GCSE (1-9) – English Language GCSE and English Literature GCSE The Department for Education Review has led to major changes in both Assessment and Curriculum. At Park View; 1.Assessment under the new system began with Years 9 and 10 in September. 2.Curriculum teaching for the ‘new’ GCSE began with Year 10 in September.

Recent Assessment Changes… 2016: we will be judged on our GCSE results by two measures: Attainment 8 and Progress : GCSE grading changes to 9 – 1 to allow tighter statistical focus on schools’ and their students’ attainment only first sitting of GCSE will count – to deter early entry Two outcomes: More freedom in how we assess students’ progress More focussed scrutiny of our GCSE results

English Language GCSE Assessment Objectives (‘AO Skills’)

Recent Curriculum Changes…. 1.simplified National Curriculum 2.new NC deliberately designed to make levelling impossible 3.GCSEs to be made more demanding; –No crossover texts –100% terminal exam - no controlled assessment/coursework –20% for SPaG (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar) –First Exams in 2017 – no past papers –More difficult to gain a ‘5’ than a ‘C’. –No tiers Two outcomes: We have greater freedom to develop new approaches to teaching and learning, but these lead to more demanding public examinations

GCSE Grading – New (1-9) vs Old (G-A*)

Year 9 – What’s changed? Student’s targets have been converted to a 1-9 score. Students will be assessed against the new English Assessment Objectives (AO Skills) on a scale of 1-9. We will have one Two-hour non fiction language Exam in Summer Term We teach all the AO skills, at least once, over different points of the year; We will roll out this assessment system to Years 8 and 7 from September WHEN?TOPIC?AO SKILLS AUTUMN 1NOVEL – ‘NOUGHTS & CROSSES’Reading AOs 1,2,4 AUTUMN 1CREATIVE WRITING- DYSTOPIASWriting AOs 5,6 SPRING 1PLAY – ‘ROMEO & JULIET’GCSE Literature AOs SPRING 2TRANSACTIONAL WRITING - LETTERSWriting AOs 5,6 SUMMER 1COMPARING NON FICTION TEXTSReading AOs 1,2,3,4 SUMMER 2NOVEL STUDYGCSE Literature AOs

Year 10 – What’s changed? Student’s targets have been converted to a 1-9 score. Students will be assessed against the GCSE English and GCSE Literature Assessment Objectives (AO Skills) on a scale of 1-9. Students will have 8 hours of terminal exams in May 2017 (4 x 2hr exams) We have 3 Mock exams and one Speaking & Listening Exam over year 10. Speaking and Listening is compulsory but does not contribute to their grade. We teach all the AO skills, at least once, over different points of the year; WHEN?TOPIC?AO SKILLS AUTUMN 1 Language Paper 1 – Fiction Reading and Writing - Mock Exam in October (50%) Reading AOs 1,2,4 and Writing AOs 5,6 AUTUMN 1 Language Paper 2 – Non fiction reading and Writing - Mock exam in Dec (50%) Reading AOs 1,2,3,4 and Writing AOs 5,6 SPRING 1 Literature Shakespeare – Macbeth (20%) SPRING 2 Literature – Poetry – Seen and Unseen (40%) – Mock in late April GCSE Literature AOs SUMMER 1 Language Speaking and Listening ExamS and L AOs SUMMER 2 Literature Novel – Great ExpectationsGCSE Literature AOs

How can I support my child? Independent learning You can ensure your child; Uses a planner Completes all homework Revises for tests Researches around the topic Study habits You can ensure your child; Makes quality time to study Has a quiet space to work Writes at a desk or table Wider reading and writing Encourage your child to; Read quality newspaper articles (Guardian.com) Read 19 th Century novels (Dickens, Bronte etc.) Read study guides for their texts (York notes, Phillip Allen) Use grammar workbooks to aid their writing Practice spellings Do crosswords and word puzzles Play word games (Scrabble, Taboo etc.)