YEAR 11 PARENTS’ INFORMATION EVENING YEAR 11 PARENTS’ INFORMATION EVENING Wednesday 11 th September 2013

Y11 Information Evening Introduction Mr J W Davies (Assistant Head teacher ) Core subjects presentations Maths – Mrs C Garlant English – Mrs K Price Science – Mr E Coombes Welsh Baccalaureate Presentation Mrs C Davies / Miss H Davies (KS4 Assistant Co-ordinators)

Figures for Mainstream entry only Examination Success 2013 GCSE 5A* to C 69% GCSE 5A* to G96%

Planning to Succeed Information Booklet Individual Subject course outlines with notes for students and parents Controlled Assessment and Coursework Deadlines Exam course information

Academic Student Support Study Skills Study skills covered in PSHE lessons Subject / Form Tutors Easter Revision Course - School Based

Assessments this year On going assessments / Controlled assessments / monitoring throughout the year January – External Exam Season (Maths and Science modules) 10 th -21 st February Internal Mock Exams (these are a very good indicator!) TIER OF ENTRY DETERMINED

Assessments this year GCSE Exams Individual Exam timetables given early to check for clashes Exam rules and regulations given to each student Start the middle of May and go on till end of June

Careers Planning in PSHE lessons Work experience (14th – 18 th October) Presentations in Assemblies Open evenings – WHS Sixth form, Colleges, Employment, etc Sixth form Option Talks in January Individual Careers interviews in January Careers advice – Careers Wales

HOW CAN CAREERS WALES HELP? Website: For information about all of your options including job/apprenticeship vacancies; where courses are run locally; what subjects/qualifications are required for different jobs and much more… Phone: : For information and advice on jobs, careers, learning or training. Webchat: Chat to an adviser using instant messaging 9am to 9pm Monday – Friday; Saturday 9am - 12 noon.

Student Planner Useful Information Diary to record homework set/ controlled assessment / Own learning needed/ Exams / achievements / Awards / Targets Study Skills / Revision information

Student Planner Moodle / Useful Academic Websites Record of Attendance Record ‘Worthy of Praise’ details Record Community Work Communication with parents! Communication with school!

Attendance Success Starts by being in School LEA expects returns of 95% per week One day off every fortnight results in four whole weeks of school being missed! Pupils Progress is BADLY AFFECTED if their attendance drops below 90% References requested for colleges and employers are written honestly In School Attendance Officer – Mr. Miles

Attendance If your child is ill, please ring the school that morning to inform us. Then provide a note explaining the absence on the first day they return to school If your child is late to school, i.e. arrives after registration, he/she should always report to the main office before going to 1 st lesson. Truancy calls

Lunchtime Arrangements All pupils to remain on Upper School Site Use canteen facilities or bring packed lunch Those in Lower School period 3 must be on the Upper School site 15 minutes after the lunch bell sounds Those in Lower School period 4 are to leave 15 minutes prior to the start of P4 Lunchtime activities on Lower School Site -pupils will need a lunchtime pass from the department concerned

Uniform A smart image creates a good impression!  Acceptable uniform outlined in the planner / on website  Trainers – only in PE and Drama lessons Dark waterproof coat [fits over a sweatshirt] Jewellery – one pair discreet stud earrings / a watch No facial piercings

Pastoral Student Support Tutorial Tutors / Mentors Subject Teachers Learning Leader and Pastoral Assistant Pupil Support Unit Outside Agencies Assistant Head Teacher

Maths, English and Science Presentations Maths – Mrs C. Garlant English – Mrs K. Price Science – Mr E. Coombes

Maths Yr 11

LESSONS Pupils will continue to be given a wide variety of learning experiences: Individual, pair and group work Investigative work Games and activities Use of ICT Use of mental arithmetic

EQUIPMENT We expect pupils to attend lessons with all necessary equipment: Pens, pencils, rulers and calculators at all times. At certain times, compasses and protractors. Higher tier pupils will need a scientific calculator. We have scientific calculators and geometry sets for sale.

OUR COURSE We follow the WJEC unitised course which consists of three units. Pupils are entered for either the Higher or Foundation tier for each unit. Higher tier units lead to grades A* - E. Foundation tier units lead to grades C – G.

WHICH TIER? A pupil does not have to sit all three units at the same tier, although this is generally the case. Parents can rest assured that we look at each individual pupil when deciding which tier they should be entered for in each unit, in order to produce the most favourable result.

EXAM SITTINGS Pupils have already sat one unit in June of year 10. They will sit the next one in January of year 11 and the last one in June of year 11. If a pupil misses an exam, they cannot sit it the next day they are in as it is an external exam – they will be re-entered for it at a later exam sitting.

RESITS Units can be re-sat (although parents will incur the cost of this). Pupils re-sitting the recent exam will do so next June. Your child’s teacher will advise pupils whether they should re-sit a unit.

TEXTBOOKS We do not use a specific textbook, but if you want to buy a textbook to support your child’s studies, we recommend: ‘WJEC GCSE MATHEMATICS’ – published by Hodder Education, ISBN: Higher Foundation.

EXTRA HELP The department runs a ‘buddy’ scheme, where year 12 mathematicians are available to help year 11 pupils one lunchtime a week.

TIME GUIDE Year 11 pupils should be aiming to spend the equivalent of 20 minutes per day on Maths outside of the classroom. As it is a Core subject, we think that this is important as it will help with Maths in Everyday Life.

