Strathearn School Belfast Form 4 Information Evening 2012

PROGRAMME FOR THE EVENING Introduction Mrs Graham (VP, Pastoral) Pastoral Miss Gibson (Head of Key Stage 4) Assessment Mrs Connery (VP, Teaching and Learning) Careers Mrs Hearst (Careers Adviser) Conclusion Mr Manning

Introduction Mrs Graham

AIMS OF FORM 4 PARENTS’ INFORMATION EVENING To give parents an understanding of the GCSE experience To help parents offer practical support to their daughters To strengthen the home – school partnership

Pastoral Miss Gibson

Our Role…. Academic Content / delivery of all courses Controlled Assessment Revision guide and help (subject and tutorial) Learning Support Tutor Communication with parents / formal and informal 7 7

Our Role…. Pastoral All Teachers Tutors / Head of Section / VP Pastoral Support / encourage / monitor Contact with parents / formal and informal 8 8

Pastoral provision and Tutorial programme Who’s who in Form Four 4S Dr McBride 4T Ms Simpson 4R Mrs Hoare 4A Miss Grier 4H Miss Murphy

How you can help? Encourager Sympathetic ear Attendance Monitor Act as go between

How your daughter can help herself Organisation and planning Marathon not a sprint! Keep on top of work Use of planners Seek appropriate help Maintain a healthy work / life balance 11 11

When things go wrong…… For example….. (a) Organisation (b) Relationship difficulties (c) Family/ personal issues Pupils adopt an all or nothing approach Dealing with stress / resilience 13 13

14 14

Curriculum and Assessment Mrs Connery

The differences Key Stage 3 Key Stage 4 17 Subjects (limited choice) All timetabled Directed study 9 GCSEs (some optional choices) Homework amount Controlled Assessment Mocks External Examinations 16

Assessment and Reporting in Form 4 December : Short Report May: Internal examinations June: Full Reports June: Parent Consultation Afternoon

What is ‘Controlled Assessment’?

Information Guides For pupils For parents Controlled Assessment www.ccea.org.uk Coursework - A guide for parents www.jcq.org.uk 19

www.ccea.og.uk 20

Useful Addresses www.strathearn.org.uk www.ccea.org.uk Email: nconnery620@strathearn.sch.ni.uk 21 21

Key Stage 4 Careers Programme Mrs Hearst

Careers Suite Open 8.30am until 3.30pm Including break and lunch time No appointment necessary Computer software programmes Access to the Internet Careers Library – many books, publications and journals which the girls may borrow

Form 4 Introduction to what constitutes a career Careers areas of interest to the pupils

Form 5 During September – Unit of Employability within Learning for Life and Work programme Questionnaire to determine priorities for the interview programme Career Guidance interviews – October to March Lunch time drop in sessions December until April – range of speakers on various career areas.

Concluding Remarks Mr Manning