1. Year 9
Expectations Evening

2. A TIME OF CHANGE PROGRESS 8 ATTAINMENT 8 ENGLISH PASS+ IN
A “gold standard” of GCSE’s – 100% examination
An improved curriculum
PROGRESS 8
ATTAINMENT 8
ENGLISH
BACCALAUREATE
PASS+ IN
ENGLISH & MATHS

3. HOW DOES THIS AFFECT STUDENTS?
Final examinations in 2018
Continued focus on every student achieving their best possible grade in all subjects
English and Maths of highest importance
Second year of the new specifications in English and Maths
Higher expectations – spelling, punctuation, grammar, numeracy,
problem solving
First year of the new specifications in all other subjects

4. CHANGES TO GCSE’s New gradings of 1-9, with 9 being the highest
Aims to differentiate between grades and to raise the standard of UK examinations
New pass grade is 5, but this is not the equivalent of a current grade C, it is 2/3 of a grade higher.
New gradings allow for a “super grade” that exceeds the current A* - 9

5. TRACKING PROGRESS
6 progress checks through the year and 2 Parents’ Consultation Evenings
Progress checks that show for each subject your child’s target grade and the grade they are expected to achieve based on current performance
Range of assessments within subjects to constantly assess and monitor every students’ progress towards their best possible grade
All subjects 1-9

6. Year 9 English
Expectations Evening

7. Year 9 is about preparing for GCSE Skills
Reading
Writing
AO1: • identify and interpret explicit and implicit information and ideas • select evidence from different texts • AO2: How writers use language and structure to achieve effects and influence readers • AO3: Compare writers’ ideas and perspectives, as well as how these are conveyed, across two or more texts • AO4: Evaluate texts critically and support this with appropriate textual references
• AO5: Communicate clearly, effectively and imaginatively, selecting and adapting tone, style and register for different forms, purposes and audiences. Organise information and ideas, using structural and grammatical features to support coherence and cohesion of texts • AO6: Candidates must use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation. (This requirement must constitute 20% of the marks for each specification as a whole.)

8. Key Units of Study Poetry Skills War Poetry
Gothic horror and wider reading
A Novel – Of Mice and Men / To Kill a Mockingbird etc
Reading Non-Fiction
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
Writing for purpose and audience

9. THE NEW GCSE – How will it be more demanding?
Content – texts from 19th, 20th & 21st centuries (Eng Lang); Romantic poetry, 19th century novel, substantial whole texts - no short stories (Eng Lit)
Examination – end of course only; no controlled conditions assessments
Assessment – less scaffolding; comparison of unseen passages
Grading – mid grade of new 9 to 1 scale (grade 5) to be a half to two-thirds of a grade higher than that required for a current grade C [Ofqual proposal under consultation]

10. A new GCSE for September 2015: The Highlights
English Language
English Literature
100% Exam
No set texts. Students must read a wide range of texts from 19th to 21st Century
No Speaking & Listening to count in the final mark (but reported separately)
20% of marks for Spelling punctuation and grammar
100% Exam
Focus on classic literature and whole texts
Must include Shakespeare, 19th century novel, poetry from Inc. Romantics & drama post 1914
Unseen texts and comparison
No creative responses
5% of marks for Spelling punctuation and grammar

11. English Language GCSE - AQA
Paper 1
Paper 2
Reading (40 marks) (25%)
One text Literary fiction
1 short form question (1 x 4 marks)
2 longer form questions (2 x 8 marks)
1 extended question (1 x 20 marks)
Writing (40 marks) (25%)
Descriptive or Narrative Writing
1 extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy)
Reading (40 marks) (25%)
Two linked texts
1 short form question (1 x 4 marks)
2 longer form questions (1 x 8, 1 x 12 marks)
1 extended question (1 x 16 marks)
Writing (40 marks) (25%)
Writing to present a viewpoint
1 extended writing question (24 marks for content, 16 marks for technical accuracy)

12. English Literature GCSE - AQA
Paper 1
Paper 2
Section A – Shakespeare Blood Brothers Section B – 19th Century novel A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Section A – Modern prose or Drama Blood Brothers by Willy Russell Section B – The Poetry Anthology Section C – Unseen Poetry

13. Homework & Assessment
All students will have homework every week except following an assessment. Homework will be a short written task in their purple books. Once a half term they will be given an assessment to complete based on the exam unit they are studying. There will be no homework in the week following this assessment. The final homework in each half term will ask them to address the weaknesses in their assessment. All work will be marked using exam board mark schemes (not necessarily grades / GCSE numbers)

14. Homework Example Week Homework / Assessment 5th Oct
7th Sept
Write a PEA on how conflict is presented in War Photographer
Homework
14th Sept
Identify 5 similarities and differences between ‘Bayonet Charge’ and ‘Charge of the Light Brigade’
21st Sept
Write a comparative paragraph about ‘Storm on an Island’ and ‘Prelude’
28th Sept
Write a PEA giving your opinion of the Duke in My Last Duchess
5th Oct
Assessment week - Mock Exam question on poetry
Assessment
12th Oct
Week Off
19th Oct
Target based homework e.g. Write a PEA developing you analysis of language to gain marks in AO2
Target Homework
Half Term

15. How to help at home.
Ensure they complete their homework each week. This is where they get feedback and all these tasks feed into their assessment
Try to read the texts with them. Allow them to be the expert and ask them lots of questions to ‘build your understanding’.
Help them with context. Do they know about the world when these texts were written? Do they know how to find this out?
Stay in touch with their English teacher.

16. GCSE Mathematics
100% examination
No coursework or controlled assessment
Assessed by three 1h 30mins papers in the Summer of Year 11
Paper 1 is Non-Calculator, Papers 2 & 3 are Calculator papers
Each paper has a range of question types; some questions will be set in both mathematical and non-mathematical contexts.
Focuses on more Problem Solving aspects.
Number; Algebra; Ratio, proportion and rates of change; Geometry and measures; Probability; Statistics.

17. Be prepared
The correct equipment
including a calculator (Casio FX85GT plus)
ruler, compasses, protractor

18. How to be successful?
Complete all work set!
Use MathsWatch and PiXL Maths app.
Ask for help before you get behind.
Attend Maths Workshop.
Use numeracy outside of school and competitions.
Do more maths.

19. How can parents help?
Check folders
Content covered is listed in folders
Self Assessments, Unit Assessments, targets set
Make sure homework is done
Exercises, activities, revision, longer investigations
Watch MathsWatch clips together
Maths Workshop - Thursday after school
Cipher Challenge, World Maths Day, House competitions
Don’t say “I was never any good at Maths when I was at school”

20. Examined in June 2018 Route 1: Combined or Double Science
Route 2: Triple Science (an Option)

21. Year 9 Science Options Pre GCSE work Teaching of new GCSE Science
Designed to bridge the gap between KS3 and GCSE
Skill and knowledge based
Key ideas in Biology, Chemistry and Physics
Assessments to judge ‘suitability’ for Triple
September to February half term
Options
February half term to end of Year 9
Teaching of new GCSE Science
Broadly split equally between
Biology
Chemistry
Physics

22. Combined Science – two GCSE’s Combined Science – two GCSE’s
Science options
Combined Science – two GCSE’s
Combined Science – two GCSE’s
Biology 1
Biology 2
ROUTE A
Biology 1
Biology 2
Chemistry 1
Chemistry 2
Chemistry 1
Chemistry 2
Physics 1
Physics 2
Year 9
Options
choices
Physics 1
Physics 2
Counts as two GCSE’s
Three separate sciences over two years
ROUTE B
Biology Unit 1 Biology Unit 2 Biology Unit 3
Chem Unit Chem Unit Chem Unit 3
Physics Unit 1 Physics Unit 2 Physics Unit 3

23. New GCSE for examination 2018 Double award- Combined main differences
Mathematical requirements
No ‘equation sheets’ students ‘should be able to recall and/or apply’ a number of equations
Examinations
Four longer exams
25% of GCSE each OR
Six shorter exams
17%
Multiple choice, closed and open short answer questions, emphasis on knowledge and application
No coursework or controlled assessment
Exam questions will draw on the knowledge and understanding students have gained by carrying out the 16 required practical activities.

24. Triple Sciences- main differences
No coursework or controlled assessment Exam questions in the written exams will draw on the knowledge and understanding students have gained by carrying out the 8 practical activities
Two exams per subject
Questions multiple choice, closed short answer and open response

25. Awarding grades and reporting results
The qualification will be graded on a nine-point scale: 1–9 – where 9 is the best grade. Two tiers ‘Double award’ will be two numbers combined Triple will be one number on this scale 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Foundation tier U
Higher tier