1. Welcome to the Year 10 Introduction to GCSE Evening

2. Plan for this evening 7.00- 7.15pm: Introduction – Dr Newbold
pm: English – Ms Gesner
pm: Maths – Mrs White-Zamler
pm: Science – Mr West

3. Changes to the GCSEs
New GCSE qualifications have been introduced in all subjects over the past 2 years.
These are based on the new 9-1 Grade Scale.

4. What are the key changes?
These new specifications:
contain new, more challenging content
are assessed differently
are graded differently

5. What are the main changes in assessment?
In most subjects, all assessment (counting towards the final grade) will be based on final examinations.
These examinations will take place at the end of Year 11.
There will not be any controlled assessment/ coursework.

6. A few exceptions
In some subjects there will still be some ‘non-examined assessment’:
Art & Design, Dance, Drama, Food
BTEC Children’s Play, Learning & Development

7. What are the other main changes in assessment?
In most subjects (apart from Languages, maths and science), all students will sit the same exam papers.
There will be more challenging command words (e.g. discuss, evaluate).
There will be more unstructured (longer) responses.
There will be a greater mathematical element (e.g. business, geography, science)

8. Grading - the new 9-1 Scale
The grading scale has changed from A*-G to 9-1 (9 is the highest grade) – and U.
The new benchmark for a ‘standard pass’ grade will be a ‘4’ (equivalent to a low C).
The new benchmark for a ‘strong pass’ will be a ‘5’ (equivalent to a high C/ low B).
The old A* grade has been divided into two new grades - a Grade 8 or 9.

9. How does the new grade scale work?
Current GCSE grades
New GCSE grades A* 9 8 7 A B 6 5 4 C D 3 2 1 E F G

10. Year 10 Key dates 2017-19 Date Exams 16th April-20th April 2017
Year 10 Exams
Early December 2018
Mid March 2019
Year 11 Mock Exams - 1st set
Year 11 Mock Exams - 2nd set
Mid May-Late June 2019
Final GCSE Exams

11. Introduction to GCSE English Language and GCSE English Literature
Subject Leader: Hazel Waelend

12. GCSE English Language

13. Paper 1: Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing
Assessed
Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
80 marks
50% of GCSE
Questions:
Reading (40 marks) (25%) – one single text (20th or 21st century fiction text)
1 short form question (1 x 4 marks)
2 longer form questions (2 x 8 marks)
1 extended question (1 x 20 marks)
Writing (40 marks) (25%)
1 extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy)

14. Paper 2: Writers' Viewpoints and Perspectives
Assessed
Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
80 marks
50% of GCSE
Questions
Reading (40 marks) (25%) – two linked texts (19th and either 20th or 21st century non-fiction)
1 short form question (1 x 4 marks)
2 longer form questions (1 x 8, 1 x 12 marks)
1 extended question (1 x 16 marks)
Writing (40 marks) (25%)
1 extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy)

15. Non-examination Assessment: Spoken Language
presenting
responding to questions and feedback
use of Standard English
Assessed
teacher set throughout course
marked by teacher
separate endorsement (0% weighting of GCSE)

16. GCSE English Literature

17. Paper 1: Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel
Shakespeare play – ‘Romeo and Juliet’
The 19th-century novel – ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’
Assessed
Written closed book exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
64 marks
40% of GCSE
Questions
Section A Shakespeare: students will answer one question on their play of choice. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the play and then to write about the play as a whole.
Section B The 19th-century novel: students will answer one question on their novel of choice. They will be required to write in detail about an extract from the novel and then to write about the novel as a whole.

18. Paper 2: Modern texts and poetry
Modern prose or drama texts – ‘An Inspector Calls’
The poetry anthology - ‘Power and Conflict’ provided by the exam board
Unseen poetry
Assessed
Written closed book exam: 2 hour 15 minutes
96 marks
60% of GCSE
Questions
Section A Modern texts: students will answer one essay question from a choice of two on their studied modern prose or drama text.
Section B Poetry: students will answer one comparative question on one named poem printed on the paper and one other poem from their chosen anthology cluster.
Section C Unseen poetry: Students will answer one question on one unseen poem and one question comparing this poem with a second unseen poem.

19. How can you support your son/ daughter?
Encourage them to read widely - fiction and non-fiction (newspapers, news internet pages, biographies and so on).
Speak to your son/ daughter about what they are reading
Look in their English exercise book and discuss the work that they are doing. Encourage them to engage with. targets, complete additional tasks that have been set by their teacher.
Purchase the set texts so that they can annotate them in lessons and make them useful revision resources.

20. GCSE Maths Subject Leader: Mrs White-Zamler

21. Expectations Bringing correct equipment
‘Ready to Learn’ – attitude for learning
Resilience
Homework 2 x 45 minutes a week completed to a high standard
Asking for help
Deliberate Practice

22. OCR 21st Century Science B (9-1)
Simon West
Head of Science
@gillotts_sci

23. Pathway 1- Combined Science Pathway 2- Separate Science
2 GCSEs
Higher paper (9-4)
Foundation paper (5-1)
8 lessons a fortnight
2 teachers/
3 teachers
Focus on numeracy, application of knowledge and practical skills
Pathway 2- Separate Science

24. GCSE Curriculum
Biology (6 units)
B1- You and Your Genes
B2- Keeping Healthy
B3- Living Together- Food and Ecosystems
B4- Using Food and Controlling Growth
B5- The Human Body- Staying Alive
B6- Life on Earth: Past, present and future.
Chemistry (6 units)
C1- Air and Water
C2- Chemical Patterns
C3- Chemicals of the Natural Environment
C4- Material Choices
C5- Chemical Analysis
C6- Making Useful Chemicals
Physics (6 units)
P1- Radiation and Waves
P2- Sustainable Energy
P3- Electric Circuits
P4- Explaining Motion
P5- Radioactive Materials
P6- Matter: Models and Explanations
N.B. Students completed unit B1, C1 and P1 in the summer term of Year 9.

25. Practical Elements
The ‘old style’ controlled assessment/coursework part of the GCSE courses has now been phased out...
Practical skills will be embedded into the science curriculum.
These skills will then be examined in their final GCSE exams across all papers.
To support students, we will provide structured PAG sheets where necessary to allow students to cover all skills needed.

26. I have order forms for you to buy through school tonight...
Learning Resources
It is an expectation that students purchase a revision guide to use throughout their course….
CGP Revision Guides/workbooks
I have order forms for you to buy through school tonight...
Focus science website
Quizlet app
GCSEPod
Science Department Revision Packs (Spring 2018)

27. Supporting Students
Whether students have opted for combined science or separate science it is important that they see the future value of attaining as higher qualification as possible.
Possible careers (COMBINED & SEPARATE)- nursing, health and social care, physiotherapist, doctor, open heart surgeon, sustainability, environmental officer……teacher?
Helpful hints to maximise progress in science…
Discuss work covered in lessons with students around the dinner table?
Check homework is completed and ask students how they went about it
Ask your son/daughter to teach you what they have learnt
Encourage them to engage with science news (BBC)

28. New Grades vs Old

29. The second part of the evening