1. Welcome to our Year 10 target setting evening
Mr P McMenamin
Deputy Headteacher
November 2018

2. What we will cover this evening?
Distribution of your daughter’s progress report and attendance data
Explanation of progress report and attendance data
Input from English, Maths, RE and Science
Key dates in the Year 10 calendar
Next steps
Opportunity to discuss progress with staff

3. What does the progress report contain?
A current grade: the grade your daughter is currently working at
GCSE grades range from BTEC subjects are assessed using Pass, Merit and Distinction grades
A predicted grade : the grade teachers estimate your daughter will achieve in 2020 based on her current rate of progress
A challenging target grade (the minimum grade we feel she should aim to achieve)
% attendance to date
We will also send you a progress report if you daughter is accessing GCSE classes outside the school day
Where a current grade is lower than the target grade, please remember that progress is not linear. It is also still early in the GCSE course
Where the predicted grade is lower than the target grade, support will be ongoing in each subject area

4. Changes to the GCSE grading system
GCSE exams have traditionally been graded from A*-U since their introduction in 1988
National GCSE reforms mean all GCSE examinations will be graded from This process started in summer 2017
All GCSE examinations sat in 2020 will be graded from 9-1

5. New GCSE grade
Comparative grade 9 A* 8
A*/A 7 A 6 B 5
B/C 4 C 3
D/E 2
E/F 1 G

6. Why does this report matter?
An important milestone towards summer exams
They tell us as teachers where your strengths are and what you need to do to improve
We are now well into the first year of GCSE studies so these grades will help to focus minds
There is still plenty of time to make a difference to your final GCSE grade

7. Why do your English and Maths results matter?
Students who get good GCSE passes in both English and Maths, along with at least their other GCSE qualifications will have a wider range of Post-16 options
Students who get good GCSE passes in both English and Maths, along with at their other GCSE qualifications earn a higher average salary over the course of their working life than those who don’t

8. English update
Ms Whitehead, Curriculum leader for English

9. Two GCSEs
English Language GCSE
English Literature GCSE

10. English Language
100% exam 2 exams – No tiers of entry Component 1: Reading – Five reading questions on an extract from a 20th Century prose text. Creative prose writing – 1 task from a choice of four titles. 1 hour 45 minutes. Component 2: Reading – Six reading questions on extracts from 19th and 21st century non-fiction texts. Two compulsory Transactional/Persuasive writing tasks. Spoken Language assessment – 1 task. Does NOT form part of final grade.

11. English Literature Component 1: 2 hours. Closed book.
Shakespeare. One extract and one essay question on a Shakespeare text.
Poetry from 1789 – present. Two questions based on poems from the WJEC/Eduqas Poetry Anthology.
Component 2: 2 ½ hours. Closed book
Post 1914 Prose/Drama – source based essay question.
19th Century prose – source based essay question.
Unseen poetry – response

12. Implications of 100% exam Knowledge of set texts. Importance of VSSPS.
Regular opportunities for exam practice, both in the classroom and more formal setting.
New grading system 9-1 – grade 9 not criteria based.
Opportunity to buy own copies of set texts and annotate.

13. Maths update
Miss Henderson, Acting Head of Mathematics.

14. GCSE MATHS
Tiers
Foundation; Grades 1-5 
Higher; Grades 4-9

15. 3 EXAM PAPERS WHICH ARE
1HR 30 MINS EACH

16. GCSE MATHS
The new GCSE is a much larger, more ‘challenging’ GCSE in Maths.
There is more emphasis on solving problems that require multi-step solutions. There will be new topics at both tiers.
In addition, students will be expected to learn key mathematical formulae by heart. For example;

17. GCSE MATHS SUPPORT Kerboodle Revision Guides and Workbooks (CGP)
Drop in revision
Revision materials available from individual staff.
Past papers and mark schemes available online and onmaths.com.
On-line revision materials: MathsWatchvle

18. Miss Adams Acting Head of RE
Religious Education
Miss Adams
Acting Head of RE

19. 100% exam 3 exams – No tiers of entry
Component 1 (90mins) Origins & Meaning / Good & Evil
Component 2 (90 mins) Life & Death / Sin & Forgiveness
Component 3 (60mins) Judaism – Beliefs & Teachings / Practices

20. 4 different style of questions
A – 2 marks
Keyword definition
B - 5 Marks
‘Describe’ – usually refers to a source
C – 8 Marks
‘Explain’ – must include evidence or examples in the answer
D – 15 Marks
‘Discuss’ – must include a range of views – religious / non religious / personal opinion

21. Available to purchase in school at a discounted price.
Revision Guide
Past paper questions
Exam practice and sample answers
Short summary questions after each unit
Keywords for each unit
Exam focus – hints & tips
Available to purchase in school at a discounted price.
-ParentPay

22. Sciences update Mrs Hayward, Curriculum leader for Sciences.
Mr. McBurney, HoD Biology.
Mr. Coupe, HoD Chemistry.
Miss Yates, HoD Physics.

