick in your brain. So use a pen – or whatever other format you’ll use in the real exam – and revise actively! One of the most effective ways to do this is to make a great set of notes on each topic, then make notes on your notes, then condense them down until the whole topic is summarised on a single side of A4. Other great active revision tools include the highly recommended “write, learn, cover, test, check, repeat as required" method, as well as good old flash cards, mind maps, posters and mnemonics. Find what works for you, but always revise actively.
- Sit at a proper desk: I once tried ‘revising’ in the sunshine because it was a nice day. It didn’t work. The temptation to revise on your bed or on the sofa can be strong too, but the only place for really focused work is a proper table or desk. After all, it also replicates the real exam situation better, so it’s a win-win.
- Use a countdown clock: at the start of a work session, set a countdown timer for the amount you intend to do. Start the timer and start working, but STOP the timer whenever you do anything that is not actually revision… making drinks, organising your folder, going to the toilet, and so on. This will focus your work time on productive work more effectively, which, in turn, will also ensure you get better time off; work should be work, rest should be rest, play should be play. The more effectively and efficiently you work, the better your time off will feel too.
- Avoid distractions: we all know the dangers of procrastination, where we put off work until we’ve tidied our room or decorated our revision timetable. Outright distraction is even more dangerous, so you need to be ruthless: turn the music off (unless it truly helps you learn), leave your phone in another room entirely, and bring a supply of snacks and drinks to your desk so you don’t have to make that lengthy trip to the kitchen. And remember, if you find yourself getting distracted, stop the clock, because you’ve stopped working!
- Take short breaks: your brain can’t focus on difficult revision for any more than an hour in one go, possibly even less. Find out what works for you, but 30 minutes solid revision followed by a 5-minute break is often a good pattern.
- Practice papers / questions: this is crucial! You’re spending all this time gaining knowledge, but we all know the painful truth that your beautiful hard-earned knowledge isn’t worth very much if you can’t apply it to the exam questions. Like any great sportsperson, you don’t just need power: you need technique to enable you to get the most out of that power. In exams, knowledge is power, but we need to know exactly what the examiners want us to do with it in the exam. So: practise lots of timed exam questions, and use mark schemes to help you assess how well you did. Ask your teachers to mark them too – it’s the sort of thing we really like because it shows you’re doing all the right things!
- Stay healthy – sleep well, eat well and exercise: it can be tempting to go ‘revision crazy’ around exam time… “I’ll sleep when exams are over!” But revision is a very brain-hungry activity, and your brain is an energy-hungry machine: it needs servicing and maintenance to keep it in tip-top shape. The reality is that the right balance of sleep, healthy eating, exercise, connecting with friends and having some fun become more rather than less important during exams. Did you know that doing exercise makes the knowledge you’ve revised stick in your brain better, even if the exercise comes after the revision session rather than before it? Make these good things happen. You’ll be infinitely more effective at revising if you’re keeping yourself well.
- Balance is key: here’s the equation: rest without work is less fulfilling, less rewarding and less fun. Work without rest is less productive, less effective, and more stressful. All performers, from Olympic athletes on the track to world-class musicians on the stage, know that no success comes without serious hard work, but also that appropriate rest is essential for growth and strength. If it’s good enough for them…
- Not all of these suggestions will suit everyone, but the most important thing for everyone to remember is that you need to be organised, balanced and disciplined when it comes to revision. After all, revision lasts just a little while – but the qualifications you stand to achieve last a lifetime. Make the most of revision time, and we look forward to seeing your smile on results day. And if you need us before then, reach out – to your tutor, your teachers, your Head of House, or the Wellbeing Team: we’re all here to help!
The Lower School carol service at Norwich Cathedral was a truly magical occasion, set against a dusky backdrop that heightened the sense of joy and wonder. The cathedral’s soaring arches and glowing stained glass offered the perfect setting for a celebration filled with Christmas spirit and joy. The service opened with a solo of Once in Royal David’s City by U3 pupil Zoe Asamoah, whose clear and expressive voice resonated beautifully through the vast space, setting a moving tone for the afternoon. The Lower 2 tableau was equally enchanting, their poise and reverence bringing the Christmas story vividly to life. What followed was a series of performances that were both heartfelt and uplifting. The Little Voices Choir, Infant Choir, Chamber Choir, and School Choir each sang with warmth and precision, contributing their own distinctive character to the service. A highlight for many was the whole school’s rendition of Away in a Manger, with singers positioned throughout the cathedral, even along the side aisles, the piece created a shimmering, almost ethereal atmosphere that seemed to wrap the entire congregation in peace. As the service came to a close, selected members of U3 performed a hauntingly beautiful version of The Candle Song. With the cathedral lights dimmed and a single candle glowing softly, their perfectly blended voices created a moment of profound stillness and reflection. The afternoon was a testament to the talent, dedication, and sincerity of everyone involved, leaving all who attended with a deep sense of joy and quiet contemplation.
