YEAR 10 INFORMATION EVENING

1. YEAR 10INFORMATION EVENING Wednesday 4th June 2014

2. Purpose of evening… • Work Experience in January 2015 • Maths GCSE • English GCSE • Science GCSE • GCSE courses and exams • Monitoring Progress • Support, mentoring and Target Groups

3. Where are we now? • Thank you for your support during the options process. • Thank you from Mrs Parkins for Journey to Work activities. • On Monday 2nd June pupils began courses which end in 2016. • Nearly all exams will be taken at end of Year 11 in summer 2016. • During the start of Year 11 pupils will be selecting courses to study Post 16.

4. Work experience • Work experience will take place from the 12th to the 23rd of January 2015. • Letters will be posted home with an ‘own placement’ form. • Deadline for ‘own placement’ forms to be returned by 12th September 2014. • We recommend just 1 placement for the full two weeks. • Assemblies between September – November.

5. ENGLISH BACCALAUREATE • More emphasis placed on the following subjects; • ENGLISH • MATHS • 2 OF 3 SCIENCES • MFL • HISTORY OR GEOGRAPHY • Facilitating subjects which can lead to wide range of careers and courses

6. Maths GCSE The Course: • Terminal exams – Non-Calculator & Calculator Paper • 1 hour 45 minutes per paper • Two tiers – Foundation & Higher • C grade on both

7. Maths GCSE • Resources available… • MyMaths.co.uk • Grade descriptors on Learning Platform • After school sessions – Mondays 3 – 3.40pm • Green stamps - bookwork

8. Maths GCSE • How can you as a parent help? • Talk to pupils, ask them about their learning • Reward effort, not achievement • Encourage a higher quality of written presentation • Check that they have and are using their equipment

9. Maths GCSE • Look at their books, communicate here • Read their green stamps • Ask them how they are working towards their targets • Check their homework – they always have some!

10. GCSEEnglish Language &GCSE English Literature OR GCSE English

11. GCSE English What’s the difference? GCSE English Language & GCSE English Literature Two GCSE qualifications G-A* grades available Both language and literature is studied Literature is assessed predominately via examinations OneGCSE qualification G-A* grades available Both language and literature is studied Literature is assessed via controlled assessment only

12. GCSE English Language • UNIT 2: Speaking &Listening 0% • Assessments throughout Year 10 and 11 • Pupils need to do three, we will do at least six and record best marks UNIT 1: Media and Non-Fiction Texts One Exam 60%: June 2016 • Reading Section – four questions on three given texts testing ability to distil, interpret, analyse texts for language and presentation • Writing Section – two functional writing tasks such as magazine articles, letters, reports…. UNIT 3: Controlled Assessment 40% Reading and Writing texts • Of Mice and Men analytical essay (September – October 2014) • 2 pieces of Creative Writing(June – July 2014) • Spoken Language study(January 2016)

13. GCSE English Literature • UNIT 1: Examination 40% • Exploring Modern Texts • Of Mice and Men • The Crucible • UNIT 2: Examination 35% • Poetry Across Time • Anthology poems • Unseen poem UNIT 3 Controlled Assessment 25% Shakespeare and the English Literary Heritage • Romeo and Juliet • Poetry • Essay about a theme or idea explored in both texts May/June 2016 May/June 2016 March/April 2015

14. GCSE English UNIT 1: Media and Non-Fiction Texts One Exam 60% :June 2016 • Reading Section – four questions on three given texts testing ability to distil, interpret, analyse texts for language and presentation • Writing Section – two functional writing tasks such as magazine articles, letters, reports…. • UNIT 2: Speaking &Listening 0% • Assessments throughout Year 10 and 11 • Pupils need to do three, we will do at least six and record best marks UNIT 3: Controlled Assessment 40% Reading and Writing texts • Part a: Understanding creative texts • Romeo and Juliet • Poetry • Of Mice And Men • Part b: Producing creative texts • Two pieces of Creative Writing

15. Controlled Assessments • In all English Controlled Assessments you are allowed to take in a planning sheet: • Students will always be given one the lesson before their assessment and should add useful notes to it. • It is the only thing they will be allowed with them during assessments apart from a blank copy of the text

16. Texts All GCSE courses: • Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck • Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare GCSE English Literature only: • The Crucible by Arthur Miller • Poetry Anthology (students will be given one of these in Year 11) • Exam board: AQA • www.aqa.org.uk

