Retrieval practice in practice: Using revision cards to change student misconceptions about how and when to revise

This is an extract from the Chartered College of Teaching’s Windows into the Classroom series, available now to all members on our Research and Practice Hub. You can read more about the authors’ approach, including pictures of students’ work and resources. The challenge Pendle Vale College (11-16) is a mixed secondary school with 1,050 students in the deprived area of Nelson, Lancashire. Like many other schools we faced a few challenges with the new Key Stage 4 qualifications; as students need to perform well on the day to be successful in their final exams. It became apparent that students needed to take more responsibility for their revision. When we questioned students about how they were revising, we found that they were re-reading and highlighting key points in their books. We also discovered that the class believed revision is something that happens in the weeks leading up to their exams, usually led by their teacher in catch-up sessions and last-minute crammi