Welcome to our Year 11 Parent Information Evening

Welcome & the year ahead Mr P Marsden Deputy Headteacher

Reporting You will receive three termly Progress Reports over the course of the academic year These will be issued in October, December and March. These will report on: The effort your child is making with classwork and homework The forecast grade your child is currently most likely to achieve (and how this compares to their target grade) Mock Exam results where appropriate

The Year Ahead 11 November – Full Mock Exams commence December – Mock Exam Results Day 16 January – Year 11 Parents Evening 13 February – Final Countdown Evening 24 February – Final Mocks in English, Maths & Science 11 May – GCSE Exams commence

Supporting your child in English Miss R Buckley Director of English

English Language: Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing 1 hour 45 minute exam Section A: Reading (25%) 1 hour Four questions based on an unseen fiction text. (20th or 21st Century) Section B: Writing (25%) 45 mins One extended description or narrative writing piece. Paper 2: Writers’ Viewpoint and Perspectives 1 hour and 45 minute exam Section A: Reading (25%) 1 hour Four questions based on two unseen non-fiction texts. (One is 19th Century, the other will be 20th or 21st Century) One extended piece of writing (letter, speech, article, essay or text for a leaflet) presenting a point of view on a topic. 2nd June 2020 Students MUST spend 10 mins planning for the Writing sections in both exams. 5th June 2020

Students MUST plan their literature answers before writing them. English Literature: Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th century Novel (40%). 1 hour 45 minute exam Section A: Shakespeare. One question based on the play Macbeth. (50 mins) Section B: 19th Century Novel. One question based on A Christmas Carol. (50 mins) Paper 2: Modern Texts and Poetry (60%). 2 hour and 15 minute exam. Section A: Modern Text. One question from a choice of two on Blood Brothers. (45 mins) Section B: Poetry. Comparing two poems from the anthology Power and Conflict. (45 mins) Section C: Unseen Poetry. Students will answer one question on an unseen poem (30 mins) and one comparing two unseen poems. (15 mins) 13th May 2020 Students MUST plan their literature answers before writing them. 21st May 2020 Knowledge retention

PARENTS: How can you help and support your child? Make sure your child knows what is expected for each exam – especially timings. If they struggle with their writing in any way – spellings etc – please help them. The better vocabulary they have, the better grade they will achieve. Read articles together, focus on particular words and why they have been used. Please ask them to recite at least 5 quotes a day for literature, as well as explaining how they present that theme, character or poem. They need to know writer’s techniques but the most important part is analysing the quotes in as much detail as possible. Between Tuesday and Monday 4pm Revision tool

The texts and poems: A Christmas Carol Macbeth Blood Brothers Ozymandias London Extract from, The Prelude My Last Duchess The Charge of the Light Brigade Exposure Storm on the Island Bayonet Charge Remains Poppies War Photographer Tissue The Emigrée Checking Out Me History Kamikaze A Christmas Carol Macbeth Blood Brothers Access to revision activities

How do I revise in English? Understand what is expected for exam – particularly focus on completing practice questions. Make a list of your weaknesses – and work on them first! Learn and recite quotations but also understand how to analyse them. Work on vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar skills. Improving your writing will help everything. Most important of all, try your best in lesson and do your revision homework.

Supporting your child in Maths Mr S Stott Director of Mathematics

Preparation Approach to learning Be prepared to work hard

Exams GCSE Maths – 3 x 90 minute papers ALL Level 2 Further Maths – 2 x 1hr 45 mind papers SOME GCSE Statistics – 2 x 90 minute papers SOME Both Foundation and Higher Tier papers allow students to get a grade 5 (similar to B from old papers) A grade 4 is deemed as a pass Failing to achieve a minimum of grade 4 means compulsory resit, no matter what post 16 route is taken.

Exam Dates Paper 1 – Non Calculator –19.05.2020 Paper 2 – Calculator - 04.06.2020 Paper 3 – Calculator – 08.06.2020

Hegarty Maths All mathematics homework is set on Hegarty Maths Yr 11 will have weekly past papers starting after Christmas Students sign in, access the tasks make notes in their Hegarty homework book (Orange) Students then complete the online task. All scores recorded from every task from Yr7 to 11

Hegarty Maths Hegarty Maths can gap fill! Fix up 5 – five questions, quick task aimed at questions that the student has got wrong Memri – recall task, puts together a mini paper that students can use to improve outcomes. (Think Tassomai for maths) Both of these are currently independent learning, however this may change in year 11…

Online resources PiXL Maths App HG4454 JBLOGGS hodgson Can be accessed on mobile devices Predominantly student led Targeted at students appropriate tier Quick – some tasks are around 5 minutes, with some a little longer PiXL Maths App Login HG4454 JBLOGGS hodgson *Other subjects have PiXL including English Lit and History

Physical Resources Revision Guides & Workbooks Flash Cards £5 for the set Upper sets may be offered additional resources including for grades 8 & 9 and Level 2 further maths Flash Cards £6.25 for the appropriate set (recent) Links to online support videos and questions for practice

Revision strategies for maths Little and often – 20 mins every night is better than 3 hours in one go Use trapped time: Buses, car journeys are perfect chances to maximise the app Post it notes in key places: The fridge door, near your phone charger, mirrors for when you are getting ready. Use your feedback sheets after assessments to track areas you need to improve

Online resources Pinpoint Learning

Supporting your child in Science Miss J Morton Director of Science

Types of Course 2 courses: AQA Combined science – 2 GCSE’s with a combined grade e.g. 77 or 65 AQA Separate science – 3 GCSE’s each with a single grade

Exams AQA Combined science AQA Separate science 6 exams each 1 hour 15 minutes (2 biology, 2 chemistry and 2 physics) AQA Separate science 6 exams each 1 hour 45 minutes (2 biology, 2 chemistry and 2 physics) Knowledge retention

Curriculum Time AQA Combined science AQA Separate science 6 hours per week (2 biology, 2 chemistry and 2 physics) Taught by subject specialists AQA Separate science 8 hours per week (3 biology, 3 chemistry and 2 physics) Knowledge retention

Homework Knowledge organisers Tassomai Y11 are to complete 4 out of 7 daily goals 150 questions Separate scientists will get additional work After Christmas - Weekly practice paper Between Tuesday and Monday 4pm Revision tool

Science Clinic Tuesday 3pm-4pm Two members of science staff present to help where required. Here students can: Use the computers for tassomai Complete independent revision Use the revision resources available (revision guides, flash cards etc.) Collect and complete resources from the science leaflet holders (at entrance to B-block) Access to revision activities

Resources Available for Revision Doddle CGP revision guides CGP revision question cards (flash cards) Revision resources in the leaflet holders at the entrance of B-block Youtube: Primrose kitten, myGCSEscience, Freesciencelessons, 21 GCSE Physics Equations Song Links to more online support sites can be found on the school website Access to revision activities

Pathways Looking Further Ahead

Key Messages from Mrs Foley Taster Day was a taster –Open Evenings/Days should be attended as well College visitors in PSHE lessons this term APPLY – not legally binding, more an expression of interest!

Important Dates for 2019

Prom

Thursday 25 June 2020 Preston Marriot Hotel Invitation Only Event

for your support this evening Thank you for your support this evening