Weald of Kent GCSE Information Evening for Parents Helping Your Child Achieve

Welcome and Rationale Introductions – Miss Vidler, Mrs Collins (Directors of Development Year 11, Year 10) Mrs Corp – Senior Director of Development Heads of Faculty in Mathematics, English and Science – Mrs Cross, Mrs Barrett, Mr Fidock AST in Science – Dr Smith Sixth form students

Format General introduction – Mrs Collins Sixth form students talk about their experiences of GCSE Dr Smith – study skills Mr Fidock – Science in Years 10 and 11 Break into two year groups Year 11 – Miss Vidler – specific arrangements Year 10 – Mrs Barrett – controlled assessments, Mrs Cross Mathematics in Year 10

The Importance of GCSEs This is the third GCSE Information Evening for Parents we have held – each year slightly different – but not doubt GCSEs are vitally important Indication of future performance A Level offers will be based on GCSE results Core subjects vital – English, Mathematics and Science Increasingly used by Universities

Our Overall Strategy Specialist subject teaching and preparation throughout the GCSE courses Started GCSE courses in Year 9 (current Year 10) Limited number of external examinations in Year 10 Trial exams in Year 10 for rest of subjects Mock examinations in Year 11 Revision lessons in Year 10 and 11 – some extras at lunchtimes Holiday/Easter revision courses

Strategy Continued -Study support skills sessions in PSHE and on ACT days -Revision timetable planning in PSHE -Regular interim grade checks – progress against target (student tracking) -Mentoring by form tutor -Director of Development intervention and support

Dates for Your Diary Individual examination statements of entry – end of February Public exams run from 16 th May to 30 th June Language orals/Art for Year 11 – April/May Year 11 public exams start early – 16 th May Year 10 exams – RE 17 th May, Core Science on 7 th, 15 th and 17 th June, ICT 16 th June Year 10 trial exams and WEX – end of June/early July

Practical Information Ensure your daughter has a revision and an examination timetable – check the sessions – morning examinations start at 9.00 am and afternoon examinations at 1.30 pm Allow plenty of time for the journey – have the School’s number in phones and ring if delayed – Please ensure your daughter is correctly dressed

Illness or other issues Ring the School immediately if you are unable to attend any examination session – ask for Mrs Kain the Examinations Secretary or Ms Forde the Assistant Headteacher. Get a doctor’s letter as soon as possible. If you are ill and miss a paper the Examination Boards still may be able to award a grade.

Preparation Clear plastic pencil case Water bottles without labels Black biros, pencils, ruler, sharpener, eraser Compasses, protractor, calculator (non electronic), set texts Spare equipment

Not permitted Tippex Pagers, phones, ipods, electronic organisers, electronic or noisy calculators, dictionaries or electronic translators Canned or cartons of drink, chewing gum Any other food including sweets Bags Malpractice is a serious issue

Finally There is life beyond GCSEs The Weald of Kent has a great deal of collective experience in supporting students (and parents) Thousands of students have successfully been through the process!

GCSEs – What to expect and how you can help

What to expect… Extra lifts Mood swings Stress The need to buy extra revision materials A few tears

Dealing with stress Revision timetable Food Regular breaks Keep up hobbies Rescue Remedy Breathing techniques

How you can H.E.L.P.P H elping hand E ncouragement L isten P raise P atience

How Weald will help Revision sessions Extra help at lunchtimes Reassurance Support

Exam day Early night Good breakfast Avoid cramming Be on time Water Preparation

Useful websites ro ro

Thank you!

Weald of Kent GCSE Information Evening for Parents Study Skills - D. Smith

Learning Styles and Their Application for Effective Study Skills We do not all learn in the same way The key to success is finding what works best for you

Learning Styles - V.A.K. A learning style is the way in which an individual learner tries to learn information. 1) Visual - they mainly learn through seeing 2) Auditory - they learn mainly through hearing 3) Kinaesthetic - they learn through doing

Preferred Learning Styles - How Do You Know? A) Open it up and try to put the item together without reading the instructions? B) Read all of the instructions before you attempt to put the item together? C) Hand the instructions to someone else to read them to you, or read them aloud to yourself? IKEA Test - If you buy something that you have to assemble when you get it home, do you:

Preferred Learning Styles - How Do You Know? A) Take it out of the box and fiddle with the pieces before you read any instructions? B) Read all of the instructions before you attempt to press any buttons? C) Ask someone else to read the instructions and explain it to you or read the instructions out to yourself aloud? Mobile phone test - Similarly with a new mobile phone do you:

