Welcome to the Year 10 Curriculum Evening October 2016 Key Stage 4 2016-2018

Outline GCSE Assessment schedule Exams Monitoring & Tracking Reporting Higher Tier or Foundation Tier at GCSE Study Tips Revision & Preparation

GCSE Assessment Schedule GCSE is assessed by a combination of Examinations and Controlled Assessment, but Controlled Assessments remain in only a few subjects. GCSE Controlled Assessments have already begun in ICT & Science. Currently students will be sitting Full GCSE exams in, Religious Studies and Core Science (Aleph and A only) at the end of Year 10 GCSE final certification will take place in the Summer of Year 11 In English 20% of the marks available will be allocated to SPaG. Other subjects will have a varying requirement. Some subjects Ma & RS are assessed by exam only, in these subjects the specification has been organised into distinct units which can be examined separately, refer to Ma in Assessment schedule hand out. Others have a Controlled Assessment element, this replaces coursework due to issues regarding plagiarism and each subject has different requirements, refer to Sc ISA.

Exams & Controlled Assessments (CA) Each Exam/CA will require the necessary amount of preparation. Teaching will move on to the next topics in preparation for the next CA Due to the ongoing nature of the Assessment Schedule, there is no slack time! Y11 now have 19 full school weeks left Y10 therefore have approximately 51 full school weeks left…… Preparation: revision, organisation, determination, persistence. Get it right now as the course will move on.

Monitoring & Tracking As your son completes Internal Assessments, GCSE Exams or CAs his progress will be monitored by Mr McGinty Any student causing academic concern will be given the necessary attention to ensure he understands what needs to be done Depending on the nature of the concern parents may be contacted Parents are encouraged to register any concern they may have about their son’s progress, email: k.mcginty@dls–jersey.co.uk

Reporting To keep parents appraised of their son’s progress through Key Stage 4 (KS4) Interim Reports are produced at Christmas and Easter. These reports include a Minimum Expected Grade and a judgement as to how likely your son is to make that grade by the end of the GCSE course. Parent’s evening takes place during the Spring Term and a full report is produced at the end of the Summer term in Y10 A full report replaces the interim report at Christmas of Y11 Explain how the Bench Mark grade is aquired.

Minimum Expected Grades Median (middle person) achieves a C in Y11 in Geography: Hence our Minimum Expected Grade will be a Grade C.

New Grading System https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/grade-descriptors-for-gcses-graded-9-to-1

Phasing of Subjects GCSEs are being changed in three phases – phase one subjects include English Language, English Literature and Maths. These subjects will be available for first teaching in September 2015, assessed from Summer 2017. Phase two subjects include sciences, History, Geography, languages, Art and Design, Music, Drama, Computer Science, Physical Education and Religious Studies. These subjects will be available for first teaching in September 2016, assessed from Summer 2018. Phase three subjects are still to be announced. Design and Technology is confirmed. These subjects will be available for first teaching in September 2017, assessed from Summer 2019.

Higher Tier or Foundation Tier In Maths & Science at GCSE Higher Tier allows access to Grades A* to D New Grades 9 to 4 Foundation Tier allows access to Grades C to G New Grades 5 to 1 The Grade 9 will be awarded to approximately the top 20% of students achieving Grade 7 or 8. The Head of Maths & Science departments will make a judgement as to which tier your son will be entered for in November of Y11. Evidence from previous performance coupled with current progress is used when making the judgement. We want the best grade possible.

Study Tips PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT   ATTEND MATHS HELP SESSIONS: Tuesday to Friday 8:00am to 8:30am; Tuesday 3:30pm to 4:30pm and Thursday 3:30pm to 4:15pm Ask questions as often as necessary Learn the TIMES TABLES Know the NUMBER BONDS to 20 Seek extra help on trickier topics Attention levels at maximum Concentration levels at maximum

General considerations The Homework timetable can be used as a template for organisation In KS4 homework is set with duration of up to 45 minutes per homework.  Your son may finish a particular homework within that time frame; that is excellent news as he has clearly understood the task set and has been able to complete the work independently.  However, any remaining time (of the 45minutes) can  then be used in any of the following ways: Review previous work in that subject, Make some summary notes on recent topics, Learn key spellings, Learn key facts,

Test himself on the facts he thinks he knows, Read through his notes, Read through any set texts, Re-read any set texts, Do some past paper questions, Organise next week’s independent work, Teach you the recent topic to demonstrate understanding, Make a power point presentation on the topic, Make some summary notes on not so recent topics,  .......  

Revision Purpose: To be prepared in sufficient time to enable students to achieve their full potential Organisation is the key element of an effective Revision Timetable Students need to realise that they are the ones who will benefit from their efforts Revision lists located in the Pupil Shared area; go to: “1Internal Assessments”; Year 10; Y10 Autumn If you fail to plan you plan to fail!

Revision Power Point Summary Download from school website: {Click on School Info link, then click on Exams link} Section 1: Retention Section 2: Developing a method Organising yourself Time-table Time-table examples Section 3: Session outline/structure Section 4: Other considerations

Thank you for your attention. Any Questions? If you have any concerns that occur to you later this evening please do not hesitate to contact Mr McGinty.