Welcome to the Year 10 Parent information evening 2016

The start of a Seven Year Journey

The boy turns into a man!

Brendan Carolan – Key Stage 4 co-ordinator Academic Head of Year 10 & Year 11. b.carolan@vcj.sch.je

Responsible for : • 1) Raising expectations and instilling confidence in

students • 2)Improving individual performance • 3) keeping Students & Parents informed about

progress and anticipated grades • 4) Identifying and supporting under-achievers

Morrisby Profile

Is a degree worthwhile these days?

(£44,000 debt; 1/3 regret it, ¼ are still low earners 10 year’s on!

Should you only look at only UK Universities?

The significance of world wide competition

Robotics & the future of routine white collar work?

Assessment is Changing fundamentally?

GCSES and will be awarded grades 9-1 and not A*-G.

Controlled Assessment has essentially disappeared

9 A*

8 A*

7 A

6 B

5 C

4 C

3 D

2 E

1 F

G

The new level 9 will be gained by only 20% of those who currently achieve A/A*!

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/your-qualification-our-regulation-gcse-as-and-a-level-reforms

Old GCSE

Autumn Spring Summer Autumn Spring Summer Autumn Spring Summer Autumn Spring Summer Autumn Spring Summer

9+ 9+ 9+ 9+ 9+ 9+ 9+ 9+ 9+ 9+ 9+ 9+ 9+ 9+ 9+ A*+

9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 A*+

9- 9- 9- 9- 9- 9- 9- 9- 9- 9- 9- 9- 9- 9- 9- A*

8+ 8+ 8+ 8+ 8+ 8+ 8+ 8+ 8+ 8+ 8+ 8+ 8+ 8+ 8+ A*

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 A*

8- 8- 8- 8- 8- 8- 8- 8- 8- 8- 8- 8- 8- 8- 8- A*

7+ 7+ 7+ 7+ 7+ 7+ 7+ 7+ 7+ 7+ 7+ 7+ 7+ 7+ 7+ A

7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 A

7- 7- 7- 7- 7- 7- 7- 7- 7- 7- 7- 7- 7- 7- 7- A

6+ 6+ 6+ 6+ 6+ 6+ 6+ 6+ 6+ 6+ 6+ 6+ 6+ 6+ 6+ B

6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 B

6- 6- 6- 6- 6- 6- 6- 6- 6- 6- 6- 6- 6- 6- 6- B

5+ 5+ 5+ 5+ 5+ 5+ 5+ 5+ 5+ 5+ 5+ 5+ 5+ 5+ 5+ B

5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 C

5- 5- 5- 5- 5- 5- 5- 5- 5- 5- 5- 5- 5- 5- 5- C

4+ 4+ 4+ 4+ 4+ 4+ 4+ 4+ 4+ 4+ 4+ 4+ 4+ 4+ 4+ C

4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 C

4- 4- 4- 4- 4- 4- 4- 4- 4- 4- 4- 4- 4- 4- 4- C

3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ 3+ D

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 D

3- 3- 3- 3- 3- 3- 3- 3- 3- 3- 3- 3- 3- 3- 3- D

2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ 2+ E

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 E

2- 2- 2- 2- 2- 2- 2- 2- 2- 2- 2- 2- 2- 2- 2- E

1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ 1+ F

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 F

1- 1- 1- 1- 1- 1- 1- 1- 1- 1- 1- 1- 1- 1- 1- F

Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11

Victoria College Progress tracking

Maths –More specific topic based.

Student X could be attaining level 8 in the autumn on work covering probability but drop down to level 6 when Algebra is taught in the Spring!

English –More inclined to continuous progression. Student X only achieves level 4 throughout most of Year 10 but reaches level 7 by the end of Year 11

9 is a completely new grade which will be awarded to the top students in a subject.

It has been confirmed that the same proportion of students who currently achieve a grade “A” and above will receive a grade” 7” and above and the same proportion of students who currently achieve a grade “C” and above will achieve a grade “4” and above.

Target and assessment grades 9-1

Effort grades –Now 4 only

Excellent

Good

Need for Improvement

Unsatisfactory

Changes to the curriculum for Y10.

• Linear GCSEs.

All subjects are linear now. No exams until the end of Y11.

• Linear A-Levels started in 2015 Therefore excellent GCSE results are even more crucial.

