1. Welcome to the 11 May ABPTA meeting. Objectives of the evening:
The evening will be hosted by Aaron Shufflebotham, Director of Learning KS5 and LM of the science faculty.
Please help yourself to water or juice and read the draft home school agreement and annotate it with any thoughts or suggestions
Objectives of the evening:
1- To consult parents on our new home school agreement before it is launched in September 2016.
2- To introduce the new GCSE science specifications and how the new GCSE grading system will work.
3- To inform parents of the exciting developments in the science faculty.

2. What science courses will ABS offer?
Triple Science- 3 Separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry & Physics
Entry Level Certificate in Science- L1 qualification taken before GCSEs that covers Biology, Chemistry & Physics
Combined Science- Trilogy 2 GCSEs that cover Biology, Chemistry & Physics

3. How are the courses assessed?
The GCSE qualifications are linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams at the end of the course. The Entry Level Certificate is assessed through a combination of coursework and externally set assignments.
Entry Level Certificate:
Combined Science- Trilogy:
Triple Science- Biology, Chemistry & Physics
Single award:
3 externally set assignments. 45 mins each. 20 marks. 57% weighting.
Double award:
6 externally set assignments. 45 mins each. 20 marks. 57% weighting.
3 teacher devised assignments. 15 marks. 43% weighting.
6 teacher devised assignments. 15 marks. 43% weighting.
Exams:
6 exams. 2 bio, 2 chem & 2 phys.
Each paper is 1 hour 15 minutes.
Foundation and Higher Tier.
70 marks.
16.7% of GCSE.
Core practicals:
7 bio, 6 chem & 8 phys.
These must be done and are asked about in the exams.
Each paper is 1 hour 45 minutes.
100 marks.
50% of GCSE.
10 bio, 8 chem & 10 phys.

4. From summer 2017, the way some GCSE’s are graded will be changing.
New GCSE specifications will use a new system of grading ranging from 9 (Highest grade) to 1 (Lowest grade).
U grades will continue as indicators that a qualification has not been passed.

5. Under the new system a good pass will constitute a grade 5 or above which roughly equates to a C+ on the current grading system.
GCSE subjects will not all move to the new grading system at the same time, but there will instead be three waves of change.
Summer 2017 (affecting the current Y10 and beyond): The GCSE subjects graded this way for the first time will be: English and Maths.
Summer 2018 (affecting the current Y9 and beyond): Sciences, Art and Design, Computer Science, Dance, Drama, Modern foreign languages, Geography, History, Music, PE.
Summer 2019 (affecting the current Y8 and beyond):Design and technology, Business, Media.
Further information about this and other reforms to GCSE and A-level qualifications can be found at the DfE website:

6. KS3 plans
Over the next few years move to a condensed 2 year KS3 program with only Y7 and 8.
Linked to “flying start” this year.
Once it is clear what the expectations are for the more rigorous KS3 and 4 curriculum this will perhaps become a 2 year (Y7 and Y8) KS3 course in science.
This will provide more time to teach the new GCSEs with terminal assessment.
It will also reduce some repetition from KS3 to 4.

7. Science Faculty Vision
Over the next few years we want the science faculty to be an outstanding STEM learning learning hub for the students that instils a love of the natural world whether or not they plan for a career in a STEM industry.
STEM funding
Outstanding results
Outstanding teachers and learners
Outstanding curriculum that meets the needs and challenges all
High expectations/ aspirations for all
Extracurricular development
Student engagement and progression in STEM careers
Primary school liaison

8. Some images of Westminster University to hint at the look and feel of our science department refurbishment.

14. Thank you