Examination Results 65% of A Levels are graded A*, A and B Top 100 students achieved 55% A*- A grades Over 30 students achieved at least 3 A grades “Students make excellent progress” A top state schools for sending students to university (Sutton Trust Report) 2017: 60% students went to “most selective universities”

Introduction to ALIS Grades and to the Expectations of Universities

YOUR expected grade at A Level based on YOUR average GSCE points score ALIS Grades YOUR expected grade at A Level based on YOUR average GSCE points score ALIS grades are NOT predictions from your teachers but they are expected grades based on nationally produced data. They act as a guide and should be treated as your minimum target grade

Average GCSE Points Score Each full GCSE grade you achieve is given points (e.g. A*=9 and 8, A=7, B=6, C=5…..) Other qualifications (e.g. GCSE short-course, Btecs) are not counted Points are added up and divided by the number of GCSEs you took giving you an “average GCSE points score”

Example: Alisha has 10 GCSE results: Subject Grade Maths 8 Combined Science 7-6 English 6 English Literature Geography 5 History 7 Business Studies French Dance TOTAL SCORE 62 AVERAGE 6.2

What is expected of Alisha? 7323 students who took A Level Chemistry last year and had an average GCSE points score similar to Alisha’s of 6.2. They achieved: 73 achieved an A* (1%) 952 = A grade (13%) 1831 = B grade (25%) 1977 = C grade (27%) 1538 = D grade (21%) 806 = E grade (11%) 146 = U grade (2%) This information can be explained in a graph

Alisha’s information for A Level in a chart The average student achieves a C The average student with the same G%CSE points score as Alisha (or the average Alisha) is expected to achieve a C grade in A Level chemistry but students of Alisha’s ability did achieve the full range of grades. For example Alisha has a 39% chance of achieving higher than a C grade (1+13%+25%) What can she do to achieve higher than the average student like her?

What is expected of A* GCSE students? Students who took A Level Chemistry with an average GCSE grade of 8.5 last year achieved: A* grade (21%) A grade (44%) B grade (23%) C grade (9%) D grade (3%)

560 A Level examinations were taken Last Year 560 A Level examinations were taken 185 grades higher than ALIS grades (33 % above expectation) 224 grades equalled the ALIS grade (40% in-line with expectation) 151 grades lower than ALIS grades (27% below expectation)

Why do some students struggle to exceed their ALIS grades? Many students across the country do not appreciate the study requirements and commitment needed for A Levels The average GCSE points score may not reveal a particular ability, skill or enthusiasm for a subject e.g. two A Level history students with an average GCSE points score of 6.2 but one may have an 9 in GCSE history, the other a 5 grade. These are NOT predictions. Predictions include current information from teachers What can students do to perform more highly than similar students across the country? e.g. Going to lessons, doing homework and some revision is that ‘performing more highly’ or is that ‘average’ How can you out-perform the average you ??

University Expectations What are your expectations? What are the expectations of universities? What should you be doing now?

Russell Group Universities 24 leading universities committed to the best research and teaching Birmingham Bristol Cambridge Cardiff Durham Edinburgh Exeter Glasgow Imperial - London King’s – London Leeds Liverpool LSE – London Manchester Newcastle Nottingham Oxford Queen Mary’s – London Belfast Sheffield Southampton UCL – London Warwick York Leading universities or an elitist, old fashioned group? Is the concept of Russell Group Universities relevant for young people today?

Unofficial Top 20 Ranked Universities Cambridge Oxford London School of Economics Imperial College London St Andrews Durham Loughborough Lancaster Warwick UCL – London Bath Exeter Leeds East Anglia Bristol Birmingham Nottingham Manchester Surrey Southampton The Complete University Guide 2018– The Guardian Top 20 UK Universities according to World Ranking also include: Cardiff Glasgow Kings - London Liverpool Sheffield These are unofficial rankings and are not subject specific.

Universities Are university tables / rankings helpful? All universities offer opportunities for young people. It’s a ‘good’ university if it offers the right course for you

Example of Law Entry Requirements (1) Cambridge A*, A, A (2) Glasgow A, A, A (12) Nottingham A, A, A (16) Warwick A, A, A Sussex A, A, A (31) Leicester A, A, B (32) Liverpool A, B, B (45) Nottingham Trent B, B, C (76) Kingston B, B, B ( (85) Bedfordshire C, D, D (101) Northampton B, B, C

Example of History Entry Requirements (1) Cambridge A*, A, A (2) Durham A*, A, A (5) Exeter A, A, B (13) King’s College A, A, A (23) Kent A, A, B (27) Newcastle A, A, A (48) Portsmouth B, C, C (60) Nottingham Trent B, B, C (71) Derby B, C, C (95) Sunderland B, B, B

Example of Media Entry Requirements (1) Strathclyde A, B ,B (6) Newcastle A, B, B (10) East Anglia B, B, B (16) Goldsmiths B, B, B (24)Salford B, B, B (30) Coventry B, B, C (58) Middlesex University B, B, C (88) London South Bank B, C, C (84) Buckinghamshire New C, C, C

Will they make you an offer? They will look at your: Predicted Grades Your predicted grades are based on your Year 12 performance Your Online Application GCSE grades, Personal Statement School Reference: Attitude to study and ability to learn Your interaction with staff and students Contribution to school Activities inside and outside of school Attendance and punctuality

Advice and Suggestions Look at your Progress Report Current Working Grade v ALIS grade Mock Examinations in April These are vital to assess your progress and could form part of your predicted grade 5 hours of extra study per subject a week? Do you make use of study periods? Are you making the most of this opportunity?

Students’ Attitude to Study What to look for? Students’ Attitude to Study LEVEL 3 - You look to demonstrate quality in all work and you transform your notes e.g. revision notes, diagrams , cards LEVEL 2 - Make additional notes from other sources and most evenings spending some time looking at some school work LEVEL 1 - You do homework and attend lessons

What to look for? Revision Techniques LEVEL 3 You use mark schemes and examiners’ reports. You seek help when you are unsure either from teacher or from further research LEVEL 2 You add to their revision notes and answer hard past questions. You continually practise LEVEL 1 You read their notes and answer past questions

Folder Recent folder checks are indicating that many students are not taking adequate notes in class. Folders do not appear to be suitably ordered to help revision

Key Dates 4th February 2019 - Parents’ Evening 29th April – 10th May 2019 - Mock Exam Period 21st March 2019 – Higher Education Evening

Sixth Form Expectations the School day, everyone in at 08.30am, and no students leaving before Lunch; if Homework is incomplete or a student more than 5 minutes late to a lesson, they are not allowed in the lesson; punctuality – if a student is late 3 times in any half-term then they are in Breakfast Club (a week of 8am starts);

Sixth Form Academic Support Over the course of the year student academic performance will be tracked against ALIS data. This will allow us to: identify which students are struggling and in which subjects; put in place support to ensure that students are making progress towards exceeding their targets. That support could be: academic mentoring; structured study support sessions Departmental catch-up.

Sixth Form Academic Support Pink paper. Honestly.