Year 11 Welcome to our Parent Information Evening Mr Lennox, Headteacher Learn today, succeed tomorrow

Dates for Your Diary w/b 5 th November 2012: Mock Exams 26 th October 2012:Data Capture 1 20 th December 2012 :Data Capture 2 Annual Report 8 th February 2013:Data Capture 3 13 th March 2013:Parents’ Evening 22 nd March 2013:Data Capture 4 w/b 13 th May 2013: GCSE Terminal Exams Begin

Why Do Mocks Matter? Mock Exams tell teachers what students can do and what they still need more help with. Mock Exam results are used to give predicted grades which are used should your child be unable to sit their summer exam. Predicted grades are also used by colleges to decide whether to offer your child a place at VI Form.

Why Do 5+ A*- C including English and Maths Matter? Research has consistently shown that students who achieve at least 5+ A* - C including English and Maths go on to secure higher salaries in lower risk employment than those who do not. Put simply, 5+ A*- C including English and Maths is the key to open the door to the next stage of your child’s life.

English & Maths Achievement For the last 6 years, over 70% of our English students have achieved a C or better. This year, our students’ results in English have dropped considerably as a result of the national controversy with grade boundaries. English Literature results remain well above 70%. Our Maths team have delivered their best ever results for the last 2 years, with over 70% of students achieving a C or better. We do not know what exams boards will do over the course of the next year, but we must do everything to protect our children form being damaged by any changes that are made. The best way to do this is to know their progress and not allow them to coast or settle for second best.

This Year’s English & Maths Targets English: 89.62% of Year 11 students are targeted to achieve at least a grade C. Maths: 84.94% of Year 11 students are targeted to achieve at least a grade C. With your support, our children have the ability to deliver on these ambitious targets.

English Language: Assessment Students will have 60% of their final mark ‘in the bag’ before the summer exams in the form of controlled assessments (40% written and 20% speaking and listening). In June 2013 pupils will sit one exam paper for language and 2 for Literature. To achieve an overall C, students must pass BOTH Language AND Literature. Throughout the year there will mock assessments so that pupils can get specific feedback about their strengths and their weaknesses.

Maths: Assessment In June 2013 pupils will sit two exam papers. – Non Calculator (worth 50%). – Calculator (worth 50%). Certain sets will complete Statistics GCSE alongside their GCSE Mathematics to gain an extra qualification. As with English, there will be mock assessments throughout the year so that pupils can get specific feedback about their strengths and their weaknesses.

What we will offer Weekly revision nights Revision pizza nights x 3 Revision curry nights x 2 Revision sessions at Easter and May Half term. Revision sessions on the 3 weekends leading up to the exam. Conway revision weekend. A Parent Support Clinic has been provisionally booked for 5.00pm on Wednesday 24 th October.

What you can do Check that your child is using their English Language revision work book regularly (issued in spring term). Attend our ‘Family Foundation Maths’ support sessions to work through key areas of the Foundation curriculum to assist your child. Our home revision tool of preference is Mathswatch DVD and it is available at Higher and Foundation level for a returnable deposit of £3. This DVD acts like a personal tutor and has mini video clips for each topic. ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD TO TALK TO THEIR TEACHER WHEN THEY NEED HELP!

Foundation Subjects Of course, other Zones and Subjects hold their own events as well. For example, Global Zone are holding a Languages Evening, open to all parents of GCSE students, to inform you about controlled assessments, particularly how to help your child with the speaking test. This will be on Wednesday 26 th September at 6.30pm. PLEASE KEEP WATCHING MR LENNOX’S NEWSLETTER FOR DETAILS OF FUTURE EVENTS.

Keep in touch Should you have any queries over the course of the year then please contact school at: Maths English If you state the name of your son/daughter’s Maths/English teacher in the , it will be directed to the correct person.

Top 10 Revision Tips

10 Know the difference between long and short term memory

9 Work in half hour bursts

8 Never just read and read and read

7 Work with a friend who you can trust

6 Record your notes onto CD or MP3.

5 Make question cards

4 Make Mind Maps

3 Stick post it notes everywhere around your house

2 Make topic cards

1 Get someone to test you on what you have done

No Excuses No Regrets 22nd August 2013

Josh Mangas: Careers and Raising Aspirations Officer College Applications & the Common Application Process (CAP) Josh Mangas: Careers and Raising Aspirations Officer

What is the Common Application Process (CAP)? The Common Application Process (CAP) is a process that allows young people to apply for education and training opportunities through the Prospectus, using a single, online application form. The benefit to young people is that they can search, save and apply for courses in one place, making the process easier and more streamlined.

What is the Prospectus? The Prospectus is a fully searchable directory of education and training that is available to young people in their area. It includes information on courses from entry level through to level 3 in schools, Colleges and Training Provider with further information on the course quality, progression routes and related careers. A Prospectus should also provide young people with information, advice and guidance on related issues such as financial support, using public transport and how and where they can get help with their future option choices.

What has been developed in Greater Manchester? Since 2009, the 10 local authorities in Greater Manchester have been working together to develop a Prospectus to cover all education and training opportunities in the sub-region. The result has been the creation of My course my future, an online hub that allows young people to search and apply for post-16 courses both in their local area and across Greater Manchester. Linked to a Common Application Process, My course my future will become the first integrated Prospectus that allows young people to search and apply for their post-16 learning and training opportunities across multiple areas.

How does this affect Year 11 pupils? In July 2011 Walkden High School signed up to the Common Application Form. We will be introducing CAP to our Year 11 pupils via the College Fayre on Tuesday 16 th October 2012, here in school. Local colleges will each have a stand at the fayre and pupils will be able to pick up literature regarding the college courses and have the opportunity to talk to college representatives. The Year group will be split in two, half attending the College Fayre for 50 minutes, the other half in ICT for a CAP induction session - setting up their CAP account, logging on and navigating the website; after 50minutes the groups will change around. At the CAP induction each pupil will receive a document to keep that will cover what was taught in the session.

College Applications Pupils should not apply to college until after the College Fayre, 16 th October, after which they will have access to CAP. Pupils will apply on-line via the Greater Manchester prospectus website My course my future Salford, which incorporates CAP. Applying to colleges remains the responsibility of the pupil and their parent/carer. I am available to provide support, if required. The deadline to submit college applications remains as the end of December 2012.

My course my future Salford To view/use the prospectus website ‘My Course My Future’ Salford please go to our school website and the Links area to access the web link. You will not be able to create a CAP Log On at this point. Another useful website is the North West of England Colleges and Universities website. This lists all the colleges in the North West and provides contact and web address details ; this web link can also be found under the Links area of our website.

Thank you for your time and continued support. Learn today, succeed tomorrow