Year 8: Key Dates

INSET Days (school closed for students):

-Friday 22nd November 2019

-Monday 25th November 2019

-Monday 20th January 2020

Year 8 Parents’ Evening:

Thursday 21st May 2020 4pm* – 7pm*

Welcome to our

Year 8 Information

Evening 2019

Mr C Burns Headteacher

Frog Learning platform – Mr Clarey

Curriculum, Assessment & Reporting– Mr. Clarey

English – Mrs Condron

Mathematics – Miss Davidson

Science – Dr Tavender

Tonight’s Event

Year 8 Information Evening 2019

tonight’s slides will be published on the school’s website

Frog: Priestnall’s Learning

platform

Mr T Clarey

Deputy Headteacher

Timetable,

Calendar and

Homework; all in

one place: the

Frog App

Available on Apple

and Android

devices

‘How to’ Frog App

On the App Start-up screen,

enter the school’s Frog website

address:

vle.priestnall.stockport.sch.uk

This provides access to

Priestnall’s Frog site

‘How to’ Frog App

Log in using your

personal credentials (single log in per family)

If you have forgotten

these, please contact

the school office

Homework

and

notifications

via the App

Student name

Homework

and

notifications

via the App

Homework

and

notifications

via the App

View homework

by due date

Student name

Student name’s

Curriculum &

Assessment Mr T Clarey

Deputy Headteacher

Looking ahead

The Class of 2023!

Year 8: What lies ahead?

Year 8

Year 7

Momentum and progress needs

to be maintained during Y8.

It is a key year for ultimate

success in Year 11

Year 8: the bridge

• Year 8 is a ‘bridge’ to Year 9 and the start of GCSE courses…

• The qualifications that will shape future opportunities

Year 9

Year 8

Year 8: the bridge

• Year 8 work is planned to take students towards their future

• All subjects

• To develop the Skills, Knowledge & Understandings for future success

Year 8

Year 9

Year 7

A crucial year for progress • From the enthusiasm & ‘novelty’ of Y7

• Building on prior knowledge, skills and understanding

• Establishing greater appreciation of transferable skills and subject linking

• Building Growth Mindsets- the power of ‘yet’

A crucial year for progress • From the enthusiasm & ‘novelty’ of Y7

• Building on prior knowledge, skills and understanding

• Establishing greater appreciation of transferable skills and subject linking

• Building Growth Mindsets- the power of ‘yet’

• (Opportunities for ‘broader’ Educating for Life: DLDs, trips & visits, sports & clubs!)

• Homework projects

A crucial year for progress • New National Curriculum content following

on from Year 7

• New skills, knowledge & understanding

• Preparing students for new significantly more demanding GCSEs in all subjects

• GCSE approaches are explored and developed in Year 8

Curriculum Organisation: Y7

Heavily ‘blocked’ – subject groupings:

Literacy-themed & Numeracy (Number/Pattern/Space)

Curriculum Organisation: Y8

Less ‘blocking’:

Setting decisions by English, French, Maths Science,

Tech & PE*

Reported as WAGs (Working at ‘Grades’)

• Classwork

• Homework

• Tests*

• End of Year Exams (May/June 2020)*

* end of Y11 exams have gained importance and therefore familiarity with exam preparation and procedures is crucial

Attainment & Progress

Communications

• Website/ Frog/ e-mail

• Interim reports (Targets, WAGs, AtLs):

– Start of November 2019

• Interim reports will be published on the Frog Learning Platform (VLE)

• Interim reports will contain Action Points for each subject – relating to the topics covered during the half-term

Targets & Aspirations

• Individual end of Y8 targets are set for all subject areas– based on prior attainment.

• These indicate minimum expected outcomes at the end of Y8

• These are currently being reviewed by subject teachers in light of initial WAGs -and as the year progresses- to ensure appropriate levels of challenge

Looking ahead

2023! It will soon be here…

Year 8:

A crucial year for progress!

