1. Welcome Y9 and Y10 students, parents and carers
Ralph Thoresby School
GCSE launch
September 2017
Welcome Y9 and Y10 students, parents and carers

2. Coming over the next 4 weeks on a phased basis
What is ‘Classcharts’?
Classcharts is our school behaviour monitoring and recording system. We use it to record positive and negative behaviour entries and to set homework.
You will receive parent accounts which will allow you to monitor…
Behaviour
Homework set
Detentions
Rewards
Available as a Smartphone App or via a web browser.
It is completely free of charge and operates in real-time.
Look out for the Classcharts letter containing your personal account details.
Coming over the next 4 weeks on a phased basis

5. First examined 2017

6. First examined 2018

7. GCSE Maths Two Tiers – as in previous years Higher Tier
Grades 5-9
Foundation Tier
Grades 1-5
Mr Turner
Miss Johnson
Mrs Rosser
Mr Glover
Mrs McLeer
Miss Watson

8. GCSE Maths-A Changing Qualification
Results
Old GCSE Comparison 9 A* 8 A 7 6 B 5 C 4 3 D 2 E 1 F G U
No more grades A*-G
Replaced with number grades (1-9)
Linear Examinations (All sat in June 2018)
Three examinations (each 80 marks, 90 minutes)
Paper one-No calculator may be used
Papers 2 and 3-Calculator may be used
The most challenging GCSE exams ever.
Students must work from now!

9. What’s changed? Exam questions and problem-solving
Students need to gain practice at this skill (We will use lesson time to develop these skills)
Students must make connections between topics
Backed up by knowing topics inside out!
Students must complete more outside of lesson time
GCSE Higher Tier Paper 1, Specimen Paper

10. What can the students do?
In Lessons
Equipment for every lesson
Calculator and maths set required
Homework ALWAYS Set Friday (Due Wednesday)
Attend after-school drop ins (Classrooms available Monday)
At Home
Username: thoresby
Password: square

11. Practical things to focus on
Times tables, negative numbers, fractions, decimals and percentages.
Facts about 2D and 3D shapes (and the formulae associated with them)
Prime numbers, square numbers and cube numbers
Adding expressions and solving equations

12. GCSE English
3 Qualifications:
English language GCSE (grades 1-9)
English literature GCSE (grades 1-9)
Spoken language endorsement (Not Classified, Pass, Merit or Distinction)
No tiering in English
From onwards, all students will see the same exam paper

13. Spoken language endorsement
Pass
Merit
Distinction
In addition to the general criteria, to be awarded a Pass a Learner’s performance in his or her spoken language assessment must meet all of the following criteria –
• expresses straightforward ideas / information / feelings,
• makes an attempt to organise and structure his or her presentation,
• makes an attempt to meet the needs of the audience, and
• listens to questions / feedback and provides an appropriate response in a straight forward manner.
In addition to the general criteria, to be awarded a Merit a Learner’s performance in his or her spoken language assessment must meet all of the following criteria –
• expresses challenging ideas / information / feelings using a range of vocabulary,
• organises and structures his or her presentation clearly and appropriately to meet the needs of the audience,
• achieves the purpose of his or her presentation, and
• listens to questions / feedback responding formally and in some detail.
In addition to the general criteria, to be awarded a Distinction a Learner’s performance in his or her spoken language assessment must meet all of the following criteria –
• expresses sophisticated ideas / information / feelings using a sophisticated repertoire of vocabulary,
• organises and structures his or her presentation using an effective range of strategies to engage the audience,
• listens to questions / feedback, responds perceptively and if appropriate elaborates with further ideas and information.

