Parents’ Information Evening 2016 YEAR 10 Parents’ Information Evening 2016

What’s changed? Curriculum and Grading

Old to New Grading English and mathematics only for 2017

What does this mean? same proportion of students currently achieving a C, will now receive a 4 or above. grade 5 will be positioned in the top third of the current C grade same proportion of students who currently achieve an A grade or above will achieve a grade 7 or above. the top 20% of those achieving a 7 or above will gain a 9 2018 examination results will be a mix of A*-G and 9-1

English- Key points New GCSE specification and examination in English Language and Literature- taught simultaneously in Yr10and Yr 11 Two separate examinations No more controlled assessment or coursework; both Literature and Language are 100% exam No Tiers

English- Key points Literature exams will be closed book. Quotes and references will need to be learned off by heart. Students are advised to have their own copy of the text at home so that they can revisit them independently throughout the course. Literature texts include: Macbeth, Pigeon English and Frankenstein.

Mathematics more content at both Foundation and Higher tiers more formulae to memorise. more examinations to sit. new grading system . more challenging and demanding assessments : mathematical skills, mathematical reasoning and problem solving more rules about examination entries .

Mathematics Three examination papers: Paper 1 Non calculator 80 marks 1 hours 30 minutes Paper 2/3 calculator 80 marks 1 hours 30 minutes Two tiers: ‘good pass’ grade 5 available on both Higher Grades 4 -9 available (if a students misses a 4, they will be awarded a 3) Foundation Grades - 1- 5

New Science GCSEs more content. 22 Physics equations to recall. more challenging and demanding assessments : mathematical skills; 10% Biology, 20% Chemistry, 30% Physics longer examinations to sit (up to 10.5 hours in total) new grading system (9-1) nearly all of our students will sit the higher exam paper (grades 4-9).

Science 2 courses: Combined Science – all students study this course in Year 10. Exams are at the end of Year 11 (6 x 1 hour 10 minutes). Biology, Chemistry and Physics is studied within this course and it leads to 2 GCSEs. 17 grades available (9-9, 9-8, 8-8 etc.) Separate Science – This course is studied in year 11. The decision to study Separate Science or Combined Science is taken at the end of Year 10. Leads to 3 separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Each GCSE has 2 x 1 hour 45 minutes exams at the end of Year 11 (10.5 hours in total).

Controlled Assessment Attendance in lessons is crucial. Work cannot be taken home and in some cases cannot be improved once completed. Different arrangements for different subjects- details in the curriculum pack

4th – 7th July 2015 Summer Activity Week Activity Days 20th October 2016 Financial education –stock market challenge (3 periods) Preparing for GCSE – study skills ( 3 periods) (school based- school to meet costs) 7th March 2015 Options enrichment day Further details and costs to follow 4th – 7th July 2015 Summer Activity Week Post-16 focus- university visits + links with the world of work Further details to follow in summer terms Transport costs £15 TBC

Option Changes last date Thursday 4th October

ANY QUESTIONS?