Maths Mr Johnston KS4 Coordinator

Maths GCSE Exam Grading system 9 – 1 Edexcel exam board Content for 4 and a half hours of examination: 3 papers (all 1 hour 30 mins): Paper 1 – non-calculator Paper 2 – calculator Paper 3 - calculator Topics can be re-examined on all 3 papers

Maths – how has it become more difficult? Foundation Many new topics on the course that were once just for higher students e.g – trigonometry, simultaneous equations, cumulative frequency and box plots Higher More topics on the course that were once just for A Level students e.g composite functions, area under curves

Maths – supporting your child with formulae

Maths – supporting your child with formulae

You still need one of these! There are now 2 calculator papers and it is important that your child is familiar with using their own calculator

Maths – how can you help? Encourage your child to revise for the end of unit and mock assessments Help them to learn key formulae Ensure they have excellent attendance Monitor their independent learning, including homework

Maths – how we are helping Specific intervention sessions for pupils falling below target Revision sessions after school for higher and foundation students Mock assessments with question analysis, so that pupils can see which topics they need to be working on Subscription to interactive maths programmes

Maths – how we are helping

Maths – online help Packages subscribed to by school – Mathswatch Other free to use resources – BBC Bitesize, GCSE Mr Barton Maths, YouTube, Corbett Maths

Maths – what pupils need to be doing Make sure they address any gaps in their knowledge from topics previously taught. These can be identified using the question analysis grid Attend lessons and revision sessions and have the correct attitude to learning Start revising now! Leaving revision until after Christmas is too late Ask for help and use all available resources to assist

Maths – Revision Guides Revision guide, revision workbook and flash cards available from school. All 3 cost £10

English Mrs Hodgson KS4 Coordinator

An overview of the course New GCSE Grading system 9 - 1 The student will receive two separate GCSEs in this subject (Language and Literature) Each one is marked separately and given a separate grade Closed book exams No tiers – there’s no glass ceiling!

English Language 100 % Exam 2 papers ( 1 hour 45 minutes each) Reading (fiction and non fiction) Writing (descriptive and transactional)

English Literature Paper one: 1 hour 45 minutes (Shakespeare and A Christmas Carol) Paper Two: 2 hours 15 minutes (An Inspector Calls, Anthology Poetry, Unseen Poetry) Closed book - Quotations and reference to the text must be from memory. The students can be asked about any character, any theme and any part of the text “Know the text. If you know the text well you will be able to demonstrate this knowledge and understanding in the exam.”

How are we helping? Schemes of work/differentiated lessons – characters, themes, understanding of the plot Past papers/examiners’ reports – used to inform planning/intervention Class intervention/personal intervention Lunch time/after school revision Homework books to promote independent learning Departmental tracker – analysis of student performance Regular mock exams Pupil voice

How can you help? Pupils could have their own copies of the texts Ensure they have excellent attendance Encourage them to complete homework to a high standard Encourage them to attend any revision that is available Help them revise key quotations for each text – you don’t have to know the text yourself. Online resources – BBC Bitesize/YouTube Encourage them to read – whatever it is, it will help with their understanding of language Make sure they’re looking after themselves

“The book to read is not the one that thinks for you but the one that makes you think” -Harper Lee

Science Mr J Shaw KS4 Coordinator

Structure of the exams Exam board: AQA Course: Combined Science (Trilogy) The exams consist of six 75 minute papers (70 marks) (2 Biology, 2 Chemistry, 2 Physics) Your child will achieve 2 GCSE grades

Hurdles Content from year 10 and 11 examined together at the end of the course More content to remember and topics coming down from A-level Application skills Inclusion of key practical skills Increased mathematical demand

What the pupils need to be doing Attendance and engagement is key – Science is a structured subject and missing one lesson often impacts an entire unit Consistent revision – Revisiting and practising year 10 topics continuously all the way up to the exams Practising exam technique Learn and apply key Scientific terms Be confident – pupils are provided with all the tools to grow and succeed, and they do!

What we will do We are a strong supportive team Drop in sessions at break and lunch Access to exam questions Mock exam practise Feedback on work done outside of school Weekly intervention (Thursday P6) Constant revision of previous topics – assessment and FDE Walkthrough mock in hall Revision packs Exam analysis to continually improve

What is good revision?

1. Learn the facts Learning the content requires your child to remember large amounts of information. This is made easier by making links: Changing information from one form into another e.g. making mind maps, quiz cards, post it notes, raps, poems, comic strips, images, flow charts – never copying from a textbook! Quizzing e.g. covering up and rewriting, using quiz cards, online quizzes, testing each other, you testing them Repeat

Example What country is this? You brain links Italy with the shape of a boot – so you never forget it!

2. Exam practise/application This information needs to be applied, and this counts for 60% of the exam! Practising exam questions Making model answers Getting teachers to mark answers and feedback Looking at mark schemes and marking your own answers Going back to step 1 when there is content you can’t remember Look at previous exam papers for patterns etc Repeat