Year 9 Parents Assessment and Reporting Support Evening New GCSE Reforms Reporting to Parents Revision Support

GCSE Reforms  Nationally there are changes to the GCSE structure in schools  New specifications, new grading system and a new way that schools will be reporting results and will be assessed  New GCSE Specifications are being followed in English and Mathematics and other subjects will follow next year – current Year 10  Students taking GCSE examinations in the summer of 2018 (Students in Year 9) will receive a mixture of marks, some on the A* - G scale (Business Studies and Design and Technology Subjects) and the majority on the number scale

Grading Structure  Bottom of Grade 1 = Grade G  Grade 4 and above = Grade C and above  Grade 5 = top third of C and bottom third of B = Good Pass  Grade 7 and above = Grade A and above  Grade 9 will be awarded to top 20% of students achieving Grade 7 or above

School Reports  Attendance  Punctuality  Behaviour points  FFT Targets  Performance Indicators (PI)  Behaviour and Effort Marks

An outline guide to the new GCSE exams and grades

The old system was based on two tiers: Higher Foundation Non-calculator and calculator Each paper is 1 hour 45 mins Grades G to A*

The new system is based on two tiers: Higher Foundation Non-calculator and 2 x Calculator Each paper is 1 hour 30 mins Grades 1 to 9, with 9 being the highest awarded grade.

Foundation Grades 1 to 5 Grade 5 is equal to a low/mid B grade. Higher Grades 4 to 9 Grade 4 approximately equal to a C grade Grade 5/6 – B grade Grade 7/8 – A/A* grade Grade 9 – A** (only 3% of students to achieve this level)

The New Foundation paper is more like the old Intermediate Paper. Graded up to 5 this extends what students can achieve from a C to a B equivalent. The New Higher Paper will have 50% of its content as A or A* topics. A grade 4 will be considered a pass with a grade 5 seen to be a ‘good’ pass. The core focus, as always, will be to empower pupils with good maths knowledge and skills to succeed in everyday life.

English GCSE

What will the department do to ensure your child’s success? High quality teaching in the classroom Targeted Intervention program Mock exam session in December Information on your child’s progress Support you and your child with exam preparation through homework Provide revision material and resources to assist your child with independent learning

How YOU can help! Encourage your child to use revision websites/materials regularly. Encourage your child to read around the text he/she is studying. Teachers will set regular research homework and projects to support this. Specimen Papers and mark schemes are available to download from the AQA website – so students can access those for extra work. Although we read the texts in class, it is crucial that the students read the texts again at home to consolidate their learning and understanding.

HOMEWORK This is not optional! Students should complete this to the highest standard as it informs their targets Students should not be afraid to ask for additional guidance, help or support Help ensure deadlines are met!

Revision Classes Pupils may be specifically requested to attend revision classes if the classroom teacher feels extra intervention is needed. Parents will be informed by letter or telephone if this is the case.

Encouragement! This is a challenging time and a little encouragement goes a long way…

All Saints Catholic School Year 9 Revision Support All Saints Catholic School Year 9 Information Evening

All Saints Catholic School How Can I Help? (1)  During Year 9  Make sure your child has all the notes & books he/she needs for their homework and required revision.  Monitor and encourage them to complete all homework.  Sit down and work through a few sample questions.  Remind them to Ask for help at school if there is anything they don’t understand.  Encourage them to attend Homework Club and Intervention Sessions starting in the New Year  Monitor their Journal for Current and Target Grades, pages 43, 71 and 107.

All Saints Catholic School How Can I Help? (2)  Just before the Year End Examinations begin.  Check they have made a home study plan – a Revision Timetable made up of 30 minute sessions.  Put it on the wall so you can help them keep to it.  Each session should kick off with the area they find most difficult.  Get them to go back over topics nearer the exam date

All Saints Catholic School How Can I Help? (3)  You can also help by  Encouraging the rest of the family to be supportive  Suggesting that they can study with a friend(s)

All Saints Catholic School How Can I Help? (4)  Make sure you can provide a quiet place where they can study and where their work can be kept safely.  Reward them when you know they have worked hard – a treat!  Make sure you encourage them to get plenty of sleep.  Allow time for relaxation.

All Saints Catholic School Get Organised  Some pieces of advice to pass on…  Make a Homework Timetable – can help you develop a Study Guide divided into 30 minute slots.  Break subjects down into small sections – it’s less daunting.  Decide where and how you want to work – at home, the Information Centre, libraries, alone, with a friend.  Concentrate on no more than 2 subjects a day – it gets too confusing otherwise.  Remember to plan time to relax – watch TV, listen to music etc.

All Saints Catholic School Get Organised  Don’t rush your Homework and studying – start in plenty of time to cover everything.  Speak to your teachers and get help – things like past papers, model answers and explanations.  If something isn’t “going in” take a rest and try again later.  Remember your health – drink plenty of water, get lots of sleep.

All Saints Catholic School Revision Tricks  Revision Notes – break things down into sub headings.  Use tables and lists – mind maps often help.  Colour code quotes and themes.  Try to get a whole topic on 1 side of A4 paper. Read it and then cover it up and rewrite the information. Match up the copies.

All Saints Catholic School Revision Tricks  Make a poster of facts and put it where you’ll see it often. You’ll be surprised by how much information you’ll remember this way.  Write your notes on Index cards by putting a Key Word on one side and main points on the other. Revise a card a night.  Work with a friend – do some question and answer sessions or swap and read each others work.

All Saints Catholic School Revision Sites       

Thank you All Saints Catholic School

New Eton head to put emphasis on pupils' emotional intelligence School’s youngest headmaster signals change in tone and will take holistic approach to focus on happiness and mental health rather than elitism The new headmaster of Eton College wants to develop emotional intelligence in his pupils and provide them with a “holistic, rounded” education. Simon Henderson, who took over the headship of the top public school at the beginning of this term, is attempting to signal a change of tone at Eton – a byword for privilege, power and considerable wealth. “The whole point of school is to prepare young people for happiness and success in their personal lives and working lives,” Henderson told the Guardian. “There’s more awareness of emotional intelligence and of mental health, of young people building confidence and resilience to manage themselves in a fast-changing, challenging environment,” he said.