The Lower 4 Christmas Jumper Competition is always an event of great anticipation, and this year was no exception. Adorned with baubles, tinsel and whatever else Fourth Form could find (including Mariah Carey), the tutors made their way to the Blake for a catwalk never to be forgotten. However, this year had a twist with the additional competition of the Fourth Form Tutor Challenge. For the tutor challenge we had a range of performances from a mini play with a murder mystery, a Christmas ‘Guess Who’ quiz, a musical number and even a conducting dinosaur! Congratulations to all pupils who took part and especially to the tutors for taking to the runway and to the performances with such enthusiasm. Congratulations to L42 who won this year’s jumper competition, following behind in 2 nd place was L43. For the tutor challenge we had L41 in 1 st place and L44 in 2 nd! We look forward to seeing what the pupils come up with next year….
On Thursday 11 November the Lower School Chamber Choir sang at the Priscilla Bacon Hospice Charity Lights to Remember Service. This annual event is an opportunity for the people of Norfolk to remember and give thanks for the lives of those who have received hospice care, as well as acknowledge with gratitude the exceptional work of everyone involved with Priscilla Bacon Lodge – staff and volunteers from Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust, and the staff, volunteers, donors, fundraisers and supporters of the Charity. Norwich Lower School Chamber Choir have been invited to sing at the event for a number of years, and this year was no exception. Led by Head of Lower School Music, Mr Vine, the choir dazzled with a beautiful performance of ‘Sweet Silent Night’ by Andy Beck. Hugo Stevenson, Head of Fundraising and Communications at the Priscilla Bacon Hospice Charity said: “It is always an absolute joy to welcome Norwich School Chamber Choir to this flagship event for the charity. Once again they delivered a wonderful performance and added something really special to the service. Our sincere thanks to Mr Vine, Mrs Barclay and the children.”
Lower School pupils excitedly celebrated the last day of the Michaelmas term on Friday 12 December, enjoying their Christmas lunch in a fine array of festive knitwear! There was a party atmosphere in the Refectory with decorations, paper crowns and Christmas songs, all in view of the beautifully illuminated tree. Turkey, roast potatoes and cranberry sauce were all on the special menu, followed by yule log for pudding. Everyone at the Lower School would like to wish our whole community a restful and relaxing Christmas and we will see you all again in 2026!
It has been an excellent term for Norwich School rugby, with all squads showing clear development, strong teamwork, and impressive determination. The junior teams enjoyed a highly successful season, including standout wins and an unbeaten U13A campaign. Across both age groups, players demonstrated growing confidence, cohesion, and attacking flair. Our inter squads showed real character, with the U14s and U15s producing notable victories and displaying resilience throughout a challenging fixture list. The U15A County Cup triumph was a particular highlight. Among the seniors, both the 1st and 2nd XV worked tirelessly despite disruptions. The 1st XV delivered several outstanding performances, including a memorable last-minute victory over Gresham's. We also thank our departing Upper Sixth players for their leadership and commitment. Overall, it has been a term marked by progress, pride, and exceptional team spirit across the whole rugby programme.
The Boat Club started the half term with the Seniors racing at the GB U19 Benchmark Head Race. With the rowers who had achieved the 2k ergo cut off, this was the first opportunity to show boat moving capabilities. Ellie Thwaites and James Howard pleaced 4th in their respective J17 Trialist category and Nicholas Conway won the J18 and overall event. For those not trialling, racing at a GB event gave them valuable experience. The Seniors then raced the inaugral Junior Fours Head of the River on the Tideway. With 2 boys crews and 2 girls crews facing some rather wet conditions, the Girls Coxed Four placed an excellent 6th place in J18 and the Boys Coxless Quad won the J18 event. The J15s and Seniors raced at Hampton Head (another damp day!) with the J15s placing well in their categories with other 40 crews in some events. Singles, Doubles and Quads were raced. The Seniors also raced a range of events, with a number of 2nd, 3rd and 4th places. There were wins for James and Nick in the Coxless Pair and for Ellie, Charlotte, Amelie, Jess and Darcy in the Coxed Four. The Boys and Girls 1st VIII s then raced at Wallingford Head, the first VIIIs race of the year- well done to all for a busy but successfull weekend of racing. Last weekend saw all the Boat Club race at our Invitational Yare Eights Head of the River. The J14s in an Octo and Quad demonstrated the great progress they have made since taking up the sport at the start of term. The 1st VIIIs (Boys and Girls) beat their respective UEA Eights. Ellie Thwaites, Nicholas Conway and James Howard have all acheived the 5k Ergo Score to progress through to the February GB U19 Trials.
