1. YEAR 9 CURRICULUM EVENING Working together to ensure success
Welcome to our
YEAR 9 CURRICULUM EVENING
Thursday, 14th September 2017
Working together to ensure success
for your child
‘A Christ-centred learning community, committed to the development of the whole person’
Seamless education from 4-19 years for all faiths and beliefs

2. HEADLINE FIGURES 2017 A LEVEL:
One of the top highest ranking A Level results in Worcestershire – 99.7% achieved 3 or more A Level passes
30% of students achieved 4 or more A Levels
A*-B grades were achieved with the following percentages: German 100%,
Polish 100%, Further Maths 75%, Chemistry 73%, Mathematics 65%, Geography 62% and RE 61%
From a cohort of 106 students 93 A*/A grades were achieved
9 students gained a massive 32 A*/A grades between them
To find out about uniform, our Summer School, Literacy (ERIC),
Transport, Numeracy, New Technologies, the Catholic Life of the School, our
Catering Providers and the PTFA.
To be updated

3. HEADLINE FIGURES 2017 GCSE:
80% of students achieved 5+ standard passes at GCSE with English and Mathematics (79% 2016)
91% of students gained a standard pass in English (Grade 4); 80% of students gained a strong pass in English (Grade 5)
85% of students gained a standard pass in Mathematics; 73% of students gained a strong pass in Mathematics
Students achieved 100% A*-C grades in the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Polish
To find out about uniform, our Summer School, Literacy (ERIC),
Transport, Numeracy, New Technologies, the Catholic Life of the School, our
Catering Providers and the PTFA.
To be updated

4. HEADLINE FIGURES 2017 continued GCSE:
Students achieved the following A*-C grades 90% in Geography, 95% in Drama, 97% in PE, 92% in Art and Design, 86% in RE, 86% in Additional Science, 82% in Computer Science, 81% in German, 81% in History.
100% pass rate in BTEC Engineering, 100% in ECDL, 92% in BTEC Art, 92% in BTEC Sport and 94% in BTEC Children’s Play
36% of all results delivered grades 9-7, A*-A or equivalent – that is an amazing 726 results at the highest grades with 311 of those grades at 9-8, A* or equivalent.
11 students gained all of their 11 GCSEs at grades 9-7, A*-A or equivalent, 3 of whom gained all A*, 9-8 grades or equivalent
23 students gained 10 or more GCSEs all at grades 9-7, A*-A or equivalent
To find out about uniform, our Summer School, Literacy (ERIC),
Transport, Numeracy, New Technologies, the Catholic Life of the School, our
Catering Providers and the PTFA.
To be updated

5. From the Assistant Principal, Ms S Fletcher
INTRODUCTION
From the Assistant Principal, Ms S Fletcher
THE BIG PICTURE
To find out about uniform, our Summer School, Literacy (ERIC),
Transport, Numeracy, New Technologies, the Catholic Life of the School, our
Catering Providers and the PTFA.
Photos to be updated

6. AIMS OF THE EVENING
Future job market?
Options after KS4
Targets setting
Key dates
Reports
Exams
Controlled assessment
Independent learning
Attendance
Support mechanisms
To find out about uniform, our Summer School, Literacy (ERIC),
Transport, Numeracy, New Technologies, the Catholic Life of the School, our
Catering Providers and the PTFA.

7. The future for your child
Apprenticeships/Careers/College courses
Sixth Form
Entry requirements
Entry requirements onto courses
Entry requirements onto specific University courses – how much more in a lifetime
Aspirations – Post 16 Adviser

8. How can I help my child – key dates and exams Year 9
Parents’ Day – 23rd November 2017
Assessment Weeks: October / January / June
Short Reports: October and February
Long Reports - June

9. REPORTS – WHEN ARE THEY & WHAT DO THEY MEAN
Target Grade - How are targets set?
Forecast Grade
Working at Grade
Attitude to Learning
Behaviour
Report example needed

10. English, Maths and Science
The importance of English, Maths and Science GCSEs
Changes to assessment in each

11. Mathematics Exams FROM June 2017
Key Challenges
Time spent teaching maths in the UK compared to other countries
New 9-1 GCSE : 40% more content than at present
More demanding content, more exam time , higher expectations
(4½ hours compared with 3½ and more formulae to memorise)
The new “benchmark” grade (5) is likely to be the equivalent of an old C+/B-
Less scaffolding/ structure in questions – more problem-solving
Less predictability of exam paper content and structure
Students not having had the full benefit of new KS2/3 curriculum
More difficult “tiering” decisions

12. Mathematics Exams FROM June 2017
Edexcel 1MA1
What did we learn from the first round of examinations in the Summer of 2017?
Extremely difficult to “predict” exam content
The importance of PREPARATION
The importance of PROCESS
The importance of EXPLANATION
The importance of COMPARISON
The importance of MATHEMATICAL REASONING

13. MATHEMATICS at ST AUGUSTINE’S - OUR PHILOSOPHY
7 term GCSE starting in Year 9
Possible curriculum/ qualification enhancements in Y9 and Y10
Key Elements of Our Mission
Encourage independence
Eliminate Fear
Equip for all eventualities
Enthusiasm
Partnership
Humour

14. Mathematics Exams FROM June 2017
How you can help:
Access to on-line texts and learning tools
especially –Mathswatch CD, and mathsgenie.co.uk
Support and encouragement - avoid negative thinking
“Can-do” mentality
Accountability culture – we all play our part
Little and Often

15. The English department offer two GCSE qualifications across KS4
GCSE English Language
GCSE English Literature
They are assessed separately and count equally for students.
For this cohort of students, all will study the AQA route.

