Year 13 Parents’ Information Evening Welcome Please take a seat The presentation will start shortly

New staff –Philip Berry, Head of English –Paul Schofield, Head of Geography –Connie Bennett, Head of Psychology –Megan Cottam, Head of French –Sarah Blaine, Deputy Director of Music –Charlotte Barrett, teacher of chemistry –Harry Drummond, teacher of English –Billy Keates, teacher of geography Welcome back –Emily King, part-time PE –Fiona Lewis, returns as Head of RS –Susannah Hughes, part-time English –Tracey MacLean, returns as Head of Technology

Summer Works 1.New website 2.Chapel roof + several others 3.Band Room refurbished (with clock) 4.Two China classrooms 5.Science, new wireless ICT classroom 6.Gravesend prep room refurbished (new RS base) 7.Plasma screens: Gravesend, Training Room, Kensington classrooms, Business Studies, Balmoral Prep, Chapel House and new China classrooms. 8.Dining Hall refurbished (plus new service and menu) 9.Sports Pavilion (on track for autumn half-term break) Plus 3 new GCSEs – photography, ICT and Computing

Dining Hall

Sports Pavilion

2012/13 Results

GCSE Results Daily Telegraph’s 30 Top Comprehensive Schools

A Level Results Daily Telegraph’s 100 Top Comprehensive Schools

A level Results Subject 1Subject 2Subject 3Subject 4Subject 5 Student 1A* A Student 2A* A Student 3A*AAAA Student 4A*AA Student 5A*AAB Student 6A*AA Student 7A*AB Student 8A*ABB Student 9A*ABB Student 10AAA Student 11AAA Student 12AAA Student 13AAB Student 14AAB Student 15AAB Student 16AAB Student 17AAB Student 18AAB ¼ of entries achieved at least AAB

A level - Value Added Over the last 3 years student progress (the distance students have ‘travelled’) has been equivalent to the top 10% nationally.

Tonight’s Aims For you to leave with a better understanding of: Summer developments 2012/13 results Key Stage 5 Ethos Target Grades Student Support, Care & Guidance Assessment, Recording & Reporting (ARR)

The Key Stage 5 Ethos Achievement Work Ethic Securing the future Students have to prioritise

School StudentHome Helping students’ realise their potential Learning Student Support, Care & Guidance

What level am I working at? How do I know? What are my next steps? The fundamental learning process at Gordon’s Assessment events Clear, specific targets related to students’ work School ‘Position’ Statement

A level Target Grades School

Year 13 Target Grades A Level Grades Average GCSE Grades DCBA*A A B C D Represents ‘average’ student performance Represents top 10% student performance School

A level Results 2013 School StudentGCSE Pts Target Grades Grades 15.8B/CBBB 26.1B/CDDE 37.3A/BA*AA 47.1A/BBBC GCSE Pts A* = 8, A = 7, B = 6, C = Average Effort Grade Effort Grades 1 - 4

High quality teaching and learning - Lesson observations, student voice, data analysis Regular ‘next steps’ advice in lessons - Tri weekly feedback & half termly ‘Key Assessments’ Department reviews - Triennial Work sampling - Students’ books/ folders audited School

Assessment, Recording & Reporting (ARR) - Statute Gordon’s ARR Philosophy - Little & Often - Conversation is better than written dialogue - Teacher’s judgement is valued School

ARR Working Party - Met three times in summer term - Comprised of teachers & parents - Lots of discussion about many aspects of the Curriculum - Main outcomes of ARR working party - Modified effort grade criteria - More context to KS3 NC levels School

Effort Grades 2013 – 14 1 = Outstanding 2 = Very Good 3 = Good but occasionally inconsistent 4 = Cause for concern 5 = Unacceptable School

Each half term there is a progress report sent home including: Target Grade Working Grade Effort Grade Next Steps advice*

Reporting Target Grade A statistically generated A level grade that is personal to each student and subject. Working Grade The A level grade that a student is currently working at. Effort Grade The grade that reflects how hard a student is working. It is not a reflection of academic ability or performance.

Curriculum - New school day this year - More teaching time in almost all subjects - 5 lessons per subject per week - Less duties for teachers Examinations - Linear (taken at the end of Year 13) - Includes Controlled Assessments through KS5 School

Home Prescribe/ discuss what the sacrifices are going to be Contact us if you’re concerned Check books/ folders for quality of work/marking & organisation Regularly discuss school and specific subjects. Ensure students prioritise prep & get into good study habits Reward/ sanction consistently and regularly (accountability) Think ahead to career aspirations including University and/ or employment.

There is no ‘magic dust’ at Gordon’s Those students who achieve great grades: - see Sixth Form as their ‘full time job’ - have 100% attendance - do the ‘simple things well’ - work very hard - prioritise their studies & make sacrifices - spend the right amount of time on prep. - ‘read around’ the subject - are resilient Student

Miss Connery Head of Sixth Form & Assistant Headteacher