Welcome Y9 and Y10 students, parents and carers Ralph Thoresby School GCSE launch September 2017 Welcome Y9 and Y10 students, parents and carers

Coming over the next 4 weeks on a phased basis What is ‘Classcharts’? Classcharts is our school behaviour monitoring and recording system. We use it to record positive and negative behaviour entries and to set homework. You will receive parent accounts which will allow you to monitor… Behaviour Homework set Detentions Rewards Available as a Smartphone App or via a web browser. It is completely free of charge and operates in real-time. Look out for the Classcharts letter containing your personal account details. Coming over the next 4 weeks on a phased basis

First examined 2017

First examined 2018

GCSE Maths Two Tiers – as in previous years Higher Tier Grades 5-9 Foundation Tier Grades 1-5 Mr Turner Miss Johnson Mrs Rosser Mr Glover Mrs McLeer Miss Watson

GCSE Maths-A Changing Qualification Results Old GCSE Comparison 9 A* 8 A 7 6 B 5 C 4 3 D 2 E 1 F G U No more grades A*-G Replaced with number grades (1-9) Linear Examinations (All sat in June 2018) Three examinations (each 80 marks, 90 minutes) Paper one-No calculator may be used Papers 2 and 3-Calculator may be used The most challenging GCSE exams ever. Students must work from now!

What’s changed? Exam questions and problem-solving Students need to gain practice at this skill (We will use lesson time to develop these skills) Students must make connections between topics Backed up by knowing topics inside out! Students must complete more outside of lesson time GCSE Higher Tier Paper 1, Specimen Paper

What can the students do? In Lessons Equipment for every lesson Calculator and maths set required Homework ALWAYS Set Friday (Due Wednesday) Attend after-school drop ins (Classrooms available Monday) At Home www.mymaths.co.uk Username: thoresby Password: square

Practical things to focus on Times tables, negative numbers, fractions, decimals and percentages. Facts about 2D and 3D shapes (and the formulae associated with them) Prime numbers, square numbers and cube numbers Adding expressions and solving equations

GCSE English 3 Qualifications: English language GCSE (grades 1-9) English literature GCSE (grades 1-9) Spoken language endorsement (Not Classified, Pass, Merit or Distinction) No tiering in English From 2017 onwards, all students will see the same exam paper

Spoken language endorsement Pass Merit Distinction In addition to the general criteria, to be awarded a Pass a Learner’s performance in his or her spoken language assessment must meet all of the following criteria – • expresses straightforward ideas / information / feelings, • makes an attempt to organise and structure his or her presentation, • makes an attempt to meet the needs of the audience, and • listens to questions / feedback and provides an appropriate response in a straight forward manner. In addition to the general criteria, to be awarded a Merit a Learner’s performance in his or her spoken language assessment must meet all of the following criteria – • expresses challenging ideas / information / feelings using a range of vocabulary, • organises and structures his or her presentation clearly and appropriately to meet the needs of the audience, • achieves the purpose of his or her presentation, and • listens to questions / feedback responding formally and in some detail. In addition to the general criteria, to be awarded a Distinction a Learner’s performance in his or her spoken language assessment must meet all of the following criteria – • expresses sophisticated ideas / information / feelings using a sophisticated repertoire of vocabulary, • organises and structures his or her presentation using an effective range of strategies to engage the audience, • listens to questions / feedback, responds perceptively and if appropriate elaborates with further ideas and information.

Spoken language endorsement Pass Merit Distinction In addition to the general criteria, to be awarded a Pass a Learner’s performance in his or her spoken language assessment must meet all of the following criteria – • expresses straightforward ideas / information / feelings, In addition to the general criteria, to be awarded a Merit a Learner’s performance in his or her spoken language assessment must meet all of the following criteria – • expresses challenging ideas / information / feelings using a range of vocabulary, In addition to the general criteria, to be awarded a Distinction a Learner’s performance in his or her spoken language assessment must meet all of the following criteria – • expresses sophisticated ideas / information / feelings using a sophisticated repertoire of vocabulary,

GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE Paper 1 – Fiction (descriptive and narrative writing) Paper 2 – Non-fiction In both papers Section A – Reading – response to unseen texts Paper 1 – One extract from a modern novel Paper 2 – Two extracts – one modern and one 19th century Section B – Writing Paper 1 – Choice of TWO tasks (write to describe or narrate) Paper 2 – ONE task Paper 1 Section A: reading Literature fiction text 25% Paper 1 Section B: writing Descriptive or narrative writing Paper 2 Section A: reading One non-fiction texts & one literary non-fiction text Paper 2 Section B: writing Writing to present a viewpoint Key aspects of lessons, homework and revision: - Continued practice of reading and writing skills - Continued focus on improving and upgrading work

GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE Paper 1 – Section A Shakespeare - Macbeth 20% Paper 1 – Section B 19th Century Novel – A Christmas Carol Paper 2 – Section A Modern Texts – Inspector Calls? Paper 2 – Section B Poetry anthology (15 poems) Unseen poetry Key aspects of lessons, homework and revision: Continued re-reading and re-visiting of texts Focus on key themes and characters Continued practice of exam questions and papers Key exam texts Macbeth by William Shakespeare A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley Poetry anthology

