Ideally, schools that register peak performance in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) focus on deft management of the Form Four candidates. Therefore, in this writ, I suggest 10 stupendous strategies worth exploration in Best Academic Practices and Programmes.
Consolidate the Academic Dream Team
It starts with consolidation of an academic dream team, which becomes in charge of the Form Four programmes in the school. On teachers’ side, the Form Four academic dream team should include the class co-ordinator or year head, DoS, examination officer, monitoring and evaluation team, quality and standards officer, disciplinary master or mistress, the ones in charge of motivation, preps and games. On students’ side, the dream team should weld: Student examiners, subject champions and leaders of group discussions. Advisedly, they should be trained on how to execute their roles and responsibilities.
Convene the Teachers’ Seminar
There should be a seminar for preceptors teaching Form Four candidates. Some BoM and PA members can be in-attendance. This should happen at the start of the year ahead of the launch of the Form Four programme. Invite a guest speaker to equip the dream team and sensitise them about thrills and hills ahead. Focus on team building and bonding. Analyse KCSE results of the previous candidate class. Identify gaps and goofs. See mistakes you can mend. Spell out expectations. Develop the Academic Action Plans (AAPs) and timetables. Do the budgeting bit.
Convene the Candidates’ Seminar
Candidates’ academic seminar should bring together the school Principal, Deputy Principal(s), Senior Teachers, DoS, class co-ordinator or year head, Form Four class teachers, subject teachers and Form Four candidates. This seminar should assist those in-attendances to set objectives, and come up with expected outcomes, best academic approaches and robust revision programmes. It is in this academic pow-wow where you allot a lot of tasks. It is the best place to set the disciplinary and academic expectations that will serve as the good guide throughout the academic peregrination. Sensitise Form four candidates on specific success factors. Make them know how consistency in character and discipline entices nonpareil performance in KCSE.
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Coin Class Identities
Let there be a collective class identity — name, slogan, scripture and theme: to enhance energy, synergy and strategy. The idea of coining class identities enhances teamwork, unity of purpose and mastermind alliance. The slogan will imbue them with strength. As the scripture reminds them to put their trust in God. Then, the Principal should ensure that there is the class banner, which captures: the class target, recognition target, name, slogan and scripture. It is also important to generate small banners to be shared in classes, and in strategic positions in the school compound. The launch should be a great event.
Set the Targets
Set the school or class target, recognition target, subject targets, discussion group targets and candidates’ targets. Then, envision on the number of students to scoop straight As, number of students to feature in top 100 in the nation, last grade, possible county or national ranking, and most improved students. Set targets on the number of students to attain the C+ (plus) and above, which will assist them matriculate directly into university. While helping Form Four candidates to set individual targets, abut targets on target projections spelt out in the 5-year Strategic Plan (SP) or the students’ Form Three Promotional Exams. Firstly, analyse data to ascertain glaring gaps. Point out areas that require action. The school target should be the average of the individual target of each candidate or of Form Four streams. Balance optimism with realism. Let candidates set their KCSE targets and targets in internal exams. Assist the Form Four develop score cards for all exams.
Focus on Timely Syllabus Coverage
Ensure that there is timely completion of syllabus. Ideally, top-tier schools project to complete Form Three syllabus in Form Three, without spill overs into Form Four. If possible, start the Form Four syllabus in Form Three. Let students do a few chapters as holiday assignments. This timely and comely completion of the syllabus is a correct content mastery and memory strategy. Therefore, at the tail-end of the programme, Form Four candidates should evince high levels of content mastery through reduced blank spaces in exams. They should manifest the ability to score full marks in every question as expected.
Run an Examination System
Identify oodles of examinations to administer across the academic year. The number of complete exams done and revised always influence KCSE performance in umpteen ways. Develop exam timetables. Administer exams like the RATs and CATs; focusing on Form 1 and 2 content. Serve monthly exams that meet demands of Bloom’s Taxonomy. Let there be exams done by students in groups; marked, results released and revised. Let there be inter-class competitions and students’ self-evaluation. Let there be the making of marking schemes; where you issue exams to students to use approved core-course books to come up with appropriate responses.
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Ensure that the Form Four candidates revise past KCSE papers and joint exams done by top schools with rich history of peerless performance in KCSE. Focus on remedial teaching. Come up with prophetic exams set by departments, administered internally. Let there be quizzes lifted from problematic topics and those of Table of Specification (ToS) or Test Blueprint (‘a must-come-areas’). Focus on topical evaluations. Engage in joint exams with top schools that are veritable academic giants.
Train Candidates on the Art of Exams
Form Four candidates can grasp content, but paucity of exam techniques can lead to poor performance. Therefore, tutors should teach the art of examination through subject-based seminars and remedial lessons. Then, invite subject experts and examiners — to polish pale parts. Infuse the art of exams in lessons and riveting revision programmes. Form Four candidates should study marking schemes. As teachers also study and implement raft of recommendations spelt out in KNEC reports.
Art of exams should enshrine emerging trends in setting and marking of KCSE, format of exams, ToS, mistakes students make and penalties therein. Train candidates on how to provide responses in the required breadth and depth. Direct them on how pay homage to the marks allotted and points required. Assist them to know how to interpret questions and how to plot work on paper. Help them see the areas they can score free marks. Help them know how to plot practical work and how to avoid making silly mistakes in exams. Train them on exam integrity so that you will not fall victim of cancellation of KCSE results. Always remember, the means justifies the end, and the end cannot justify the means.
Do the Affirmative Action in Problematic Areas
Ascertain some subjects where Form Four candidates registered poor performance; either nationally or as a school. For example, in KCSE 2025, Form Four candidates flopped in humanities such as CRE, and History and Government. Broadly, Mathematics and Sciences pose a chilling challenge to most candidates across board. Therefore, focus on subjects that brought down the school mean score and proper discovery of problematic areas, do the affirmative action.
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Ensure Form Four candidates have updated notes in the humanities. Talk about the essence of reading widely. Ensure they have some extra exercise books for extra sums in Mathematics and quizzes in Science. Destroy all comfort zones. Expand teaching and learning time through remedial lessons. Engage more subject experts and examiners. Invite more impactful speakers. Focus more on peer teaching and team or horizontal teaching.
Develop Holistic Homestretch Programme
Holistic Homestretch Programme should include both Term 3 Academic Action Plan and 90 or 60 Days Academic Challenge that the school should develop to mark the last lap. For Form Four candidates to finish like champions, with great grace, discipline must prevail. Ubiquity of teachers must be a common denominator. Consistency in character is key. Stupendous study strategies must take the centre stage. Focus on data-driven decision-making.
Therefore, every week, let the academic teams carry out data collection in order to ascertain academic standing of the class. Rate the success of the programmes. Re-do the ability grouping. Inform new instructional approaches. Identify glaring weaknesses inherent in candidates. Guide Form Four candidates on how to capitalise or their strengths as they work on their weaknesses. Help them manage stress and mitigate tension that tightens towards the end. Make Form Four candidates know why it is important to practise and prepare more. 90% goes into preparation, and 10% goes into waging and winning wars. When they sweat more in the training, they will bleed less in the war.
By Victor Ochieng’
Victor Ochieng’ speaks to Form Four Candidates on Starting Strong Strategies. He facilitates teachers’ seminars on Best Academic Practices and Programmes; starting with Target-Setting. vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
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