WHAT YOU CAN DO Ask your child what Maths homework they have – there should be at least one per week – and check they have completed it. Encourage them to use mental maths techniques regularly e.g. times tables, estimating answers, money calculations. Check that they are accessing revision opportunities e.g. Moodle, mymaths.co.uk (login – whitchurch, password – rhombus).

PAST PAPERS The best way to check on progress is to attempt a past paper. All these can be found on Moodle - ‘GCSE MATHEMATICS 2’ - together with answers and other useful resources.

WE WILL CONTACT YOU: If your child changes set during the year. If your child underperformed in the June external exam. If we are concerned about anything else.

PEOPLE YOU CAN CONTACT Mrs. Garlant – Head of Department Mrs. Robinson – KS4 coordinator

Academic Student Support Study Skills Study skills covered in PSHE lessons Subject / Form Tutor / Mentors Easter Revision Course - School Based

English Language and English Literature Year 11

English in Year 11 Overview of the course Students have already completed THREE controlled assessments in Y10: - Descriptive and narrative writing - Shakespeare and linked poetry - Media (transactional) text analysis Students will also have completed (or nearly completed…) TWO speaking and listening activities. Students achieve TWO GCSEs at the end of Year 11; one for English Language and one for English Literature.

Controlled Assessments: marks and percentage weightings English Language Descriptive writing (10%) Media text analysis (10%) TWO speaking and listening activities (20%) English Literature Shakespeare and linked poetry (25%)

English Language Exams English Language Exam 1 (1hr 45 mins): Section A (15%) Reading of unseen prose by a major writer (comprehension) Section B (15%) One imaginative writing task. Exam 2 (1 hr 45 mins): Section A (15%) reading: Instructional / explanatory / persuasive / media text analysis (comprehension) Section B writing (15%): One explanatory / persuasive writing task. The two exams total 60% of the final mark for English Language.

English Literature TWO English Literature exams Exam 1: Poetry and Prose Section A: Different Cultures Prose (21%) A question from the set text (novel) studied in class (linked to your controlled assessment) Section B: Contemporary poetry (14%) Unseen poetry comparison Exam 2: Drama and Prose Section A: Questions based on the set text (play) Section B: Questions based on the set text (prose)

How can I support my child’s LEARNING? Encourage them to read through their work regularly; Continue to encourage them to read frequently and widely; Try and have a copy of their set texts at home; Moodle; Online resources; Talk to them about their learning.

Who can I contact? Mrs K. Price – Dept Leader for English Mr J. Williams – KS4 Co-ordinator

SCIENCE YEAR 11  3 POSSIBLE COURSES. BTEC APPLIED, ADDITIONAL, FAST TRACK TRIPLE SCIENCE.  ALL STUDY BIOLOGY, CHEMISTRY + PHYSICS.  ALL PUPILS STUDY SCIENCE IN Y10 AND Y11.

BTEC APPLIED SCIENCE  COURSE WORK BASED 100%.  NO EXAMINATION AT THE END OF THE COURSE.  LEVEL 2 AWARDED AT END OF YEAR 11.  NOT SUITABLE FOR ADVANCED LEVEL.

ADDITIONAL SCIENCE  25% BIOLOGY B2 EXAMINATION.  25% CHEMISTRY C2 EXAMINATION.  25% PHYSICS P2 EXAMINATION.  25% CONTROLLED ASSESSMENTS. ( 192 / 320 = C GRADE)

TRIPLE SCIENCE (FAST TRACK)  25% BIOLOGY B1 EXAMINATION.  25% BIOLOGY B2 EXAMINATION.  25% BIOLOGY B3 EXAMINATION.  25% CONTROLLED ASSESSMENTS. ( 192 / 320 = C GRADE)

SCIENCE WISH LIST  ATTEND ALL LESSONS.  SCIENTIFIC CALCULATOR / PEN + RULER.  PAST PAPERS.  REVISE BEFORE EXAMINATIONS.  EXTRA REVISION CLASSES.

CONTACT  MR ERIC COOMBES PHYSICS/SCIENCE  MR STEVE JAMES CHEMISTRY  MS CERI TAYLOR BIOLOGY  MR STEVE JAMES/MR ALUN SMITH BTEC

KS4 WELSH BACCALAUREATE QUALIFICATION Miss H. Davies & Mrs C. Davies KS4 – Welsh Baccalaureate Assistant Co-ordinators

CORE PROGRAMME - Key skills - Working with an employer - Team enterprise activity - Individual investigation - Wales, Europe and the World - Language module - PSE - Community participation GCSEs OPTIONS AS/A Levels BTEC NVQs MENTORING TUTORIAL SUPPORT GUIDANCE THE WELSH BACCALAUREATE AT WHS?

FURTHER STUDIES (A-LEVELS) – KEY STAGE 5? Opportunity to boost WBQ qualification to Advanced level – A GRADE AT A-LEVEL. Complete understanding of the structure of the WBQ qualification and its components. Elements of the WBQ at Advanced level already covered at KS4 – reduced workload. Increased Confidence, higher level skills, more aware. Better prepared for challenges that lie ahead

APPRENTICESHIP/EMPLOYMENT? More qualifications to add to CV More to talk about on letter of application and at interview Increased confidence at interview Evidence of abilities in a range of key skills Better prepared for challenges that lie ahead More aware of chosen career path

Thank You For Listening We will be available to answer any questions you may have. For all other information please look at our website: