Monday 15th October 2012

1. What to expect from GCSEs –Miss Nightingale (DH)

2. Interim Target Grades –Miss Dukes (YLC)3. How can you help your daughter – Miss Wall (AHT)

4. How can you help your daughter in English – Mr Taylor5. How can you help your daughter in Maths – Mr Lewis6. How can you help your daughter in Science – Miss Hanlon

Feedback on the evening

Exams aren’t what they used to be!TRUE… Students are now on different pathways All have to sit some exams All exams will take place at the end of the

course (generally Y11) There is no longer coursework – it is now

called Controlled Conditions All will start with skills based units

BEFORE they start the GCSE syllabus (exp. Media)

Different GCSE’s have different amounts of controlled assessment that count towards the final grade. This ranges from 0%-60%.

Controlled assessments can last anything between 1 hour and 30 hours.

Each subject has its own rules for controlled assessment regarding what materials can be used, whether work can be completed at home, if notes can be used etc.

Preparation time will be given when students can get assistance from staff

When the final piece is started they have a set amount of time and it has to be completed in ‘exam style’ conditions

Students can NOT re-do their controlled assessment

These subjects used to be assessed with 100% on “coursework”.

THIS HAS changed – there will now be a small examined element

All units must be completed for pupils to gain the qualification.

Any day of school missed could jeopardise completion. Attendance is vital.

Continual AssessmentContinual Effort98+ % attendanceStaff are a resourceLines of CommunicationUse of e-resources

• Targets are set for each GCSE subject

• NOT about how hard they work

• Based on a students KS2 SATs results (mark not just level)

At Swakeleys School for Girls we set Aspirational Targets

This is one higher than we would expect you to get

So if you are expected to get an A grade we set a target of an A*

By setting higher targets pupils work even harder and do even better!

Every year our results have improved…2009 – 84%, 2010 – 91%, 2011 – 97%, 2012 – 99% 5A*C grades2009 – 52%, 2010 – 68%, 2011 – 63%, 2012 – 78% 5A*C grades incl E&M

An end of Year target (rather than an end of KS target)

Year 9s targets are INTERIM

Year 9s targets are what we expect them to attain at the end of Y9 (NOT for their GCSE result)

Teachers enter grades to show how your daughter is doing

These will be sent home on:- 10th October (Effort and Hwk

only) 12th December 20th March 7th July (Report)

Students will be identified as Red, Amber or Green against their Interim Grade

Dark Green – On or above target grade (which is the aspirational) Light Green – One below the target grade (so is meeting the expected) Amber – Two below target grade Red – Three or more below target grade

Name Target Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Student A A* B3 A2 A*3 Student B C F1 E1 D1 Student C F U2 G3 G1

Students look at their grades and identify areas to improve

Those struggling will have the opportunity to talk with their FT

Parents will be invited in for those who need extra support

www.samlearning.com

See your Link Book page 21

Centre Number

UB10SS

UserID Date of birth followed by your initialsie: 010885DJ (Diane Jones born 1st August 1985)

Password Same as your user ID, although you should then change it

Add information to get online

1. Select the level (GCSE for Years 9, 10 &11)

2. Then select which subject you wish to work on

Most students do 21st Century Science

Choose a topic to revise or a test paper to check

your knowledge and understanding

3. Tells you how long you have left (it counts down)

2. Room to type in your answer

1. An idea of how long

your answer should be

4. Opportunity to get feedback or to print the

page and bring into school

1. All subjects can be found on Sam

Learning.

2. All give feedback on how

you are doing

3. There are different activities such as drag

and drop

Generally it tells how you have done overall and gives advice on how to

improve further

All pupils take exams in both English Language and English Literature – worth 2

GCSEs

Most pupils will take their final exams in 2015.

A few pupils may take their English language GCSE early in 2014 ( according to their

ability).

All students will begin preparation for their English language GCSE by:

Completing mock coursework assignments in exam conditions.

Sitting an exam that mimics their actual GCSE English Language Paper 1.

Developing and extending their Speaking and Listening skills to ensure they achieve well in Year 10.

Begin the actual GCSE course. Work on coursework and speaking and

listening tasks.

Students will complete four controlled conditions pieces of coursework:

Creative writing Media The Spoken word analysis Extended Reading task

Begin preparation for the reading and writing exam.

Complete at least one speaking and listening Task.

• Encourage your daughter to read the newspaper at least 3 times a week – and talk with her about what she has read.

Try to ensure your daughter is reading a book for at least 10-15 minutes per day – ask her regularly what she is reading

Try and encourage her to reread and correct her own work when she has written a piece of homework – recognising her own mistakes is the first step to rectifying them!

English is all about WORDS and COMMUNICATION...

Talk to your daughter in a positive way about her English texts and assignments – she will benefit from the conversation and also, talking helps us process meaning, so she will feel more supported and encouraged.

Time Plus Lots of effort in the

right direction

efforteffo

rteffort

effor

t

effort

effort

TALK TO EACH OTHER – success can be achieved through communication. Learning

together will help your daughter’s confidence in Maths

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE - research shows that practicing something around 7 times

will ensure that it is memorised successfully

AVOID SAYING - "I was never good at maths" or "I never liked maths- use positive language

What else can I do ?

www.mymaths.co.uk

www.Kangaroomaths.com

www.cgpbooks.co.uk

Grade descriptors..

Make the grade tests...

Mathswatch cd

as good as having a maths teacher at home (…nearly !!!)

http://www.mathswatch.co.uk/#/samples-ks4/4540967249

Pathway through KS4 Science

We currently offer 4 routes through KS4 Science1.Triple Science (worth 3 GCSE’s)2.Additional Science (2 GCSE’s) Academic3.Applied Science (2 GCSE’s)4.BTEC Level 2 Applied Science (2 GCSE’s) AND Entry Level BTEC Vocational

In Year 9…

• All students will begin their first Science GCSE. • 3 modules of Biology, • 3 modules of Chemistry • 3 modules of Physics.

• Based on internal assessments, students will be set for Year 10.

• NO EXTERNAL examinations.

In Year 10…

Students will take one of 4 routes:• Triple Science• Additional Science• Applied Science• BTEC Science

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ONCE STUDENTS HAVE STARTED THEIR YEAR 10 COURSES THEY CANNOT TRANSFER.

Students will continue with their course in year 11 .

Triple Science

Students will be selected for the Triple Science course if:

1.They achieve A*, A, and B grades in ALL Year 9 internal assessments.

AND2. They have their teachers recommendation to

the course.

Additional Science

Students will be selected for the Additional Science course if:

1. They have achieved a range of A, B, or C grades in their Year 9 internal assessments.

AND2. They have their teachers recommendation to

the course.

Applied Science

• Students will be selected for the Applied Science course if:

1. They have achieved a range of C or D grades in their Year 9 internal assessments.

AND2. They have their teachers recommendation to

the course.

How can you help your daughter raise her achievement in science?

• Literacy is now a major factor in the science curriculum.

• Students are examined on their quality of literacy (6 mark questions)

• On the Science Fronter page there are a number of practise questions that parents could discuss and answer with their daughter (the answers are there to help you!!!!).

• We have found that having the discussion can make a difference to their written communication!

Please take a few minute to give us feedback on tonight’s event

Please write points you felt wentWell on a post-it and put them on the WWW boardAny comments for improvement on a separate post-it to go on the EBI (even better if board)