2. Maths Mr Johnston KS4 Coordinator

3. Maths – what are the changes?
Old GCSE
Grading system A*- G
Content for 3 and a half hours of examination – 2 x 1 hour 45 mins
Difficult exam
New GCSE
Grading system 9 - 1
Content for 4 and a half hours of examination – 3 x 1 hour 30 mins (2 calculator papers)
Much more difficult exam

5. Maths – how has it become more difficult?
Foundation
Many new topics on the course that were once just for higher students
e.g – trigonometry, simultaneous equations, cumulative frequency and box plots
Higher
More topics on the course that were once just for A Level students
e.g composite functions, area under curves

6. Maths – supporting your child with formulae

7. Maths – supporting your child with formulae

8. You still need one of these!
There are now 2 calculator papers and it is important that your child is familiar with using their own calculator

9. Maths – how can you help?
Encourage your child to revise for the end of unit and mock assessments
Help them to learn key formulae
Ensure they have excellent attendance
Monitor their independent learning, including homework

10. Maths – how we are helping
Specific intervention sessions for pupils falling below target
Revision sessions after school for higher and foundation students
Mock assessments with question analysis, so that pupils can see which topics they need to be working on
Subscription to interactive maths programmes

11. Maths – how we are helping

12. Maths – online help
Packages subscribed to by school – MyMaths, Mathswatch
Other free to use resources – BBC Bitesize, GCSE Mr Barton Maths, YouTube, Corbett Maths

13. Maths – what pupils need to be doing
Make sure they address any gaps in their knowledge from topics previously taught. These can be identified using the question analysis grid
Attend lessons and revision sessions and have the correct attitude to learning
Start revising now! Leaving revision until after Christmas is too late
Ask for help and use all available resources to assist

14. Maths – Revision Guides
Revision guide, revision workbook and flash cards available from school. All 3 cost £10

15. English Mrs Hodgson KS4 Coordinator

16. An overview of the course
New GCSE
Grading system 9 - 1
The student will receive two separate GCSEs in this subject (Language and Literature)
Each one is marked separately and given a separate grade
Closed book exams
No tiers – there’s no glass ceiling!

17. English Language 100 % Exam 2 papers ( 1 hour 45 minutes each)
Reading (fiction and non fiction)
Writing (descriptive and transactional)

18. English Literature
Paper one: 1 hour 45 minutes (Shakespeare and A Christmas Carol)
Paper Two: 2 hours 15 minutes (An Inspector Calls, Anthology Poetry, Unseen Poetry)
Closed book - Quotations and reference to the text must be from memory.
The students can be asked about any character, any theme and any part of the text
“Know the text. If you know the text well you will be able to demonstrate this knowledge and understanding in the exam.”

19. How are we helping?
Schemes of work/differentiated lessons – characters, themes, understanding of the plot
Past papers/examiners’ reports – used to inform planning/intervention
Class intervention/personal intervention
Lunch time/after school revision
Weekly homework to expand on learning
Departmental tracker – analysis of student performance
Regular mock exams
Pupil voice

20. How can you help? Pupils could have their own copies of the texts
Ensure they have excellent attendance
Encourage them to complete homework to a high standard
Encourage them to attend any revision that is available
Help them revise key quotations for each text – you don’t have to know the text yourself.
Online resources – BBC Bitesize/YouTube
Encourage them to read – whatever it is, it will help with their understanding of language
Make sure they’re looking after themselves

21. “The book to read is not the one that thinks for you but the one that makes you think”
-Harper Lee