Welcome from Mr Gaughan

Curriculum

Pupil Targets & Tracking

How to succeed

Pastoral Support

Curriculum

Curriculum Changes All GCSEs are now linear Controlled Assessments continue in some subjects Vocational qualifications (OCR/BTEC) can only count

as 1 qualification (far fewer than previous years) English Baccalaureate (EBacc) – combination of

subjects to be passed at A*-C (English, Maths, 2 Sciences, Language, Humanity) continues

Government have previously stated that if Grade C is not achieved in English and Maths, students must continue to study them up to the age of 18

Why do GCSEs matter? Doorway to further study post-16 Colleges looking for 5A*-C GCSEs to study advanced

and vocational subjects (Newman, Runshaw, St John Rigby)

GCSE English & Maths A*-C needed for all A-level courses, Universities and some apprenticeships

Employers also consider these two subjects the most important so whatever grade is achieved is vital

Grade B or above required in Maths to study Sciences or Further Maths at A-level

Why do GCSEs matter? Universities look at GCSE grades to help allocate

places • Grade C minimum in English & Maths is required

for entrance to any full time course at University• For certain courses there are specific subject

requirements but a general “rule” is balance and a breadth of study

• GCSEs follow you for life

Subject Specific Information English (4/5 lessons per week)

Pupils in A band study for the WJEC GSCE exam at the end of Y10 and they receive 4 lessons of English Literature and 1 lesson of English Language. English Language is then studied in Year 11

Pupils in B band study for the AQA Certificate in English Literature at the end of Year 10 and receive 4 lessons which incorporate both Literature and Language with a greater emphasis on the Language skills. The Cambridge iGCSE is then studied in Year 11

Subject Specific Information

All pupils need English Language GCSE. All pupils have to study English Literature for the English Language GCSE to “count”.

Subject Specific Information Science (6 lessons per week)

Double Award Science is the study of Biology, Chemistry and Physics towards two GCSEs. Core Science exam is taken in summer 2015 (3 exams) and Additional Science is taken in summer 2016 (3 exams)A grades BB in Double Award are required to study A levels in ScienceMost of our pupils follow this course

Subject Specific Information Science (3 lessons per week)

Single Award Science is the study of Biology, Chemistry and Physics towards one GCSE. Pupils who are selected for this course will have 3 lessons of Science each week and 3 lessons of intervention (Literacy & Numeracy)The exams are all taken in summer 2016 (3)

Subject Specific Information Science (6 lessons per week)

The Triple Award is extremely challenging in terms of commitment, depth of study, additional home study, after school revision and 9 exams all at the end. With this in mind, Mr Power and the Science department select students carefully.

- Triple Award (or separate Sciences) is the study of Biology, Chemistry and Physics towards three separate GCSEs. To conform with the government directive that all exams are to be “linear” all these exams must be taken in the summer of 2016. This means 9 exams at once!

Subject Specific Information Physical Education

Most students will work towards a qualification in PE. This will either be GCSE or BTEC as decided by the PE DepartmentTo be successful in GCSE PE, students need to able to offer 4 sports at which they can perform at a good level. There is also a theoretical aspect to the course.

Subject Specific Information Physical Education

The BTEC course is more appropriate to students who can only offer one or two sports at a practical level.The BTEC course does now have a formal exam.

Some pupils will study for a BTEC in Dance instead of the Physical Education course.

This year we will be having a small group of pupils who do PE as a recreation activity and will not study a qualification. Parents will be notified.

Subject Specific Information ICT

- Pupils in the B band will receive 1 lesson each week of ICT. They will work towards the Cambridge National Diploma/Certificate in ICT.

A level 2 pass is the equivalent of GCSE grade C and grades reach A* equivalent.There is now an exam in summer 2016 as well as coursework

- Pupils who opted for GCSE ICT or Computer Science through the options process will have 3 lessons of ICT (+1 if they are in the B band)

Subject Specific Information Food

- The Food & Nutrition GCSE course is no longer accepted and so we now offer two different courses.

- BTEC Hospitality A Focus on the cookery element but less

scientific and therefore more accessible to some pupils. Pupils complete coursework and sit an exam in

summer 2016 - GCSE Food Technology

Subject Specific Information General Information

- Maths = 4 lessons per week- English = 4 or 5 lessons per week- Science = 6 lessons per week or 3 + 3 intervention- RE = 3 lessons per week- PE = 3 lessons per week- ICT = 0 or 1 lesson per week- All option subjects = 3 lessons per week

Pupil Target Setting

Targets

We set every pupil an individual target for every subject.

Targets have several functions:

to inspire pupils to aim high

to inform teaching staff of their potential

to enable us to monitor performance

to identify underachievement and focus intervention

Targets

We use a Nationally recognised target setting

system called FFT Aspire to inform targets

After 3 years at school we have a large amount of

information about ability and potential

Reports will refer to performance related to these

targets

HOLY CROSS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLAnne Uther 10H

Attendance 98.4%

Subject Class Teacher Target Predicted Learning

English 10a/En3 Miss Green A A −

Mathematics 10a/Ma4 Mrs Croft B A +

Science (Core) 10a/Sc3 Mr Power B B +

Religious Education 10x/Re2 Mrs Shepherd B A* +

English Literature 10a/En3 Miss Green A A −

German 10Y/Sp1 Miss Marcroft B C −

History 10Y/Hi2 Mr Murray A B −

Product Design 10Y/Pd1 Mr Smith A B −BTEC & ICT Awards

The grades Distinction, Merit and Pass are equivalent to GCSE A, B and C

BTEC Sport 10a/Pe2 Mr Ryder L2M L2M +

+ A highly motivated pupil, who always takes full responsibility for his/her learning. He/she independently and always completes work to the best of his/her ability.