English

Ms Condron

English at Priestnall

Year 8

Each lesson is directed towards a particular Assessment Focus for Reading or Writing. Schemes of work alternate each half term between a reading focus and a writing focus. Within all schemes there are opportunities for speaking and listening activities such as role play, discussion and formal talks.

KS3 Lessons – A continuum

The revised curriculum has always been broad and vigorous in English, and therefore the most recent changes have not had a huge impact on what we deliver. However, there are two areas we began to focus on in detail over the last two years, and will continue to address this year:

The Revised Curriculum

The ‘ Step Up’:

Two Key Areas The Content of the Texts The texts that the pupils will be covering this year are considerably (but progressively!) more challenging – and the pupils will be focussing much more thoroughly on thematic and ideological issues within the texts.

The Skills Needed to Analyse Texts The ability to think independently and sort through problems.

The emphasis on looking at layers or meaning and interpretation.

The grammatical and technical accuracy within a piece.

Grammar for Writing

Grammar teaching through writing pieces. Developed by Educational research team at Exeter University. In trials the groups on the trials improved their writing scores by 20%, compared with 11% for the students who didn’t.

Grammar

for Writing Schemes Dystopian Fiction Extracts used within lesson highlight the development of this genre from writers such as Orwell up to modern day examples (The Hunger Games, Divergent etc.) Writing the World This is a non-fiction based scheme that focuses on reportage and documentary-style writing.

GFW - Principles Studying the effects grammatical features have on a reader. Discussion: critical conversations about language. Authentic texts rather than texts created to exemplify a grammatical point. Creative imitation, language play and experimenting Grammatical terms are in the forefront but built into lessons.

Study of extracts from nineteenth century texts. Opportunities for extended writing tasks within reading schemes of work. All assessments revised or developed to mirror the styles of questions they will face in their GCSE.

To better prepare students for the revised GCSE specifications:

Texts Covered in Year 8

(and 9) Macbeth

Sherlock Holmes/The Woman in

Black

War Poetry/War Literature

Macbeth

Of Mice and Men

Power and Conflict Poetry

Library Lessons

Once a fortnight students have a timetabled library lesson. This is to enable them to take books out of the library but also to extend their reading within a focused context. However independent reading is an essential element of making maximum progress in English, and this should be encouraged at home.

Assessment

Students are assessed on a short piece and a longer piece of reading or writing each half term. This will depend upon whether the programme of study has a reading or writing focus. For each assessment they will be awarded a national curriculum level with a sub-level – e.g. 6c. At the end of the year they will sit a formal examination in the hall which will be an extended reading task. The final overall level awarded at the end of the year will take into account both in-class assessments and the exam.

Extra-

Curricular Opportunitie

s • English Ambassadors

• Reading groups

• Grammar skills club

• Theatre visits

• Visiting authors

• Poetry competitions

How can you help?

Encouraging your child to read and even reading with them. Having access to a range of newspapers and magazines – and other non-fiction resources. Study guides and work books are available in the library to help with both reading and writing skills.

Maths

Miss Davidson Curriculum Leader: Maths

Initial Setting

• Students in year 8 are put into groups according to their Mathematical ability following assessment in Year 7.

• If any students appear to be misplaced, we make changes throughout the year accordingly.

New National Curriculum

• Fluency

• Problem Solving

• Reasoning

Fluency

• become fluent in the fundamentals of mathematics, including through varied and frequent practice with increasingly complex problems over time, so that pupils develop conceptual understanding and the ability to recall and apply knowledge rapidly and accurately.

Problem Solving

• can solve problems by applying their mathematics to a variety of routine and non-routine problems with increasing sophistication, including breaking down problems into a series of simpler steps and persevering in seeking solutions.

Reasoning

• reason mathematically by following a line of enquiry, conjecturing relationships and generalisations, and developing an argument, justification or proof using mathematical language.

Year 8 Scheme of Work

• Basics review

• Higher algebra

• Triangles/circles an formulae

• Statistical methods

• Multiplicative Reasoning

• What is the area of this rectangle?