V) Enjoy reading books and may appear to day-dream during a session with a lot of verbal activities. A) Usually like discussion in lessons and may tend to whisper when reading. K) Usually tend to remember things that they physically do and may tend to tap their pencil or pen during a lesson. You may know a student has a preferred learning style by their behaviour. For example:

A visual learner may find it most helpful to: Use posters, flash cards, diagrams and charts Place information, sticky notes and posters, above eye level around the room Use coloured pens and paper Use mind maps and spider diagrams

An auditory learner may find it most helpful to: Engage in discussion Use poems, rhyme, rhythm, rap and jingles Read passages or questions out loud Have background music on while studying Revise best when they are asked questions when studying for an exam Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain

An kinaesthetic learner may find it most helpful to: Build in regular planned physical breaks (20 mins) Use brain gym Get involved in group work and role play Use cards or sticky notes to make key points, and manoeuvre them about until the content is sequenced correctly Model making

Model Making

Taking Responsibility…Taking Action The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen R. Covey Habit 1 - Be Proactive Realising that our own decisions are the primary determining factor for effectiveness in our life. Get the job done. Habit 2 - Begin with the end in mind Have goals; have a plan; be ambitious; want amazing

Effective people also have an off switch! They know how to relax, enjoy what they have in their life and to have fun.

How can Parents Help? 1)Designate a space in the house for studying, free from distractions. 2)Show your interest and offer to help - try to have conversations rather than interrogations. 3)Help to plan a study timetable. 4)Provide materials such as sticky notes, cards, coloured pens, books etc. 5)Encourage them to have suitable breaks.

And Finally… 6)Be as stress-free as possible yourself!

Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. GCSE Sciences Mr K Fidock

Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. ISA P3 C2B2 GCSE Science Units External 75%Internal 25% B1C1P1 Core Additional P2 Separate B3 C3 ISA

Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. ISA C2B2 GCSE Double Science Units External 75%Internal 25% B1C1P1 Core Additional P2 ISA

Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. B2 GCSE Further Biology Units External 75%Internal 25% B1 Core Additional Separate B3 ISA

Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. C2 GCSE Further Chemistry Units External 75%Internal 25% C1 Core Additional Separate C3 ISA

Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. P3 GCSE Science Units External 75%Internal 25% P1 Core Additional P2 Separate ISA

Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. ISA P3 C2B2 GCSE Science Units External 75%Internal 25% B1C1P1 Core Additional P2 Separate B3 C3 ISA

What is an ISA? Version 1.0 Copyright © 2008 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. Investigative Skills Assignment A three stage piece of class undertake an AQA-designed practical, during which they collect a set of results. They then take an AQA-set test in controlled conditions during normal lesson time, which is marked by their teacher using an AQA mark scheme. Marking of the ISA is moderated by an AQA moderator. The whole assignment, including the test, is expected to take around two or three lessons.

Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. The Three-Stage Process Stage 1: Discussion and Trial

Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. Stage 2: Practical work

Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. Drawing the graph or bar chart

Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. Stage 3: the test

Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. General points All work is done under the direct supervision of the teacher – candidates are not allowed to take work home Completed ISAs must never be returned to candidates Cash-in and moderation occur at the end of the Key Stage

What can you do parents? Year 10 Discuss with your daughter’s the option of Further or Double Science. Having good science qualifications is vital for their future economic well being and shows that your daughter can reach that academic level. Year 11 Work with your daughter to organise her revision timetable and ensure that revision is active. Site to assist: for access past papers. To achieve the EBAC you require two good Science GCSE’s. Version 1.0 Copyright © 2008 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Provides a course in mathematics which is designed to: -consolidate connections between Mathematics -approach the subject in a purely mathematical manner

Provides a course in mathematics which is designed to: -explore applications of mathematics in real life and every day contexts -provide an introduction into financial and business applications

Assessment is by examination only there are no course work tasks or controlled assessments

Methods in Mathematics consists of two units. Each unit is assessed by a written Examination Paper. Unit 1 Non Calculator 1 hour 45mins 100 marks Unit 2 Calculator allowed 1 hour 45mins 100 marks

Applications in Mathematics consists of two units. Each unit is assessed by a written Examination Paper. Unit 1 Calculator allowed 1 hour 45mins 100 marks Unit 2 Calculator allowed 1 hour 45mins 100 marks

Methods in Mathematics Unit 1 June 2011 Applications in Mathematics Unit 1 March 2012 Methods in Mathematics Unit 2 June 2012 Applications in Mathematics Unit 2 June 2012