2 year course outline - OVERVIEW   10 11 Autumn 1 1 Poetry x 5 Language Paper 1 2 3 4 EXAM: Literature Paper 2, section B (26/9/16) 5 Christmas Carol 6 Exam - Language Paper 1 (Date TBC) 7 Assessment: Literature Paper 1, section B 8 Autumn 2 Trapped & Inspector Calls Language Paper 2 Poetry anthol Develop reading Unseen Poetry & writing skills Exam - Language Paper 2 (Date TBC) Assessment: Language P2A & B Spring 1 Macbeth Revision Exam – Literature Paper 2 (Date TBC) Exam – Literature Paper 1 Spring 2 Exams Assessment – Literature Paper 2, section A Exam – Language Paper 2 (Date TBC) Exam – Literature Paper 2, section B & C Summer 1 Final exams Summer 2 Exam - Language Paper P1 Speaking & Listening assessments Spoken Language Assessments

2 year course outline - OVERVIEW   10 11 Autumn 1 1 Poetry x 5 Language Paper 1 2 3 4 EXAM: Literature Paper 2, section B (26/9/16) 5 Christmas Carol 6 Exam - Language Paper 1 (Date TBC) 7 Assessment: Literature Paper 1, section B 8 Autumn 2 Trapped & Inspector Calls Language Paper 2 Poetry anthol Develop reading Unseen Poetry & writing skills Exam - Language Paper 2 (Date TBC) Assessment: Language P2A & B

2 year course outline - OVERVIEW   10 11 Autumn 1 Spring 1 1 Macbeth Revision 2 3 4 Christmas Carol Exam – Literature Paper 2 (Date TBC) 5 6 Exam – Literature Paper 1 Spring 2 Inspector Calls Exams Assessment – Literature Paper 2, section A Exam – Language Paper 2 (Date TBC) Unseen Poetry Exam – Literature Paper 2, section B & C

2 year course outline - OVERVIEW   10 11 Summer 1 1 Language Paper 2 Revision 2 3 4 5 Final exams 6 Summer 2 Language Paper 1 Exam - Language Paper P1 Speaking & Listening assessments Poetry x 5 7 Spoken Language Assessments

WHAT CAN YOU DO AT HOME? Keep on top of weekly homework Read and talk about non-fiction, especially newspaper and serious magazine articles Read and talk about fiction, especially novels and short stories Talk together about the messages writers are conveying and how they are conveyed Keep proof reading and re-drafting your writing (in all subjects) Read and re-read the literature texts Revise key themes and characters Use the revision guides Find and use revision techniques that work for you

GCSE Sciences: Changes Out: A*-G grades Controlled assessments (previously worth 25% of each GCSE) ‘Double Science’ as 2 separate GCSEs Mixing tiers In: 9-1 grading system Longer exams Extra content dropped down from A-Level, or from Triple Science down to Combined Science Practical skills assessed through required practical questions in exams

GCSE Sciences: Pathways EITHER GCSE Combined Science OR GCSE Biology AND GCSE Chemistry GCSE Physics 2x GCSEs A small number of students will also be entered for Entry Level Certificate ‘Triple Science’ i.e. 3x GCSEs

GCSE Sciences: Exams GCSE Combined Science (Synergy) Exam board – AQA Tiers – Higher 9-4 Foundation 5-1 Length – All papers are 1 hour 45 minutes Marks – 100 per paper Grades – 17 point scale from 9-9, 9-8 to 1-2, 1-1 GCSE Sciences: Exams GCSE Combined Science (Synergy) Unit 1: Life and Environmental Science Unit 2: Physical Science Paper 1 Paper 2 Each paper can cover any of the content for that unit. Paper 1 will have a greater emphasis on knowledge and application of the content Paper 2 will have a greater emphasis on analysis and evaluation, as well as most of the work on required practicals

GCSE Sciences: Exams GCSE Combined Science (Synergy) Biology, Chemistry and Physics are no longer split into separate papers GCSE Combined Science (Synergy) Unit 1: Life and Environmental Science Unit 2: Physical Science States of matter Atomic structure Cells in animals and plants Waves Systems in the human body Plants and photosynthesis Lifestyle and health Radiation and risk Preventing, treating and curing diseases The Earth’s atmosphere Ecosystems and biodiversity Inheritance Variation and evolution The periodic table Chemical quantities Forces and energy changes Types of chemical bonding Magnetism and electromagnets Forces and motion Electricity Acids and alkalis The rate and extent of chemical change Atoms into ions and ions into atoms Carbon chemistry Resources of materials and energy

GCSE Sciences: Exams GCSE Biology GCSE Chemistry GCSE Physics Exam board – AQA Tiers – Higher 9-4 Foundation 5-1 Length – All papers are 1 hour 45 minutes Marks – 100 per paper Grades – each GCSE is graded separately on a scale of 9-1 GCSE Sciences: Exams GCSE Biology GCSE Chemistry GCSE Physics Paper 1 Cell Biology Organisation Infection and response Bioenergetics Atomic structure and the periodic table Bonding, structure and the properties of matter Quantitative chemistry Chemical changes Energy changes Energy Electricity Particle model of matter Atomic structure Paper 2 Homeostasis and response Inheritance, variation and evolution Ecology The rate and extent of chemical change Organic chemistry Chemical analysis Chemistry of the atmosphere Using resources Forces Waves Magnetism and electromagnetism Space physics

Useful Information Science bv Students will be given a homework sheet at the start of each term detailing topics and expectations. This sheet will also be shared via ClassCharts. Students must keep on top of homework and meet all deadlines. The students will be set much of their home learning on Doddle. This is an excellent resource containing presentations, interactive challenges and quizzes. www.doddlelearn.co.uk USERNAME – always the students first name followed by surname and the year they joined the school. Boys and girls enter their names slightly differently Boys JohnSMITH15 Girls PENNYLANE15 Science revision every Wednesday after school on the science corridor (B2/B3) PASSWORD ralph