The GCSEs have become heavily exam based once more. How do we plan to help our students achieve their potential? 1.) A greater emphasis on Study Skills and revision strategies. 2.) Collaborating with HOD’s & Ms Bryan to help identify learning needs that may hinder exam success. 3.) Creating more opportunities for formal exam practice.

Success is a confidence trick.

the recipe seems roughly three parts

1 talent

2 drive

3 audacity.

Team VIC

Our eyes and ears

Our eyes and ears

Talent Drive Audacity

IGCSE Science at Victoria College

Key Contacts

Mr Matthew Widdop (Senior Teacher: Science & Mathematics & Head of Chemistry)

Dr. Steven Cooke (Head of Physics)

Mr Ian Hickling (Head of Biology)

IGCSE Science at Victoria College

Mixed ability option groups (majority of year group)

• Taught each of their chosen sciences either 2 lessons per week in Year 10 and 3 lessons per week in Year 11 or vice versa (depending on option block)

IGCSE Science at Victoria College

Express Set

• Taught each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics 1 lesson per week in Year 10 + an extra 1 lesson per week which will rotate between each science.

• Taught each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics 2 lessons per week in Year 11.

IGCSE Science at Victoria College

Examination Syllabi can be found on the CIE website…

http://www.cie.org.uk

Syllabus codes

Biology: 0970

Chemistry: 0971

Physics: 0972

IGCSE Science at Victoria College

Textbooks

Biology – ‘Complete Biology for Cambridge IGCSE’ by Pickering

Chemistry – ‘Cambridge IGCSE Chemistry Coursebook’ by Harwood and Lodge & separate practical workbook and standard workbook

Physics – ‘Cambridge IGCSE Physics Coursebook’ by Sang

Biology

Autumn Term Spring Term Summer Term

Plant nutrition, transport

and reproduction

Animal nutrition and

enzymes

Animal transport

Respiration and breathing

Coordination and response

Homeostasis and excretion

Drugs

Review of the year’s

programme of study

Chemistry

Topic Approximate number of lessons

Simple Experimental Techniques 4

Air & Water 7

Particles 14

Covalent Bonding 4

Reaction Rates 12

Acids, Bases & Salts 14

Metals 12

Physics

Autumn Term Spring Term Summer Term

Measurement

Forces

Pressure and Gas Laws

Energy

Waves/Light

Electricity

Common Themes

• Large practical element in all three sciences

Common Themes

• Large practical element in all three sciences

• High degree of determination and independence required by students over the year

Common Themes

• Large practical element in all three sciences

• High degree of determination and independence required by students over the year

• Delivered by teachers who are passionate for their discipline

Skills across the Sciences • Investigations and identifying experimental variables which are controlled,

varied or measured appropriately • Safely conducting a practical, identifying hazards/risks/control measures

and be efficient with lab equipment • Co-operation in a group situation

• Recording results and displaying them on a graph where relevant

• Drawing conclusions from a graph

• Evaluating experiments and data

• Research and presentation

Mathematical Requirements • add, subtract, multiply and divide (ALL) • use averages, decimals, fractions, percentages, ratios and reciprocals (ALL) • use standard notation, including both positive and negative indices (ALL) • understand significant figures and use them appropriately (ALL) • recognise and use direct and inverse proportion (ALL) • use positive, whole number indices in algebraic expressions (ALL) • draw charts and graphs from given data (ALL) • interpret charts and graphs (ALL) • determine the gradient and intercept of a graph (ALL) • select suitable scales and axes for graphs (ALL) • make approximate evaluations of numerical expressions (ALL) • solve equations of the form x = y + z and x = yz for any one term when the other two are known. (ALL) • understand the meaning of angle, curve, circle, radius, diameter, circumference, square, parallelogram, rectangle and diagonal (ALL) • recall and use equations for the areas of a rectangle, triangle and circle and the volumes of a rectangular block and a cylinder (BIOLOGY and PHYSICS) • use mathematical instruments (ruler, compasses, protractor and set square) (BIOLOGY and PHYSICS) • recognise and use clockwise and anticlockwise directions (PHYSICS) • recognise and use points of the compass (N, S, E, W) (PHYSICS) • use sines and inverse sines (PHYSICS)

College Assessment

• Using each department’s new assessment framework for Key Stage 4, following a 9 to 1 grading system (which will be made available on website)

College Assessment

• Using each department’s new assessment framework for Key Stage 4, following a 9 to 1 grading system (which will be made available on website)

• Assessment frameworks for the three sciences cover both factual (knowledge based) content and skills based content.

