Getting Ahead How to prepare your child for excellence in the new GCSEs At Wilmslow High School.
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Transcript of Getting Ahead How to prepare your child for excellence in the new GCSEs At Wilmslow High School.
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Getting Ahead
How to prepare your child for excellence in the new GCSEs
At Wilmslow High School
How are the new GCSEs different?
Harder content
Terminal exams – more to remember and exam-based
No re-sits – students need to get it right first time
New grading: 9-1 with 9 as a harder grade to achieve than A*
Focus on literacy
No separate KS3/ KS4 – students are on a flight path to GCSE from Year 7
A recommended Baccalaureate route
Core E Baccalaureat
e subjects
Any 3 subjects
Whole Curriculum
Facilitating Subjects For breadth
MathematicsEnglish
LanguageEnglish
Literature
Any 3 from the following options:PhysicsBiology
ChemistryCore Science
Additional Science
Computer ScienceHistory
GeographyFrench
GermanSpanish
Any 3 subjectss from the E Bacc. list
or other options
PEPHSCE
RE
What does excellence in the new GCSEs require?
Practice hours: hard work in lessons and for homework
Struggle: 80% learning
Literacy skills: reading and extended writing
Ability to memorise content
Ability to apply knowledge to new contexts and abstract thinking
Tenacity
How will we keep you informed?
Your child’s work:
i. Assessments to prepare students for GCSE
ii. Clear feedback from teachers
Contact through your child’s planner
Progress based reporting
Appropriate grouping to ensure that your child is getting the right level of support and challenge
Find out more
Telegraph article GCSE reforms: explained
5 Parenting Strategies to Develop a Growth Mindset This is aimed at primary level but has some useful tips that can be applied to teenagers
A scholarly article on the link between learning knowledge and expertise: Inflexible Knowledge: The First Step to Expertise
How will English GCSE be different?
No coursework – exams in Language and Literature after 2 years
Literature exams will be ‘closed book’ – this means that students will not be allowed to have the texts with them
There will be no tiered entry – all students will sit the same exams
Language exams involve responding to sources including C19th texts and varied writing tasks
What does excellence look like in English?
Accuracy/precision in written work Increased focus on extended writing tasks –
exploring ideas in detail Increased importance of spelling, punctuation and
grammar Reading: all students should have an extra-
curricular reading book on them at all times At least 2-3 hours independent reading per week Organisation: ensuring that the correct
equipment/books are brought to lessons
KS3 Assessment
Working towards ‘Mastery’ in different skills key to excellence at GCSE
Reading skills: Writing skills:
1)Understanding 1)Writer’s craft
2)Inference 2) Organisation
3)Language analysis 3)Vocabulary
4) Contextual considerations 4) Structure
How you can help...
Support your child’s reading: all students must develop the tenacity to complete longer texts
Spelling: we will put lists of frequently misspelt words on the VLE. Feel free to conduct spelling tests at home!
Literacy activities are available on the VLE
Students will have a literacy booklet to revise from in school – feel free to test their knowledge at home!
Encourage your child to take pride in their work.
Find out more
WHS recommended reading list: available to students from the LRC and to all on the VLE
BBC bitesize website
Curriculum Digest
IGE – free app for phones to help with grammar
How will Maths GCSE be different?
It will be more demanding: Increased volume Increased demand Increased exam time Fewer marks for lower grades, more marks for
higher grades Greater emphasis on problem solving & reasoning Fewer formulae given
How will Maths GCSE be different?
Current GCSE G F E D C B A A*
Current Foundatio
n
Current Higher
New Foundatio
n
New Higher
1 4 5 9New grades
Set 4 Grades
50%
25%
25%
50%
50%
50%
50%
35%
40%
25%
What does excellence look like in Maths?
Entering the maths classroom mentally and physically ‘prepared to work’
Being confident and competent in basic maths skills.
Completing homework to the best of their ability and handing it in ‘on time’.
Asking questions.
Practise, Practise, Practise!
