Welcome to our Year 10 target setting evening Mr P McMenamin Deputy Headteacher November 2018

What we will cover this evening? Distribution of your daughter’s progress report and attendance data Explanation of progress report and attendance data Input from English, Maths, RE and Science Key dates in the Year 10 calendar Next steps Opportunity to discuss progress with staff

What does the progress report contain? A current grade: the grade your daughter is currently working at GCSE grades range from 9-1. BTEC subjects are assessed using Pass, Merit and Distinction grades A predicted grade : the grade teachers estimate your daughter will achieve in 2020 based on her current rate of progress A challenging target grade (the minimum grade we feel she should aim to achieve) % attendance to date We will also send you a progress report if you daughter is accessing GCSE classes outside the school day Where a current grade is lower than the target grade, please remember that progress is not linear. It is also still early in the GCSE course Where the predicted grade is lower than the target grade, support will be ongoing in each subject area

Changes to the GCSE grading system GCSE exams have traditionally been graded from A*-U since their introduction in 1988 National GCSE reforms mean all GCSE examinations will be graded from 9-1. This process started in summer 2017 All GCSE examinations sat in 2020 will be graded from 9-1

New GCSE grade Comparative grade 9 A* 8 A*/A 7 A 6 B 5 B/C 4 C 3 D/E 2 E/F 1 G

Why does this report matter? An important milestone towards summer exams They tell us as teachers where your strengths are and what you need to do to improve We are now well into the first year of GCSE studies so these grades will help to focus minds There is still plenty of time to make a difference to your final GCSE grade

Why do your English and Maths results matter? Students who get good GCSE passes in both English and Maths, along with at least their other GCSE qualifications will have a wider range of Post-16 options Students who get good GCSE passes in both English and Maths, along with at their other GCSE qualifications earn a higher average salary over the course of their working life than those who don’t

English update Ms Whitehead, Curriculum leader for English

Two GCSEs English Language GCSE English Literature GCSE

English Language 100% exam 2 exams – No tiers of entry Component 1: Reading – Five reading questions on an extract from a 20th Century prose text. Creative prose writing – 1 task from a choice of four titles. 1 hour 45 minutes. Component 2: Reading – Six reading questions on extracts from 19th and 21st century non-fiction texts. Two compulsory Transactional/Persuasive writing tasks. Spoken Language assessment – 1 task. Does NOT form part of final grade.

English Literature Component 1: 2 hours. Closed book. Shakespeare. One extract and one essay question on a Shakespeare text. Poetry from 1789 – present. Two questions based on poems from the WJEC/Eduqas Poetry Anthology. Component 2: 2 ½ hours. Closed book Post 1914 Prose/Drama – source based essay question. 19th Century prose – source based essay question. Unseen poetry – response

Implications of 100% exam Knowledge of set texts. Importance of VSSPS. Regular opportunities for exam practice, both in the classroom and more formal setting. New grading system 9-1 – grade 9 not criteria based. Opportunity to buy own copies of set texts and annotate.

Maths update Miss Henderson, Acting Head of Mathematics.

GCSE MATHS Tiers Foundation; Grades 1-5  Higher; Grades 4-9

3 EXAM PAPERS WHICH ARE 1HR 30 MINS EACH

GCSE MATHS The new GCSE is a much larger, more ‘challenging’ GCSE in Maths. There is more emphasis on solving problems that require multi-step solutions. There will be new topics at both tiers. In addition, students will be expected to learn key mathematical formulae by heart. For example;

GCSE MATHS SUPPORT Kerboodle Revision Guides and Workbooks (CGP) Drop in revision Revision materials available from individual staff. Past papers and mark schemes available online and onmaths.com. On-line revision materials: MathsWatchvle

Miss Adams Acting Head of RE Religious Education Miss Adams Acting Head of RE

100% exam 3 exams – No tiers of entry Component 1 (90mins) Origins & Meaning / Good & Evil Component 2 (90 mins) Life & Death / Sin & Forgiveness Component 3 (60mins) Judaism – Beliefs & Teachings / Practices

4 different style of questions A – 2 marks Keyword definition B - 5 Marks ‘Describe’ – usually refers to a source C – 8 Marks ‘Explain’ – must include evidence or examples in the answer D – 15 Marks ‘Discuss’ – must include a range of views – religious / non religious / personal opinion

Available to purchase in school at a discounted price. Revision Guide Past paper questions Exam practice and sample answers Short summary questions after each unit Keywords for each unit Exam focus – hints & tips Available to purchase in school at a discounted price. -ParentPay

Sciences update Mrs Hayward, Curriculum leader for Sciences. Mr. McBurney, HoD Biology. Mr. Coupe, HoD Chemistry. Miss Yates, HoD Physics.