Formal Assessment at the end of Year 11 First Paper (30% of IGCSE) Multiple-choice questions Questions will be based on the Extended subject content (Core and Supplement) Externally assessed examination Second Paper (50% of IGCSE) Short-answer and structured questions Questions will be based on the Extended subject content (Core and Supplement) Externally assessed examination Third Paper (20% of IGCSE) Practical skills Questions will be based on the experimental skills of the syllabus Externally assessed examination There are no internally assessed (coursework) elements of the course

Access arrangements: exam week, tests, more homework – things may start to fall apart and needs that weren’t present at Key Stage Three may become apparent.

j.bryan@vcj.sch.je

Talk – to parents, peers, tutors, housemasters, mental health first aiders (myself, Mr Fallon and Mrs Watkins), Judy Benest (school counsellor)

Make lists Take it one day at a time Exercise Do something creative Take time for yourself 7/ 11 breathing Socialise with friends Mindfulness/ meditation/ yoga Sleep and eating healthily

GCSE Maths Changes

Y10

Overall changes

• Same exam board as before: AQA

• From 2 x 1.5 hour exams (1 calc & 1 non-calc) to 3 x 1.5 hour exams (2 calc & 1 non-calc)

• Some content has dropped down from AS Maths.

• Any content can be assessed in any of the three exams.

• Heavily reduced formula sheet with some formulae embedded in questions.

Content Weightings

Topic Previously New Specification

Number 17% 15%

Algebra 35% 30%

Ratio, Proportion & Rates of Change Spread over other topics

30%

Geometry & Measures 28% 20%

Statistics & Probability 20% 15%

Changes for VCJ

• Both set 1 and 2 will complete the AQA Level 2 Further Maths in lesson time.

• Two homework tasks per week: one “flipped learning” task, one written.

• Better prepared candidates moving on from GCSE to A-level maths.

• Smaller gap between GCSE and A-level

Support at home

• New textbooks – Digital copy at www.kerboodle.com . All students have a login for this.

• Tutorial videos for topics available through digital textbook.

• Scheme of Work available on Google Classroom.

Changes at a glance: Language

New GCSE • Number grading system (9 being the highest- top 20% of old A*

grade, 1 the lowest)

• 100% exam: no Controlled Assessment

• Assessment Objectives 1-6 (focus on personal interpretation)

• No media text analysis. Unseen texts taken from 19th, 20th and 21st century

• Speaking and Listening tasks compulsory but not counted towards final Language grade

• 20% of final mark given for Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar

Changes at a glance: Literature

• Number grading system

• 100% Exam: no Controlled Assessment

• Examined 19th Century prose; Poetry from 1789, Shakespeare; Unseen poetry; Post 1914 text

• Closed text exams

Benefits

• Skills for the future: more rigorous focus on SPAG

• More challenging texts

• Better preparation for A Level

• Controlled Assessment: benefits and drawbacks

Our choices

• Edexcel as exam board (www.edexcel.com)

• Shakespeare: Macbeth

• 19th Century Prose: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

• Poetry: Exam board Anthology

• Post 1914 Prose: Lord of the Flies

Teaching schedule Year 10

• Autumn Term 1: Fiction and Imaginative Language

• Autumn Term 2: Lord of the Flies

• Spring Term 1: Non-fiction and Transactional Writing

• Spring Term 2: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

• Summer Term 1: Revision of texts

• Summer Term 2: Mock Exam; Speaking and Listening

How to support your son at home

• More emphasis has been placed on the importance of reading skills

• Use Department booklet

• Encourage reading of fiction/ non-fiction: Prose, Poetry, Plays, Autobiographies, Travel Writing, Broadsheet Newspapers etc.

• Any questions: a.robinson@vcj.sch.je

• Norbert Stiles

Bubble Rap or Puppies?

Tough Love - How you can help me and more importantly perhaps yourselves?

• A parent not their best friend!

• Don’t bail them out when they are disorganised and Lazy it reinforces such traits

• It’s going to be a very tough competitive environment the sooner they take responsibility for their actions and understand the consequences the better for everyone!

• Tell me-we will do this together!!

