1. Welcome to the Year 10 Curriculum Evening September 2018
Key Stage

2. Outline GCSE Assessment schedule Exams Monitoring & Tracking Reporting
Higher Tier or Foundation Tier at GCSE
Study Tips
Revision & Preparation

3. GCSE Assessment Schedule
GCSE is assessed by a combination of Examinations, Practical Elements and Controlled Assessment.
Currently Y10 students will be sitting a Full GCSE exam in Religious Studies and an IGCSE in English language
GCSE final certification will take place in the Summer of Year 11
In English 20% of the marks available will be allocated to SPaG. Other subjects will have a varying requirement.
Some subjects Ma & RS are assessed by exam only, in these subjects the specification has been organised into distinct units which can be examined separately, refer to Ma in Assessment schedule hand out.
Others have a Controlled Assessment element, this replaces coursework due to issues regarding plagiarism and each subject has different requirements, refer to Sc ISA.

4. Exams, Practical Elements & Controlled Assessments
Each Exam, Practical Element and Controlled Assessment will require the necessary amount of preparation.
Teaching will move on to the next topics in preparation for the next Practical Element or Controlled Assessment
Due to the ongoing nature of the GCSE Schedule, there is no slack time!
Y11 now have 21 full school weeks left
Y10 therefore have approximately 48 full school weeks left……
Preparation: revision, organisation, determination, persistence.
Get it right now as the course will move on.

5. Subject Summary for Exams, Practical Elements & Controlled Assessments
Art:
OCR J171
Portfolio 60% Set Task 40% (10hrs)
Biology:
AQA 8461
2 Exams 1hr 45mins each 50% each + 10 Required Practicals
Chemistry:
AQA 8462
2 Exams 1hr 45mins each 50% each + 8 Required Practicals
Computer Studies:
Eduqas 601/8291/X
1 Exam 1hr 45mins 62.5% + Online Exam 2hrs 37.5% + Programming Project (20hrs)
Design and Technology:
AQA 8552
1 Exam 2hrs 50% + Portfolio & Prototype manufacture 50% (30-35hrs)
Drama:
CAMBRIDGE IGCSE 0411
1 Exam 2hr 30mins 40% + 3 Practical Pieces 60%
Preparation: revision, organisation, determination, persistence.
Get it right now as the course will move on.

6. Economics: English Language: English Literature: French/Spanish:
OCR J105
2 Exams 1hr30mins 50% each
English Language:
CAMBRIDGE IGCE 0500 (Y10)
2 Exams 50% each P1 1hr45mins P2 2hrs
AQA 8700 (Y11)
2 Exams 1hr45mins 50% each (SPaG 20%)+ Spoken Language Task
English Literature:
AQA 8702
2 Exams: P1 1hr45mins 40% P2 2hrs15mins 60%
French/Spanish:
AQA 8658
4 components 25% each: P1 Listening Exam 35/45mins, P2 Speaking Task, P3 Reading Exam 45/60mins, P4 Writing Exam 1hr/1hr 15mins
Geography:
OCR J384
3 Exams: P1 & P2 1hr 45mins 35% each, P3 1hr 30mins 30% Field Work Study
History:
AQA 8145
2 Exams 1hr45mins 50% each
ICT:
Cambridge IGCSE 0417
3 components: P1 Exam 2hrs 40% P2 Practical Test 2hrs30mins 30% P3 Practical Task 2hrs30mins 30%
Preparation: revision, organisation, determination, persistence.
Get it right now as the course will move on.