16. The main challenges to consider:
The course is linear with a series of exam papers at its conclusion.
There are no controlled assessments completed across the two years
of the course.
The emphasis is on higher levels of technical accuracy and skills for
both courses.
The source materials are likely to include a wide selection of Pre
20th century materials.

17. ENGLISH EXAMINATIONS
The English department offer two GCSE qualifications across KS4
GCSE English Language
GCSE English Literature
They are assessed separately and count equally for students.
All exams are single tier

18. The main challenges we meet:
The course is linear with four exam papers at its conclusion.
There are no controlled assessments completed across the two years of the course.
GCSE English Language contains pre-20th Century material and challenging reading content: students need to be able to read and understand quickly
GCSE English Literature: students need to learn quotations and facts from 2 plays (including Shakespeare), 15 poems and a 19th Century novel.
The level of reading and comprehension skills needed to access the GCSE is 14+

19. Our reading strategy at St. Augustine’s:
All students are tested for their reading ages upon arrival. Some groups to have dedicated library and reading lessons to increase reading age.
First 15 minutes of every Year 9 lesson to be reading time DEAR (Drop Everything And Read). This is an extra 1 and a half hours reading a fortnight!
Ideally, students read their Accelerated Reader book but they can bring in a book or text of their own to read. It is essential that students have texts to read during this time.
Every student tested at least 3 times a year for reading ages and intervention put in place for those who are showing a lack of progress
Book Club on Friday lunchtimes with Ms. Beaumont-Dyer for the book lovers!

20. Don’t be disheartened! The English Department offers:
90% at Grade 4 and above
80% at Grade 5 and above and this will rise!
Highly specialist teachers who have experienced curriculum change
A senior examiner on the team
Early diagnosis, therapy and testing for students who are struggling
A well planned curriculum with constant confidence building assessment
You need to offer this same commitment

21. Key revision guides to purchase:
CGP text guides for A Christmas Carol OR Jekyll and Hyde; An Inspector Calls; Macbeth
CGP English Language Workbook

22. Year 9 Science
All students will begin studying AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy
This course follows the new grading system where students will be awarded 2 Grades based on a 17 point scale which will range from 1-1 to 9-9 where 9-9 is the highest possible grade
Some students may go on to study separate sciences in year 11

23. Year 9 Science AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy
Students will be assessed throughout the year during assessment weeks and also with end of topic tests throughout the year.
Required practical's

24. Biology
Cell biology
Organisation
Infection and response
Chemistry
Atomic structure and the periodic table
Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter
Quantitative chemistry
Physics
Energy
Electricity
Particle model of matter

25. How you can help:
Support in completion of homework and the use of Educake (online homework resource)
Test them regularly on subject content – eg physics equations/key facts and terms
Access to online resources “Kerboodle”
Encourage them to take an interest in science in the world around them –watch scientific programmes, documentaries, news etc

26. Knowing about support mechanisms – the pastoral system
Form tutor - sees them on a daily basis
Head of Year – Ms Mason - concerns re homework, attendance, attitude etc.
Assistant Head Pastoral (Safeguarding Lead) – Mr Gariff
Post 16 Adviser
Encourage them to speak to us – we can help!
Miss Woods – SENCo

27. Independent learning – how much? what can I do? 1-2hrs per night
Concerned – contact Head of Year –
Ms Mason,

28. Revision

29. The Importance OF ATTENDANCE –
THE GREATER THE ATTENDANCE, THE GREATER
THE ACHIEVEMENT.
• IRREGULAR ATTENDANCE – Half a day a week missed during year 11 and 10 can mean the loss of at least one GCSE grade for every subject taken. That could prevent you from being able to carry on to 6th Form!
• PUNCTUALITY - Arriving late to school will mean missing out on morning intervention classes.
• SCHOOL PROM –96% and above

30. Good habits Sleep enough Eat breakfast! Eat lunch! Eat dinner!
Eat healthy snacks!
Exercise!
Your brain needs and uses
energy and burns calories.
So feed it!

31. Key Contacts MORE THAN A SCHOOL……….
Mrs Mason HOY –
Ms Fletcher Assistant Head KS4 –
Mr Gariff Assistant Head Pastoral -
Mr O’Connor Head of School –
MORE THAN A SCHOOL……….