− A committed pupil, who always demonstrates a keen interest in their work and is determined to achieve. Most of his/her work is completed to the best of his/her ability.

+ A hardworking pupil who completes all work to a standard that reflects his/her ability. They demonstrate some initiative when completing tasks.

− A pupil who is generally working well but who has the potential to achieve more. Work is produced to a basic standard and effort could be improved.

x An underachieving pupil, who demonstrates a lack of commitment and whose efforts are inconsistent, making progress difficult at times.

Targets

Target grades should be treated with some caution because… just setting targets does not guarantee their achievement personality is not accounted for home background/support is not accounted for a lot can happen between the ages of 11 and 16 (good and

bad) which could have an effect on achievement there are lots of examples of pupils achieving as much as 3

grades higher or lower than their target grade Important to recognise that individual achievement is what

counts (Grade D may be an exceptional result for a pupil just as a B grade may be under achievement)

Targets – Tracking for SuccessSeptemberTargets setAttendance tracking commencesYear 10 Guidance Evening for parents and pupilsInformation collected from teachers identifying really good and really poor starts. Contact with parents if any concerns (HOY)NovemberFirst set of central subject grades provided by teaching staffIdentify under achievement, contact with parents if any concernsYear Head and Form Tutor trackingDecemberInterim reports sent to parents – full term completed

Targets – Tracking for SuccessJanuaryTracking by Form Teacher and Head of Year continues.Year 10 Parents Evening Thursday 22nd January 2015FebruaryPupils off timetable to assess their own progress and talk to tutors. Set individual targets for rest of the year along with enrichment and careers activitiesMarchSecond set of central grades submitted by teaching staff Assess progress of every studentUpdated tracking sheet to parents

Targets – Tracking for SuccessMayFull reports with teacher comments to parentsJuneEnd of year internal examsScience and English Literature external GCSE examsCardinal Newman, St John Rigby and Runshaw taster daysJulyFinal grades submitted by teaching staff and sent homePupils assess their own progress over the year with their tutor Individual targets set for year 11Prefect training & Awards Day

How to Succeed

Leads to a desire to look smart and therefore a tendency to:

AVOID CHALLENGES

GIVE UP EASILY

SEE EFFORT AS FRUITLESS OR WORSE

IGNORE USEFUL FEEDBACK

FEEL THREATENED BY THE SUCCESS OF OTHERS

Leads to a desire to learn and therefore a tendency to:

EMBRACE CHALLENGES

PERSIST IN THE FACE OF SET BACKS

SEE EFFORT AS A PATH TO MASTERY

LEARN FROM CRITICISM

FIND LESSONS AND INSPIRATION IN THE SUCCESS OF OTHERS

Fixed mind-set Growth mind-set

CHALLENGES

OBSTACLES

EFFORT

CRITICISM

SUCCESS OF OTHERS

vs

Impact on the students

Pupil progress data shows that those students

who demonstrate growth mind-set

characteristics radically out-perform other

students by as much as 4 grades, even though

their CAT tests show they have similar raw

intelligence.

Growth mind-set in action

Reading regularly Arriving to lessons well-prepared Maintaining excellent attendance Home learning completed on time and to a high standard Asking questions to improve understanding Sharing ideas with others Respond to teacher’s feedback in books and lessons Never waste time talking in lessons Find out how other people have achieved high marks Reflect on success: What was it that made you succeed?

Show My Homework

Supporting your childAttendance

95% attendance (10 days) = 2 weeks off schoolExpectation is to achieve at least this figure

90% attendance (20 days) = 1 month off schoolMissing 17 school days in an academic year can result in

dropping a full grade in every GCSE subject taught

80% average attendance over 5 yearsEquates to a whole year of schooling missed

If a child has 89% attendance or less, there is only a 1 in 4 chance they will achieve 5 A* to C grades at GCSE

Get the basics right

Ensure they get sufficient sleepTeenagers between 13 and 19 need 9 to 10 hours a day to consolidate learning

Maintain a balanced diet and lots of waterA good diet is scientifically proven to improve concentration

Regular exerciseExercise stimulates the flow of oxygen around the body and to the brain

Control distractionsA sensible balance between work and play!!

Supporting your child

Encourage your son/daughter to reflect on attitude, work rate and state of mind to make small changes that will sustain their sense of self-belief and self-confidence.

It is ok to get things wrong!

Your teachers are there to support you so make sure you ask for help with any problems (academic or otherwise) that may be hindering your progress.

Pastoral Support

Pastoral SupportForm Tutors & Head of Year

A vital link between home and school

Regular daily contact with the pupils and are available for all parents to contact with any concerns

Track pupils progress closely throughout KS4

Focused on your child achieving their potential and higher

Year 10 Tutors

Mr Boylan 10C

Mr Poulton 10H Mrs Gaughan 10SMr Sanderson 10Y

Mr Smith 10LMiss Parks 10R

Mr SmithPastoral Support

Attendance OfficerAlternative Curriculum

Mrs EvansHead of Year 10

Diaries are checked weekly by tutors

Parents can use the diary for messages to school as well as e-mail and telephone

Contains the work your child is expected to carry out at home for individual subjects

Have a calendar indicating assessments and the dates of any external examinations

Please ensure that it is signed weekly

Pupil Diaries

Parental Involvement/Support

• Ask about School• Read through reports

together• Structure, routine and rules

are important – consistency and fairness really helps

Holy CrossGuidance Evening

2014Thank you for attending we trust

the evening has been useful