14. Spoken language endorsement
Pass
Merit
Distinction
In addition to the general criteria, to be awarded a Pass a Learner’s performance in his or her spoken language assessment must meet all of the following criteria –
• expresses straightforward ideas / information / feelings,
In addition to the general criteria, to be awarded a Merit a Learner’s performance in his or her spoken language assessment must meet all of the following criteria –
• expresses challenging ideas / information / feelings using a range of vocabulary,
In addition to the general criteria, to be awarded a Distinction a Learner’s performance in his or her spoken language assessment must meet all of the following criteria –
• expresses sophisticated ideas / information / feelings using a sophisticated repertoire of vocabulary,

15. GCSE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Paper 1 – Fiction (descriptive and narrative writing)
Paper 2 – Non-fiction
In both papers
Section A – Reading – response to unseen texts
Paper 1 – One extract from a modern novel
Paper 2 – Two extracts – one modern and one 19th century
Section B – Writing
Paper 1 – Choice of TWO tasks (write to describe or narrate)
Paper 2 – ONE task
Paper 1 Section A: reading
Literature fiction text
25%
Paper 1 Section B: writing
Descriptive or narrative writing
Paper 2 Section A: reading
One non-fiction texts & one literary non-fiction text
Paper 2 Section B: writing
Writing to present a viewpoint
Key aspects of lessons, homework and revision:
- Continued practice of reading and writing skills
- Continued focus on improving and upgrading work

16. GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE
Paper 1 – Section A
Shakespeare - Macbeth
20%
Paper 1 – Section B
19th Century Novel – A Christmas Carol
Paper 2 – Section A
Modern Texts – Inspector Calls?
Paper 2 – Section B
Poetry anthology (15 poems)
Unseen poetry
Key aspects of lessons, homework and revision:
Continued re-reading and re-visiting of texts
Focus on key themes and characters
Continued practice of exam questions and papers
Key exam texts
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley
Poetry anthology

17. 2 year course outline - OVERVIEW10 11
Autumn 1 1
Poetry x 5
Language Paper 1 2 3 4
EXAM: Literature Paper 2, section B (26/9/16) 5
Christmas Carol 6
Exam - Language Paper 1 (Date TBC) 7
Assessment: Literature Paper 1, section B 8
Autumn 2
Trapped &
Inspector Calls
Language Paper 2
Poetry anthol
Develop reading
Unseen Poetry
& writing skills
Exam - Language Paper 2 (Date TBC)
Assessment: Language P2A & B
Spring 1
Macbeth
Revision
Exam – Literature Paper 2 (Date TBC)
Exam – Literature Paper 1
Spring 2
Exams
Assessment – Literature Paper 2, section A
Exam – Language Paper 2 (Date TBC)
Exam – Literature Paper 2, section B & C
Summer 1
Final exams
Summer 2
Exam - Language Paper P1
Speaking & Listening assessments
Spoken Language Assessments

18. 2 year course outline - OVERVIEW10 11
Autumn 1 1
Poetry x 5
Language Paper 1 2 3 4
EXAM: Literature Paper 2, section B (26/9/16) 5
Christmas Carol 6
Exam - Language Paper 1 (Date TBC) 7
Assessment: Literature Paper 1, section B 8
Autumn 2
Trapped &
Inspector Calls
Language Paper 2
Poetry anthol
Develop reading
Unseen Poetry
& writing skills
Exam - Language Paper 2 (Date TBC)
Assessment: Language P2A & B

19. 2 year course outline - OVERVIEW10 11
Autumn 1
Spring 1 1
Macbeth
Revision 2 3 4
Christmas Carol
Exam – Literature Paper 2 (Date TBC) 5 6
Exam – Literature Paper 1
Spring 2
Inspector Calls
Exams
Assessment – Literature Paper 2, section A
Exam – Language Paper 2 (Date TBC)
Unseen Poetry
Exam – Literature Paper 2, section B & C

20. 2 year course outline - OVERVIEW10 11
Summer 1 1
Language Paper 2
Revision 2 3 4 5
Final exams 6
Summer 2
Language Paper 1
Exam - Language Paper P1
Speaking & Listening assessments
Poetry x 5 7
Spoken Language Assessments