Our annual Languages Carol Contest this half-term has been another great success. Each Upper 4 class prepared and recorded a Christmas Carol in French, German, Spanish or Mandarin. The 4th form then watched the videos and voted on their favourite song, with voting criteria of pronunciation, entertainment value and "Christmassy-ness", with different groups clearly aiming at different criteria. We are pleased to announce that the winning song was the French version of "Last Christmas" performed by Ms Niesch’s U4 French class. We were all impressed by their beautiful clear singing and catchy dance routine . Well done to all of the U4 Language classes and we look forward to seeing what the L4 can do next year.
On Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 December, a cast of Inters pupils put on a brilliant production of Piers Torday’s ‘The Box of Delights’. The pupils took to the stage with confidence and enthusiasm, encouraged with a message from Piers Torday himself - I’m so thrilled you have chosen to stage my adaptation of John Masefield’s wonderful Christmas story, and I hope you have all enjoyed getting it to the stage.” The Blake was set out differently in this instance, with the production employing traverse staging, which allowed for an immersive performance in which all cast members were always present. This worked wonderfully in addition to the stylised ensemble pieces and physical theatre throughout the piece, the cast became a company. This Christmas tale was brought to life with great skill, particularly through the characterisation and dynamic between protagonist and antagonist – Cole Hawkings and Abner Brown. Kay Harker, played by Rowan Kidd, compellingly led the story and engaged audiences throughout, supported brilliantly by Christina Sawh and Alejandro Olmo Ochoa who played Maria and Peter respectively. Of course, the performance’s success must be attributed to every cast member, all pupils performed with professionalism and finesse. Director, Eva Wright, commented; “I am immensely proud of the cast for their dedication and trust in the creative process. Their collaborative spirit was key to solving the challenges of bringing this play filled with magic, and the seemingly impossible, to life in the Blake Studio.”
The Lower School Christmas Fair on Saturday was a wonderful event, full of festive fun and brilliant community spirit. The children did an amazing job running their stalls and favourites such as the bottle tombola and raffle proved as popular as ever. Thanks to the hard work and support of our pupils, parents and staff, £3,251 was raised for The Hamlet Centre in Norwich. A huge thank you to everyone involved - a fantastic amount and a fantastic morning!
On Thursday 11 December 2025, in the Cathedral Close we welcomed 12 Special Schools to the annual Special Schools Nativity Carol Service - our Lower Six pupils had such fun performing the Nativity story to a full Nave of around 400 Norfolk pupils and school staff. The audience enjoyed listening to beautiful songs from the Norwich Cathedral Choristers and enthusiastically joined in with some well-known carols together. Some of the many highlights include pupils from Harford Manor turning on the Christmas lights whilst also assisting the Three Kings with the gifts. Budge even made an appearance to check out the manger and to say well done to the cast at the end. The donkey (performed by Daisy) opened the show and between her and Budge they certainly entertained the audience from beginning to end! Ashley Grote, Master of Music from the Cathedral says: “The annual carol service for Special Schools is one of my highlights of Christmas at the Cathedral and, in many ways, it’s the most important carol service we do. It’s a privilege for us to be able to sing for all these wonderful children and for their amazing carers, and to bring some of the joy of Christmas to them through our singing” Rebecca Price, one of our parent volunteers who has been helping with the Community Service programme this year says: "It was wonderful to be involved in the service, and I feel very proud of how the students put together their performances. It was joyful to see so many children, and their supporters, enjoying the service, and a big thank you to the cathedral team for making the experience accessible and engaging for all." Will - (who played Joseph, our U6 pupil who was part of the nativity performance for the 2nd year in a row) says ‘I had a great time, and seeing how happy the experience made the kids was really heartwarming’ Daisy (Donkey) ‘I had a very fun time and loved how much uplifting and entertaining the kids were’ Benji (Angel Gabriel) 'I really enjoyed helping with the nativity to bring Christmas joy to all the kids' Izi (Mary) ‘I loved performing the nativity and seeing the children’s faces light up’