17. GCSE Science • There are two possible routes followed to gaining GCSEs in Science subjects: • GCSEs in the Combined Sciences: Science and Additional Science • Biology, Chemistry and Physics studies in separate lessons with a subject specialist teacher • Units 1 – 4 Studied • 4 Written Exams • 2 Controlled Assessments (worth 25% of each GCSE) • 2 GCSEs in Total • GCSEs in the Separate Sciences: Biology, Chemistry and Physics • Biology, Chemistry and Physics studies in separate lessons with a subject specialist teacher • Units 1 – 6 Studied • 6 Written Exams • 3 Controlled Assessments (worth 25% of each GCSE) • 3 GCSEs in Total

18. GCSEs in the Combined Sciences: Science and Additional Science • Biology, Chemistry and Physics studies in separate lessons with a subject specialist teacher • Units 1 – 4 Studied • 4 Written Exams • 2 Controlled Assessments (worth 25% of each GCSE) • 2 GCSEs in Total • GCSEs in the Separate Sciences: Biology, Chemistry and Physics • Biology, Chemistry and Physics studies in separate lessons with a subject specialist teacher • Units 1 – 6 Studied • 6 Written Exams • 3 Controlled Assessments (worth 25% of each GCSE) • 3 GCSEs in Total • At the moment, ALL pupils have studied Units 1 and 2 in all three sciences. • It has NOT been decided which exam entry route any pupil in Year 10 will follow. • The final decision will be made during second term of year 10. • You will be informed by a letter and it will result in group changes.

19. GCSEs in the Combined Sciences: Science and Additional Science • Biology, Chemistry and Physics studies in separate lessons with a subject specialist teacher • Units 1 – 4 Studied • 4 Written Exams • 2 Controlled Assessments (worth 25% of each GCSE) • 2 GCSEs in Total • GCSEs in the Separate Sciences: Biology, Chemistry and Physics • Biology, Chemistry and Physics studies in separate lessons with a subject specialist teacher • Units 1 – 6 Studied • 6 Written Exams • 3 Controlled Assessments (worth 25% of each GCSE) • 3 GCSEs in Total • The decision will be made by teachers’ ongoing assessment of: - Engagement and commitment to doing the best that’s possible in lessons - Full completion of homework - Evidence of independent preparation and revision for lessons and assessments - Performance in Controlled Assessments - A careful consideration of whether a pupil’s overall grade would be higher in the three GCSEs or two GCSEs

20. CONTROLLED ASSESSMENTS • Many subjects have a Controlled Assessment • All coursework done in school time • Compliment final exams to make up final grade • Take place during Years 10 & 11

21. YEAR 10 EXAMS • In May 2015 pupils will be sitting internal exams in all subjects that they study. Revise starting today!! • These exams will not count towards GCSE final grades but are excellent indicators of progress and so are very important. The work is part of GCSE.

22. Self motivation… • Pupils should be expected to take greater responsibility for their own learning. • Pupils should become aware of their responsibility to contribute to the classroom learning environment and develop the ability to talk about how they learn. • Pupils should seek to organise themselves and strategically plan for future improvement.

23. Top Tips… • Get into a good study habit in the early days of your courses. • Get organised and deal with work as it is set. • Familiarise yourself with what you are exactly being asked to do and develop the appropriate communication skills so that you are able to effectively convey what you know. • Be prepared to further your own learning by doing your own independent research (homework). • Look at and understand how you learn best. • ‘Do the best that is possible.’ Realise the importance of the opportunities you now have.

24. MEASURING PROGRESS… • Students should already be aware of their end of Year 11 Target Grades. These can be found on Progress Checks and Reports and in their individual subject books. • Year 9 reports. Year 10 PCs • Students will be working towards achieving their target grade by the end of Year 11. • Target Groups for those who are too far away from targets.

25. THE BIGGER PICTURE… • Extra-curricular activities. • Sport. • Enrichment opportunities provided by school and parents. • Out of school interests. • Developing a greater awareness and understanding of the world around them. • Discussing their learning with their parents.

26. SUPPORTING OUR PUPILS… • September booklet- including exam boards & revision lists. • Termly booklets. • Target Groups. • Gmail. • Revision/Exam Techniques. • Outside Speakers. • Mentoring Days. • Further Parent Information Evenings in Routes. • The School Website/Learning Platform.

27. SUPPORTING YOUR CHILD… • Familiarise yourself with your child’s deadlines. • Help your child research and plan for the assessments. • Encourage further background reading on the identified topics. • Encourage visits to places of interest.

28. HOME/SCHOOL CONTACT • If you are concerned about the progress of your son/daughter between mentoring days, please make direct contact with one of the following: • The Subject teacher/Head of Department • The Tutor / Mentor • Learning Mentor/Chaplaincy Assistant – Mr Yommy Adeyemi • Year Leader – Mr Phil Coldicott • Head of Faculty – Mrs Jo-Anne Hoarty