21. WHAT CAN YOU DO AT HOME?
Keep on top of weekly homework
Read and talk about non-fiction, especially newspaper and serious magazine articles
Read and talk about fiction, especially novels and short stories
Talk together about the messages writers are conveying and how they are conveyed
Keep proof reading and re-drafting your writing (in all subjects)
Read and re-read the literature texts
Revise key themes and characters
Use the revision guides
Find and use revision techniques that work for you

22. GCSE Sciences: Changes
Out:
A*-G grades
Controlled assessments (previously worth 25% of each GCSE)
‘Double Science’ as 2 separate GCSEs
Mixing tiers
In:
9-1 grading system
Longer exams
Extra content dropped down from A-Level, or from Triple Science down to Combined Science
Practical skills assessed through required practical questions in exams

23. GCSE Sciences: Pathways
EITHER
GCSE Combined Science OR
GCSE Biology
AND
GCSE Chemistry
GCSE Physics
2x GCSEs
A small number of students will also be entered for Entry Level Certificate
‘Triple Science’ i.e. 3x GCSEs

24. GCSE Sciences: Exams GCSE Combined Science (Synergy)
Exam board – AQA
Tiers – Higher 9-4
Foundation 5-1
Length – All papers are 1 hour 45 minutes
Marks – 100 per paper
Grades – 17 point scale from 9-9, 9-8 to 1-2, 1-1
GCSE Sciences: Exams
GCSE Combined Science (Synergy)
Unit 1: Life and Environmental Science
Unit 2: Physical Science
Paper 1
Paper 2
Each paper can cover any of the content for that unit.
Paper 1 will have a greater emphasis on knowledge and application of the content
Paper 2 will have a greater emphasis on analysis and evaluation, as well as most of the work on required practicals

25. GCSE Sciences: Exams GCSE Combined Science (Synergy)
Biology, Chemistry and Physics are no longer split into separate papers
GCSE Combined Science (Synergy)
Unit 1: Life and Environmental Science
Unit 2: Physical Science
States of matter
Atomic structure
Cells in animals and plants
Waves
Systems in the human body
Plants and photosynthesis
Lifestyle and health
Radiation and risk
Preventing, treating and curing diseases
The Earth’s atmosphere
Ecosystems and biodiversity
Inheritance
Variation and evolution
The periodic table
Chemical quantities
Forces and energy changes
Types of chemical bonding
Magnetism and electromagnets
Forces and motion
Electricity
Acids and alkalis
The rate and extent of chemical change
Atoms into ions and ions into atoms
Carbon chemistry
Resources of materials and energy

26. GCSE Sciences: Exams GCSE Biology GCSE Chemistry GCSE Physics
Exam board – AQA
Tiers – Higher 9-4
Foundation 5-1
Length – All papers are 1 hour 45 minutes
Marks – 100 per paper
Grades – each GCSE is graded separately on a scale of 9-1
GCSE Sciences: Exams
GCSE Biology
GCSE Chemistry
GCSE Physics
Paper 1
Cell Biology
Organisation
Infection and response
Bioenergetics
Atomic structure and the periodic table
Bonding, structure and the properties of matter
Quantitative chemistry
Chemical changes
Energy changes
Energy
Electricity
Particle model of matter
Atomic structure
Paper 2
Homeostasis and response
Inheritance, variation and evolution
Ecology
The rate and extent of chemical change
Organic chemistry
Chemical analysis
Chemistry of the atmosphere
Using resources
Forces
Waves
Magnetism and electromagnetism
Space physics

27. Useful Information Sciencebv
Students will be given a homework sheet at the start of each term detailing topics and expectations. This sheet will also be shared via ClassCharts.
Students must keep on top of homework and meet all deadlines.
The students will be set much of their home learning on Doddle. This is an excellent resource containing presentations, interactive challenges and quizzes. USERNAME – always the students first name followed by surname and the year they joined the school. Boys and girls enter their names slightly differently
Boys
JohnSMITH15
Girls
PENNYLANE15
Science revision every Wednesday after school on the science corridor (B2/B3)
PASSWORD
ralph