We want to develop resilience and Independence

Maximize Your Potential • We have invited a well-known UK based company called

Maximize Your Potential to Victoria College on Friday 14th

October to deliver a motivational study skills seminar to the

Year 10 boys.

• Maximize Your Potential have a successful record of delivering

seminars to students, and their parents, in many high profile

UK based independent schools.

• We propose to hold a seminar for Year 9 and 10 parents lasting

60 minutes and starting at 5:30pm on Thursday 13th

October.

• This will include a presentation with suggestions on how

parents can help support their sons in their studies and

specific tips on how and when they can help their sons best

when it comes to studying at home.

• A letter will be sent home regarding the above event, if you

wish to attend please can you reply as indicated on the letter

by the 6th

October so as to plan for numbers.

• Missed work due to absence is an issue we are trying to combat.

• The form is to be used for planned absences i.e. if a student is going off island for a trip/competition or any circumstance where they miss school but know in advance.

• It will not be used to catch up after illness

Year 10 “Return to work form”

• To prepare Y10 for the pressure of linear examinations there will be a formal exam week in June 2017 (Date TBC).

• It will be done in the Great Hall and the results of the examinations will form a basis of the written summer report.

• It will give a good indication of progress at this halfway point of the GCSE course.

• The timetable will be available around Easter and a suggested revision timetable will be sent out to all parents.

Y10 exam week.

• Twice a year Form Tutors meet and have an academic interview with each member of their tutor group.

• They discuss the most recent periodic and set targets for improvement.

• This is recorded on e-portal (our school information system).

Academic mentoring.

• I scrutinise the periodics and written reports of all Y10 students.

• If members of staff are concerned about a students’ progress then they often make me aware. This can happen at any point of the school year and is not merely reserved for periodics!

Tracking pupil progress throughout the year.

Periodics.

1.)A significant amount of “low” effort grades.

2.)Concerns such as “at”, “bh” and “hw”

3.) Not achieving target grades.

Teacher Feedback

Teachers may inform me personally of their concerns or write an event on a student’s profile (on eportal, the school register). If a student accumulates a lot of events on eportal in a specific timeframe then this is a cause for concern.

How do I identify students that may need support?

If a student has several homework concerns They are placed in Y10 extra study which takes place from 3.30-4.30 every Thursday until the next periodic. This will begin after the 1st periodic report you will receive after October 23rd

Intervention (continued)

Parent meetings. You may be asked to attend a meeting to discuss your son’s progress.

• There are several boys in Y10 who will be doing the very best that can be expected of them (at this stage of the course)

• They are on or very close to meeting all of their target grades in all subjects.

• They have excellent effort grades

• They have no “hw” concerns etc.

Praise & Commendation letters.

New Prize Day Trophies KS4

Are they REALLY working?

Bill Shankly

Grasp the Opportunities!

• “If a man….who’s playing in front of the public, is being

well paid, and he doesn’t dedicate himself to the job, I’d

be hard on him. If I could I would put him in jail, out of the

road of society. Because he’s a menace”

B. Carolan

• 1 We want you to find those areas you can excel in and

enjoy

• 2 We want you to take charge of your own destiny and

never be frightened to be different from everyone else

• 3 We never want any of you ever to feel reluctant to ask

for help to not have someone who you can turn to who will

listen to you

• 4 Nearly everything is fixable. It is never too late to go

again, never be afraid of failure. Instead welcome her with

open arms!

I share your concerns please tell me how I

can improve what we do at Victoria College

The view –Enjoy the journey

Useful email addresses:

b.carolan@vcj.sch.je j.bryan@vcj.sch.je s.job@vcj.sch.je r.moon@vcj.sch.je d.twomey@vcj.sch.je

Mr Carolan, Head of Year 10 & Year 11 Miss Bryan, Wellbeing co-ordinator Mrs Job, Careers Mrs Moon PSHE co-ordinator Ms Twomey, Project Trident co-ordinator.

Final Words –Alfred W.

• “I want to encourage in others the ambition to devise with

the aid of maps their own cross country marathons and

not be merely followers of other people’s routes. There is

no end to the possibilities for originality and initiative.”

• One should always have a definitive objective in a walk

as in life. It is so much more satisfying to reach a target by

personal effort than to wander aimlessly.

• An objective is an ambition, and life without ambition is

…..well, aimless wandering.