23. Two Pathways in GCSE Sciences
Separate Sciences in Biology, Chemistry and Physics (worth 3 GCSEs).
10Sc Currently completing first half of the B/C/P courses.
- Completing the ‘Required Practicals’.
- Progress Test 1 October 2018.
- Re-setting takes place.
- Progress Test 2 February 2019.
- Decisions on final entry for Separate Sciences Progress Test 3 May 2019.
- June 20th 2019 – Parent’s Evening.
Final grades are determined by performance in external examinations in summer 2020.
Biology = TWO papers each 1 hour and 45 minutes
Chemistry = TWO papers each 1 hour and 45 minutes
Physics = TWO papers each 1 hour and 45 minutes
No coursework
Practical work is assessed through questions on the external examinations.

24. Two Pathways in GCSE Sciences
Combined Science (worth 2 GCSEs) Grades 9,9 to grades 4,4 (Higher)
Grades 5,5 to grades 1,1 (Foundation)
10Sc2/3/4/5/6 - Currently completing first half of the B/C/P courses.
- Completing the Required Practicals.
- Progress Test 1 October 2018.
- Re-setting takes place.
- Progress Test 2 February 2019.
- Decisions on Tier of entry Higher/Foundation Progress Test 3 May 2019.
- June 20th 2019 – Parent’s Evening
Final grades are determined by performance in external examinations in summer 2020.
Biology = TWO papers each 1 hour and 15 minutes
Chemistry = TWO papers each 1 hour and 15 minutes
Physics = TWO papers each 1 hour and 15 minutes
No coursework
Practical work is assessed through questions on the external examinations.

25. GCSE Sciences Support
Pupils have access to Kerboodle – gives access to digital version of the text used in class and support materials for the course. Link to Kerboodle GCSE Sciences
Revision Guides and Workbooks (CGP) available in school from O’Neill Reception (lunchtimes until end of Nov.)
£5.50 each for Combined Science.
£2.75 each for Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
Drop in revision sessions operating B/C/P.
Revision materials available from individual staff.
Past papers and mark schemes available from AQA website.
On-line revision materials My-gcsescience.com available to purchase from school.
Please collect a letter from Mrs. Hayward if you would like to purchase Revision Guides or access to My-gcsescience.com at a reduced price.

26. Your mission… To attend school on time and attend everyday!
Why? If you are not here , you can’t learn

27. 365 days in a year Only 190 are spent in school
You can do what you want with the rest of your year
Only 5 hours of learning in each of those days
You can do what you want with the rest of your day

28. Attendance matters!

29. Key dates Work experience 21st January to 1st February 2019
Year 10 exams begin 29th April 2019
Y10 parents evening Thursday 20th June 2019 (4pm-6pm)
Employability interviews Summer term 2019

30. Holidays (use time wisely)
Christmas: Thursday 20th December – Monday 7th January 2019
February half-term: Mon 18th February –Friday 22nd February 2019
Easter break: Monday 8th April– Friday 19th April 2019
May half-term: Monday 27th May – Friday 31st May 2019

31. Bellerive FCJ Sixth Form Centre

37. Show My Homework
All students and parents have access to ‘Show My Homework’
This can be accessed via the link on the school website
Show My Homework allows teachers to upload homework tasks and resources. These can be seen by parents and students
Log-in details have been sent home via your daughter

38. What can parents do to help with GCSE studies in general?
Encourage your daughter to attend extra support classes
Ensure there is a suitable study location at home
Minimise her time on social networking and the internet
Continue to support us in making sure your daughter attends school and is punctual
Contact us with any concerns

39. What happens next?
Copies of the parent information booklet, a revision booklet and a copy of the online support document are available via the school website
This PowerPoint will be available on the school website (
Please contact the relevant subject leader if you have any concerns or speak to us this evening
Curriculum leaders and senior leaders can be contacted by telephone at school
Many thanks for taking the time to attend this evening