Two Pathways in GCSE Sciences Separate Sciences in Biology, Chemistry and Physics (worth 3 GCSEs). 10Sc1 - Currently completing first half of the B/C/P courses. - Completing the ‘Required Practicals’. - Progress Test 1 October 2018. - Re-setting takes place. - Progress Test 2 February 2019. - Decisions on final entry for Separate Sciences. - Progress Test 3 May 2019. - June 20th 2019 – Parent’s Evening. Final grades are determined by performance in external examinations in summer 2020. Biology = TWO papers each 1 hour and 45 minutes Chemistry = TWO papers each 1 hour and 45 minutes Physics = TWO papers each 1 hour and 45 minutes No coursework Practical work is assessed through questions on the external examinations.

Two Pathways in GCSE Sciences Combined Science (worth 2 GCSEs) Grades 9,9 to grades 4,4 (Higher) Grades 5,5 to grades 1,1 (Foundation) 10Sc2/3/4/5/6 - Currently completing first half of the B/C/P courses. - Completing the Required Practicals. - Progress Test 1 October 2018. - Re-setting takes place. - Progress Test 2 February 2019. - Decisions on Tier of entry Higher/Foundation. - Progress Test 3 May 2019. - June 20th 2019 – Parent’s Evening Final grades are determined by performance in external examinations in summer 2020. Biology = TWO papers each 1 hour and 15 minutes Chemistry = TWO papers each 1 hour and 15 minutes Physics = TWO papers each 1 hour and 15 minutes No coursework Practical work is assessed through questions on the external examinations.

GCSE Sciences Support Pupils have access to Kerboodle – gives access to digital version of the text used in class and support materials for the course. Link to Kerboodle GCSE Sciences Revision Guides and Workbooks (CGP) available in school from O’Neill Reception (lunchtimes until end of Nov.) £5.50 each for Combined Science. £2.75 each for Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Drop in revision sessions operating B/C/P. Revision materials available from individual staff. Past papers and mark schemes available from AQA website. On-line revision materials My-gcsescience.com available to purchase from school. Please collect a letter from Mrs. Hayward if you would like to purchase Revision Guides or access to My-gcsescience.com at a reduced price.

Your mission… To attend school on time and attend everyday! Why? If you are not here , you can’t learn

365 days in a year Only 190 are spent in school You can do what you want with the rest of your year Only 5 hours of learning in each of those days You can do what you want with the rest of your day

Attendance matters!

Key dates Work experience 21st January to 1st February 2019 Year 10 exams begin 29th April 2019 Y10 parents evening Thursday 20th June 2019 (4pm-6pm) Employability interviews Summer term 2019

Holidays (use time wisely) Christmas: Thursday 20th December – Monday 7th January 2019 February half-term: Mon 18th February –Friday 22nd February 2019 Easter break: Monday 8th April– Friday 19th April 2019 May half-term: Monday 27th May – Friday 31st May 2019

Bellerive FCJ Sixth Form Centre

Show My Homework All students and parents have access to ‘Show My Homework’ This can be accessed via the link on the school website Show My Homework allows teachers to upload homework tasks and resources. These can be seen by parents and students Log-in details have been sent home via your daughter

What can parents do to help with GCSE studies in general? Encourage your daughter to attend extra support classes Ensure there is a suitable study location at home Minimise her time on social networking and the internet Continue to support us in making sure your daughter attends school and is punctual Contact us with any concerns

What happens next? Copies of the parent information booklet, a revision booklet and a copy of the online support document are available via the school website This PowerPoint will be available on the school website (www.bellerivefcj.org) Please contact the relevant subject leader if you have any concerns or speak to us this evening Curriculum leaders and senior leaders can be contacted by telephone at school Many thanks for taking the time to attend this evening