Problem solving/more open ended questions:

• Which square has the same area as this rectangle?

• Find all the rectangles with whole-number side lengths that have the same area as this one.

• How many rectangles have an area of 100cm2? Explain.

• If I halve the length and double the width, what happens to the area? What if I double the length and halve the width? Explore…

20cm

5cm

Homework

•

Username: ddmmyyinitialsinCAPS@priestnall

Password: ddmmyyinitialsinCAPS

Website: www.vle.mathswatch.co.uk

Homework tasks

Homework deadline This is what you will see when you login to MathsWatch:

When you score full marks on a question, it turns green.

Type your answer in the box given, then submit

If you need help to answer the questions, use the video clips at the bottom of the page.

Equipment Your child will need the following for their

Maths lessons: • Pen • Pencil • Ruler • Rubber • Protractor (angle measurer) • Compass • Calculator ( Available from the Bridgewater office for £5)

Assessment • Week 27 (week before Easter break)

• Week 36 (end of June 2020) • We use full GCSE papers at the appropriate

level.

• We also use in class tests at the end of each topic to check progress throughout the year

Assessment

• Results analysed and areas for improvement identified.

• Sets will be discussed after each assessment.

• KS3 Progress meetings to identify any students in need of intervention if below target.

Any Issues

kate.davidson@priestnall.stockport.sch.uk

Science

Dr Tavender Assistant Curriculum Leader: Science

• The KS3 Scheme of Learning (SoL) has been written “in-house” and focuses on the core skills needed in Science. In Year 9 pupils will transition from KS3 to begin their GCSE Science courses.

• Some GCSE concepts are now included at KS3. This should better prepare pupils for the new Science GCSEs which are more rigorous.

Year 8 Course Overview

• Food & Nutrition

• Combustion

• The Periodic Table

• Fluids

• Plants & Reproduction

• Light

• Energy Transfers

• Breathing & Respiration

• Metals & their uses

• Sound

• Unicellular Organisms

Year 8 Scheme of Learning

Assessment

• Once every half term, students will complete an assessment based on scientific core skills / content.

• Students will get a record of their results which will allow them to track and analyse their progress.

• The assessment after the Christmas holiday will be a written exam.

• In addition, a formal, written exam will be taken by all Year 8 students at the end of the year.

Parental Support

is a website for homework, revision & independent learning.

www.pearsonactivelearn.com

Username = school log in (DOB and upper case initials) e.g., 100601AB

Password = Password01

• Your child will be assigned a set of Active Learn tasks that must be completed each half-term.

www.pearsonactivelearn.com

An electronic, interactive version of the textbook accessible from the website

It includes a range of guided, interactive learning activities that include short and extended answer questions. It provides instant automated marking and feedback.

There’s a tracking screen to show your child’s progress and attainment.

Homework

• Some of the homework tasks this year will be project based

• Some projects may involve making a model. Please encourage your child to take photographs of their models to stick in their exercise book

• All homework tasks will be uploaded to “Frog”

Homework projects

Homework projects

Revision Resources

• The Priestnall VLE will have resources for all the units taught. There are also exam tips and many other helpful support areas

• Revision Guides are available from the school library at a cost of £5.50.

• Encourage the use of revision websites/revision material creation software/apps such as:

• www.pearsonactivelearn.com

• www.bbc.co.uk/revision

• www.schoolscience.co.uk

• www.flashcardmachine.com

http://www.schoolscience.co.uk/http://www.flashcardmachine.com/

Extra Support from School

• Each Science teacher has set aside time each week advertised as “Office Hours”, when they will be available to provide some help and advice for students (these have been posted on the school website)

– These sessions are to help with classwork, homework, advice and guidance on revision etc

Year 8 Information Evening 2019

Thank You

tonight’s slides will be published on the school’s website

Year 8: Key Dates

INSET Days (school closed for students):

-Friday 2nd November 2019

-Monday 25th November 2019

-Monday 20th January 2020

Year 8 Parents’ Evening:

Thursday 21std May 2020 4pm* – 7pm*