GCSEs A Rough Guide

General Certificate of Secondary Education Most students take 9 GCSEs 6 from the Option Columns Maths, English, English Literature Latin as an extra Pass GCSE grades are considered to be from A*-C Grades D, E, F, G and U are considered to be ‘fail’ grades

GCSE Results % A* - C A*/A = 45% B = 24% C = 21% 20% of cohort clean sweep of A*/A Target for 2016

Exam Boards The exam boards we use are: AQA - Assessment and Qualifications Alliance AQA – International GCSE Level 1/2 Certificates Edexcel – Education for Excellence Edexcel International GCSE OCR – Oxford, Cambridge & RSA Examinations CIE – Cambridge International Examinations

Course Types The Heads of Department do the research and choose the courses they think are best for our students All courses are examined at the end. However, some courses include controlled assessment and/or coursework. Four types of course to choose from

Type 1: Final Exam These courses have no coursework or controlled assessment Examined at the end of two years Mathematics (Edexcel) Religious Studies (AQA) Latin (OCR)

Type 2: International GCSEs These courses have no coursework or controlled assessment Examined at the end of two years Chemistry (CIE) History (Edexcel) Physics (CIE) Business Studies (CIE)

Type 3: AQA Level 1-2 Certificate (IGCSE) English Language (Exam + Coursework + Speaking and Listening) English Literature (Exam + Coursework) Biology (End of course exam) Language possibly January Year 11 Literature proviso (secure C)

Type 4: Exam / Controlled Assessment Art (Edexcel) Geography (AQA) ICT (AQA) Modern Languages (Edexcel) Music (Edexcel) PE (OCR) Design & Technology (OCR & AQA)

What is Controlled Assessment? It is a form of internal assessment It replaces coursework in that it has greater controls It is designed to measure subject specific skills Tasks are assigned different levels of control by the exam boards

Levels of Control High = Students are supervised; must work independently; must not communicate; must not be assisted. Medium = Students do not have to be directly supervised, but the teacher must be able to ensure the work is their own. Limited teacher input. Students may work together. Low= Work may be done outside of the classroom, students may receive teacher guidance, students may work together.

When does it happen? Throughout the 2 years At home – especially research In timetabled lessons Under examination conditions Courses have between 7 and 25 hours plus of controlled assessment

Deadlines and Attendance Controlled Assessments are key elements to the GCSEs Deadlines must be met High control assessments should not be missed Departments co-ordinate their own timetable and will inform pupils which lessons constitute controlled assessment

Most assessments are in Year 11 However, ICT has a form of controlled assessment in every timetabled double lesson PE practical lessons also form part of the controlled assessment process

Absence If a pupil misses an element of controlled assessment, the department will try to make alternative arrangements However, too many missed assessments may jeopardise the GCSE All absences therefore need to be kept to a minimum If there are planned absences it would be wise to ensure there are no controlled assessments taking place

Am I too late to change my options? The answer is ‘no’ But if you are having concerns about your choices – speak to your tutor Any change MUST include either a telephone call with me or a note from home

PSHCE Personal, Social, Health, Citizenship Education! The year group is split into groups and for half of the year there is a rotation of: University choices/Careers/CVs Cooking Managing personal finances: credit cards/bank accounts etc.

The other half of the year includes a comprehensive course on issues related to health and personal development. Latin is taught against these lessons, but hand-outs will be available for those students who would like them.

The Website Under the label ‘Academic’ the following can be found: Homework Timetable The Option Columns Examination Administration Controlled Assessments: timetable for different subjects (!) The Academic calendar which includes: The Reporting Schedule Parents’ Evenings School Exam dates

Key dates Half-term grades uploaded Tuesday 11th November First Parents’ Evening: Tuesday 25th November First Exams: Monday 19th January to Friday 23rd January 2015– no study leave Exam results uploaded Wednesday 4th February 2015 Full school report at end of Spring term

Key dates (continued) Summer Exams – Friday 15th May to Friday 22nd May 2015 – study leave Second Parents’ Evening: Monday 8th June 2015

2016 Provisional Results Day: Thursday 18th August!!