7. Mathematics: Further Mathematics: Music: Physical Education: Physics:
AQA 8300
3 Exams 1hr30mins 33.33% each
Further Mathematics:
AQA 8365
2 Exams 50% each 1hr45mins
Music:
OCR J536
3 components: P1 Portfolio 30% P2 Practical Performance 30% P3 Exam 1hr30mins 40%
Physical Education:
AQA 8582
3 components: P1 & P2 Exams 30% each1hr15mins, P3 Practical Performance & Analysis 40%
Physics:
AQA 8463
2 Exams: P1 & P2 1hr 45mins 50% each, + 10 Required Practicals
Religious Studies:
Edexcel 1RB0
2 Exams 1hr45mins 50% each
Science:
AQA 8464 {Trilogy: Biology, Chemistry & Physics ≡ 2GCSEs}
6 Exams 1hr15mins 16.7% each + 21 Required Practicals
Preparation: revision, organisation, determination, persistence.
Get it right now as the course will move on.

8. Monitoring & Tracking
As your son completes Internal Assessments, GCSE Exams or CAs his progress will be monitored by Mr McGinty
Any student causing academic concern will be given the necessary attention to ensure he understands what needs to be done
Depending on the nature of the concern parents may be contacted
Parents are encouraged to register any concern they may have about their son’s progress,

9. Reporting
To keep parents appraised of their son’s progress through Key Stage 4 (KS4) Interim Reports are produced at Christmas and Easter. These reports include a Minimum Expected Grade for the current year and a judgement as to how likely your son is to make that grade by the end of the year.
Parent’s evening takes place during the Spring Term and a full report is produced at the end of the Summer term in Y10
A full report replaces the interim report at Christmas of Y11
Explain how the Bench Mark grade is aquired.

10. New Grading System

11. Minimum Expected Grades
Median (middle person) achieves a 5 in Y11 in Geography: Hence our minimum expectation will be a 5 in Y11. in Y9 & Y10 these number grades will be sub divided into say; 4-, 4 & 4+

12. Higher Tier or Foundation Tier In Maths & Science at GCSE
Higher Tier allows access to
New Grades 9 to 4
Foundation Tier allows access to
New Grades 5 to 1
The Grade 9 will be awarded to approximately the top 20% of students achieving Grade 7 or 8.
The Head of Maths, MFL & Science departments will make a judgement as to which tier your son will be entered for in November of Y11. Evidence from previous performance coupled with current progress is used when making the judgement. We want the best grade possible.

13. Study Tips PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT
ATTEND MATHS HELP SESSIONS: Tuesday to Friday 8:00am to 8:30am; Tuesday 3:30pm to 4:30pm and Thursday 3:30pm to 4:15pm
Ask questions as often as necessary
Learn the TIMES TABLES   
Seek extra help on trickier topics
Attention levels at maximum
Concentration levels at maximum

14. General considerations
The Homework timetable can be used as a template for organisation
In KS4 homework is set with duration of up to 45 minutes per homework. 
Your son may finish a particular homework within that time frame; that is excellent news as he has clearly understood the task set and has been able to complete the work independently.  However, any remaining time (of the 45minutes) can  then be used in any of the following ways:
Review previous work in that subject,
Make some summary notes on recent topics,
Learn key spellings,
Learn key facts,

15. Test himself on the facts he thinks he knows,
Read through his notes,
Read through any set texts,
Re-read any set texts,
Do some past paper questions **,
Organise next week’s independent work,
Teach you the recent topic to demonstrate understanding,
Make a power point presentation on the topic,
Make some summary notes on not so recent topics,    

16. Revision
Purpose: To be prepared in sufficient time to enable students to achieve their full potential
Organisation is the key element of an effective Revision Timetable
Students need to realise that they are the ones who will benefit from their efforts
Revision lists found via the website, go via
The Home page; Members tab (log in);
Students;
Exams;
Exam information & revision
If you fail to plan you plan to fail!

17. Revision Power Point Summary
Download from school website:
Section 1: Retention
Section 2: Developing a method
Organising yourself
Time-table
Time-table examples
Section 3: Session outline/structure
Section 4: Other considerations

18. Thank you for your attention.
Any Questions?
If you have any concerns that occur to you later this evening please do not hesitate to contact Mr McGinty.