1. Making the most of booster classes October 2002
National Strategy
for Key Stage 3
Making the most of booster classes October 2002

2. Objectives of the session
To help teachers to enable pupils in Year 9 to maximise their achievements at the end of Key Stage 3
To help schools to make the best use of booster money and materials
Slide 1

3. What’s in the booster kits
Guidance
A set of booster lessons
A leaflet for pupils
A leaflet for parents and guardians
Slide 2

4. Ways of organising booster lessons
Extra set
Homework clubs
Revision classes
Additional time
Extra lesson time
Feedback tutorials
Coaching tutorials
Mentoring support
Additional adult support
Slide 3

5. Planning revision and booster provision
When planning revision strategies and booster
provision, schools will need to take account of:
specific needs of pupils
timetable constraints and travel arrangements
available expertise
using additional adults and teaching assistants
securing the attendance of the pupils
Slide 4

6. Changes to the Year 9 tests: English
There are three changes to the tests for 2003:
Levels will be reported separately for reading and writing, as well as for English overall.
Reading will be assessed using a separate reading booklet containing three linked texts. There will be approximately 15 questions.
The Shakespeare paper will have two sections. Section A is a short writing task linked in theme to the play studied. Section B is a reading task based on two extracts from the two set scenes.
The writing paper will involve a longer writing task.
The changes from 2003 have been designed to promote greater
consistency in assessing English across the key stages. The same
set of assessment focuses for reading and writing will apply to all
statutory and optional tests.
Slide 5

7. Changes to the Year 9 tests: mathematics
There is one change to the assessment of
mathematics from 2003:
More questions that require pupils to use their skills in using and applying mathematics (Ma1).
From 2003 there will be more questions that require
pupils to apply their problem-solving skills, give
reasons for their answers, and communicate these
mathematically. The mark schemes will identify
where marks for Ma1 have been assigned.
Slide 6

8. Changes to the Year 9 tests: science
There is one change to the tests for 2003:
An increase in the number of questions assessing scientific enquiry (Sc1).
From 2003 there will be more questions that assess
pupils in the development of scientific ideas and
using scientific evidence (Sc1). Questions may be in
the context of any of the science attainment targets
and there may also be discrete Sc1 questions.
Slide 7

9. Changes to the Year 9 tests: science (cont.)
Questions in the test may ask pupils:
how an investigation could be carried out;
what factors need to be controlled;
what factors need to be measured;
whether the outcome can be predicted;
how the results are going to be presented;
what the results show and whether they match the prediction;
to explain the outcome and whether the evidence collected is significant, reliable and valid.
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10. English booster lessons
Lessons 1–4 focus on reading, and the demands of the reading paper.
Lessons 5–10 focus on the Shakespeare questions – three sets of two lessons for each of the three set plays.
Lessons 11–15 focus on writing, and the demands of both the longer and shorter writing tasks.
Lesson 16 enables pupils to review their work and set personal targets in the run-up to the tests.
Slide 9

11. Structure of booster lessons
Remember
Model
Try
Apply
Secure
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12. Mathematics booster lessons
Topics which have caused difficulty
Focus on using and applying mathematics
Aimed at level 5 and level 6
One hour but teachers may need to select activities
Basis of pre-teaching prior to the topic being taught in lessons
Detailed lesson plans including resource sheets
Use examples from the Framework and tests as a focus for teaching
Slide 11

13. Science booster lessons
Topics which cause more difficulty, and scientific enquiry
Aimed at level 5 and level 6
One hour
Smaller booster groups
Detailed lesson plans, including resources
A range of activities
No practice questions
Departments should decide which to use
Slide 12