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

The Importance of GCSEs 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 GCSE results in 2009 were the best ever with 99.3% gaining 5 A*-C grades (including English and Maths) and 61% gaining A*/A

Our Overall Strategy Specialist subject teaching and preparation Start GCSE courses in Year 9 Some Core Science GCSE modules in Year 9 Trial exams in Year 10 Further GCSE modules in Year 10 Mock examinations in Year 11 Easter revision courses

Strategy Continued -Study support skills sessions in Life Skills -Revision timetable planning in Life Skills -Learning Performance Seminar Year 11 -Regular interim grade checks – progress against target (student tracking) -Mentoring by form tutor -Extend time students have teacher support

Study Time in School DCSF Guidance – “Study leave can have a significant, negative effect on pupils’ performance in tests and examinations” “evidence shows that many students do not have the motivation to make good use of study leave…it is time away from school for unstructured, unsupervised revision”

Our Plan Continue lessons throughout May with the specific focus on revision and developing examination skills with subject teachers May be in differentiated groups in class GCSE exams may start in the last week of May and so students will receive a specific individual study plan based around these Study sessions will continue into June

Dates for Your Diary Individual examination statements of entry – end of February Public exams run from 17 th May to 30 th June Language orals – April Art – 30 th April to 4 th May Year 10 Trial Exams – 21 st June – 2 nd July Year 10 Work Experience – w/b 5 th July GCSE Results Day – 26 th August

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

Illness or other issues Ring the School immediately if you are unable to attend any examination session Get a doctor’s letter as soon as possible

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