Find out more
www.edexcel.com/maths
Many differing resources on the VLE
www.mymaths.co.uk
Nrich.maths.org
Revision guide
Ask your teacher
Mr Hughes & Mrs Mackintosh available each lunchtime in the maths atrium.
How will Science GCSE be different?
Terminal examinations: at the end of Year 11
Grades will change from letters to numbers, ranging from 9-1
No controlled assessment (coursework)
More challenging, demanding content
Practical work is placed at the heart of learning
What does excellence look like in Science?
The expectation by all that you work hard in lessons and at home
You expect to be challenged by scientific concepts
You are able to apply those scientific concepts
Your written work shows care, thought, insight and dialogue!
Concepts and theories are tested through practical experiences in lessons
How will you know if Triple Science is the right option?
If you relish the idea of spending 9 periods a week in science lessons
If you get out of bed and think ‘great, I have science today’
If you want to discuss such phenomena as why ice floats on water when it’s a solid?
If you are consistently producing work that is at or beyond a projected GCSE B grade
Find out more
Speak with Mr G Jones initially
Speak with your science teacher
Read the KS4 Course Choice booklet carefully when it is published
Talk as a family about your choices
Visit our LRC to read our wide variety of periodicals
Preparing for Excellence
‘Whole Education’
PE – healthy body….healthy mind
PHSCE – personal development
Responsibility and community: leadership and volunteering
Challenge: D of E
Friendships/skills….‘X-tra’
Enrich and experience: educational visits
Wellbeing: The Hub
Work and life ready…stepping stone
How do you achieve excellence?
Everyone is different
Do your best
Make the most of your opportunities
Take risks
Aspirations: aim high
Passion and drive
Don’t give up
Listen to advice/feedback
Learn from role models
Believe in yourself
Do you have a ‘can do’ mindset?
Mindset matters
Fixed mindset – intelligence can’t improve
Growth mindset – intelligence is a quality that can be developed
Brain is a muscle….make it stronger
3 steps to developing a growth mindset:
1. Learn, learn and learn
2. Understand hard work is key
3. Accept setbacks
Fixed vs Growth…which are you?
Year 12 reflections: ‘top tips’
Option process:
“Think ahead”
“Don’t choose based on teachers”
“Choose a good mixture”
“Don’t choose with your mates”
“Find out what’s involved”
“Talk about it……don’t do it on your own”
More student ‘top tips’
“Don’t wait until Year 11”
“Get a routine”
“Put the phone away!”
“Worth working hard….but have a life”
“Get organised!”
“You need sleep”
“Don’t be scared to ask for help”
“Don’t look back with regret….can’t do it again”
“Get involved in other stuff….more to school than exams”
Find out more
Mindset: how you can fulfil your potential (Carol Dweck)
Outliers: the science of success (Malcolm Gladwell)
The genius in us all: why everything you’ve been told aout genetics, talent and IQ is wrong (David Shenk)
Drive: the surprising truth about what motivates us (Daniel Pink TED Talk)
Bounce: the myth of talent and the power of practice (Matthew Syed)
What can you do to help your child?
Practice hours: Ensure that your child is putting in the homework hours
Struggle: Check that your child is in the ‘struggle zone’ with their work and encourage them to do it for themselves
Literacy skills: reading and extended writing: the more reading, writing and vocabulary work your child is doing the better
Ability to memorise content: Attend our Parental Learning Evening on developing memory capacity
Ability to apply knowledge to new contexts and abstract thinking: Encourage your child to use a Thinking Journal to connect learning
Tenacity: Encourage your child to keep going – organisation is vital – they need to be punctual and prepared for learning
What if you have any concerns about your
child’s progress
Speak to the appropriate person tonight Contact us at the school:
i. Form tutor
ii. Head of House
iii. Subject Teacher
iv. Subject CTL
v. SENCO
vi. Deputy Headteacher
What next?
Parent Voice: What else do you need from us?
Aspirations Programme
Parent Learning Evening on building memory capacity
Options Process will begin…
High Notes